Energy Saving News
November 2009
Proposals For Climate Summit Promote Energy Saving
Denmark - host country for the Copenhagen climate summit from December 7th to 18th - has recently released a draft proposal ahead of the conference, stating that the world should aim for a 50% carbon emissions reduction by 2050 from 1990 levels. This achievement is accessible through the implementation of energy ...
Monday 30th November 2009 | Read full article
Energy Efficiency In Buildings The Key To Climate Change Combat
The world's buildings account for about 30% of the global energy consumption. The remaining 70% is due to transportation (about 30%) and factories/mines (about 40%). Environmental concerns have lead governments to implement regulatory measures to make cars and factories more energy efficient, but little has yet been done for buildings. Considering the amazing ...
Monday 30th November 2009 | Read full article
Different Energy Saving Measures For Different Organisations
The Carbon Trust has reaffirmed that energy saving strategies should vary from one business to another in order to be more effective. Certain energy saving methods could deliver great results in some industries but not achieve as well in others, says Henrietta Stock, The Carbon Trust's technology acceleration manager. For example, some ...
Sunday 29th November 2009 | Read full article
Russia Implements Energy Efficiency Legislation
A law on energy saving and efficiency has just been signed by Russian President, Dimtry Medvedev. Energy saving and efficiency issues will be regulated by the legislation, which will namely be imposing new restraints on the use of incandescent light bulbs. The law makes compulsory that electrical products be marked according to their energy efficiency, ...
Friday 27th November 2009 | Read full article
Greenwashing in the Workplace
Recent research, conducted by the Lumison (a UK business ISP), has shown that less than 30 % of UK companies use energy efficient products, or carry out a carbon audit, which evaluates ways in which the company could reduce carbon emissions. The study shows that while 70% of UK employees are said to ...
Thursday 26th November 2009 | Read full article
Energy Efficiency Or Credit Crunch? The Focus Shifts
Global concerns about climate change have surpassed those relative to the credit crunch, which has persisted in some parts of the world since last year. Diligent efforts are being made world wide to incite businesses around the globe to integrate environmental factors in their activity by becoming energy efficient. These measures show that primary concerns have ...
Thursday 26th November 2009 | Read full article
Climate Change Creating UK Floods
Climate change manifests itself in many ways, one of which is the recent flooding of Cumbria, which was described as a 'once in a millenium' event. An increasing number of natural disasters is going to occur and events such as the Cumbrian floods have already started to multiply worldwide. Climatic disturbances are ...
Thursday 26th November 2009 | Read full article
EU Reaches Agreement On Energy Savings In Buildings
The long awaited consensus regarding new builds has finally been adopted by the EU this week, confirming that new buildings would have to comply with energy efficient standards and draw a substantial part of their energy needs from renewable sources after the end of 2020. The public sector is first targeted ...
Thursday 26th November 2009 | Read full article
Energy Efficiency Cheaper and Faster than Nuclear Power
A new report, conducted by the Environment California Research & Policy Center, has shown that creating a nuclear power industry from scratch is slower and more expensive than relying on energy efficient solutions to fight climate change. The US currently have no nuclear reactors in construction, and the country's power companies have not ordered a ...
Thursday 26th November 2009 | Read full article
Energy Efficiency For Businesses A Priority
Businesses should implement energy efficient measures in the work place to cut down on their carbon emissions, says the presenter of "Dumped" on Channel 4, Rob Holdway. It would appear that although most employees use energy efficient solutions in their homes, they lose their momentum when they go to work and forget about environmental issues. At ...
Thursday 26th November 2009 | Read full article
Sir John Parker Endorses Energy Efficiency For Businesses
UK's influential newspaper, the Daily Telegraph interviewed the Chairman of the National Grid last week, Sir John Parker, concerning his views on energy efficiency. Sir John has successfully been implementing sustainability and energy saving policies for years, as he worked in collaboration with numerous major industrial and commercial organisations. It is Sir John's firm belief that ...
Thursday 26th November 2009 | Read full article
UK's Next Step Towards Low-Carbon Economy
The UK's next plan of action towards a low-carbon economy was described in a speech given by the Queen a few days ago. Similarly to most countries in the world at present, the UK strives to participate actively in the conservation of the world's resources, aware that reducing energy consumption also ...
Wednesday 25th November 2009 | Read full article
Energy Efficiency - The World Under A New Light
100W and frosted incandescent light bulbs have just been banned in the EU, after an odd 200 years of service. The attempt to curb climate change is the source of this EU initiative. Energy efficient fluorescent or halogen lighting is up to 80% more efficient than its incandescent counterpart, which should ...
