Architectural Wind
The mini wind turbine pictured was exhibited at the Aberdeen All Energy Conference and Exhibition this week by a Californian company called Architectural Wind.
The distinctively-shaped turbines have already appeared at Blackpool's Pleasure Beach and it is understood that Tescos is hoping to install a few as well.
week ending 23 May 2008
Tesco Turbines
APPLICATIONS to put up two 90-metre wind turbines at Tesco warehouses were given the green light by Daventry District Council’s planning committee.
Daventry Express 23rd May 2008 more >>
Solar Birds
THE Scottish Seabird Centre has further boosted its environmental credentials thanks to a £12,500 grant from the ScottishPower Green Energy Trust. This funding will pay for new solar panels on the roof of the Environment Zone, a renewable energy educational project within the centre. In 2003, the Trust also supported the centre when it installed solar-powered interactive cameras on islands in the Firth of Forth to observe wildlife.
East Lothian Courier 22nd May 2008 more >>
Feed-in Tariffs
The Institution of Civil Engineers has urged the House of Lords to vote for the cross party amendment to the Energy Bill, known as ‘New Clause 4: “Renewable Energy Tariff”. The Clause aims to encourage households and businesses to produce their own renewable energy by putting in place legislation for a set of tariffs to cover small-scale renewable initiatives.
Cambridge Network 22nd May 2008 more >>
Milton Keynes Wind
Milton Keynes Council has recommended wind turbines are built within 80 metres of homes - contravening its own rule to put them no closer than 350 metres. Five ‘Quiet Revolution’ wind turbines, which are 14 metres tall, are proposed for the third phase of Hazeley Secondary School’s development. The report recommending that the council’s development control committee approves the plans admits there is ‘technically a conflict with local plan policy’.
MK News 21st May 2008 more >>
Cornish School
Gorran Primary School has been working for 15 months to get the turbine raised, as part of their long term goal to become self sufficient in energy - by generating as much of their own energy as possible. The school is only the second in Cornwall to have a turbine installed.
This is Cornwall 21st March 2008 more >>
Community Wind Farm
VILLAGERS in east Caithness have given a resounding welcome to plans to create what would be the Far North’s first community-owned wind farm.
John O Groat Journal 21st May 2008 more >>
Good Energy
Penelope Chapple, of Good energy, Britain’s only 100 per cent renewable energy supplier, said: “Over recent months we have seen a considerable rise in consumers wishing not only to switch to green electricity, but willing to take serious measures to reduce the impact of their homes.
Telegraph 21st May 2008 more >>
ZCHQ
A Scottish company is to build one of the most energy-efficient and sustainable buildings in Britain, 10 years ahead of UK Government targets to have all new-builds zero-carbon. It will even soak up the heat from the roads outside the building. The £3m Active Renewable Energy Centre will incorporate the latest building techniques and technological advances to leave a zero-carbon footprint. When completed, the data on its energy consumption and savings will be made available to industry and as an educational resource to help cut carbon emissions in future. The building at Altens, in Aberdeen, will be the new HQ for Active, which specialises in delivering sustainable low-energy solutions, air-conditioning, ventilation and building maintenance services to the construction industry.
Herald 21st May 2008 more >>
Energy Saving Exhibition
A CLIMATE action group has staged an event to try to encourage people to save energy. The Saving Energy Show was held in Northallerton Town Hall by Northallerton Climate Action (NCA) group recently. Exhibitors included nine regional suppliers and installers of building insulation, solar panels, heat pumps, wind turbines, timber buildings and low heat loss ventilation systems.
Northern Echo 20th May 2008 more >>
Eco-station
WIND turbines to power Accrington’s new train station have been downsized over fears they would be a blot on the landscape. A host of changes to plans for the new £2.5 million environmentally-friendly building have been revealed. These include adding a new educational room where schools and colleges can learn about environmental design in the station’s basement.
Lancashire Telegraph 20th May 2008 more >>
Eco-town Warning
Ecotowns risk increasing social division by diverting money and political will from improving existing towns and cities, according to an independent adviser to the prime minister. Up to 10 new towns promised in England might also increase commuting unless enough jobs are created within them, said Rebecca Willis, an environmental researcher and vice-chair of the UK Sustainable Development Commission, a watchdog which reports to No 10.
