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Laurens Rutten

@vanechttotergens.eurosky.social
118 followers 355 following 18 posts

Energy & climate for the European Consumer Organisation, @beuc.eu | Op eigen titel | Zoekend naar nuance, een schaars goed.

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Reposted by Laurens Rutten
TreinTramBus @treintrambus.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Er is een spoorplan voor Limburg nodig! www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/20...
vrt.be
Limburgers nemen amper de trein: "Sinds de sluiting van de mijnen is het noordoosten van de provincie spoorloos"  | VRT NWS Nieuws
Uit de nieuwste tellingen van de NMBS blijkt nog maar eens dat er in Limburg weinig treinreizigers zijn. Vooral in het noordoosten zijn er amper stations. Volgens vervoersorganisatie TreinTramBus is e...
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Laurens Rutten @vanechttotergens.eurosky.social · 15/09/2026
"Upfront cost", an oft-cited problem for the energy transition. Rightfully so, people struggle to access financial support. My colleagues compiled ideas for change. Like avoiding the time gap between advance payment and when a subsidy is received, by paying the subsidy directly to the installer.
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Reposted by Laurens Rutten
BEUC - The Consumer Voice @beuc.eu · 08/09/2026
Consumers deserve safe products whether they shop online or on the high street. As e-commerce grows, unsafe and non-compliant products continue to reach consumers. This International Product Safety Week, BEUC and Consumers International are joining forces. Discover our call👇 #IPSW2026
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Reposted by Laurens Rutten
International Energy Agency @iea.org · 13/08/2026
Recent shocks have exacerbated existing vulnerabilities around access to affordable energy services. Our new report provides a framework to help countries better measure and monitor energy affordability for households around the globe 👉 iea.li/4fTQADw
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Reposted by Laurens Rutten
Modernism in Metro-Land @modinmetro.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Premier Works, Northington Street, Holborn 1934 James A. Bowden buff.ly/2BP0d5G
A colour photograph of the former Premier works on Northington Street, Holborn, with its strong modernist design
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Reposted by Laurens Rutten
The European Correspondent @eurcorrespond.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Green roofs, from moss and wildflowers to shrubs and small trees, can cool buildings, improve insulation, absorb heavy rainfall and support urban biodiversity. They also help reduce the urban heat island effect, making cities more liveable during extreme summer heat. A data story by Julia Knabe.
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Reposted by Laurens Rutten
laurentfranckx.bsky.social @laurentfranckx.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
A senior official at the European Central Bank "said it was clear the rising frequency of natural disasters linked to global heating posed a threat to financial stability... more work needed to be done to assess the risk from the collapse of ecosystem services" www.theguardian.com/business/202...
theguardian.com
ECB official warns climate crisis poses growing threat to ‘core financial stability’
Exclusive: As wildfires rage across Europe, Frank Elderson tells the Guardian nature loss poses a growing risk to the global economy
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Reposted by Laurens Rutten
BEUC - The Consumer Voice @beuc.eu · 13/07/2026
Looking for new learning opportunities in consumer protection? We're excited to launch Consumer PRO+, a new European Commission initiative implemented by BEUC, the European Consumer Organisation to strengthen the consumer movement across Europe.
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Reposted by Laurens Rutten
Olivia Rudgard @oliviarudgard.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
New from me today: if you live in a flat in the UK, heat pumps and solar are hard to get. Balcony solar won't necessarily fix that. 🎁link below.
bloomberg.com
UK Apartment Owners Are Getting Locked Out of Money-Saving Green Tech
Leaseholders have limited control over the place where they live, including how it’s heated and powered.
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Laurens Rutten @vanechttotergens.eurosky.social · 06/07/2026
Thank you. Very useful to understand the UK context here. We're working on a project to bring together (possible) solutions about these kinds of hurdles that prevent people from taking energy decisions. We'll focus both on owners who need someone else's approval, as per your article, and tenants.
