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 →

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 →