Guardian 20th May 2008 more >>
Camden at the Forefront
Policy 4A.7 of the London Plan, calls for a presumption that ‘‘developments will achieve a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of 20 per cent from on site renewable energy generation’’. There is now a consensus amongst officers and councillors that Camden should be at the forefront of the fight against climate change.
Ham & High 19th May 2008 more >>
Construction Skills
Princess Anne will be visiting Deeside College to unveil a new construction skills centre on May 28. The new centre enables students to learn about new construction techniques and renewable energy technologies.
Wrexham Evening Leader 19th May 2008 more >>
Lancashire
Lancashire County Council actions already underway include buying green energy for streetlights, encouraging community climate change projects through a grants scheme, phasing out polluting fleet vehicles and using renewable energy to power new projects such as the Building Schools for the Future scheme. Schools are also being encouraged to start ‘energy clubs’ to look at how they can contribute.
Lancashire County Council 19th May 2008 more >>
Off-grid
Unst is the island chosen by a retired couple from Wiltshire to build one of the world’s greenest houses - a “zero carbon” home powered entirely by the wind and the sun. It sits on the same latitude as southern Greenland, but will soon boast lemon trees, grapevines and green pepper plants in its greenhouse, an electric car powered by the wind, and floors heated by drawing warmth from the air.
Guardian 19th May 2008 more >>
Co-operative
Two years ago CFS completed the transformation of the 400ft, 25-storey landmark Co-operative Insurance Solar Tower in Manchester with the installation of more than 7,000 photovoltaic (PV) solar panels (Britain’s largest solar power installation), and last year it put 19 micro-wind turbines on the roof of its 13-storey Portland Street building in the same city. This investment and other environmentally friendly initiatives are paying off. Despite increasing its property portfolio by 19% in 2007 with new regional banking and insurance centres, CFS has reduced its energy consumption by 4% and increased the amount of general waste recycled from 67% to 72%.
Times 18th May 2008 more >>
German Feed-in Tariffs
Conservative lawmakers want to pare back generous government incentives that support solar development. They say solar generation is growing so fast that it threatens to overburden consumers with high electricity bills. Solar-energy entrepreneurs warn that reducing incentives will deprive Germany of its pole position in an industry of the future. As proof, they point to the United States and Japan, which were once solar stars but have faded as their government subsidies became less enticing.
Scotland on Sunday 18th May 2008 more >>
Solar Skipton
Coates Lane Primary School is set to become one of the greenest schools in the country. The Barnoldswick school has been chosen by the Co-operative Group to receive £20,000 worth of solar panels. It was selected in the latest round of the Co-operative Group’s £1million national Green Energy for Schools Scheme, which will provide free solar panels to 100 schools.
Craven Herald 18th May 2008 more >>
Green Building
ONE of the region’s biggest construction groups is going green after buying two Newcastle businesses to help protect it from the credit crunch. Esh Group has splashed out on Pure Renewable Energies and The Green Energies as part of its efforts to create a more sustainable business model to help meet Government targets to reduce carbon emissions by 60% by 2050. It will invest in Pure Renewable Energies which will plan, develop and construct wind farms throughout the UK, and Esh will also pump cash into The Green Energies to develop and supply devices to make houses more energy efficient, such as heat pumps, solar panels and small scale wind turbines.
Newcastle Journal 17th May 2008 more >>
Solar Wales
G24i is the first company in the world to manufacture dye sensitised thin film solar cells, a uniquely thin and flexible solar technology. The solar cells are rugged and work in real world conditions (low and ambient light), making solar technology viable in new applications and geographies around the globe. The first applications for G24i’s technology are in mobile power.
Western Mail 17th May 2008 more >>
Eastbourne
AN EASTBOURNE school has secured £5,000 from EDF Energy’s Green Fund for a feasibility study that will consider ways to help power the school using renewable energy.
Eastbourne Herald 16th May 2008 more >>