17 June 2011 | Luca Del Buono
Carbon, Climate Change, Energy, Finance/insurance, Transportation, Water, Europe, North America

 

Taxing incandescent light-bulbs could be better than banning them forever
New research from Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands, could shed light on banning old-school bulbs. Researchers used computer models to simulate energy behaviour and found that taxing energy-guzzling incandescent light-bulbs on supermarket shelves could be just as effective as an outright ban. Conversely, they found that subsidising a new technology, such as Led lighting – which is still experiencing teething problems – could actually lead to reductions in sales. If large numbers of people buy a limited new technology, it could give it a bad name.
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Petrol-head turned electric-car evangelist expects this market to boom
Erik Fairbairn, chief executive of Pod Point (suppliers of charging points for electric cars) told the Guardian that he expects his company turnover to increase twelve-fold this year to £6 million as more electric vehicles are launched on the market. Eric used rent out Ferraris and Lamborghinis, but now he champions non gas-guzzlers. “As an entrepreneur, it's about where the market is. Green is at the forefront of thinking and that really steers what an entrepreneur has to do." With Nissan's Leaf – made in Sunderland – and Renault, Peugeot Citroen, Ford and Mitsubishi all producing electric vehicles, Eric expects to deliver up to 10,000 Pod Points for homes and 2,500 parking-meter style street units this year.
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US green-collar workforce overtakes the steel sector
It’s official – the transition to a greener economy and workforce is happening. With roughly 93,500 direct and indirect jobs, the American solar industry now employs about 20,000 more workers than the US steel production sector. The trend continues in other countries: Germany’s solar industry is more than four times as large an employer as US steel (based on country size). However, these figures are comparing solar manufacturing, sales, and installation to steel production alone. Factoring in all products made from steel, the industry would be up around 160,000 workers. Solar advocates are not worried by this in the slightest. They say that the steel sector is in decline, whereas solar is a high-growth industry with the potential to create millions more jobs.
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US Department of Energy announces $30 million to train the next generation of energy efficiency experts
US Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced the availability of more than $30 million to train undergraduate and graduate-level engineering students in manufacturing efficiency to help them become the nation's next generation of energy efficiency experts.  Through the Industrial Assessment Centre program, university teams across the US will gain practical training and skills that will enable them to conduct energy assessments in a broad range of manufacturing facilities and help them compete in today's economy.  These groups of student engineers will help local companies and factories to reduce energy waste, save money, and become more economically competitive.
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It’s green handbags at dawn for rival designers in New York
A handbag made from repurposed leather scraps has won the “Best Green Handbag” design award at the 2011 Independent Handbag Designer Awards (IHDA) in New York. Australian born designer Belinda Pasqua was selected as the winner by clothing company Timberland. Pasqua’s winning design repurposed premium leathers from scrap and excess tannery leather with traditional handwork and a modern silhouette. She has designed a collection of handbags to give women eco-conscious and beautiful design.
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Image 1: James Howe | Flickr
Image 2: jo-h | Flickr
Image 3: ENB | Flickr
Image 4:  Latenite | Flickr
Image 5: daisybush | Flickr

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