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New digital tools to change our behaviours and save energy New digital tools to change our behaviours and save energy

How do I get people to change their habits? This is one of the challenges faced by developers of apps and ICT solutions aimed at boosting energy savings in our buildings. European researchers embraced this mission

June 2021
An intelligent app to teach people energy efficiency An intelligent app to teach people energy efficiency

European researchers have developed a user-friendly smart app to help people improve their energy-saving behaviours

June 2021
Rebound behaviours, nudges, competition: energy saving is a matter of mindset Rebound behaviours, nudges, competition: energy saving is a matter of mindset

Lowering consumption is not as simple as introducing a new gadget. Besides implementing innovative technologies, it is necessary to stimulate an end-user behavioural change. And cognitive sciences can support energy conservation attitudes

May 2020
Nudging energy saving behaviours Nudging energy saving behaviours

The theory of nudges comes from behavioural science and was pioneered by Nobel-winning Richard Thaler. It is now being studied as an alternative strategy to help reduce household energy waste

February 2020
Last trends in energy-saving applications Last trends in energy-saving applications

Empowering energy education is a milestone for a less energy-consuming society. To achieve this, apps may help but the challenge is to make them really usable for the many

October 2019
Smart 3D modelling for buildings Smart 3D modelling for buildings

Building information modelling (BIM) has disrupted the construction industry. The digital technology represents and processes all the characteristics of a building in its whole life-cycle, allowing architects, engineers and construction professionals to design and manage it in a more efficient way

May 2019
Energy's got game Energy's got game

Saving the planet can mean saving money and having fun. This is not wishful thinking but a reality that is happening with gamification all over the world

March 2019
Crunching “sustainable” cookies Crunching “sustainable” cookies

Bread, cakes and pastries may be tasty, but few of us realise it takes a lot of energy to produce them. Industry is now looking to change this

February 2017
Fashion “detox” catwalks - Towards sustainable textile production Fashion “detox” catwalks - Towards sustainable textile production

Many companies in the textile sector are investing in more sustainable production methods as a way to save energy, reduce costs and limit environmental impact

June 2016
The Social Life of Bricks The Social Life of Bricks

A celebrity in the materials world, Mark Miodownik dreams of colour-changing walls and looks at the future of renewable buildings

April 2016
Far East competition boosts investment in energy efficiency Far East competition boosts investment in energy efficiency

The Turkish case of a big company facing the challenge of cost-cutting and environmental impact

February 2016
Biomass: a green source of energy? Biomass: a green source of energy?

A wider use of waste and an accurate evaluation of the context are crucial to improving the sustainability of one of the most important sources of renewable energy in Europe

December 2015
When public buildings get smart: new technologies and tailor-made solutions for users When public buildings get smart: new technologies and tailor-made solutions for users

From thermally activated technologies to personalised microclimates, researchers look for new ways to save energy and increase comfort in public buildings

December 2015
Building retrofits critical to Europe’s low-carbon pathway Building retrofits critical to Europe’s low-carbon pathway

New near zero energy buildings are increasingly springing up around Europe, though their impact on reducing the region’s energy consumption will remain a drop in the ocean without a drive to take new technologies to existing building stock

December 2015
Low carbon materials to capture the imagination of homebuilders and owners Low carbon materials to capture the imagination of homebuilders and owners

Innovation in the construction industry will play an important role in reducing emissions and improving energy efficiency — though developing new materials and methods is only half the battle. Convincing architects and homeowners of the performance and long-term financial benefits of a new product presents a significant challenge. 

November 2015
Bio-based insulation materials: the construction industry's best kept secret? Bio-based insulation materials: the construction industry's best kept secret?

Currently a niche in construction, their high potential benefits in terms of energy saving and overall cost to the environment give them significant appeal for the future

May 2015
When urban waste become bioplastics When urban waste become bioplastics

Bacteria may be the key to produce useful bioplastics from the gasification of urban waste

March 2014
The Ecological Badminton Robot The Ecological Badminton Robot

A robot to play with! A childhood’s dream has now come true for researchers at the Flanders’ Mechatronics Technology Centre (FMTC) in Belgium. 

January 2013