Tag: buildings

Nationally recognised standards for competency-based certification programs important for improving energy performance of buildings

Lauren Zullo, a staff member of the US Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) writes an important article on the NRDC staff blog website about the importance of better training and certification of building energy professionals. Hopefully we are seeing the same attention to workforce guidelines in Europe.   New Workforce Guidelines Will Promote Energy Efficiency … Continue reading Nationally recognised standards for competency-based certification programs important for improving energy performance of buildings →

France taking new approach to promote renewable energy

In a few years from now France will have to ensure that all new buildings are nearly zero energy buildings under the EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. That will definitely require the deployment of renewable energy technologies. As explained by Agence France Press in The Guardian, in some first steps, France has now decreed … Continue reading France taking new approach to promote renewable energy →

Energy Performance Certificates in the Netherlands heavily criticised

Peter Teffer writes on the EUObserver website about the growing concerns about the effectiveness of the Energy Performance Certificate that is required for buildings. There are concerns about fraud, being too abstract, and playing only a small role in a buyer’s decision. What are your views?   Energy savings label under fire in the Netherlands … Continue reading Energy Performance Certificates in the Netherlands heavily criticised →

Display energy certificates on trial

The EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive gives considerable importance to consumers and the general public in knowing and understanding the energy performance of buildings. For public buildings, the idea was to have Display Energy Certificates (DECs) that would allow the public know the performance of buildings that were deemed part of the public space. … Continue reading Display energy certificates on trial →

Buildings coming up to measure . . .

George Putic writes a very interesting article on the Voice of America website about how new technology is dealing with energy simulation, thermo-modeling or architectural design. He argues that what is needed in designing many retrofits is precise configuration of buildings, something that has been very difficult to obtain without great expense. Now a new … Continue reading Buildings coming up to measure . . . →

New tool for improving building energy management

An EU funded project, launched in 2013, is designed to take a holistic approach to energy monitoring methodology. This will surely help in the EU achieving its energy efficiency targets for buildings.   Better monitoring energy efficiency in buildings By developing new tools and methodologies, the PERFORMER project aims to improve building energy management and … Continue reading New tool for improving building energy management →

Is efficient sufficient?

A few years ago, the European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (eceee) organised a workshop in Brussels on shifting our emphasis in energy specifications to progressive efficiency and sufficiency. This is a topic that will come up more and more as we see far too many trends towards increased size in buildings, appliances, vehicles, … Continue reading Is efficient sufficient? →

Making hotels more energy efficient

Mark Sait, CEO of SaveMoneyCutCarbon, writes on the GreenWise website, about how much energy can be saved by hotels in Britain to benefit both the bottom line and cut carbon emissions.   How SME hotels can make big energy efficiency savings fast It’s a shocking fact that in 2015 UK companies of all sizes continue … Continue reading Making hotels more energy efficient →

Progressive utilities in US grasp the value of LEED

Derek Handova writes on the Intelligentutility website about the role utilities are playing to promote more advanced LEED buildings in the US. Handover admits that In spite of the efforts of some very progressive utilities, overall, utility LEED programmes still need more outreach because of their lack of uptake.   Utilities LEED us into energy … Continue reading Progressive utilities in US grasp the value of LEED →