News from the scientific world
IPCC Report Climate Change and Land 2019: to be expected, see
IPCC Report 2018 on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C, see
IPCC Report Climate change 2014: Impact, Adaptation and Vulnerability, see
Ph.D thesis on summer comfort, Flanders-Belgium, December 2013
"Design support for energy efficiency and summer comfort of dwellings in early design phases: A framework for a design tool adapted to the architects' practice in Flanders", PhD thesis by Lieve Weijtjens - Download
The U.S. BTO-Building Technologies Office energy performance program
The U.S. BTO announced up to $1.6 million in new funding to develop a program to rate and certify the energy performance of both residential and commercial window attachments.
Horizon 2020
Horizon 2020 is the financial instrument implementing the Innovation Union , a Europe 2020 flagship initiative http://ec.europa.eu/europe2020/index_en.htm aimed at securing Europe's global competitiveness. Running from 2014 to 2020 with a budget of just over €70 billion, the EU's new programme for research and innovation is part of the drive to create new growth and jobs in Europe.
The draft work programme 2014-2015 of Horizon 2020 in the area of "Secure, clean and efficient energy" has been published. It includes funding opportunities for 'IEE-like' activities, also in buildings (€6,5 billion). See the draft work programme on http://ec.europa.eu/research/horizon2020/pdf/work-programmes/secure_clean_and_efficient_energy_draft_work_programme.pdf
New child safety requirements for internal solar shading
The EU Decision of 28th July 2011 mandated CEN to incorporate new requirements on child safety into the standard EN 13120 on internal blinds, in particular sections 8 and 15. This work also required the writing of two test method standards - EN 16433 and EN 16434.
Opportunities and Pitfalls in the World of LEED®
It’s no secret that awnings and solar shades can help reduce cooling energy use in both homes and commercial buildings, while improving their appearance and making the occupants more comfortable. Both energy savings and occupant comfort are key aspects of U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED rating systems, so awnings and solar shades should be a no-brainer for LEED projects, right?
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