Nearly 200 countries struck a landmark deal last weekend to reduce the emissions of powerful greenhouse gases (GHG) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), in a move that could prevent up to 0.5°C of global warming by the end of this century, while continuing to protect the ozone layer. United for Efficiency (U4E) welcomes this historical agreement. The amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, endorsed in Kigali last weekend, is the single largest ...Read More
Practical guidance for effective monitoring, verification and enforcement activities
22 March 2016, The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)-Global Environment Facility (GEF) en.lighten initiative is pleased to announce the publication of a series of monitoring, verification and enforcement (MVE) guidance notes. Developed as part of the Southeast Asia and Pacific Monitoring, Verification and Enforcement Project, with funding from the Australian Government, the series provides practical tools to support the development of an effective lighting policy compliance framework ...Read More
United for Efficiency: Leapfrogging Countries to High Efficiency Products in Support of a Global Climate Change Agreement
7 December 2015: The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Global Environment Facility’s (GEF) United for Efficiency (U4E) initiative and its lighting chapter, en.lighten, announced exciting new projects during Energy Day of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21). The partnership includes the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the International Copper Association (ICA), the environmental and ...Read More
UNEP-GEF en.lighten-United for Efficiency and its partners to be highlighted during COP21!
With COP21 already underway, we want to highlight the events the UNEP-GEF en.lighten-United for Efficiency partnership will offer in Paris. We look forward to presenting our strong partnership, releasing new assessments (both at the city and national levels), and providing examples of countries and municipalities leapfrogging to energy-efficient lighting, appliances, and equipment. U4E and its lighting project, the en.lighten initiative, comprise the global effort to advance energy-efficient ...Read More
Launch of the Global Lighting Challenge
22 November 2015, Lighting accounts for more than 15% of the world’s electricity consumption – more than the electricity generated by all the nuclear power stations in the world - and around 5% of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. What’s more, there are 1.4 billion people around the world who lack access to modern energy services, including reliable lighting, and are instead using energy sources such as kerosene that pose serious environmental and health risks. In response to this issue, the ...Read More
Obama Administration Joins with Public and Private Sector to Increase Access to Off-Grid Clean Energy and the Deployment of Innovative Technologies Globally
22 October 2015, President Obama is committed to reducing carbon pollution and ensuring that people everywhere can tap into clean sources of energy to power their homes and businesses. That is why, today, the Administration is announcing new actions to help bring off-grid clean energy systems and energy efficient appliances to the approximate 1.3 billion people without energy access. Along with other solutions, like grid extension and new energy generation supply investments, off-grid energy ...Read More
Press Release: UNEP-GEF en.lighten initiative and U4E presented at EEDAL
Lucerne, Switzerland 28 August 2015 The UNEP-GEF en.lighten and United for Efficiency (U4E) initiatives were recently presented during the International Conference on Energy Efficiency in Domestic Appliance and Lighting (EEDAL) in Lucerne, Switzerland. The EEDAL conference aims at promoting international research, projects and other initiatives to foster energy efficiency in the residential sector. The conference brought together many of en.lighten and U4E partners including International ...Read More
Accelerating the deployment of efficient lighting solutions through minimum energy performance standards
Jakarta, 7 July 2015 The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)-Global Environment Facility (GEF) en.lighten initiative is pleased to announce their new guidance note, Developing Minimum Energy Performance Standards for Lighting Products. Released during the SWITCH-Asia regional event – Advancing Energy Efficiency in Asia Through SCP and Green Finance – in Jakarta yesterday, this practical resource for governments will help policymakers better understand the benefits of minimum energy ...Read More
New Global Alliance for Energy-Efficient Appliances and Equipment Launched
New York, 23 September 2014 - The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) today announced a new initiative to accelerate the transition to more efficient appliances and equipment to reduce global energy demand, mitigate climate change and improve access to energy. A worldwide shift to energy-efficient appliances and equipment - including lighting, air conditioners, refrigerators, electric motors, ceiling fans and distribution transformers - would reduce global electricity consumption by ...Read More
High-Efficiency Appliances for a Low-Carbon Future
by: Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) for International Institute for Sustainable Development Living standards and populations are growing across the globe, and the new, increasingly urbanized, middle classes are looking to the creature comforts that have long been taken for granted by others. This process is a welcome indicator that many nations are moving into or toward the middle-income zone and bringing a higher quality of ...Read More