Wednesday 25th November 2009 | Read full article
The Era of Energy Efficiency
The era of clean and cheaper energy sources has come at last! As one of the last power plants, the Big Stone II, admits defeat in the US, new opportunities arise for a change to more environmentally-friendly and cost-effective power in the Upper Midwest, and worldwide. The running cost of the Big Stone II ...
Friday 20th November 2009 | Read full article
Global Warming - On Our Way To +6C
Irreversible climate changes could be taking place in the near future if carbon emissions are not dramatically reduced, according to several researchers. Scientists estimate a 6C increase of average global temperatures, and claim that civilisation is now on its way to reaching this alarming prediction, by the end of this century or the middle of ...
Friday 20th November 2009 | Read full article
Energy Efficiency Or Credit Crunch? The Focus Shifts
Global concerns about climate change have surpassed those relative to the credit crunch, which has persisted in some parts of the world since last year. Diligent efforts are being made worldwide to incite businesses around the globe to integrate environmental factors into their activities through energy efficient. These measures show that primary ...
Tuesday 17th November 2009 | Read full article
Green Washing in the Workplace
The study shows that while 70% of UK employees are said to think that their company is green for having a recycling bin right next to the photocopy machine, a very small percentage of them actually know of the various disposals available to actively reduce a company's impact on the ...
Tuesday 17th November 2009 | Read full article
Art Gallery Sets Green Example
Nottingham Contemporary, a new 3000 sq m public art gallery in the UK which opened on November 13th, was created to be equipped with the most recent energy-saving solutions to demonstrate a large building can have high levels of energy efficiency and sustainability. The building, representing the largest facility of its ...
Monday 16th November 2009 | Read full article
A New State of Mind for the United States
The newly elected US President, Barack Obama, has placed energy efficiency as a top priority on his presidential agenda. He believes that his administration's economy recovery plan depends on energy efficiency in buildings: "First, we will launch a massive effort to make public buildings more energy efficient. Our government now pays ...
Monday 16th November 2009 | Read full article
Innovation
Innovation is "crucial" in the development and implementation of new energy efficiency strategies, one industry expert has avowed. US agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack made his remarks as his country's departments of agriculture and energy announced that grants of more than $24 million (£14.4) have been allocated to a number of projects ...
Friday 13th November 2009 | Read full article
Councils 'can help communities reduce carbon emissions'
Councils can help their local communities to reduce carbon emissions and become more energy efficient, one industry expert has asserted. David Kidney, Labour MP for Stafford and parliamentary under-secretary of state in the Department of Energy and Climate Change, made his remarks at the Sustainable Communities Conference, which took place in ...
Friday 13th November 2009 | Read full article
Obama discusses energy efficiency in Asia
Energy efficiency and carbon emission reduction are high on the agenda for US president Barack Obama as he begins his first tour of Asia since he assumed control of the White House. He is expected to take part in a series of bilateral talks with India, China and Japan during his ...
Friday 13th November 2009 | Read full article
UK shoreline offers
There is "massive" scope for the implementation of renewable and energy management projects in the areas around the UK's shorelines, one industry expert has claimed. Energy and climate change minister Lord Hunt made his remarks as it was announced that construction work is set to begin next week on a £42 ...
Friday 13th November 2009 | Read full article
'Fast energy management deal' sought by world leaders
World leaders want to reach an energy efficiency and management deal that will reduce carbon emissions and tackle global warming by the middle of 2010, it has been claimed. Janos Pasztor, climate adviser to UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon, is quoted by Reuters as saying that now that it has been ...
Friday 13th November 2009 | Read full article
Scottish energy efficiency initiative completed ahead of schedule
Energy efficiency work on a windfarm in Scotland has been completed ahead of schedule, it has been reported. The scheme involved the installation of a total of 35 new wind turbines at the Dun Law Windfarm site, which has tripled the capacity of the facility near Oxton. Permission for the work was ...
Friday 13th November 2009 | Read full article
Basic energy efficiency strategies 'not costly'
Rolling out basic energy efficiency strategies is not prohibitively expensive, according to one sector commentator. Gordon Miller, founder of online resource whatgreenhome.com, made his comments after Lord Adair Turner said that once people implement basic energy management schemes - such as installing efficient boilers - more "intrusive" methods are required. Lord Turner ...
Friday 13th November 2009 | Read full article
World leaders confirm attendance at energy efficiency talks
At least 40 world leaders - including Gordon Brown, Kevin Rudd and Nicolas Sarkozy - have announced that they intend to be present at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen next month. The news comes after Danish prime minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen sent invitations to 191 potential delegates through diplomatic ...
