Guess who'll pay extra for nuclear power?

The Green Party has warned that electricity bills will have to go up if the government builds a new generation of nuclear power stations. This shouldn't surprise many people, and Tony Blair is bound to ignore any such evidence now that he's decided to go ahead no matter what.

Green Party principal speaker Caroline Lucas MEP said: "Tony Blair is determined to push this country down the nuclear route, based on two arguments: guaranteeing affordable energy supply, and reducing carbon emissions.

"The Alternative Energy Review proves what anti-nuclear campaigners have long suspected - that, even using these criteria, nuclear power is the inferior choice.

"It shows that a twin-pronged investment in renewable alternatives and energy efficiency and conservation measures will not only deliver greater emissions reductions than nuclear power, it will deliver them more cheaply, and all without the huge safety risks inherent in the nuclear option."

Technorati tag: Nuclear Power

The Government almost catches up with reality

"Ambitious" green building regulations unveiled by the Government last year have drawn so much scorn that they've gone back to the drawing board and come back with something more useful. Of course, they're too wimpy to apply them to new private builds, but it's a start.

Technorati tag: Building Standards

Environment and Community-Oriented

The guardian on "light green" tourism. Now, if only I could afford to actually go on holiday.

Technorati tag: Travel

The Earthship Estate

A company called Biotecture has submitted plans for a 16 house estate in Brighton that will consist of Earthships- buildings constructed of old tyres and waste. The houses will be so efficient, and the plan incorporates rainwater capture and solar panelling, that the houses are likely to have no utility bills whatsoever. At £250,000 to £350,000 each they're a bit expensive to be the solution to the nation's housing shortage, but they show the way new builds should be going. And they deal with waste without having to incinerate it, so two birds with one stone.

Wikipedia Earthship entry.

Technorati tag: Earthship, Brighton

Mr. Luna's Bright Idea

Kenny Luna is a science teacher who is lobbying Oprah Winfrey to back a campaign that will supply a compact fluorescent bulb to every child in the US. He reckons it will save the country at least $2.3 billion in electricity expenditure.

via sustainablog

Technorati tag: Low energy bulb

Baby wind turbines

via sustainablog

N. Satyanarayana, a graduate student in India, has figured out a way to miniaturize a windmill so it can be used to charge a cellphone battery. It is a simple fan blade that is attached to a generator, also it’s waterproof so it can even be used in the rain. Imagine clipping one of these babies outside the window as you take the train into work, charging up your cellphone and other electronic devices you might have on hand. Its small blade cranks out a DC flow of one ampere with a potential difference of 12 volts, in other words, enough juice to power portable electronic stuff. It beats solar, as long as the wind’s blowing.

A commenter on the Gizmodo thread came up with the cool idea of clipping it to your bike to power accessories such as GPS whilst riding along.

Technorati tag: Wind Power

Dog Poo Power

San Francisco could get a dog poop power plant. Norcal Waste, who handle the city's rubbish, will begin a pilot program under which it will use biodegradable bags and dog-waste carts to pick up droppings at a popular dog park. This will then be broken down in a methane digester to create gas for combustion for heating or electricity generation.

via sustainablog

Technorati tag: Methane, Poop Power

ETA- a climate neutral motoring organisation

I don't have a car, so this is a suggestion for all my friends who do. ETA is a motoring association akin to the AA but with green fringe benefits. Not only do they offer all the recovery services they will also offset carbon dioxide equivalent to about ten thousand miles of driving. The description on Eco Street Blog compares the service side by side with the AA and it seems to compare well. The only question I would have is whether ETA membership is for a specific car rather than the AA's one driver- any car version.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse, Green motoring

Ethical Man

Newsight have decided they should have an "Ethical Man" on their team. Justin Rowlatt will try to live as ethical a lifestyle as possible over the course of a year. A neat idea, though the Guardian had Leo Hickman- who will be serving as Rowlatt's ethical guru, doing something similar last year.

via The EcoStreet Blog

Technorati tag: EcoHouse, Ethical lifestyle

Carbon Map

A map of carbon emission density in the UK shows the effects of energy use and local energy policies. Manchester produces 2,129,344 tonnes of carbon per square kilometre each year (0.95 tonnes per person), one of the highest amounts in the country.

Technorati tag: Carbon emissions

Tree Blocks Elves wooden toys

Affiliate Link

Intriguing and ethical toys for your little ones.

If you are looking for toys that will fire your child's imagination and creativity then look no further than the TREE BLOCKS Elves toys, blocks, houses and furniture and the carefully selected range of other quality wooden toys.

