News Archive

week ending 4 April 2008

 

Eco-town Shortlist

The government has announced the 10 locations shortlisted to become Britain's first green communities. But the controversial plans have already sparked nationwide protests.

Guardian 4th April 2008
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Green Builder 3rd April 2008
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VAT cut?

VAT on bicycles and other "green" purchases such as wind turbines and environmentally friendly light bulbs should be cut, David Cameron suggested yesterday.

Telegraph 4th April 2008
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Eco-colleges

Colleges are being told to spearhead a revolution in eco-friendly construction by giving their buildings a zero carbon footprint by 2016. Meeting this target, with the help of £2.3 billion of Government funding over the next three years, would put colleges two years ahead of the rest of the public sector in providing buildings which aim not to contribute to global warming.

Times Educational Supplement 4th April 2008
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Community Project Funding

A community wind farm project on the Western Isles has secured £900,000 from the Big Lottery Fund. Ore Valley Housing Association (OVHA) in Fife has been awarded £200,000 towards a feasibility study of a proposed wind farm near Cardenden.

BBC 4th April 2008
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Scotsman 4th April 2008
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Herald 4th April 2008
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Anaerobic Digestion

Biocycle’s anaerobic digestion (AD) plant has celebrated a year of successful operation. The facility was one of the first to operate under the New Technologies Demonstrator Programme (NTDP) run by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Formed through a partnership between South Shropshire District Council, Advantage West Midlands and Greenfinch, the plant is showing how effective and coordinated collection and treatment of predominantly kitchen waste, can generate renewable energy, biofertiliser and divert biodegradable waste away from landfill in line with Government targets.

Recycling and Waste Management News 3rd April 2008
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Scotland’s Eco-village

In Scotland, the eco-village at Findhorn, near Inverness, has not been built as a single development with an overarching plan but as a series of home with elements of ecological design.

24 Dash 3rd April 2008
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Eco-eggs

Eco-wise eggs will be produced using renewable energy sources via the use of wind turbines.

Farming UK 3rd April 2008
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Visual Obscenity?

A Council has been blasted for viewing solar panels in a conservation area as a "visual obscenity". An appeal has been launched after Gedling Borough Council turned down plans for the environmentally-friendly panels on a house in Calverton.

Nottingham Evening Post 3rd April 2008
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Welsh Footprint

With more than a quarter of emissions coming from domestic users, tackling climate change starts at home. But what can householders do to cut their own home’s carbon footprint?

Western Mail 3rd April 2008
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Highland Biomass

TIMESPAN'S ambitious project to install a biomass heating system for their newly refurbished visitor centre in Helmsdale has just been completed.

Northern Times 3rd April 2008
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Solar Race?

DITTON Lodge Primary School is set to become one of the greenest schools in the country when new solar panels are installed. The Newmarket school is through to the latest round of the Co-operative Group's £1 million national Green Energy for Schools scheme, which aims to provide 100 free solar panels for schools.

Newmarket Journal 3rd April 2008
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Trafford not on short-list

BID that would have transformed an industrial site into a 5,000-home green town has failed at the first hurdle. As part of a nationwide drive to create more energy efficient homes, Trafford Council had expressed an interest in developing a brownfield site.

Manchester Metro 3rd April 2008
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Doncaster

PROPOSALS to create a flagship Doncaster eco-town with up to 15,000 homes were unveiled by the Government today. An ambitious blueprint for a new development in Rossington is on a shortlist of 15 eco-town bids.

Doncaster Star 3rd April 2008
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Auctherarder

All new development will be designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions beyond the requirement of the current building standards, conserving resources, and to facilitate an optimised approach to recycling though innovative, energy-efficient and low-energy solutions to building operation and functionality.

Strathearn Herald 3rd April 2008
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Community Benefit

A GATEHOUSE of Fleet community organisation has received a cash benefit of £2,4000. The Gatehouse Community Initiative received the cheque from local company Cream o’ Galloway as its wind turbine is now producing energy.

Galloway News 3rd April 2008
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Wind-powered cheese?

A referendum into two wind turbines at a cheese farm in Parkham is taking place.Members of Parkham Parish Conservation Association (PPCA), objects to the application by Parkham Farms, and has asked for the poll.

North Devon Journal 3rd April 2008
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Micro-Hydro

Mill owners from across the South West shared their experiences of restoring mills to be power producing sites at the Three Counties Micro-Hydro Conference, hosted by Somerset County Council with Dorset and Devon County Councils.

Somerset County Council 2nd April 2008
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Richmond

Solar power has arrived at the Civic Centre in Twickenham. Forty two solar panels are being installed at the building this week, aiming to save up to three tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.

London Borough of Richmond 2nd April 2008
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Renewable Energy Village

PLANS to turn a former cement works site into a major tourist attraction have taken a leap forward with the submission of an outline planning application.A Task Force working to bring jobs to Weardale, County Durham, has handed in its bid for a renewable energy village at Eastgate to planners at Wear Valley District Council. It will utilise all five forms of land-based renewable energy available in the UK - wind, solar, biomass, hydro and geothermal.

