"Switch it off turn Earth on !"

New Energy Survey Shows doubt over effects of climate change

2010-10-27T15:40:00.000+01:00

Survey reveals that while more of us are adopting better energy habits, scepticism remains about global warming and the extent to which individuals make a difference

Hampshire 26 October 2010: A new domestic energy survey by Current Cost, the largest global provider of energy monitoring real time displays (RTDs), has shown that while most householders in the UK are generally concerned about the environment, negativity about environmental responsibility and the view that the ability of individuals to make much of a difference is limited still prevails.

When asked ‘do you believe that you can have an impact on reducing the global carbon footprint,’ 75% of respondents agreed that they could, while 26% either disagreed or were unsure, indicating a significant level of scepticism and confusion.

When asked about their views on global warming, the majority (52%) claimed that they did what they could to minimise their impact on the environment and 19% said that they were concerned about the effects of global warming. A further 20%, however, said that they believed global warming and its likely effects have been exaggerated.

More positively, the survey, which was conducted amongst a range of domestic electricity users from across the country, showed that people in the UK are becoming increasingly more responsible when it comes to reducing energy wastage, with 67% of us claiming to always switch off lights when we leave a room and 80% always waiting for a full load before switching on the dishwasher. Our worst habits are sometimes boiling more water than needed (51%) and leaving appliances on standby (60%).

Current Cost, who commissioned the survey, manufactures simple, inexpensive real time displays that highlight the amount of energy being wasted around the home, allowing householders to take immediate steps to cut back on unnecessary usage and cut the cost of their electricity bill.

“It’s great that more people seem to be making an effort to make energy savings,” says Current Cost managing director, Martin Dix. “The aim of the real time displays is not to change the way you live but simply to provide information so that you know when and where you are wasting it. Cutting back on the amount of electricity that you use unnecessarily can really help to cut the cost of energy bills.”

Alva Launches In Sight for Energy & Utilities

2010-06-09T00:08:00.001+01:00

A daily industry report analysing the news and social media for the latest emerging reputational issues, risks and opportunities.

Alva launched In Sight Energy & Utilities, a sector-based report drawn from traditional and social media. Delivered daily and weekly on a subscription basis, the service provides organisations in the Energy & Utilities industry with an analysis of emerging reputational risk issues.

Designed for Board-level executives, corporate communications directors and frontline business departments, the latest Alva In Sight analysis shows that Renewable Energy dominated traditional and social media discussion over the past month with 23% of all Energy and Utilities talk on the issue. With the oil industry facing a substantial reputation spillover effect from the BP Deepwater disaster and the new UK coalition government outwardly supportive of renewables, coverage of all forms of renewable power is likely to increase substantially in the coming weeks. Infrastructure issues (12%) are closely linked with renewable issues and as such are likely to yield a large share of coverage largely thanks to the divisive nature of wind turbine installations and government policy on the future of the UK’s ailing nuclear reactors. Corporate news (16%) focused on the soaring profits for gas companies as a result of the cold winter as well as ongoing concerns over billing transparency, with consumer dissent increasing via social media channels. This will help boost consumer readiness for smart meters, but the issue itself is likely to be pushed off the media agenda, particularly as its seasonal boost has passed.

Commenting on the new service, Alberto Lopez, CEO and founder of Alva, said: “In the current regulatory and economic environment, the UK Energy & Utilities sector is increasingly under close scrutiny from a multitude of stakeholders. Now is the perfect time to launch our In Sight service, a service to ensure business decision-makers and frontline staff can stay on top of emerging reputational issues and spot potential risks and opportunities as they happen.”

Following Alva’s launch of In Sight Automotive in May 2010, Energy & Utilities is the second In Sight service from the corporate reputation and risk analysis firm. Services are planned for 32 industry sectors in total.

In addition, Alva will provide a range of complementary services designed to allow organisations to build reputational risk assessment and analysis into their day-to day business processes to ensure reputation is managed in the same way as any other business asset. These services will include a near real-time dashboard to analyse an organisation’s reputation, bespoke reputational research and consultancy, as well as sector-specific forums for professional development and networking.

