week ending 7 December 2007
Micro-CHP
Findings from the most in-depth field trial to date on Micro-CHP (combined heat and power) were released today by the Carbon Trust, showing that Micro-CHP technology has significant potential to deliver CO2 savings in small commercial environments and certain types of homes.
Green
Tech for the Home 7th Dec 2007
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Voltimum 6th Dec 2007
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Conservative Policy
Britain's power generators have reacted sharply to Tory proposals to boost micro-generation, saying that the plans represented a call for a "revolution". "Are they actually suggesting that the companies that plan to spend £20bn to £30bn in the next 12 years on new power projects should stop and think again?" said the Association of Electricity Producers' chief executive, David Porter. "Will new gas-fired power stations, clean coal schemes and marine renewables somehow be made redundant by community and domestic power production? If so we need to know immediately.
Guardian 7th Dec 2007
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Letter: While we firmly believe the government should quickly introduce a German-style feed-in tariff for solar photovoltaics in particular, this is no excuse for downgrading the large-scale renewable energy programme. What the Tory proposals do not mention is that most of Germany's renewable energy (the 12% mentioned) in fact comes from the very large-scale wind turbines, from which the Tories want to withdraw or limit financial support.
Yvette Cooper MP Housing minister says your report (December 3) once again misrepresents the government's position on the Merton rule, to promote renewables through the planning system. We have set a world-leading timetable for all new homes to be zero-carbon from 2016. That is why we need local councils to do far more to promote the use of decentralised renewable and low-carbon energy, looking at community energy schemes like combined heat and power plants, as well as microgeneration.
Guardian 7th Dec 2007
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Philip Wolfe, Executive Director of the Renewable Energy Association, says these Conservative proposals build on measures which have proved to be highly successful overseas. On-site renewables will be a huge contributor to the 20% EU renewables target - and it is a sector that policies don't currently reach. The innovative approach to defining and financing the tariffs could also be extended to renewable heat - another neglected area.
Renewable Energy Association 6th Dec 2007
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At least 1m households and businesses in Britain could be generating large amounts of electricity for the grid within a decade, but it will need an overhaul of the electricity supply industry, the Conservative party said yesterday. The party would create a mass market for decentralised "micro-energy" by encouraging everyone to invest in their own solar power and other renewable electricity generating schemes. A guaranteed price for the electricity generated in homes would be paid, with a further guarantee to run the scheme for at least 20 years.
Guardian 6th December 2007
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FT
7th Dec 2007
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Business Green 6th Dec 2007
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BBC 6th Dec 2007
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Daily Express 6th Dec 2007
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Daily Mail 6th Dec 2007
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At the Greenpeace offices on Thursday, David Cameron launched a policy paper which set out plans for a decentralised energy revolution in Britain.
Conservative Party Press Release 6th Dec 2007
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Cameron’s Speech 6th Dec 2007
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Homeowners who generate their own electricity would supply 5 per cent of the nation’s needs in little more than a decade under plans to be announced by the Conservatives today.
Times 6th Dec 2007
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Previewing the plans on the Today programme, environment spokesman Greg Barker said the UK is "really being left behind" in the move to greener energy. Mr Barker continued: "If you look at the Netherlands they produce about 40 per cent of their electricity from decentralised sources, primarily combined heat and power.
Politics.co.uk 6th Dec 2007
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Conservative plans to oblige electricity suppliers to purchase surplus energy from green consumers who generate their own power, have been applauded by Friends of the Earth (FoE).
Politics.co.uk 6th Dec 2007
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Ceredigion Biomass
A Ceredigion scheme which provides four large buildings with heating and hot water from woodchip has so far saved 21 million pounds and cut carbon emissions by 400 tonnes. Ceredigion County Council was today given the Consortium of Local Authorities in Wales sustainability award for its Renewable Energy Facility at Penmorfa in Aberaeron which was set up with the aid of Objective 1 funding.
News Wales 6th Dec 2007
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Trafalgar Square
The Mayor of London's temporary green showhome in Trafalgar square has attracted comments from the building industry as well as green groups. Ken Livingstone launched the Mayor of London's 'green homes' service, from outside the specially built eco house in London this week. The initiative has attracted mainly favourable comment, but it seems clear that the government needs to do far more in the way of financial support for homeowners to make their properties more efficient.
