Thursday, August 14, 2014

Energy Efficiency among the World's Largest Economies


The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) acts as a catalyst to advance energy efficiency policies, programs, technologies, investments, and behaviors. The group recently released its 2014 International Energy Efficiency Scorecard that includes analysis of 16 of the world’s largest economies that together represent more than 81% of global gross domestic product and 71% of global electricity consumption.
 
 
In considering overall energy efficiency, ACEEE used 31 policy and quantifiable performance metrics across four groupings: energy use at the national level as well as the three sectors primarily responsible for energy consumption – buildings, industry, and transportation.
 
The top rankings went to: 1st – Germany; 2nd – Italy; and 3rd – the European Union. The United States ranked 13th.
 
The 2014 International Energy Efficiency Scorecard website includes the complete report, executive summary, press release, and additional information.

Friday, July 25, 2014

Schneider Electric Announces the Creation in Barcelona of Its First Center of Excellence Focused on Smart Solutions for Cities


Rueil-Malmaison (France), July 24, 2014Schneider Electric, the global specialist in energy management, announced the creation in Barcelona (Spain) of its first Center of Excellence focused on smart solutions for cities. The announcement was made by Julio Rodriguez, Executive Vice-President Global Operations at Schneider Electric, during a ceremony in the presence of Xavier Trias, Mayor of Barcelona, on July 22.
 
A view of the future Schneider Electric Center of Excellence in Barcelona
 
The mission of Schneider Electric’s Center of Excellence will be to gather the knowledge of the company on solutions for smart cities, thanks to the experience, the results and the successful Smart City solutions established worldwide. The center will offer solutions to the cities which will have economic and social impact, bringing concrete benefits for citizens. The work of the Center of Excellence will enable to guide and support the cities on their way towards a new paradigm in efficiency management, habitability and sustainability thanks to the implementation of smart solutions and the development of new business models.
 
“In the next 40 years we are going to experience an urban technological revolution. The ongoing concentration of the population towards urban cores and the growing shortage of resources will have important repercussions on mobility, air quality, healthcare service, etc., said Julio Rodríguez, Executive Vice-President Global Operations at Schneider Electric. Today Schneider Electric is working with over 200 cities in smart management projects. With this Center of Excellence we are enhancing our capacity to provide advanced solutions to the cities.”

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For more information, see the complete press release or visit the Schneider Electric Smart Cities webpage. Schneider Electric acquired Invensys in January.