The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is supporting investments in improving the energy efficiency of Podravka d.d. – one of the largest food producers in Croatia – with a €9.9 million loan. The loan will finance investments focused on improvements in various factories and the company’s headquarters building. The improvements are expected to … Continue reading Energy efficiency investments to boost competitiveness of major Croatian company
What do you know about carbon capture and storage?
Fiona Harvey recently wrote in the Guardian about a research study by the UK Energy Research Council that was trying to better understand what the public thought about the future of energy policy. CCS is considered by the government’s climate advisors to be a major way of helping to take carbon out of electricity generation. … Continue reading What do you know about carbon capture and storage?
Impact of air pollution
Sarah Boseley wrote recently in The Guardian about two studies that show the effects on health of long- and short-term exposure to pollutants from traffic and industry. Air pollution linked to higher risk of lung cancer and heart failure Air pollution, chiefly from traffic exhaust fumes in cities, is having a serious and sometimes … Continue reading Impact of air pollution
UK promotes heat from renewable energy
Jasveer Matharu, who has recently started an MSc in Consumer Psychology, provided a short summary of the proposal to raise the tariffs under the Renewable Heat Incentive. This is an important financial measure that could encourage other EU countries to do the same. UK Government’s proposal to raise the Renewable Heat Incentive Tariffs The UK’s … Continue reading UK promotes heat from renewable energy
Identifying the need for more teaching on energy efficiency
The Nation/Asia News Network published a good article about university students in the ASEAN region raising the concern that more courses related to energy consumption need to be provided. Let’s hope the governments react positively. ASEAN students call on governments in region to 'teach' energy efficiency University students offer new ideas at Hitachi young leaders … Continue reading Identifying the need for more teaching on energy efficiency
Transforming waste water to clean energy
Sadhbh Walshe wrote recently in the Guardian about the race underway to develop innovative, cost-effective ways to extract value from waste water instead of just dumping it. The scientists and startups converting waste water into clean energy Traditionally, waste water treatment has focused on removing toxic waste from the water so it could be safely … Continue reading Transforming waste water to clean energy
EU Emissions Trading System under the microscope
Nathaniel Keohane and Gernot Wagner provide an excellent analysis in the Financial Times of the Emissions Trading System (ETS). The writers are vice-president for international climate and senior economist at the Environmental Defense Fund based in the US. Judge a carbon market by its cap, not its prices The goal of the union’s ETS is … Continue reading EU Emissions Trading System under the microscope
UK energy company disputes government estimates
Mat Hope provides an excellent article on the Carbon Brief website of the energy company, Npower, disputing the estimates for the increase of gas and electricity bills in 2020. This is an important topic as energy companies throughout Europe are expected to play an ever increasing role in promoting energy efficiency. And, daily one is … Continue reading UK energy company disputes government estimates
News from the European Commission
DG Energy has published report on energy performance certificates On 20 June 2013, the Commission published a study on "Energy performance certificates in buildings and their impact on transaction prices and rents in selected EU countries". The study shows a positive impact of the Energy Performance Certificate under the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (Directive … Continue reading News from the European Commission
Shock at new targets for building codes in Wales
The BBC news website published a report on the recent decision of the Welsh government to drastically reduce the level of ambition in the planned new building codes. Let us hope this doesn't happen in other regions and countries in Europe. Drastic reduction in new home energy efficiency targets Energy efficiency targets for all new … Continue reading Shock at new targets for building codes in Wales
