The EU aims to drastically cut the power consumption of air conditioners. Inefficient units will be gradually withdrawn from the market as of 2013. At the same time, the EU is introducing an improved energy labelling system by which consumers will have a better idea of how much electricity their units consume. Jochen Flasbarth, President of the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), applauds the new EU... read more
Green building: part of energy system transformation
Take one solar power system, add heat pump and make sure to insulate well. Voilá, you’ve got the ideal conditions for future-oriented, green building. The Vice-President of the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), Dr. Thomas Holzmann, believes construction at this standard is part of the necessary transformation of the energy system. “In terms of construction quality and technical standard, we are sh... read more
Scope of information about chemicals improved
REACH, the European chemicals regulation, has made a positive impact in its first five years. The enterprises concerned have registered and submitted critical information to the European Chemicals Agency on some 5,500 chemicals. This will make it possible to continue to restrict the use of substances of very high concern in the future. “This clearly owes to the European chemicals regulation REACH;... read more
Renewable energy: Huge development potential in the Middle East and North Africa
“More wind and solar energy can support economic development in North Africa and the Middle East and also secure climate-neutral access to energy for its population,” explains Jochen Flasbarth, President of the Federal Environment Agency (UBA). He and Morocco’s Minister of Environment and Energy, Fouad Douiri, opened a two-day international conference on renewable energy in the Middle East and Nor... read more
Emissions trading: Germany announces interim volumes of allocations for third trading period
Free certificates will no longer be issued to power plant operators for electricity production in the third trading period (2013-2020). This announcement comes from the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), where the German Emissions Trading Authority (DEHSt) is also located. Some 1.4 billion emission certificates distributed to 1,814 installations will be allocated free of charge in Germany between 2... read more
Less greenhouse gases with less nuclear energy
Greenhouse gas emissions levels dropped in Germany in 2011 once again, as current calculations by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) prove. Emissions of carbon dioxide and methane in particular continued to decline. The greater use of renewable energies has had a positive effect on the emissions development trend. In contrast, the level of fluorinated gases, or so-called F-gases, remained largel... read more
Emissions Trading: CO2 emissions fall in 2011 despite strong economy
At 450 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, 1,640 power generation and industrial facilities required to participate in emissions trading in Germany emitted approximately one percent less climate-damaging CO2 in 2011 than in 2010. Despite a very strong economy and nuclear phase-out, the reduction of CO2 emissions has continued since 2008. According to preliminary calculations, CO2 emiss... read more
Water body type of the year: lowland sandy-clayey river
The environmental condition of many of Germany’s lowland rivers is perilous. Rivers like the Lippe, Ems, Aller, Alster, Trave, Elde or Spree are classified as lowland sandy-clayey rivers and have been named the 2012 ‘water body type of the year’. They require extensive improvements, for a mere 2 per cent of these river courses are ranked “good“, and 22 per cent even classify as “bad“. Only very fe... read more