For the latest updates on emerging Energy and Utilities issues follow Alva on Twitter @AlvaUtilities

Battersea Power Station owners enjoy 30% savings on energy costs thanks to Power Efficiency

2010-06-02T16:30:00.000+01:00

Battersea Power Station owners enjoy 30% savings on energy costs thanks to Power Efficiency

... New contracts secured with no security deposit through Power Efficiency’s energy procurement expertise …

London – 2 June 2010 – Power Efficiency, the UK’s leading energy procurement and carbon strategy consultancy, today announced that it has achieved energy procurement savings of over 30% for Real Estate Opportunities plc (REO), the international real estate company and owners of Battersea Power Station. REO is proposing the regeneration and redevelopment of Battersea Power Station, which will be the catalyst for the creation of a new quarter of Central London in Nine Elms.

Rob Tincknell, Managing Director of Treasury Holdings UK (development managers for REO) said; “We had been on excessive energy supply contract rates when we brought in the Power Efficiency team. The expertise of the Power Efficiency team in securing such low energy costs has already resulted in cost reductions beyond our expectations, and will result in significant cost savings for us going forward.”

Using its collective experience of over 100 man-years in the energy markets and its constant monitoring of wholesale energy pricing, Power Efficiency was able to secure contracts with suppliers for REO that resulted in cost savings of over 30% on electricity. In addition, Power Efficiency took on high level credit negotiations on behalf of REO and as a result was able to secure the new low cost contracts without the need for any kind of security deposit – a practice that has become the norm for energy suppliers and that is crippling commercial energy users of all sizes.

Bobby Collinson, managing director of Power Efficiency, commented; “Achieving these kind of savings is only possible through close and continuous market monitoring, and we’re very proud of what we have achieved for Real Estate Opportunities. Security deposits are having a dramatic impact on the cash flow of all large energy users, and their broad introduction during the downturn exacerbated this – all organisations should negotiate hard with their energy suppliers to reduce the impact on their business.“

About Real Estate Opportunities plc
Real Estate Opportunities (REO), is a listed real estate investment and development group, active in the UK and Ireland. REO's investment and development portfolio includes land, development and investment properties in all of the major sectors of the property market including office, retail, industrial and residential. REO owns prime office and retail assets, such as Central Park, Dublin and the Lafayette Building, 22/25 Westmoreland Street, Dublin, with high quality blue chip tenants including Vodafone, Merrill Lynch, KPMG and Marks & Spencer.

REO also owns Battersea Power Station, which is being developed by Treasury Holdings. Rafael Viñoly’s masterplan for the 40 acre Battersea Power Station site includes a CCHP energy centre, generating 30MW of electricity, which, together with other energy efficiency measures, will enable the Power Station to become zero carbon and the rest of the development to be low carbon, saving around 65% of CO2 emissions across the whole site.

About Power Efficiency
Founded in 1999 with the prime objective of bringing a fully-rounded, strategic approach to the business of energy management, Power Efficiency is one of the UK’s leading consultancies in helping businesses define and achieve successful energy procurement and carbon strategies. With a management team that has over 100 years experience in energy markets in both the UK and overseas, covering core areas such as energy procurement, energy reduction, auditing and the introduction of new technology, Power Efficiency constitutes a known and respected voice with every key supplier in the utilities markets, and also with legislative bodies, including the UK and EU governments.

The Oil leak and BP

2010-05-28T17:36:00.002+01:00

When we use our Planet's resources as we tend to do,we rarely think of the consquences.
We need gas for our cars,we need electricity for our homes,businesses,for our modern lives.
We want,we need,we get.

Yet at what price? At what cost to our planet,our environment , our fellow animals and creatures?

Do we care?

It takes a severe oil leak off the American coast to make us think.BP are the criminals in this case,they are the ones to be blamed.A greedy company,who wanting to please shareholders ,don't do the safety checks needed to avert such a disaster-one might accuse them? Maybe it wasn't their fault,freak accidents can and will happen.
Its just easy for us to point the blame away from ourselves.

Yet it is us ,the people who crave the planet's resources.We need the oil,we buy the oil and we increase the need for more oil.

It is now time to think about how we can harness what our planet has given us,not to plunder it.
We need to be in harmony with our planet.We need to use energy sources that do not damage our environment.

