Council Tax rebates for energy saving

Did you know you can get Council Tax rebates for doing energy saving renovations to your house? I'm not a homeowner, so I hadn't looked into it (and if I was and had it still hasn't been extended to Manchester yet). 21 councils across England and Wales are offering one-off council tax rebates to any householder who spends more than £250 on cavity wall insulation. British Gas pays for £50 of the rebate and councils can top the amount up to £100. Scottish Gas is calling for a change to Scottish law so they can run a similar scheme.

To find out about other grants for energy saving go to the Energy Saving Trust site.

Technorati tag: Energy Saving, British Gas, Council Tax

Green Roof for Edinburgh's Penguins

The penguins at Edinburgh zoo have a green roof in their new enclosure.

The roof provides a viewing area for visitors and lets them get close enough to watch the zoo's 130 king penguins, gentoos and macaronis breed and nest.

Richard Millar, technical manager at parent company Icopal, said: "Garden roofs not only look much more pleasant but they take in the rain and spread out the water or use it to grow. The lawns are drought tolerant and don't need much watering."

Technorati tag: Green roof, Edinburgh Zoo

Green Schools

The education secretary, Alan Johnson, has outlined plans to make all schools "models of sustainable development in their communities" by 2020.

"Young people are keenly aware of, and highly motivated by, environmental issues. In many ways they are ahead of adults in their attitudes to recycling and conservation. Channelling this enthusiasm helps raise achievement and improve behaviour and could save money as well as addressing big issues such as climate change - it really is a win-win solution."

Technorati tag: Sustainable Development, School

MPs' green press releases

Brighton MP backs Bill to combat Ghost Town Britain

David Lepper, Labour and Co-operative MP for Brighton Pavilion, will speak on combating Ghost Town Britain and the need for local sustainability and community involvement at a meeting in the Brighton Centre on Thursday 18 May.

The meeting is organised by Local Works – the campaign for a Sustainable Communities Bill to encourage thriving local economies based on environmental protection, community involvement and democratic participation.

David Lepper said

"I am concerned about the various signs of community decline which could threaten neighbourhoods in Brighton and Hove and are already doing so in some parts of Sussex through, for example, the closures of Post Offices, community pharmacies and local independent newsagents. Businesses which should be at the centre of local community life.

"I am also concerned at the increasing threat to independent shops by the big
supermarkets extending the range of products they offer and moving into locations where they had previously not been represented."

Crausby calls for action on climate change

Bolton North East MP David Crausby is calling on the Government to speed up the introduction of measures to tackle climate change.

He is co-sponsoring a House of Commons Early Day Motion commenting on the Government's March 2006 publication Climate Change - the UK programme 2006 which sets out the UK's current and proposed initiatives to cut UK emissions of greenhouse gases.

Mr. Crausby said:

"The UK accounts for about two per cent of the world's annual greenhouse gas emissions, with most other countries' emissions still increasing. Too few people in the UK or abroad are much inclined to abandon, for example, their cars or their cheap flights and the danger is that climate change will increase greatly in the next few decades.

I’m disappointed to note that less than 10 per cent of the publication is devoted to dealing with the UK's adaptation to the effects of climate change. It talks too much about yet more studies and a quite insufficient amount relates to concrete actions to adapt to the actual effects of climate change on the UK."

Technorati tag: MP, Climate Change

No congestion charge for Manchester

Despite the presence of members of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority at a conference on congestion charging in Stockholm and new Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander's comments about satellite tracking, Manchester isn't getting congestion charging any time soon. I don't see why this is considered good news, and it's a bit sad to see the worn old line about improving public transport first being trotted out again.

Technorati tag: Manchester, Congestion Charge

Government failing on microgeneration

For all the talk from Tony Blair that "right throughout government, we put the question of sustainability at the heart of what we try to do" most ministries are dedicating none of their budget to local generation at their sites. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has dedicated £1.5million of this year's budget to it, and the Department of Transport (DoT) has allocated cash to water recycling, but that's it.

Stephen Tindale, the executive director of Greenpeace, compared this performance to the Surrey town of Woking which is working to cut carbon emissions by 77 per cent.

He added: "This is just another example of the yawning gap between New Labour's rhetoric and reality. One of the first things Alistair Darling [the Transport Secretary] could do is to bash heads together around the cabinet table so ministers start setting an example. If Woking can do this, why can't Whitehall?"

Technorati tag: Local generation, microgeneration, Whitehall, Tony Blair is a Liar

Five go Mad in Earl's Court

The Make A Difference show will be held at Earls Court on June 2nd, 3rd & 4th, highlighting consumer goods that support Fairtrade, Organic production and a Sustainable lifestyle.

As well as all the good stuff on display, you'll be able to see some of the UK's top Green bloggers in the flesh (and me too ;P). The Mad Show organisers have been in touch with Al of City Hippy to organise a UK Green Bloggers panel. So far he has Bonnie from Treehugger and me and is lining up another three panellists. So, if you want to find out what we all look like, book your tickets now and come on down at the start of June. As Al says in his piece, if we can't answer your questions on the day we'll all try to go away and find out for you.

Technorati tag: Mad Show, Green Lifestyle, Earls Court

Now appearing at City Hippy

Al at City Hippy has been recruiting city editors and I volunteered to become the Manchester editor. The introductory Q & A is here and I'll be crossposting Manchester related news from here, 2 Wheels Good, Digest and Dig.

