Energy Saving News
Energy saving initiatives news
Empire State Building's Energy Saving Retrofit Makes Business Sense
THE world famous Empire State Building, a New York City skyline landmark is undergoing a major energy efficiency retrofit that will bring 40% reduction in costs and energy use. The Malkin family have been part owners of the building since 1961 and they now supervise the current building managers W&H Properties. ...
Thursday 29th July 2010 | Read full article
IFC to Stimulate Chinese SMEs Energy Efficiency
THE International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, said this week that it is offering more help to Chinese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in support of the countries efforts towards greater energy efficiency. Dai Cunfeng, operations officer and team leader of the China Utility-Based Energy Efficiency ...
Thursday 15th July 2010 | Read full article
France Provide Pakistan 46 Million Euros for Energy Efficiency
FRANCE announced on Friday that it is providing a 46 million Euros loan to Pakistan for energy saving and rehabilitating a power plant to promote energy efficiency and enhance Pakistan’s supply against the backdrop of electricity outages that have been plaguing the country. Secretary Economic Affairs Division (EAD), Sibtain Fazal Halim, ...
Saturday 10th July 2010 | Read full article
Energy Efficiency Twice the Impact of Clean Energy
THE International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that energy efficiency will achieve 65% of the worldwide carbon cuts in the energy sector by 2020. Meaning that by 2020 energy efficiency could have almost twice the impact of renewable energy, nuclear power and clean coal will have, combined. The IEA is an ...
Tuesday 6th July 2010 | Read full article
New Energy Code for NYC Buildings
NEW YORK'S Department of Buildings launched the New York City Energy Conservation Code last week. It is just one step in New York’s target to cut CO2 emissions by 30 percent by 2030. The new regulations affects lighting, power, and HVAC for renovations and new building projects. The new code is ...
Tuesday 6th July 2010 | Read full article
EU invest 10 Million Euros in Chinese Energy Efficiency Fund
THE European Commission (EC) announced today that it is going to invest €10 million into the Greenstar Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction Private Equity Fund, making it China’s first energy efficiency focused private equity fund. The investment and further energy efficiency activity is much needed, as China’s great efforts towards reducing ...
Monday 5th July 2010 | Read full article
Taipei's Campaign Targets Heavy Energy Users
THE Taipei city government revealed yesterday that it is starting an energy-saving campaign in July aimed at the heavier power users, such as hotels, office buildings and department stores, who will be requested to maintain an indoor temperature no lower than 26 degrees Celsius. Hau Lung-bin, the city mayor, stated that ...
Wednesday 30th June 2010 | Read full article
Russian Budget Proposes Property Tax Break for Energy Efficiency
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's annual Budget Address was posted on the Russian Presidential website yesterday, and amongst the many proposals is one focusing on energy efficiency. Medvedev proposes that enterprises, which operate energy-efficiently and use energy efficient equipment will be exempt from property tax. “To introduce new technologies in the economy it ...
Wednesday 30th June 2010 | Read full article
Indian Cabinet Agree Energy Efficiency Measures
THE Indian Cabinet have approved the implementation framework of the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE), one of the eight Missions of India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change. The Mission’s goal is to save 23 million tonne of oil equivalent fuel and to avoid the need to build additional ...
Friday 25th June 2010 | Read full article
Office Blocks Need to Provide Energy Efficiency Data
A draft law was passed by the Australian Federal Government’s lower house yesterday, which states that office block owners will now have to disclose their building's energy efficiency to buyers or lessees. The Australian government aim is for owners of big commercial office buildings to release energy efficiency ratings before ...
Wednesday 23rd June 2010 | Read full article
China Turns to Industrial Workers for Energy Saving Advice
IN China’s on going efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions the country has started a national campaign to obtain energy saving advice from industrial workers. The programme will run for the rest of 2010 and was initiated by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the All China Federation of ...
Tuesday 15th June 2010 | Read full article
EU Subsidy for Lebanese SME Investment in Energy Efficiency
The European Union (EU) is providing a €15 million facility that will help investments in energy efficiency for small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in Lebanon. An EU Delegation visited the middle eastern country at the end of last week and announced that the subsidy will reduce the exposure of Lebanese ...
Tuesday 15th June 2010 | Read full article
China Take Hard Line on Energy Consumption
2010 is the final year of China’s 11th Five-Year Plan and hence all the targets of the plan have to be reached by the end of this year. This includes the emission reduction goal and today, China expressed its determination to achieve the target. The Minister of Industry and Information, Li ...
