Shock at new targets for building codes in Wales

The BBC news website published a report on the recent decision of the Welsh government to drastically reduce the level of ambition in the planned new building codes. Let us hope this doesn't happen in other regions and countries in Europe. Drastic reduction in new home energy efficiency targets Energy efficiency targets for all new … Continue reading Shock at new targets for building codes in Wales →

New energy efficiency calculator developed

Stanislava Gaydazhieva writes on the New Europe website about an EU funded project that Iceland participated in. The project brings many of Europe’s islands together promote energy savings and awareness among households situated on some of Europe's islands. The project recently held a conference on energy efficient consumer behaviour in European islands. Icelandic excellence … Continue reading New energy efficiency calculator developed →

Louisiana stops energy efficiency initiatives

William Pentland writes for Forbes about the latest decision by Louisiana’s Public Service Commission to reject a state-wide energy efficiency programme that would have required energy utilities to offer energy efficiency measures to customers. Big Win for Energy Luddites in Louisiana In February, Louisiana’s Public Service Commission (PSC), the agency responsible for regulating the … Continue reading Louisiana stops energy efficiency initiatives →

Roll out of smart meters hits snag in British Columbia, Canada

Justine Hunter writes in the Globe and Mail about the problems that B.C. Hydro is having in providing smart meters to all customers. While the problem appears to be the fault of the current government, it shows that one cannot take the consumer for granted. Now the energy company is busily trying to explain to … Continue reading Roll out of smart meters hits snag in British Columbia, Canada →

Retrofits at a fast PACE

Jim Witkin writes for the New York Times about a new financing programme for retrofits in Sacramento California. The programme is modelled on the PACE concept – Property Assessed Clean Energy that has no up-front costs. As countries in Europe are starting to either implement or assess the possibility of such a scheme, it is … Continue reading Retrofits at a fast PACE →

Save these dates – January 31st to February 1st

On January 31st, the two-day R20 Conference: “Implementing the Sustainable Energy Future” begins in Vienna, Austria. R20 is the Regions of Climate Change. This 2-day conference, which will be opened by Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Federal Chancellor of Austria Werner Faymann and the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso, is focused on bringing together … Continue reading Save these dates – January 31st to February 1st →

Ontario shows the way forward in decreasing electricity demand

Ian MacLeod of the Ottawa Citizen writes about Ontario being the only place in North America where electricity demand is decreasing, in large part because of energy conservation. Ontario’s decelerating appetite for electrical power leaves it as the only electricity-generating jurisdiction in North America to forecast negative growth in winter demand and flat growth in … Continue reading Ontario shows the way forward in decreasing electricity demand →

Fossil fuel freedom in Manitoba

The Gallon Environment Letter states that Manitoba is adopting a Clean Energy Strategy announced November 20, 2012 by Innovation, Energy and Mines Minister Dave Chomiak who said, "Building on our strengths, this new plan sets the province on a course that will ensure reliable, affordable energy for future generations, reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and maximize local … Continue reading Fossil fuel freedom in Manitoba →