Technorati tag: City Hippy, Manchester

Water saving Hippo

I recently filled a half litre water bottle and put it in the cistern of casa Spinneyhead's toilet- the good old, practical way of cutting the volume we flush. However, I should really have been contemplating a Hippo, which can save up to three litres every flush. A Hippo three pack costs £6.99, and the unit price goes down drastically for bulk orders.

via Hippyshopper

Technorati tag: Water, Toilet

Trade Winds Weaken with Global Warming

The Trade Winds serve many purposes beyond the one that got them their name. They bring rains to the west and churn up the oceans, turning surface waters into rich feeding grounds, and drive weather conditions around the world. A study of air pressure records dating back to 1860 has shown the changes over time of the Walker circulation. It had weakened by 3.5% and was expected to fall by 10% by the year 2100.

"Nearly all of this is down to increases in greenhouse gas emissions," said Dr Vecchi.

"We know this air current has an influence on weather in many regions, so we can expect there to be changes locally. Ecosystems are complex, but our concern would be that this could also affect biological productivity over a large part of the Pacific," he added.

Technorati tag: Global Warming, Trade Wind, Pacific

All batteries to be recycled by 2008

An EU directive puts the onus on battery manufacturers to cover the cost of recycling their products. Groups representing the industry say this will lead to a rise in the cost of batteries. Which won't be a bad thing, really, it might drive more people to invest in rechargeables, another way to cut the waste and pollution of one-shots.

Technorati tag: Batteries, Recycling

I'll have an apple with my curry, please

The Manchester Evening News reports on Tashek Shorkar Abu, manager of Kyae's Pizza and Curry takeaway in Bury, who plants fruit trees in the gardens of his customers. It's a habit he got into in Bangladesh, where he planted trees as part of charity plantation schemes that helped provide food, income and timber, as well as protecting the environment.

Technorati tag: Tree, Fruit, Curry

I Will If You Will

The Sustainable Consumption Roundtable says that people want to adopt greener habits, but believe individual action is futile and the Government should take more radical action promote green lifestyles.

"Going green can be smart and stylish," commented SCR co-chair Ed Mayo, "but it is not yet simple.

"We want to call the bluff of politicians, to take action to make the sustainable choice the easier choice."

Technorati tag: Green

Holographic Solar

A new technology replaces unsightly mirrored solar concentrators with flat panels laminated with holograms and could cut the cost of solar modules by as much as 75%.

via Treehugger

Technorati tag: Solar Power, Hologram

Germany has the world's largest solar park

16.5 km (10 miles) of solar panels have been mounted on former military grounds at Pocking, near Passau in Bavaria. The installation saves 10,000 tons of CO2 yearly--the equivalent of 1,000 hectares of woodlands. Construction cost 40 million euro (£27.8 million) and started in August 2005.

Technorati tag: Solar Power, Germany

MPs' Green press releases- who gives a damn about the profits of Tesco

Something of a slow week overall. Tesco's profits do merit investigation and curbing in some manner, I think.

Shadow Trade and Industry Secretary Praises Weston Recycling Initiative

Alan Duncan MP Shadow Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has praised the recycling work of local waste management and recycling company, Towens of Weston, following a visit with local MP John Penrose.

Speaking after the visit, Mr Duncan said; "The company has an impressive set of recycling kit and an 83% recycling rate. It shows what can be done to protect the environment and reduce the enormous demand on landfill space.

"We're currently conducting an energy review so I listened with particular interest to their proposals for sustainable energy production. The idea of converting local waste into energy for nearby homes and businesses is an exciting option which deserves detailed consideration."

Sassy Nappy Fashions on show in 10th anniversary – Real Nappy Week

Mike Hall, MP for Weaver Vale joins more than 147 other MPs, MEPs, Welsh AMs and MSPs to celebrate the 10th anniversary Real Nappy Week from 24-30 April.

Fashion shows, "nappuccino" coffee mornings and hundreds of other events across the UK and abroad will reveal how far real nappies have come in the last decade. No longer just an eco and economic option, real nappies are now a fashionable lifestyle choice.

Biba Hartigan of Women's Environmental network, which is co-ordinating the week, says, "There are nappies to suit all tastes: bright and funky Day-Glo, leopardskin and tie-dye prints, classic whites and pastels in fluffy fleece, silky-soft bamboo or organic hemp fabrics, and a choice of snug-fitted styles".

(www.realnappycampaign.com/nappyfinder/)

TESCO PROFITS PER DAY : £5.5m WELSH FARMER'S WAGE PER YEAR: £14,000 – WILLIAMS

Following today's announcement of record Tesco profits of £2.25 billion for the past year, Roger Williams, Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon and Radnorshire has warned that the extreme power of supermarkets is destroying Welsh farming.

Commenting on these latest figures, Roger said:

"These figures show the huge imbalance in the UK Groceries market. Tesco's profits are a staggering 17% higher than last year. Meanwhile, the once-thriving Welsh farming industry is now over a barrel. Producers, farmers and convenience stores are in decline, whilst the 'big four' supermarkets have gone from strength to strength.

"These companies are making billions whilst farmers are struggling to make ends meet. On average, three Welsh dairy farmers go out of work every week, while the average income from farming in Wales is just £14,000. Tesco makes profits of £228,000 an hour.

"Supermarkets are raking it in by keeping prices static and passing costs on to the farmers. For every £1 consumers spend on food in supermarkets, just 8p goes to the farmer.

