The on-going controversy over lower VAT rates in the UK to promote energy efficiency

Will Nichols of BusinessGreen writes about the problems the UK has been having to convince the European Commission of the importance of a lower VAT rate to improve energy efficiency in buildings. It becomes all the more important as the UK rolls out the Green Deal. One would think the Commission would be encouraging this … Continue reading The on-going controversy over lower VAT rates in the UK to promote energy efficiency →

Creating jobs and boosting the economy

Energy efficiency investment is one of the best ways to boost the economy, new research reveals. GreenWise provides a good review of a new study from Consumer Focus in the UK. The lessons from this, however, go well beyond the UK. Carbon taxes could boost economy and lower energy bills Investing money raised through … Continue reading Creating jobs and boosting the economy →

Pushing green energy in France

Marion Douet writes for the Reuters news agency about the important but difficult role of local government to push for a greater share of green energy in France, given how centralised electricity production is. France needs more local power for green energy shift Centralised France may lack the clout at local government level to … Continue reading Pushing green energy in France →

Comments by experts on the energy performance of Russian buildings

The Moscow News recently asked two experts, Sergei Choban and Konstantin Kovalyovabout their views of the state of Russian buildings. Sergei Choban ismanaging partner of the architecture studio SPEECH Choban and Kuznetsov and Konstantin Kovalyov ismanaging partner of the real estate firm Blackwood and vice president of the Russian Union of Engineers. The Moscow News … Continue reading Comments by experts on the energy performance of Russian buildings →

Did you know?

There is some good news announced in the past few days: Congratulations to the IEA’s Sustainable Building Centre (SBC). The jury for the 2012 Energy Efficiency Innovator Awards has selected the International Energy Agency’s BEEP (Building Energy Efficiency Policies) database as the winner in its “Projects” category. Dr. Yamina Saheb received the award at a … Continue reading Did you know? →

The struggles of a resource economy

A recent report commissioned by the Canadian International Council analyses how Canada should start shaping its resource policies for the future. Fur, fish, wood, and minerals may have shaped this country's early history, but more recently, natural resources were largely regarded as part of the old economy, best left behind as Canada raced toward a glittery … Continue reading The struggles of a resource economy →

Tackling energy use at airports

Carmel Doyle writes for the website SiliconRepublic about the efforts at Dublin Airport to reduce its energy consumption. Dublin Airport on mission to cut energy use by third by 2020 Dublin Airport on mission to cut energy use by third by 2020 Dublin Airport is aiming to cut its energy use by up to … Continue reading Tackling energy use at airports →

French town signs energy performance contract

While energy issues and environmental concerns are at the heart of local government, the town of Domène - with 6700 inhabitants located near Grenoble – embarked on a programme of renovation and improvement of energy efficiency of some of its buildings. The energy performance contract (EPC) was signed with Schneider Electric and it is the … Continue reading French town signs energy performance contract →

Subsidies on energy supply

Charles Kenny for Bloomberg Business Week wrote an excellent article on government subsidies recently. Mr. Kenny is a fellow at the Centre for Global Development and the New America Foundation. It is particularly pertinent following Hurricane Sandy as the discussion on climate change heats up. When It Comes to Government Subsidies, Dirty Energy Still Cleans … Continue reading Subsidies on energy supply →

More on tackling fuel poverty in the UK

The Green Building Press provides this account of the impact the Green Deal could help householders who are currently considered in fuel poverty. Green refurb at flats has far reaching benefits A study undertaken at a West London estate could provide a blueprint for taking millions of UK householders out of fuel poverty, and … Continue reading More on tackling fuel poverty in the UK →