British government ditches plans for zero carbon homes

Philip Oldfield writes in the Guardian about the government decision to axe plans to make new homes carbon neutral from 2016. This has raised much criticism. What the article does not mention is how the government will now meet its related obligations for nearly zero energy buildings under the EU’s energy performance of buildings directive. … Continue reading British government ditches plans for zero carbon homes →

Smart technology can help commercial buildings reduce their energy use

The CNA Finance website has an article that describes the benefits of building automation. We Need A Smarter Process for Building Automation Commercial buildings are huge energy consumers that pollute the environment. The good news is that smart building technology exists to provide a solution to this problem for over 5.4 million US commercial … Continue reading Smart technology can help commercial buildings reduce their energy use →

Sustainable energy in Asia

Richard Change writes in the Asia Outlook Magazine about the analyses energy deficiencies on the world’s largest continent, as the region builds towards its pivotal 2030 goals. As we start focusing on the global climate summit in Paris later this year, this is an important read to understand the dynamics in Asia. More Energy … Continue reading Sustainable energy in Asia →

Britain’s domestic energy efficiency strategy needs more money

While another post this week detailed that the UK’s domestic energy efficiency programmes are off track, Rebecca McAdam writes on the 24dash.com website that the Climate Change Committee, that provides independent, evidence-based advice to the UK Government and Parliament, stresses that the government must provide more adequate and effective resources. CCC urges increased investment … Continue reading Britain’s domestic energy efficiency strategy needs more money →

Developments in retrofit metal roofing

The Steelworks website from the American Iron and Steel Institute writes about retrofit metal roofing that helps heat and cool buildings, produces electricity for the grid, and harvests rainwater. Is this the way of the future? High Tech Roofing Brings Energy Efficiency to Department of Defense The nation’s largest energy user, the Department of … Continue reading Developments in retrofit metal roofing →

New passive-design high-rise being built in New York City

Christian de Looper writes a good article in Tech Times about a new high-rise apartment building that will make it the largest passive building in the world. This 26-Story Building Will Be The Largest Passive Building Ever Built Passive energy-powered buildings are becoming more popular, although most of those that pass the requirements to … Continue reading New passive-design high-rise being built in New York City →

There are growing concerns that the UK Green Deal is struggling to deliver large scale improvements and the ECO scheme has been effectively watered down

Will Nichols writes on the BusinessGreen website about a new government report that provides disturbing, but not surprising, news from the UK on the current state of affairs of its domestic energy efficiency programmes. Government energy efficiency plans 'off-track', official review warns The government's household energy efficiency programme is veering off track, according to … Continue reading There are growing concerns that the UK Green Deal is struggling to deliver large scale improvements and the ECO scheme has been effectively watered down →

International survey raises the lack of a holistic energy efficiency strategy in the industrial sector

Robin Whitlock writes on the Renewable Energy Magazine website about a new survey that highlights that, for the most part, industry is not taking a comprehensive approach to addressing energy efficiency. Readers should look seriously at this and see if this is due to the barriers to industrial energy efficiency discussed in another post this … Continue reading International survey raises the lack of a holistic energy efficiency strategy in the industrial sector →

Is it worth improving how we use energy?

A lot of people must be puzzled by the results of a recent study on the cost effectiveness of our energy efficiency programs. Chelsea Harvey in the Washington Post writes of a recent study that compares the cost of efficiency upgrades with the energy they save. What do you think about this? Study raises … Continue reading Is it worth improving how we use energy? →

New report details the barriers hampering the implementation of industrial energy efficiency

Linda Hardesty writes about a new report by the US Department of Energy on the barriers to industrial energy efficiency. Are there other such reports that have been published recently? Barriers Impede Industrial Energy Efficiency The US Department of Energy (DOE) released the report “Barriers to Industrial Energy Efficiency,” which was prepared with collaboration … Continue reading New report details the barriers hampering the implementation of industrial energy efficiency →