This is the lesson to be learned from BP and the Oil leak.

Accurate carbon reporting automated, reducing internal administration and improving accuracy…

2010-02-15T14:05:00.001Z

Monday 15th February 2010 - Greenstone Carbon Management, the global specialist carbon solutions company, today announced that reporting for the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP)* can now be done at the press of a button. Greenstone’s carbon management software, Acco2unt, makes managing and reporting carbon emissions effortless through the provision of strong data acquisition, analytical and monitoring functionality.

More than 2,500 organisations in 60 countries around the world now participate in the annual CDP. Launched in 2000, the CDP requires organisations to measure and disclose information on their greenhouse gas emissions and climate change strategies. To assist organisations that participate in the CDP, Greenstone has included the latest CDP report requirements into Acco2unt, enabling clients to produce a CDP report that covers the entire organisation. Acco2unt reduces the administrative burden by automatically maintaining emission factors and providing the capability to analyse emission, consumption, financial and comparative data. As a result, organisations are able to concentrate on reduction targets and performance improvements.

Matthew de Villiers, CEO at Greenstone Carbon Management comments, “We find the CDP’s quantitative reporting requirements can be a time consuming exercise for reportees. To address this we have now included the latest CDP report as a standard report in Greenstone’s Acco2unt enterprise software. This enables CDP reportees to complete all quantitative elements of their CDP report at a touch of a button – ensuring accuracy and saving significant time.”

Tioga Energy uses @RISK from Palisade to predict financial savings on solar energy agreements in California

2010-01-23T19:27:00.000Z

Tioga Energy (www.tiogaenergy.com), a leading supplier of renewable energy services to commercial, government, and non-profit institutions, is using @RISK from Palisade to illustrate to customers in California the potential financial benefits of signing up to a solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).

Tioga provides project financing through its SurePathSM Solar (PPAs), and maintains and operates solar systems on behalf of its customers. Tioga’s offering delivers predictably priced power and enables organisations to to both 'green' their operations and reduce energy costs. In order to illustrate the benefits of solar, Tioga needs to estimate future electricity prices and make comparisons by showing the savings from a new solar system.

To forecast possible price increases, Tioga Energy inputs California's historical electricity rate data into a model developed using Palisade's risk analysis software, @RISK. This generates a probability distribution for electricity rate rises over the 20-year PPA period, which shows that there is a 25 percent likelihood that price increases will be less than 4.8 percent, and a 25 percent chance that rate rises would be more than 8.7 percent.

The @RISK model therefore helps Tioga Energy evaluate the likelihood that a customer will save money for a variety of PPA scenarios (i.e. the rate at which electricity would initially be charged and the amount by which it would then increase each year). It also calculates the magnitude of savings for the different combinations of first year costs and subsequent rises. Consumers are therefore able to better understand the pricing and make an informed decision about whether to sign up for a PPA.

“Using historical data and @RISK's modelling capacity, we can offer consumers a robust view of the potential benefits of a solar PPA. This enables them to hedge against rising electricity rates, as well as feel confident that they are playing a part in tackling global warming,” explains Kristian Hanelt, VP Project Finance for Tioga Energy.

Hanelt confirms: “@RISK is a flexible and technically adept tool that, in addition to enabling in-depth analysis, makes it easy for us to present relatively complex ideas in an easy-to-understand graphical format. As a result, it plays a key role in helping Tioga Energy to differentiate itself from its competitors.”

Tioga Energy's full report on its study, 'Hedging Against Utility Rate Fluctuations with a Solar PPA' is available to download here: http://www.tiogaenergy.com/tioga-energy-reports.php

Greentech investment leading to career opportunities say Altium

2010-01-21T11:40:00.000Z

Waste management and recycling is fast losing its rough and ready image. Many of the businesses that grew from roots in haulage and scrap metal have now developed to be sophisticated companies with professional management teams that can hold their own in any sphere. Many are now successful public companies.

Cleantech generally is becoming sexy. Recent figures from the Cleantech Group and Deloitte show that the venture capital community invested over £5bn in the sector in 2009, with 557 firms receiving fresh venture capital funding. As global environmental imperatives making the sector look like a good long term career bet, the cream of finance, management and technology professionals are being drawn to this sector.