Northern Echo 2nd April 2008
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Milton Keynes

Plans to build the final phase of Oakgrove School have been given the go-ahead by the council. Phase three of the school's development includes three 15 metre wind turbines.

MK News 2nd April 2008
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Carbon Neutral Railway

A Norfolk railway line is aiming to go carbon neutral and believes it could be the first in the world to achieve the feat if it does so. Carbon neutrality will be achieved by installing a combination of wind turbines and solar panels at seven of the Bittern Line's nine stations.

PA 2nd April 2008
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North Norfolk News 2nd April 2008
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Another Tesco Turbine

A Tesco store in Rotherham is expected to be granted permission to erect a wind turbine in its car park.

Sheffild Star 2nd April 2008
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Feed-in Tariffs

When in 1997 my home became the first in London to export solar electricity to the national grid, my dream was that millions of others would quickly follow. Accountancy firm KPMG had produced a report stating that solar electricity was technologically competitive with oil, but needed a mass market to be economically competitive. Since then, Germany has installed over 300,000 home renewable energy systems. But the UK has barely managed 10,000. The result: installation costs in Germany are now half those in the UK.

Independent 2nd April 2008
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Permitted Development (Scotland)

While supportive of biomass and ground source heat pump installations, the consultation has put some real limits on the application of wind turbines, air source heat pumps and solar panels. By not following the industry brokered conditions applied to English GPDR, the plans have the potential in particular to exclude wind turbines and air source heat pumps from the urban environment. Rather than follow a government backed product standard which accounts for noise, the proposal is not to include in GPDR installations of these technologies within 100m of neighbouring properties.

Scottish Renewables Review Magazine April 2008
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Microgen Scotland website April 2008
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Single Turbine Fast Track

Single and small-scale wind turbine projects should be fast-tracked through the planning process, according to Lorne MacLeod, chairman of Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company, said communities were frustrated by how long it took to deal with applications.

BBC 2nd April 2008
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Northern Times 3rd April 2008
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Green Neighbourhoods

Plans for 100 “green neighbourhoods” will be laid out on Wednesday by Hilary Benn, environment secretary, as the government faces criticism for failing to cut carbon emissions from Britain’s old housing stock. Mr Benn will invite areas to enter a national competition to become green neighbourhoods, which would have to commit themselves to rapid cuts of 60 per cent in emissions to help the UK meet its environmental targets. These areas are likely to include old terraced houses, which could benefit from improved insulation and other measures.

FT 2nd April 2008
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Zero carbon unpopular?

Homeowners may be unwilling to make the leap to “zero-carbon” homes and are worried about the potential costs involved, a survey has found. The study, commissioned by the National House-Building Council, found that most people were unaware of what constituted a zero-carbon home and were put off by their appearance when shown designs.

FT 2nd April 2008
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BBC 2nd April 2008
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Guardian 2nd April 2008
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Ulverston

An international company has pledged its planned Ulverston factory will have solar heating and possibly a wind turbine.

North West Evening Mail 1st April 2008
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Builders Uncomfortable

A recent opinion poll by Inbuilt Consultancy shows that, despite generally embracing the government ambition for zero carbon new homes by 2016, many major house builders are deeply uncomfortable about whether they can achieve this target.

Property People Portal 1st April 2008
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Torbay Revolution

Torbay Council is aiming to lead a green revolution in the resort. The town hall wants to cut its own energy use by a quarter by 2012, and in the process save a total of £4.5million through reduced bills for power and fuel. Measures including appointing a new officer to oversee the changes, launching a campaign to turn off lights, making street lighting low energy and encouraging staff to travel by bus could cost £2.2million between now and 2012.

Devon Herald Express 1st April 2008
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Bio-heat

The South West Bioheat Programme has identified 30 potential projects for funding and Defra is releasing £3 million from its Bio-energy Capital Grants Scheme to help make them a reality. Together the projects could provide up to 32MW of renewable heat, saving an estimated 7,000 tonnes of carbon a year by replacing oil fired heating systems with wood-fuelled systems. Locations include council offices, creameries and plant nurseries.

4NI 1st April 2008
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South-west RDA 3rd April
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Energy Auditing

Whether it's the result of soaring energy costs or an increased awareness of climate change and the environmental impact of carbon emissions from our homes, there's been a boom in "eco-auditors" helping clients make their residences green. And I, for one, am rather sceptical about it. So I've arranged for two of them simultaneously to visit my home in north London. Will they insist that I erect wind turbines? Or insulate my roof with turf? Is it all hogwash or, rather, greenwash?

Telegraph 1st April 2008
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CERT

Families are to get 100 million energysaving green light bulbs to cut bills in a new scheme launched today. Electricity and gas giants have agreed to spend a massive £3billion over the next three years to slash the amount of energy we use at home.

Mirror 1st April 2008
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Grants

The government announced a shake-up of its controversial grant system for renewable energy technologies yesterday but was sharply criticised by green campaigners who said it does not go far enough.

