News archive
Convenient Solar
The City of Edinburgh Council (in conjunction with a University graduate) commissioned this public convenience solar project at Portobello - the City’s seaside area. The project involved installing a 3m2 solar water panel on the roof of the public toilets (at the end of the Portobello promenade) which is used to heat the water for the wash basins. A separate space heating system, which draws air through the roof slates heated by the sun will also be included. All electricity required is provided by a solar PV cell. The solar water panel was provided by SolarTwin and can be directly connected to the existing hot water tank, thus reducing the cost of secondary storage.
Energy Saving Trust more>>
week ending 5 September 2008
Energy Efficiency
Members of SERA, the Labour Party’s environmental campaign group, whose members include a string of senior ministers, called on the Government to supplement the winter fuel allowance with subsidies for energy efficiency measures. A report, sent to all Labour MPs today, calls for the creation of a National Energy Service to drive measures to cut fuel consumption and proposes that the New Deal for the unemployed be transformed into a national environmental task force to deliver cuts in household fuel consumption.
Independent 5th Sept 2008 more >>
Government Rates Assurance
The Government today addressed business industry concerns that the prospect of an increase in business rates acts as a disincentive for companies to invest in microgeneration. Local Government Minister, John Healey announced steps to provide clarity, reassurance and certainty to businesses working to reduce their carbon footprint so they are protected from an immediate and automatic revaluation of the business rates they pay.
Communities & Local Government Department 4th Sept 2008 more >>
Lancashire Schools
THIS week the first of five new schools opened in East Lancashire, All are designed to be energy efficient, and are powered by bio-mass boilers fuelled by wood chips from renewable sources. They boast features including wind turbines, solar panels and photovoltaic panels to generate renewable energy, and rainwater is gathered from roofs to be recycled.
Lancashire Telegraph 4th Sept 2008 more >>
Solar Retail Park
The development has been designed and built to incorporate wind turbines, photo voltaic cells to power the lights, and solar collectors to provide hot water. The park will also be near Nottingham’s tramline.
Eastwood & Kimberley Advertiser 4th Sept 2008 more >>
Cavity Campaign
Dedicated climate campaigners in a green village near Lichfield hope to beat the energy crisis and help save the world with a unique plan to insulate all homes in the community.
Lichfield 4th Sept 2008 more >>
South-west Plan
A BOOM in renewable energy, zero carbon homes and alternatives to cars is needed in the South West if the region is to avoid climate change disaster, an action plan has insisted. Influential regional bodies have promised to dramatically reduce the amount of carbon emissions generated by buildings, transport and industry – the major contributors to the South West’s carbon footprint. Signatories of the region’s first Climate Change Action Plan are also preparing for the increased possibility of extreme weather events such as the flash flooding that devastated the Cornish village of Boscastle four years ago.
Plymouth Herald 3rd Sept 2008 more >>
South West RDA 3rd Sept 2008 more >>
Burton Wind
A TURBINE could be installed on the roof of Burton Town hall to tap into England’s status as the windiest country in Europe.
Burton Mail 3rd Sept 2008 more >>
Weetabix Power
A new primary on the west coast of Scotland dubbed the “Weetabix school” has attracted nationwide interest. Highland Council said the construction project in Ardnamurchan had drawn visits from other local authorities, engineers and architects. It is claimed the school is so well insulated that the pupils’ bodies will provide the heat once they have had their breakfast.
BBC 3rd Sept 2008 more >>
True Energy
True Energy, (http://www.trueenergy.co.uk/) based in North Wales markets renewable technologies including wind turbines, solar photovoltaic (electricity), solar thermal (hot water), biomass, and ground source heat pumps (hot water).
Western Mail 3rd Sept 2008 more >>
Waste Gas
A DEESIDE based company is to help a university produce clean energy from unwanted waste. The University of East Anglia has chosen a Refgas system to provide combined heat and power to the university campus.
