week ending 1 May 2009
Micro Power Awards
The Micropower Awards have recognised the outstanding companies and industry champions in the sector.
H&V News 1st May 2009 more >>
Schools heat pump call
The UK government’s recent announcement that £7.9 billion will be spent improving schools over the next 12 months should encourage education chiefs to invest in energy efficiency schemes. According to green appliance manufacturer Geothermal International, the capital expenditure represents a great chance for schools to improve their heating and cooling systems. It claimed that installing a ground source heat pump (GSHP) could reduce carbon emissions by a half, while also slashing annual building operating costs by as much as 70 percent. Although less prevalent in the UK than biomass boilers or combined heat and power (CHP) systems, GSHPs can moderate temperatures by extracting natural heat from the ground.
Low Carbon Economy 30th Apr 2009 more >>
Scottish Grant Scheme
Community Energy Scotland has won the contract to administer the Communities and Renewable Energy Scheme.
Aberdeen Press and Journal 30th Apr 2009 more >>
Redhill
A 1980s housing block in Redhill is being revamped under an £11 million scheme to provide more than 200 rooms for key workers. The development, which is being funded by A2Dominion, will produce 10% renewable energy through solar panels that will be installed on the roofs of some of the blocks of flats.
Redhill Life 30th Apr 2009 more >>
Baxi Award
The Baxi Ecogen micro-CHP has won the Innovation category of the prestigious Micropower Awards at the Gladstone Library at One Whitehall Place, London. Mark Kelly, CEO of Baxi Group UK and Ireland, was presented with the award by the president of the Micropower Council, Baroness Maddock, and host of the event author and broadcaster Penney Poyzer.
24 Dash 30th Apr 2009 more >>
Park Homes
A National Energy Action (NEA) project designed to help people who live in park homes – static caravans that are lived in all the year round - stay warm and pay their fuel bills during the winter months has been recognised with a national award.
24 Dash 30th Apr 2009 more >>
Scottish Grants
THE level of grants to help communities develop small-scale renewable energy schemes has been increased by the Scottish Government. Up to £150,000 is now available – a rise of 50 per cent – to fund technical support, training and installation of green energy equipment. The Communities and Renewable Energy Scheme (Cares) replaces an initiative which helped develop more than 400 projects. Energy minister Jim Mather said: “I want to maximise the benefits of renewable energy to communities throughout Scotland.”
Scotsman 30th Apr 2009 more >>
English Grants
Forty two community groups have benefited from £815k of funding for renewable energy technologies in the fourth round of the Community Sustainable Energy Programme capital grants scheme. Successful applications included schools, halls, community centres, sports clubs and community shops. Another £308K has been awarded to 135 organisations for project development grants. Given on a first come first served basis these grants enable projects to undertake feasibility studies to identify the most appropriate mix of measures for their buildings. CSEP is an open grants scheme designed to help community based organisations in England reduce their energy bills and environmental impact. It is funded by more than £10 million from the Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces programme.
ADF 29th Apr 2009 more >>
York Ideas Wanted
City of York Council is asking people to submit ideas on sustainable development. Examples of what could be suggested include promoting local renewable energy schemes, increasing the number of allotments, promoting local shops and businesses or measures to alleviate fuel poverty.
York Press 29th Apr 2009 more >>
Scarborough Eco-Homes
PLANS to build a block of eco-friendly apartments in Barrowcliff have been given the go-ahead. The building will include sedum roofs, living wall screening and timber frame construction. It is planned to use renewable energy in the form of photovoltaics, bio-mass boilers, ground source heat pumps and solar water heating. The main roof of the building is to have a sedum finish upon which are to be fitted solar panels. The rear flat roof will also have a sedum finish.
Scarborough Evening News 29th Apr 2009 more >>
Winter’s Tale
Using a micro-CHP system from November through March, I saved $2,000 in energy costs over the same period last year. Much of that, of course, can be attributed to switching from oil heat to natural gas, but the MCHP unit also saved me $500 by generating electricity (power that I don’t have to buy from the grid) and it produced fewer carbon-dioxide emissions.
