Aptera - 300mpg plug-in hybrid trike

The Aptera trike will be available in electric and plug in hybrid versions. The electric Aptera has a range of around 120 miles on a full charge, whilst the hybrid can achieve anything up to 300 miles per gallon. They're taking pre-orders (for California only at the moment) prior to launching next year.

It's possible the vehicle will make it over here, priced at less than £15,000. I'm going to start saving now.

Technorati tag: Aptera, Hybrid

C8 - "green influentials"

From the inbox-

Forget the G8, Gordon meets the "C8" for fresh thinking on how to tackle climate change

To mark this year's Energy Saving Week, the Energy Saving Trust has assembled the "C8" to start one million conversations on climate change during the Week. Like the G8, the C8 is made up of important leaders – but these leaders represent the everyday influential communities in the UK that have the most potential to drive mass adoption of energy efficient behaviour and reduce the UK's carbon footprint.

The C8 includes leaders from the likes of the Women's Institute and the Church of England as well as a leading green blogger, Adam Vaughan. During Energy Saving Week, the C8 is urging people within and beyond their networks to take action to reduce C02 emissions. Women's Institute groups will be holding electrical appliance amnesties and climate coffee mornings while priests up and down the country will be putting climate change at the heart of their Sunday sermons.

C8 members were selected by the Energy Saving Trust on the back of the launch of the world's first ever climate change Influence Index that measures potential to influence large numbers of people through understanding of green issues, social networks and their community connections. Membership of the Women's Institute and religious groups was each made up of 72% 'green influentials' – the most persuasive and powerful group on the Index - busting the national average of 38%. Shopkeepers were also shown to be a key community, with 61% falling into the green influential category.

Following a summit on Monday to discuss the best ways to spread the word about climate change through their organisations and networks, representatives from each community visited Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, yesterday to secure his backing for the campaign.

Gordon Brown said: "Energy efficiency is firmly on our agenda here and we value the great work that the Energy Saving Trust has done in this area and the potential of its 'C8' partners to spread the message. As the 'C8' has stipulated, saving energy and fighting climate change isn't solely about the Government taking action, it is also about what we can all do as individuals and in our communities."

Philip Sellwood, Energy Saving Trust Chief Executive, said: "If all 211,000 members of the Women's Institute boiled only the water they needed rather than overfilling the kettle each time, collectively they would save around £1,000,000 in annual fuel bills and more than 5,600 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. The message is – individual actions do make a difference and encouraging communities to club together motivates people to do their bit."

To find out whether you're a green influential, take the test at: www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/influencer

Technorati tag: EcoHouse, Energy Efficiency

Biofuel duty cut

I missed this when it was announced, but I think it's a step in the right direction-

Small biodiesel producers will no longer have to pay duty of their fuel, while medium sized manufacturers will only have to pay quarterly rather than monthly. Under changes to the duty process which will come into force on Saturday (30 June) only those producing more than 450,000 litres per annum will not see any changes to the amount or way they pay duty. An HMRC spokesman says: "We can confirm that, with effect from 30 June, producers of biofuel of less than 2,500 litres annually will no longer need to pay any excise duty. Those producing up to 450,000 litres annually will only need to submit and pay returns quarterly.

Technorati tag: Biodiesel

Gordon Brown's climate cowardice

I've been away for a while, sorry about that. (And I flew across the Atlantic whilst I was away, I'll have to look into offsets.) But I'm back again now, and with something to really rant about.

Ministers are drawing up plans to abandon plans and promises to drastically increase Britain's renewable energy production. Faced with some expense and a bit of hard work, new New Labour (or whatever we're supposed to call them now Gordon's in charge) want to bottle out and go home. So they're trying to team up with Poland and others to try and have the targets turned down before the final draft goes through.

Some of the reasoning behind this move is nonsensical to say the least.

One of the main objections of government to meeting the renewables target set by Mr Blair is that it will undermine the role of the European emission trading scheme. This scheme was devised by the Treasury under Mr Brown and allows wealthy governments to pay others to reduce emissions. "[Meeting the 20% renewables target] crucially undermines the scheme's credibility ... and reduces the incentives to invest in other carbon technologies like nuclear power", say the papers.

Investment in reducing emissions is going to harm investments in reducing emissions? That doesn't make any sense.

Gordon could find the estimated £4billion a year required to make the change, probably quite easily. For one thing he could stop funding terrorism by bringing all of our troops back from Iraq and coming up with a more coherent plan for Afghanistan. He could create a multi billion pound industry in this country by subsidising start ups in the renewables sector (who'll than employ lots of people and pay masses of tax). And he could champion smaller, local, schemes that aren't as doomed as resurrecting nuclear power or hopelessly long term as a Severn barrage. Mini barrages up and down tidal estuaries might be an idea. Or community geothermal schemes. Taxing/ banning incandescent bulbs and putting a rebate on compact fluorescents would help cut the country's energy needs drastically, as would increasing the standards for new build homes.

There's so much that could be done that would pay back so quickly. I fear our political class lacks imagination and spines.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse, Renewable Energy, Gordon Brown

A plug in biodiesel system

Or, as the people at Toolmonger call it "Biodiesel for dummies". The BioPro 190 from AGR Energy can produce 50 gallons of biodiesel every two days, runs off a domestic power supply and has a small footprint so it could sit unobtrusively in the corner of a garage. You still need to handle chemicals- methanol, lye and sulphuric acid- but they have tried to cut this to a minimum, claiming that one batch requires just half an hour of priming.

You could build your own biodiesel reactor for less, but I imagine a creative fast food outlet that incorporated one of these to fuel its fleet would have less trouble with health and safety than if they set up a bodge with oil drums in the back yard.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse, Biodiesel

Blog Action Day

October 15th is Blog Action Day, when blogs from all over the world will post on a single subject. The subject for the inaugural BAD is the environment.

Spread the word.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse

Living Space 21

Living Space 21 aims to provide cheap, low impact housing for the UK. If you have 40 square metres of land with access you can have one of their Studios on Stilts for £60,000. What's more, they've teamed up with the Co-operative bank who will provide a 95% mortgage, with stages if you choose to go the self build route.

If you do go the self build route they will supply the frame with doors, patio and stilts, if necessary, for less than £20,000. Plotsearch is recommended if you need to find the land for your build.

via TreeHugger

Technorati tag: EcoHouse

It's gonna take a forest- ecolibris, plant a tree for every book you own

Ecolibris intends to offset the publishing industry by having readers pay for tree planting. There are economies of scale, but it comes out at around a dollar a book. The current casa Spinneyhead, where every spare surface is stacked with reading matter, would cost a fortune to offset.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse

BioDepot - franchising biodiesel

I doubt it's the first eco franchise to come along, but it's the first I've seen. For a minimum investment of £35,000 franchisees can start producing fuel compliant with EN 14214 and ASTM standards (more on biodiesel standards).

Included in the franchise package are:

* A complete production plant (Bio Micro Brewery)
* Collection facilities for base material (UVO & Crush)
* End user sales systems (Public & Commercial)
* A production by-product disposal system
* Quality fresh vegetable oil delivery
* Full Training: (operational Bio Diesel production, technical, business/finance, sales & marketing.)
* Full launch programme
* Ongoing mentoring and quality assurance support
* National branded identity
* Significant personal income potential (In excess of £100,000)

I'd like to see biodiesel pumps springing up everywhere, so long as the primary source of raw material is locally sourced waste cooking oil. More power to them.

