Assessing the German energy transition

The Economist news magazine usually does not hesitate to express its views. This is certainly true in this article that analyses what it belives has gone wrong with Germany’s energy transition. What has gone wrong with Germany's energy policy On December 3rd the German government announced plans to redouble its Energiewende, or “energy transition”, … Continue reading Assessing the German energy transition →

New report from European Environment Agency: Industrial air pollution has high economic cost

The European Environment Agency (EEA) has come out with an important new study on industrial air pollution. Air pollution and GHG emissions from industry cost Europe between €59 and €189 billion in 2012, the report shows. The upper estimate is approximately equivalent to the GDP of Finland or half the GDP of Poland. Over the … Continue reading New report from European Environment Agency: Industrial air pollution has high economic cost →

Assessing the cost of energy efficiency

Merriam Borgeson writes an excellent blog for Switchboard, Natural Resources Defense Counsel Staff Blog, on a recent study comparing the cost of energy efficiency and the cost of building coal power plants. New Analysis: The Cost of Energy Efficiency is Under Half the Cost of Building Dirty Coal Power Plants After mining the results … Continue reading Assessing the cost of energy efficiency →

Comments on the IEA’s World Energy Outlook

This year’s World Energy Outlook (WEO) from the International Energy Agency provides a stark warning that the global energy system is in danger of falling short of the hopes and expectations placed upon it. It does add that advances in technology and efficiency give some reasons for optimism, but sustained political efforts will be essential … Continue reading Comments on the IEA’s World Energy Outlook →

The financial case for energy efficiency

The Green Building Press writes about a new report for the Energy Bill Revolution in the UK that assesses the financial benefits of a radical insulation programme. Report puts financial case for energy efficiency A new report published this week shows that a big boost in energy efficiency investment would save UK households £4.95 … Continue reading The financial case for energy efficiency →

Linking energy efficiency to economic productivity

John A. “Skip” Laitner, an energy and resource economist, well known to many EiD readers, has recently published an article entitled Linking energy efficiency to economic productivity: recommendations for improving the robustness of the U.S. economy. It discusses new evidence that traces, at least in part, both the growing climate problem and a weakening economy … Continue reading Linking energy efficiency to economic productivity →

Addressing climate change: investing in infrastructure and the need for structural adjustment

In September, the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate (chaired by former President of Mexico Felipe Calderón and Lord Stern) published its major report, The New Climate Economy Report. This report is playing an important role preparing the need for a global commitment on climate change, hopefully at the climate conference in Paris in … Continue reading Addressing climate change: investing in infrastructure and the need for structural adjustment →

Documenting the energy savings potential in India’s residential buildings

A new report entitled Residential Buildings in India: Energy Use Projections and Savings Potentials by the Global Buildings Performance Network (GBPN) and jointly developed with CEPT University from India provides the first comprehensive attempt to document energy saving potentials that could be achieved in India by 2050 in the residential sector. Four energy scenarios were … Continue reading Documenting the energy savings potential in India’s residential buildings →

IEA report on multiple benefits from improved energy efficiency

Early last week, the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, Maria van der Hoeven, launched a new report on energy efficiency. The report, Capturing the Multiple Benefits of Energy Efficiency, is the culmination of a multi-year effort by the IEA and many committed experts (including Rod) to quantify the many benefits from improved energy … Continue reading IEA report on multiple benefits from improved energy efficiency →

New market analysis on energy efficient buildings in Europe

The azocleantech website reviews a new report by Navigant Research on the state of play in improving energy efficiency of buildings in Europe and in assessing the cumulative spending to improve their performance. New Forecast Report on Cumulative Spending on Energy Efficient Buildings in Europe Buildings account for 40 percent of Europe’s final energy … Continue reading New market analysis on energy efficient buildings in Europe →