"The Supermarket Code of Practice has proved useless, a toothless tiger since its inception four years ago. If this government is serious about helping our farmers and consumers, and curbing the power of retailers, the Office of Fair Trading needs to extend its review of the groceries market and work toward truly fair trade between farmers, suppliers and supermarkets."

Technorati tag: Recycling, Nappies, Tesco

Ming's Green challenge

He may just be calling Cameron's bluff, but Menzies Campbell is calling for the Tory leader to agree to five broad "green principles" that would underpin policy. His justification is that should Cameron stop fannying around and agree to them the combined votes could make an immediate difference to tax policy on environmental issues.

As outlined in a speech in Norwich the five points are-

* Green taxes should be used to change behaviour

* Green taxes - including excise duty on fuel - should not fall in real terms from year to year

* There should be a substantial increase in the top rate of Vehicle Excise Duty

* The climate change levy should be reformed into a universal carbon tax - including household emissions as well as business emissions

* Air passenger duty should be restructured as a tax on aircraft emissions, not passengers

Technorati tag: Environment, Taxes, Menzies Campbell, David Cameron

Green roofs growing

The area of green roofing in North America grew 72% between 2004 and 2005, and by over 80% in the United States, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities has announced. North American green roof infrastructure implementation increased from 1.3 million square feet in 2004 to 2.5 million square feet in 2005.

The 4th Annual Green Roof Conference, Awards and Trade Show takes place in Boston, MA, on May 11-12, 2006.

Technorati tag: Green Roof

Clever trikes and Cameron

The two aren't connected beyond a declared aim of cutting traffic pollution, but I thouight I'd lump them together.

The Clever is a tilting trike powered by compressed natural gas. It's the result of EU funded research to give car companies something to think about.

The three-year, £1.5m EU-funded research project aimed to produce a totally different class of private motor vehicle specifically designed for the urban environment.

"The only solutions at the moment are motorbikes or cars" said Ben Drew, a research officer at the University of Bath, one of the institutions involved in the project.

[Cough]Bicycle![cough]

Meanwhile, mister "vote blue, go green" wants to see the return of school buses to combat the school run, and a reduction in carbon emissions from new cars. The thought of voting Tory makes me go green for completely different reasons. All this point scoring over Priuses (Prii?) just reminds me that the Lib Dems have been the only of the three main parties to have been touting eco policies since before they became trendy.

(Meanwhile, the BBC stole the car from one of its reporters to see what it would be like to live without petrol.)

Technorati tag: Trike, Pollution, Transport

It's National Downshifting Week

I hardly ever Upshifted, to be honest. The nearest I came was my period working for British Gas, which left me with an ulcer and large debts. So I've been partially downshifted for a few years, though I could still go further and I've only just got round to slowly getting rid of all the crap I've accumulated.

I may be going against the theme of Downshifting Week because I'm planning to move back up from a three day to a four day week, so I can earn some money before my contract ends.

via Treehugger

Technorati tag: Downshifting

Severn Tidal Bore power dilemma

I have so little trust in our government that I think the proposals for a tidal power scheme on the Severn Estuary is really a decoy to help them go nuclear. They've proposed a huge green power scheme that would generate power by doing a lot of environmental damage. So now Tony Blair can say "Look, y'know, we did consider non-nuclear alternatives but, right, the surfers wouldn't let us. Let's go nuclear."

I have a bit of respect for Peter Hain, but I think he's been wrong footed into supporting the proposal. And his statement contains a phrase that sums up the government's big mistake in their quest to cut CO2.

He said it could help to fill the looming "energy gap" which will emerge as nuclear power stations are gradually decommissioned. "This not just a climate change issue. This debate is about security of supply. It's about keeping the lights on," he added.

The problem wouldn't be so big if we bothered to turn some of the lights off occasionally. Energy saving and microgeneration are a better investment than yet another big scheme.

There are, smaller scale, ways to harness the power of the Severn bore which wouldn't destroy the ecosystem of the estuary. Rather than condemning the plan outright, perhaps the surfers and environmentalists could propose a few underwater turbines out of the shipping lanes.

Technorati tag: Tidal Power, Severn Estuary, Severn Bore

Switrch off when you switch off

I don't need to tell you to turn TVs off properly rather than leaving them on standby, do I? What I didn't know was that my pc is drawing power as long as it's plugged in. Our landlord's annoying and fitted sockets without switches on them, so I'm going to have to start pulling the plugs out of the wall every night.

Technorati tag: Standby, Energy Consumption

MPs' Green press releases- energy review edition

The government's energy review seems to be the focus of this week's press release round up-

MP's response to Government's Energy Review

Sandra Osborne, MP for Ayr Carrick and Cumnock has submitted her views on future energy policy as part of the Government’s Energy Review –"Securing clean, affordable energy for the long term"

In her submission Sandra gives priority to the future role of coal. She states

"In deciding the UK's future energy mix, a diverse, flexible and secure energy supply is essential if we are to achieve targets in cutting the UK's carbon emissions, maintain reliability of energy supplies, raise the rate of sustainable economic growth, promote a competitive energy market in the UK and beyond and ensure that every home is adequately and affordably heated. There is no one single solution which can adequately satisfy all of these demands.

As a Member of Parliament for a number of coalfield communities, I would like to concentrate my submission on coal and particularly the need for clear government support for clean coal technology as part of a balanced energy portfolio which can contribute to improved energy efficiency as well as reduced greenhouse gas emissions."