Technorati tag: Biodiesel

Ladies Love Green Guys

According to Nuts magazine "Caring about the environment" is now the number one most attractive trait a man can possess, displacing old favourite "Good sense of Humour". The Green Guy has the full press release.

It's not the easiest thing to start a conversation about in the pub though. "Hey, do you compost?"

Technorati tag: EcoHouse

Organic farming cuts greenhouse gases

A 27 year comparative study has concluded that organic farming methods such as no-till sowing and growing winter cover can see soil retain 30% more carbon than ploughing and chemical use. Not only do these methods sequester carbon in a cheap and simple way, they can produce as much, or more, food as "intensive" farming methods.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse, Farming, Carbon Sequestration

An X Prize for fuel consumption

The foundation that handed out $10million to the makers of SpaceShipOne for being the first non-government space craft has announced a $10million prize for the first team to produce a commercially viable car capable of 100 miles to the gallon. So far 30 teams have announced their intentions to participate.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse, X Prize, Fuel Efficiency

Hard Rain

Greenhouse gasses are causing shifts in rainfall patterns, leading to summers like this one (so far the wettest since records began). Just to make things more complicated, this heavier precipitation is going to alternate with hot summers like last year, but in entirely unpredictable ways.

Aside from focussing on the root cause of all of this I think it's time to do some better planning around water use. Perhaps every new build should have mandatory rainwater storage for grey use (toilets etc.) All of those tanks would provide a buffer during heavy rain fall that would lessen run off and thus flooding and save water in dry spells. Whilst we're about it, how about fines for the fools who concrete over their gardens and/or rewards for anyone who rips the paving up and plants a lawn.

Neither of these measures woudl stop flooding, particularly with water volume such as that seen in the last week, but they could soak up overflow in lesser events, and cut the burden on reservoirs.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse

Morph goes Green

Technorati tag: EcoHouse

Heywood Gardens low energy homes

Seddon Homes have put some serious thought into this new development, turning cookie cutter looking homes into energy efficient buildings. The designs have been thought through from first principles, with well planned insulation and energy saving measures so that the houses require less (solar and wind) power in the first place. I'm not in the market, so I don't know if the £245,000 asking price is comparable to similar mundane homes, but Manchester Confidential seem convinced.

Most of us are still ignorant to the fact that energy efficiency doesn't mean compromising standard of living. Yes you can give up your car and wash the dishes as oppose to using a dishwasher, but where eco-homes are concerned there really aren't any sacrifices because the changes are already in place and finely tuned to provide maximum comfort.

Seddon Group's case study on Heywood Gardens

Technorati tag: EcoHouse

Vegetarian shoes

If you don't want any cows to suffer for your footwear then why not get your next pair from vegetarian shoes? I don't have any problem with leather, and there do seem to be a lot of man-made materials used in their range. This isn't a big problem if, like me, you recycle your old boots into plant pots after five years of service, but if they're just thrown away the ethical balance is skewed.

On balance, I think I'd rather have some of the ethical, hemp or recycled footwear from Arkadash.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse, Shoes, Vegetarian

Nil Rubbish

Bryn Fogden challenged himself to produce no landfill for the whole of May. To do this he had to change his shopping and some of his eating habits, but he did manage and intends to carry on. He blogged the whole experience at nilrubbish.blogspot.com.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse, Rubbish

Manchester's Green King and Queen

A couple from Hulme have won £1500 to spend on energy or wasyte saving work on their house after making great changes to help tackle climate change. Alan and Shelley Heckman lowered their energy and water consumption over eight months whilst taking part in MAnchester's Eco-Diet Challenge.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse, Manchester

Tent top wind powered phone charger

Commissioned by Orange, this mini windmill sits atop any dome shaped tent. It would be ideal for Glastonbury or one of the other festivals.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse

Wythenshawe's carbon neutral festival

Wythenshawe is to hold the "Party without Pollution" festival next month, and is encouraging local residents to save enough energy to make the whole event carbon neutral. The headquarters for the festival are in a building made from shipping crates that incorporates a number of energy saving, if gimmicky, devices such as a cycle powered photocopier.

Technorati tag: Festival, Carbon neutral

Daryl Hannah's love life

Daryl Hannah is a Green goddess, using her celebrity to promote environmental issues. She also walks the talk, and her website with news, tips and a videoblog.

Technorati tag: Green, Celebrity, Daryl Hannah

Everything's bright in the solar world

A few pieces of promising news from the world of solar power and heating.

The Worldwatch Institute estimates that the cost of photovoltaic cells may drop by as much as 40% in the next few years. One factor contributing to this is the increase of manufacturing of photovoltaics in China, such as the new facility announced by Suntech, a key supplier of building integrated solar products.

Bosch Solar Thermal Systems say they have seen a 60% increase in year to date sales over the same period last year and expect to sell 150,000 units this year.

Technorati tag: Solar Power, Photovoltaic, China, Solar Thermal

Boosting Prius performance

Lithium Technology Corporation has developed lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) cells which can greatly increase the fuel economy of hybrids. There are issues with safety, which mean Toyota are not yet ready to start using them.

Another way to increase a hybrid's mileage is to get Solar Electric Vehicles' fitted solar panel roofs.

Somewhere out there is the ideal combination of solar panelled garage and car, with high capacity batteries.

Technorati tag: Hybrid Car

Dirty Old Town

Manchester produces more carbon dioxide than any other English city after London.

Technorati tag: Carbon Dioxide

Downlaod Razorlight's carbon neutral song

Johnny Borrel of Razorlight has recorded a song in support of Friends of the Earth's Big Ask campaign. He recorded the song in a solar powered studio at The Premises in London. iT can be downloaded free from 7Digital in wma format.

Technorati tag: Music, Campaign

Eco talk at the Hay Festival

Some of the contributors to the Guardin's Comment Is Free section are at the Hay Festival. Here are a few of their Green flavoured posts-

Is political leadership renewable?

The challenge facing David Miliband is clear - to realise the potential of renewable energy. Today's question at Hay: does he have the courage to do it?

I'm not climate change's Billy Graham

Climate change denial, I discovered at the Hay festival, shares the same characteristics as religion.

The joys of going green

Dick Strawbridge's talk at Hay was enough to make the most jaded nip out for a low-energy lightbulb.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse, Climate Change

It's a Mini economical adventure

BMW has announced changes to the Mini line that could see its diesel model achieving up to 72.4mpg. Utilising "hybrid like" technology, the little car will only engage its alternator on deceleration, rather than having it be a constant drag, and the manual versions will will turn the engine off rather than idle and give the driver hints on teh best gear to engage.

The caveat, as always, is that we should all be using cars less. However, for those of us who must, we should all consider the new breed of economical super-minis and/or alternative fuels.

Technorati tag: Mini, Transport, Hybrid

Hot Rodding for the Environment

If you must use a car, then you should at least try to use it as efficiently as possible. Jalopnik has some simple suggestions for improving mileage. Obviously, I would have put "Don't use your car when you don't have to" at the top of the list, but I don't have a car, so it's my only option.

