Heat pumps will play crucial role in CO2 reduction in buildings

According to International Energy Agency (IEA), heat pumps may reduce global hashtagCO2 emissions by 500 Mt by 2030 , or around 40% of total direct and indirect emissions reductions in space and water hashtagheating in buildings.

EU funds the energy efficiency improvements in buildings

 Around EUR 25 billion have been allocated in energy efficiency investments in buildings from EU funds over the period 2014-2020, while more than half of these fundings (EUR 12.7 billion) have been invested in the public sector, according to the recent JRC report " Financing energy renovations at local and regional levels. European status and good practices".

Public procurement and grants & subsidies represent more than 80% of all financial instruments adopted and reported by local authorities for the achievement of the 2030 target within the Covenant of Mayors (CoM) initiative.

Source: https://lnkd.in/ghf8kAK9

Energy efficiency is not sufficient for the transition to low carbon buildings

 Energy efficiency, which reduces only buildings' operational carbon footprint, is not enough for transition to low carbon buildings.

67-76% of the total buildings' GHG emissions are embodied, i.e. associated with the extraction, transportation, and manufacture of materials and elements, as well as with construction processes and services.
The report [https://lnkd.in/gfYRHc4] published by Architects Climate Action Network proposes a set of policies, regulations, and actions to be urgently adopted for the dramatic reduction of embodied carbon emissions in the UK.
According to World Green Building Council [https://lnkd.in/g2nXm8J], currently, buildings account for 39% of energy-related global CO2 emissions.
Architecture 2030 estimates that new construction creates more than 3.7 billion metric tons of embodied carbon emissions annually [https://lnkd.in/gACCNx2].

Pembina Institute proposes ‘low-carbon transition’ pathway for buildings in British Columbia

Recommendations published by the Pembina Institute are based on discussions during the two days forum attended by over 120 participants from 90 organizations. Experts proposed that the building sector in British Columbia should aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the operation of buildings by 40-50% below 2007 levels by 2030, and 80-100% by 2050.

Vancouver is leading the way towards zero emission buildings

Vancouver's Zero Emissions Building Plan, approved by City Council in July, is to fundamentally shift building practice in Vancouver within next 10-15 years. The Plan includes detailed actions to ensure the majority of new buildings in Vancouver use 100% renewable energy and have no operational greenhouse gas emissions by 2025, and that all new buildings achieve these outcomes by 2030.

Building energy use per floor area for world's major economies declined in 2000-2012 by 5-30%

IEA's report "Building Energy Performance Metrics" presents data and analysis needed to evaluate progress and identify opportunities for improvement in building energy performance. Building energy use per floor area (see the table above) provides a measure of building energy performance relative to building space.

Over 127 thousand Ukrainian homeowners received "warm credits" for energy efficiency improvement

Since the beginning of so called "warm credits" loan program, total amount of loans provided to Ukrainian homeowners have reached UAH 2 billion (around $80 million). Last week was record high in terms of program activities - 6352 new loans were provided for total amount of UAH 104 million ($4 million). 

U.S. top Energy Star cities in 2015

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency  has ranked the 25 U.S. metropolitan areas with the most Energy Star certified commercial buildings in 2015. The cities on this list prove that energy efficiency saves money and improves comfort in the communities.

Success of EBRD's Municipal Sustainable Energy Financing Facility in Slovakia

Projects financed under MunSEFF will lead to annual primary energy savings equivalent to the household electricity consumption of a city with population about 70,000 inhabitants and greenhouse gas emission reductions of 15,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. The program provides funds to Slovak commercial banks in the form of loans to municipalities and private companies to invest in more efficient use of energy in their municipal infrastructure, including municipal and residential buildings, public transport, district heating and street lighting.

Save energy when making a cup of tea or coffee

You can use various kitchen electric appliances to boil the same cup of water, but electricity consumption for everyone of them will be different. The rough estimate of energy efficiency for a microwave is 50%, for stovetop - 70%, for electric teakettle - 80%, and for induction stove - 85%.

