Category: technology

Re-thinking energy efficiency strategies

James Murray has an excellent blog in Green Business.  While the example is about the UK, there are lessons for all of Europe.  Murray raises the issue of why politicians are so reluctant to support standards-based policies such as minimum energy performance standards and labelling.  Unfortunately, he does not mention that most of those standards … Continue reading Re-thinking energy efficiency strategies →

Reaction to use of LED lighting for streetlights

Kale Roberts reports in Mother Earth News on a recent survey taken of the reaction to the use of LED lighting in US cities. Energy Efficient LED Lighting Hits the Streets:  95 Percent of Cities Satisfied There are more than 50 million streetlights in the United States. From parking lots to park trails to bridges, … Continue reading Reaction to use of LED lighting for streetlights →

Inside the Brussels beltway

Here are updates on some of the on-going issues in Brussels. Ecodesign For those interested in Ecodesign and products, the 2012-2014 Working Plan, which was to have been published already, is still not available. In May EiD was told that it was still in inter-service consultation and it had been hoped it would have been … Continue reading Inside the Brussels beltway →

Important tools to help success in the renewables industry

David Worthington writes for Smart Planet about the role insurance can play to promote the deployment of renewable energy.   Insurance: the key to renewable energy success? Many banks are wary to finance renewable energy projects, and that hesitation can stall or even stop new projects. Insurers have stepped in to help mitigate the risks … Continue reading Important tools to help success in the renewables industry →

New guidebook outlines technologies for climate change mitigation in the building sector

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Risø Centre on Energy, Climate and Sustainable Development and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) have published a guidebook on mitigation technologies and practices in the building sector, with examples of the use of solar energy, energy efficient building materials, and urban planning for storm water management. Such a "green building" … Continue reading New guidebook outlines technologies for climate change mitigation in the building sector →

The Eiffel Tower sets important example for using renewables in Paris

With the public sector expected to play an exemplary role to convince the public of the importance of sustainable energy policies, no greater symbol could there be in Paris than using the Eiffel Tower.  This article by Guillaume Duhamel of Zegreenweb.com provides a refreshing example of an innovative sustainable energy project.   Renewable energy takes … Continue reading The Eiffel Tower sets important example for using renewables in Paris →

Changing behaviour in the work place

The Environmental Leader website provides an excellent description of the use of an energy saving tool to change employee behaviour in one of Britain’s major financial institutions.  This could prove to be a valuable example to other companies.   Nationwide to Use Carbon Trust’s Energy Saving Tool with 15,000 Staff Nationwide, the UK financial institution … Continue reading Changing behaviour in the work place →

Germany’s transition to low carbon economy leaves no stone unturned

Stefan Nicola of Bloomberg’s Businessweek.com provides more information on Germany as it seeks ways to ensure the effective transition to a low carbon, no nuclear future.  EiD continues to provide its readers useful articles on Germany because it is one of the most important test cases in Europe and globally to show what must and … Continue reading Germany’s transition to low carbon economy leaves no stone unturned →