It is hard not to turn our attention to China because of its impact on global energy and climate objectives. Barbara Finamore has a good blog on Switchboard, the Natural Resource Defense Council Blog describing latest developments. Big plans for integrating renewable energy into China's electricity grid The world's biggest investor in renewable energy. … Continue reading How China is turning to grid flexibility in its drive to increase renewables
Yes, Canada needs better energy performance of buildings policies
Developing and implementing policies in federal states is never easy. John Lorinc writes an excellent article in Canada’s Globe and Mail about the problems improving the policies to promote better energy performance of buildings. There are important lessons for all of us. Why does Canada lag in demanding environmental diligence from builders and homeowners? … Continue reading Yes, Canada needs better energy performance of buildings policies
Monitoring progress of the national building renovation strategies
On February 26th, EiD published a review of a recent European Commission report that analysed the progress made by Member States in developing their long-term renovation strategies. This is an obligation under the 2012 Energy Efficiency Directive. This week, the industry association, EuroACE, published a press release criticising the quality of the analysis. Hopefully the … Continue reading Monitoring progress of the national building renovation strategies
More arguments why improved energy efficiency needs to be seen as an infrastructure issue
Last week EiD reported on a new briefing note by E3G on energy efficiency as infrastructure. Now we have a good post by Dr. Sam Gardner of WWF Scotland in the Herald Scotland arguing that improved energy efficiency must be seen as a national infrastructure project. This is an important argument that we hope gains … Continue reading More arguments why improved energy efficiency needs to be seen as an infrastructure issue
The “biosphere” now a “net source” of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere
Chris Mooney writes in the Washington Post about a new study that discusses the hidden driver of climate change that we too often ignore. Humans are making global warming worse, all right — but in more ways than you think That’s the result of an important new study in Nature, which finds that the … Continue reading The “biosphere” now a “net source” of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere
A little innovation for renovating buildings can go a long way
There is American slang about painting the town red, meaning to be wildly extravagant (well, that is one interpretation). Now we can forget the whole town and concentrate on individual buildings and use solar paint. Well, there are also other innovative ideas provided by Annie Kane who explains in The Guardian that, while new homes … Continue reading A little innovation for renovating buildings can go a long way
Investors seeking long-term low-risk investments need to look to the wind
With another post this week looking at how the sustainable energy market is doing exceptionally well, Emma Howard writes in The Guardian about one of the important sustainable energy industries, wind. She shows that, for investors who seek long-term low-risk investments, the 20 year lifespan of an onshore wind farm is an attractive prospect. … Continue reading Investors seeking long-term low-risk investments need to look to the wind
US advanced energy market now double the nation’s beer market
Things are getting serious when the sustainable energy market reaches such a size that it overshadows one of the major beverage industries. Lisa Cohn writes about the latest developments on the Energy Efficiency Markets website. Now, in Europe, how does the energy efficiency market compare to sales of wine in France? Anyone know? Led … Continue reading US advanced energy market now double the nation’s beer market
Novel approach to a solar farm
In recent months, most of what we have heard from the UK has been criticism about renewable energy policies and support from the central government. Yet, there is still good innovation underway. Fiona Harvey explains in The Guardian about the latest developments in a floating solar farm on a man-made reservoir. World's biggest floating … Continue reading Novel approach to a solar farm
Is China now on a more sustainable path?
It is heartening to read that China’s carbon emissions may have peaked. There have been several articles on this important study by two groups at the London School of Economics. Chelsea Harvey provides a good account in the Washington Post. China vowed to peak carbon emissions by 2030. It could be way ahead of … Continue reading Is China now on a more sustainable path?
