Lighting

What Happens to the Mercury in Your Fluorescent Lamps?

California has an opportunity to accelerate the transition to clean, modern, mercury-free LED lighting through the passage of AB-2208 which would effectively eliminate all compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) lighting in the state beginning in 2024 and linear fluorescent lamps (LFLs) in 2025.

12 Apr 2022

Lighting

Convention on Mercury Promises CFLs Phase-Out; Action on LFLs Delayed

At the Minamata Convention on Mercury fourth Conference of Parties (COP4), 137 governments adopted amendments to phase out a major category of fluorescent lighting, but actions were stalled on others.

28 Mar 2022

Lighting

Turn Out The Lights on Fluorescents

New report highlights the health and environmental risks of mercury-containing fluorescent lighting and outlines actions to transition to more energy-efficient, cost-effective LEDs.

14 Oct 2021

Lighting

Eliminating Toxic Lighting in the EU

In a new study, CLASP found the continued use of inefficient, mercury-based lighting for an additional two years wipes out economic savings across the EU of 12.2 billion Euros, with the four largest economies - Germany, Italy, France and Spain representing 77% of the lost financial savings.

09 Jul 2021

Lighting

Ending Toxic Lighting Together – CLASP Coordinates the Clean Lighting Coalition

CLASP is proud to announce that we are coordinating the Clean Lighting Coalition (CLiC), a global partnership to capture the health and environmental benefits of eliminating mercury-based lighting under the Minamata Convention on Mercury.

12 May 2021

Nexus Solutions to Intersectional Issues

As we approach the 26th Conference of Parties, CLASP Associate Sara DeMartini suggests that carbon neutrality can only be achieved with nexus solutions – those that take systemic, cross-sectoral approaches that examine the relationships between resources and people.

27 Apr 2021

Medical Equipment

CLASP Publishes First-of-its-kind Report on Medical Equipment and Clinic Electrification

The WHO estimates that 70% of medical devices in the Global South do not function and remain unused, in large part because the design of most medical equipment does not reflect the needs of off- and weak-grid clinics. Our report seeks to raise awareness of this under-appreciated challenge.

29 Mar 2021

Cooling

New Pakistan Cooling Initiative Will Expand Access and Lower CO₂ Emissions

In December, CLASP expanded its partnership with the Pakistan government to develop a national action plan for sustainable cooling.

11 Feb 2021

New Efficiency for Access Campaign Centers Off-Grid Appliances in COVID-19 Response

Appliances are Vital makes the case for including low-energy, inclusive appliances in the global pandemic recovery effort.

19 Nov 2020

Medical Equipment

Conversations with CLASP: New Podcast Features Huda Jaffer of SELCO Foundation

Through conversations with partners, CLASP is exploring the implications of the novel coronavirus for the clean energy access sector. We hope that you enjoy this candid dialogue with the experts on the challenges and opportunities that face the sector right now.

13 Oct 2020

13 Oct 2020

World Standards Day 2020 is themed “Protecting the Planet with Standards.” In celebration of World Standards Day, CLASP is highlighting several best-in-class, new and innovative standards for energy-consuming appliances and equipment around the world.

13 Oct 2020

Cooking

Electric Cooking Impacts: Electric Pressure Cookers Enhance Community Resiliency 

In 2020, the Global LEAP Awards launched the inaugural Electric Pressure Cooker (EPC) Competition. Through the Electric Cooking Impact Series, we share insights into the role of EPCs in enhancing community resiliency to global shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic.

28 Sep 2020

Lighting

Report Shows Market Readiness to Eliminate Mercury-Based Lighting

A new report by CLASP and the Swedish Energy Agency (SEA) on the availability of LED lighting in Europe shows that as the European Commission considers an update to rules governing the sale of products containing hazardous chemicals, there is no technical or economic justification for mercury-based fluorescent lamps to remain on the market.

24 Jul 2020

Cooling

Environmental Dumping, A Perspective from Ghana

In this article we’re pleased to feature CLASP partner Kofi Agyarko of Ghana’s Energy Commission, as part of CLASP’s #ClimateWiseCooling campaign. Mr. Agyarko’s interview supplements CLASP and IGSD’s recent publication “Environmentally Harmful Dumping of Inefficient and Obsolete Air Conditioners in Africa”.

09 Jul 2020

Off-Grid Solar Social Enterprises Respond to COVID-19 in Kenya & Zambia

Under the Global LEAP Awards Solar E-Waste Challenge, as Efficiency for Access Coalition Co-Secretariat CLASP has been working closely with Grantee companies across sub-Saharan Africa as they adapt operations to help vulnerable off-grid consumers navigate the COVID 19 Pandemic.

08 Jul 2020

A new report on environmental dumping, released in advance of World Refrigeration Day, finds that 35% of the room air conditioners (RACs) sold in many of Africa’s largest countries are low efficiency units with energy efficiency ratings of less than 3.0 W/W, a commonly adopted standard around the world.

24 Jun 2020

Cooling

ClimateWiseCooling: Advancing Sustainable Cooling in a Warming World

CLASP Senior Manager Ana Maria Carreño introduces the #ClimateWiseCooling campaign.

31 May 2020