ENERGY SAVING BLOG

Germany’s decision to abandon nuclear power is expected to increase demand for natural gas and speed up the development of renewable projects. The European Commission has been pushing hard for the integration and liberalisation of the electricity market and has funded the construction of cross-border interconnectors. Here at home, a single, all-island electricity market exists and talks are taking place on the development of renewable, off-shore energy projects with the British/Irish Council along with ministers from Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Abraham Haim, a professor of biology at Haifa University in Israel, said that the bluer light that compact flourescent lamps (CFLs) emitted closely mimiced daylight, disrupting the body’s production of the hormone melatonin more than older-style filament bulbs, which cast a yellower light. Melatonin, thought to protect against some breast and prostate cancers, is produced [...]

ENERGY COSTS: More people are finding it impossible to pay their increased electricity bills, but claiming a grant for insulating a house is a way to get some money back from the State, as well as to cut long-term costs. ONE OF the most depressing and shocking things about the downturn has been the number [...]

Ministers from Europe’s three biggest economies made the exceptional move in a commentary published by the Financial Times, the Frankfurter Allgemeine and Le Monde. They jointly called for the European Union to deepen its planned reductions in greenhouse-gas emissions from 20 to 30 percent by 2020. “If we stick to a 20-percent cut, Europe is [...]

Energy Efficiency Retrofit Fund for public and business sector Retrofit aims to deliver a major increase through this decade in the scale and depth of energy efficiency investments in upgrading existing buildings and facilities. This will require new delivery models to be developed and implemented, including the associated organisational, contractual and financial mechanisms. In pursuit [...]

Labels on household appliances such as fridges, washing machines and ovens will have to include more information on energy consumption, following a vote by MEPs on Wednesday 19 May 2010. Parliament approved a new layout of the EU energy efficiency label introducing additional “plus” classes to the familiar colour scheme. On Tuesday MEPs approved new [...]

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) today unveiled a five-year strategic plan with a mission of transforming Ireland into a society based on sustainable energy structures, technologies and practices, and a vision of making Ireland a recognised global leader in sustainable energy. Sustainable energy practices are already delivering significant savings to the Irish economy, [...]

QR EnerStar was delighted to be one of the companies nominated for the GreenMe Award 2009.The GreenMe Awards recognize and reward work that communicates the importance of Corporate Social Responsibility, sustainable development and ethical best practice in business or the community.

ATTEMPTS TO make buildings more energy-efficient by installing expensive “green technologies” have resulted in the rise of “eco-bling”, a symposium in Trinity College heard yesterday.

AS GENERAL PUBLIC becomes more informed of the benefits provided by energy efficient homes savvy consumers demand properties with higher ratings.