2350 People In Wales Tell Blair "No To Nuclear Power"

2350 people in Wales have signed a petition opposing new nuclear power stations in Wales. The petition was presented to 10 Downing Street this morning by a delegation of MPs and representatives of Friend of the Earth, the Centre for Alternative Technology (C.A.T.) and the Plaid Werdd Cymru.

The petition, which has only been running for three months read, "We, the undersigned, strongly oppose the commissioning of any nuclear power stations in Wales and demand safer, cleaner, cheaper technology."

Commenting, Jenny Willott, Welsh Liberal Democrat MP for Cardiff Central, said: "This petition shows there is widespread opposition to nuclear power across Wales. Our message to the Government is clear: nuclear power is not the answer to Wales' energy needs.

"Nuclear power is prohibitively expensive, has a terrible environmental legacy and is a huge security risk. Wales has huge natural resources to provide alternatives to nuclear power, including tidal power, marine currents, solar and wind.

"Even the Secretary of State for Wales, Peter Hain, is anti-nuclear. Tony Blair cannot simply impose a new generation of nuclear power stations in Wales."

Nuclear not the answer say MPs

Emily's Environment Select Committee have released the result of their inquiry into the future of UK energy. The report says that nuclear power stations cannot contribute to meeting our energy needs or reducing carbon dioxide over the next 10 years. The report raises serious concerns about the use of nuclear power over the longer term, including:

*long-term waste disposal

*public acceptability

*the availability of uranium

*the carbon emissions associated with nuclear.

*safety, the threat of terrorism, and the proliferation of nuclear power across the world.

The committee recommends that the government invest in developing low carbon renewable technologies such as wind, clean coal technology, carbon capture and storage, off-shore wind, and microgeneration. In order to meet our energy needs up to 2016 the government should introduce an extensive programme of new gas-fired power stations, supplemented by a significant growth in renewables.

Technorati tag: MP, Press Release, Nuclear Power, Energy Review

Vehizero- hybrid delivery lorry for Mexico City

Mexico City is one of the most polluted places on Earth and a large contributor to the smog is traffic. They've introduced a bus rapid transit system that has had some effect and now Mexico has its own hybrid vehicle manufacturer. Vehizero have already introduced a light delivery vehicle and taxi that save money by not only using 40% of the fuel but through road tax rebates and lower insurance thanks to improved anti- theft systems. They plan to introduce a larger truck, bus and small personal transport by 2010.

via Jalopnik

Technorati tag: Hybrid, Mexico

Treehugger's solar picks

A little lazy this, but recycling is part of the How to Save the World for Free ethos-

Treehugger has a list of solar picks now Summer is drawing near.

Technorati tag: Solar Power

MPs' Green press releases

More from the corridors of spin-

Energy Review: MP Calls On Pm To Make Good On His 'Renewables Rhetoric'

In her submission to the Energy Review, deadline today, Lynne Jones points out the failure of the Government to act on the rhetoric of Tony Blair's high profile speech on the environment of 6 March 2001 and calls on the Government to get back on track with its original energy policy. This emphasised the importance of energy conservation and investment in renewable energy.

Lynne Jones said "Five years ago the Prime Minister said that 50% of the world's energy needs could be met by renewables by 2050 and the role of Government is to accelerate the development and take up of these new technologies until self-sustaining markets take over".

"Welsh Lib Dems Submission to Energy Review: Nuclear Power Is Not The Answer"

The Welsh Liberal Democrats made a submission to the Energy Review Consultation today telling the Government that nuclear energy was 'not the answer' to Wales' energy needs.

Commenting, Mick Bates, AM for Montgomeryshire and Welsh Lib Dem spokesman on Energy in the National Assembly for Wales, said:

"Our submission to the Energy Review clearly outlines our position: we are strongly against building a new generation of nuclear power plants in Wales and the UK.

"Instead of walking us up the nuclear path, the Government should do more to encourage energy efficiency, decentralise our energy supply system, and develop renewable energy to ensure Wales has a sustainable and secure energy supply."

'16,000 tonnes of nappies a year boost case for real thing', says MP

Brighton Pavilion Labour and Co-operative MP David Lepper is backing the events to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Real Nappy Week from 24-30 April.

Fashion shows, 'nappuccino' coffee mornings and hundreds of other events across the UK and abroad will reveal how far real nappies have come in the last decade. No longer just an eco and economic option, real nappies are now a fashionable lifestyle choice.

Technorati tag: Politics, MP, Press Release

Local planning inspectors- not doing their bit to save the world

A Wilmslow man who wants to build an "excellent" eco home has had planning permission denied a second time because it wouldn't look enough like the buildings surrounding it. The design called for lightweight concrete for the walls, reconstituted timber for the frame, recycled rubber for the flat roof, and solar panels to generate electricity and had impressed Macclesfield council's design officer, the Wilmslow Trust, and Cheshire Wildlife, who all supported the proposal. However the council planning sub-committee rejected the scheme because of the views of a planning inspector who had said the new house would be so different from any other in the locality in terms of shape, style, and design and materials that it would fail to reflect any aspect of the local character, making it unacceptable in the countryside.

I can see the reasons for wanting to retain local character and not knocking down historically significant buildings, but planning inspectors seem so damn inconsistent. They'll let butt ugly modern builds go through if they're "traditional" looking cookie cutter designs, but have hissy fits over bespoke low energy houses designed around their location. It makes me despair.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse, Planning Inspectors

The future's bright, the future's OLED

100% efficient, flat Organic Light Emitting Diodes could be mass produced and drastically change the way we illuminate our interiors.

