A taxing issue

The European Commission’s press release this week was quite stark in its announcement: . . . The European Commission has decided to refer the United Kingdom to the EU Court of Justice for its reduced VAT rate on the supply and installation of energy-saving materials. This measure goes beyond what is allowed under the VAT … Continue reading A taxing issue →

Launch of new buildings network website

The Global Buildings Performance Network based in Paris has revamped its entire website and launched its participative global Knowledge Platform advancing best practice policies in building energy performance. The new GBPN web-based tool, will stimulate collective research and analysis from experts worldwide to promote better decision-making and help the building sector effectively reduce its impact … Continue reading Launch of new buildings network website →

Is it time for better store closing?

Ed King from the Responding to Climate Change website provides an article that has probably had EiD readers puzzled as well as you have gone shopping recently. Closing the door on energy efficiency Imagine it’s is the middle of winter, but instead of battening down the hatches you wedge the front door open, and put … Continue reading Is it time for better store closing? →

Is efficient sufficient? revisited

Stephen Lacy for Greentech efficiency raises important points about our energy use in houses. In Europe, the eceee had an excellent workshop on this a few years ago, and it needs to be discussed even more. These trends in America are, one suspects, that are also true for Europe. Maybe they will be discussed at … Continue reading Is efficient sufficient? revisited →

Can energy efficiency be easy?

Walter Frick provides a very interesting post in Cleantech and Firstfuel about the importance of making operational changes in commercial buildings. This is important because, when it comes to buildings, too often our first reaction is to undertake a major retrofit. Maybe there is some merit in taking a different view. What if Energy Efficiency … Continue reading Can energy efficiency be easy? →

Can buildings be power plants?

Adam Vaughan writes in the Guardian about new developments in Oxford to create colourful, transparent solar cells that are reputed to only add 10% to the cost of glass buildings. Colourful 'solar glass' means entire buildings can generate clean power A solar power company capable of "printing" colourful glass that can generate electricity from the … Continue reading Can buildings be power plants? →

Even five star hotels need help

The Middle East business intelligence website, Zawya, provides information on upgrading one of Paris’ hotel gems, the Four Seasons George V. Four Seasons George V looks to Energy Efficiency Group for Energy Efficiency advice EEG (Energy Efficiency Group), an energy services provider (an ESCO) in the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean regions, continues to … Continue reading Even five star hotels need help →

Focus on BPIE

The Building Performance Institute Europe is almost three years old and has been churning out valuable material to help Europe improve the energy performance of its building stock. Frequently EiD has highlighted its publications and activities. There are a couple of important updates that EiD readers will be interested in. ENTRANZE First, BPIE is … Continue reading Focus on BPIE →

Retrofits at a fast PACE

Jim Witkin writes for the New York Times about a new financing programme for retrofits in Sacramento California. The programme is modelled on the PACE concept – Property Assessed Clean Energy that has no up-front costs. As countries in Europe are starting to either implement or assess the possibility of such a scheme, it is … Continue reading Retrofits at a fast PACE →

Is the Green Deal a big deal?

Everyone in Europe is watching with great interest how the Green Deal will be implemented in Britain. It is one of the big “experiments” in trying to improve financing for building retrofits. The Green Deal has just started and it has, not surprisingly, gained much press attention. This article by Lisa Bachelor for The Observer … Continue reading Is the Green Deal a big deal? →