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Reposted by Laurens Rutten
BEUC - The Consumer Voice @beuc.eu · 30/06/2026
As the #CLEARHP project wraps up, it's a good moment to look back on what it achieved. The project partners organised 7 heat pump collective purchase campaigns across Europe with more than 23,000 people signing up and 500+ heat pumps installed 🏅 Read more 👇
beuc.eu
How the CLEAR-HP project helped to lead the consumer switch to heat pumps
The CLEAR-HP project helped to accompany consumers across Europe throughout the whole purchasing journey of switching from a fossil fuel boiler to a heat pump. The project aimed to raise consumer awar...
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Reposted by Laurens Rutten
World Weather Attribution @wwattribution.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
🔥NEW: Our study finds the ongoing European heatwave would have been impossible without climate change (1/6)
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Reposted by Laurens Rutten
BEUC - The Consumer Voice @beuc.eu · 18/06/2026
🤔 So, what’s going on? Legislators call it “Territorial Supply Constraints”, or TSCs. We call them unjustified restrictions for retailers set by manufacturers leading to price increases for consumers. Learn more about what TSCs are and what we can do about it: blog.beuc.eu/are-consumer...
blog.beuc.eu
Are consumers denied cheaper products from other countries? - Consumer Corner
Have you ever wondered why certain products cost more in your country than in neighbouring countries? This may be the result of unjustified restrictions set by manufacturers on retailers, also known a...
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Reposted by Laurens Rutten
Ken Glover 🇨🇦 @keng2025.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
Opinion: Happiness is our best weapon to fight climate change It turns out people are more inclined to change their habits when motivated by positivity rather doom-and-gloom warnings Read it here: www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/c62384e...
theglobeandmail.com
Happiness is our best weapon to fight climate change
It turns out people are more inclined to change their habits when motivated by positivity rather doom-and-gloom warnings
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Reposted by Laurens Rutten
Ember @ember-energy.org · 17/06/2026
#Spain decoupled electricity from gas 🇪🇸⚡ 2021: gas set prices in 52% of hours 2026: just 9% Amid high gas prices, Spanish power prices held steady, shielding households from an extra €10/month in bills 💹 ember-energy.org/lat...
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Reposted by Laurens Rutten
BEUC - The Consumer Voice @beuc.eu · 09/06/2026
Majority of Europeans back reducing fossil fuel imports to make Europe safer new polling shows ⛽ More than 1/2 also support government support for heat pumps. We agree: decarbonisation is the best way to protect consumers in the long-term from fossil fuel price spikes 📈
e3g.org
Majority of Europeans back reducing fossil fuel imports to make Europe safer, polling shows
New polling data across five major European countries shows strong support for electrification and clean energy investment. These views cut across traditional left-right political divides. Over 6 in 1...
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Reposted by Laurens Rutten
The Kyiv Independent @kyivindependent.com · 19/05/2026
Today, the Kyiv Independent is launching the biggest membership campaign in our history. Our goal: 4,000 new members worldwide — including 2,000 in the United States — to help fund independent journalism from Ukraine: kyivindependent.com/membership/?...
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Laurens Rutten @vanechttotergens.eurosky.social · 08/05/2026
In the category 'today I learnt': The potential of river-based heat pumps for cities. Bonus, a new German word for the vocab repository: dezent ("und dabei deutlich dezenter im Stadtbild"). "Discreet" or "unobtrusive", as per Wiktionary. With thanks to my perceptive colleagues.
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Reposted by Laurens Rutten
BEUC - The Consumer Voice @beuc.eu · 05/05/2026
Interesting article from our 🇬🇧 member Which? about low carbon tech and flexible energy tariffs. Which? research underlines what we see elsewhere i.e. adopting low carbon tech can be a route into more and those that do are much more likely to choose a smart tariff 👇
which.co.uk
Smart energy: Flexible energy and low carbon technology adoption - Which?
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Laurens Rutten @vanechttotergens.eurosky.social · 29/04/2026
While it's indispensable that Europe electrifies its heating, not everyone can do this at a moment's notice. That's why @beuc.eu calls on the EU and national governments to ensure local gas grid decommissioning plans are prepared by 2030 to give consumers clarity on their next heating system.
