Developments in improving the energy performance of commercial buildings

Rob Matheson from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology News Office provides a good post on how an automated energy analytics platform collects data on commercial buildings to improve energy efficiency. Let us know what you think. Scaling commercial energy efficiency Big data may soon make buildings greener. With a recent major acquisition, MIT alumni-founded … Continue reading Developments in improving the energy performance of commercial buildings →

Reflecting on the slow death of Britain’s Green Deal

Many posts have been written in recent years about the rise and then demise of the Green Deal. Andrew Warren, a regular contributor to EiD and undoubtedly our most prolific commenter, writes an important post in the November/December issue of the magazine Energy in Buildings and Industry, questioning who is responsible for its slow death. … Continue reading Reflecting on the slow death of Britain’s Green Deal →

A surprising idea about the future of large building construction

Chris Mooney writes in the Washington Post about the US Department of Agriculture’s plans to demonstrate the feasibility of building tall buildings out of wood. Interestingly, the article states that In the last five years, 17 tall wood buildings have been built around the world that are over seven stories in height. What do you … Continue reading A surprising idea about the future of large building construction →

Now Japan is look at net-zero energy houses

While much of the focus on net-zero energy buildings has been on Europe and North America, the Nikkei Asian Review website provides a good post on recent developments in Japan that I’m sure you’ll enjoy. For Japan homebuilders zero is magic number Major homebuilders in Japan are hoping to sell many more net-zero energy … Continue reading Now Japan is look at net-zero energy houses →

Are we valuing energy-efficient buildings correctly?

There has always been a concern that we are not adequately valuing our investments in energy efficiency. James Phillips writes on the BusinessGreen website about a new report that claims mortgage lenders are using inaccurate models to estimate energy bills and mortgage affordability Energy efficient homes 'undervalued by almost £50,000' Banks could be undervaluing … Continue reading Are we valuing energy-efficient buildings correctly? →

Positive developments in getting property owners to appreciate benefits of energy efficiency

The buildings sector is reputed to have the highest potential for energy efficiency improvements but everyone realises the problems to get owners and occupiers to improve energy performance. Merrill Kramer and Joshua Sturtevant from Sullivan & Worcester LLP in the US write on the lexology website about how attitudes of owners are changing. Property … Continue reading Positive developments in getting property owners to appreciate benefits of energy efficiency →

Some British social landlords learning lessons from the Netherlands on energy efficiency

Inside Housing reports on a new technique borrowed from the Dutch to retrofit a house in 10 days to a ‘zero-energy’ standard. Does anyone have more information on this? Landlords pilot Dutch energy efficiency model A consortium of social landlords has formed a company to pilot a new construction technique that pays for itself … Continue reading Some British social landlords learning lessons from the Netherlands on energy efficiency →

Re-thinking how we keep cool

In the Northern Hemisphere, summer is soon to leave us but there are still warm days that make us reach for air conditioning. Elizabeth Shockman writes about the increased interest in air conditioning in emerging economies on the Public Radio International (PRI) website. She assesses some innovative ways that will be less costly and have … Continue reading Re-thinking how we keep cool →

Demand flexibility

Chris Mooney writes a good article in the Washington Post about what the Rocky Mountain Institute calls ‘demand flexibility’ or ‘flexiwatts.’ Is this the way of the future? There’s a big change coming to how we power our homes — and it isn’t about solar or batteries Earlier this year, home energy received its … Continue reading Demand flexibility →

Balancing energy supply and energy demand priorities

Barbara Lewis writes a good article on the Reuters news service website about the benefits of energy efficient homes in Europe. Low-energy, healthy homes: Europe's answer to shale gas? With street names such as Temperance and Hygiene and plenty of green open spaces, the 1920s Bon Air (Good Air) housing estate in a working-class … Continue reading Balancing energy supply and energy demand priorities →