As executive recruiters who operate exclusively in this area, Altium Associates are particularly aware of the increase in demand for the best. Altium was formed by a group of experienced executive search and HR specialists to work primarily with early stage and fast growth businesses in Cleantech. Our clients include venture capital backed businesses in renewable energy, recycling and nanotechnology. Over the past year we have been asked to recruit a raft of senior talent, equipped with the skills to make these companies global players. This is partly due to the fact that ‘Green’ investment is perceived as sexy and that there is a queue of Cleantech businesses waiting to IPO. So whilst these businesses are the brain-children of technologists and entrepreneurs, backers are insisting that they beef up the management teams with impressive, high-calibre finance and operational managers to wow brokers and entice new investors.

Some of these hires come from other industries, particularly those that have similar business models or KPIs. For example, operations managers with a heavy manufacturing or chemical engineering background can adapt to the recycling sector and managers from conventional energy businesses can establish themselves in renewable energy companies without breaking sweat. Generally however, the most sought after candidates possess both sector experience and first class management credentials. Even in the recently troubled venture capital and investment banking industry, investment professionals who have the ability to combine the skills and knowledge to evaluate cleantech prospects technically as well as financially are attractive recruitment targets. Make no mistake, Cleantech will continue to offer hot employment opportunities in 2010.

Baxi welcomes boiler scrappage scheme details

2010-01-07T10:34:00.001Z

Baxi welcomes announcement by Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband that they are supporting the boiler scrappage scheme as details of how the scheme will work are revealed. The scheme, announced by the Chancellor in his December Pre-Budget Report, will help to improve energy efficiency and tackle fuel poverty by offering £400 for up to 125,000 households to upgrade their old boilers to the latest efficient models.

Mark Kelly, CEO Baxi Group UK and Ireland, said: “The boiler scrappage scheme gives a real opportunity for households to upgrade their current boiler to the most efficient available. Whilst considerably lowering the carbon footprint of each household it will also save families over £200 per year in fuel costs.

“Baxi is pleased with the timing of this announcement as we have just launched a high efficiency version of the old Baxi Bermuda back boiler, which is one of the G band boilers. Previously, a replacement meant re-siting the boiler, re-routing all the pipe work and redecorating; the new high efficiency model is a genuine, simple replacement which fits into the same place with minimum disruption.”

The Energy Saving Trust (EST) will administer the scheme. The grant will be available on a ‘first come, first served’ basis and will be payable directly to the homeowner. Details of the scheme and how to apply can be found on the EST website http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Home-improvements-and-products/Heating-and-hot-water/Boiler-scrappage-scheme

According to the Heating and Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC), there are approximately 4.5 million SEDBUK Band G rated boilers still in use in the UK, each working at less than 70 per cent efficiency. Changing to a Band A high efficiency boiler could save you around £235 a year in energy bills, as well as reducing your carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by a staggering 1.2 tonnes.

It is worth checking to see if you are eligible for the grant if you have a back boiler, your boiler has permanent pilot ignition or if it was installed before 2005 when legislation was changed to ensure all new boilers were high efficiency, condensing boilers.

You can find an easy to use guide on the Baxi website www.baxi.co.uk/boiler-scrappage-scheme to help you identify whether you have a G rated appliance. We have also included a simple product comparison so you can see at a glance which A-rated boiler to consider as a direct replacement.

Baxi has a range of SEDBUK Band A rated boilers suitable for every application. The Baxi Duo-tec Combi HE was voted CORGI Boiler of the Year 2008 by installers and was awarded Best Buy by Which? in 2007, when it achieved 5-star ratings for efficiency, low NOx emissions (Nitrogen Oxide), features and installing. Baxi has also introduced the brand new Baxi Bermuda BBU HE, the only A-rated appliance on the market suitable for use as a direct replacement.

And you can also find your nearest Baxi installer on the website. Simply type in your postcode and hit the Find an Installer button for a map showing the 10 closest Gas Safe Registered Baxi Installers, along with their names, addresses and Gas Safe registration numbers.

