Freya Wise, PhD Candidate in Sustainability and the Built Environment at The Open University in the UK writes on The Conversation website about the shortcomings of energy performance certificates (EPCs) and the need to improve them, especially for pre-1945 homes in Britain. What is the experience in your country? How we measure energy efficiency in … Continue reading Need to improve energy performance certificates for buildings
The recent re-emergence of working horses in viticulture
At least 300 wine growers across mainland France and Corsica are using draught horses. Sheep are also used to graze in vineyards. Sheep are used as an alternative to chemical herbicides, soil and water quality improves, and the practice encourages the growth of nitrogen-fixing plants, such as clover. Ginger Clark writes on The Guardian website … Continue reading The recent re-emergence of working horses in viticulture
Measuring “net-zero” emissions is not simple
Emily Chung writes on the CBC website about a new study suggesting that the assumption that a tonne of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere is balanced by a tonne removed from the atmosphere may have to be revisited because there are differences, according to the research. Carbon removal study suggests arithmetic to achieve net-zero … Continue reading Measuring “net-zero” emissions is not simple
New data from EEA on emissions of newly registered passenger cars and vans in Europe in 2020
The European Environment Agency (EEA) has published its provisional data about the emissions of newly registered passenger cars and vans in Europe in 2020. For cars, the data show a 12 % decrease in average carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, compared with 2019. Average van emissions also decreased slightly, by about 1.5 %. Sharp decrease … Continue reading New data from EEA on emissions of newly registered passenger cars and vans in Europe in 2020
Smart traffic lights could cut emissions by a quarter
Is this the future for better traffic flow in urban areas? Smart traffic lights are now being tested in Britain. Graeme Paton discusses latest developments in an article on The Times website. Smart traffic lights get green light for cutting emissions by a quarter A new generation of smart traffic lights could be introduced … Continue reading Smart traffic lights could cut emissions by a quarter
Leaded fuels, banned 20 years ago, still have impact on our environment
A study shows that 32-43% of the lead in the London air was originally from leaded fuels, banned 20 years ago. The concern is that most cities likely to be affected by the pollutant, which is particularly harmful to children’s brains. Damian Carrington discusses the issue in an article on The Guardian website. Legacy … Continue reading Leaded fuels, banned 20 years ago, still have impact on our environment
Leaked EU policy document designed to cut carbon emissions in shipping shows plans, will ‘lock in the use of fossil fuels for decades to come and make the EU’s target of net emissions neutrality by 2050 unreachable
Daniel Boffey writes on The Guardian website about a leaked EU policy document that has raised the concerns of NGOs that there will be a lock in the use of fossil fuels in the shipping industry for decades to come. Draft EU policy to cut shipping emissions condemned as ‘disaster’ A leaked draft of … Continue reading Leaked EU policy document designed to cut carbon emissions in shipping shows plans, will ‘lock in the use of fossil fuels for decades to come and make the EU’s target of net emissions neutrality by 2050 unreachable
Urban sustainability – preparing for post-COVID tourism
Johannes Novy, Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning, School of Architecture and Cities at the University of Westminster discusses in an article on the Conversation website what urban tourism should look like after COVID, using Amsterdam as an important model. Amsterdam is laying down a model for what tourism should look like after COVID When … Continue reading Urban sustainability – preparing for post-COVID tourism
Wide disparity of national nZEB standards undermines EU climate goals, finds BPIE
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
