Planning for new energy performance database on Europe’s buildings

Vicky Ellis writes in EnergyLive News about a new database entitled Energy Efficiency Performance of Properties Analysis. This effort is certainly welcome. Craning to see which are the most efficient buildings in Europe? Ever wondered which continental country has the most energy efficient buildings? Or how your building squares up to one in Germany … Continue reading Planning for new energy performance database on Europe’s buildings →

Ukraine must tackle how it uses energy

While many of the headlines concerning Ukraine and Russia have included the problems over natural gas, Ukraine has to take a more balanced approach and address how it uses energy. Christian Oliver and Roman Olearchyk provide a good article in the Financial Times, explaining many of the problems. The article describes the support from the … Continue reading Ukraine must tackle how it uses energy →

Silicon Valley sees many benefits in energy efficiency

Evan Halper writes a good article in the Los Angeles Times about how the high-tech companies in Silicon Valley are seeing good business opportunities by turning to energy efficiency. This represents a major change in how energy efficiency is viewed in the US. High-tech firms focus on energy efficiency to confront climate change As … Continue reading Silicon Valley sees many benefits in energy efficiency →

Looking for a holiday treat?

The Construction Index writes about a temporary site in the suburbs on Paris that demonstrates the benefits of energy-efficient buildings. You can visit it and then head to the Chateau de Versailles since the “micro-city” is built on its parkland. No doubt, the whole family will enjoy it. But you will have to hurry. It … Continue reading Looking for a holiday treat? →

Reviewing the new report – Climate Change: Implications for Buildings

Those working globally, regionally or nationally to improve the energy performance of buildings have recognised and tried to explain to a wider audience the importance of having an ambitious approach to such improvements for both new and existing buildings. While one can go on and on about one energy supply source after another, what it … Continue reading Reviewing the new report – Climate Change: Implications for Buildings →

Latest briefing from E3G – Energy efficiency as Europe’s first response to energy security

Energy efficiency is now higher on the political agenda, with seven countries writing to the European Commission to request binding energy efficiency targets be put on the table. Importantly this includes three of the four crisis-hit Member States – Ireland, Greece and Portugal. These are countries that have clearly understood that it is better for … Continue reading Latest briefing from E3G – Energy efficiency as Europe’s first response to energy security →

Update on rolling out smart meters

Barbara Lewis writes on the Reuters website about the poor progress of introducing smart meters throughout the EU. The EU risks not reaching the 80% roll out goal by 2020. Europe behind target for energy saving power meters Sixteen of the European Union's 28 nations will go ahead with a large-scale roll out of … Continue reading Update on rolling out smart meters →

Question of the week – is the lock in effect a major policy concern?

It would be good to get readers’ views on the “lock in effect” related to the renovation of buildings. The EU’s Energy Efficiency Directive from 2012 requires member states to prepare long-term renovation strategies. In the recital to the Directive it states: Bearing in mind that the Council conclusions of 10 June 2011 on the … Continue reading Question of the week – is the lock in effect a major policy concern? →

China’s moves in the global LED industry

LED lighting has shaken up the lighting industry globally. There are now many big players but China is taking a leading role according to Keith Bradsher in the New York Times. As LED Industry Evolves, China Elbows Ahead A year ago, China’s light-emitting diode industry seemed like a case study of industrial policy gone … Continue reading China’s moves in the global LED industry →

Employment impact from investment in energy efficiency

Pennie Varvarides writes in the website Lighting about the jobs safeguarded in Wales due to recent investment in energy efficiency. Energy efficiency push secures thousands of jobs At least 1,500 private sector jobs have been safeguarded in Wales thanks to investment in energy efficiency. These figures were revealed today by the Carbon Trust’s Wales … Continue reading Employment impact from investment in energy efficiency →