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How to heat your house efficiently
By Will J Grant on 21 May 2013
What’s the most efficient way to heat your house – and keep it warm? The answer is complicated, but there are some golden rules.
Category: Smart Energy
Utility-scale PV power plants now cost-effective in US
By CleanTechnica on 17 May 2013
The cost of producing electricity from large-scale solar plants is less than the regulated avoided costs of the largest electric utilities in the state of Oregon.
Two-thirds of world’s top companies have set green targets
By Stephen Lacey on 11 December 2012
New analysis has found that 68% of companies in the Global 100 list have targets to lower emissions and/or purchase clean energy.
NSW plunges into past and allows electric hot water systems
By Nigel Morris on 30 November 2012
NSW’s decision to allow electric hot water systems will mean higher household bills and an increase in emissions. Must be trying to sell its generators.
Mixed Greens: Pacific Hydro goes retail to challenge utilities
By Giles Parkinson & Sophie Vorrath on 17 September 2012
PacHydro to formally launch retail arm this week. Plus Saudi seeks funds for renewables ramp-up; Japan’s no-nukes deadline; and UK hits wind record.
As coal sinks, renewables soar: report
By Dan Bakal on 13 August 2012
The clean energy transition has begun – and according to the new Ceres emissions report, it’s happening even faster than experts predicted.
Small-scale solar PV booming in the US
By Joshua Hill on 27 July 2012
Report finds 40% of solar PV projects currently in progress in the US come in under 500kW – including PV arrays on sheep farms. Baa.
Coal at a crossroads as ‘rational’ thinking sets in
By Sophie Vorrath on 10 May 2013
A new report released by Deutsche Bank says the global coal market faces a combined threat of steadily growing supply and a levelling-off or decline in demand. A threat, it says, that should guide rational decision-making to delay all major expansion. But will governments really act rationally?
IPART delivers another free kick on green energy to utilities
By Giles Parkinson on 2 May 2013
IPART continues to demonise the costs of renewable energy support mechanisms, at the same time as adding to those costs by sanctioning above market cost pass-throughs. And consumers will pay nearly double those costs to feed into a kitty so that their neighbours can be offered “discounts”. Anyone hear the sound of laughter?
‘Big four’ banks biggest backers of fossil fuel expansion: report
By Sophie Vorrath on 2 May 2013
Report names Australia’s ‘big four’ banks as heaviest lenders to coal and gas expansion in Barrier Reef area, sparks calls for customer boycott.
How adding an electric car cut solar payback time in half
By Nicholas Brown on 19 May 2013
How buying an electric vehicle could reduce the payback time of a solar power system by 50 per cent?
How the anti-coal campaign is protecting Australia’s economy
By Paul Gilding on 9 May 2013
It might seem ironic, but environmentalists and farmers fighting the expansion of coal mining and coal seam gas across Australia are the only thing likely to moderate the rude economic awakening we face when the global carbon bubble bursts and the fossil fuel industries start their inevitable, terminal decline.
Origin turns to lolly wrappers to tell tales about energy
By Giles Parkinson on 1 May 2013
It is finally dawning on Australia’s largest energy utilities that not only are their customers unfaithful, they are also ignorant. So Origin Energy has turned to lolly wrappers to try and inform its target market. Sounds like fun, but it belies a deeper problem for the energy industry: the age old oligopoly is under threat from the democratisation of energy.
EVs and solar power – go together like a horse and carriage
By Chris Dalitz on 24 April 2013
Electric vehicles and household solar PV systems are the perfect technological and ideological fit. So why aren’t they being promoted in this way?
Electric planes could fly forever on laser beams
By Tina Casey on 25 July 2012
The latest round of testing on wireless recharging technology used to ‘refuel’ electric aircraft in flight via laser beams has beaten expectations.
The carbon tax needn’t cost you
By Alan Pears on 27 June 2012
Saving $4 on weekly energy use will offset your energy-related carbon costs. Saving $10 weekly will offset all your carbon costs. And it’s not hard.
Mayor with a vision tranforms rural Czech community
By Robert van Waarden on 29 May 2012
Defeated by government, Petr Pavek is on a solo mission to develop a different, more sustainable future for his community.
Will self interest close biggest, cheapest, cleanest power station?
By Giles Parkinson on 22 April 2013
In Victoria, consumers are saving billion by not using power, but the scheme is under threat. Energy efficiency remains a no-brainer, but self interest and lazy politics is threatening the gains that have been made. Even the IEA says the energy we don’t use should be the world’s biggest and cheapest power station.
