Financing energy-efficient homes

Dan Reicher and Andrew Peterman provide a thoughtful article in The Hill about linking the purchase of energy-efficient homes with better mortgages. Reicher is executive director of Stanford University’s Steyer-Taylor Center for Energy Policy and Finance. He was assistant secretary of Energy in the Clinton administration and a member of President Obama’s transition team. Peterman, … Continue reading Financing energy-efficient homes →

New IEA manuals on energy efficiency

Claira Lloyd of Energy Global describes two new manuals that the IEA has published that are related to energy efficiency indicators.   Energy efficiency: from words to action Two new guides have been released by the IEA to help countries around the world develop ambitious energy efficiency policies by showing policy makers, analysts and statisticians … Continue reading New IEA manuals on energy efficiency →

Concerns about budget for energy efficiency in New Zealand

Voxy.co.nz highlights the concerns of a youth climate change organisation about the cuts in the New Zealand government’s budget for energy efficiency. Budget: 'Lowest investment in energy efficiency since 2008' Analysis by youth climate change organisation Generation Zero shows that government investment in energy efficiency in the 2014 budget has been cut to 12% lower … Continue reading Concerns about budget for energy efficiency in New Zealand →

New California plan dealing with energy efficiency programmes and employment issues

The Donald Vial Center on Employment in the Green Economy at the University of California, Berkeley has published a report that provides a plan for California’s utilities related to employment and energy efficiency programmes. This could possibly provide some lessons for other countries and utilities. Workforce Issues and Energy Efficiency Programs: A Plan for California's … Continue reading New California plan dealing with energy efficiency programmes and employment issues →

EIB support for Dutch wind farm

The European Investment Bank recently agreed to provide EUR 587 million for the world’s largest wind farm to be constructed 85km north of the Netherlands, at a site not visible from land. Once operational the 600MW Gemini offshore wind farm will supply renewable electricity for more than 1.5 million people, equivalent to the all the … Continue reading EIB support for Dutch wind farm →

New report from IEA: Energy Technology Perspectives 2014

The IEA has recently published its 2014 edition of Energy Technology Perspectives (ETP 2014) with a special focus on harnessing electricity’s potential. Starting from the premise that electricity will be an increasingly important vector in energy systems of the future, ETP 2014 takes a deep dive into actions needed to support deployment of sustainable options … Continue reading New report from IEA: Energy Technology Perspectives 2014 →

A disconnect between climate change and economic havoc

Using the US report on climate change as a starting point, Don Pittis provides three good reasons on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s website about why businesses are seemingly ignoring the problem. Climate change: 3 reasons businesses aren't seeking solutions Climate change causing economic havoc, according to new U.S. Congressional report It seems a strange disconnect. … Continue reading A disconnect between climate change and economic havoc →