Five green things we've learned this week

1. Ed Davey will begin next week as energy and climate change secretary
Chris Huhne's resignation to fight criminal charges has many implications, not least a potential delay to crucial energy legislation and the loss of a buffer against Treasury cost-cutting. David Symons of consultants WSP called the farrago an "unwelcome distraction for green business and policy" but Alistair Harper at think-tank Green Alliance suggested a new start offered an opportunity for Number 10 to take more ownership of the agenda. Either way, we'll know more of how former employment minister Ed Davey intends to deal with a complex agenda – and how quickly he gets up to speed (no pun intended) – in the coming months.

2. Green buildings are serious business
Proposals to make property owners undergoing renovations tack on energy efficiency improvements were given almost universal approval, which must be a first for the department of Communities and Local Government. Research from the US suggests the market for high-spec zero-carbon buildings could top $1.3 trillion within 25 years, which makes Michael Gove's push to lower building requirements for schools all the more strange.

3. Everybody loves the Green Investment Bank
A mind-boggling 32 UK towns and cities are in the running to host the Green Investment Bank, which is expected to channel about £15bn towards low-carbon projects. Alongside the usual suspects of London and Edinburgh, more unlikely candidates – including Bicester, Torbay, Ipswich or Peterborough – have thrown their hats into the ring. A decision is expected this month, and with a sizeable amount of jobs to make don't bet against a slightly surprising result.

4. India will become the world's next green superpower sooner than we think
Investment in the country's cleantech sector hit $10.3bn last year, a massive 52 per cent rise on 2010, eclipsing all other countries, including the US and China. Solar and wind both attracted well over $4bn, and India will soon be able to say it has installed 14.2GW of green energy capacity in the last five years. With the government on board and well over a billion people working in the same direction, India may make the step up from emerging green economy to established superpower quicker than anyone predicted.

5. BusinessGreen is never in the dark
Even if the lights go out for two days running, even if there's no water, or heating or lifts, BusinessGreen's intrepid team can keep the news and views coming think and fast – albeit from a North London coffee house. Praise be for cafés with free Wi-Fi.