News Archive

week ending 21 December 2007

 

Zero-carbon non-domestic buildings

The majority of new non-domestic buildings can be zero-carbon if onsite, near-site and offsite renewable energy sources are used, a new report has found. Carbon Reductions in New Non-Domestic Buildings, compiled by the UK Green Building Council (UK-GBC), also concluded that a challenging target should be set to achieve zero-carbon new non-domestic buildings. It suggested adoption of a 2020 deadline, four years behind the Government's target of 2016 for new domestic buildings. The report, commissioned by the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG), is the result of several months work by a number of UK-GBC members - some of them competitors - who shared data and collaborated on the project.

Edie 20th Dec 2007
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The report is available on the Dept of Communities and Local Government website:
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Yorkshire & Humberside Awards

The 2nd Yorkshire and Humber Microgeneration Awards, organised by the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly and Microgeneration Yorkshire, aim to showcase the best on site renewable energy projects and policy initiatives from across Yorkshire and Humber.

Yorkshire & Humberside Assembly 20th Dec 2007
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Asda Appeal

SUPERMARKET giant Asda is to challenge a decision by councillors to throw out plans for a towering wind turbine at New Bankside. At a special meeting of Falkirk Council's regulatory committee, Asda's bid to erect a 125-metre (410ft) high turbine at its distribution centre on Falkirk's Northern Distributor Road was rejected.

Falkirk Herald 20th Dec 2007
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North Devon School

Braunton School and Community College is set to become one of the greenest schools in the country in January, thanks to a £20,000 match funded grant from the Co-operative group for new solar panels.Braunton is in the latest round of schools selected by the Co-operative Group's £1m Green Energy for Schools scheme, which will provide free solar panels for 100 schools.

North Devon Journal 20th Dec 2007
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Hebden Turbine

AN application for a large domestic wind turbine near Blackshaw Head has been deferred for a site visit by Calderdale Council's Planning Committee. Residents supported by local Councillor Janet Battye say the turbine is potentially too large and too intrusive in the the open landscape on the moorland.

Hebden Bridge Times 20th Dec 2007
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Guernsey Skills Shortage

E-Si Ltd managing director Paul Fletcher said he found it difficult to find people with the skills and experience needed to install and service the products his company sells, such as solar panels and ground-source heat pumps. He also criticised the States’ energy Green Paper for not having an action plan to address the shortfall in labour.

Guernsey Press & Star 20th Dec 2007
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Redruth

Tarn West is a newly refurbished, environmentally friendly building which features a wind turbine, ground source heating and solar powered security lights.

This is Cornwall 20th Dec 2007
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Planning Fees Waived

Eco warriors in the Forest of Dean have been given new incentives to make their homes greener. At the first ever cabinet meeting of Forest of Dean District Council, members agreed to lift planning fees for householders who want to install ecologically sound devices in their homes.

This is Gloucestershire 20th Dec 2007
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Trafford Eco-town

FIVE THOUSAND homes could be built in a new Trafford 'eco town' - where cars are frowned upon and wind turbines and water saving devices are standard.

This is Cheshire 20th Dec 2007
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Skill Centre

Welsh Assembly Government Deputy Minister Jocelyn Davies officially opened the largest skills centre in Wales - which is training more than 900 people a year in various trades, including the installation of 'green' energy systems in homes and businesses.

Campaign 20th Dec 2007
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Tayside NHS

Recently appointed energy co- ordinator Mai Muhammad is looking into alternative energy sources and how NHS Tayside can cut down on consumption. He says wind is possibly the most feasible option for us in terms of generating the electricity we use. Last year health bosses visited the Michelin tyre factory in Dundee to view the wind turbines there and discuss the installation and operation with Michelin management.

Dundee Courier 20th Dec 2007
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Oxfordshire School

THE Peers Academy could become one of the 'greenest' places to learn in the UK, thanks to a Government grant scheme to make schools more environmentally friendly. The academy, which is proposed for the site of Peers School in Littlemore, is in line to receive £500,000 to cut carbon dioxide emissions.

Abingdon Herald 20th Dec 2007
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Eastbourne School

Seaford Head Community College is set to become one of the greenest schools in the country when solar panels are installed. The school is among the latest round of schools in The Co-operative Group's £1m national Green Energy for Schools scheme, which will provide £20,000 solar panels to 100 UK schools.

Eastbourne Herald 20th Dec 2007
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Merton – the BPF view

The British Property Federation has backed an announcement from Housing Minister, Yvette Cooper, to modernise the planning system to encourage greener developments. The Planning Policy Statement on Climate Change calls on authorities and developers to consider a string of renewable energy measures, ranging from on-site technologies, such as solar panels, to community heating and power stations. It follows intense debate over the so-called Merton rule which required a specific percentage of a development's energy needs to be supplied through on-site renewable sources. The BPF said it hoped that the Government's new measures would reflect the realities of the development industry, providing more scope for innovation and room for green targets to be met in a more efficient and cost-effective way, whether from on-site or off-site sources.

