The Third Generation Environmentalism Ltd, E3G, the independent, non-profit organisation accelerating the global transition to sustainable development, provides a new briefing report on Ecodesign in the form of a question and answer entitled Ecodesign – European Commission land grab or market facilitator? It is a valuable briefing note because it reviews what Ecodesign is and … Continue reading Ecodesign – European Commission land grab or market facilitator?
Tag: EU policies
Closely examining the story behind setting the EU’s 2030 target for energy savings
Many were surprised that the European Council lowered the 2030 target for energy savings that had been proposed by the European Commission. Andrew Warren, honorary President of the UK’s Association for the Conservation of Energy, explains in an article for the Energy in Buildings & Industry magazine what happened behind the scenes. The UK’s … Continue reading Closely examining the story behind setting the EU’s 2030 target for energy savings
The need for smart EU energy markets
The Third Generation Environmentalism Ltd, E3G, the independent, non-profit organisation accelerating the global transition to sustainable development, has published an important new briefing report on energy markets in the European Union, written by Simon Skillings and Taylor Dimsdale. As E3G states, it is easy to be pessimistic about the state of EU energy policy and … Continue reading The need for smart EU energy markets
Latest developments in the roll out of smart meters in the UK
The EU has an ambitious plan for 80% market penetration of smart meters by 2020 as part of the internal electricity and gas market reforms. Emily Gosden writes in The Telegraph on the latest developments in the UK. Widespread installation of electricity and gas "smart meters" was due to begin late next year but could … Continue reading Latest developments in the roll out of smart meters in the UK
Ecodesign to focus on big screen TVs
It is long overdue that size matters when it comes to improving energy efficiency. Arthur Neslen writes an important article on the European Commission’s planning to address mega-TVs. It reminds EiD of the effort made by the European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (eceee) several years ago to address whether efficient is sufficient. Hopefully … Continue reading Ecodesign to focus on big screen TVs
New BPIE report on renovation strategies
The Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE) has recently published a report on renovation strategies that are required by EU member states. Article 4 of the 2012 Energy Efficiency Directive requires Member States, for the first time, to set out national strategies for the renovation of their building stocks. The report focuses on 10 member states … Continue reading New BPIE report on renovation strategies
New EU car fleet emissions performance in line with targets
The European Environment Agency recently reported that the efficiency of passenger cars and vans in the EU has improved over the past years, and the number of electric cars, albeit still low, is increasing rapidly. The report, which presents data on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from these vehicles, finds that, on average, both passenger cars … Continue reading New EU car fleet emissions performance in line with targets
Background to Canada lobbying the EU to change the fuel quality directive
Many in Europe were not pleased to hear that the Fuel Quality Directive was changed to allow crude oil from Canada’s tar sands. Barbara Lewis writes in Canada’s Globe and Mail about the lobbying process. How Canada blocked Europe’s dirty oil label In the cafés and bars of Brussels, bitumen has been high on … Continue reading Background to Canada lobbying the EU to change the fuel quality directive
‘Diktats’ on renewable energy and energy efficiency?
Jessica Shankleman writes on the BusinessGreen website how the British Prime Minister protected national interests by ensuring that there is no binding EU energy efficiency target and the one for renewable energy is only binding at the EU level. The Prime Minister referred to avoiding binding ‘diktats’. One wonders what the real national interest is. … Continue reading ‘Diktats’ on renewable energy and energy efficiency?
European Environment Agency assesses how EU meeting 2020 climate and energy targets
The European Environment Agency recently published a set of documents assessing the EU’s progress in meeting 2020 climate and energy targets Policies put the EU on track to meet its 2020 climate and energy targets but bigger push needed for 2030 European Union (EU) greenhouse gas emissions fell almost 2 % between 2012 and … Continue reading European Environment Agency assesses how EU meeting 2020 climate and energy targets
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 