If the device can be mass-manufactured cheaply - a realistic expectation, according to Thompson - interior lighting could look vastly different in the future. Almost any surface in a home, whether flat or curved, could become a light source: walls, curtains, ceilings, cabinets or tables.

Since OLEDs are transparent when turned off, the devices could even be installed as windows or skylights to mimic the feel of natural light after dark - or to serve as the ultimate inconspicuous flat-panel television.

via Warren Ellis

Technorati tag: OLED, LED, Lighting

Vespa's hybrid scooter

Two wheels is the best way to get around town, and if you can't face using your own power a scooter is the next best thing. Now Vespa, the quintessential scooter manufacturer, has gone one better with plug in hybrid scooters in development. The space under the lift up seat, where the rider traditionally stores their helmet, has been filled with batteries. A luggage pod has been fitted to make up for this.

Now, if they could build solar panels into the luggage pod and get it to run on bio-ethanol it would be super cool.

Fully electrical scooters can be bought from EVT.

via BoingBoing

Technorati tag: Scooter, Hybrid, Vespa

Scotty Solar charger

The Scotty solar charger, as pictured at the green guy is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand and can effectively charge mobile phones, PDAs etc. It comes with adaptors for the most popular phones, a USB charger cable and two NiCad batteries which act as a charge reservoir. There's a belt clip, which is probably impractical except that it doubles as a stand for proper orientation. I don't know how much charging mobiles costs in electric bill terms and therefore how long it will take for the gadget to pay for itself, but the convenience on camping trips or even long days out would make it worth the money.

Technorati tag: Solar Power, Solar Cahrger

Home Power Magazine

Since 1987, we've dedicated more than 100 issues to home-scale renewable energy and sustainable living solutions. That means comprehensive coverage of solar, wind, and microhydro electricity, home energy efficiency, solar hot water systems, space heating and cooling, green building materials and home design, efficient transportation, and much, much more.

Whether you're a do-it-yourselfer or not, off-grid or on-grid, Home Power is here to help you make informed decisions about your home energy use. We provide extensive product information, homeowner testimonials, buyer advice, and "how-to" instructions.

You can now subscribe to get the magazine online in pdf format and have introductory articles on subjects such as Solar electric systems.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse, Solar Power, Renewable energy, Sustainable lifestyle

MP's Green press releases

From the halls of power, our representatives speak-

Foster Backs New Campaign To Cut Carbon Pollution

Bath's MP, Don Foster, has accused the Labour Government of lacking the political will to tackle climate change, following the publication of the Government's Climate Change Programme Review on Tuesday 28th March.

Don has backed the Big Ask campaign calling for a new law to make the Government legally responsible for reducing UK carbon dioxide emissions.

The Government has repeatedly promised to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent of 1990 levels by 2010, including in all three of the general election manifestos that have put New Labour in Government. But emissions have risen by three per cent since Tony Blair came to power in 1997. The revised strategy was supposed to get the UK back on track – but it is clear that it has failed to do this.

Climate Change Is Huge Challenge, Says MP

West Dunbartonshire MP John McFall said this week that climate change is the greatest challenge facing the world today.

He said a new climate change programme has set out the Government's plan for action domestically and internationally.

It includes:

• a strong focus on a stabilisation goal to frame future international action

• progress through the UN Framework on Climate Change and the G8 dialogue

• a much greater role for the European Union.

GISELA WELCOMES TRANSPORT INVESTMENT

Birmingham MP Gisela Stuart has welcomed the announcement by Transport Secretary Alistair Darling of a £26.6 million plan to ease congestion and improve transport links across the West Midlands.

The cash will be used to create a new computerised Urban Traffic Control Centre to manage congested roads. The Centre, which will be based alongside the new National Traffic Control Centre in the Quinton area of Ms Stuart's constituency, is promoted by West Midlands transport chiefs Centro and the seven local authorities that make up the West Midlands region.

Natural Health Week

Tom Brake dropped into his local Health Food Store, Noah's Health Food Stores in Stafford Road, Wallington on Saturday 1st April to sample some of their healthy organic food options.

His visit took place during Natural Health Week which Health Food Stores around the country are taking part in.

Tom Brake said, "With concerns about the quality of our food and diet increasing, Noah's Health Food Stores and other local health food stores are essential in giving consumers choice and information about healthier eating options."

Technorati tag: Parliament, MP, Health, Transport, Environment

Pollution costs lives

Pollution can cut up to eight months off life expectancy. This may not sound like a lot, but the causes of death are lung disease and other chronic illnesses.

Ministers warned that chemicals from car exhausts, ships and industrial sites were still having "a marked effect on health" despite efforts to cut pollution.

They insisted that air in Britain was cleaner than at any time since the 19th century but expected to miss targets to reduce the levels of nitrogen dioxide, ozone and particles.

Nitrogen dioxide and particles, mainly produced by traffic, irritate the airways of the lungs and can exacerbate lung diseases. Ozone at ground level is produced when pollution reacts with sunlight.

Technorati tag: Pollution, Ozone, Lung Disease

Recruiting Green

I phoned a recruiting agency about a possible job today. The rate would have been another two or three pounds an hour, which would be useful. However, it was somewhere in Merseyside and I'd only be able to get there by car.

There are reasons other than ecological why I'll try to avoid ever driving to work again, but it is a consideration. The Green credentials of companies are becoming an important consideration for employees, according to this article at Management Issues.