Friday 13th November 2009 | Read full article
Legislation to reduce carbon emissions 'coming into force'
One sector commentator has noted that legislation designed to reduce carbon emissions will be brought into place from April 2010. Nick Robinson, technical operation lead at Cisco, made his comments at the Green IT Expo 2009, which took place at the Barbican Exhibition Centre in London between November 10th and 11th. He ...
Friday 13th November 2009 | Read full article
DECC implements energy efficiency programme
The UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has reaffirmed its commitment to reducing its environmental impact by signing up to the 10:10 energy efficiency campaign. In a statement issued in recent days, the body explained that this means it will take steps to reduce carbon emissions by ten per ...
Thursday 12th November 2009 | Read full article
DOE praises energy efficiency of wind turbine
The US department of energy (DOE) has joined a number of industry representatives and staff from its national labs to praise the energy efficiency of a new wind turbine at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. In a statement, the body explained that the new state-of-the-art 1.5 MW tool, which is informally ...
Thursday 12th November 2009 | Read full article
'Most consumers' have yet to employ energy efficiency initiatives
The majority of consumers have yet to employ energy efficiency schemes in their properties, according to one sector commentator. Gordon Miller, founder of online resource whatgreenhome.com, made his comments after the Department of Energy and Climate Change announced governmental plans to improve the energy efficiency of low-income consumers' properties at the ...
Thursday 12th November 2009 | Read full article
IT "the key" to enhancing energy efficiency
One sector commentator has suggested that IT is "the key" to the proliferation of energy efficiency initiatives across the globe. Warren Wilson, research director at telecoms, IT and software services organisation Ovum/Datamonitor, made his comments at the Green IT Expo 2009, which took place at the Barbican Exhibition Centre in London ...
Thursday 12th November 2009 | Read full article
"Technology shift" needed for energy efficiency
Advances in technology are required in order to allow for the proliferation of energy efficiency strategies, it has been asserted. Neil Wallis, head of communications for the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership, made his comments after Cambridge Econometrics published research in recent days that indicated the government is likely to miss its ...
Thursday 12th November 2009 | Read full article
All UK energy efficiency schemes 'should be fast tracked'
Every kind of energy efficiency initiative in the UK should receive backing from the government in order for them to be fast tracked, according to one sector commentator. A spokesperson for the RenewableEnergyCentre.co.uk made her comments after the secretary of state for energy and climate change Ed Miliband presented parliament with ...
Thursday 12th November 2009 | Read full article
Energy efficiency 'can aid construction sector'
Energy efficiency initiatives can provide the construction and property sectors with long-term benefits, an industry commentator has asserted. Tim Pullen, eco expert and author, made his remarks after the Self Build Housing Market - UK 2009-2013 report from AMA Research showed that the number of self-build property completions is expected to ...
Thursday 12th November 2009 | Read full article
Boris Johnson: Energy efficiency a
Boris Johnson has stated that it is a "no brainer" that the housing sector requires energy efficiency work. The mayor of London made his comments as he announced plans to reduce carbon emissions and energy use from at least 200,000 properties in the capital by 2012. He launched a number of studies ...
Thursday 12th November 2009 | Read full article
Energy management targets 'will be met'
The government will meet its renewable energy management targets by 2020, an industry expert has asserted. Online resource NewEnergyFocus reports that Andrew Perrins, head of bioenergy at the Department of Energy and Climate Change's Office of Renewable Energy Deployment (ORED), said that the UK is "miles" away from where it needs ...
Thursday 12th November 2009 | Read full article
Smart meters 'will help reduce carbon emissions'
Technology such as smart meters will help reduce carbon emissions in the UK, an industry expert has stated. Philip Sellwood, chief executive of the Energy Saving Trust, made his comments after Lord Smith, the chairman of the Environment Agency, suggested that consumers should be given an annual carbon allowance. He stated that ...
Wednesday 11th November 2009 | Read full article
Energy management a
Energy management is a "key issue" in the property construction sector, it has been asserted. Author and eco expert Tim Pullen made his comments after Richard Diment, director general of the Federation of Master Builders, told the Westminster Energy, Environment & Transport Forum that financial incentives are needed in order to ...
Wednesday 11th November 2009 | Read full article
'Much to be done' to reduce carbon emissions in the UK
Much work still needs to be done to help the UK to reduce carbon emissions and meet governmental targets, it has been avowed. Neil Wallis, head of communications for action and advisory group the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership, made his comments following the publication of data by Cambridge Econometrics last month. The ...
