Los Angeles and Paris are taking lead on monitoring GHG emissions

The Washington Post published an Associated Press article on the monitoring underway in Los Angeles and Paris for GHG emissions. It is possible this approach will extend to other cities. Watch your breath megacities: Project aims to track greenhouse gases from LA, Paris Every time Los Angeles exhales, odd-looking gadgets anchored in the mountains above … Continue reading Los Angeles and Paris are taking lead on monitoring GHG emissions →

French village shows way to have wind take them out of debt

Henry Samuel writes in the Telegraph about an important lesson for local governments that are wavering over encouraging renewable energy within their jurisdiction. Are there lessons for others? The French village that bucked the austerity trend In an age of austerity when many French towns are groaning under debt, the mayor of a once-poor village … Continue reading French village shows way to have wind take them out of debt →

Is importing waste the solution?

John Tagliabue writes in the New York Times about the efforts underway to ensure there is sufficient waste for Oslo’s cogeneration plants. A City That Turns Garbage Into Energy Copes With a Shortage This is a city that imports garbage. Some comes from England, some from Ireland. Some is from neighboring Sweden. It even has … Continue reading Is importing waste the solution? →

New energy efficiency calculator developed

Stanislava Gaydazhieva writes on the New Europe website about an EU funded project that Iceland participated in. The project brings many of Europe’s islands together promote energy savings and awareness among households situated on some of Europe's islands. The project recently held a conference on energy efficient consumer behaviour in European islands. Icelandic excellence … Continue reading New energy efficiency calculator developed →

Striving to be the first solar capital of the world

Felicity Barringer of the New York Times provides an excellent article on one city in California that is showing total commitment to solar energy. Hopefully more will be following the lead. With Help From Nature, a Town Aims to Be a Solar Capital There are at least two things to know about this high … Continue reading Striving to be the first solar capital of the world →

Planning changes in ownership of electricity utilities

Diane Cardwell writes in the New York Times about an interesting development in the US for cities to create municipal utilities, replacing private ones, so that they can take a more active role in addressing climate change, power disruptions and increase the share of renewable energy. Cities Weigh Taking Electricity Business From Private Utilities … Continue reading Planning changes in ownership of electricity utilities →

Louisiana stops energy efficiency initiatives

William Pentland writes for Forbes about the latest decision by Louisiana’s Public Service Commission to reject a state-wide energy efficiency programme that would have required energy utilities to offer energy efficiency measures to customers. Big Win for Energy Luddites in Louisiana In February, Louisiana’s Public Service Commission (PSC), the agency responsible for regulating the … Continue reading Louisiana stops energy efficiency initiatives →

Chinese eco-cities

Clare Pennington and Sue Lin Wong write for the Green Environment blog in the New York Times on the difficulties in China for developing eco-cities. Steep Challenges for a Chinese Eco-City Fifty years ago, during a time of food shortages, China's young socialist government singled out a few farm villages as role models for the … Continue reading Chinese eco-cities →

Roll out of smart meters hits snag in British Columbia, Canada

Justine Hunter writes in the Globe and Mail about the problems that B.C. Hydro is having in providing smart meters to all customers. While the problem appears to be the fault of the current government, it shows that one cannot take the consumer for granted. Now the energy company is busily trying to explain to … Continue reading Roll out of smart meters hits snag in British Columbia, Canada →

Retrofits at a fast PACE

Jim Witkin writes for the New York Times about a new financing programme for retrofits in Sacramento California. The programme is modelled on the PACE concept – Property Assessed Clean Energy that has no up-front costs. As countries in Europe are starting to either implement or assess the possibility of such a scheme, it is … Continue reading Retrofits at a fast PACE →