Birmingham Post 19th Dec 2007
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Liverpool Airport

In a bid to be more environmentally friendly, the airport has installed new wind turbines to provide some of its energy – the first in the country to do so. The two 15-metre windmills on Speke Hall Avenue are supplying part of the airport’s energy and could soon be joined by many more, if the pilot project proves successful.

Liverpool Daily Post 19th Dec 2007
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Northumberland Action Plan

A GREEN action plan aimed at urgently tackling climate change issues is to go before Northumberland County Council.

News Post Leader 19th Dec 2007
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Carbon offsetting the Cornish way

Millbrook-based Microgeneration Limited, a company which installs renewable energy systems, sponsored a tree re-planting scheme at Pigshill and Clarrick Woods. The firm took the step rather than send out Christmas cards to its customers.

Plymouth Herald 19th Dec 2007
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Eco-house gets the boot

AMBITIOUS plans for an environmentally friendly eco house failed to get the green light. Councillors gave the boot to the proposal that would have created a 45 feet high domestic wind turbine and used the Earth as a natural heating source.

Dumfries & Galloway Standard 19th Dec 2007
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North Lincolnshire Grants

More environmentally friendly people in North Lincolnshire are taking advantage of grants to make their homes greener. A range of energy efficiency grants and schemes are available to people in the region, via the South Humber Energy Efficiency Partnership (Sheep), to help reduce the amount of energy they use and also cut down on fuel bills.The grants available can help towards insulation, installing solar panels and renewable technologies.

Scunthorpe Telegraph 19th Dec 2007
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Islington Fund

Pupils from Grafton Primary School in Islington have become a shining example of how to generate green electricity. The school, in Nags Head, N7, now has solar panels on the roof of its new block – which generates enough power to run the futuristic building. It's the first project of its kind to be paid for by Islington Council's pioneering Climate Change Fund.

Islington Borough Council 19th Dec 2007
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Merton Plus

The Planning Policy Statement on climate change, published by the CLG, says that councils should apply ‘Merton plus’ rules for new developments, and encourages them to go further where possible.

Building 18th Dec 2007
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Business Green 18th Dec 2007
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Property Week 18th Dec 2007
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Local Energy

REA acknowledges the release of the Planning Policy Statement on Climate Change and hopes it will provide a positive contribution to the mass up take of renewable technologies across the country. In requiring a 'clear rationale' for microgeneration targets within local plans the REA believes that the minimum 10% target has been proven to be easily achievable by a significant number of Councils across the country. This has further been supported by a detailed study carried out recently by South Bank University into the impact of the GLA policy in London. As such we believe Communities and Local Government should recognise these as the very minimum that Councils and Regional Assemblies should be seeking to specify in their local plans

Renewable Energy Association 18th Dec 2007
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Teeside

An eco-village of 2,000 homes is being planned for part of the 1,000 acre Wynyard Park site.

Newcastle Evening Gazette 18th Dec 2007
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Mid-Devon Eco-homes

An innovative scheme to create the first carbon neutral home in Mid Devon has been given the green light by district planners, despite opposition from nearby residents. Developer Own Cocoon Ltd wants to convert barns at Manley Farm, on the outskirts of Tiverton, into homes and erect three 17.5m wind turbines. The scheme was approved by members of Mid Devon planning committee following negotiations with the developer over the siting of the turbines and the insertion of conditions on their operation.

Exeter Express & Echo 18th Dec 2007
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Christchurch

CHRISTCHURCH council has become the latest local authority to show its commitment to climate change by signing the Nottingham Declaration.
Dorset Echo 18th Dec 2007
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Nottingham Schools

Six city schools are among 200 nationally sharing £110m of Government cash for green energy systems such as wind turbines and solar panels.

Nottingham Evening Post 18th Dec 2007
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East Midland Schools

Sixteen schools in Leicester, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire council areas are among 200 taking part in a £110 million energy saving drive.

Leicester Mercury 18th Dec 2007
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Bristol Schools

Solar panels and wind turbines will be installed at five schools to help the fight against global warming. Each of the schools, which are all being rebuilt or refurbished, will receive around £500,000 of government money to slash emissions of carbon dioxide by around 60 per cent, it was announced yesterday.

Bristol Evening Post 18th Dec 2007
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Solar Merseyside

SOLAR panels and wind turbines will be installed at eight new Merseyside and Cheshire schools to help fight global warming. Each of the schools will receive around £500,000 to slash emissions of carbon dioxide by around 60%, the Government announced.