New Builder 6th Dec 2007
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Scilly Isles
The Scilly Isles could be on course for a greener future as a result of an action plan being published by the Council of the Isles of Scilly, which outlines a plan to get the islands developing their own renewable energy supply and lowering dependence on energy from the mainland, while also reducing the islands' carbon footprint.
Western Morning News 6th Dec 2007
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Kilmarnock
BUILDING of the all-new Galston Primary School and Nursery is on track as the hi-tech project nears completion. The new school will be one of the most modern design concepts in the UK, incorporating a number of renewable energy features which will ensure a low carbon footprint.
Kilmarnock Standard 6th Dec 2007
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Blackpool
BOSSES in charge of the revamp of Cleveleys Promenade are hoping to turn to the breeze to help make a brew. Wyre Council is looking at ways to use wind power across the borough and the new landmark Prom could be the first location chosen to pilot the scheme.
Blackpool Today 6th Dec 2007
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Rotherham
Eco-homes which were built in Rotherham this year will be put to the test as part of a new project. A study, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, will determine how much energy the homes on Henley Rise are saving, as well as looking at the behaviour of residents. The homes were developed by South Yorkshire Housing Association and are fitted with solar panels and 'super-insulation'.
Berwick Advertiser 6th Dec 2007
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South Tyneside
GREEN campaigners today welcomed news that plans for a controversial riverside wind turbine will be resurrected. A&P Tyne at Hebburn was forced to scrap its original plans for the turbine –following objections from residents, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Newcastle International Airport. But now new plans are set to be submitted to South Tyneside Council for a redesigned wind turbine.
Shields Gazette 5th Dec 2007
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Solar Birmingham
More private home owners in North West Birmingham will receive cheaper fuel bills as a result of the installation of solar panels and other energy saving measures, part of an Eco Neighborhood project set up by Family Housing Association. The scheme has provided over 250 homes with solar panels and has now secured an extra £704,000 to extend the project further, providing another 73 homes with solar panels and other measures including super insulation and energy efficient lighting, by the end of March 2008.
Midlands Housing 5th Dec 2007
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Feed-in Tariffs
The introduction of feed-in tariffs would be a cheap and ecologically sound element of energy policy. So why the reluctance to adopt them?
Guardian 5th Dec 2007
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Norfolk
A plan to build a £9bn eco-town creating 10,000 homes and 2,000 jobs on the old airfield has been shot down in flames by the jail plan. And the developer behind the ambitious green venture, which included a brand new broad, today branded the decision to build cells rather than homes as “crazy.”
East Anglian Daily Press 5th Dec 2007
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Woking
A report published by the Local Government Association (LGA) puts into context the excellent work that the Borough has been doing to reduce its carbon footprint and urges other councils to join in the battle against climate change. Produced by the LGA's Independent Climate Change Commission, the report draws attention to the significant role that councils can play in cutting carbon emissions and achieving the 2020 reduction targets that have been set by central government. It identifies four key areas that local authorities need to work on to make the necessary carbon emission cuts - transport, planning, housing and procurement.
Woking Borough Council 5th Dec 2007
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Fallon Bill
MPs back policy, pioneered by Merton council, for developments to have on-site renewable sources of energy. A bill to give councils the right of councils to implement so-called “Merton rule” on renewable energy is to be put forward by MPs today.
Building 5th Dec 2007
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Having recently topped the Private Members' Bill ballot Michael Fallon MP has decided to use his slot to encourage renewable energy at a local level. His Planning and Energy Bill will will enable local authorities to set renewable and low carbon energy targets for new development, reinforcing the "Merton rule" under which over 100 councils have followed the London Borough of Merton in setting onsite renewable energy targets for new housing.
Conservative Home 4th Dec 2007
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Home Truths
Mayor Livingstone's new initiative to improve the energy efficiency of London homes, launched today, is being welcomed by Friends of the Earth. The environmental group revealed new research last week which showed that it is possible to reduce the emissions produced by UK homes by 80 per cent, saving householders as much as £475 a year.