New York Times 29th April 2009 more >>
Rural Network
The Scottish National Rural Network that can be found at www.ruralgateway.org.uk will outline ways that rural communities can gain access to funds including for renewable energy projects.
Aberdeen Press and Journal 28th Apr 2009 more >>
Grand Design
Government plans to reduce the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions by 80 percent over the next 40 years have been called into question at a trade show in the capital. Kevin McCloud, television presenter and eco-minded property expert, has suggested that there is no chance of reaching the ambitious milestone unless efforts are made to address the state of the country’s existing housing stock.
Low Carbon Economy 28th Apr 2009 more >>
Warm Front
The government has expanded its £1.5 billion Warm Front programme to include solar thermal heating and air source heat pumps. The programme works to alleviate fuel poverty by offering grants for energy efficiency improvements for those on disability or income-related benefits.
New Energy Focus 27th Apr 2009 more >>
Smart Appliances
Instead of spikes in demand and coal-fired solutions, fridges and washing machines may soon be available that can regulate their own energy usage.
Guardian 27th Apr 2009 more >>
Northallerton Show
A LOCAL climate change group is hosting an energy saving show next week. The Northallerton Climate Action show will give out advice on how to save money by saving energy. Regional suppliers and installers of home insulation, solar panels, heat pumps, wind turbines and wood fuels will be attending along with the Energy Saving Trust.
Northern Echo 27th Apr 2009 more >>
Northumberland Solar
WIDDRINGTON’S Grange View First School is set to become one of the greenest in Northumberland when £20,000 solar panels are installed with funding from The Co-operative. It is one of 80 throughout the UK selected to receive a grant in the second phase of the firm’s Green Energy for Schools scheme.
Morpeth Herald 26th Apr 2009 more >>
Hydro Power
Water power is being used again at an ancient Skipton corn mill, where the 200-year-old water wheel has been restored to working order. The nearby Eller Beck, which drives the wheel, is also to be used to power a new £35,000 turbine, which will create enough electricity to feed 20 local homes.
Craven Herald 26th Apr 2009 more >>
Small Wind
Small wind manufacturers must co-operate and work together to develop a full system of standards and certification, if the industry is to survive. That was the view of a number of companies currently battling to compete against the solar photovoltaic industry to provide “human-scale” renewable electricity for households and businesses.
New Energy Focus 24th Apr 2009 more >>
Europe
A vote in the European Parliament proposes that all new houses, offices and shops built in the EU produce the same amount of energy as they consume by 2019. The deadline for all new public buildings is 2016. “We commend the vision of the legislators in making zero net energy buildings the cornerstone of the revised directive,” said Arianna Vitali Roscini, WWF’s policy officer for energy conservation in buildings. “Technically and economically there is nothing standing in the way of an earlier deadline for all new constructions, which could help the EU achieve the 2020 emissions reduction targets.” The vote still needs to be confirmed by the Council of the Ministers later this year.
Green Bang 23rd Apr 2009 more >>
Government Grants
Just a day after the Chancellor pledged to increase investment in building energy-efficiency programmes by £435m, the government has revealed it is to boost grants for householders planning to install insulation and micro-generation technologies. The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) said that grants distributed through the Warm Front scheme – which provides money for people qualifying for disability or income-related benefits with grants to install insulation or energy-efficient heating in their homes – will be increased while the list of technologies covered by the scheme will be extended.
Business Green 23rd Apr 2009 more >>
DECC Press Release 23rd Apr 2009 more >>
Paris Wind Plan
Paris city authorities are planning to build small wind turbines into one of the world’s most famous skylines to take advantage of the strong winds which sometimes sweep high points such as Montmartre.
Enviro Solutions 22nd Apr 2009 more >>
Reigate Plan
Reigate & Banstead Borough Council has published its Sustainable Energy Strategy for consultation. It aims to reduce energy costs for residents by helping them use grants for energy efficiency and renewable energy. The strategy also seeks to ensure new buildings are energy efficient and incorporate renewable energy in their plans.
DEA Direct 15th Apr 2009 more >>