Should I ever need to get a car I'll be looking for something I can run on biodiesel, or possibly a biodiesel/ petroleum diesel mix because you can't always get to a green fuel pump. I hanker for a Volvo estate or small van to cart my bikes around in. Efficiency isn't such a concern with a closed circuit fuel supply like biodiesel, but VCACarFuelData.org.uk, allows you to search for your next ride by this and other criteria. If I could forgo the space considerations then the Citroen C1 would be worth considering, the most efficient of the cars currently listed on there.

Of course, another option is to do something as inventive as this Russian driver, who replaced his Opel's engine with a 50kw motor and filled all the spare space with batteries.

Technorati tag: Electric car, Fuel Efficiency, Transport

C40

The C40Large Cities Climate Summit was held in New York this week, with mayors of major cities from around the world vowing to do their bit to cut greenhouse gas emissions. This is looking increasingly like a problem that's going to be tackled first at a personal and local level before national governments are going to pay any attention.

Technorati tag: Climate Change, New York

Dojo Ecoshop

Tucked away in Manchester's old textile district is a wonderful souinding source of ethical and eco beds and furnishing.

We are a small, independent company with strong roots in the textile heart of Manchester, we’ve been making tough, beautiful furniture here since 1990. We left our jobs in scientific research to set up a sustainable business where we could be responsible for the ethical and environmental impact of every aspect of our actions. We wanted to extend our holistic outlook on living to the way we worked too, as a positive and practical force for fairness, healthy living and a sound environment.

Our approach has always been simple and down to earth, we use the best organic and natural materials to produce well designed, functional eco goods that are made to be used, to be enjoyed and to last. We are committed to fair trade from start to finish, from sourcing ethically produced fabrics and fillings to honest pricing of our products.

Our journey has been challenging, exciting and creative and would mean nothing without the support and inspiration of family, friends, producers, suppliers and of course our customers. We look forward to developing more of our plans for new products and meeting new people along the Way.

Sarah and Jonathan

Technorati tag: EcoHouse, Ethical Business

Devon's £3billion wind farm

The world's largest offshore wind farm could be built off the north coast of Devon. If it goes ahead it could provide nearly all of the county's electricity, and there are plans to supplement it with tidal power schemes.

As this article appears in the Daily Mail expect the usual NIMBY nonsense in the comments.

Technorati tag: Devon, Wind Power, Offshore Wind Power

Gordon Brown's eco-towns

Gordon Brown is getting on teh home ownership bandwagon, hoping to outdo Thatcher's grand vision. The promising part of his pronouncement is a call for "eco-towns", to be powered locally from sustainable sources.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse, Gordon Brown

Green China

Chin has the potential to be one of the countries worst hit by- as well as one of the prime causes of- global warming. So, thankfully, there is a growing Green awareness in the country, with solar water heaters popular in even the poorest areas and efforts to curb pollution before it kills too many rivers and destroys too much land. It can't hurt the expanding economy that they're moving more directly to efficient systems either.

via BoingBoing

Technorati tag: China

Golly G-Wiz

Boris Johnson on the G-Wiz electric car and Government efforts to destroy it.

Technorati tag: G-Wiz, Boris Johnson, Electric Car

Become a Domestic Energy Assessor

dea-training.co.uk is the National Home Energy Rating scheme's sites for people who are interested in assessing homes for Energy Performance Certificates to be issued with Home Information Packs. NHER will train and accredit you, when accreditation terms are agreed upon, for £3,250 + VAT (£2,750 + VAT if you are already an experienced practitioner in the field). I don't know if career development loans would cover this, I may do some research.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse, Home Information Pack

The Community Recycling Network

It can be hard disposing of waste sensibly and ethically. No matter how well meaning, your local council is likely to send you round in circles trying to find the right department or service. However, there are a lot of community based programmes out there that make creative use of the things everyday folks leave behind.

The Community Recycling Network tries to keep track of all these groups, allowing you to search by various criteria for the one best suited. They also produce rather nice directories, I picked up the Community Waste Network North West one on Saturday at the Green Architecture event.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse

Manchester Campaign Against Climate Change Carnival

Greater Manchester Campaign Against Climate Change will be holding a carnival on Saturday 30th June in the Peace GArdens near St. Peter's Square. You can download a pdf of the flier to print out and distribute.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse, Climate Change

Anatomy of a green roof

Anatomy of a green roof
Originally uploaded by spinneyhead.

Amongst the talks at the Green Architecture Event on Saturday was one on green roofs, given by Jeff Sorrill of the Green Roof Centre. Amongst the things I learnt was that you don't want too much organic matter on your roof- an 80:20 to 90:10 mix of rubble and soil is best- because then only the hardiest plants can survive on it. Make your roof too nutritious and you run the risk of getting larger plants with more active roots that will push the weight limits and try to work their way into your building.

A section of green roof was brought along in a fish tank and set up on a table.

Ecology Building Society hits 10,000!

The Ecology Building Society, which is dedicated to providing mortgages for Green projects, has reached the 10,000 saver mark. Accounts with the society provide the funds for mortgages on renovation or eco new builds and more esoteric schemes such as small woodland purchases for protection and conservation (pdf).

Technorati tag: EcoHouse, Mortgage

The Ecopod

Looking like the the rocket ship from Georges Méliès Voyage dans la Lune, ecopodhomes are prefabricated 4 metre diameter structures (6 metre diameter coming soon) that are built off site and can be erected in 2 hours. They can be connected to mains water and electricity or built "off-the-grid".

We have set out to produce a modern comfortable home, which will have the minimum impact on the environment by cutting energy requirements and costs by up to 90% and producing virtually no CO2 emissions.

We want to demonstrate the savings that can be achieved through this pioneering design and innovative off site construction methods

Technorati tag: EcoHouse

The Micro Compact Home

The Micro Compact Home, or m-ch, is an effort to create a tiny space that is still liveable in. It would fit in a large parking bay, future versions will come with solar panels and a wind turbine to make it energy independent. I'd need to get rid of a lot of my possessions before I could live in one, and I don't yet know where I'd want to put it.

Each cube costs $96,000, including delivery anywhere in Europe. So if I start saving now I might know where I want to put it by the time I can afford it.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse

The 200mpg supercar

The Velozzi is a concept car promising supercar performance- 0 to 60 in 3 seconds and a 200mph top speed- with 200mpg fuel consumption. It achieves this by recharging its batteries with a micro-turbine which can use any "heavy fuel"- such as gasoline, ethanol, methanol, diesel or bio diesel. It's also super light, being built out of composites and liquid metal.

The research and development company behind the concept wanted to produce the most spectacular demonstration of the technology possible. The use of a turbine to charge the batteries means the car isn't tied to electrical supply points and the versatility of teh fuels means it can use the existing petrol infrastructure. Everyday production vehicles are going to be heavier and less efficient, obviously, but still a vast improvement on current motorcars.

via Jalopnik

Technorati tag: Electric car, Micro turbine

Supermarkets against excess packaging? Who'd have thought

Asda are setting up a pilot scheme where they will collect examples of over packaging from customers to build a case to present to their suppliers. The Daily Mail is supporting it because they think it will mean a return to weekly refuse collections.

I try to buy as much as possible from the local grocers, which reduces waste quite substantially. I just need to remember to take my backpack with me so they don't put everything into a carrier bag.

Technorati tag: Packaging, Shopping

Green architecture event in Manchester - Saturday 28th April

The Green Architecture Event is taking place at the CUBE Gallery and MERCi sustainability centre this Saturday. CUBE is also running an exhibition on Green Modernism at the moment which I've been meaning to check out.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse, Green Architecture

Wind turbines on Blackpool promenade

From Manchester Evening News-

TWO wind turbines are being set up on Blackpool's promenade to help power the resort's famous illuminations.