Three quarters of British workers now consider it important to work for a company that is actively reducing its carbon emissions, according to the study from energy efficiency body the Carbon Trust.

The research has also found that more than eight out of 10 British workers want to cut the amount of energy they use at work and in the home to help the environment.

via Sustainablog

Technorati tag: Business, Sustainability

Come Off It

Today is Come Off It day, when people are being encouraged to cut their electricity consumption and send a message that there are better ways to cut CO2 production than building nuclear power stations.

If every house saves just a few Watts, that's one less new power station that we need to build. And if every house saves 100W through simple actions like switching off a light that's not really needed, or being careful not to overfill the kettle, we’d save not one power station but several.

via EcoStreet blog

Technorati tag: CO2, Energy Efficiency

Drive Green

The Independent's motoring section has gone Green. Or at least, made a nod toward more efficient driving. Some simple and fairly obvious suggestions. The plug-in Prius, capable of up to 130 mpg.

Of course, the cycling columnist is a little bemused by it all.

Technorati tag: Driving

Scottish Executive thinks big

The Scottish Executive has set itself a target of cutting 2.7million tons of CO2 emissions by 2010. It's a laudable aim, but recent admissions by the Government show that you have to back those promises up with actual actions or you're going to be making embarassing apologies a few years down the line.

Technorati tag: Scotland, CO2

Mini microgeneration

The government's plans to support microgeneration sound good, but many believe them to be all hot wind and no heat exchanger.

"A large number of the 'actions' in the strategy are not actions at all, if by that we mean proposed concrete steps to deliver real policy changes," said Seb Berry, head of micro-renewables at the Renewable Energy Association.

"A large number are contingent on further research and review - eg 'DTI will undertake further research and analysis', 'DTI will investigate', and 'Defra will look carefully at'," he said.

Technorati tag: Microgeneration, Hot air

Blair talks the talk

Blair demands green 'revolution'

PM backs US-Pacific climate deal

And makes PR friendly gestures-

Green investment from PM's flight

But the figures say he hasn't walked the walk yet-

UK to miss CO2 emissions target

Technorati tag: Tony Blair, Tony Blair is a liar

Nuclear power has cost us how much?

My main reason for opposing new nuclear plants is an economic one. The CO2 savings per pound invested in energy saving measures, micro-generation and renewables will be far greater than that on more reactors. To drive the fact home comes the news that the clean up costs for the last generation of nuclear reactors is going to be far higher than estimated. This was announced as plans go ahead to privatise the division of BNFL that does the decommissioning. I'm with Amicus on that move-

"Our union is opposed to the sale of the British Nuclear Group in principle," said Amicus national officer Dougie Rooney.

"But we are also concerned that it could compromise the government's stated objectives of decommissioning civil nuclear sites in the UK at a reduced cost to the taxpayer and a reduced timescale while maintaining safety standards."

So let's not throw any more cash into the nuclear money pit, and invest in sensible solutions instead.

Technorati tag: Nuclear Power, Wasting Money

Northstowe

England is to get its first 'sustainable' new town with 10,000 homes that meet the Government's eco-standards and use micro-renewable energy. Northstowe is to built on the site of the abandoned Oakington barracks, five miles outside Cambridge.

via Sustainablog

Technorati tag: EcoHouse, Brownfield site, Community

Car Free Housing

More housing developments, particularly in city centres and on waterfrons, are finding it easier to get planning permission if their travel plan doesn't involve parking for their tenants. Consequently, more tenants are discovering they don't need a car after all.

via Velorution

Technorati tag: Urban Planning, Car

Green Weddings

There are at least two weddings for me to go to this year (unless I get really drunk and embarass myself), maybe the happy couples would like to look into some of the stuff on Hippyshopper's green weddings list.

Technorati tag: Wedding, Confetti

BRE's Environmental Assessment Method

US Green websites mention LEED a lot, it's an energy efficiciency standard to measure new builds against. I hadn't thought to find out if there was a British equivalent, until spotting a post on Enviropundit.

For over a decade, BRE's Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) has been used to assess the environmental performance of both new and existing buildings. It is regarded by the UK's construction and property sectors as the measure of best practice in environmental design and management.

BREEAM's success stems from its unique ability to cover a wide range of environmental issues within one assessment, and to present the results in a way that is widely understood by those involved in property procurement and management.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse, BREEAM, Standards

Ticketing SUVs

The Alliance Against Urban 4x4s have a bunch of "Poor Driving Choice" parking tickets available for download or purchase. I saw one of those stupid Mitsubishi half-cab pickup monstrositys being displayed in the Printworks yesterday and wanted to find a way to erect a sign saying "There are cheaper ways to prove you're an idiot." in front of it.

via Treehugger

Technorati tag: 4x4, Chelsea Tank

London's sinking

Another rising sea levels story. New York, London and many other cities could be under water by the end of the century as sea levels continue to rise because of global warming.

Technorati tag: Global warming, Sea levels

Mapping the oceans' CO2 absorption

British oceanographers will use the MV Indotrans Celebes, to measure the oceans' ability to absorb carbon dioxide, going to remote areas they would not otherwise bea ble to visit.

Technorati tag: Ocean, CO2, Carbon dioxide

Cheap Light

Powergen are funding a scheme that subsidises compact fluorescent bulbs so shops can sell them for as little as 50p each. This is a lot like my suggestion to Manchester Council that they replace all there incadescent bulbs with compact fluorescents. It seems surprising that a power company should be behind it, but it's simply that they're fulfilling their obligation to the government's Energy Efficiency Commitment. Which feels like a lot more than the Government is doing.

