The environmental impact of mining the materials for electric vehicle batteries

We have given much attention to the developments in batteries for electric vehicles as we try to increase their range. Max Opray provides an important article in The Guardian about the environmental impact from nickel, one of the major materials used in lithium ion batteries. Having grown up in a mining community and having seen … Continue reading The environmental impact of mining the materials for electric vehicle batteries →

How one Dutch utility is providing innovative new services

Everywhere we are seeing innovative new ways that energy utilities are performing in the energy transition. Some have obligations provided by governments or regulators, while others act to take advantage of market conditions. Stanley Reed explains in an article in the New York Times about what one utility in The Netherlands is up to.   … Continue reading How one Dutch utility is providing innovative new services →

Have we appropriately considered the human rights and social implications of the clean energy transition?

There is a human dimension to all our policies and we should always remember that. Roberta Pinamonti writes a thoughtful article on the Business for Social Responsibility website about the human rights implications.   The Human Rights Implications of the Renewable Energy Transition In 2015, Amnesty International and Greenpeace released a joint statement calling on … Continue reading Have we appropriately considered the human rights and social implications of the clean energy transition? →

Role of graphene in improving energy efficiency

We are always looking at new technical innovations to improve energy efficiency. An article on the Wall Street Pit website describes how researchers are looking at graphene to play an increasingly important role.   Energy-Saving Graphene Computers with 1,000x Speed and Efficiency Graphene is the strongest and lightest material in existence, with an amazing tensile … Continue reading Role of graphene in improving energy efficiency →

Sustainability and our digital carbon footprint

What is the environmental cost of producing media? Pietari Kaapa, Associate Professor in Media and Communications at the University of Warwick discusses this question in an important article on The Conversation website.   It's time to start thinking about our digital carbon footprint The media is at the forefront of generating awareness over environmental issues. … Continue reading Sustainability and our digital carbon footprint →

How the upcoming solar eclipse gets people thinking about power grids worldwide

This week’s solar eclipse will mainly be in the United States but it provides an important opportunity to look at the bigger issues related to solar energy. Ephrat Livni writes about some of the issues on the Quartz website.   The total solar eclipse is a test case for renewable energy in emergencies Like many, … Continue reading How the upcoming solar eclipse gets people thinking about power grids worldwide →

Reviewing energy performance in Europe

Michael MacDonald from the Energy Performance Measurement Institute in the United States and a friend of EiD provides an important post reviewing the progress made in Europe since 2005. You should find this useful.   Basic European Energy Performance, 2005–2015 The European Union (EU) has several energy performance goals, and they have changed some over … Continue reading Reviewing energy performance in Europe →

Australia is at the forefront of improving energy performance of commercial property

There is significant potential to improve the energy performance of commercial buildings and Abigail Dean of TH Real Estate writes on the investor Daily website about the important gains being made in Australia. Australia in the lead on energy efficiency Thanks to the National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS), Australia is one of the … Continue reading Australia is at the forefront of improving energy performance of commercial property →

New programme in Canada to improve industrial energy efficiency

The PR news service has announced a new ENERGY STAR® programme in Canada on the markets.businessinsider website. Canada has promoted industrial energy efficiency since the oil crises in the 1970s and this is one more measure to help the sector improve its energy performance.   New ENERGY STAR® for Industry Program to Improve Energy Efficiency … Continue reading New programme in Canada to improve industrial energy efficiency →