North America | Energy-Saving News

After Copenhagen, The Carbon Tariff Trade Wars Begin

Posted on 05. Jan, 2010 by Ross.

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In the aftermath of the global economic collapse, the industrialised world looked back at the lessons of the 1930s and realised that the fastest way out of recession was to avoid protectionist trade wars and to keep international markets as open as possible, in order to try to keep trade flowing as freely as possible [...]

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Obama Shows US Cards Early In Copenhagen Climate Poker

Posted on 08. Dec, 2009 by Ross.

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For the last couple of months, all the expectation placed on the Copenhagen Conference was that it would fail, despite some nations believing there to be no Plan B. That the USA could commit to nothing because of the stalled legislation in the Senate, and that other countries would feel no need to adopt stringent [...]

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USA, China Agree Carbon ‘Easing’ Targets… But What Are They?

Posted on 17. Nov, 2009 by Ross.

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After months of political to-ing and fro-ing, the two most polluting nations on Earth today agreed to set binding carbon dioxide emissions targets at the Copenhagen Conference next month.
Despite the press conference held between Hu Jintao and the visiting Barak Obama to announce the agreement, as well as the outcome of other discussions including trade, [...]

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Copenhagen: There Is No Plan B

Posted on 19. Oct, 2009 by Ross.

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At a time when the US is stalling for more time in order to bring it’s own (rather unambitious) climate change cap-and-trade legislation to the negotiating table, UK prime minister Gordon Brown has delivered the European view.
The Copenhagen climate change talks are still the last chance: we have 50 days to set the course of [...]

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American Households Reject Energy Efficient Lighting

Posted on 29. Sep, 2009 by Ross.

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At the same time as countries all over the world consider following in the footsteps of Europe’s inefficient lighting ban, American consumers are voting with their wallets against efficient CFL lighting.
Ironically, it’s costing them more money.
Compact fluorescent lighting (CFL) cost as little as $2 per bulb, last 7 times longer than conventional incandescent bulbs and [...]

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Obama Takes Aim At Fossil Fuel Subsidies At UN Climate Change Conference

Posted on 22. Sep, 2009 by Ross.

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“No nation, however large or small, wealthy or poor, can escape the impact of climate change. Rising sea levels threaten every coastline. More powerful storms and floods threaten every continent. More frequent drought and crop failures breed hunger and conflict in places where hunger and conflict already thrive. On shrinking islands, families are already being [...]

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Smart Meters in California; Stupid Meters In Scotland

Posted on 17. Sep, 2009 by Ross.

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Two press releases today illustrated the Jekyll & Hyde nature of smart meters: one US company trying to help consumers cut bills, whilst a Scottish company installs models only of benefit to itself.
Southern California Edison began the roll-out of 5 million new smart meters to all of their residential and small business customers this week, [...]

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USA Improves Energy Efficiency Standards For Electrical Appliances

Posted on 10. Sep, 2009 by Ross.

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Following in Europe’s footsteps in setting stringent energy efficiency targets for manufacturers, US Energy Secretary Steven Chu yesterday confirmed that his department has completed new energy efficiency standards for electrical appliances in response to President Barack Obama’s request earlier this year.
One of Obama’s first actions in office was to call on the Department of Energy [...]

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Google To Make Solar Thermal Power Cheaper Than Coal

Posted on 10. Sep, 2009 by Ross.

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Fed up with a lack of innovation in solar power over past decades, Google is throwing its hat into the ring with the aim of driving the price of solar energy down by 75%.
Google has invested around $50 million in renewable energy over the past two years, with the aim of providing renewable power which [...]

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EPA CO2 Endangerment Under Trial To Prevent Cap-And-Trade

Posted on 02. Sep, 2009 by Ross.

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In a move designed to ease the pressure on US Senators to pass the cap-and-trade system within restrictive climate change legislation, the Chamber of Commerce recently launched a blind-side against one of the key driving factors behind the new bill: the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)’s endangerment finding regarding carbon dioxide.
April 2009 saw the publicly release of [...]

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Ford Gets Smart: Electric Cars Will Talk To Meters, Charge At Cheapest Rates

Posted on 20. Aug, 2009 by Ross.

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One company actively pursuing the dream of intelligent use of smart meters is Ford.
Not content with pushing forward with bringing electric vehicles to the mass market, the American car company is pushing forward one of the key selling points of electric car technology to the next level. Not only is running a car on electricity [...]