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