Wednesday 11th November 2009 | Read full article
It has become increasingly crucial for the UK to take steps to reduce carbon emissions, according to the chancellor of the exchequer. Alistair Darling made his comments in recent days at a forum in London, which he hosted alongside energy and climate secretary Ed Miliband - who is also the Labour ...
Wednesday 11th November 2009 | Read full article
US cooperates with Native American community to reduce carbon emissions
The US department of energy has taken steps to outline its commitment to cooperating with the Native American community to help develop projects on tribal lands that reduce carbon emissions. Energy secretary Steven Chu explained that the schemes in question also aim to create new jobs and reduce energy use. He stated: ...
Wednesday 11th November 2009 | Read full article
US energy secretary to promote energy management schemes
Steven Chu, the US energy secretary, is set to visit India and China in order to promote cooperation on energy management schemes, it has been announced. The US department of energy explained that Mr Chu will be on his trip between November 12th and 18th and on the Chinese section of ...
Wednesday 11th November 2009 | Read full article
"Whole house" approach needed to enhance home energy efficiency
People need to take a holistic view of their energy management systems in order to improve their home's green credentials, it has been asserted. Lord Adair Turner, chairman of the Climate Change Commission, told the Telegraph that the UK needs to look at more radical ways of improving the environmental efficiency ...
Wednesday 11th November 2009 | Read full article
Schemes that reduce carbon emissions are "win/win/win solutions"
Initiatives that aim to reduce carbon emissions are "win/win/win solutions" for the natural world, it has been asserted. Deputy executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Richard Jones made his comments at a global district energy symposium in Copenhagen in recent days. The sector expert recognised six communities for their efforts ...
Wednesday 11th November 2009 | Read full article
"New opportunities" to reduce carbon emissions needed
Industry needs to find new methods and solutions that can help to reduce carbon emissions, it has been avowed. Dr Mark Williamson, director of innovations at the Carbon Trust, made his comments as the organisation met with industry leaders to announce support for a drive to lower energy costs and carbon ...
Wednesday 11th November 2009 | Read full article
Energy-saving building exhibition opens in Arizona
An event billed as the world's largest exhibition of green building technology gets underway in Phoenix today (November 11th). Hosted by the US Green Building Council, Greenbuild will bring more than 20,000 representatives from the construction and energy-saving industries to Arizona. The exhibition floor is set to feature over 1,800 booths, while ...
Wednesday 11th November 2009 | Read full article
EU pressing for "ambitious" treaty to reduce carbon emissions
Ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in December, the EU has announced that it is pushing for an international treaty that is "global, ambitious, comprehensive and legally binding". In a statement, the body said that energy saving initiatives need to be put in place in order to keep the ...
Wednesday 11th November 2009 | Read full article
Copenhagen must be "the start" of an energy management process
The United Nations Climate Change Conference, which is set to take place in Copenhagen next month, must represent "the start" of a new energy management process, it has been asserted. Environment Agency chairman Lord Smith made his comments as the body held its annual conference, stating that Britain needs to take ...
Wednesday 11th November 2009 | Read full article
Environment Agency publishes plan to reduce carbon emissions
The Environment Agency has published a new five-year plan that aims to help reduce carbon emissions from businesses. In a statement, the organisation said that environmental management is becoming increasingly important for firms and that it aims to provide support to these enterprises by committing to this initiative. The body's head of ...
Wednesday 11th November 2009 | Read full article
Ed Miliband outlines new direction on energy management
Energy and climate secretary Ed Miliband has outlined a new direction on energy management, as well as taking steps to highlight the UK's need for a new low-carbon, secure energy mix. In a statement, Mr Miliband - who is also the Labour MP for Doncaster North - said that the threats ...
Wednesday 11th November 2009 | Read full article
New publication aims to "add momentum" to Copenhagen
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has announced the launch of a new publication that it hopes will help "add momentum" to the energy management debate ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen next month. In a statement, the body explained that World Energy Outlook 2009 (WEO-2009) aims to outline ...
Wednesday 11th November 2009 | Read full article
Spain and Poland announce energy management plan
Spain and Poland have agreed to the terms of a multi-million euro energy management plan that will allow them to trade carbon emissions. In a statement, the European Commission explained that this is the first deal of its kind for Poland under the Kyoto Protocol, which was adopted in Japan on ...
Wednesday 11th November 2009 | Read full article
Green Voice of the UK found by Carbon Challenge
Piper Terrett has been named as the Green Voice of the UK. In a statement, the Carbon Challenge explained that Mr Terrett was the winner of a contest that aimed to find a member of the British public who could represent the nation's views on climate change, which could incorporate issues ...