Successful international launch of unique home energy monitoring system by Ukrainian inventors

Startup company Ecoisme, founded by young Ukrainian inventor Ivan Pasichnyk and his friends, recently  presented  at Indiegogo and CNET (watch also the video ) a new intelligent energy-tracking smart plug, which can monitor all of the electronic devices in your home. The sensor detects all of your appliances, monitors the energy being spent and displays the costs on your Android or i OS smart phone. 

New U.S. building energy efficiency code will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about one gigaton

According to Department of Energy, this is the “largest energy-saving standard in history” and one that “will save more energy than any other standard issued by the Department to date” — a standard governing commercial air conditioners and furnaces, devices seen as consuming a huge amount of energy across America.

The House of Energy in Germany generates five times more energy than it uses

It has an annual heating demand of only 8 kWh / sq m (0.7 kWh / sq ft) and a 250 sq m (2,691 sq ft) photovoltaic system on the roof. The building in Kaufbeuren, Germany, is the first to receive Passive House Premium certification.

Most and least energy efficient U.S. states in 2015

To identify the most energy-efficient states, the personal finance website WalletHub measured the efficiency of car- and home-energy consumption in 48 U.S. states. New York, Vermont, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Utah are among most energy efficient states, and Arkansas, Kentucky, Texas, Louisiana and South Carolina are least energy efficient. 

Lessons to be learned from the failure of the UK’s Green Deal residential weatherization program

Last month, the U.K. stopped  the Green Deal, an ambitious energy efficiency program that never took off the way the government had hoped. The U.K.’s government wanted to build a public-private partnership that would give homeowners £10,000 to support energy efficiency improvements, with no upfront costs.

Factoring energy efficiency costs into home mortgages in the U.S.

The Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2015, passed in the U.S. this spring, includes provisions to support a program to improve energy efficiency practices in commercial buildings and require federal agencies to utilize energy assessments in their leased buildings. It is expected, that in near time energy efficiency legislation also will be extended to include incentives for federal mortgage underwriters to take into account energy efficiency in the process of valuing homes.

Obama signs bill to boost energy efficiency in buildings

The law aims to cut energy use in commercial buildings, manufacturing plants and homes.

The bill exempts some energy-efficient water heaters from pending Energy Department rules. It also requires federal agencies to increase energy efficiency in federal buildings, among other provisions. Read more at http://www.wral.com

Building a More Competitive Mexico City Through Energy Efficiency

Hosted by Mexico City’s Ministry of the Environment (SEDEMA), a recent workshop marked the kickoff of Building Efficiency Accelerator activities in Mexico City. Mexico City was one of five global cities to make an early commitment to participate in the Accelerator at the UN Climate Summit in September 2014.  At least 20 percent of the city's emissions come from buildings, so improving energy use will help the city hit its goal of decreasing greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2020. Read more at http://sustainablecitiescollective.com

Energy Efficiency is about Productivity

Anyone who has ever managed a budget can tell you that controlling your overheads will help to bring expenditures down and improve your overall productivity. Right now, Australia has the opportunity to do just that with national energy bill, and the building industry is well placed to be front and centre of this effort. The building sector is one of the major contributors to Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions. Emissions from power used on sites, together with emissions involved in creating all the materials used by the industry, contribute around 23 per cent of Australia’s total emissions. Read more at https://sourceable.net

10 Energy Saving Tips for Spring

There are some easy things anyone can do to save energy and money both around the house and at the office.  Here are 10 energy saving tips for sppring season:
1. Service your air conditioner. Easy maintenance such as routinely replacing or cleaning air filters can lower your cooling system’s energy consumption by up to 15 percent. Also check your air conditioner’s evaporator coil, which should be cleaned annually to ensure the system is performing at optimal levels.
2. Open windows. Opening windows creates a cross-wise breeze, allowing you to naturally cool your space without switching on air conditioners. This is an ideal tactic in spring and fall when temperatures are mild.
Read more at http://greenbuildingelements.com