Daily Post 3rd Sept 2008 more >>
Scotland
Letter: The Scottish Parliament should introduce planning requirements which insist on every new home having solar installed at a construction stage, site permitting; a wind turbine being installed during build, where feasible (we accept the visual intrusion of satellite dishes and we will soon become accustomed to a wind turbine on most roofs); and the highest levels of energy efficiency in the design of new houses, with design optimised to take maximum advantage of solar, wind and ground-heat recovery.
Herald 3rd Sept 2008 more >>
More than just terminology.
There are still ongoing debates as to what the terms zero-carbon and carbon neutral mean. The Government, which wants all new homes to be carbon neutral by 2016, is considering whether a home is carbon neutral if the renewable energy is produced elsewhere. A Cardiff developer might claim her new development in Cardiff was carbon neutral, despite it having gas boilers, because she had built a dedicated wind turbine in Pembrokeshire, which produced an equivalent amount of green electricity to the gas burnt by the development. Whilst laudable, I feel this would devalue the term “carbon-neutral home”. An alternative needs to be invented such as “carbon-offset home”, but that is another debate.
Independent 3rd Sept 2008 more >>
Costly Solar?
Solar panels are one of the least cost-effective ways of combating climate change and will take 100 years to pay back their installation costs, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) warned yesterday. The solar power industry accused Rics of failing to take account of the rising cost of energy and other financial benefits of renewable power in its figures. Jeremy Leggett, of Solar Century, said: “They are grossly irresponsible.”
Independent 3rd Sept 2008 more >>
Building 4th Sept 2008 more >>
Wear Solar
Hilary Armstrong MP visited an eco-friendly Dales couple this week to see for herself innovative solar panels which have been installed in their council bungalow. David and Kaye Glover live in a bungalow in School Close in St John’s Chapel and were delighted when environment officer with Wear Valley District Council, Ian Bloomfield, contacted them with the possibility of installing solar panels on their roof. The couple, both retired, had the panels installed in November and now benefit from two thirds of their hot water throughout the year being free.
Wear Valley District Council 3rd Sept 2008 more >>
Scottish non-dom consultation
Action on Climate Change: Proposals for improving the energy performance of existing non-domestic buildings. Consultation containing proposals for primary legislation on the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions from existing non-domestic buildings. Starting: Wednesday, September 03, 2008 Deadline: Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Scottish Government 3rd September 2008 more >>
Scottish Government Press Release 2nd Sept 2008 more >>
Midlothian Advice
BUSINESSES in Midlothian are to be given free advice on harnessing renewable technologies such as solar and wind power at an event at Pentlands Science Park on September 16.
Edinburgh Evening News 2nd Sept 2008 more >>
Scottish Hydro
SCOTLAND is set to enter a new era of hydro power after an influential report revealed untapped potential for more than 1,000 new schemes across the country, The Scotsman can reveal. The study, commissioned by the Scottish Government, reveals enough extra hydro potential to power a quarter of the nation’s homes.
Scotsman 2nd Sept 2008 more >>
BBC 2nd Sept 2008 more >>
FT 3rd Sept 2008 more >>
Herald 3rd Sept 2008 more >>
Dundee Courier 4th Sept 2008 more >>
Scottish Hydro Power Resource Study 26th August 2008 more >>
Highland Revolution
A Scottish council claims to have saved £1million on energy bills over the past two years thanks to new energy efficiency measures and major investment in green technology. Over the past three years energy bills at the Highland Council have risen by £3million, but it is fighting back through a £5million, five year plan to reduce energy usage in its buildings.
H&V News 2nd Sept 2008 more >>
Quiet Revolution
The German energy company RWE, owner of npower, said yesterday it was spending £6m on a minority stake in the British wind turbine maker Quiet Revolution. Quiet Revolution specialises in small-scale, vertical-axis turbines that are more suitable for use in built-up areas than more conventional turbines. The company’s flagship product, the QR5, can produce up to six kilowatts of power. The triple-helix-shaped wind turbines are five metres high and just over three metres wide.
Guardian 2nd Sept 2008 more >>
Business Green 2nd Sept 2008 more >>
A factory in South Wales will be producing thousands of urban windmills within a few years after an investment by RWE, the German utility, in a British venture.
