Are you ready for a driverless car?

Chris Mooney writes in the Washington Post that new driverless vehicles will save energy and lower emissions. Are you convinced?   A fleet of ‘robocabs’ could dramatically slash vehicle emissions, study suggests Whenever we hear the latest buzz about driverless vehicles — like the ones currently in development by Google — one of the first … Continue reading Are you ready for a driverless car?

Latest thoughts on the new development banks

Adrian Fenton, a post-graduate researcher at the Sustainability Research Institute of the University of Leeds, and a visiting researcher at the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD), has written an important blog on the website of the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) on the possible impact of the new development banks. … Continue reading Latest thoughts on the new development banks

Latest update on sustainable energy finance

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides the June update on global developments in sustainable energy finance.   June 2015 Sustainable Energy Finance Update During the month of June, the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European … Continue reading Latest update on sustainable energy finance

Smart technology can help commercial buildings reduce their energy use

The CNA Finance website has an article that describes the benefits of building automation.   We Need A Smarter Process for Building Automation Commercial buildings are huge energy consumers that pollute the environment. The good news is that smart building technology exists to provide a solution to this problem for over 5.4 million US commercial … Continue reading Smart technology can help commercial buildings reduce their energy use

New developments in domestic batteries

Shane Hickey writes a good article in the Guardian about a London startup that tailors smaller, cheaper batteries for UK households to use more of their own generated solar energy   The innovators: how smaller batteries give more power to UK solar households When Elon Musk, the chief executive of Tesla, took to the stage … Continue reading New developments in domestic batteries

Electricity in Africa: Bleak situation but surely a better future

Norimitsu Onishi writes a very good article in the New York Times about the situation in Africa concerning electricity generation and distribution. EiD has had posts on this before but it is important that we take notice and provide whatever support possible. This is an important article to as a wake up call to these … Continue reading Electricity in Africa: Bleak situation but surely a better future

Government report outlines the full impact of fracking in Britain

Adam Vaughan and Rowena Mason write in the Guardian about a government report published in full after freedom of information battle, admits impact of fracking on water quality and wildlife is ‘uncertain’, though possible benefits also listed. It is curious how fracking is so important to the UK government’s low-carbon energy transition.   Fracking could … Continue reading Government report outlines the full impact of fracking in Britain

Britain’s domestic energy efficiency strategy needs more money

While another post this week detailed that the UK’s domestic energy efficiency programmes are off track, Rebecca McAdam writes on the 24dash.com website that the Climate Change Committee, that provides independent, evidence-based advice to the UK Government and Parliament, stresses that the government must provide more adequate and effective resources.   CCC urges increased investment … Continue reading Britain’s domestic energy efficiency strategy needs more money

Raising concern about UK government’s approach to wind power

Following premature cutbacks to onshore wind farms the UK's energy security will increasingly depend on large scale offshore wind power, write Ian Broadbent & Peter Strachan in an excellent blog on The Ecologist website.   All at sea? Government's strong talk on offshore wind masks feeble ambition Onshore wind is potentially Britain's lowest cost electricity … Continue reading Raising concern about UK government’s approach to wind power