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Laurens Rutten @vanechttotergens.eurosky.social · 29/04/2026
Europe's moving to solar panels, heat pumps and electric cars. @beuc.eu advocates a lot on helping this (positive!) change come about for consumers. However, we must also manage what we're leaving behind. That includes the cost of phasing out the gas grid. Excellent work by my colleague Sophia.
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Laurens Rutten @vanechttotergens.eurosky.social · 02/04/2026
"The German Environment Agency ... estimates that (without a storage battery) households use around half of this power, resulting in average bill savings of €90 a year. That suggests a payback period of three to four years for the Ikea system." www.which.co.uk/news/article.... @which-uk.bsky.social
which.co.uk
Plug-in solar panels to become legal in the UK - Which?
What are 'plug and play' solar panels and will they be suitable for your home?
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Reposted by Laurens Rutten
BEUC - The Consumer Voice @beuc.eu · 01/04/2026
With Europe facing another fossil fuel crisis, many consumers are looking for solutions to save on their energy bills. But measures like installing solar panels can be difficult for those who rent. So how do you do it? This blog (from the last energy crisis in 2022) is still as relevant today 👇
blog.beuc.eu
Here's how I convinced my landlord to install solar panels
Shifting to green energy can be hard when you're a tenant. Here's here I got my landlord to install solar panels on my roof.
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Reposted by Laurens Rutten
International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) @irena-official.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
From price volatility to supply risks, #energy systems face growing pressure. #Renewables are helping shift the balance towards greater stability & resilience.
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Reposted by Laurens Rutten
Euronews @euronews.com · 26/03/2026
Many consumers want to know how long it will take them to make back the upfront costs of solar.
l.euronews.com
What is plug-in solar and can it save you money?
Many consumers want to know how long it will take them to make back the upfront costs of solar.
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Reposted by Laurens Rutten
International Energy Agency @iea.org · 23/03/2026
Our newsletter went out today, covering the energy crisis stemming from the Middle East conflict – including our largest-ever oil stock release, the impacts on oil markets, 10 actions to ease price pressures on consumers & more. Read it here 👉 iea.li/40OQiW3
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Reposted by Laurens Rutten
BEUC - The Consumer Voice @beuc.eu · 16/03/2026
EU energy ministers will meet this week and energy prices will be high on the agenda 💡 Bringing down energy prices is a top priority, as affordability affects us all: both businesses and consumers. Here's what the EU can do (from our blog) 👇
blog.beuc.eu
Energy affordability affects us all: here's what the EU can do
Bringing down energy prices is a top priority for Europeans following the gas crisis and recent uncertainty in the Middle East.
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Reposted by Laurens Rutten
NPR @npr.org · 16/03/2026
As an energy crisis grows, some countries are more prepared because of renewable energy and electric vehicles. Pakistan reduced its reliance on imported natural gas because of the growth of solar. n.pr/4sdk4je
n.pr
Oil and gas prices are soaring. Some countries are ready with solar panels and EVs
As an energy crisis grows, some countries are more prepared because of renewable energy and electric vehicles. Pakistan reduced its reliance on imported natural gas because of the growth of solar.
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Reposted by Laurens Rutten
Ember @ember-energy.org · 13/03/2026
“Clean power paired with electrification is the only way to shield against sudden gas price hikes in this and future crises,” adds Chris Rosslowe. Read the full analysis: ember-energy.org/lat... 4/4
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Reposted by Laurens Rutten
Dave Jones @cleanpowerdave.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
Great framing! With the world in a new dangerous place, if one thing is sure, there will be more fossil fuel crises.. nice @fionaharvey.bsky.social ! www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Reaching net zero by 2050 ‘cheaper for UK than one fossil fuel crisis’
Climate change committee finds move to renewable energy would also bring health, economic and security benefits
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Laurens Rutten @vanechttotergens.eurosky.social · 25/02/2026
100%, thanks for sharing! The International Energy Agency highlighted a similar-sounding example from Australia called "Solar Sharer Offer" in their recent report on electricity: iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/b7379... (should link to page). On my reading list to check out the details.
