Serbia promotes investments in renewable energy

Misha Savic writes for Bloomberg Businessweek about the steps that have been taken recently in Serbia to promote investment in renewable energy.   Serbia Seeks to Boost Renewable Energy Investment With New Law Serbia seeks to unblock investment in renewable energy after adopting legislation that opens gas and power markets in line with European Union … Continue reading Serbia promotes investments in renewable energy →

Norway’s dilemma between benefiting from state-owned Statoil and from addressing climate change priorities

Henry Fountain writes in the New York Times about the dilemma Norwegians are facing over the benefits they derive from its state-owned energy company and the pressure to give a priority to sustainable climate change policies. Even environmental groups understand that this is not a clear-cut issue. Statoil does not believe the oil and gas … Continue reading Norway’s dilemma between benefiting from state-owned Statoil and from addressing climate change priorities →

India opting for greater use of LEDs in government services

Rajesh Roy and Saurabh Chaturvedi write a good article in the Wall Street Journal India about the efforts underway to switch government lights to LEDs. Hopefully this is a good example that other governments will follow.   A Light-Bulb Idea Blinks On: Use LEDs In India’s Halls of Government The power ministry has a plan … Continue reading India opting for greater use of LEDs in government services →

Switzerland also has its energy transition

Rolf Wüstenhagen, who teaches at the at the Institute for Economy and the Environment of the University of St Gallen, writes a very informative article on the Swissinfo website about the progress being made in Switzerland in moving towards a more climate-friendly energy system.   Energy transition: taking stock and looking ahead “2014 – a … Continue reading Switzerland also has its energy transition →

Germany’s energy transition runs into some public concerns

Melissa Eddy writes in the New York Times about the resistance to a high-voltage direct current transmission system that is to carry wind-generated power from north to south.   Germans Balk at Plan for Wind Power Lines Germans have welcomed solar panels glinting on their rooftops and windmills looming over their fields, and they have … Continue reading Germany’s energy transition runs into some public concerns →

India shows increasing commitment to energy efficiency

While there were mixed results at the UN climate conference in Lima in December, one positive outcome was the commitment of the Indian government to pro-actively promote energy efficiency and renewable energy. Daily News and Analysis India provides an important report   India to be pro-active in enhancing energy efficiency: Prakash Javadekar India will be … Continue reading India shows increasing commitment to energy efficiency →

India focusing on improving energy performance of industry

Kate Galbraith writes in the New York Times about the progress India is making in encouraging the nation’s industrial plants to improve its energy efficiency. The country knows it has to address its growing GHG emissions and it sees improved energy efficiency as an important step forward.   Indian Factories Will Count and Sell Their … Continue reading India focusing on improving energy performance of industry →

Potential impact of new minimum performance standards for rental buildings in the UK

The UK is requiring landlords to have their buildings meet a minimum performance level as of 2018. While the initial reaction was muted, now the real estate industry is realising the implications. Aliya Ram and Kate Allen write a good article in the Financial Times about recent developments. Let’s hope the government is not pressured … Continue reading Potential impact of new minimum performance standards for rental buildings in the UK →

Latest developments in the roll out of smart meters in the UK

The EU has an ambitious plan for 80% market penetration of smart meters by 2020 as part of the internal electricity and gas market reforms. Emily Gosden writes in The Telegraph on the latest developments in the UK. Widespread installation of electricity and gas "smart meters" was due to begin late next year but could … Continue reading Latest developments in the roll out of smart meters in the UK →

Turkey’s battle against large energy-consuming appliances

Turkey does not implement all the EU energy efficiency directives, but it does implement those for Ecodesign (energy-efficient appliances) and for energy labelling. This article in the Daily Sabah shows what is happening with respect to refrigerators. While Turkey follows the Ecodesign directive, it has a special consumption tax which is actually lower for the … Continue reading Turkey’s battle against large energy-consuming appliances →