New briefing on the role of the Primary Energy Factor

The Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE) has just published an important new briefing on how Primary Energy Factor (PEF) is used and how they should be used in determining the energy performance of buildings. As the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive is going through the revision process, the BPIE argues it is important to focus … Continue reading New briefing on the role of the Primary Energy Factor →

New toolkit to reduce the energy performance gap in new homes

Britain has a new energy performance improvement toolkit prepared by researchers from a sustainable charity. Will Worley explains in an article on the buildings.co.uk website. Toolkit launched to improve energy efficiency of new-build homes The Building Energy Performance Improvement Toolkit is the result of a four year-long research project, backed by £1.5m of government … Continue reading New toolkit to reduce the energy performance gap in new homes →

Better understanding how buildings really work

Too often there is a large gap between expected energy savings and actual savings delivered in “green” buildings. Richard Conniff writes on the e360.yale.edu website that the problem isn’t necessarily inept modelling but that there is a need to better improve modelling in order to help builders and developers. What are your views? Why … Continue reading Better understanding how buildings really work →

Developing an affordable ambitious renovation

There are more and more efforts to go for more and more ambitious energy renovations of buildings. Patrick Sisson writes a good article on the curbed website about a project at Harvard University to create a new proto-type of ultra-efficient existing building that requires almost zero energy. How do you think it compares to other … Continue reading Developing an affordable ambitious renovation →

What is the impact of smart buildings?

We read regularly about new “smart” initiatives from appliances to grids to buildings to financing. Mahmoud Ayman writes on the Camping Canuck website questioning whether smart buildings are living up to their expectations. What do you think? Are Smart Buildings Delivering on Their Promise? Buildings might move toward becoming “more brilliant,” yet that doesn’t … Continue reading What is the impact of smart buildings? →

India setting good example renovating state government buildings

Living in Europe, we watch how central governments are meeting their obligation to renovation a certain percentage of its buildings annually. The Times of India writes about an initiative in India to do something similar. It would be good to know of other such initiatives. 1500 state government buildings to be made energy efficient … Continue reading India setting good example renovating state government buildings →

New underwriter’s guide to facilitate energy efficiency improvements in the US

After having reported on a new G20 investment toolkit last week, Lindsay Robbins writes on the Natural Resources Defense Council website about a new investment handbook to help lenders in the US. They are hoping this will be part of the standard mortgage lending process. New Lender Guide Unlocks Potential for Efficiency Upgrades The … Continue reading New underwriter’s guide to facilitate energy efficiency improvements in the US →

Efficiency isn’t always sufficient

One of the problems of focusing on energy efficiency is that as buildings or products get larger, the impact is affected. Last week EiD had a related post. This week Susan Edmunds writes on the stuff.co.nz website about another example where the gains were cancelled. What is your experience? Growing house size cancels out … Continue reading Efficiency isn’t always sufficient →

Is air quality affecting house prices?

As we see our cities tackling air pollution, we understandably first turn to the health of their citizens. Katie Morley writes in The Telegraph about another concern, the impact on house prices. Have you experienced this? High pollution is reducing house prices by 15pc as buyers reject 'unhealthy' homes Property listings will include traffic … Continue reading Is air quality affecting house prices? →

House size can have important impact on resource use as well as environment

In many countries, new houses are getting increasingly bigger. The phys.org website reports on the a graduate student’s research that documents the impact of house size on resource use and impact on the environment. Is building bigger houses a waste of energy? Research by Iman Khajehzadeh, who graduates with a PhD in Architecture next … Continue reading House size can have important impact on resource use as well as environment →