Comparing climate change strategies in the US and Uruguay

It is not often you see comparisons between two significantly different countries. Renee Lewis writes on the Al Jazeera website comparing the US and Uruguay in their approaches to climate change. Uruguay is proud of its decision-making approach and feels that there is much to learn from each other. What do you think? Political … Continue reading Comparing climate change strategies in the US and Uruguay →

Energy efficiency needs to be treated as an energy source

This has been an important year for energy policy in general, but energy efficiency in particular. Hans Nilsson, expert through his company FourFact, Advisor and Honorary Chairman of the IEA DSM-Programme and a friend of EiD, has written a thought provoking column on the eceee website. While the European Commission has been promoting the need … Continue reading Energy efficiency needs to be treated as an energy source →

Energy efficiency employs nearly 1 million in the EU

Some 900 thousand people were employed in work relating to the supply of energy efficient goods and services in 2010, according to a new study entitled ‘assessing the employment and social impact of energy efficiency’. The study, published in December 2015, found that the sectors with the greatest levels of energy efficiency jobs were those … Continue reading Energy efficiency employs nearly 1 million in the EU →

“Everyone benefits from some form of aggressive policies to support energy efficiency”

As 2015 draws to an end, it is encouraging to see the post by David Labrador of the Rocky Mountain Institute on the GreenBiz website, explaining how important improving energy efficiency is to addressing our climate change concerns. Why energy efficiency is the cheapest path to climate action An authoritative new study released earlier … Continue reading “Everyone benefits from some form of aggressive policies to support energy efficiency” →

US utility investment in energy efficiency programmes on an upward path

Energy utilities globally are playing an important role in promoting energy efficiency. The US has had programmes since the first oil crisis. The European Union has its energy efficiency obligation. Ralph Cavanagh has a good blog on Switchboard that is the Natural Resource Defense Council Blog, reviewing the progress in 2015. It would be good … Continue reading US utility investment in energy efficiency programmes on an upward path →

Washington not slowing down on energy efficiency as year coming to an end

It is encouraging to see how the Obama Administration has been able to push the agenda on sustainable energy, even though they have had no co-operation from Congress. Chris Mooney writes in the Washington Post about the latest rulings on minimum energy performance standards. The Department of Energy is calling this the “largest energy-saving standard … Continue reading Washington not slowing down on energy efficiency as year coming to an end →

At Paris climate conference, financing the improvement in buildings has become a particular focus

Buildings are responsible for over 30% of our greenhouse gas emissions, according to many analysts. Thus, it makes sense to address how their energy performance can be improved. Panama Bartholomy, director of the EDF Investor Confidence Project Europe, writes on the Greentech Media website that more than 100 banks managing a total of $4 trillion in … Continue reading At Paris climate conference, financing the improvement in buildings has become a particular focus →

Regulatory concerns about minimum energy performance standards for vacuum cleaners

Ever since the news about how VW flaunted the regulatory process on emissions testing, James Dyson, inventor of his famous bag-less vacuum cleaner, has been raising concerns about vacuum cleaner tests. Michael Pooler writes in the Financial Times about latest developments. Inventor James Dyson faces challenge to clean up EU vacuum tests It took … Continue reading Regulatory concerns about minimum energy performance standards for vacuum cleaners →

How the Chinese are looking to Japan for lessons on energy efficiency

Learning from best practice is necessary for all of us. It is good to see an article from Cai Hong, China Daily’s Tokyo bureau chief writing about what Japanese experience in energy efficiency can do for the Chinese. Lessons can be learned from Japan's energy efficiency experience The Chinese government has announced new target … Continue reading How the Chinese are looking to Japan for lessons on energy efficiency →

With India doubling its building stock within the next two decades, emphasis must be on better performing buildings

Much of the climate change discussion about India recently has concerned coal or renewable energy, but the NewsX website provides a good article about the need to deal with the demand side of the equation, and that needs to start with buildings. India needs to create energy efficient buildings, says expert There is an … Continue reading With India doubling its building stock within the next two decades, emphasis must be on better performing buildings →