Archaic system and complex red tape threaten UK energy security

2009-12-07T10:05:00.000Z

Archaic system and complex red tape threaten UK energy security

THE UK’s desperate attempts to achieve energy security by 2015 are hamstrung by an archaic planning system, poor infrastructure and complex and ever-changing legislation, according to a new report.

Experts predict that 2015 will be the year in which demand for energy outstrips supply in the UK, an unthinkable situation for an economy already deeply mired in debt. However, too little is being done to pave the way for low carbon generation to come to the fore, according to the North East Chamber of Commerce’s Energy Policy Working Group.

The group, made up of business leaders, renewable energy specialists and services professionals associated with the energy industry, has produced a report entitled Generating Growth which is published on the day world leaders gather for the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.

The NECC report, published in partnership with Eversheds LLP law firm, has highlighted a raft of urgent changes the Government must make if a power crisis is to be averted. It raises concerns that the current planning system is not fit for purpose and says a simple mindset change among planners from one of development control to one of growth would free up major projects that are currently stalled.

It illustrates how confusing and complex the current regulatory environment is for all operators. This is arresting the flow of vital private sector investment needed for projects to reach fruition.

In addition, it outlines urgent action needed to address planning, infrastructure and red tape issues to enable the private sector to address the growing problem of rising demand for energy against a backdrop of falling production.

NECC’s Generating Growth energy policy report also highlights the positives, including how the North East of England is ideally placed to play a leading role in solving the problem through its growing expertise in low carbon power generation, renewables and energy-producing heritage.

By making the right improvements to enable the UK to avoid the 2015 energy supply time bomb, the Government will also create a gilt-edged opportunity to bridge the North-South prosperity divide by smoothing the path for long-term, sustainable power generation, according to the report.

Enabling the North East – the first part of the UK to be named a specialist region for low carbon vehicles - to take the lead in areas such as low carbon vehicles and carbon capture and storage (CCS) could bring well in excess of 40,000 jobs to the North East and as much as £10bn new investment between now and 2030.

However, it illustrates the need to have the right supply chains in place to meet the economic opportunities that new energy industries will bring, as well as the importance of ensuring companies can access the right skilled workforces to meet demand. In addition, the report outlines how businesses themselves must make greater efforts to work together with universities to innovate in the future low carbon economy.

The working group’s chairman, Peter Nesbit, who heads up Eversheds' North East Planning Team, said: “This report is a vital step forward in recognising the opportunities for businesses in this region in the energy sector. The group, which has a uniquely private sector focus, has worked hard to uncover a number of case studies which do not simply serve to highlight the barriers facing the sector but also exemplify how we might react more positively to improve our position as a region.

“Immediate action is required in some key areas and the working group has provided a number of recommendations that are considered most likely to be effective in realising our aspirations.”

Martyn Pellew, NECC president and a member of the energy policy group, said: “The UK is on a collision course with a future of blackouts as early as 2015 because too little is being done to address how we maintain levels of energy production – be it nuclear, fossil fueled or renewable.

“NECC’s Generating Growth report identifies key areas that must be addressed if we are to avert this crisis and to push ahead with low carbon energy generation in a confident and sustainable way. The consequences of inaction at this stage are unthinkable.”

The NECC Energy Policy Working Group comprised: Jon Bird, CE Electric; John Bone, Sembcorp Utilities; Ian Burdon, PB Power; Mark Dowdall, Banks Group; Dr Keith Farmery, Graphite Resources; Ian Finch, Narec; Daniel House, ARUP; Wayne Johnson, British Energy; John McCabe, Rio Tinto Alcan; Peter Nesbit, Eversheds; Martyn Pellew, PD Ports; Prof Dermot Roddy, University of Newcastle; and, Andrew Sugden, NECC.

Is the UK ready for carbon credits, and will they work?

2009-12-06T23:32:00.000Z

Is the UK ready for carbon credits, and will they work?

