Proposed legislation in US for innovative approach to finance energy-efficient homes

Diane Cardwell writes in the New York Times about a bill reintroduced in the Senate to have energy-efficient buildings qualify for larger mortgages than normally allowed. Given the complexity of the American legislative process, one can only hope this draft bill gains wide acceptance in Congress. Bill Would Sweeten Loans for Energy-Efficient Homes Home … Continue reading Proposed legislation in US for innovative approach to finance energy-efficient homes →

The first building with an algae-bioreactor façade

Robert Everett-Green writes in Canada’s Globe and Mail newspaper about the BioIntelligent Quotient House recently opened in Hamburg, Germany. A Toronto firm did much of the design. The building has external tubes of algae to help heat, shade and generate power for the building. As Europe moves towards nearly zero energy buildings which combines renewable … Continue reading The first building with an algae-bioreactor façade →

India looks to better energy performing buildings

Peter Lehner wrote in the Energy Collective about the building boom in India and the role that improved energy performance can play in reducing many of the power supply problems facing the country. The US Natural Resources Defense Council is providing assistance which is undoubtedly welcome and needed. Yet, it is worrying that India still … Continue reading India looks to better energy performing buildings →

This was the week that was

Everyone thinks the last week of May in Paris is all about tennis – Roland Garros, the French Open. Far from it for those working on sustainable energy issues! For two days, there was the 2nd building sector symposium organised by the Global Buildings Performance Network (GBPN). The main objective of the meeting was to … Continue reading This was the week that was →

Assessing how consumers understand the EU energy label – new report

CLASP, the Collaborative Labeling & Appliance Standards Program, has published a report that gives us insight into how consumers are understanding the newly designed energy labels In 2010, the original Energy Labelling Directive was recast. Its scope of applicability was broadened, and many existing labels – specifically those applying to refrigerators and freezers, washing machines, … Continue reading Assessing how consumers understand the EU energy label – new report →

Will energy labels work for vacuum cleaners

James Dyson, the inventor of the Dual Cyclone bagless vacuum cleaner technology and founder of the Dyson Company, provides his views on the proposed energy labels for vacuum cleaners in an article for EurActiv. Energy labels for vacuum cleaners won’t do the job Like legislation on light bulbs, the EU’s bright environmental goals for vacuum … Continue reading Will energy labels work for vacuum cleaners →

Quote of the week

“Sometimes politicians are looking for simple quick fixes and, when they say ‘natural gas is half the price in the US, why can’t we do that in Europe?’ the rational response would be that in that case, we should use less gas,” Hans Nilsson, board member of eceee (European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy) … Continue reading Quote of the week →

Benefits of energy efficient homes

Andy Warren, President of Maracay Homes in Arizona, writes for the Explorer news about a new study that quantified the link between energy-efficient homes and mortgage risks. Separately, NV Energy in Nevada spent $267 million on energy efficiency programmes during 2007-12. This led to savings of 1.9 billion kilowatt-hours per year, the amount of savings … Continue reading Benefits of energy efficient homes →

Finns support building renovations in Moscow

The Science Codex writes that VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland is helping Moscow address the technical problems of the poor quality buildings in Moscow. The work covers both individual buildings and entire districts. Finnish researchers to provide solutions for energy-efficient repairs in Moscow There are many old and decrepit residential buildings in Moscow … Continue reading Finns support building renovations in Moscow →

Report shows that energy efficient companies in Australia reap important benefits

Marcus Priest writes in the Australian Financial Review about the important results from a study by ACIL Tasmania after the first five years of the federal government’s Energy Efficiency Opportunities programme. Carbon savings windfall for energy efficient companies Companies are saving the equivalent of around $100 for every tonne of emissions they have reduced by … Continue reading Report shows that energy efficient companies in Australia reap important benefits →