I recently read a couple of interesting facts on bike sharing around the world. Since this transportation mean is the epitome of sustainable development I thought I might share them with you. Montreal launched last week Bixi, the largest program of its kind in North America with 3,000 bikes for 300 stations. In the United […]
Bike sharing around the world Read More »
No, I am not thinking that unemployment is good. It ain’t, and I know about it as I am myself currently seeking employment. However, this recession is the occasion for us to embrace a more sustainable development. Less money means we have to reduce the amount of stuff we buy and focus back more on
Why this recession may be good for us Read More »
For my 500th post on this blog, I would like to bring you good news. The decision taken last week within the Grenelle de l’Environnement is a huge leap forward towards sustainability of housing. Indeed, the French government will launch in April an eco loan of up to 30,000 € ($37,600) with no interest rate
A zero-interest rate loan for housing renovation Read More »
I was on Thursday and Saturday at the renewable energies fair in Lyon. This was an excellent occasion to meet professionals in solar energies, wood energy and insulating materials. I was very pleased to note that many companies are currently hiring in France or in Europe. As a matter of fact, I wouldn’t be surprised
Further to the Lyon renewable energies fair Read More »
On October 2007, the newly elected French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced after weeks of talks an important series of measures to make France a more sustainable country. This was the Grenelle de l’Environnement. But after months, only one conclusion comes to mind: the Grenelle is a disappointment, and this even with the billions of investments
Why the Grenelle is a disappointment Read More »
The French national utility Electricité de France – EDF – just bought half of nuclear activities of US based utility Constellation for 4.5 billion US Dollars (3.3 billion euros). This occurs only a few months after the acquisition of British Energy by EDF, which is willing to become a major global player in nuclear energy,
EDF buys half of Constellation nuclear activities Read More »
The Grenelle de l’Environnement, the cornerstone of the French environmental policies, might lead to investments worth of 440 billion euros (or $560 billion) by 2020. An important part of this money will be allocated to transport and doubling the amount of fast train lines (TGV, left). Other major sectors will be renovating buildings and renewables.
The Grenelle: 440 billion euros of investments Read More »
The cornerstone of the environmental policy in France – the Grenelle de l’Environnement – has been facing wide criticism as it is not going as fast as it should be. Yet, interesting ideas arose in the last weeks on reducing the light pollution at night and providing financial aid to those willing to insulate their
The Grenelle is still alive : some bright ideas Read More »
The French national utility Electricité de France – known as EDF – is beginning to take over the UK company British Energy for an estimated cost of 15.7 billion Euros (or $23 billion). According to the Financial Times quoted below, this is the largest international expansion plan for EDF. The company plans to build at
EDF takes over British Energy for 15.7 billion € Read More »
As the official website was launched today, I would like to write about this major event in the energy industry. After two years of talks a new giant energy company is born : GDF Suez. The company is the product of the merger of Gaz de France and Suez. The group weights nearly 75 billion
GDF Suez : A French energy giant is born Read More »
