German bank helps India finance the retrofit of houses

Rashme Sehgal of the news service deccanchronical.com provides details of support by the state-owned German bank, KfW providing a loan to an Indian bank to finance retrofitting houses in India. German bank push for energy efficient homes In a strong bid to promote energy conservation in the residential sector, German KfW Development Bank is … Continue reading German bank helps India finance the retrofit of houses →

European Investment Bank supports the retrofit of schools in France

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a loan agreement with the Languedoc-Roussillon Region to enable it to build and refurbish secondary schools to a high energy efficiency standard, meeting Europe 2020 environmental norms. A first EUR 100 million instalment was put in place on 7 September 2012 by the President of the Languedoc-Roussillon Region, … Continue reading European Investment Bank supports the retrofit of schools in France →

VAT challenge could harm Green Deal prospects

The UK government is to fight an EU ruling that the UK must raise VAT on energy efficiency products from 5% to 20%. VAT was reduced to 5% on energy efficiency products in the UK because government wants to tackle fuel poverty, reduce carbon emissions and create jobs. Andrew Warren of the Association for the … Continue reading VAT challenge could harm Green Deal prospects →

Berlin is waiting

On October 24th and 25th, the EEIP (Energy Efficiency in Industrial Processes) will hold its bi-annual congress in Berlin in co-operation with Deneff, the GermanBusiness Initiative for Energy Efficiency. The EEIP Congress 24-25 October brings forth the three main elements of EEIP work: energy recovery, financing and energy management systems. With the focus on industrial … Continue reading Berlin is waiting →

Saving for a sunny day

Josephine Cumbo for the Financial Times reports of a new solar fund that has opened for pension investors in Britain. Solar fund opens up to pension investors Wealthy individuals wanting to tap into growing demand for renewable energy now have access to a new solar fund, the country’s first to target pension investors. The Solar … Continue reading Saving for a sunny day →

Addressing fuel poverty in Scotland

Scotland’s Daily Record news describes efforts underway by the Scottish Government to more effectively address fuel poverty. The article quotes Brenda Boardman, who has championed the cause of tackling fuel poverty. Calls for fuel poverty to be stamped out by improving energy efficiency THE Scottish Government has pledged to ensure that by November 2016, "so … Continue reading Addressing fuel poverty in Scotland →

German bank leads way with major funding for renewable energy

The German state-owned bank, KfW, is highly regarded globally for its support for both energy efficiency and renewable energy. It is often seen as a “best practice” bank that sets the standard, even though few other governments have proven willing to create such an institution. Reuters reports on a new initiative from KfW that will … Continue reading German bank leads way with major funding for renewable energy →

Munich Re will invest several billion euros in green energy

The Swiss news service, Romandie.com, reported that the German reinsurer Munich Re plans to boost the profitability of its financial investments by investing billions of euros in renewable energy sector, according to an interview published Saturday. “We want in the next three to five years to develop our investments totaling 2.5 billion euros in renewable … Continue reading Munich Re will invest several billion euros in green energy →

Financing retrofits

Improving the energy performance of buildings will require some innovation on financing. Sandra Kwak, an entrepreneur with Powerzoa and D-Light Energy has provided an insightful, detailed article on energy efficiency financing that should be of interest to EiD readers. It makes for more good summer reading. Energy Efficiency Financing: The Absent, Invisible Hand “How … Continue reading Financing retrofits →

Number of the week – 7.5

The UK’s government's environment policy to kickstart a massive overhaul of the UK's draughty homes to save energy passed the final hurdle to become law on July 2nd amid growing concern that the scheme has become too costly to succeed. It was revealed that the borrowing rate would be 7.5% over a compulsory term of … Continue reading Number of the week – 7.5 →