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Reposted by Laurens Rutten
BEUC - The Consumer Voice @beuc.eu · 04/02/2026
Interesting new report from @chesc.bsky.social about the importance of renewables + electrification to the EU's energy security 👇 Together they can protect consumers against price and supply shocks as well as provide affordable electricity 💡
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Laurens Rutten @vanechttotergens.eurosky.social · 27/01/2026
Consumer groups and my colleagues Sophia & Sara are concluding a project where people were supported through the full process of buying a heat pump. Event on February 3rd in Brussels. Not just heat pump lore, there will also be lunch + drinks for whomever this might be a selling point. @beuc.eu
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Laurens Rutten @vanechttotergens.eurosky.social · 16/01/2026
Random, personal thoughts ➡️ Energy and climate are truly fascinating topics. Learning loads, also from the many people on social media platforms like this one who share fascinating research and data every day (do you ever sleep, though?). In any case, hope you'll find the report interesting. 🛑 of 🧵.
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Laurens Rutten @vanechttotergens.eurosky.social · 16/01/2026
Unity in diversity realism ➡️ The complexity of energy (consumer) policy is compounded by the effect of having 27+/30+ national EU/European energy markets which are different from each other, and there are working days where find yourself going 🤯 .
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Laurens Rutten @vanechttotergens.eurosky.social · 16/01/2026
Project management ➡️ The development process of this 'consumer energy policy into the 2030s' report took us through the stratosphere & into the deep seas. Energy (consumer) policy is complex due to the overlapping legal, technical, economic, political, behavioural, & social aspects.
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Laurens Rutten @vanechttotergens.eurosky.social · 16/01/2026
We need to recognise ➡️ Energy policy has its limits, of course. The affordability of our daily lives has to be seen in the wider picture of other rising costs, such as those for housing. We'll further develop some of the report's points in dedicated publications going forward.
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Laurens Rutten @vanechttotergens.eurosky.social · 16/01/2026
...d) digitalisation of the sector; e) helping people afford home renovations & new tech; f) using electricity when it's cheaper; g) finding & buying products that are energy efficient; h) taking part in energy communities or energy sharing, or i) managing the decline of the gas network.
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Laurens Rutten @vanechttotergens.eurosky.social · 16/01/2026
What we @beuc.eu did ➡️ Tried to summarise our contributions to the many aspects of the EU’s 2025 Affordable Energy Action Plan + broader policies of the last decade. Sorry for the listicle, we included topics such as: a) simplifying energy bills; b) electrification; c) switching to a heat pump...
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Laurens Rutten @vanechttotergens.eurosky.social · 16/01/2026
Why it matters ➡️ These EU energy policies, and many more factors of course, play a role in: a) reducing costs for consumers & the businesses on who we depend, b) meeting climate targets, and c) making Europe less dependent on fossil fuels from, let's say, 'volatile' trading partners.
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Laurens Rutten @vanechttotergens.eurosky.social · 16/01/2026
Context ➡️ We’ve been locked into an energy & transport system based on imported fossil fuels. This has a negative impact on our wallets, the planet, our health, and geopolitical security. Change is afoot to decarbonise our economy, influenced by EU energy, automotive, building, and product policies.
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Laurens Rutten @vanechttotergens.eurosky.social · 16/01/2026
Beyond buying a lightbulb, the energy market is complex. This report gives my organisation @beuc.eu's take on how consumer energy policy should evolve to make the market easier for people to navigate. If you go "TL;DR", attempt at an abridged version below. 🧵
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Laurens Rutten @vanechttotergens.eurosky.social · 22/11/2024
Wish one could also travel back in time and visit the previous Bruges station 😍: garesbelges.be/brugge_II.htm.
garesbelges.be
Les gares belges d'autrefois. La gare de Brugge II . Guy Demeulder.
Gares belges d'autrefois. Les gares belges d'autrefois.
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