Nearly-zero energy buildings get important funding in Denmark

To be effective, the energy transition requires our buildings to be as efficient as technically possible. It is encouraging to see that the European Investment Bank is willing to invest in such buildings. The GovernmentEuropa website provides a news item of a recent investment in a building complex in Copenhagen. This is the bank’s first … Continue reading Nearly-zero energy buildings get important funding in Denmark →

Understanding the sick building syndrome

This is a very long article by Shayla Love on The Independent website but it provides a wealth of information on the quality of buildings that affect the health of occupants. Let us know what you think. Sick building syndrome: is it the buildings or the people who need treatment? In early September 2011, … Continue reading Understanding the sick building syndrome →

Giant step by California to require solar power systems on all new homes

We need more jurisdictions to show the leadership that we are seeing in California. It is encouraging to see how the state plans to significantly increase the use of solar power. Ivan Penn explains in an article in the New York Times. California Will Require Solar Power for New Homes Long a leader and … Continue reading Giant step by California to require solar power systems on all new homes →

Don’t forget buildings in the energy transition

There is a great rush to think that if we install enough renewable energy, then our sustainable energy worries are over. They aren’t. Zack Semke, chief marketing officer at NK Architects in Seattle points out in an article on the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce website that building energy efficiency has never been more relevant … Continue reading Don’t forget buildings in the energy transition →

Improving the energy performance of Britain’s least efficient buildings proving to be a rocky road

Less than one-third of those buildings currently rated as Fs or Gs will be likely to be upgraded under a new law. The Government is missing a trick. Andrew Warren, Chairman of the British Energy Efficiency Federation and a regular contributor to EiD, originally published this article on the Energy in Buildings & Industry website. … Continue reading Improving the energy performance of Britain’s least efficient buildings proving to be a rocky road →

Real-time data is the key to unlocking that bold new future

Matt Conway writes a good article on the Energy Collective website about the evolution in how we assess energy efficiency today in our buildings. EiD welcomes your comments. Want More Accurate Building Occupancy and Energy Use Data? Networked LEDs Are Lighting the Way Forward There is a fast-approaching time when the way we assess … Continue reading Real-time data is the key to unlocking that bold new future →

New developments to improve the energy efficiency of buildings

There are many developments taking place to improve the technologies used to improve the energy performance of buildings. The Friedrich Schiller University of Jena describes recent developments in the use of magnetic liquids in an article on the phys.org website. Magnetic liquids improve energy efficiency of buildings Climate protection and the reduction of carbon … Continue reading New developments to improve the energy efficiency of buildings →

California also forging ahead in improving energy performance of its buildings

Regularly we are reading about important developments in energy and climate policies in California that are the envy of America and globally. Pierre Delforge writes on the Natural Resources Defense Council about its policies to improve the energy performance of its buildings stock. Buildings: The Next Frontier for CA Clean Energy Leadership California’s ambitious … Continue reading California also forging ahead in improving energy performance of its buildings →

A new app for viewing an analysis of the energy usage of buildings

Software from ING, the Dutch global financial institution, is providing important information to building owners on how to navigate the transition from “brown” to “green” buildings. Duncan Jefferies explains in an article in The Guardian. How to save money and energy in buildings? There's an app for that Imagine you lease over 175 buildings in … Continue reading A new app for viewing an analysis of the energy usage of buildings →

Why Canada needs to give increased priority to low-carbon buildings

Where I lived in Canada, it is minus 30 degrees Celsius this week and then we can add in the wind chill. Undoubtedly the energy performance of the buildings is fundamental. Annie Bérubé, director of government relations at Équiterre, and Karen Tam Wu, director of the Buildings and Urban Solutions Program at the Pembina Institute, … Continue reading Why Canada needs to give increased priority to low-carbon buildings →