We know that coal is not a sustainable energy source but it is still widely used, even in Europe. John Vidal writes in the Guardian about the serious impact coal pollution is having on health today in Europe. Interestingly, the Toronto Star reports that Ontario coal plants emit arsenic and chromium (which cause cancer); sulphur … Continue reading Need to reconsider our use of coal
Come one, come all . . .
Sustainable Energy Week will soon be upon us. There are many excellent events and we all have a difficult time make a choice. Please check out the EUSEW website for events in Brussels and throughout Europe. EiD would like to recommend: June 26th from 09:00 to 13:00, E2B: Innovation in Energy Efficient Buildings and Districts … Continue reading Come one, come all . . .
Negawatts gains acceptability in the United Kingdom
SustainableBuilding reports that the UK government is going to include “negawatts” into their energy bill. Negawatts is a term coined by the chief scientist of the Rocky Mountain Institute and environmentalist Amory Lovins in 1989, who recently spoke at the eceee summer study. Government puts ‘negawatts’ in Energy Bill The Government included the ‘negawatts not … Continue reading Negawatts gains acceptability in the United Kingdom
Reports you shouldn’t miss
The following reports are must reads.The sister publications, Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2013, the sixth edition of the Frankfurt School-UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Centre/Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) report, and the REN21 Renewables 2013 Global Status Report, a reference report on renewable energy market, industry and policy developments, were launched. The reports indicate that, for … Continue reading Reports you shouldn’t miss
Matthew Ulterino: View from the Renewable Energy World/Power-Gen Europe Conference (Vienna, 4-6 June 2013)
Matthew Ulterino attended the Renewable Energy World/Power-Gen Europe Conference that was held recently. These are his impressions from the plenary session followed by a summary and abstract of the paper he delivered. Plenary Session – Liberalisation and Decarbonisation: Roadmap or Roadblock? One of the main conference highlights was a plenary panel that was assembled … Continue reading Matthew Ulterino: View from the Renewable Energy World/Power-Gen Europe Conference (Vienna, 4-6 June 2013)
Unstoppable efficiency drive spurred by EU regulations and national targets poses a dilemma for utilities
Geert De Clercq and Vera Eckert write for Reuter’s news service and published by The Guardian ask an important question about whether energy utilities look for a profitable way to help consumers save energy or whether they try to defend their traditional business model. The jury is still out but some utilities have understood it … Continue reading Unstoppable efficiency drive spurred by EU regulations and national targets poses a dilemma for utilities
Cities in Canada also looking at sustainable energy
Larry Pynn writes in the Vancouver Sun about a new study that shows that cities would benefit by taking a sustainable energy approach. It is good to see how cities globally are playing and increasingly important role. Cities would benefit from national energy strategy based on renewable energy: Columbia Institute Canadian municipalities struggling with … Continue reading Cities in Canada also looking at sustainable energy
City in Italy uses energy performance contracting to promote energy efficiency
Sadhbh Ní Hógáin writes in the Energy Collective about how the city of Modena is taking advantage of support from the EU to finance energy efficiency. Since joining the Covenant of Mayors in 2010, Modena has been quite active, starting with the development of a sustainable energy action plan. It will be important to watch … Continue reading City in Italy uses energy performance contracting to promote energy efficiency
First reflections
The bi-annual eceee Summer Study is now over. Participants have gone home or have taken an extended holiday in the south of France. Most are quite tired from the myriad of panel session presentations, informal sessions, solutions workshops, plenary sessions and chats during the coffee breaks. But it is a good tiredness. The organisation and … Continue reading First reflections
Can energy efficiency play a major role in addressing climate change?
The Breakthrough Institute argues that while energy efficiency offers a tantalising promise of a win-win for both the environment and the economy, there is a growing number of economists and energy analysts caution against overestimating their energy and carbon savings potential and that it is time to rethink the place energy efficiency has taken in … Continue reading Can energy efficiency play a major role in addressing climate change?