-eWEEK Europe UK webinar debates 'Carbon Credits, Copenhagen and UK IT'-

eWEEK Europe UK, www.eweekeurope.co.uk , is exploring the technology impact of the UK's Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) scheme in its new live events channel. The online publication designed for the new era of IT is inviting people to participate in a live webinar: 'Carbon Credits, Copenhagen and UK IT':

Date: Tuesday 15th December, 2009

Time: 11am

Registration: http://www.eweekeurope.co.uk/liveevents/

CRC is a mandatory cap on carbon emissions, due to be introduced in the UK in April 2010. It requires large organisations to purchase allowances for every tonne of CO2 they emit, effectively introducing a new kind of business cost into the balance sheet. Joining Peter Judge, the editor of eWEEK Europe UK, on the guest panel to discuss the issue will be:

· David Metcalfe, director of Verdantix ( www.verdantix.com), the analyst research firm that provides strategic and commercial analysis of climate change, sustainability and energy issues

· Zahl Limbuwala, chair of the BCS Data Centre Specialist group (http://dcsg.bcs.org ), which has led the sustainable IT debate with its research into data centre and IT energy efficiency

· Richard Tarboton, energy and carbon programme director at BT, whose track record in reducing its carbon footprint includes plans for a windfarm which would be the UK's largest renewable energy project run by a company outside the energy sector

Attendees will be encouraged to participate in the discussion. They will be able to able to put questions to the panellists, as well as provide their opinion through live votes on issues such as whether carbon credits will help reduce emissions, and if their organisation accounts for the carbon emissions for which it is responsible.

Peter Judge, editor of eWEEK Europe UK, explains: “We want to find out through our panel of experts whether the UK's CRC scheme will be effective in reducing the overall output of CO2 . At the same time we want to gauge people's level of interest in, and commitment to, the campaign, as this will also be a key factor in determining its success. Anyone with an interest in the topic is encouraged to participate.”

'Carbon Credits, Copenhagen and UK IT', which will be hosted on the webcast platform BrightTalk, is part of eWEEK Europe UK's increased focus on live events. This sees it bring together its web seminars, panel debates and interactive Q&A in one URL: http://www.eweekeurope.co.uk/liveevents/

eWEEK Europe UK's event is timed to coincide with the UN's 2009 climate change conference taking place in Copenhagen from the 7th to 18 th December, during which world leaders will attempt to agree on a successor for the Kyoto protocol which will require all organisations to reduce their environmental impact.

smart cdi goes the extra mile to win the 2009 MPG Marathon

2009-10-17T21:23:00.001+01:00

smart cdi goes the extra mile to win the 2009 MPG Marathon

The smart cdi – the World’s CO2 champion – has proved itself to be miles ahead of its rivals by winning this year’s MPG Marathon with a staggering 96.81mpg.

Driven by smart eco-driver, Mick Linford the smart fortwo cdi passion coupe achieved this phenomenal figure over the demanding 360-mile route. Acclaimed for its world-beating emissions of only 88g/km, the 45bhp cdi was the ideal choice for the two-day event that aimed to demonstrate how careful eco-driving can significantly reduce the fuel costs and CO2 emissions of the country’s motorists and enhance safety.

Mick achieved the best ever mpg figure in the event’s seven-year history and improved on the cdi’s official combined fuel economy figure of 85.6mpg by over 13 per cent.

“I’m already looking forward to next year’s competition when I hope to achieve another record breaking figure by exceeding the 100mpg barrier,” explained Mick, who has previously driven a smart from London to Edinburgh on a single tank of fuel.

Dermot Kelly, Managing Director, Mercedes-Benz Cars, said: “smart has always been renowned for its unique style but this fantastic mpg result and its all-conquering emissions mean that smart now really leads the way when it comes to low ownership costs – a fact which is attracting an ever-increasing number of car buyers to the iconic brand.”

From October 2009 the smart cdi costs from £9,227.55 on the road.

Isles of Scilly switch off day E day

2009-10-06T12:08:00.002+01:00

The Department of Energy and Climate Change are supporting Energy Saving Day 2009, running between 3 and 6 October on the Isles of Scilly.
Tuesday 6 October, residents on the Isles of Scilly are asked to switch off all electrical items which don't need to be on, so that E-Day can measure a collective energy saving.

This is the first coordinated effort by a community to reduce their electricity use and to measure the effects of their efforts in real-time.

The energy savings achieved by a family, the school and the community on the Isles of Scilly will be compared with the baseline conditions across the UK. The results will show just how much energy could be saved if we all made a similar effort.

Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change recorded a special video message in support of E-Day 2009. http://www.e-day.org.uk/

To view the live results from the day, visit the E-Day 2009 website.

CO2Benchmark and AMEE start to benchmark the world

2009-09-17T20:57:00.002+01:00

AMEE today announced a partnership with CO2Benchmark that will significantly extend the range of specialist carbon footprint data available through its platform. Based in London, CO2Benchmark is a specialist carbon analyst firm that tracks and benchmarks the carbon footprints of companies and organisations around the world.

AMEE will provide platform and web services for CO2Benchmark’s data; for example, the benchmarking data that is currently available on CO2Benchmark’s website will now be available to all AMEE API users.

“AMEE’s platform provides us with a robust way to open up our data via programmatic interfaces. Our partnership allows us to extend to AMEE’s customer base to distribute our industry-leading data and knowledge base covering 3,000 organisations,” said Reginald Warlop, CEO of CO2Benchmark. “This fits perfectly with our strategic objective to provide greater transparency into how companies are performing carbon-wise. It will also allow us to apply our benchmarking expertise on a broader data set that is currently available in the AMEE network.

Gavin Starks, CEO of AMEE, said: “We are delighted to have CO2Benchmark join our neutral aggregation platform. Their research and knowledge base aligns perfectly with AMEE’s offering. CO2Benchmark’s database of carbon footprints of 3,000 companies and organizations and their benchmarking algorithms will be invaluable to our customers.”

ABOUT AMEE

AMEE enables businesses, consumers and government to build environmental intelligence into everything they do. Applications are “Powered by AMEE” to ensure compliance with authoritative international standards. AMEE is used internationally by a wide variety of organizations, including the UK Government (Defra/DECC), the Irish Government, the Welsh Assembly, PricewaterhouseCoopers, CNN, Google, Morgan Stanley, BRE, Energy Saving Trust, Radiohead and numerous IT, business services and software companies.

ABOUT CO2Benchmark

CO2Benchmark specialises in tracking corporate carbon footprints. Co2Benchmark Analysts research footprint data across many sources and apply global standards to classify, normalise and structure the data for comparison. The company offers three services to its customers:
1) online access to their unique database of case studies and carbon footprints of 3,000 companies and organisations in the world,
2) bespoke benchmarking reports for industry sectors, and
3) benchmarking consultancy services.

For more information see www.co2benchmark.com or contact Reginald Warlop at rwarlop [at] co2benchmark.com.

…UK businesses set to embrace innovative low carbon solutions…

2009-09-16T14:38:00.000+01:00

Greenstone Carbon Management To Address The Carbon 2009 Show - Excel Centre, London (UK)

…UK businesses set to embrace innovative low carbon solutions…

Wednesday 16th September 2009 - Greenstone Carbon Management, the global specialist carbon solutions company, has announced that Ram Ramachander, Chief Operating Officer at Greenstone Carbon Management will present at the Carbon 2009 Show on Tuesday 29 September 2009 at 4.15pm GMT. In the Plenary session “Low Carbon Business Opportunities”, Ramachander will detail the range of issues facing UK business in terms of reducing carbon emissions and reveal the types of organisations that are leading the drive to effectively measure and manage their carbon. The plenary session will be chaired by Michael Ward, Director Low Carbon of UK Trade & Investment and guest speakers will also include Bruce Duguid, Head of Investor Engagement, Carbon Trust; Mike Short, Vice-President R&D, O2-Telefonica and Vicky Elliot, Head, Climate Change Projects Office. Those wishing to attend the event can register by visiting http://www.thecarbonshow.com/registration

The Carbon 2009 Show is the first ever international exhibition dedicated to carbon, covering everything from carbon consulting, to carbon audits to low carbon solutions for businesses. It will be held at London's ExCeL centre on the 29th -30th September 2009. The two day event will deliver the information and resources needed to help organisations succeed in the new low carbon economy. It also offers participants the opportunity to network and discuss the new post-Kyoto climate deal with industry leaders in advance of the crucial Copenhagen summit in December 2009.