Guardian 1st April 2008
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Friends of the Earth has hit out at the Government for refusing to increase consumer grants for installing renewable energy products and has described its low-carbon building scheme as an “unmitigated disaster”.

Marketing Week 31st March 2008
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Energy minister Malcolm Wicks has announced an overhaul of the Low Carbon Building Programme (LCPB). The revised scheme will allow for more generous grants to institutions such as schools and hospitals, but the amount available to householders wishing to install microgeneration technology will not increase.

Green Building 31st March 2008
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Andrew Cooper, Head of On-site Renewables at the REA said, "Government has totally ignored the advice of the renewable energy industry and the blindingly obvious evidence of their own statistics. Making a failing programme fail over a longer period is not a solution. It is no longer the Low Carbon Buildings Programme it is the SLOW Carbon Buildings Programme. Slower to spend its budget, slower to attract interest from householders and slower to see actual renewable energy installations in homes. It shows breathtaking complacency by government."

eGov Monitor 31st March 2008
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New rules designed to help homeowners, schools and hospitals to install climate-friendly generators will be announced today by the Energy Minister. Malcom Wicks will give details of the funding as part of changes to the Low Carbon Buildings Programme in which the cap on grants will be raised to 50 per cent of the costs. The scheme is to be extended from tomorrow to give households more time to obtain grants. It takes effect just a few days before planning rules change to cut red tape surrounding the installation of solar panels and other forms of microgeneration.

Times 31st March 2008
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Britain on Monday said it had extended the timeline for support, but added no new extra money, for small-scale electricity installation using renewable energy sources, called microgeneration.

Reuters 31st March 2008
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An overhaul of the Government's Low Carbon Building Programme (LCBP) will see more generous grants for schools and public buildings, while the £10 million support still available to householders will be extended until 2010 for new applications.

eGov Monitor 31st March 2008
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BERR Press Release 31st March 2008
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24 Dash 31st March 2008
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Best Western

A hotel chain has joined forces with the country's leading green business accreditation scheme. Best Western has given its commitment to endorse the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS) in a bid to encourage member hotels to improve carbon footprints, cut energy waste and promote sustainability.

Exeter Express and Echo 31st March 2008
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Lincolnshire Eco-Towns

RAF airfields in Lincolnshire could be developed into pioneering new eco-towns. Around 5,500 homes could be built at the former RAF bases at Manby and Strubby, near Louth, after East Lindsey District Council said it was interested in creating a new green-living community. It should hear from the Government within the next few weeks whether it has made a short-list of around 10 bids out of almost 60 submitted nationwide.

Lincolnshire Echo 31st March 2008
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Pork Power

ENERGY production could become the main earner for pig farmers in the future. Pigmeat may, in financial terms, simply become a by-product. Biogas production -converting pig manure into methane and then electricity – may be a competitive way forward.
Darlington and Stockton Times 31st March 2008
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Climate Capital

Climate Capital Network will help to accelerate the global transition to a low-carbon economy by connecting investors and entrepreneurs offering solutions such as renewable energy, clean technology, energy efficiency and recycling. About 25 British and American entrepreneurs and companies - providing climate change solutions - have registered on the company's website. A similar number of potential investors and philanthropists have also registered.

Enviro-Solutions 31st March 2008
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Local Government – Local Renewables

With the LocalRenewables Initiative, ICLEI supports and strengthens local governments which promote the generation and supply of renewable energy and energy efficiency in the urban environment. The key elements of the programme are highlighted here.

eGov Monitor 31st March 2008
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West Midlands Heat Pumps

Geothermal International, based in Coventry, is the UK’s leading company providing commercial geothermal systems that save as much as 70 per cent on running costs compared to conventional heating and cooling systems.

Birmingham Post 30th March 2008
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Southampton Turbine

PLANS are being drawn up to build multiple giant wind turbines across Southampton and a shortlist of potential sites has already been selected. Southampton City Council has invited a green developer to scour the city for suitable locations for an enormous 125-metre turbine.

This is Hampshire 30th March 2008
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Gloucester School Turbine

A City school is going green after winning planning permission to erect a 15-metre wind turbine.Bishop's College in Longlevens has won a battle with residents to put up the turbine its playing fields. People living opposite the site are concerned about the noise the turbine will generate.

This is Gloucestershire 29th March 2008
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Colleges go green

All newly or partly built colleges will have to adopt wind turbines, solar panels or other renewable energy, under plans to cut global warming. And all new colleges in England will have to emit no carbon by 2016, skills secretary John Denham has said.

BBC 28th March 2008
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Free-Watts

All you need to know about Honda’s micro-CHP boiler in 50 seconds.
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London Off-Grid

Ken Livingstone, seeking re-election as Mayor of London, has told Thom Yorke of Radiohead that he wants to take the entire city off-grid. As the world’s most popular and expensive city, how London treats the green agenda will set a template for other world capitals, not to mention the rest of the country. In a meeting last week reported in the London Observer, Livingstone told Yorke: ” We don’t want the normal grid. We want to get everybody off grid.

Off Grid.net 24th March 2008
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