Any energy policy shifts in US should reflect the benefits from past regulations

With the Trump administration determined to radically shift away from the regulatory approach that has been taken, Joseph Aldy, Associate Professor of Public Policy at Harvard University, writes on The Conversation website about the benefits that have come from regulations. What Trump misses about regulations: They produce benefits as well as costs President Trump … Continue reading Any energy policy shifts in US should reflect the benefits from past regulations →

The debate continues on how best to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Barbara Carss wrote a fascinating article on the Building Strategies + Sustainability website about a debate going on in Canada over the use of energy efficiency standards to address greenhouse gas emissions. She writes that one economist calls emission caps the most efficient greenhouse gas reduction tool. Why don’t you let us know what you … Continue reading The debate continues on how best to reduce greenhouse gas emissions →

Assessing the cost of energy efficiency programmes

CleanTechnica provides an important article on a recent study by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory on energy efficiency costs. This is reputed to be the most comprehensive study to date and it is definitely needed both in America and beyond. US Energy Efficiency Programs Cost 2 Cents Per Kilowatt-Hour Saved America’s most comprehensive study of energy … Continue reading Assessing the cost of energy efficiency programmes →

New energy efficiency standards in the US approved

Andrew Gaven writes in the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Magazine about new standards for commercial refrigeration. The new standards replace earlier standards that had been in place since 2009. US introduces new energy efficiency standards for commercial refrigeration Updated standards will cut energy use by 30 per cent and save business $12 billion, news … Continue reading New energy efficiency standards in the US approved →

Evaluating behavioural energy efficiency programmes

Katherine Tweed writes on the Greentechefficiency website about the difficulty in evaluating many energy efficiency programmes in the US. She reviews a recent report by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). She explains that a dearth of data is making it difficult to effectively evaluate nearly 300 programmes across the U.S. Can … Continue reading Evaluating behavioural energy efficiency programmes →

Energy efficiency programmes need to reflect needs of consumers

The Dromore Leader in Lisburn, Northern Ireland writes about findings from the Consumer Council on the need for better targeted energy efficiency programmes. Hopefully others outside Northern Ireland will also listen to this advice. Energy schemes need to be smarter, says consumer council Reduce the number of energy efficiency schemes and concentrate spending on high … Continue reading Energy efficiency programmes need to reflect needs of consumers →

New OECD report on renewable energy

There is an important new report entitled, "Domestic Incentive Measures for Renewable Energy With Possible Trade Implications" by Heymi Bahar, Jagoda Egeland, and Ronald Steenblik. It is OECD Trade and Environment Working Paper, 2013/01. The OECD has come out with an excellent new report on renewable energy, looking at the possible implications this means for … Continue reading New OECD report on renewable energy →

This was the week that was

Everyone thinks the last week of May in Paris is all about tennis – Roland Garros, the French Open. Far from it for those working on sustainable energy issues! For two days, there was the 2nd building sector symposium organised by the Global Buildings Performance Network (GBPN). The main objective of the meeting was to … Continue reading This was the week that was →

Assessing how consumers understand the EU energy label – new report

CLASP, the Collaborative Labeling & Appliance Standards Program, has published a report that gives us insight into how consumers are understanding the newly designed energy labels In 2010, the original Energy Labelling Directive was recast. Its scope of applicability was broadened, and many existing labels – specifically those applying to refrigerators and freezers, washing machines, … Continue reading Assessing how consumers understand the EU energy label – new report →

New energy efficiency regulations for renovation work in Finland

Finland’s Ministry of the Environment issued new regulations on February 27th for improving the energy efficiency of buildings during renovation and alteration works. The regulations will come into effect on June 1, 2013 for buildings in public use and on September 1, 2013 for other buildings. The regulations define the minimum requirements for energy efficiency … Continue reading New energy efficiency regulations for renovation work in Finland →