Lisa Cohn writes on the energyefficiencymarkets website about the results by a regular study by Deloitte in the US showing the importance of energy efficiency to improve competitiveness. It is encouraging that companies generally are positive about their efforts to date, with 52 percent characterising their energy management efforts as extremely/very successful, compared to 42 … Continue reading New survey shows advantages for businesses from energy efficiency
Regulators in Maryland order electric utilities to give greater effort on energy savings
Timothy Wheeler writes in the Baltimore Sun about recent orders from the state regulator to increase its effort on energy savings, with a special target on low-income consumers Utilities ordered to boost energy-saving efforts Maryland regulators ordered the state's electric utilities to boost their efforts to reduce power consumption, setting one of the most … Continue reading Regulators in Maryland order electric utilities to give greater effort on energy savings
Micro-hydro schemes offer good job opportunities
James Meadway explains in the Guardian that micro-hydro energy schemes in Britain offer significant opportunities to regenerate deprived areas, but they must overcome start-up costs and declining subsidies. Small scale hydropower can provide stream of new jobs to rural regions Micro-hydro, the generation of electricity from small streams, has begun to take off in … Continue reading Micro-hydro schemes offer good job opportunities
Understanding the macro-economic benefits of renewables
Rodney Edwards writes on the Impartial Reporter website about how communities taking their energy future into their own hands was the topic under discussion at a recent renewable energy event attended by locals who are opposed to fracking in Fermanagh in Northern Ireland. ‘Renewables can be the source to re-energise rural communities, bringing jobs … Continue reading Understanding the macro-economic benefits of renewables
Ensuring electricity through hybrid solar-diesel systems
Volker Wachenfeld explains on the Renewable Energy Focus website that industries in remote areas globally with weak or even no grid infrastructure typically use fossil fuel generators to ensure a reliable energy supply. Integrating solar power into diesel-powered systems creates a reliable, resource-friendly and efficient energy supply. Integrating Solar into the Diesel Power Supply … Continue reading Ensuring electricity through hybrid solar-diesel systems
This week’s briefs
There are a couple of good briefs this week. • WSED Young Researchers Conference The annual World Sustainable Energy Days in Wels, Austria has grown from strength to strength over recent years. The World Sustainable Energy Days are organised by the OÖ Energiesparverband, the energy agency of Upper Austria with the mission of promoting … Continue reading This week’s briefs
New IEA technology roadmap on hydrogen and fuel cells
The IEA has recently published an important new report on hydrogen and fuel cells. Hydrogen is an energy carrier that partly offers the advantages of fossil fuels – flexibility and energy density – with potentially a low carbon footprint. As a storehouse of low-carbon energy, it offers a means to integrate high shares of variable … Continue reading New IEA technology roadmap on hydrogen and fuel cells
Summer thoughts
Chris Mooney writes a timely article in the Washington Post about the benefits of nature. EiD certainly hopes you enjoy those benefits. Just looking at nature can help your brain work better, study finds While still relatively novel in the United States, so-called “green roofs” — urban rooftops covered with grasses, plants and other … Continue reading Summer thoughts
Impact of low oil prices on the deployment of renewable energy technologies in developing countries
Pilita Clark writes in the Financial Times about how the recent oil price plunge is affecting the installation of renewable energy technologies in many developing countries. Cheap oil endangers poorer nations’ switch to renewable energy After oil prices started edging back up above $100 a barrel at the start of this decade, a Canadian … Continue reading Impact of low oil prices on the deployment of renewable energy technologies in developing countries
Potential effects of low frequency noises from wind turbine blades
Sarah Knapton, Science Editor of the Daily Telegraph writes about new research showing that low frequency noises from turbine blades can be picked up and can trigger a part of the brain linked to emotions. Wind turbines may trigger danger response in brain Living near a wind turbine could harm emotional wellbeing after scientists … Continue reading Potential effects of low frequency noises from wind turbine blades
