After Armenia became independent I worked there on an emergency programme to revamp the entire energy system, including making energy efficiency a priority. We worked with up to four hours of electricity a day in unheated offices and horrendous conditions. The number of people dying from cold was staggering. It was discouraging to read this … Continue reading Saving energy not a consumer priority in Armenia
Looking at Europe’s shale gas efforts from abroad
Eric Reguly writes in Canada’s Globe and Mail about his concerns for the future of the shale gas industry in Europe. Europe’s shale gas backers are living in a fantasy world The Ukraine crisis has come as a godsend to the shale gas cheerleaders in Europe. Russian natural gas exports to Western and Central Europe, … Continue reading Looking at Europe’s shale gas efforts from abroad
Estimating what customers are saving
Both customers and analysts are always trying to determine what are the savings from energy efficiency programmes. According to Renew Grid, one utility in Detroit has made such estimates and given customers a pleasant surprise. Understandably, such estimates have often been undertaken; yet, these positive results are impressive. Utilities Reveal Just How Much Customers Are … Continue reading Estimating what customers are saving
Planning for new energy performance database on Europe’s buildings
Vicky Ellis writes in EnergyLive News about a new database entitled Energy Efficiency Performance of Properties Analysis. This effort is certainly welcome. Craning to see which are the most efficient buildings in Europe? Ever wondered which continental country has the most energy efficient buildings? Or how your building squares up to one in Germany … Continue reading Planning for new energy performance database on Europe’s buildings
This week’s briefs
There are a few important briefs this week. • WIPO Highlights Growing Trend of Renewable Energy Patents The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) has released a report detailing trends in patents for renewable energy technology. The findings indicate that more Climate Change Mitigation Technology (CCMT) patents have been filed in the past five years … Continue reading This week’s briefs
Ukraine must tackle how it uses energy
While many of the headlines concerning Ukraine and Russia have included the problems over natural gas, Ukraine has to take a more balanced approach and address how it uses energy. Christian Oliver and Roman Olearchyk provide a good article in the Financial Times, explaining many of the problems. The article describes the support from the … Continue reading Ukraine must tackle how it uses energy
For China, the existential question remains whether it can simultaneously decarbonise and grow
EiD has had several posts on China and understandably it is necessary to follow what they are doing because of the global impact of their emissions. Eduardo Porter writes in the New York Times about the efforts underway, yet the balancing of growth versus climate action remains a concern. China’s Hurdle to Fast Action … Continue reading For China, the existential question remains whether it can simultaneously decarbonise and grow
The world needs a game changer
In April this year, John Llewellyn wrote an excellent column for eceee on Formula 1 and the need for incentives to encourage innovation. For the Financial Times, John continues talking about vehicles and the need for encouraging inventiveness, possible through some “incentive.” As John says, “It should not take fear to make us motivate talents … Continue reading The world needs a game changer
Global economic summit later this year will not be discussing climate change
The upcoming G20 summit in Australia November will not be discussing climate change according to Radio Australia. This obviously reflects the Abbott government that has totally downplayed climate change issues. This is unfortunate, given the important climate conference in Paris in 2015 that is to set a global commitment. No priority for climate change at … Continue reading Global economic summit later this year will not be discussing climate change
Assessing how to decarbonise our energy systems
Jeff McMahon provides an important article on the effort required to decarbonise the US energy system. While it includes efforts on the demand side, it mainly relates to decarbonised energy supply. Hopefully this is leading to a better dialogue to gain some consensus on the way forward. What Would It Take To Decarbonize The Energy … Continue reading Assessing how to decarbonise our energy systems
