The International Energy Agency recently published a report on Danish energy policies. The IEA in-depth review opens: “Denmark is a leader among OECD member countries in terms of renewable energy, energy efficiency and climate change policies.” This is obviously a winning combination. The report sets the scene by stating that Denmark has a long history … Continue reading IEA Energy Policy Review of Denmark
Category: national policies
Neighbourhood Watch
Public buildings are required to display an energy performance certificate, as mandated by the recast of the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. This is required for all buildings larger than 500 square metres. That threshold will drop to 250 square metres in 2015. The city hall of the 18th district (arrondissement) of Paris (where … Continue reading Neighbourhood Watch
Focus on industrial energy efficiency
After slumbering for many years, it is back, moving up the policy agenda. Improvement of energy efficiency in industry was a focus of attention after the oil crises of the 1970s because it could be done quickly. There was a lot of progress, with a combination of monitoring (actually counting energy consumption in a factory), … Continue reading Focus on industrial energy efficiency
IEA Energy Policy Review of Slovak Republic
In early February, the International Energy Agency published its in-depth review of Slovak energy policies with important findings on sustainable energy. The key objectives of Slovak energy policy include energy efficiency, reducing energy intensity, reducing dependence on energy imports, expanding the use of nuclear power, increasing the share of renewables and supporting the use of … Continue reading IEA Energy Policy Review of Slovak Republic
Creating jobs in the energy efficiency field – not an easy job, but worth it
Energy efficiency initiatives create jobs, and normally very good jobs. Recent analysis shows that between 17 and 19 net jobs can be created for every million euros spent. That is a million euros from all sources. And since the analysis shows that energy efficiency activities are more labour-intensive than manufacturing, decision-makers should pay close attention. … Continue reading Creating jobs in the energy efficiency field – not an easy job, but worth it
Renewables news
The European Wind Energy Association has just published 2011 data on wind energy. Wind power capacity of 9616 MW was installed in the EU in 2011, at a value of €12.6 billion. This was down only slightly from 2010, when 9648 MW was installed. Wind power represented 21.4 % of total power capacity installations in … Continue reading Renewables news
Reliance on compliance
One six-storey building housing Canterbury Television in Christchurch, New Zealand collapsed during last year’s earthquake killing 115 people. New Zealand's department of building and housing found that the building did not meet minimum requirements, even when it was built in 1986. The report concluded that load-bearing concrete columns were reinforced with insufficient steel, making them … Continue reading Reliance on compliance
How To Achieve A Low Carbon Society #1
There is an interesting debate in the UK at the moment concerning the role of nuclear energy in a future low-carbon society. A recently published cross-party report finds that Ministers misled parliament about the need for new nuclear plants. According to the government's own figures, "there is absolutely no need for any more nuclear power … Continue reading How To Achieve A Low Carbon Society #1
Everyone is Watching
There are a lot of financial instruments in Europe being used to help consumers improve the energy performance of buildings. The recent study by the Buildings Performance Institute Europe on “ Europe’s Buildings Under the Microscope” documents many of them in place today. Yet, everyone knows that those incentives are not enough if Europe is … Continue reading Everyone is Watching
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 