In May, a third will join the pair, which cost £147,000 each, and together it is hoped they will cut £13,250 from the town's annual energy bill.

They will sit on the front, close to the Sandcastle Water Park, and are expected to have a 25-year lifespan.

It's possible the NIMBYs will still complain about these turbines, despite the fact that there can be few better places to site them than on a sea-front (and the fact that there's little that could be done to make the Blackpool beach front uglier. It's an endearing ugly, but it's ugly nonetheless.)

Technorati tag: Wind Power, Blackpool

Eco-Schools- teach them carbon free

Up to 200 environmentally friendly schools are to be built as part of the drive to reduce carbon emissions and tackle climate change, the government has announced.

Education secretary Alan Johnson claimed the eco-schools would help save five million tonnes of carbon dioxide.

The scheme, which comes as part of a £110m investment package to be delivered over three years, will also see all secondary schools given a copy of Al Gore's film 'An inconvenient truth'.

"As people and businesses try to reduce their carbon emissions, it is only right that the government plays its part," Johnson said.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse

Volkswagen's 200mpg car

A few years ago, Volkswagen built a concept car that could manage over 200 miles to the gallon. The project was shelved because the price of a complete vehicle was judged to be too high. Now, with advances bringing costs down, and changes in management at the company, the project has been resurrected.

via Jalopnik

Technorati tag: Cars, Fuel Efficiency

Energy saving freebies from politicians

Only promised, so far, however.

The Lib Dems are proposing energy saving packs, subsidised to the tune of £2,000 (though they would probably cost £5,000 to £10,000).

Households could get free energy monitors, according to ministers.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse

I'm the only green MP

Alan Simpson MP details his ecohouse project. An odd aspect of this report is that it appears in the Daily Mail, one of the last newspapers still in denial and desparately trying to find fault with the few things the Government is doing. For example- the assessors for the energy consumption section of Home Information Packs won't have criminal record checks and will therefore all be burglars, apparently. They'll also be able to make a lot of money if they work hard (how dare they!).

Alan Simpson's website

Technorati tag: EcoHouse, Government

A Green roof for Piccadilly Gardens

Manchester's Piccadilly Gardens, imperfectly redeveloped a few years ago and with a lawn that needs constant relaying, is to get a green roof on the crescent of food outlets that line one side. This should help compensate for the excess of concrete and paving that was laid as part of the remodelling and maybe ease the big puddles that cover the tram tracks after a heavy rain. The popular fountains in the Gardens are now being fed from a ground source of water under the area, which should also cut their impact.

Technorati tag: Architecture, Green Roof, Public Space

Censorship and anti-science

Every time another unscientific denial of climate change is debunked the deniers come out crying about censorship, or threaten to sue. In truth, as George Monbiot points out, it is the scientists doing the hard work that proves mankind is changing the environment who are the ones being censored.

Technorati tag: Climate Change Denial, Censorship

Eco-houses for the rich and famous

A development of £4.5million houses in Kensington are set to have £50,000 of energy saving devices installed, including geothermal heating that will produce enough excess to keep the drive ice free.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse

Lightbulb denial in the Daily Mail

Cheaper bulbs have some of the problems attributed in this article to all Compact Fluorescent Lights, but to pretend they all do is as lazy and shortsighted as they're accusing the politicians of being. Better quality CFL bulbs (the ones from Philips are highly recommended) light up as fast as incandescents, have a pleasant colour and, even with normal switching on and off, last far longer then old style bulbs. And they pay for themselves within a year in normal useage.

Most of the people I know have houses lit with low energy bulbs and not a one of them has ever commented on problems fitting the lights. Now that everyone else is into CFLs I'm thinking of moving to LEDs, which are even more efficient.

As for China, so what if they're not making changes right now? They will in the future. If your neighbour told you they hadn't fitted smoke alarms, would you endanger your family by removing the ones in your house?

Technorati tag: EcoHouse

Taking your top off for the environment

Keeley Hazell, the Sun's top Page Three model has been name checked by David Cameron as a Green icon and, the Independent finds, she has the credentials to back this up.  Sex sells and if if it makes Sun readers invest in low energy bulbs that's cool.

Keeley Hazell on Fleshbot (NSFW)

Keeley Hazell products at Amazon

Technorati tag: Sexy

Going Green in the bedroom

Canada.com on environmentally aware sex toys, picking up on some issues raised by Treehugger and the growing trendiness of all things Green.

via Fleshbot (NSFW)

Technorati tag: Sex, Sex Toy

The Green capital

The capital will reduce its carbon emmissions by 60% within 20 years if Ken Livingstone's plans work out.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse, London

How Green should Gore be?

Do Green campaigners have to be absolutely pure? The question arises from the fuss caused by snide naysayers who are attacking Al Gore's lifestyle to turn attention away from his message.

By all accounts Gore and his family have gone beyond carbon neutral.  No matter how much energy his mansions consume he's planting the trees or making the investments to write that off and then spending a bit more.  Of course, the antis know this but don't bother to mention it because that would destroy their argument.

It's time for Gore to slap solar panels and windmills on his properties and ask what the rumour mongers are doing to reduce their carbon footprints.

Technorati tag: Al Gore

Wood- the once and future fuel

Wood pellet stoves may not have the romance of a log fire or solid fuel stove (my parents just got a Rayburn, which I haven't seen yet, but they're surrounded by a near free supply of downed trees and off cuts), but they could be as near to carbon neutral as an energy solution gets.

A few thoughts-

How are the factories making these pellets powered?  If they can close the circle and have a combined heat and power system on site powered by some of the pellets produced that will be brilliant.

The fuel will never be entirely carbon neutral until the chainsaws are powered by ethanol and every vehicle used runs on biodiesel.  But that's being picky, it's still a hell of a lot closer than anything else, and they could always plant excess trees to offset production costs.

How clean do these stoves burn?  A lot of Britain is now smoke-free zone, which has to hinder the uptake of solid fuel.  I imagine as they become more efficient the stoves create less smoke.

Technorati tag: Biomass, Renewable Energy, Wood

The denial business is still going strong

I think the title says it all "All those Scientists may still be wrong". All those thousands of intelligent, highly educated people, experts in their fields, who have spent billions of hours examining the data, testing theories and extrapolating alternatives might, just possibly, not be absolutely 100% correct in their predictions. So we should do nothing and hope they're not right.

The question should be, what's so wrong with reducing carbon dioxide output? What's being called for is an increase in efficiency and a reduction in reliance on limited resources. It's a winning combination for everyone and a great way to alleviate poverty. Even without global warming this should be the aim of every person on the planet. Or do the deniers not want to see poorer people leapfrog ahead of them into the future?

Technorati tag: Climate Change

Shell's Biomass to Liquid biofuels

Shell are investing in a technology to convert wood chips and straw to biodiesel, to take the strain off food crops.

Technorati tag: Biodiesel

Greening the construction industry

Leading property and construction firms have formed the UK Green Building Council and given themselves 10 years to transform their industry and make it sustainable. They also make the sensible observation that energy saving measures shouldn't just be applied to new builds as houses that have already been built will still account for 75% of the housing stock in 2050.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse

Climate Challenge

Can you balance the budget, keep the electorate happy and fed and reduce greenhouse gas emmissions? Try the BBC's Climate Challenge.

