Changing consumer behaviour by speaking the language of energy efficiency

EiD is always looking for good articles addressing consumer attitudes and behaviour. In this article, John Hargrove, president and CEO, of the Association of Energy Services Professionals in the US, explains the importance of the write language. Do you have views on this? To speak energy efficiency, you have to know the language Energy … Continue reading Changing consumer behaviour by speaking the language of energy efficiency →

Getting information about energy saving upgrades into the market place

It is never easy to determine the market value of a home that has had improvements on its energy performance, as explained by Chris Mooney in the Washington Post. Here’s how to get real estate markets to properly value green homes From installing rooftop solar panels to putting in new triple pane windows and … Continue reading Getting information about energy saving upgrades into the market place →

New discussion paper on discount rates

The Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE) commissioned Fraunhofer ISI to investigate the current use of discount rates in energy efficiency policy modelling, with a specific focus put on the building sector. Discount rates are paramount to assess the costs and long-term benefits of different policy scenarios. In any policy discussion in the European Union, there … Continue reading New discussion paper on discount rates →

New portable tool helps map buildings’ energy efficiency potential

Dawn Killough writes a good article on the Planetsave website about a new tool that can gather information about building interiors – the design and exact measurements of a building and that can be carried in a backpack. The tool creates a model of an existing space or building, and also captures existing conditions, creating … Continue reading New portable tool helps map buildings’ energy efficiency potential →

Short briefs on small and medium-sized companies

This week there were two good articles on SMEs and energy efficiency in the UK. The first is by Ben Lobel for the smallbusiness website. The second is by Lucinda Borrell for the smeweb website in the UK. • SMEs mindful of environment in energy efficiency drive Small businesses are placing the environment on … Continue reading Short briefs on small and medium-sized companies →

On target for 2020?

Andrew Warren, honorary president of the UK’s Association for the Conservation of Energy writes about how the UK government appears to be manipulating information it is sending to the European Commission for the monitoring of progress to meet 2020 energy efficiency targets. If the UK is doing this, how many other member states are doing … Continue reading On target for 2020? →

Improving the energy performance of buildings by using intermediaries in the innovation process

Paula Kivimaa, from the Sussex Energy Group at the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU) of University of Sussex explains that we need to rely more on ‘carrot’, ‘sermon’ and voluntary action by a range of actors than regulation to improve the energy performance of buildings. She brings forth some excellent ideas that should give us … Continue reading Improving the energy performance of buildings by using intermediaries in the innovation process →

Update on energy efficiency programmes of US utilities

Dylan Sullivan, a staff scientist for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) writes an excellent account of utility efforts on energy efficiency in the US on the NRDC blog site. Utility investment in energy efficiency programs continues to increase, but we need more Energy efficiency programs - rebates, information, and market development efforts that … Continue reading Update on energy efficiency programmes of US utilities →

Blog on the UK’s Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme

The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme (the CRC, formerly the Carbon Reduction Commitment) is a mandatory carbon emissions reduction scheme in the UK that applies to large non-energy-intensive organisations in the public and private sectors. The CRC was first announced in the 2007 Energy White Paper following a lengthy consultation for the scheme to be mandatory, … Continue reading Blog on the UK’s Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme →

‘Liquid engineering’ provides an answer to a more energy efficient home

Justin McGar writes a good article on the sourceable.net website about a new technique using water that can build more energy-efficient homes. Do you have any views? Houses Made of Water Are the Future for Energy Efficiency An increased awareness of energy consumption, and the financial costs involved, is likely to see households continue … Continue reading ‘Liquid engineering’ provides an answer to a more energy efficient home →