Call for an EU buildings energy renovation strategy

The Joint Research Centre of the European Commission this week launched a new report Energy Renovation: The Trump Card for the New Start for Europe. The report highlights that a more comprehensive approach to energy renovation is instrumental for reaching the EU 2020 goals for energy savings. Furthermore there are important implications for growth and … Continue reading Call for an EU buildings energy renovation strategy →

Rethinking energy efficiency

Andrew Warren of the UK's Association for the Conservation of Energy provides an excellent article in Building Magazine about how the European Commission is now treating energy efficiency as the first fuel. He commends this approach and contrasts this with the latest UK position to put old-fashioned supply-side solutions first. What can you say about … Continue reading Rethinking energy efficiency →

Energy Performance Certificates in the Netherlands heavily criticised

Peter Teffer writes on the EUObserver website about the growing concerns about the effectiveness of the Energy Performance Certificate that is required for buildings. There are concerns about fraud, being too abstract, and playing only a small role in a buyer’s decision. What are your views? Energy savings label under fire in the Netherlands … Continue reading Energy Performance Certificates in the Netherlands heavily criticised →

Impact of EU carbon policy on support for energy savings and renewable energy

Trading System (EU ETS). We have another article by Laurens de Vries and Jörn Richstein published by the Huffington Post UK that raises even more concerns about EU ETS. Why EU's carbon policy discourages subsidies for energy savings and renewables Brussels has just launched a major policy diplomatic offensive aimed at securing a global … Continue reading Impact of EU carbon policy on support for energy savings and renewable energy →

EU emissions trading faces a controversial future

One of the pillars of the EU’s climate change strategy has been its Emissions Trading System yet, even after 10 years, it has not lived up to its expectations. Andrew Warren writes an excellent article in the January issue of Energy in Buildings & Industry magazine, taking us back to the ETS’ beginnings and to … Continue reading EU emissions trading faces a controversial future →

How should the EU’s climate goals be enforced?

Arthur Neslen writes a good article in The Guardian about Britain lobbying to reduce EU powers to act on countries’ failure to meet agreed emissions cuts of 40% by 2030. This is not the first time there has been a debate about who should be responsible for enforcement. Do you have views? UK accused … Continue reading How should the EU’s climate goals be enforced? →

IEA review of EU energy policies

The International Energy Agency has recently published its review of EU’s energy policies as part of its country review series. This follows the first review of EU policies it undertook in 2008. The review states that at the time of the first review, “the European Union had embarked on two major reforms in energy and … Continue reading IEA review of EU energy policies →

Explaining how the mandatory energy audit scheme for large industry works in the UK

Mehran Massih, Jason Y. Pratt and Jeffrey L. Salinger from the legal advisory firm Shearman & Sterling LLP provide an excellent description of how the mandatory energy audit requirement will be implemented in the UK. This is good reading for all who are following the implementation of the EU’s Energy Efficiency Directive. UK Energy … Continue reading Explaining how the mandatory energy audit scheme for large industry works in the UK →

Concerns whether the approach taken by the EU will achieve the ambitious emissions targets

While Europe is recognised to be at the forefront of ambition in reducing GHG emissions, Beth Gardiner write in the New York Times that there are many who are raising concerns that the targets have been affected by deals including the push by coal-dependent Poland to continue on that path. With the global climate negotiations … Continue reading Concerns whether the approach taken by the EU will achieve the ambitious emissions targets →

Actual and test data for vehicles wide off the mark

Pilita Clark and Andy Sharman write in the Financial Times about the test measurements for fuel consumption of new cars and how they are reflecting real conditions less and less. The way the tests are held are being held is being blamed. Carmakers stuck in slow lane over fuel data and air pollution, say … Continue reading Actual and test data for vehicles wide off the mark →