Technorati tag: Climate

Solar power heads toward the dollar per watt landmark

Solar power costs are dropping and could soon cross over the point where they're cheaper than fossil fuels and other supplies. Germany passed a law demanding utilities buy excess electricity from microgeneration at a good price and the take up of solar, and no doubt other technologies, has soared.

The only people too stupid to be excited by these developments are the electricity and oil companies.

"There is no silver bullet," said Jeroen Van der Veer, Shell's chief executive.
"We have invested a bit in all forms of renewable energy ourselves and maybe we'll find a winner one day. But the reality is that in twenty years time we'll still be using more oil than now," he said.

Technorati tag: Solar Power

The 2010 Imperative

http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/brian_wilson/2007/02/building_a_green_future.html
http://www.2010imperative.org/
The Global Emergency Teach In, next Tuesday.  Share ideas and plans for reducing the eco-impact of the built environment.

Sacrifice What?

I've noticed the word "sacrifice", or variations on it, popping up in discussions of global warming recently. The deniers and nay-sayers gleefully tell us that "ordinary people" won't be able or willing to make the sacrifices- ie lifestyle changes- necessary to cut carbon dioxide output. I believe they are insulting the very people they pretend to champion, under estimating what the average citizen is capable of.

Sadly, too many Greens have taken up this idea and talk of the troubles we face. All talk of sacrifice suggests we'll have to go back to the Dark Ages to cut consumption.

It's all nonsense, of course. What's needed is a fresh look at just what we'd be giving up and a more honest description of it. So let's make a few sacrifices. Let's sacrifice-

Paying too much for bland, boring food that's over packaged and shipped halfway around the world. Research has shown that local shops and markets are consistently cheaper than the supermarket chains. They're also friendlier, put more money into the local economy and stock foods you won't find on Tesco's shelves.

Burning money running a status symbol that increasingly says bad things about you, that is a danger to everyone on the road- including its occupants- and spends most of its life carting nothing more substantial than air. If people took the time to find the largest car they needed, rather than the ideal vehicle for a trek across Alaska with the extended family, they could save hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds a year without sacrificing any of the convenience and comfort of having a car. Of course, it would be best if they could leave the car behind more often as well, but maybe they'd learn that when they realised how little they really needed it.

Teaching children to be unhealthy and dependent on others. They could walk to school, getting exercise, building self confidence and teaching them to do stuff for themselves. It would probably make them safer in other ways as well. Recognising, and being recognised in, their neighbourhood should help children spot trouble such as the mythical danger stranger if it ever appeared.

Paying exorbitant energy bills because our filament bulbs use more energy making heat than they do making light. Really, when a decent compact fluorescent bulb will pay for itself in less than a year, why do people insist on the false economy of filament bulbs?

That's just a sample. Next time someone tells you the culture won't change because of the sacrifices involved try one of them as a reply. We're all in a position to make sacrifices which actually leave us better off as well as helping the environment. When we've pocketed the money from them, more drastic action will be less painful and easier to contemplate.

Reviewing the Nuclear Review

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6364281.stm
The Government's nuclear review (AKA whitewash) has been judged biased and misleading and there are calls for a new white paper on the subject.

Tony Blair et al insist that their fixation on nuclear power is a brave and radical attempt to counter global warming when it's actually a cowardly and backward effort to avoid doing anything.  If they want to do something radical they should start subsidising insulation and double glazing for houses in the worst Council Tax bands and paying to put solar water heaters on every South facing roof in the country.  Start by reducing the need for centralised energy production and helping those whose energy costs are a greater proportion of their expenditure.  It will increase the prosperity of the country, likely encourage further spending on energy saving and cut carbon dioxide production.

Then they can start funding micro-generation and communal energy projects.  Water turbines on weirs, local windmills, geothermal for a whole street, that sort of thing.  Lots of little projects have a better chance of coming in on time and under budget than one big one and a distributed power generation system will be more robust.

There are a lot of reasons why this won't happen, but they all have one common factor- Tony Blair's cowardice.  The Daily Mail would moan about the undeserving getting cossetted with free insulation and rail against "Nanny Statism".  The NIMBYs would try to halt schemes designed to make them better off.  Big Energy companies would complain because they would lose their monopolies and hold over consumers.  Most of all, this sort of scheme would give power back to ordinary people, the sort of prospect that gives every politician nightmares.

Carbon Footprints

To coincide with teh publication of teh Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report last week, activists stencilled "carbon footprints" on the pavement outside flight centres etc.

Starry Night Lights

This is a paid review through ReviewMe.

At first I thought Starry Night Lights were going to be unhappy with what they'd spent their money on. The company is dedicated to providing outside lighting that cuts down light pollution. This, I thought, was an aesthetic issue, of interest only to astronomers and Lisa Simpson.

With the caveat that exterior lighting should be reduced as much as possible, Starry Night Lights do make a fair argument for the environmental benefits of their products. They want house-holders to eliminate unnecessary illumination and install shaded and low energy lighting only where it's absolutely necessary, and then have it linked to motion sensors so it only comes on when needed.

There's no denying the earnestness of the man behind this company, he even has his own outdoor lighting blog where he questions the logic of illumination oneupmanship and suggests solutions. The site, sadly, is a bit clunky, looking very much like an old school effort from the early days of online commerce. And it's based in the USA, so of no use to me even if I was in the market for low energy external lighting.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse, Lighting

Sign my cycling petition

My petition on the Number 10 site-

Introduce a Cycling Proficiency style test for children and adults to make them more confident and competent on the road. This will be voluntary except for- bus and taxi drivers, officials with responsibilities for transport, those guilty of certain driving offences and motoring journalists. Include a section on cycle craft into the driving test which will be waived for any learner who has passed Cycling Proficiency in the last five years. This will make motorists more aware of other road users, improve the safety of cyclists on our roads and hopefully increase the number of people using bikes.

Please pop over and sign it. It's far more reasonably worded than most of the transport related petitions on there and I think it's a realistic proposal. The bit about motoring journalists is a joke.

They should have their licences revoked automatically.

Technorati tag: Cycling, Petition

Catching up with Green links

I've been neglecting How to Save the World for Free, and not cross-posting Green links from Spinneyhead. So here are as many as I could find, just to catch up.

Some days I just want to go and live in a tent somewhere.

The fourth report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says we can look forward to a rise in the average global temperature of between 2.5 and 5 Celsius by the end of the century. The IPCC is considered conservative when assessing global warming, so for them to come out with such a serious assessment means the evidence is now overwhelming.

Watch our leaders say it's a terrible thing and something major needs to be done- then do nothing.

Action for Sustainable Living. I've been meaning to post this link since someone gave me their business card before Christmas.

Nuclear power plant sites, usually close to the sea, could be at risk from the effects of global warming.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6289367.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6288957.stm
American industry groups are calling on George Bush to introduce mandatory emission standards in his State of the Union address.  He's not going to, but the sentiment is appreciated.

Australians take to their bikes.

2012 Olympics to be the "greenest ever".
Tony Blair takes the credit.

Does anyone really believe the supermarkets talk of going Green? Much like George Monbiot, I'm convinced it's all PR and the very nature of their business makes them unsustainable.