Monday 14th June 2010 | Read full article
UK Retailer M&S Reveal £50m Return from Environmental and Efficiency Plan
UK supermarket and retailer Marks and Spencer (M&S) has reported on progress of its Plan A - their eco and ethical programme launched in 2007 which included energy efficiency. M&S report that out of the 100 targets they set they have achieved 62 of them, while 30 are ‘on plan’, with ...
Monday 14th June 2010 | Read full article
UK Businesses and Organisations Confused Over CRC Scheme
ON April 1 this year the UK Government launched the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme, but it seems that about 50 per cent of companies covered by the scheme are uncertain as how it works, how it affects them and what it will cost. The Carbon Reduction Commitment requires UK businesses, government ...
Friday 11th June 2010 | Read full article
British Colombia Introduce Program for Energy Efficiency
The utility company BC Hydro, Canada will introduce a new program to help the British Colombia (B.C.) industrial sector save electricity over the next four years – enough to meet the annual power needs of close to 20,000 homes. The Power Smart Partners Transmission program will offer incentives and rebates for ...
Tuesday 1st June 2010 | Read full article
U.S. & China - Mutually Beneficial Cooperation on Energy
ON Tuesday the U.S. and China agreed to work together on energy efficiency and clean energy supplies. As the world's largest producers and consumers of energy the United States and China, share common interests and responsibilities to ensure energy security and they face common challenges. The United States and China pledged ...
Thursday 27th May 2010 | Read full article
IFC to Fund Energy Efficiency Loans for Vietnamese SMEs
THE International Financial Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, and Techcombank set up a $50 million energy efficiency fund yesterday to provide loans to Viet Nam SMEs (small to medium enterprises). The IFC will provide $24 million, plus an additional $1 million from their Earth Fund, while the ...
Wednesday 26th May 2010 | Read full article
Power Conservation and Energy Seminar in Davao City
DAVAO City, Philippines, energy conservation officers from the Government agencies will be attending a seminar on May 26th, regarding power conservation and efficiency. The seminar will be conducted by the Philippines Department of Energy, Energy Utilization Management Bureau at the Grand Regal Hotel in Davao City. The Philippine Government is using this ...
Tuesday 25th May 2010 | Read full article
Dominican Republic gets $20m Finance Programme
THE New Statesman reports that the International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group, has signed a $20m financing arrangement to launch Banco BHD's new energy efficiency finance program designed to help firms in the Dominican republic to reduce the cost and consumption of energy and reduce harmful ...
Thursday 20th May 2010 | Read full article
New UK Government wants to be "greenest government ever"
THE new UK Prime Minister David Cameron pledged the new coalition administration to become "the greenest government ever”, at a recent meeting of the Department of Energy and Climate Change. A new government steering group will be run by Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne along with representatives from key ...
Tuesday 18th May 2010 | Read full article
Medvedev Orders Energy Saving Audit for Russia
ENERGY efficiency is a challenge for every country but probably none more so than Russia – the country covers over 6.5 million square miles and spans 11 times zones! The governmental system, which as we all know went through a major upheaval just a few years ago, consists of 83 regions ...
Friday 14th May 2010 | Read full article
New Efficiency Code for Oregon
ACCORDING to officials in the Department of Consumer and Business Services, a new energy code been adopted in Oregon, USA that aims to reduce energy usage in new commercial buildings by 15%. The Energy Efficiency Specialty Code comes into effect July 1 and focuses several areas for new construction, such as ...
Wednesday 12th May 2010 | Read full article
Rural Development Loan & Grant Boost for Energy Efficiency
A loan and grant program geared to help rural small businesses and agriculture install energy efficient improvements is now open for applications. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development has begun accepting applications for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). Applications are being accepted until 30th June 2010. The program is ...
Monday 10th May 2010 | Read full article
China set to use Iron Hand to Force Energy Efficiency
CHINA is set to use an “iron hand”, in a silk glove of an extra $12 billion, to their achieve energy efficiency targets. The hard line is being taken after it was revealed that energy use rose 3.2% in the first quarter compared to last year, reversing the decline in the ...
Friday 7th May 2010 | Read full article
Nigeria needs to become Energy Efficient
The Director-General of Energy Commission of Nigeria, Professor Abubakar Sambo, has emphasised the need for energy efficiency and conservation in the country. Professor Sambo highlighted this need at the official commissioning and the foundation laying ceremony of the National Centre for Energy Efficiency and Conservation in Lagos. Sambo reveled to his ...