Liverpool Daily Post 18th Dec 2007
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Liverpool Echo 18th Dec 2007
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Bradford Schools

Rhodesway school was last night promised half a million pounds to help in the fight against global warming. Solar panels and wind turbines could be installed at the school to slash its emissions of carbon dioxide by about 60 per cent, the Government announced.
Bradford Telegraph & Argus 18th Dec 2007
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West Midlands’ Schools

Some 30 schools across the West Midlands will install wind turbines and solar power systems in a multi-million pound drive to reduce carbon emissions. The schools in Birmingham, Coventry, Herefordshire, Sandwell, Shropshire, Staffordshire and Telford & Wrekin council areas are among 200 taking part in a £110m energy saving drive. Schools Secretary Ed Balls wants all new school buildings to be zero carbon by 2016.

Banbury Guardian 18th Dec 2007
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Birmingham Post 17th Dec 2007
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Five schools in Coventry will get a share of £110m

IC Coventry 18th Dec 2007
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East Lothian Heat Pumps

Scotland's largest development of homes heated by subterranean pumps that take natural heat from the ground was opened yesterday. The 55 homes in East Lothian have been developed with renewable energy technology to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and fuel bills. Called ground-source heat pumps, they provide low-cost heating and hot water.

Herald 18th Dec 2007
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Gloucestershire Incentives

Eco warriors in the Forest of Dean have been given new incentives to make their homes greener.At the first ever cabinet meeting of Forest of Dean District Council, members agreed to lift planning fees for householders who want to install ecologically sound devices in their homes.

Gloucestershire Citizen 17th Dec 2007
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Eco-schools

Schools will install wind turbines and solar power systems in a multi-million pound drive to reduce carbon emissions. Schools Secretary Ed Balls wants all new school buildings to be zero carbon by 2016. In a statement to MPs, he announced the details of about 200 energy-saving projects that will cost about £110 million over the next three years.

Channel 4 News 17th Dec 2007
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BBC 18th Dec 2007
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New Builder 19th Dec 2007
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Community Energy

Changes to the planning system will mean all councils will be expected to provide for on-site renewable energy and local community energy schemes to help cut carbon emissions from new developments. The Government has already set a world-leading timetable for all new homes to be zero carbon from 2016. But we cannot stop at homes. A new report from the UK Green Building Council makes clear that new commercial buildings must move towards achieving zero carbon too by considering things like solar panels, wind turbines or heat pumps that can generate energy from on the site of new development. They should also look at the potential for connecting developments to neighbouring community heating and power schemes that can serve an entire local community. These plans build on the Merton rule.

GNN 17th Dec 2007
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Guardian 18th Dec 2007
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Guardian 17th Dec 2007
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Rochdale Online 17th Dec 2007
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24Dash 17th Dec 2007
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Zero carbon schools

Schools will install wind turbines and solar power systems in a multi-million pound drive to reduce carbon emissions, Ed Balls detailed today. The schools secretary wants all new school buildings to be zero-carbon by 2016.

Guardian 17th Dec 2007
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Dover Turbine

A 17-metre high wind turbine has been installed at council offices in Dover in a bid to cut climate change. Officials say the turbine could save more than £4,000 a year in energy bills and has already saved about 0.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide from being released.

Banbury Guardian 17th Dec 2007
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Dover District Council 14th Dec 2007
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Fallon Bill

Michael Fallon, the Conservative MP for Sevenoaks has introduced his Planning and Energy Bill which is specifically designed to re-enforce the "Merton rule", a planning policy which requires all new buildings over a certain size to cut their carbon emissions by 10 per cent through the use of on-site renewable energy sources, such as solar panels or a wind turbine.

Telegraph 17th Dec 2007
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Domestic Turbines

There is no harm in the occasional domestic wind turbine. But anyone who believes that such turbines could be the answer to Britain's energy needs has either failed to understand the need for energy or is indifferent to the consequences of energy shortage.

Independent 17th Dec 2007
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Scotland

The take-up of grants for home-based renewable energy devices that will cut bills and help to prevent damaging climate change have soared by 1,000% during the past four years. According to a survey by the Energy Saving Trust (EST), householders north of the Border have invested more than £18.8m in renewable technologies since 2003, with the figure rising every month. That translates to 2,300 grants, funded by the Scottish Government, to homeowners installing devices such as solar panels to produce hot water, ground-source heat pumps, wood-burning biomass boilers, or wind turbines.

Scotland on Sunday 16th Dec 2007
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Isle of Rum

Scottish Natural Heritage plans to commission a study into renewable energy.

Sunday Herald 16th Dec 2007
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Zero Stamp Duty Land Tax

The goal of buying a zero-emission house, complete with tax relief of up to 15,000 on stamp duty, may not be achievable, say academics and analysts, after the Government last week announced what could be Britain's first eco-village.