How Green is your supermarket? Following Tescos and Marks & Spencers' announcements, the Telegraph tests the big four to see how they're doing at present.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/01/19/ndress19.xml
Dissolving dresses as a metaphor for throwaway culture.

Tesco is the latest supermarket chain to insist it is going Green. The problem is, the Greenest thing many Tesco stores could do would be to close, because the emissions from all the cars driving to them is greater than any direct or indirect CO2 production getting the products on the shelves.

Scientists have developed a "health check" that can predict how farming methods will affect an area's biodiversity.

Green cleaning put to the test.

Britain is to have the world's first official carbon offsetting standards.

Asian states sign key energy deal.

European Commission rules will require new cars to produce less than 120 grams of CO2 per mile

Technorati tag: EcoHouse

Climate links

A few links I've not had the time to post this week.

The Independent looks at companies that will help you offset the carbon cost of your flights and other activities.

Big businesses get together and have a climate change meeting.

Ming Campbell reassures us that airline taxes will not affect the poor.

David Cameron calls for a "culture change" to tackle global warming.

The EU announces new energy plans.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse, Politics

Floating on air and cutting emmissions at sea

A Danish helicopter pilot with a passion for sailing has developed a system that could cut the fuel consumption of cargo ships by 15%. It works by pumping air into a cavity under the ship, thus reducing drag. The extra cost of installing such a system on a brand new vessel would likely be paid for withing four years.

Technorati tag: Shipping

Charging for waste

The Local Government Association are proposing schemes to cut the amount of domestic waste. One possibility is to charge households more if they throw more stuff out. This will only work if there's a baseline amount of rubbish removal covered by Council Tax with rebates for those who produce less and charges for tose who produce more. And it wouldn't be the easiest thing to police.

A better idea, also hinted at, is to cut the amount of unnecessary material entering the house in the first place- fining manufacturers and shops whose products are over-packaged.

Technorati tag: Waste

Drivel in the Daily Telegraph

Janet Daley believes that Green policies are just a middle class plot to keep the 'umble workin' man down. Just in case they, like the Daily Mail, won't publish comments that are too sensible to fit their world view, here's my reply-

We have these things called feet, and there's a wonderful invention known as the bicycle. Intelligent use of these allows far more efficient access to the "metropolitan existence" than a car ever could, whilst saving enough money to more than cover any increased cost of longer journeys.

The call is for people to consume less. This, some fail to recognise, saves money. The poorer members of society will benefit more from it as energy costs are a greater proportion of their expenses. If Janet Daley really cares about the welfare of ordinary working people she should be calling for carbon trading and more energy saving measures to give them the boost they deserve.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse

Snowmen against global warming

Students in Oslo created a small army of plywood snowmen demonstrating against global warming, and placed them outside the Parliament buildings.

via BoingBoing

Technorati tag: Snowman, Norway

Meet the Green party's male principal speaker"

Derek Wall is the leader of the English Green party, or would be if they went in for such titles, and the only party head to be banned from every Tesco store in the country.

There's an interesting statistic in the profile.

Asked to name one or more other parties that they might support, Conservatives polled were much more likely to choose the Liberal Democrats or the Greens than parties such as UKIP.

Some 32% of Tories say they might vote Lib Dem and 19% say Green.

Technorati tag: Green Party, Green Party

Big, dumb and fading away

The sales of urban 4 wheel drives, and hopefully other oversized thirsty cars, look set to continue dropping as fuel economy becomes an important factor in purchases.

It's refreshing news, especially as, on top of all their other sins, they encourage bad driving in their owners.

Technorati tag: SUV, Road Safety

The Guardian's list of the top ten Greenest councils

Sadly, Manchester is nowhere on this list of the top ten Greenest councils and the twenty next best.

Technorati tag: Council, Green

Fighting Climate Change down on the farm

A collection of environment and agriculture related items from the BBC today-

David Cameron wants Britain's food labelling laws changed so UK farmers can benefit from "food Patriotism".

A project has launched to highlight the potential opportunities, as well as the dangers, of climate chenge for farmers.

The next generation of biofuels, one of the opportunities the above project will no doubt be looking into.

A conference on boosting the recycling of farm waste in East Anglia.

Technorati tag: Agriculture, Biofuel, Food Miles

Taking on the climate sceptics

No matter that the mass of evidence points to climate change being real and influenced by mankind, there are still some who won't accept it. The few dissenters get funding and far more airtime than their minority views deserve, without really saying anything of any substance. So Britain's leading climate scientist is calling on them to put up or shut up and present their arguments against global warming for consideration by their peers.

You can follow the debate, and even participate, at www.nerc.ac.uk.

Technorati tag: Global Warming

Interactive greenery

The Guardian has an interactive guide to cutting your house's energy consumption and waste production.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse, Flash

Boxing Day viewing

An Inconvenient Truth is released on DVD on Boxing Day. Obviously it won't arrive on the 26th, but it's worth ordering as a late present.

There's a book to go with the film, also available in a young adult version due in April.

Technorati tag: Al Gore, Inconvenient Truth

It's A Green Christmas In This Town

(Cross posted from Spinneyhead)

Manchester City Council have some statistics on waste this Christmas, plus some ideas on how to cut it down (mostly by carefully choosing what to buy, which might be a little late for most of you) and some guidance on what can be recycled.

If you live in Manchester, the link to the recycling centres around Manchester and what each one accepts is also useful.

(Title taken from Green Christmas by Barenaked Ladies)

Technorati tag: Recycling, Manchester

The home turbines aren't turning

Whilst large scale wind farms are quite efficient, especially the less controversial new breed of offshore ones, home turbines can produce little or no power because of wind turbulence. Perhaps it's just the traditional windmills that have this problem and the next generation of home based wind power will involve Savonius or other vertical designs better suited to catching the breeze from constantly changing directions.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse, Wind Turbine

And now for some really bad news

Based on current measurements, the Arctic summer ice cap could be gone by 2060. However, if the expected feedback- less light reflected by ice, more absorbed by exposed sea- happens, it will be even earlier than that.

Recent studies suggest that even a minor local nuclear exchange could cause a far worse nuclear winter than previously expected. But don't tell Bush that, or he might suggest it as a solution to global warming.

Technorati tag: Arctic ice cap, Nuclear Winter

Sticking plaster solutions- towing airliners

I suppose every little helps, but you can't help thinking that Virgin air's plan to tow airliners out to the runway, rather than having them get there under their own power, is a mostly symbolic piece of environmentalism.

Technorati tag: Airliner, Virgin

Fines and bath reduction- council level green action

Two proposals from local councils to battle energy consumption and waste-

Barnet has drawn up guidelines for planning, including a suggestion to leave baths out of new builds.

Tameside council will fine departments £30 for each computer left on overnight.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse, Council, Energy Saving

Towards zero carbon new builds

When I wrote the piece about net energy producing social housing last night I hadn't seen all of the proposals in Gordon Brown's pre-Budget speech. Amongst the plans is the aim to have all new build homes zero net carbon producers within a decade. The carrot for this is a rebate on stamp duty for all new homes deemed to be zero carbon, to start next year.

