Google saves the world

Google is to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in renewable energy technologies. The company has a division which aims to develop renewable energy sources that are cheaper than coal.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse

The CBI goes Green

The Confederation of Bitish Industry has released a report saying they must do something about climate change. Coming from what used to be an institutionalised denier this is a big step forward. But the details could be more promising. They're calling for the development of nuclear power and have plans to cut 1 million of teh 370million tons of carbon dioxide produced by member corporations. And they may still back such unGreen proposals as airport expansion.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse

The wind up media player

Backed by Trevor Baylis, he of the wind up radio, this media player is a guilt free way to listen to your music collection on the move. One minute of winding gives forty minutes of listening, or you can charge it using a usb cable if you're lazy.

via Treehugger

Technorati tag: technology

The future of air travel?

A resurgence in airships has been predicted for years. Maybe if governments could start applying realistic taxes on airlines than super luxury airships would become more viable economically.

Technorati tag: Airship

Training for Green jobs

If you're looking for a job in renewable energy you can now get all sorts of training.

Epogee provide many courses in solar installation.

We offer a variety of DIY training courses which will tell you everything you know to set up your own DIY renewable energy scheme.

We also offer a range of courses aimed at the householder or business owner aimed at reducing the amount of energy used by energy-efficiency improvements and by advising on the practicalities of renewable energy implementation in every-day situations.

The Green Energy Academy provides training for Domestic Energy Assessors and installers of renewable energy technologies-

Solar InstallationCourses
Water Reclamation, including rainwater harvesting systems
Micro Wind Turbine Installation
Ground Source Heat Pumps
Air Source Heat Pumps
Photo-Voltaic Systems
Under Floor Heating
Bespoke Energy Efficiency Courses
Bio Mass Generation

Stroma Technologies also provides training for domestic energy assessors-

STROMA Technology Ltd is dedicated to providing quality accredited training and over the coming months will be expanding into a variety of training fields within the environmental sector. In the foreseeable future, Stroma will become a City & Guilds training centre, allowing us to provide a variety of quality course, in addition to our current BINDT Accredited Training.

Please return to this section for additional information, which will be uploaded as soon as it becomes available.

Technorati tag: Training

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