The vision of the TREE BLOCKS Elves is to provide fun and learning oriented toys produced in a socially and ecologically responsible way.Maths Set

The TREE BLOCKS Elves take nature and the environment very serious and for example ensure no living tree is damaged when making any Tree House, using the discards of orchard trees and managed paper forests. They also ensure all other products sold conform to the strictest of European environmental requirements.

In relation to the TREE BLOCKS Elves own Tree Houses, Apple Cherry, Hazelnut and other orchard trees that have been abandoned or are near the end of a productive cycle are located by the TREE BLOCKS Elves. They then push the old trees over, thereby removing the roots and haul them away to make more Tree Houses. This leaves the farmer clean soil, so he can be back into production.

Technorati tag: Toys

Increased CO2 may cause plant life to raise rivers

Plants around the world are requiring less water, another effect of the increased CO2 in the atmosphere. The higher concentrations mean plants can absorb the gas and convert it through photosynthesis more efficiently, meaning they need less water overall. This could be a good thing, as Gaia self regulates the CO2 out of the atmosphere, but it is also leading to an increase in water run off and greater risks of flooding.

Technorati tag: Carbon Dioxide, Floods

Eco-farming to bootstrap poor economies

A major study has shown that green farming methods such as crop rotation and organic farming increased crop yields by an average of 79%, without risking future harvests.

"Most people think it is bad news from the south," Professor Pretty said, "but in many ways farmers in developing country are leading the way."

The researchers found methods that did not have an adverse effect on local biodiversity allowed farmers to reap the rewards of growing crops in healthy soil.

"People are using a variety of integrated pest management techniques; making the best of biodiversity like predators, parasites and multiple cropping," Professor Pretty told the BBC News website.

"In essence, it allows the ecosystem to deliver the pest management services."

This approach paid dividends, he said, because it not only cut the use of pesticides but also resulted in farmers having to spend less of their income on chemicals.

Technorati tag: Poverty, Farming

Sugar in the tank

They may not be popular with Tescopoly, but Tescos are doing some interesting things on the environmental front. They have started selling petrol with 5% bioethanol at their petrol stations.

According to the renewable transport fuels obligation, the details of which are to be described in this year's budget expected in March, 5% of all motor fuel must come from renewable sources by 2010. Government figures suggest that if bioethanol replaced 5% of petrol in the UK, it would have the environmental impact of taking a million cars off the road.

Of course, we could take a million or so cars off the roads as well.

Technorati tag: Bioethanol, Tesco

Eco-home building shows

Hippyshopper has a useful post on upcoming shows dedicated to building your own low energy home.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse

Compact- buy nothing new

Compact are a San Francisco based group who have vowed to buy nothing new in 2006 except food, health and safety items and underwear.

via BoingBoing

Technorati tag: Recycle, Anti-consumerism

Tories turn against nuclear

The Conservatives could be prepared to drop their historic commitment to nuclear power to underline their new "green" credentials under David Cameron, it emerged last night.

On the eve of the launch today of a Tory review of energy policy, Alan Duncan, the shadow trade and industry secretary, said that his party now had "no fixed opinion about nuclear energy".

They have a website energyreview.info for you to get involved in their discussions about energy policy.

Technorati tag: Nuclear Power, Tory Party

Ban the Bulb

I've been considering more sensible uses for the money that's going to be wasted "deciding" that we should build new nuclear power stations. One of my ideas was to send a low energy bulb to every household, saying it should replace the most used filament bulb in the house. In a BBC interview/opinion piece, Dr Matt Prescott argues that the filament bulb should be banned completely.

It has been estimated that if every household in the US replaced just three of its incandescent light bulbs with energy-saving designs and used them for five hours per day, it would reduce emissions of carbon dioxide by 23 million tonnes, reduce electricity demand by the equivalent of 11 coal-fired power stations and save $1.8bn.

Given that investing $450m could save $1.8bn, it is hard to understand why anyone would still choose incandescent bulbs.

[...]

In 2002, the UK government spent £410m on bailing out its near-bankrupt nuclear sector.

That would be more than enough to supply every household in Britain with three energy-saving light bulbs.

banthebulb.org

via Unplugged Living

Technorati tag: light bulb, Energy conservation

No New Nuclear petition

Tim Farron - Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Westmorland and Lonsdale (in Cumbria) has added his support to this petition and added his signature to the hundreds already on the paper version

To: Prime Minister of the UK

We petition the Prime Minister of the UK to the effect that we do not want any new Nuclear Power Stations, because nuclear power:

* facilitates proliferation of nuclear weapons worldwide and endangers our security
* amasses vast amounts of waste, which remains lethal for 100,000s years
* has an exorbitant cost and is not carbon free
* will not provide the answer to climate change
* has left a lethal legacy of tens of thousands abandoned uranium mines on the land of indigenous people worldwide

The Navajo say "water is life" (www.endaum.org)
What is the point of being able to switch the light on if you cannot drink the water?

