Mapping of existing technologies to enhance energy efficiency in buildings in the UNECE Region

One of the most important goals of public policy to stimulate the transition to a sustainable energy system is to improve energy efficiency (EE) and to accelerate progress towards sustainable development. Indeed, according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), “Improving energy efficiency is one of the most cost-effective options for meeting growing energy demand in most countries. It contributes to energy security, a better environment, improved quality of life, and economic well-being” (UNECE, 2017a, p.10). While it is generally recognized that significant progress is being made, there is still substantial potential for improving energy efficiency worldwide

Energy productivity analysis framework for buildings : a case study of GCC region

A new analysis framework is developed and applied to assess the benefits of building energy efficiency policies and programs. One of the main advantages of the new energy productivity analysis is that it accounts for both economic and energy performances of energy efficiency actions using only one metric. Specifically, the approach applies the concept of energy productivity to the building sector and accounts for both value added and energy savings of energy efficiency measures. Moreover, the proposed analysis accounts for all quantifiable benefits of energy efficiency programs including economic, environmental, and social. In this paper, the general guidelines for the energy productivity analysis are first described. Then, the analysis is applied to evaluate energy efficiency renewable energy programs for both existing and new buildings in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The analysis results indicate that retrofitting the existing building stock can provide significant benefits and can improve the energy productivity of the building sector in all GCC countries and free up large energy volumes and investment potentials to the development of other economic sectors. In particular, the analysis indicates that reduction in energy consumption, peak demand, and carbon emissions due to deep retrofit programs for the existing building stock can double the energy productivity of the GCC region

Preliminary studies of surface water quality in Damodar River basin (West Bengal, India)

The purpose of the research was to study the main parameters of the chemical composition of surface water and its quality in the Damodar River basin near the Durgapur city where the surface water is used for water supply of the local community. During fieldwork water of the Damodar River, its tributaries (Tamla River and small streams - receivers of industrial wastewater and drainage water) and the Maithon Reservoir was sampled from the layer 0.1-0.5 m. Preliminary studies have shown that the main pollutants in the study area are organic compounds, ammonium, phosphate and fluoride ions. Deterioration of water quality in some sampling points is connected with a low content of dissolved oxygen and high concentrations of nitrite, chloride and sulfate ions

Preliminary studies of surface water quality in Damodar River basin (West Bengal, India)

The purpose of the research was to study the main parameters of the chemical composition of surface water and its quality in the Damodar River basin near the Durgapur city where the surface water is used for water supply of the local community. During fieldwork water of the Damodar River, its tributaries (Tamla River and small streams - receivers of industrial wastewater and drainage water) and the Maithon Reservoir was sampled from the layer 0.1-0.5 m. Preliminary studies have shown that the main pollutants in the study area are organic compounds, ammonium, phosphate and fluoride ions. Deterioration of water quality in some sampling points is connected with a low content of dissolved oxygen and high concentrations of nitrite, chloride and sulfate ions

Report on the Business Plan of Scottish Power Energy Networks for the RIIO-ED 2 Price Control

The Gas and Electricity Regulator, Ofgem, regulates the companies that own, maintain and operate the wires and other equipment that distribute electricity to our homes and businesses and Ofgem decides how much these Distribution Network Operators (DNO) can charge through regular ‘Price Controls’. These ‘Distribution Network’ charges are incorporated into the regular bills we receive from our electricity supplier. Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN) is the DNO for Southern Scotland, North Wales and a large part of North West England around Merseyside and Cheshire and it has now produced its Business Plan for the next ED2 (Electricity Distribution 2) Price Control running from 2023 to 2028. The purpose of the Customer Engagement Group (CEG) is “to provide independent challenge to SPEN and views to Ofgem on whether SPEN’s Business Plan addresses the needs and preferences of it’s customers and other stakeholders”. Overall, the CEG believes that SPEN has produced a Final Business Plan that reflects the needs and preferences of consumers and other stakeholders as drawn from its re-search and addresses the expected challenges of net zero and vulnerable consumers. Moreover, SPEN’s plan has evolved to take account of both the feedback from engagement and challenges from the CEG and in our opinion meets and in many areas exceeds Ofgem’s baseline expectations