Category: national policies

Open consultation for the future of the Energy Company Obligation in the UK

The Department of Energy & Climate Change recently announced an open consultation on the Energy Company Obligation, which is also an obligation under the EU’s Energy Efficiency Directive. This consultation closes at 16 April 2014. The proposals contained in The Future of the Energy Company Obligation consultation were highlighted as part of Government’s announcement on … Continue reading Open consultation for the future of the Energy Company Obligation in the UK →

New energy efficiency standards in the US approved

Andrew Gaven writes in the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Magazine about new standards for commercial refrigeration.  The new standards replace earlier standards that had been in place since 2009.   US introduces new energy efficiency standards for commercial refrigeration Updated standards will cut energy use by 30 per cent and save business $12 billion, news … Continue reading New energy efficiency standards in the US approved →

Global monitoring shows Australia backtracking on climate change legislation

It is amazing how quickly a country can change its policies on climate change.  With elections only in 2013, the reversals in climate change policies are already evident and having an impact.  Pilita Clark writes an important article in the Financial Times on an assessment by Globe International.  The results show that, while Australia is … Continue reading Global monitoring shows Australia backtracking on climate change legislation →

Dealing with air pollution creating greater transparency in China

China knows it has an air quality problem that has to be tackled directly and effectively.  Surprisingly, this is including the disclosure of data on air pollution, as shown in the following article by Simon Denyer in the Washington Post, and now 15,000 factories are required to publicly report details on their air emissions and … Continue reading Dealing with air pollution creating greater transparency in China →

Unintended impact of renewable energy targets in Romania

We have seen many EU member states retreating from high feed-in tariffs for renewable energy.  We see Germany bounding ahead with renewables as its centrepiece for its energy transition.  We have seen the European Commission recently propose a binding target for renewable energy for 2030, but binding only EU-wide and not for individual countries, whatever … Continue reading Unintended impact of renewable energy targets in Romania →

Impact of energy-efficient homes

A study in Ireland shows that investing in improving the energy performance of homes brings good dividends to the overall asset value.  This post was written by Paul Melia of the Irish Independent.   Energy-efficiency measures add 10pc to home value Homeowners have added almost 10pc to the value of their homes by investing in … Continue reading Impact of energy-efficient homes →

Germany’s energy transition under the microscope

EiD has recently referred to the increased use of coal in Germany and there is a lot of speculation what this means for Germany’s energy transition policy. EiD has also had many posts on Germany’s energy transition. Now, Daniel Mittler, Political Director of Greenpeace International, provides his explanation. EiD is still hoping to hear more … Continue reading Germany’s energy transition under the microscope →

Canada in a league of its own in addressing climate change

Canada is determined to go on its own and has now admitted that the priority is fossil fuel development and not emissions reduction. Stephen Leahy writes in the Guardian that Canada has reported to the UN that GHG emissions will increase significantly by 2030. It should be noted that the Guardian also reports this week … Continue reading Canada in a league of its own in addressing climate change →

New Chatham House report on shale gas

Paul Stevens, Distinguished Fellow at Chatham House, a renowned think-tank on international affairs, recently published an excellent new report on shale gas in the UK. There have been several parliamentary inquiries into shale gas operations in the United Kingdom. The House of Commons Select Committee most recently reported in April 2013. In June 2013, the … Continue reading New Chatham House report on shale gas →