Wednesday 11th November 2009 | Read full article
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act aids South Carolina
Funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is aiding energy management projects in South Carolina's Savannah River site, it has been announced. In a statement, the US department of energy said that deputy secretary of energy Daniel Poneman recently talked about the issues at a community breakfast. He explained that while ...
Wednesday 11th November 2009 | Read full article
Carbon Trust welcomes "major" Korean agreement
A "major" new agreement has been struck between the Carbon Trust and the Korean Environmental Industry and Technology Institute, it has been announced. In a statement, the organisation explained that within 12 months, products from the country that are exported into the UK and other destinations around the globe could well ...
Wednesday 11th November 2009 | Read full article
Retrofitters save energy with innovative lighting
The installation of energy-efficient lighting systems is one of the main aspects of retrofitting a property successfully, it has been asserted. According to the Guardian, people looking to retrofit an office building or home to save energy should first consider how to make the most of natural light, as doing so ...
Tuesday 10th November 2009 | Read full article
Illinois residents advised to use energy-saving Christmas lights
An Illinois-based utility company has urged people to consider energy-saving technology when decorating their homes and offices for the festive season. Lighting up a property for Christmas can be made significantly more energy efficient by using LEDs instead of incandescent bulbs, according to Ameren Illinois Utilities. The firm claimed that festive light ...
Tuesday 10th November 2009 | Read full article
Major companies 'using energy-efficient hotels'
Hotels with energy-saving features are becoming increasingly popular for business travel in the US, according to a report. As companies become more conscious of their carbon footprint and overall environmental performance, a growing number of hotels are using green measures to attract corporate guests, USA Today reveals. The news provider explains that ...
Monday 9th November 2009 | Read full article
Businesses urged to invest in energy-saving systems
Companies can save a considerable amount of money by making their heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems more energy efficient, it has been claimed. According to GreenTech Media, an HVAC system is usually a firm's "largest discretionary source of energy demand" and therefore the most significant controllable expense on a ...
Monday 9th November 2009 | Read full article
Energy management initiatives will "completely" change the UK economy
Energy management initiatives that are designed to reduce carbon emissions and enhance green credentials will have a fundamental impact on the entire economy of the UK in the future, according to one sector expert. Andrew Raingold, deputy director of the Aldersgate Group, made his comments after the publication of a report ...
Friday 6th November 2009 | Read full article
Energy-saving building operations 'key to climate change control'
Energy-saving building operations play an important role in the control of climate change, one industry expert has stated. Rick Fedrizzi, president, chief executive and founding chair of the US Green Building Council (USGBC), made his comments as Fireman's Fund Insurance Company announced that its buildings have been accredited by the body. The ...
Thursday 5th November 2009 | Read full article
New energy-saving complex being created in Dublin
Work is underway on a complex in the docklands of Dublin that makes use of energy-efficient building materials and construction techniques. In an article for the Irish Times, Frank McDonald explains that a 2,000-seat theatre is one of the structures in Grand Canal Square, which is nearing completion and has elements ...
Thursday 5th November 2009 | Read full article
Ontario university unveils new energy-saving building
The new engineering building at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, has been equipped with a host of innovative energy-saving features to help students understand sustainable construction. According to the Daily Commercial News, the five-storey structure was designed to achieve Gold certification in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) scheme. Built ...
Wednesday 4th November 2009 | Read full article
UK manufacturers join energy efficiency drive
Drinks firm Britvic and road surface manufacturer Tarmac are among the first companies to join a new UK initiative known as the Industrial Energy Efficiency Accelerator (IEEA). Launched by the Carbon Trust, the £15 million project aims to substantially cut costs and reduce carbon emissions in the British manufacturing sector by ...
Wednesday 4th November 2009 | Read full article
Saving energy is priority for business buyers, says survey
The installation of energy-saving initiatives is becoming an increasingly important issue for people making business acquisitions, according to a new report. Research from BusinessesForSale, an online marketplace of available companies, revealed that green projects are now more of a priority than staffing and IT issues for many buyers. According to the website, ...
Tuesday 3rd November 2009 | Read full article
Energy-saving convenience store unveiled by Sainsbury's
British supermarket firm J Sainsbury is set to open a new Local convenience store featuring a number of innovative energy-saving measures. The company estimates that the outlet in Bath will save approximately 27 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions over the next 15 years, as well as establishing "a benchmark for future ...
Monday 2nd November 2009 | Read full article