Tuesday 4th May 2010 | Read full article
Indian Government Plan "White Certificates" for Energy Efficiency
THE Indian government will introduce sector-wise energy efficiency and unit-wise consumption targets for nine notified sectors in the first part of 2011. This is intended to be just the first step towards actioning a proposed market-based mechanism using energy saving certifications to encourage efficiency improvements across energy-intensive industries. The industrial sectors that ...
Tuesday 4th May 2010 | Read full article
Energy is a Concern for most European Regions
A survey of European regions has revealed that 92 per cent rate energy as one their top concerns for the future. A poll of 67 European regions conducted by the Association of European Regions (AER), also reports that 77 per cent of the regions have developed sustainable energy plans and processes. The ...
Friday 30th April 2010 | Read full article
Farms to Benefit from new Initiative
US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced an inniative to help US farmers become more energy efficient, with funding becoming available for energy audits to help save energy and money through efficiencies. Vilsack admitted: "Reducing energy use on America's farms and ranches will not only help our agricultural producers become more profitable, ...
Thursday 29th April 2010 | Read full article
Biden Announces $80 Billion Initiative in Energy Efficiency
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on the eve of Earth Day sought to highlight the U.S. administration's efforts to improve the environment. Biden said the $80 billion in clean energy investments included in the economic stimulus and recovery bill marked the largest single investment in such technology in the nation's history. "The ...
Thursday 22nd April 2010 | Read full article
Brunei set up Energy Efficiency Awards
TO promote energy efficiency and conservation in the south-east Asian country of Brunei, the Energy Division at the Prime Minister’s Office (EDPMO) yesterday announced new national awards to be presented to organisations that practise outstanding energy efficiency and conservation measures. Ahmad Hj Mohamad, head of the EDPMO’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation ...
Friday 16th April 2010 | Read full article
South Korea firming up Energy Efficiency
THE government of South Korea wants companies to set annual energy-saving and greenhouse gas-reduction plans to help efforts to combat global warming. Companies will face fines of as much as 10 million won ($8,969) if the targets aren’t met, the South Korean Ministry of Knowledge Economy stated today. The South Korean government ...
Wednesday 14th April 2010 | Read full article
Europe Target Energy Savings
Europe can cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80% and reduce its energy bill by 350 billion Euros ($476 billion) a year by 2050, if it acts within five years, reported from the European Climate Foundation in Brussels today. The cost of energy per unit may fall as much as 30% by ...
Wednesday 14th April 2010 | Read full article
Global and National Energy Efficiency Funding Boost for ESCOs
INITIATIVES for energy efficiency from governments and even global bodies are funding many opportunities for enterprises in the energy saving industry. The industrial countries often provide energy efficiency funding at regional and state level – generally supplemented and added to by national grants and initiatives. For the second and third world, the ...
Friday 9th April 2010 | Read full article
India Sets Energy Efficiency Targets for Industry
INDIA is to launch an energy efficiency scheme in April 2011 which targets the country’s most energy-intensive companies. The scheme was announced by the Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change and will be titled the “Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme”, announced at the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEE). The ...
Wednesday 7th April 2010 | Read full article
Australia's Energy Efficiency Opportunities Program Saves Emissions and Money
IN July 2006 the Australian federal government set up the Energy Efficiency Opportunities Program (EEO), which has recently produced a report on energy efficiency which highlights the environmental and financial benefits of energy efficiency. The EEO’s primary aim is helping large energy consumers to recognise opportunities to improve energy efficiency. ...
Tuesday 6th April 2010 | Read full article
EU Encourage African SMEs to become Competitive through Energy Efficiency
THE European Union is taking a lead in supporting the promotion of energy efficiency both at home and abroad and are currently in Gaborone, Botswana, promoting energy efficiency. Head of Delegation of the European Union to Botswana and the SADC region, Mr Paul Malin echoed these sentiments at a regional workshop ...
Wednesday 31st March 2010 | Read full article
Energy Efficiency to be the Focus for North Carolina
A report focused on North Carolina in the U.S. has been published by the Washington D.C based, non-profit American Council for an Energy-Efficiency Economy (ACEEE). The report highlights the potential for the fastest growing state in the nation to save its residents and businesses billions of dollars over the next ...
Wednesday 24th March 2010 | Read full article
London's Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme
LONDON has been designated as a Low Carbon Economic Area (LCEA) by the UK Government to lead the country’s efforts to improve the energy efficiency of buildings. London is the seventh UK region to be given the LCEA status and interestingly they will focus on retrofitting energy efficiency measures into older ...
Friday 19th March 2010 | Read full article
IFC & Philippine Bank Combine to Expand Energy Efficiency
The International Finance Corp. (IFC), the private-sector arm of the World Bank, has partnered with Philippine bank Banco de Oro (BDO) in expanding into energy efficiency. In a statement, IFC said the partnership with BDO allows them to encourage more investments into energy efficiency that will also help the Philippines manage ...