Independent 16th Dec 2007
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Company Expansion

A COMPANY has embarked on a major expansion scheme as part of its drive to develop renewable energy technology. James Hargreaves Plumbers Merchants has spent £700,000 buying the former Red Rose Plastics building in Burnley. Earlier this year the firm entered into a potentially lucrative agreement with German heating company Wolf GMBH to develop, manufacture and supply solar panels. James Hargreaves is now considering transforming the building into a showroom for renewable technologies such as solar panels as well as creating a business park for new enterprises on the site.

This is Lancashire 16th Dec 2007
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TWO Ringwood-based companies with a combined turnover of £18m have been taken over by a consortium of management and new investors. Domestic renewable energy specialists Solar Home Energy and roof insulation firm Warmroof Systems will keep their separate identities under the deal and will continue to be based in Ringwood.

Southern Daily Echo 14th Dec 2007
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Home Energy

The practical and business case for a home energy project depends at a number of key stages upon government. Overall: 1) Are there subsidies? 2) Is the planning system for or against us?
3) Do our national tariff structures for energy encourage or discourage private household investment? Based on my experience so far, my answers are: 1) small and rather confusing subsidies do exist; 2) the planning system is against us; and 3) the price incentive for householders contemplating feeding the national grid is pitifully inadequate: a fraction of what is offered, say, to the swelling ranks of private generators in Germany.

Times 15th Dec 2007
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Devon Energy

RE4D was launched in 2006 to enable the development of small-scale renewable energy in Devon and was one of the first of its kind in the country. It offers free, independent advice and support to businesses, households, communities, schools and the public sector. RE4D has helped over 260 organisations to date, with more then 60 installations taking place and 15 more due to be commissioned by the end of the year, with a value to installers of more than £1m.

Exeter Express & Echo 15th Dec 2007
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Barrow

A Barrow school has finally received planning permission for a wind turbing.
NW Evening Mail 15th Dec 2007
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Leicester

An office block is set to be transformed into student flats if councillors give the go-ahead next week. The building will also provide renewable energy and combined heat and power units.

Leicester Mercury 15th Dec 2007
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Zero-carbon homes

Q&A.

Guardian 14th Dec 2007
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Britain's biggest housebuilder is to build England's first eco-village, the housing and planning minister, Yvette Cooper, announced. Barratt has won the bid to create a new community at the site of the former Hanham Hall hospital near Bristol, which has been commissioned by the government's national regeneration agency, English Partnerships.

Guardian 14th Dec 2007
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Western Daily Press 15th Dec 2007
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New Builder 14th Dec 2007
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A SHORTLIST of six developers wanting to build 450 homes on Peterborough's Carbon Challenge site have been announced.

Peterborough Evening Telegraph 14th Dec 2007
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Shetland

A SETTLEMENT of environmentally-friendly houses could appear in Vidlin within three years. The plan, by ScotActec Ltd, is to create a "healthy environment with healthy homes" which are comfortable to live in and extremely cheap to run. They will use the very latest renewable energy technology and be planned in conjunction with the local community.

Shetland Times 14th Dec 2007
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Wiltshire School Turbine

CONTROVERSIAL plans for a wind turbine at Hardenhuish School in Chippenham were given the go-ahead despite concerns from residents living nearby.

Wiltshire Times 14th Dec 2007
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Ipswich School Turbine

A GROUP of green entrepreneurs from one Ipswich school are celebrating today after getting the go-ahead for an energy-saving wind turbine. Children from a special eco-committee at Rose Hill Primary School, in Derby Road, Ipswich, have been granted planning permission for a 1.2kw wind turbine which will be placed on the school roof in the New Year.

Evening Star 14th Dec 2007
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Allerdale home turbine battle

An Alerdale couple’s battle to install a small turbine continues.

Cumbrian Times and Star 14th Dec 2007
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Generation Homes

A Hampshire-based housing association has won national recognition for the refurbishment of six groundbreaking homes carried out in partnership with the Energy Saving Trust.Drum Housing Association, a subsidiary of Radian which provides around 15,000 affordable homes across the south of England, used a package of energy efficiency and renewable energy measures. The six homes are the first in the country to carry the ‘Generation Homes’ benchmark, which requires that annual household carbon dioxide emissions are slashed by at least 60%.

New Builder 14th Dec 2007
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Investment

Solar and wind power represent the most attractive investments in the green energy sector, but biofuels are showing less potential at present, says Edward Guinness, a fund manager at Guinness Asset Management.

Citywire 14th Dec 2007
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Microgeneration survey

BEAMA have unveiled the results of their domestic wind, PV and micro-CHP monitoring project that they have conducted over the past 18 months

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