In 2008, the European Union (EU) created its very ambitious 20-20-20 plan. It called for an increase in renewable energy use throughout the EU by 20 percent by the year 2020. Also included in this plan is a decrease in carbon dioxide emissions by 20 percent under 1990 levels and increased energy efficiency (more…)

According to a just released report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, New Zealand’s government is the world’s most environmentally friendly country for government sponsored research, spending 13.39 percent the total government budget for environmental research (more…)

Michael Bloomberg has been the Mayor of New York City since January of 2002. One of the biggest domestic issues that Mayor Bloomberg has been dealing with is New York’s role in preserving the environment and global warming. Aside from motivating his own city, Mayor Bloomberg has been (more…)

A short while ago we discussed the European Union’s Energy Efficiency Plan and its goal to achieve a 20% improvement in its energy savings by the year 2020. Click here for a refresher on that. Basically, we found out that the initially instituted plan wasn’t totally working out as the European Commission had (more…)

America is much better in technology than governance. That’s the sentence that leapt out at me and remained prominent throughout my reading of economist Robert Repetto’s book America’s Climate Problem: The Way Forward. I sought the book for review because, although its focus is on the US, what happens there will crucially affect the rest of us, (more…)

A dozen American cities from Los Angeles to New York face a slew of water-related problems due to climate change according to a new report released on July 26th by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). The report, entitled “Thirsty for Answers: Preparing for the Water-related Impacts of Climate Change in (more…)

Government guarantee schemes and increasing electricity bills, combined with dwindling fossil fuel resources and the dire need for solutions to climate change make solar panels a compelling solution for the eco and budget conscious homeowner.

A solar system – simplified (more…)

Back in 2006, the European Union realized that they were facing some serious energy challenges. These challenges were due to an increase in import dependency, global fossil fuel supplies, a “…clearly discernable climate change”, and a substantial waste of 20% of its energy due to inefficiencies. (more…)

Global Climate Change: A Primer may be a book for beginners, but those with an understanding of the issue will find interest in the wide-ranging exposition provided by geologist Orrin Pilkey and his lawyer son Keith.

Pilkey’s research area has been shorelines and coastal geology, with a special focus on barrier (more…)

One of the most under-discussed and under-valued aspects of green building law is regulatory enforcement.  Most of the discussion among experts, myself included, tends to analyze new laws and new incentives as they develop.  Frequently, these new legislative and regulatory initiatives pay little attention (more…)