A new assessment of national nearly zero-energy buildings (nZEBs) standards, released this week by the Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE), finds a wide degree of disparity in how these are implemented across the EU-27, highlighting a misalignment with EU climate targets. Since the beginning of 2021, all new buildings constructed in the EU must be nZEBs, … Continue reading Wide disparity of national nZEB standards undermines EU climate goals, finds BPIE
Decarbonising London’s Square Mile heating system: heat pumps and geothermal technology
We know that to reach our long-term climate and energy objectives, our heating systems will have to be decarbonised. Jillian Ambrose writes on the Guardian website about plans for buildings in London’s Square Mile. What are your views? Low-carbon heating system to warm up London’s Square Mile One of the UK’s largest low-carbon heating … Continue reading Decarbonising London’s Square Mile heating system: heat pumps and geothermal technology
COVID-19 crisis shows the need to optimise the hygiene, safety and energy efficiency of buildings
Education facilities have had to adapt to the COVID-19 crisis with a combination of on-site and study from home. Making buildings smart allows this flexibility – whether from the perspective of hot-desking, agile changes of use, security and safety, or enhanced ability to morph to volatile circumstances. Mark McLoughlin discusses the benefits of going smaart … Continue reading COVID-19 crisis shows the need to optimise the hygiene, safety and energy efficiency of buildings
New EEA briefing analyses the pandemic’s effect on the use of certain single-use plastics products
The coronavirus pandemic has challenged European societies in many ways. The European Environment Agency’s (EEA) briefing, published recently, analyses the pandemic’s effect on the use of certain single-use plastics products, which cause GHG and other emissions and can end up littering the environment. It also brings useful lessons to improve our response to future disruptive … Continue reading New EEA briefing analyses the pandemic’s effect on the use of certain single-use plastics products
Market forces will see oil majors forced to adopt more climate-friendly investment strategies
While lawsuits may add public pressure, the courts aren’t the major forces of change right now. Paul Griffin, Distinguished Professor of Management at the University of California, Davis writes on The Conversation website that investors and the markets now hold more power that will lead to significant change. A court ruling on Shell’s climate … Continue reading Market forces will see oil majors forced to adopt more climate-friendly investment strategies
New rush of European players to build electric car batteries
Obviously, expecting the electric vehicle market to expand dramatically, there are several efforts underway in Europe to build high-volume plants for electric batteries. Maddy Savage discusses latest efforts in an article on the BBC website. Gigafactories: Europe tools up against US and Asia as a car battery force Surrounded by a forest of tall … Continue reading New rush of European players to build electric car batteries
G7 summit in Cornwall ended with little cause for celebration from anyone worried about climate change
This year’s G7 was considered an important step before the COP26 climate conference in November. Both are hosted in Britain. Myles Allen, Professor of Geosystem Science, Director of Oxford Net Zero at the University of Oxford reflects on the pledges, non-pledges and things that weren’t mentioned at all in an article on The Conversation website. … Continue reading G7 summit in Cornwall ended with little cause for celebration from anyone worried about climate change
Gathering better data to address energy justice
Jeff Brady writes on the NPR website about recent research that focus on energy justice in the US. The researchers reflect on the importance of more and better data. What are your views? Tackling 'Energy Justice' Requires Better Data. These Researchers Are On It Poor people and people of color use much more electricity … Continue reading Gathering better data to address energy justice
How can historic buildings become more energy efficient while conserving their heritage values?
Renovating to improve energy efficiency of historic buildings while also preserving them for the future is not easy. Petra Eriksson in a collaboration between the University of Gothenburg and Uppsala University did her doctoral thesis presented a method taking a holistic approach to the assessment of both potential energy savings and management of the buildings' … Continue reading How can historic buildings become more energy efficient while conserving their heritage values?
What’s clear is the current system of shipping heavy, throwaway wine bottles around the globe is unsustainable
Glass bottles are the largest source of the wine industry’s carbon footprint. Several companies are experimenting with new shipping methods. Eric Asimov writes on the New York Times website about recent developments. The Message in a Reusable Wine Bottle: Combat Climate Change Last month, a 24,000-liter hermetically sealed plastic container, or flexitank, carrying organically … Continue reading What’s clear is the current system of shipping heavy, throwaway wine bottles around the globe is unsustainable
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 