Tuesday 16th March 2010 | Read full article
£350 Million Boost To Retrofit UK Commercial Buildings
Non-domestic buildings In the UK currently account for around 18% of the country’s emissions, with most of the buildings over 10 years old and unlikely to be compliant with current or future efficiency standards. Hence, the UK’s Carbon Trust is looking to raise £350 million for the refurbishment of commercial ...
Monday 15th March 2010 | Read full article
$40 Million Energy Efficiency Boost for New York's Education, Health & NPOs
New York Governor David A. Paterson unveiled an investment of $40 million to tackle energy efficiency in the Empire State’s schools, universities, colleges, hospitals and not-for-profit agencies. The 118 projects lined up are expected to see a $13.5 million annual reduction in energy and operating costs, which will provide a full ...
Tuesday 9th March 2010 | Read full article
$3 Million Boost for San Francisco Energy Efficiency
Mayor Newsom has announced that San Francisco has secured $2.9 million in federal funds to compensate the cost of commercial energy efficiency programs. New funding will add incentives already offered with the GreenFinanceSF program. The program will be launching in early April, once the grant is in place, then applicants ...
Thursday 4th March 2010 | Read full article
Governments Struggle with Energy Saving Plans
Governments should be in the best position to drive through with energy saving and carbon reductions, but their best laid plans do not always work (no surprise there). China and Venezuela have both seen reversals, though the latter was a little ambitious. News just released reveals that China's total energy consumption surged ...
Tuesday 2nd March 2010 | Read full article
Enigin News - Billions Available For Energy Saving From U.S. Stimulus Fund
Knoxville in the U.S has recently conducted an extensive energy audit and they are about to find out which of 99 city buildings are wasting the most energy. Their timing couldn't have been better with a flood of U.S. federal government stimulus money earmarked for energy efficient measures will be available ...
Monday 1st March 2010 | Read full article
US Stimulus Fund - Billions Available For Energy Efficiency
Knoxville in the U.S has recently conducted an extensive energy audit and they are about to find out which of 99 city buildings are wasting the most energy. Their timing couldn't have been better with a flood of U.S. federal government stimulus money earmarked for energy efficient measures will be available ...
Monday 1st March 2010 | Read full article
Carbon Reduction Commitment To Save £1 Billion Annually
“There’s just one month to go until the start of the CRC (Carbon Reduction Commitment) which will see large public and private sector organisations cutting emissions as well as saving money on fuel bills. This is a real opportunity for business and industry to take a leadership role in tackling ...
Monday 1st March 2010 | Read full article
Thai Industries Set Up Energy Efficiency Loans
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) plans to expand financial assistance for factory operators to improve energy conservation by asking for soft loans from commercial banks. Rungruang Saipawan, director of the FTI Institute of Industrial Energy, said the federaton and the Energy Industry's Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency Department (DEDE) are ...
Thursday 25th February 2010 | Read full article
Don't Save The Cheerleader And Save The World
Professional baseball in South Korea is planning to go green by installing electricity-saving equipment to reduce energy use, but that is not all. With a nod back to a popular television program - that suggested saving the cheerleader would save the world - the opposite could be said to be true ...
Friday 19th February 2010 | Read full article
Israel to Fund Energy Efficiency Initiatives
Israeli Minister of National Infrastructures Uzi Landau said during the "Policy & Technology - Energy Efficiency - The Quiet Giant" panel at the Eilat-Eilot International Renewable Energy Conference & Exhibition: " Israel has decided to cut its energy consumption by 20% by 2020 under a business-as-usual scenario, which is an ambitious ...
Thursday 18th February 2010 | Read full article
Energy Efficiency, Jobs Creation, Environmental Impacts
The US government’s commitment towards environmental issues has been highlighted this week. The PEERS Group (Program for Energy Efficiency Through Responsible Stimulus), is a grassroots initiative that seeks matching government funds for existing state and utility energy efficiency rebates, the PEERS Committee is headed by the interNational Association of Lighting Management ...
Friday 12th February 2010 | Read full article
South Korea Sees The LED Light
The South Korean government announced today that it will spend $47 million this year to increase the use of energy efficient lighting products, aimed at helping South Korea cut back on greenhouse gas emissions. The funds will promote use of light-emitting diode (LED)-based lighting products, power transformers and inverters, according ...