I was an early adopter of compact fluorescent lightbulbs. I don't think any house I've lived in for the last six or more years has been without them, and that was while they were in the £8 a bulb range. Now I think it's time to move on and try some of the LED lighting solutions mentioned in the article.

Technorati tag: Compact fluorescent lightbulb, LED

The Beach is Getting Closer

If you want to get a quick impression of the effect of rising sea levels, try this interactive map. It allows you to see what the coast will look like with sea level rises of up to 14 metres.

via Sustainability Blog

Technorati tag: Global Warming, Sea Level

How to spot the signs of global warming

The Independent thinks the increasingly early onset of Spring is a pretty good sign.

What event defines the spring for you? Maybe it's the first primrose. Primroses traditionally appear around Mothering Sunday. But last year the countrywide average date for the first primrose was 28 February. And even in these climatically challenged times, February is not many people's idea of spring.

How about frogspawn? Well, if you live in Cornwall, frogs start to feel the urge around Christmas time. By the time spring comes to the south-west, garden ponds are full of tadpoles.

Technorati tag: Global Warming, Spring

It's Not Easy Being Green

If Casa Spinneyhead had a television, we'd be watching this show- to be broadcast on BBC 2, on 28 March at 8pm.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse, Green, Television

The Green map of Britain

More of a list, really.

Lowest carbon town: Woking in Surrey

Over a period of 15 years, Woking Borough Council achieved a 77.4 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions and reduced carbon-equivalent emissions by 17.23 per cent.

Technorati tag: Britain, Environment

Brown to raise the tax on soft roaders

I like the name "soft roader", it sounds so much more..... English than SUV.

The Daily Mail reports that Gordon Brown may be considering a rise in road tax for the most polluting cars to £200 a year. The new top rate will be for vehicles emitting more than 250 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre, catching all those school run monsters and a lot of luxury and sports cars.

Drivers' groups will be up in arms, of course, and it will only be a symbolic charge anyway. The fuel costs of one of these monstrosities must be huge, bound to dwarf the cost of road tax. Maybe it's time to put width or height restrictions on roads past schools (with bollards that only raise at school run time?). Or, even better, announce that every £200 raised taxing the mammoths would be spent to buy a bike for a school kid or commuter.

Update The Independent reports that road tax may also be waived for low emission vehicles.

Technorati tag: Gordon Brown, Tax, SUV

howtosavetheworldforfree.com

How to Save The World for Free has now moved to its own domain- http://www.howtosavetheworldforfree.com/. It's hosted by GreenWebHost, because I thought it would be appropriate.

The new rss feed is at http://www.howtosavetheworldforfree.com/ecoatom.xml.

For now I'm trying to get all the archives to publish, but Blogger's being a pain in the arse. The archives at Spinneyhead will stay, because they still get search engine traffic, but I'm going to stick a redirect on the front page. Dig, Digest and 2 Wheels Good will come over as they have similar themes that will sit better as subdomains of howtosavetheworldforfree.com. When everything's fully published I'll think about converting to WordPress or some other publishing tool.

Technorati tag: How to Save the World for Free

The Green House

A few environmewnt related press releases from MPs-

David Lepper, Brighton Pavilion Labour and Co-operative MP, has been told the government is reviewing the guidance it gives to local councils about conservation areas to see if it can be made more compatible with energy effciency devices and renewable energy devices.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats will put the spotlight on the Assembly Government's green credentials in their minority party debate next week.

Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Lembit Opik MP, who will open a groundbreaking new exhibition at the Centre for Alternative Technology today, has backed his colleagues in Cardiff Bay, and called on Labour to be bold where they have been timid and do more to make Wales a powerhouse of the green economy:

"The green economy can bring enormous benefits to Wales. Labour should embrace green technology, not shy away from it."

The Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Bill will reappear in the House of Commons tomorrow (Friday), after it was wrecked by filibustering Tory MPs last Friday.

Despite huge support amongst the public, environmental pressure groups and politicians this legislation, was "talked out" in its Report Stage - one of the final hurdles.

Bath's MP, Don Foster, has rearranged his diary so that he can attend the debate and vote in favour of the Bill.

Alan Whitehead, MP for Southampton Test, says that if the tactics of two maverick MPs are not curbed tomorrow, it could have disastrous consequences for the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Bill.

The Bill which had its Report Stage and Third Reading last week with all-party support was once again subjected to the juvenile actions of two Conservative MPs, one Mr Christopher Chope, a former Southampton MP, the other the Rt Hon Eric Forth. Between them they spoke for a total of three and a half hours out of five, an attempt to deliberately delay the Bill's passage preventing progress through the Bill's remaining clauses. This tactic effectively prevents the Bill from proceeding.

Technorati tag: Parliament, Environment

MEN- "TV queen to turn city green"

Manchester council has recruited Penney Poyzer, of BBC2's No Waste Like Home, to help spread the word on their plans to make Manchester a green city.