Croydon Guardian 4th Dec 2007
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Feed in tariffs
There is a bitter dispute at the heart of UK energy policy development, in which support for new nuclear build, gas and carbon capture is pitted against support for renewables (in which a feed-in law should have a rightful place). The lobbying battle has been led by the conventional energy industry giants and the nuclear industry. These companies have successfully nobbled both BERR (the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform) and the Treasury.
Guardian 4th Dec 2007
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Bracknell Forest
Residents are being invited to comment on plans to make sure all new buildings in Bracknell Forest are as environmentally friendly as possible.The draft Sustainable Resource Management Supplementary Planning Document calls on developers to design new buildings with high levels of energy efficiency, conserve water and incorporate renewable energy sources like solar panels.
Bracknell Forest Borough Council 3rd Dec 2007
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Green School
Innovative plans for a groundbreaking sustainable primary school which will be carbon neutral, using solar panels and wind turbines.
Building 3rd Dec 2007
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Haringey
Haringey Council's efforts to tackle climate change have won international acclaim after it was selected as an official partner in a European Union (EU) sustainability campaign. The first of the two projects centres around new planning policies adopted by the council in July 2006. These mean at least 10 per cent of energy for major developments must come from renewable energy on site. Under the new policies, all developers of major projects must also include in their planning applications energy statements setting out how they will reduce energy use and carbon emissions.
Haringey LBC Press Release 3rd Dec 2007
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Eastbourne
There was a charged atmosphere at Ocklynge Junior School when pupils officially switched on their £20,000 solar panels, installed with funding from The Co-operative Group.
Eastbourne Herald 3rd Dec 2007
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Southend
Residents have objected to a proposed block of flats on prime seafront land. Overall, the design detail is considered to be of high architectural quality. The proposed inclusion of renewable energy sources through solar panels is also a welcome element.
Southend Echo 3rd Dec 2007
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Romford
A NEW multi-million pound housing, hotel and shops development is on the cards for a Romford town centre site. The company plans for 10 per cent of the building's energy to be supplied by wind turbines and for the construction of a grassy rooftop garden, which will create a habitat for wildlife.
Romford Recorder 3rd Dec 2007
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Lincolnshire
The Epic centre, which is due to be finished in May next year, will have exhibition halls, conference facilities and offices. It will feature cutting-edge renewable energy systems, including biomass heating and photovoltaic panels.
Lincolnshire Echo 3rd Dec 2007
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Tesco
Tesco's Swansea city centre store plans to put three wind turbines on its roof to power checkouts and lights. The 10.6-metre high, 6kW units would generate enough power to supply the equivalent of four households for a year.
Swansea Evening Post 3rd Dec 2007
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Hospital Turbine
An 80-metre wind turbine could be built to provide energy for Derby City General Hospital.
Derby Evening Telegraph 3rd Dec 2007
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Setting the example
Teachers from across the world visited a Colindale school last week to be taught more about how to develop their own environmental policies, and teaching on renewable energy.
This is Local London 3rd Dec 2007
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Solar Expansion
Electronics giant confirms plans for huge expansion in thin-film solar cell manufacturing capacity in response to soaring European demand.
Business Green 3rd Dec 2007
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Merton Bill
A group of MPs led by the Conservative Michael Fallon will introduce a private member's bill to parliament this week in a bid to prevent the government back-pedalling on rules that require construction companies to fit renewable energy sources to new buildings. The bill is designed to support the so-called Merton Rule.
Guardian 3rd Dec 2007
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Consumer Spending
Britain’s consumers are splurging more on “ethical” goods than ever before – the average household now spends £664 a year, according to the Coop, but only £6 of that is spent on renewable energy sources.
Times 3rd Dec 2007
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Manchester
Evening News 30th Nov 2007
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Irish Fund
AIB Corporate Banking Ireland has announced the launch of the new €350 million AIB Sustainable Energy Fund for companies operating in the energy sector.
Enviro Solutions 2nd Dec 2007
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Solar payback
A study by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) shows that solar panels to heat water could cost £5000 to install in the typical three-bedroom terraced house. But they would knock only £24 a year off the average energy bill, which means it could take about 208 years to get a return on the investment.
