How political experience can be used to promote renewables

It is difficult for small “green” electricity companies to make gains in the market. Diane Cardwell writes in the New York Times about one former political operative and his move to break into the market.   Applying the Lessons of Politics to Green Power Over the years, Tom Matzzie — by working as a political … Continue reading How political experience can be used to promote renewables →

Trying to change attitudes towards fracking

Damian Carrington has an excellent blog in the Guardian about what won’t work to convince the British of the need and benefits of fracking. It is definitely going to take a lot of convincing. Fracking: shock and awe will not win the battle of Britain Removing the ability of people to block shale exploration under … Continue reading Trying to change attitudes towards fracking →

Canada re-thinking its approach to climate change

Canada has been in the global doghouse concerning climate change ever since it decided to walk out of the Kyoto Protocol. Yes, it did make some half-hearted commitment at the climate conference in Copenhagen several years ago. The priority has been on resource development – mainly tar sands – but now Josh Wingrove writes in … Continue reading Canada re-thinking its approach to climate change →

New communication on energy security from the European Commission

It is good to see that the European Commission has come out with its new communication on energy security. Energy security certainly needs to be given higher priority. It is good to see that energy efficiency is mentioned first. When the Commission first proposed its non-binding target for energy efficiency, there were many complaints that … Continue reading New communication on energy security from the European Commission →

New BPIE study: Alleviating Fuel Poverty in the EU

The Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE) has published a new report that should be mandatory reading for all EiD followers. While the topic comes up regularly, we are getting nowhere to resolving the issue of fuel poverty. As the new BPIE report explains, fuel poverty is a major problem in and for Europe. In 2012, … Continue reading New BPIE study: Alleviating Fuel Poverty in the EU →

The challenges in improving energy efficiency

Catherine Wolfram does some story telling in the Energy Collective to addressing the challenges we face in improving energy efficiency. An Energy Efficiency Parable Here’s a story that captures a lot of the challenges we face as we try to improve energy efficiency. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t have a happy ending, but I’m holding out … Continue reading The challenges in improving energy efficiency →

Lessons for SMEs

Sean Hargrave writes a valuable article in The Guardian about the lessons that small and medium-sized enterprises can learn from larger companies.  Maybe some of these ideas will be discussed at the upcoming eceee industrial summer study. What SMEs can learn about efficiencies from larger companies While large companies have traditionally had advantages in delivering … Continue reading Lessons for SMEs →

Australia’s state of Victoria sees priority for energy efficiency waning

Last week EiD focussed on Nova Scotia in Canada and this week the attention is given to the state of Victoria in Australia. Victoria has traditionally been one of the most committed jurisdictions to energy efficiency. Yet, as Tom Arup writes in The Age, the government is starting to draw back.   Government pulls plug … Continue reading Australia’s state of Victoria sees priority for energy efficiency waning →

How new developments in nuclear could affect renewables

James Montgomery, contributing editor of Renewable Energy World, gives four reasons why recent developments in nuclear technology could harm the future developments in renewable energy. Why New Nuclear Technology Hurts the Case for Renewables "We need to act fast with efficiency and renewables, while nuclear continues to be plagued by the same drawbacks and problems … Continue reading How new developments in nuclear could affect renewables →