Cutting bills, saving lives
Sarah Boyack MSP inspects the Ferroli gas boiler installed, in conjunction with solar panels, by the Rutherglen and Cambuslang Housing Association. Earlier the tenant had shown the MSP her gas bill for the summer months showing that it was only for the standing charge. As Fuel Poverty jumps to the top of the political agenda with rising fuel bills, this week Channel 4’s Dispatches highlighted the estimated eight pensioners an hour who die from cold-related illnesses in the UK during the winter months.
week ending 8 February 2008
High Peak
Environmentally friendly High Peak Council will soon be producing a policy statement aimed at promoting energy efficiency and installing renewable energy technology in public buildings and homes.
Tameside Reporter 7th Feb 2008
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National Trust goes solar
The National Trust plans to combat global warming by generating green electricity from solar panels tucked away behind the battlements of Dunster Castle. It is the first time the National Trust has installed solar panels on to one of its Grade I listed buildings and the charity hopes that others of its castles and stately homes will follow suit.
Guardian 7th Feb 2008
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Micro-CHP
E.ON UK and Energetix Group have signed an agreement to develop micro combined heat and power (CHP) units to install in homes across the UK. Under the agreement, E.ON will fund the testing and evaluation of a Genlec micro-CHP system at the Energetix facility in Cheshire, which will be verified by independent experts. The CHP units will operate in the same manner as domestic central heating boilers, but will also deliver low-carbon electricity into the home to reduce the need to buy electricity.
Hemscott 7th February 2008
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Virtually a reality?
Greenpeace has launched an interactive virtual city showcasing how towns and cities across the UK are fighting climate change and enjoying a cleaner and more secure energy future - without relying on new coal or nuclear power stations.
Greenpeace Press Release 7th Feb 2008
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Sheffield Turbines
A site at Westwood Country Park in
the north of Sheffield has been chosen for a pilot scheme to test the potential
for wind turbine energy generation in the city. An initial feasibility
study has been carried out by the Council to help identify how the Council
can develop and support renewable energy across Sheffield.
Sheffield City Council 6th Feb 2008
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Edinburgh scheme
A £3m renewable energy system, which will be one of the largest of its type in the UK, was given the go-ahead at the Caltongate complex site near the City’s historic Royal Mile.
BBC 6th Feb 2008
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Community Hydro
INNOVATIVE Esk Valley residents are launching
a website and leaflet to raise awareness of their work for the environment
and encourage others to join them. The Esk Valley Community Energy Group
will send the leaflet to homes and businesses in the Upper Esk Valley to
provide details of projects it is undertaking and advice on energy saving.
The website has details of current schemes, including the hydro project
for the River Esk and its tributaries.
Northern Echo 6th Feb 2008
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Hospital Turbine
Kings Lynn’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital is blazing a trail in aiming to become the first public sector organisation to be powered with green energy from a wind turbine.
Lynn 6th Feb 2008
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Hull Tesco
Wind turbine could be built in the car park of a Beverley supermarket. Tesco has submitted an application to install a turbine 10.6m high (about 35ft) outside its Morton Lane store.
Hull Daily Mail 6th Feb 2008
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Energy Policy
Andrew Warren: Patricia Hewitt, introducing the 2003 energy White Paper said "It would have been foolish to announce that we would embark on a new generation of nuclear power stations. Because that would have guaranteed that we would not make the necessary investments in both energy efficiency and renewables." The White Paper promised a "step change" in policies and programmes to deliver energy efficiency. So the question remains: why was there such a 180 degree change in the agreed answer to the same problem? What happened to change everything so dramatically? I think I know the answer. There always were certain key individuals who never lost faith in the "Big Is Beautiful" concept within energy policy making. Almost all of these were to be found in the constellations around the old Industry (DTI) Department, now renamed Business (BERR). The department retains the strongest links with those involved with power station construction. Initially the main authors of the 2003 policy were in charge of delivery. But within months, they had been moved on, replaced by others more sympathetic to the conventional policy line. There is still no sign of that famous "step change in energy efficiency" promised at the time. At best, all we are managing is a sort of soft shoe shuffle.