Technorati tag: Nuclear Power, Petition

Out of the rat race and under a green roof

Leonie Davies, a former department head with the investment bankers J P Morgan, finalised her divorce, quit her job and left London for Norfolk. There she spent four years and £400,000 building her dream eco-house. The green roofed, earth sheltered geothermally heated building has set her back more than planned, but she's glad to be away from the city and its skewed priorities.

"I was paying a huge mortgage so that I could have a home close to my office, where I was working so that I could afford the huge mortgage on my home. I realised just how crazy that was."

Technorati tag: EcoHouse

Scotland 'hits recycling targets'

Scotland has reached its target of recycling 25% of municipal waste, according to figures for the second quarter of 2005/06.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency statistics, covering the period from July to September, were welcomed by Environment Minister Ross Finnie.

But he said that more had to be done to improve Scotland's record, a call echoed by unions and environmentalists.

The minister launched a consultation to seek views on the issue.

Technorati tag: Recycling, Scotland

Mighty Mice

Filed under Must Read Later.

via a comment on this Treehugger post came a link to the Rocky Mountain Institute. The first entry under nuclear power is an article entitled Mighty Mice (pdf). The description reads-

The most powerful force resisting new nuclear may be a legion of small, fast and simple microgeneration and efficiency projects. In this guest article in the UK-published Nuclear Engineering International, Amory Lovins explains to the industry who its most formidable competitors are: not central coal- or gas-fired power plants, but micropower and efficient use. These are already adding more than ten times as much global capacity per year, and, being much cheaper, provide more climate solution per dollar and per year. (29 December 2005).

Technorati tag: Nuclear, Micro-generation

You knew you couldn't trust him, didn't you?

Dubya's a politician, so you expect him to lie. So it comes as no surprise that his State of the Union speech pledge to wean the US off foreign oil was "not meant to be taken literally".

Technorati tag: USA, George Bush, State of the Union

Eco Street

I was idly fantasising about what I'd do with the massive Euro Lotterry roll over prize (very idly as I'm not dumb enough to waste money on it) and came to the conclusion that I'd build an eco community. I've been beaten to it, as Arthur Street in Penrith has become Britain's first eco-street. The initiative was led by residents and has become a great way to build community as well as saving money and promoting environmental technologies.

Technorati tag: eco street, Penrith

On your (biodiesel) bike

Jalopnik points to an auction on EBay of a biodiesel powered motorbike. The Royal Enfield 350cc diesel motorcycle was imported to the US from India and then converted to run on biodiesel before seeing duty as a demo bike for the concept. It gets around 200 miles to the gallon, though it's more of an around town potterer than a grand touring or racing bike.

Technorati tag: Biodiesel, Royal Enfield

Pow Wow Eco Arts

Pow Wow exists to promote collaborative creativity between the arts, environmental and community sectors and promote sustainable living. They also produce the eco arts directory for artists producing environmental art.

Technorati tag: art

Quiet Revolution wind turbines

Quiet Revolution wind turbines are vertical and rather gorgeous to look at. Virtually silent and vibration free, they are ideally suited to both urban sites and exposed locations, they can also become billboards using LEDs embedded in the blades. The first installation is due for later this year, on a roundabout.

via Treehugger

Technorati tag: Wind Power

Got Wind?

I fancy having a go at making my own micro wind turbine. Perhaps one of the projects at this site will be suitable.via TreehuggerTechnorati tag: Wind Power

The Rotating Cylinder Valve engine

RCV engines, developed by a British company, offer two-stroke power with four-stroke efficiency and cleanliness for engines up to 250cc. They are also well suited to alternative fuels such as kerosene and bio-fuels. Widespread adoption of the technology could take the edge off increased demand for scooters and small motorbikes in China and India and make suburban mowers and leaf blowers cleaner.

Technorati tag: Rotating Cylinder Valve

....And they could make more economical cars and people could stop driving so much

Let's face it, it's impossible to believe anything GW Bush says. He goes on about the US' addiction to petrol and touts ethanol from grass as a possible saviour, but doesn't have the guts to suggest that Americans walk to the shops or buy more economic cars.

Related The Times on Brazil's ethanol economy.

Unsurprisingly, the promises don't bear up to scrutiny.

Technorati tag: Ethanol, USA, Brazil

The ever greener Co-op

My current employers keep launching environmental initiatives. These micro wind turbines are the first of a bunch atop their building on Portland Street. They generate 1kW each, save about a ton of carbon dioxide a year and will have paid for themselves in four or five years.

All of the taller buildings in the city should have a copse of wind turbines, I think.

Make your own news report with the raw footage from BSN.

Technorati tag: Wind Power, Manchester