There's no definition of what constitutes a zero carbon home, we'll have to wait for the Budget proper for that, and builders' groups are already weighing in with complains about the rebate not covering the extra cost and house prices going up. Of course, house prices are rising regardless, and I'm sure there's a case for larger mortgages on such properties because the savings on bills will make the buyers better off on a payment to payment basis.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse, Gordon Brown, Budget,

Department of Free Ideas: Net energy producing social housing

The Department of Free Ideas is something I've rolled out a couple of times at Spinneyhead. It's basically irregular posts where I outline ideas I've had that I just don't have the time, money or expertise to follow up. They're just ideas, not costed and often without links to supporting material, but I believe they merit further investigation, which is why I want to set them free. If anyone likes them and can act upon them, then they're more than welcome to. Credit or royalties would be cool, if you're inclined.

We don't have enough houses in Britain. Particularly, we don't have enough affordable houses and council house building has ground to a halt. On top of that, we really should be doing more to cut energy consumption. So why don't we solve these problems by building council houses that are so efficient that with the addition of micro-generation they produce more electricity than they consume?

These houses couldn't be individual show pieces dropped amongst ordinary box homes, for the scheme to work properly whole streets or closes would have to be built. Economies of scale menat that technology that would be exorbitant on a single house could be incorporated relatively cheaply. Heat pumps could warm whole closes and the buildings could be arranged to catch and convert the most sunlight.

Tenants would have to sign up to certain community responsibilities, the sort of "socialist" idea that drives some reactionaries mad, but in return they'd get to live comfortably without worrying about ever rising energy costs.

Poorer families can't afford energy saving devices, partly because they're struggling with the cost of the energy they're wasting through older equipment and poorly insulated houses. Even if no council will take up the challenge of building such green homes for them they should at least be subsidised to make the savings themselves.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse, Council House, Energy poverty

Making plans for Gordon

The BBC asks some experts to weigh in with potential Green tax schemes for Gordon Brown.

Technorati tag: Budget, Gordon Brown, Green Taxes

SUV sales fall

The message may be getting through. Sales of larger 4x4s dropped 5.5% in the first 10 months of this year, and by 15.2% in November. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders says this is because of the phasing out of two popular models and sales will pick up again, but I have more faith in people's common sense.

Technorati tag: SUV

Carbon Trading for industry

Gordon Brown looks set to propose carbon trading for business in his pre budget speech today, along with increased fuel duty for drivers and fliers.

Technorati tag: Carbon Trading, Gordon Brown

Sustainable living quiz night

The 8th Day vegetarian cafe is holding a sustainable living quiz night on Tuesday (28th). There will probably be a How to Save the World for Free team. I hope we don't embarass ourselves.

In conjunction with 'Action For Sustainable Living', we're hosting a Sustainable Living Quiz Night for you to find out how much you really know about living an eco friendly existence. Expect to be excited and amused, challenged and interested in a fun packed evening of entertainment. Tickets cost £3.00 which includes a light vegetarian buffet and drinks will be available from the licensed bar in the café. Arrive at 7.30pm for food with an 8pm start.

Technorati tag: Sustainable Living, Quiz, Manchester

Zero energy homes for Manchester

The Jessiefields project, which is awaiting planning permission, would see a block of 13 zero energy flats built in Manchester. The flats would sell for £250,000 each, and have triple glazing and heavy insulation to cut heat loss whilst incorporating solar and wind power and rainwater capture.

There are a lot of flat developments going up in and around Manchester, and as steep as it sounds £250k isn't that high a price, especially if the apartments promise energy savings and investment potential.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse, Manchester, Zero Energy

MPs' green press releases

A bumper edition because I haven't done this for a few weeks.

McIntosh Welcomes Prime Minister’s reply following meeting on Bio Fuels

Anne McIntosh MP for the Vale of York today welcomes the response from the Prime Minister following her recent meeting with him requesting a full statement on bio fuels.

Please click here for the full text of the letter.

DAVID HEATH MP – TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE BY A GREEN TAX SWITCH

As part of the Liberal Democrat campaign for a green tax switch – taxing pollution not people – David Heath, MP for Somerton & Frome is welcoming Dr Vince Cable MP and Graham Watson MEP to Frome, where they will be shown a biofuels car, owned by Somerset Country Council, by Deputy Leader of Somerset County Council, Cllr Paul Buchanan.

David Heath said: "In Frome, according to the latest official figures, we are all emitting 8.8 tonnes of carbon per person per year, 5.5 per cent less than the UK average of 9.3 tonnes per person, but still far higher than the global average of around 2.5 tonnes per person.

"We need to go further to get down to a sustainable level that will stop climate chaos, rising sea levels and storms. The good news is that the technology is already there to do so by shifting to low carbon cars, like the one I will be viewing tomorrow, saving energy in the home, and cutting down oil and gas at work.

"All the main political parties now agree that we have to tackle climate change, but only the Liberal Democrats have put forward firm plans to help us change our behaviour through tax incentives.

"I am pleased to be welcoming Dr Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor and architect of the Lib Dem green tax plans to Frome and that he will be able to view a biofuel car, pioneered by Liberal Democrat controlled Somerset County Council, providing a practical solution to the threat of climate change here in Somerset."

LAWS BACKS MICROPOWER ENERGY

David Laws, MP for Yeovil constituency, is supporting a proposal to increase the use of microgeneration as a power source. Microgeneration involves the generation of energy from renewable and low carbon sources on a local scale, such as small scale wind turbines and solar panels.

If passed, the bill will enable local authorities to set binding targets for the use of microgeneration in their local development plans.

David Laws MP said:

'The opportunities created by micropower are huge. Expanding the use of microgeneration can be a key method in reducing our country’s carbon emissions and lowering our harmful impact upon the environment.

'Micropower also brings the production of energy closer to the consumer. By generating your own power, it is possible to cut bills and be more energy efficient.

'The Government has finally recognised that action must be taken to end the damage we are doing to our environment. Micropower will enable people in Somerset to do their part to fight climate change.'

Make the world safe for future generations, says local MP

A world that is safe for our children and their children.
That was the plea made by West Dunbartonshire MP John McFall in a debate on climate change in the House of Commons on Monday.
Mr McFall asked for some "realism" to be injected into the debate on the Stern Review.
He said there would be "no pain free choices" for people in their future lifestyle -- or for the Government and their policies.
They would have to grasp the nettle of climate change or the consequences could be disastrous, said the local MP.
He congratulated David Miliband, the Environment Secretary and Chancellor Gordon Brown, on the report which looks at the economic consequences of failing to tackle climate change.
He said that Opposition leader David Cameron had not even been elected to his post when the report was commissioned.
Mr McFall said: "There will be no pain-free choices for individuals and their future lifestyle, or for the Government and their policies. The issue is too important to leave to party politics."
He urged Mr Miliband to "ensure a national debate between politicians and in every community and school so that we may leave a safe planet for our children and their children."
The Minister accepted that Mr McFall was making "an important point."
And he added: "I tried to refer in my statement to the need for the Climate Change Bill to be something that can be taken out to businesses, schools and communities around the country."
He said Mr McFall was "right about the need for action by Government and businesses, and also individual action."
Mr Miliband added: "Some people always find change painful, but when the failure to change would be even more painful, the case for action is proven. That is the case in this area and I will be seeking to prosecute it."

Tom Brake MP commits to 'Save your 20%' campaign

Tom Brake, Liberal Democrat MP for Carshalton and Wallington is urging his constituents to join him in committing to reduce the amount of energy they consume on a daily basis. He has joined the Energy Saving Trust's "Commit to Save Your 20%" campaign which was launched as part of the Trust's 10th annual Energy Saving Week.