Telegraph
5th Feb 2008
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Forestry
Wood-fired power stations might not be as fashionable as wind or solar energy, but according to Bernard Fairman of investment firm Foresight Group they have a key role to play in meeting renewables targets and could revitalise the UK's forestry sector
Business Green 5th February 2008
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Barratt & Eon
Barratt and the German power firm,
E.ON, are teaming up to provide renewable energy schemes for 10 housing
projects. The partnership, aimed a meeting the Government’s zero
carbon homes agenda, will initially focus on 10 sites with technologies
ranging from CHP to micro-renewables.
Building 5th Jan 2008
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Eco Disabled Centre
A CHARITY has revealed plans to build a £15m centre
for North-East entrepreneurs with disabilities, which could create 300
jobs. The development, which will be a model for a national chain of similar
centres, will incorporate various environmentally-friendly features such
as solar panels and will run on renewable energy.
Newcastle Journal 5th Feb 2008
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Flintshire Carbon Saving
HOUSEHOLDERS in Flintshire and Wrexham could save millions – and help save the planet – by investing in energy-saving measures. That's the message from the Energy Saving Trust, as the organisation releases figures which show our energy consumption, and the toll it takes on the world.
Wrexham Evening Leader 5th Feb 2008
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Accreditation
A Bristol firm which installs next-generation wind turbines across the UK has won government accreditation for its work.Aeolus Power, which installs wind turbines that generate electricity for households, has been given the new Government Microgeneration Certificate. The firm is one of only 24 nationwide which has received the approval, which allows it to sell and install the equipment.
Bristol Evening Post 5th Feb 2008
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Chorley Solar
There will be a charged atmosphere at Albany
Science College, Chorley, next Wednesday, February 13, when pupils officially
switch on their £20,000
solar panels installed with funding from The Co-operative Group.
Lancashire Telegraph 5th Feb 2008
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North East Councils
A report by the Association of North East Councils considers how local authorities can respond to and adapt to the growing challenge of climate change, promote energy efficiency, tackle fuel poverty and explore and promote new renewable energy options.
Association of North East Council 4th Feb 2008
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Renewable Heat
British Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks has launched a call for advice on the best ways to expand the use of renewable energy for space and water heating. The call seeks advice on, among other things, how existing technologies for producing heat - such as combined heat and power, renewable heat, heat from waste, and district heating - could be developed further, and whether new incentives are needed to stimulate its development.
Renewable Energy World 4th Feb 2008
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The Carbon Trust warned today that if the UK is to reach its proposed renewable energy target of 15 per cent by 2020, developing electricity-generating renewables will only provide part of the solution. Commercialising technologies including wave and tidal power, offshore wind and next generation photovoltaics will be essential, but without a greater emphasis on technologies to provide renewable heating and transportation, the UK will struggle to reach this challenging target.
Carbon Trust 4th
Feb 2008
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Liskeard Turbine
A school near Liskeard has won £5,000 for its environmentally-friendly initiatives. Upton Cross Primary School, the first in Cornwall to have its own wind turbine, is one of only 56 schools in the country to win a grant from the National College for School Leadership.
Plymouth Herald 4th Feb 2008
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Conservation Street
When people consider installing eco-friendly measures, they often think of the 'sexier' options such as solar panels and wind turbines. But, as we ourselves were surprised to discover, some of the most effective measures are also the easiest and cheapest - such as making sure your loft insulation meets the recommended 270mm (10in) minimum thickness.
Western Daily Press 4th Feb 2008
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Wind Farming in Barnet
Pupils at a Barnet school are
celebrating the arrival of a new wind turbine, which has risen phoenix-like
from the ashes of a fire. The decision to use sustainable energy sources
was made after a 2002 blaze destroyed most of the original school. The
turbine joins 38 solar panels, fitted to the roof of the nursery last November,
to help generate electricity and hot water. Through the use of solar and
wind power, the school will reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by nearly
1.6 tonnes each year, saving some £1,600 on fuel costs.
Times Series 4th Feb 2008
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Oxford Wind
The blades of the turbine started turning at an Oxford school after an 18-month fundraising campaign. The school says the £28,500, 14-metre-high (46ft) windmill will provide a quarter of the school's electricity and save it about £1,500 a year in power bills.
Bicester Advertiser
4th Feb 2008
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CITY council leaders agreed today to press ahead with plans for four large wind turbines on a site on the edge of Oxford.
Herald Series 4th Feb 2008
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South West Renewables
The Rural Development Programme for England will be launched today by the South West of England Regional Development Agency, Natural England and the Forestry Commission. It will fund environmental stewardship, skills development, farming and forestry diversification, resource management, renewable energy supply chains and community-led development.