Technorati tag: Manchester, Green City

The Alternative Wedding List

A note to all Friends of Spinneyhead (and Spinneyhead members) planning their nuptials this year- the Alternative Wedding List gives money to charities for you. If you really do need kettles and fondue sets, I guess you could run this one in parallel.

via Hippyshopper

Technorati tag: Wedding, Charity

Big bucks for high mileage

After paying out $10million for the first non-government space flight, the X Prize Foundation is coming back down to Earth. It has announced a prize of $25million for the company that produces the first commercially succesful car with a fuel consumption over 250 miles per gallon. The money goes to the first company to sell 10,000 of such a super efficient vehicle, though the exact rules and requirements are still being worked on.

via Jalopnik, where they have the following take on the McDonalds franchisee who runs his car on the waste oil from his burger bars-

Man, here's a dichotomy. A Mississippi man who owns four McDonald's franchises has converted his Ford pickup and his VW Beetle to run on excess grease from his stores; the four locations dispose of 10,000 gallons a year, giving him basically unlimited supply of food. According to him, it's about environmental sustainability and independence from foreign oil, yet ironically, dude owns four McDonald's franchises; rainforests are being clearcut for land to raise cattle to satiate the world’s appetite for meat, and all those cows release volatile organic compounds out their bums, which leads to air-quality problems like we see in the Southern San Joaquin Valley. That said, we’re a vegetarian and our car has a V-8. We'll shut up now.

Greasecar.com, for all your fast food fuel supplies.

Technorati tag: Economy, Transport, Biodiesel

Telegraph- " New suburbia is an environmental cul-de-sac"

Unsurprisingly, the 400,000 new homes that John Prescott insists on building in the South of England will probably be like the ones described in this article- energy intensive and giving nothing to the areas they invade.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse

Sunlight

I'm still working in the CIS tower, which now has a big display in the foyer telling us how much power the solar panels have generated and what that means in saved CO2. However, every floor has row upon row of flourescent tubes lighting it. Direct sunlight, on the rare days we get any, is blocked by blinds because it tends to shine in the eyes of those facing the windows.

Perhaps the Co-op can take another step in energy saving and have a few solar collectors on the roof, such as those by Solartech, which use parabolic mirrors to direct light into light tubes that can illuminate thousands of square feet of office space. The company needs further funding to bring their products to market. They estimate twenty times greater efficiency than converting light to power and then back again and say a system could pay for itself within two years.

via Treehugger

Technorati tag: Solar illumination

Click for the Climate

It's National Science Week, and we're being asked to pledge to take action to cut down CO2 emmissions. Despite already doing most of the things on the list, my pledge will still save 1045.32kgs of CO2 (providing I take an international flight and remember to plant a tree to offset it).

Technorati tag: Science Week, Carbon Dioxide

Cohousing

Cohousing is a different way of creating high density housing, a lot of house modules arranged around a communal section. The Independent reports on a project in Stroud.

Springhill Cohousing is at www. springhillcohousing.com; the UK Cohousing Network is at www. cohousing.org.uk; 'Designing Your Natural Home' by David Pearson is published by Gaia Books.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse, Cohousing

Keep your cleaning clean

From The Scotsman- How toxic is your home?

Mary Rayner, from the consumer watchdog magazine The Ethical Consumer, believes many of us are, and thinks we should be aware of the potentially harmful ingredients many of these cleaning products contain. "In an attempt to make us shell out for the latest products - promising ever faster and shinier results - many manufacturers [seem to be] adding more and more toxic ingredients to their cleaners without much regard for the effect they might have on the environment or the consumer," she says.

Amongst the worst culprits- ammonia, bleach and triclosan

Technorati tag: Cleaning, Toxins

Poop Power- fuel from cow dung

Japanese scientists have announced that they can extract petrol from cow dung by applying high pressure and heat and hope to have a commercially viable system ready in a few years.

Technorati tag: bio fuel, Waste, Cow dung

Lunar Power

A small scale scheme in New York could be the precursor of widespread tidal power schemes.

The appeal of next-generation hydropower is hard to miss. "It's local, reliable, renewable, and clean. Plus, it's out of sight," says Trey Taylor, president of Verdant Power LLC, the Arlington (Va.) startup developing the East River site. Adds Roger Bedard, ocean energy leader at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), the industry's research-and- development arm: "Offshore wave and tidal power are where wind was 20 years ago, but they'll come of age faster." By 2010, Bedard predicts, the U.S. will tap about 120 megawatts of offshore wave energy -- enough to power a small city -- up from virtually zero today.

via Treehugger

Technorati tag: Tidal Power, Lunar Power

Green cleaning solutions

Eco Street has a useful checklist of less polluting household cleaners

Technorati tag: Cleaning

Hybrid House

Hybrid technologies are almost finished building the "Hybrid House", which promises to be 100% self sufficient for energy. Buy the right kind of rechargeable hybrid car and you can plug that into the system as well.

via Treehugger

Technorati tag: EcoHouse, Hybrid House

How to Save the World for Free is looking for a Green home

This blog has been going since October 2004, starting as Spinneyhead's EcoHouse before becoming How to Save the World for Free. All that time it's been sitting as a subdirectory of Spinneyhead. Now I think it's time for it to move out and fend for itself in the big bad world.

I'm looking for a Green hosting solution, hopefully one that costs less than $17.50/£10 a month (which is roughly half the blog's income last month). If anyone has suggestions please leave them in the comments.

Technorati tag: Web hosting

Loremo

It looks like the car of the future, as envisaged in numerous sci-fi films, and you will have to wait until 2009 to get the first ones. The Loremo offers fuel consumption of 1.5litres/ 100km. Someone on Digg has calculated that out to 159mpg for those of us still thinking in Imperial.

Technorati tag: Transport, Fuel Economy

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