Important comment on the 27% energy efficiency target

Ian Cheshire, CEO at the Kingfisher Group in the UK (although with many shops throughout the continent) writes a powerful comment on last week’s Council decision on a 27% energy efficiency target for 2030. He says that we need to create a market for energy efficiency to drive demand, and he is so right. EiD … Continue reading Important comment on the 27% energy efficiency target →

Achieving new climate and energy targets for EU proving difficult

EiD already provided readers with maps on the current positions of member states for future climate and energy targets for 2030. There is certainly no consensus. While the UK Secretary of Energy, Ed Davey, believes that a compromise is possible, one must hope it is not the lowest common denominator. This article by Henry Foy, … Continue reading Achieving new climate and energy targets for EU proving difficult →

Look who is supporting ambitious EU climate and energy targets

There are negotiations going on before the climate and energy targets for 2030 are decided upon last week. When you look at it graphically, it shows quite clearly where member states stand. The energy efficiency community has now to raise its voice. Only yesterday, the British energy secretary said there was room for compromise, but … Continue reading Look who is supporting ambitious EU climate and energy targets →

Dissecting Germany’s energy policy

Germany’s plan for a major energy transition, including phasing out nuclear power, came under the scrutiny of the Financial Times this week. The FT sees Merkel’s decision to eliminate nuclear power as a huge mistake. But the argument is deeply flawed because the FT makes no reference to Germany’s comprehensive plans to reduce energy demand … Continue reading Dissecting Germany’s energy policy →

Coming to grips with what the energy efficiency target in the EU could be

E3G, the non-profit organisation operating to accelerate the global transition to sustainable development, has published an excellent briefing paper that takes a second look at the July Communication on energy efficiency published by the European Commission. That Communication proposed a target of a 30 % improvement in energy efficiency by 2030. As the report states, the … Continue reading Coming to grips with what the energy efficiency target in the EU could be →

New call for energy efficiency to lead a new energy policy approach in Europe

Oliver Rapf, Executive Director of the Buildings Performance Institute Europe, writes recently on the BPIE website to remins us of the challenge we have in the upcoming weeks to argue for a paradigm shift in energy policy in Europe. Rapf says it is self-evident about energy efficiency and low carbon being at the heart of … Continue reading New call for energy efficiency to lead a new energy policy approach in Europe →

The EU challenge to find a united approach to achieving emissions targets

There are few who would argue with meeting emissions targets in Europe. But, they are expensive to achieve and many of the new member states have found it difficult to give this a priority when there are so many other economic and social issues to deal with. Christian Oliver writes in the Financial Times about … Continue reading The EU challenge to find a united approach to achieving emissions targets →

Roll out of smart meters in UK still raising concerns

The UK, like all EU member states, is required to install smart meters throughout the country. While there are many reasons for the roll out, one was certainly to help consumers save energy. According to Rebecca Smithers, writing in The Guardian, new reports show that the savings will be modest at best and the costs … Continue reading Roll out of smart meters in UK still raising concerns →

The challenges in implementing energy efficiency directives

The Czech News Agency has written in The Prague Post about the challenges for the Czech Republic to meet some of its obligations under the EU’s Energy Efficiency Directive. It would be good to get examples from other member states. Crucial data on state buildings is still missing from new registry One-fifth of the … Continue reading The challenges in implementing energy efficiency directives →

Energy efficiency starting to be appreciated for potential role in energy security

Arthur Neslen writes an important article in The Guardian about the EU starting to realise that improved energy efficiency can play a major part in cutting dependence on Russian energy supplies. If one looks carefully at the Impact Assessment that accompanied the July 23rd Commission’s Communication on energy efficiency, one will see that its own … Continue reading Energy efficiency starting to be appreciated for potential role in energy security →