New report on the costs and benefits of low energy building pathway

The Global Buildings Performance Network (GBPN) has published an important new report. The report states that mainstreaming high-performance buildings could deliver a 124% return on investment globally through building-related energy cost savings by 2050 says a new comprehensive assessment study of the costs and benefits of low energy building pathways published by the GBPN. The … Continue reading New report on the costs and benefits of low energy building pathway →

Educating people how to understand energy saving features in buildings increases the impact

The Green Building Elements website writes an important article on the importance of the behaviour of people in maximising energy savings. Those savings, however, come through good education. People Are the Key to Energy Efficiency Click Green reports that research conducted by Washington State University shows people are key to energy efficiency and that … Continue reading Educating people how to understand energy saving features in buildings increases the impact →

What needs to be considered in buying an energy efficient home

Suzanne Shelton writes in the builderonline website on how to market the benefits of a green home without talking about green features. Four Reasons Buyers Choose Energy-Efficient Homes In the advertising profession, there’s an old adage that nobody wants to buy a ¾-inch drill bit; they want to buy a ¾-inch hole. In other … Continue reading What needs to be considered in buying an energy efficient home →

Learning by doing

David Giambusso writes on the Capital New York website that even buildings can learn to improve how they use energy New System Lets Buildings Learn from Energy Use One of New York City's oldest real estate companies is implementing a program that allows buildings to learn how to cut their energy use, and emissions. … Continue reading Learning by doing →

Potential impact of new minimum performance standards for rental buildings in the UK

The UK is requiring landlords to have their buildings meet a minimum performance level as of 2018. While the initial reaction was muted, now the real estate industry is realising the implications. Aliya Ram and Kate Allen write a good article in the Financial Times about recent developments. Let’s hope the government is not pressured … Continue reading Potential impact of new minimum performance standards for rental buildings in the UK →

Energy efficiency seen as a priority for Class B office buildings in New York City

One seldom hears about Class B buildings but cities have many of them. C. J. Hughes writes a good article in the New York Times about the efforts underway to ensure that their energy performance is improved. This is a good initiative that hopefully will be replicated elsewhere. Manhattan’s Second-Tier Office Buildings Make Energy … Continue reading Energy efficiency seen as a priority for Class B office buildings in New York City →

Promoting energy efficiency in buildings

Don Hopey writes in the Pittsburg Post-Gazette about the recent World Sustainable Building Conference in Barcelona. It is encouraging to see all the efforts to promote energy efficiency in buildings In Barcelona, a global call for energy-efficient buildings In this Mediterranean port city where Antoni Gaudi’s surreal architectural masterpieces have forever altered the skyline … Continue reading Promoting energy efficiency in buildings →

New BPIE report on renovation strategies

The Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE) has recently published a report on renovation strategies that are required by EU member states. Article 4 of the 2012 Energy Efficiency Directive requires Member States, for the first time, to set out national strategies for the renovation of their building stocks. The report focuses on 10 member states … Continue reading New BPIE report on renovation strategies →

Britain turns to the Netherlands for a retrofit model

While Europe is increasingly turning to nearly zero energy buildings for new build, the need for that concept to take hold for existing buildings is important. Arthur Neslen writes an important article in The Guardian about how Britain is turning to an important development in The Netherlands. Is this the way for the future? Are … Continue reading Britain turns to the Netherlands for a retrofit model →

Skyscrapers turning into plyscrapers

Athlyn Cathcart-Keays writes in the Guardian about a new development of engineered timber that could herald a new era of eco-friendly ‘plyscrapers’. Christchurch welcomed its first multistorey timber structure this year, there are plans for Vancouver, and the talk is China could follow. Wooden skyscrapers could be the future of flat-pack cities around the … Continue reading Skyscrapers turning into plyscrapers →