New report from Strategic Perspectives: “Turning the European Green Deal into Reality” will bring security and benefits for businesses and households

With most of the laws adopted to implement the 2030 climate target, Strategic Perspectives takes stock of the European Green Deal. What began as a vision to make Europe the first continent to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 has not only evolved into the world’s most comprehensive set of laws to decarbonise the economy. The … Continue reading New report from Strategic Perspectives: “Turning the European Green Deal into Reality” will bring security and benefits for businesses and households →

New report from UN Habitat – World Cities Report 2022: Envisaging the Future of Cities

The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 created a temporary crisis of confidence in the future of cities. However, a broad consensus is that urbanization remains a powerful twenty-first century mega-trend; and that well-planned towns and cities remain central to the sustainable development trajectory. There is a sense of optimism that the crisis may … Continue reading New report from UN Habitat – World Cities Report 2022: Envisaging the Future of Cities →

New publication from OECD: Decarbonising Buildings in Cities and Regions

Accounting for nearly 40% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and sometimes up to 70% in large cities, buildings are central to the low-carbon transition. Decarbonising buildings, especially older stock, through energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy use not only reduces carbon emissions, but also generates co-benefits in health, energy affordability and the labour market. … Continue reading New publication from OECD: Decarbonising Buildings in Cities and Regions →

Impact of environmental taxes in the UK

A report from the UK National Audit Office acknowledges the benefits of taxation on organisations but questions what specific effects they achieve. Andrew Warren, chairman of the British Energy Efficiency Federation, discusses the issues in an article in the April 2021 issue of Energy in Buildings & Industry. Environmental taxes work – but we’re … Continue reading Impact of environmental taxes in the UK →

Any energy policy shifts in US should reflect the benefits from past regulations

With the Trump administration determined to radically shift away from the regulatory approach that has been taken, Joseph Aldy, Associate Professor of Public Policy at Harvard University, writes on The Conversation website about the benefits that have come from regulations. What Trump misses about regulations: They produce benefits as well as costs President Trump … Continue reading Any energy policy shifts in US should reflect the benefits from past regulations →

Assessing the cost of energy efficiency programmes

CleanTechnica provides an important article on a recent study by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory on energy efficiency costs. This is reputed to be the most comprehensive study to date and it is definitely needed both in America and beyond. US Energy Efficiency Programs Cost 2 Cents Per Kilowatt-Hour Saved America’s most comprehensive study of energy … Continue reading Assessing the cost of energy efficiency programmes →

Evaluating behavioural energy efficiency programmes

Katherine Tweed writes on the Greentechefficiency website about the difficulty in evaluating many energy efficiency programmes in the US. She reviews a recent report by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). She explains that a dearth of data is making it difficult to effectively evaluate nearly 300 programmes across the U.S. Can … Continue reading Evaluating behavioural energy efficiency programmes →

New OECD report on renewable energy

There is an important new report entitled, "Domestic Incentive Measures for Renewable Energy With Possible Trade Implications" by Heymi Bahar, Jagoda Egeland, and Ronald Steenblik. It is OECD Trade and Environment Working Paper, 2013/01. The OECD has come out with an excellent new report on renewable energy, looking at the possible implications this means for … Continue reading New OECD report on renewable energy →

India looks to better energy performing buildings

Peter Lehner wrote in the Energy Collective about the building boom in India and the role that improved energy performance can play in reducing many of the power supply problems facing the country. The US Natural Resources Defense Council is providing assistance which is undoubtedly welcome and needed. Yet, it is worrying that India still … Continue reading India looks to better energy performing buildings →

This was the week that was

Everyone thinks the last week of May in Paris is all about tennis – Roland Garros, the French Open. Far from it for those working on sustainable energy issues! For two days, there was the 2nd building sector symposium organised by the Global Buildings Performance Network (GBPN). The main objective of the meeting was to … Continue reading This was the week that was →