Thursday 11th February 2010 | Read full article
Bahamas Going Green
With more of a focus now on doing business in an environmentally-friendly way, companies in Grand Bahama may soon have the opportunity to gain certification in a local 'going green' program spearheaded by the Bahamas National Trust. The program was first announced back in June last year and since then the ...
Monday 8th February 2010 | Read full article
US Looks To Speed Up Energy Efficiency Goals
As part of the Obama Administration’s commitment to increasing energy efficiency and reducing costs, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the creation of the State Energy Efficiency (SEE) Action Network. This network is meant to help states achieve maximum cost effective energy ...
Wednesday 3rd February 2010 | Read full article
World Bank, IMF All Have Money For Energy Efficiency
Financial incentives to become energy efficient are now common place and show no sign of disappearing, in fact they will become evermore prominent as 2010 continues and governments drive towards reducing energy use. Many of these incentives are locally based; others are national while others are international. For instance in Tunisia the ...
Monday 1st February 2010 | Read full article
California Adopts New Green Building Code
The US' first state-wide mandatory green building code was adopted earlier this month by the state of California, as announced by its Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. This code, called the Green Building Standards Code - or CALGREEN - will come into force in January 2011. It will ensure that all of the ...
Sunday 31st January 2010 | Read full article
US Sets New Energy Efficiency Standards
US Energy Secretary, Steven Chu, confirmed yesterday that his department has issued new energy efficiency standards, in response to the US President, Barack Obama's request at the beginning of the year. This initiative follows Europe’s lead in setting stringent energy efficiency targets for manufacturers, aiming to reduce the EU's CO2 emissions ...
Friday 22nd January 2010 | Read full article
Malaysia Switches To Energy Efficiency
Malaysia is soon going to experience a considerable rise in energy prices, and industry and businesses are searching for energy saving solutions in order to counter the possibility of sharpley rising overheads. Although Malaysia’s energy prices are currently among the lowest in the region (after Vietnam and Indonesia), a price review ...
Friday 15th January 2010 | Read full article
Energy Efficiency Aim Due To Price Hikes
Many countries face serious energy price increases over the next few years, but this threat is helping to focus business leaders minds on becoming more energy efficient to protect their profitability. Reportedly one of the latest nations to worry over increasing energy prices is Malaysia, this has led commerce and industry there ...
Tuesday 12th January 2010 | Read full article
London New Builds Achieve 33% Carbon Cuts
A London South Bank University report reveals that new developments in London are cutting their carbon emissions by 33%. The capital’s Mayor, Boris Johnson, is committed to achieving a 60% cut in emissions by 2025 and has focused efforts on the energy efficiency of buildings, which account for 71% of emissions ...
Thursday 7th January 2010 | Read full article
US City Funding Initiative For Energy Efficient Implementations
A $950,000 federal grant was given to the US city of Macon, to upgrade the roof of City Hall, replace the heating and cooling systems at the City Auditorium, and implement all other necessary changes aimed at energy saving. Thomas Brandner, Council Member of the Energy Saving Association (ESA), responds to ...
Wednesday 6th January 2010 | Read full article
China Adopts New Law For Clean Energy
Following the Copenhagen climate talks last week, during which China was criticised for obstructing the adherence to a treaty on climate change, the Chinese government has decided to show its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by adopting a new law in favor of the country's renewable energy industry. The legislation ...
Saturday 26th December 2009 | Read full article
USA Strives For Global Warming Solution With Energy Saving Initiatives
US Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, Lisa Jackson, claims that the US is committed to combating climate change by finding a global solution to the threat of climate change: "We have reached the first point in history where the impact of everyday human activities are affecting the health of our entire ...
Tuesday 22nd December 2009 | Read full article
US Supports Poor Countries Energy Efficiency Funds
The Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, announced on Thursday that the USA is willing to extend its contribution toward a fund worth 100 billion dollars per year by 2020, to help poor countries adapt to climate change. The figure is similar to the long-term figures established by the European Union (EU). Such ...
Thursday 17th December 2009 | Read full article
London Takes The Lead In Energy Saving Measures
Public buildings will be receiving help to reduce their energy consumption and costs through a major expansion of a UK climate change program, according to London's Mayor, Boris Johnson. The Mayor made his announcement following his recent visit to a London fire station in Ilford, which was one of 42 buildings ...
Friday 4th December 2009 | Read full article
UK Government Supports Smart Meters
The UK government is injecting 6 million pounds to develop smart technology, to make the country's homes and businesses energy efficient. 2020 is the targeted deadline by which all homes should be equipped with smart meters to make electricity use more efficient and cut carbon emissions. This initiative is very encouraging in ...
Wednesday 2nd December 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 - 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
