Efficiency First: A new paradigm for the European Energy System
In February 2015 the principle of ‘Efficiency First’ (E1st) was formally endorsed by the European Commission within the framework of the Energy Union.
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In February 2015 the principle of ‘Efficiency First’ (E1st) was formally endorsed by the European Commission within the framework of the Energy Union.
This paper outlines and critically ‘maps’ existing roadmaps relevant to transitions to a low or zero carbon built environment in Australia. A roadmap describes the measures required to achieve goals and/or map future innovation opportunities. The three questions addressed by a comprehensive roadmap are: Where do we want to go?, Where are we now?, and How can we get there? The review identified 13 roadmaps/plans that have been produced by: peak industry bodies (Australian Institute of Refrigeration Air Conditioning and Heating); academic research groups (e.g.
This document contains the highlights from the high-level roundtable organised in the framework of the RenoValue project. The event took place at the European Parliament, in Brussels, Belgium, on 26 January 2016, providing the opportunity to discuss how policy makers can strengthen the role of property valuers as drivers of the market transition towards sustainable buildings.
For building owners, the renovation process can be a hassle, shaped by the ambiguity of the measures to implement. Uncertainty is one of the reasons why the renovation rate continues to linger around 1% and private investments remain limited. Achieving the full market potential of renovation calls for a paradigm shift, where a more service-oriented supply-side together with a deeper awareness on the demand-side play key roles. The BetterHome case study shows how innovative business models can drive energy renovations across Europe.
This report is an update from a similar document published in 2013. In 2018, evidence gathered by the International Energy Agency has identified six critical factors to guide policy makers in realising potential savings in both new and existing buildings through the modernisation of building energy codes.
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US-GA-Atlanta-2017-Sustainable Building Ordinance
This is a case study of how Green building LEED Silver certification caused Sustainable development design standards to be amended.
The current shift from fossil energy resources to “green” energy — renewable energy plus storage in smart grids, many with electric vehicles providing grid services — is now a global phenomenon (International Energy Agency 2016; International Renewable Energy Agency [IRENA] 2017b).
The EU building sector needs to develop and deploy more innovative solutions in order to enhance the building stock’s energy efficiency and help meet energy and climate policy targets. The European Union is therefore supporting projects that address design and construction processes as well as new technologies, with funding from the Horizon 2020 programme. The results developed by these projects address key challenges at each stage of the value chain for new nearly zero-energy buildings, deep renovation of existing buildings, and energy-smart buildings.
Addressing energy use in the built environment is just one aspect of the carbon reduction challenge, according to The Footprint Company chief executive Dr Caroline Noller. Addressing the embodied carbon in building materials is also vital.
Dr Noller told The Fifth Estate international data showed that more than 50 per cent of global carbon emissions ended up in a building or infrastructure material of some kind.
The U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED®) green building certification has transformed how the building industry
and the public consider sustainability in the built environment. The most recent update to LEED, known as LEED v4, is the new standard for high-performance
Community Development Block Grants – Disaster Relief, or CDBG-DR, are allocated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to affected states and local governments to aid long-term recovery of community infrastructure following major disasters. This injection of funding is an opportunity for communities to rebuild stronger, smarter, and more resilient – and LEED offers trusted third-party verification to help validate these efforts.
Covering roofs and walls of buildings with vegetation is a good way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. And these green roofs and walls make cities look nicer. Toronto’s central business district adopted a policy of establishing green roofs on around half of all city buildings in 2009. Research shows this could reduce maximum city temperatures by up to 5℃.
Read the full article on The Conversation.
Analysis of energy renovation costs, as provided by the French Observatory for Low Energy Buildings, identified the following:
Most energy efficiency programs target only one fuel, usually electricity or natural gas. While they achieve savings, they sometimes miss opportunities by failing to address other fuels. Dual-fuel programs, on the other hand, have the potential to save more energy, reduce program costs, and improve customer satisfaction. Yet many utilities still do not offer them because they often require collaboration with other utilities or program administrators, making them more difficult to run.
While governors across the United States are setting innovative energy policies, energy efficiency can help them go even farther toward meeting state goals. Saving energy creates jobs, develops the workforce, grows state economies, improves public health, promotes technological innovation, protects the environment, and saves taxpayers money. This toolkit lays out steps governors can take to increase energy efficiency in homes, businesses, and transportation.