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 →

Assessing how consumers understand the EU energy label – new report

CLASP, the Collaborative Labeling & Appliance Standards Program, has published a report that gives us insight into how consumers are understanding the newly designed energy labels In 2010, the original Energy Labelling Directive was recast. Its scope of applicability was broadened, and many existing labels – specifically those applying to refrigerators and freezers, washing machines, … Continue reading Assessing how consumers understand the EU energy label – new report →

Results from energy efficiency obligations in UK under the microscope

Lisa Bachelor wrote in The Guardian about the concerns of Britain’s energy regulator that many of the obligated energy companies have not met their reduction targets. Britain has been one of the leaders in Europe in energy company obligations and it will be important to know what is going on and how can it get … Continue reading Results from energy efficiency obligations in UK under the microscope →

News from the IEA – Powering down to save energy need not be a turn-off

After success of its 1-watt initiative, IEA turns to “smart” appliances’ power consumption in network standby Less than a decade ago, televisions in homes around the world consumed significant electricity whether they were turned on or off. But in 1999 the IEA spearheaded the “1-watt” initiative that led to the average new television’s standby consumption … Continue reading News from the IEA – Powering down to save energy need not be a turn-off →

New article on energy efficiency product standards

Now that the Commission has published the Ecodesign working document for 2012-2014, our minds should be focussing more on how products can become more energy efficient. Noah Sachs recently published an article in Vanderbilt Law Review entitled “Can We Regulate Our Way to Energy Efficiency? Product Standards as Climate Policy.” In the United States, regulation … Continue reading New article on energy efficiency product standards →

Now the insurance industry is starting to take climate change seriously

Kenneth Weiss of the Los Angeles Times writes about a new study undertaken by Evan Mills of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Evan has just written a column on the subject for eceee and this article complements that column well. Climate change taken seriously by insurance industry, study says Paying out billions of dollars here and … Continue reading Now the insurance industry is starting to take climate change seriously →

New eco-label for renewable energy

Green Economy describes a new voluntary label that certifies the share of electricity coming from renewable energy. 'WindMade' Eco-Label Now Covers All Kinds of Renewable Energy To encourage corporations to use renewable energy, last year wind-related organizations launched “WindMade” a label that certifies that 25% of their electricity comes from wind energy. Since businesses tend … Continue reading New eco-label for renewable energy →