Times 2nd Sept 2008 more >>
PV Revolution
Solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies could provide energy to more than four billion people worldwide by 2030, meeting 14 per cent of global electricity demand and slashing annual carbon emissions by 1.6 billion tonnes, but established energy utilities are in danger of missing out on the booming market.
Business Green 2nd Sept 2008 more >>
Solar Generation Report, Greenpeace and EPIA, Sept 2008 more >>
Norfolk Plan
Council chiefs are set to join forces in a new strategy aimed at reducing the county’s carbon footprint. A draft report, drawn up on behalf of Norfolk’s local authorities, sets out a number of key targets to help cut the carbon dioxide emissions from councils themselves, families and businesses. The wide ranging report calls for action to improve energy efficiency at council buildings and schools, reducing the county’s CO2 emissions by 11pc by 2011, reducing the need for road transport and business emissions. It also calls on authorities to increase take-up of renewable energy, build more sustainable and carbon neutral homes and develop a better understanding on the potential implications for the county of higher temperatures and climate change.
Norwich Evening News 2nd Sept 2008 more >>
Eco-tourism
Residents of Norfolk will be able to see inside some of the region’s most energy efficient buildings this month as fifteen green developments open their doors for guided tours from September 11-14. The free open days have been organised by the Campaign to Protect Rural England in Norfolk (CPRE Norfolk) as part of the Heritage Open Days scheme.
Green Building 1st Sept 2008 more >>
Microgeneration Debate
Letter: I applaud sentiments about extra insulation, building regulations, energy tariffs, enforcing speed limits and installing combined heat and power, but saying, or at least implying, that because there are no overt overall benefits at present in technologies such as solar, microgeneration or wind, is to ignore the economies of scale and technical advances that will inevitably be made once demand for these technologies becomes high enough.
Independent 1st Sept 2008 more >>
South Shields Fair
People were able to find out more about reducing their carbon footprint at the Enviro Fayre in Bents Park, South Shields, last weekend. Experts from more than 50 environmental organisations were on hand to talk to visitors about the effects of climate change, renewable energy and how to save resources. They also enjoyed activities and giveaways, including free bike health checks, low-energy light bulbs, seeds and compost vouchers.
Shields Gazette 1st Sept 2008 more >>
Bradford Community Centre
Plans for a community centre with solar panels, a wind turbine and a plant-lined roof are a step closer after a £500,000 bid was submitted to Lottery chiefs. The centre is expected to cost around £1.25 million and community leaders have now sent off proposals for the new centre to the funding body.
Bradford Telegraph and Argus 1st Sept 2008 more >>
Fuel Poverty – a sensible response
Pioneering heaters and solar panels are being fitted to council homes across Waveney in a bid to cut bills for tenants and reduce the authority’s carbon footprint. Nearly £500,000 is being spent on improving the energy efficiency of council houses across the district to lessen the blow of increasing fuel prices. All council homes will be provided with 250mm of loft insulation by next spring and old inefficient gas boilers are being replaced.
East Anglian Daily Press 1st Sept 2008 more >>
Home Generation Perk
Homeowners who splash out on wind turbines and solar panels are being paid for the electricity they generate, even when they use it all themselves. The perk can be worth several hundred pounds a year and is being subsidised by other customers through their electricity bills. It is part of a government package to encourage alternative energy sources – but the generous payouts have surprised some homeowners.
Sunday Times 31st Aug 2008 more >>
Zero Carbon on Unst
Michael Rea and his wife, Dot, on the Shetland island of Unst, live “off grid”. The couple are aiming to take the theory even further, with a “zero-carbon” house project. When it is completed this autumn, Michael hopes to be running not just his home, but also an electric car entirely from the power of the wind and sun.
Sunday Times 31st Aug 2008 more >>
Airport Turbine
A WIND turbine could be built at Bristol International Airport (BIA) to provide energy for the terminal building. It would about 65 ft high, lower than the airfield’s light columns, and would form part of the airports plan to improve energy efficiency.
Weston Mercury 30th Aug 2008 more >>