He is cutting his emissions and his electricity bill through everyday, 'normal' actions, like using energy saving light-bulbs and boiling only as much water as needed.

Tom has also added his name to a Parliamentary Early Day Motion welcoming Energy Saving Week and calling on fellow MPs to show leadership in their constituencies by supporting the Energy Saving Trust's call to action encouraging individuals to reduce their energy consumption and help tackle climate change.

Tom has previously shown his commitment to green policies; earlier this month he launched a page of green ideas on his website (www.tombrake.co.uk/gogreen), and a fortnight ago Tom and Carshalton and Wallington Councillors joined residents to kick off Sutton Liberal Democrats' Green Action Week with a clean-up of the banks of the River Wandle.

And in response to questions from The Independent newspaper, Tom commented: 'Personally I am committed to reducing my emissions by 20% and will do so by a range of measures including purchasing a more economical car, improving insulation in our home, buying low energy light bulbs, taking the train rather than flying on holiday. This is such an important issue and if we all make small changes to our daily lifestyle, we really can make a difference.'

Philip Sellwood, Chief Executive of the Energy Saving Trust, said, "We are calling on the nation to undertake a series of daily habit changing actions during Energy Saving Week 2006. The aim is to galvanise the nation into breaking their bad energy habits one by one, which will not only help prevent the damaging effects of climate change but also will help reduce individual energy costs. To find out how you can commit to save your 20%, visit www.est.org.uk/commit."

Dr Hywel Francis MP Committed to 'Save Your 20%' Campaign

Aberavon MP, Dr Hywel Francis, urged his constituents recently to join him in committing to reduce the amount of energy they consume on a daily basis. Dr Francis has joined the Energy Saving Trust's 'Commit to Save Your 20%' campaign, which was launched as part of the 10th annual Energy Saving Week.

Domestic Energy use accounts for almost 50% of carbon dioxide emissions but collectively we can make a real difference. If we all saved 20% of the energy we use every day we can help prevent climate change. The recent Energy Saving Week 2006 highlighted that consumers are able to make an enormous difference both to the environment and to their energy bills through everyday 'normal' actions.

Dr Francis has added his name to a Parliamentary motion welcoming Energy Saving Week and calling on fellow MPs to show leadership in their constituencies by supporting the Energy Saving Trust's call to action encourage individuals to reduce thier energy consumption and help tackle climate change.

There is a whole range of energy saving measures that we can all undertake, many of which are simple and 'low cost, no cost'. The following is a list of the 10 commitments Dr Francis and the Energy Saving Trust are encouraging householders to make:

• When making hot drinks only boil as much water as I need.
• Turn down my thermostat by 1º C.
• Switch off appliances and not leave them on standby.
• Insert cavity wall insulation
• Top up my loft insulation to 270mm
• Replace 3 light bulbs with Energy Saving Recommended ones.
• Install a condensing boiler.
• Buy Energy Saving Recommended appliances.
• Wash my laundry at 30º C
• Leave my car at home for short journeys

For larger measures such as insulating your home or installing microgeneration the Energy Saving trust provides impartial advice, grants and information to help you implement your commitment.

Dr Francis said,

"As well as signing the Early Day Motion, I will be urging my family, friends, staff and constituents to be energy conscious. We can help prevent climate change by all committing to save 20% of the energy we use every day."

Phillip Sellwood, Chief Executive of the Energy Saving Trust, said,

"Throughout Energy Saving Week 2006 we called on the nation to undertake a series of daily habit changing action. The aim is to galvanise the nation into breaking their bad energy habits one by one, which will not only prevent the damaging effects of climate change but will also help reduce individual energy cost. To find out how you can commit to save your 20%, visit www.est.org.uk/commit."

CAMPBELL SPEAKS OUT ON ENVIRONMENT IN VISIT TO SUTTON

Sir Menzies Campbell MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, yesterday visited BedZED in Hackbridge in the London Borough of Sutton. BedZED is the UK's largest carbon-neutral community.

He arrived at Hackbridge Station by train accompanied by Paul Burstow MP and was met by Tom Brake MP, Sue Riddlestone a Director of Bioregional and Cllr Colin Hall, Deputy Leader of Sutton Council who briefed him on Sutton's 'Smarter Travel Sutton' project.

At the end of his visit, Sir Menzies Campbell said:

"Liberal Democrat Councils are making a real difference on the environment. First Sutton Council made BedZED possible and now - through the 'Smarter Travel Sutton' initiative - it is encouraging businesses, schools and individuals to develop travel plans and reduce their car dependency."

Tom Brake, Liberal Democrat MP for Carshalton and Wallington remarked, "Sutton has a green track record second to none. When others were rubbishing the science of climate change years ago we backed BedZED. We are now trail-blazing again with 'Smarter Travel Sutton'. And just as the lessons learnt at Bed Zed have helped improve low or zero energy building projects around the world, the lessons learnt from 'Smarter Travel Sutton' will be picked up by every urban and suburban community seeking to cut its reliance on the car.

Councillor Colin Hall, Sutton Council's Deputy Leader, commented, "The BedZED development, a world class example of sustainable living, was made possible by the forward thinking and the environmental commitment of Sutton's Lib Dem Council. This project and others like the Killick House solar panel scheme and our excellent recycling record have led to the borough being picked to host 'Smarter Travel Sutton', a £5M sustainable transport project designed to help local residents make informed decisions about alternatives to using their own car.

Paul Burstow, Liberal Democrat MP for Sutton & Cheam finished by saying, "Climate change is a problem that requires both national leadership, local action and personal responsibility. We all have a part to play in reducing our own individual contributions to greenhouse gases. Sutton Council has been in the vanguard of this movement for green action for over two decades. Sutton was green when it was neither trendy nor cool."

Residents who want to cut their CO2 emissions can do so by signing up to Sutton's Planet Pledge at www.sutton.gov.uk/environment/planetpage/ or visiting Tom Brake’s ‘go green’ page at http://www.tombrake.co.uk/pages/GoGreen.html

THE DEBATE IS OVER, GREEN BUSINESS IS GOOD BUSINESS - OPIK

Commenting on The Treasury's Stern report on the economics of climate change released today on the economic cost of climate change, Lembit Opik, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats and MP for Montgomeryshire, said:

"The debate is now surely over. Finally it seems the Government have got the message. Leaving climate change unchecked will burn a £3.5 trillion whole in the economy. But tackling climate change can massively reduce this burden and present a wealth of new commercial opportunities. Green business is good business.

"I hope this report sends tremors through every Government department. We have been far too timid in developing strategies to tackle climate change and have missed so many good opportunities to develop our green economic sector.

"Wales is one such country with an abundance of renewable resources and environmental expertise that is just waiting for the green light from the Government. We cannot afford to delay further. We must now act.

"When I meet with Wales Office ministers later this year, I will be pushing them to develop a bold new green economic strategy that will actively encourage investment and the development of Welsh green industries and technology."

Technorati tag: MP, Press Release

NYU goes green

It would be worth seeing if any British universities have done this. New York University is purchasing 118 million kilowatt-hours of wind power. This makes it one of the largest holders of renewable energy in the United States, and hopefully an inspiration to other institutions.

via Meg

Technorati tag: Wind Power, NYU

Cheap and easy solar power

The articles are biased towards the US, but Mother Earth News tells you how to get simple solar power and how to work out if the payback will be worth the investment.

Technorati tag: Solar Power