"Lighting is a major source of electricity consumption," said Paul Waide, a senior policy analyst with the IEA and one of the report's authors.
"19% of global electricity generation is taken for lighting - that's more than is produced by hydro or nuclear stations, and about the same that's produced from natural gas," he told the BBC News website.
ENOUGH ENERGY TO POWER HAMPSHIRE TEN TIMES OVER SAYS WHITEHEAD
Alan Whitehead, MP for Southampton Test, said that offshore wind energy would produce enough energy to power Hampshire ten times over.
Speaking in an adjournment debate on Friday, Dr Whitehead argued the case for an extension of the use of wind energy as not only a non-carbon emitting source but a source that can contribute a substantial amount of power to the energy mix – the question is how we move to maximise this contribution by making it a viable option.
The Energy Act of 2004 allowed for a three phase roll out of off wind energy. So far only the first two phases have seen any development: wind farms in inshore waters close to the coast, and larger wind farms slightly further out to sea such as the Wash, Morecombe Bay and the Thames estuary. Dr Whitehead is therefore keen to see the next and third phase rolled out which would allow for the wind farms to be built in deeper and further waters, essentially up to the boundaries of the energy allocation zone for gas and oil.
Senior sources say Tony Blair wants to send a clear signal that the government will make it easier for firms to build new power stations by shortening and limiting the number of public inquiries when they are built.
The proposals are designed to cut costs and make it harder for objectors to cause delays.
Many local authorities insist householders apply for planning consent. 'It is patently absurd that you should be able to put a satellite dish on your house but have to wrestle with the planning process for small-scale micro-generation, which is no more obtrusive and can have a real impact on tackling climate change,' Yvette Cooper, the planning minister, told The Observer
'We want much more micro-generation to be treated as permitted development. We are reviewing the impact of a wide range of technologies so we can take account of things such as the impact on neighbours or listed buildings before consulting on details later this year.'
The federation has identified ten fruit and vegetables as examples of produce it believes to be wrapped in unnecessary packaging.
This includes shrink-wrapped coconuts and peppers sold by Morrisons, and turnips, broccoli and cucumber with similar packaging at stores such as Tesco and M&S.
It criticises stores which sell bananas and spring onions in plastic bags and says it is ridiculous to put courgettes, parsnips and baking potatoes into trays before wrapping them in plastic. The federation's chairman Fay Mansell said: 'Our members are very disappointed to see this sort of packaging. They want potatoes and other produce as it is meant to be.
Following Tony Blair’s statement in Prime Minister’s questions on the 14th of June, that the new generation of nuclear power plants will produce 1/10th of the waste of previous plants, David Heath has questioned the veracity of his information in Business Questions where he called for a debate on the issue.
Local MP David Heath cited the Independent Committee on Radioactive Waste Management, which has stated that a new generation of plants would lead to an increase in high level toxic waste of 400%.
Alan Whitehead, MP for Southampton Test, says HIPs (Home Information Packs) will put energy efficiency of homes top of the home buying agenda.
HIPs will come into place from 1st June 2007 and every home owner will need to prepare a HIP before putting their home up for sale. The Packs will include searches, a Home Condition Report (compiled by an independent Home Inspector) and terms of sale. An energy efficiency rating similar to fridge ratings will be included in the Home Condition Report, to tell people the running costs and carbon emissions from the home as well as identifying measures which could improve their energy rating.
This means that the energy efficiency of your new home will be there for you to see in black and white and will undoubtedly have an affect on both the price of your home and its attractiveness to potential buyers.
Every home put up for sale will be given an energy-efficiency rating like those found on cookers and fridges, ministers announced yesterday.
Inspectors will tour houses and grade them on a scale of A to G - with A being the most efficient.