Sunday Herald 2nd Dec 2007
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Forest Centre
THE Dalby Forest Visitor Centre near Pickering has won a top national award. The £2.6 million centre has been dubbed one of the north's most eco-friendly structures, using wood chip power generation, solar panels, wind turbines.
Gazette & Herald 2nd Nov 2007
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Solar School
A SCHOOL is to harness the sun's rays to light up its classrooms. In a £20,000 move that will make it one of the greenest schools in the country, Middlewich Primary School is to install solar panels to reduce its carbon footprint. It is expected that the 4kilowatt system will provide enough energy to light the whole school.
This is Cheshire 2nd Dec 2007
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Turbine attack
Adored by environmentalists and endorsed by David Cameron, they have become a green status symbol. But researchers say wind turbines on the sides of houses often cause more pollution than they prevent.
Daily Mail 1st Dec 2007
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Business Green 30th Nov 2007
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New Consumer 30th Nov 2007
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Southern Housing 3rd Dec 2007
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Energy Saving
Making your home more carbon neutral might sound too costly or too tedious to contemplate, but according to Alliance & Leicester Personal Loans you will get your money back.They reckon that splashing out up to nine grand on the average three bed semi will ultimately save the owner both energy and money.
Total Essex 1st Dec 2007
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Bootle
PLANS to build an £11m 80,000 sq ft office development in Bootle have been submitted to Sefton Council.The scheme, will incorporate 10% on site renewable energy through the use of ground source heat pumps.
Liverpool Daily Post 1st Dec 2007
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Shetland Wind
Shetland Wind Power, which installs small wind turbines for domestic use, has opened a new distribution and training centre in Stirling. The company was established in the 1990s when its founder and company director, Michael Anderson, became dissatisfied with the amount of money he was paying for his own domestic energy supply. Since then the organisation has gained experience distributing and installing turbines manufactured by Kilmarnock-based Proven Energy Products in Shetland and beyond.
Shetland Today 30th Nov 2007
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Eastleigh
A HAMPSHIRE council leader has pledged to make his authority carbon neutral
by the 2012 Olympics - but admitted he had no idea how many emissions had
to be cut.
Southern Daily Echo 30th Nov 2007
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Wigan
St James' Catholic Primary School officially switched on their solar panels donated by the The Co-operative Group.
Wigan Today 30th Nov 2007
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Cumbria
Pupils at a Cumbrian secondary school have applied for planning permission to build a 0 metre high turbine in the school grounds.
Cumberland News 30th Nov 2007
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Rotherham
Rotherham Civic Society members this week gave their backing to a pioneering eco-friendly housing development. The development of 23 properties on Henley Way in Masbrough is one of 14 green projects across the UK funded by more than £1.3 million of government cash.
Rotherham Advertiser 29th Nov 2007
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Sheffield
Star 3rd Dec 2007
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Northumberland
A GREEN action plan aimed at urgently tackling climate change issues is to go before Northumberland County Council. The draft Climate Change Action Plan will be considered at a meeting of the Executive on December 3, while a full report setting detailed targets will be submitted in Spring 2008 following full consultation.
Northumberland County Council 30th Nov 2007
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Eco-experiment
Barratt Developments today publishes preliminary findings from its pioneering ‘eco village’ project in Chorley, Lancashire – a 15 month experiment into how effectively ‘green’ technologies can be incorporated into new homes.
Easier Property 30th Nov 2007
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When it comes to building a carbon-neutral home, wind turbines don’t work, so far, but bore holes and solar panels do. That is the conclusion that can be drawn from the first detailed working trials by the University of Manchester of energy-saving devices used on the next generation of carbon-friendly homes built by Barratt Developments, one of Britain’s largest housebuilders.
Times 3rd Dec 2007
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Networks
The Conservative leader speaking to the CBI talked about the vitally important role for energy infrastructure. He addressed head-on the twin challenges of the ‘need to secure our energy supplies while meeting environmental obligations.’ He signalled that decentralised energy would be at the heart of Conservative energy policy.
Energy Networks Assocation (ENA) Bulletin 30th November 2007
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