Exeter Express & Echo 4th Feb 2008
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Nottingham School
Construction has started on a new Nottingham school - a three-storey eco-school complete with biomass boiler, reusable rainwater and a wind turbine.
Nottingham Evening Post 4th Feb 2008
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Eigg Lessons
NORTH Staffordshire Green Party feels Moorlands
residents could learn from the example set by people from the island of
Eigg.
This is Cheshire 4th Feb 2008
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San Diego ESCO
Honeywell has announced that Poway Unified School District in San Diego, Calif. has awarded the company a solar project that is expected to save the district more than $1 million in energy costs over the next 20 years. Under the agreement, Honeywell will install solar arrays at four of the district's schools and sell the electricity the panels produce to the district. This structure allows the district to incorporate green, renewable energy sources with no capital investment, said Doug Mann, executive director of facilities for Poway Unified School District. The combination of minimizing our environmental impact while reducing energy costs makes the project a win for the district, as well as the San Diego community.
Calibre 4th Feb 2008
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Irish New Town
Adamstown has been designed from the beginning as a sustainable community, with low-energy buildings as part of the vision. The buildings have been designed to achieve in excess of a 40% energy saving compared to current standards of the Building Regulations. The Community Heating System will use 30% renewable energy sources.
Enviro Solutions 3rd Feb 2008
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Combined Heat and Workers’ Co-op
Spanish manufacturer Mondragon and state-owned generator Meridian Energy have formed a joint venture to mass manufacture New Zealand's WhisperGen system in Spain for distribution in Europe.
New Zealand Business Review 3rd Feb 2008
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Energy Business Review 31st Jan 2008
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Solar Huddersfield
South Crosland Junior School is in the latest
round of The Co-operative Group’s £1m national Green Energy
for Schools scheme, which will provide free solar panels to 100 schools.
Huddersfield Examiner 2nd Feb 2008
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A wind turbine in Solihull?
A SCHOOL in Solihull is hoping
to do its bit to help save the environment by installing a wind turbine
in a bid to supply some of its power. Plans are well under-way to introduce
the energy-saving 15-metre high device at Langley Primary School, in St
Bernard's Road, Solihull.
Birmingham Mail 1st Feb 2008
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Building Regs Binned
Carbon emissions from housing in Northern Ireland are likely to stay much the same after NI finance minister Peter Robinson MP binned proposed legislation to tackle climate change. Robinson decided NOT to implement changes to building regulations which would have forced property developers to build greener homes. The new regulations would have made it compulsory for new buildings to have small wind turbines, wood fuelled boilers and solar panels - but now this will not happen.
New Builder 1st Feb 2008
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Welsh Pupil Power
A primary school in Gwynedd is looking to produce its own electricity, after an idea from the pupils themselves. Technology classes at Ysgol y Traeth in Barmouth have been working on the project and with the help a parent, a £40,000 grant has been secured. The town council has already been shown the plans, ahead of an application to Gwynedd Council.
BBC 1st Feb 2008
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Carlisle demands noise test
A Carlisle school has been forced to withdraw plans for a wind turbine to carry out noise tests.
Cumberland News 1st Feb 2008
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Energy Performance Certificates
A controversial new system of single seller surveys for property sales will be introduced across Scotland. The Scottish Government hopes to introduce the system, which will see those selling their homes providing a detailed survey for would-be buyers, on December 1. The new report will see sellers have to offer a single survey, an energy report on the buildings impact on the environment, and complete a property questionnaire containing useful information to buyers.
Herald 31st Jan 2008
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Red tape in Lincolnshire
A CALL has come for more encouragement to be given to East Lindsey householders who want to install domestic wind turbines outside their properties. Coun Jim Swanson suggested there were currently too many barriers for such initiatives - 'for instance the hassle of securing the approval of electricity suppliers'. He urged the authority to consider introducing a discount for anyone lodging a planning application.
Louth Leader 31st Jan 2008
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Community Heat Pump
A COMMUNITY centre which rose from the ashes of riots more than a decade ago is now leading the way as being environmentally friendly. Revolution Power will provide a Dimplex ground source geothermal heating system which will complement a large solar installation and two wind turbines. The technology will enable the centre to benefit from substantial energy savings and provide a future-proof heating solution.
News Guardian 30th Jan 2008
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