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Building & Design
New UK housing minister promises to support zero-carbon homes
The new UK housing minister Grant Shapps this week pledged to uphold the previous Labour government’s target for all new homes to be zero-carbon by 2016.
UK university builds ‘Coronation Street’ house to test efficiency
The University of Salford in the north of England is to build a traditional-style terraced house inside a test chamber to study its energy efficiency.
Microsoft Hohm scores on energy efficiency
Microsoft, which launched the energy management online ‘dashboard’ Hohm last summer, has unveiled a new online tool that compares a house’s energy efficiency to others in the system.
US university MIT joins force with NSTAR on energy efficiency
US university Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has joined forces with local utility NSTAR on a major efficiency project aimed at cutting electricity use by 15% over the next three years.
UK Government cuts turn off renewable heat investment
As one hand gives, so the other takes away… While the Queen’s speech may have laid the path for the UK Government’s ‘Green deal’ to improve the energy efficiency of the country’s homes so its wide-reaching budget cuts have put an end to support for renewable heat.
UK Government unveils energy and green economy bill
The UK Government unveiled its plans for an energy and green economy bill in the Queen’s Speech at the opening of Parliament yesterday but leaves as many questions as answers.
Scotland launches its own boiler scrappage scheme
Scotland has now joined Wales and England to offer a scrappage scheme for old, inefficient boilers.
Current Cost signs up to launch Google PowerMeter in UK
Manufacturer of real-time energy displays Current Cost has signed up with Google to make its PowerMeter online tool to UK customers.
UK coalition unveils details of energy and climate change plan
The UK’s new Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government yesterday unveiled details of its programme for its coming term in office, building on the earlier agreement between the two parties.
UK public sector could make energy savings worth £3 billion, says Carbon Trust
The UK’s public sector could save up to £3 billion through energy efficiency measures, according to the Carbon Trust.