Regulations driving energy efficiency improvements

Writing on the BusinessGreen website, Stuart Turner of Hamworthy Heating looks beyond EU legislation on boiler efficiency to discuss how the real energy savings are to be achieved. Who’s driving energy- efficiency improvements? ErP [the Energy Related Products Directive] is seen as the driving force for energy-efficiency improvements. The criteria set out in the … Continue reading Regulations driving energy efficiency improvements →

Saudi Arabia making good strides forward in promoting energy efficiency

While we know of Saudi Arabia as one of the major oil producers globally, it is also taking energy efficiency seriously. The government efforts through “the Saudi Programme for Energy Efficiency”, seeks to put an end to the growing electric power consumption in the kingdom, through designed programmes and by updating the standard specifications for … Continue reading Saudi Arabia making good strides forward in promoting energy efficiency →

How do you wash dishes?

There are always debates on what is the most energy saving way to wash dishes – washing by hand or by a dishwasher. Chris Mooney writes in the Washington Post about a report in the latest Consumer Report suggesting that the dishwasher is the way to go. Do you agree? Why you shouldn’t wash … Continue reading How do you wash dishes? →

Global impact of the widespread use of air conditioners

The use of air conditioning globally is increasing at a rapid rate, particularly in non-OECD countries. Chris Mooney writes an important article in the Washington Post about this trend. As he writes, the motive is not increasing temperatures but greater wealth. However, unless the electricity can be provided by renewable energy, the impact on global … Continue reading Global impact of the widespread use of air conditioners →

Our desktop computers on stand by can be costly energy consumers

We know how much more energy efficient our computers and other electrical appliances are but we often forget – or simply do not know – how energy consuming they are when not in use. Chris Mooney provides a good article in the Washington Post that shows that many of these appliances are never fully turned … Continue reading Our desktop computers on stand by can be costly energy consumers →

24/7 for many of our appliances and what it costs us

Chris Mooney provides a good article in the Washington Post on our energy waste because we simply cannot (or do not) turn off energy-consuming devices. Many of you will be pleased to see that Alan Meier, a friend of EiD and many of us throughout Europe, gives his explanation. Alan is also a member of … Continue reading 24/7 for many of our appliances and what it costs us →

Even the common kettle can become more efficient

Shane Hickey provides an interesting article in The Guardian on the redesigned kettle. Two designers are convinced their new kettle will revolutionise the way we heat food and drastically reduce energy consumption. Boiling point: redesigning the kettle for the 21st century When Nils Chudy came up with the idea of redesigning the domestic kettle … Continue reading Even the common kettle can become more efficient →

Impact of energy efficiency standards in the US

Donald Elliott from Covington & Burling LLP writes an informative article on The National Law Review website about the quiet success of energy efficiency standards. It would be good to see an equivalent article on the success of the Ecodesign Directive in Europe. Energy Efficiency Standards A Quiet Success Electricity consumption in the United … Continue reading Impact of energy efficiency standards in the US →

Ecodesign – European Commission land grab or market facilitator?

The Third Generation Environmentalism Ltd, E3G, the independent, non-profit organisation accelerating the global transition to sustainable development, provides a new briefing report on Ecodesign in the form of a question and answer entitled Ecodesign – European Commission land grab or market facilitator? It is a valuable briefing note because it reviews what Ecodesign is and … Continue reading Ecodesign – European Commission land grab or market facilitator? →

Ecodesign to focus on big screen TVs

It is long overdue that size matters when it comes to improving energy efficiency. Arthur Neslen writes an important article on the European Commission’s planning to address mega-TVs. It reminds EiD of the effort made by the European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (eceee) several years ago to address whether efficient is sufficient. Hopefully … Continue reading Ecodesign to focus on big screen TVs →