The UK Trade & Investment-sponsored plenary session will specifically highlight the international business opportunities emerging across all sectors of the economy as key global markets transition to a low carbon future. UK Trade & Investment helps British companies to identify and benefit from these opportunities, and promotes the UK’s status as a global hub for low carbon solutions.

The panel of industry experts will also explore how domestic government policy will drive innovation and expertise – while creating new products and services – and how the UK can develop its position as a global low carbon trading partner.

Ramachander comments: “Government schemes, like the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC), are putting carbon on the boardroom agenda, where effective decision making requires solid metrics and a clearer understanding of carbon throughout the supply chain. Businesses that are able to measure and manage their carbon effectively will have a competitive advantage over those that don’t.”

Greenstone is accredited by the Carbon Trust to provide specialist carbon management strategies and solutions that help private and public sector organisations manage their climate change risks within a commercial context. Greenstone’s consulting team includes experts with a blend of capabilities covering scientific and commercial skills in sectors such as IT, automotive, travel and leisure, building and property, utilities, financial services, FMCG and retail. Greenstone is available for video comment by contacting lena@technologypr.eu

To find out more about the Carbon 2009 Show visit http://www.thecarbonshow.com/content/about-carbon

Global community to shape Big Room’s Dot Eco in new online discussions

2009-08-30T00:09:00.000+01:00

Vancouver, Canada (August 12, 2009) – Big Room Inc. and its team of international partners have launched a public comment period, inviting the global sustainability community to help define the principles, policies and governance of the .eco (Dot Eco) Internet extension.

“In the spirit of openness and transparency, Big Room has turned the keys over to the global community to build a consensus for stewardship of Dot Eco,” said Big Room co-founder Anastasia O’Rourke. “Our collaborative process opens a dialogue with the world about how best to use Dot Eco.”

The discussion builds on Big Room’s robust global policy development process that includes in-person regional policy meetings to be held this year on five continents.

Both the online discussion and the regional meetings are overseen and guided by an impartial and experienced Stakeholder Council, represented by respected organisations, such as WWF, Verite, Green Cross International, David Suzuki Foundation, and Terrachoice, among others.

“Dot Eco will be shared by the world and therefore must integrate the opinions and recommendations of the world,” said Martin Atkin, WWF International's Director, External & Media Relations. “How Dot Eco should be governed and how the benefits should be shared are just some of the key questions for the global sustainability community.”

Join the discussion at: http://doteco.info/policy

Big Room will submit its bid for Dot Eco to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers when the application round for the new generic top-level domain opens in the first quarter of 2010.

About: Big Room Inc. is a Canadian company based in Vancouver, British Columbia with an office in New Haven, Connecticut. It was founded in 2007 with the goal of empowering the global community to make informed sustainability choices.

More information on the Big Room Dot Eco application is available at www.doteco.info

SMART eco-driving

2009-08-29T21:12:00.000+01:00

smart eco-driving

smart has unveiled a new green driving initiative called ‘smart eco driving’. Developed alongside the launch of the smart fortwo cdi, the lowest CO2 emitting car in production, the initiative builds on smart’s green driving credentials and teaches motorists how to drive in the greenest and most economical way.

The initiative is designed to encourage all drivers to adopt smarter driving techniques to enable them to save money and cut back on CO2 emissions via a smart tutorial. Green driving courses will also be available from Mercedes-Benz World later this summer. Motorists will be able to book a theory lesson to learn tips on how to effectively reduce both fuel consumption and emissions, as well as practical tuition with a professional eco-driving instructor where the techniques can be put into practice.

smart eco-driving expert, Mick Linford, comments; “The smart cdi is the greenest car on the road, but a smart driving tutorial can still help save money and CO2 emissions. With fuel prices rising, applying a smart approach to driving has obvious economic benefits, whatever car you are driving, and by learning how to get more out of a tank of fuel, motorists can make a difference to both their pocket and the environment.”

Dermot Kelly, Managing Director Mercedes-Benz Cars said: “smart eco driving is something that all drivers can adopt to make a real difference to the amount CO2 they emit and the fuel they consume. If every driver on the road follows these simple techniques, we will together reduce emissions and fuel consumption by up to 20%”.

At the centre of the smart driving initiative are the G A S principals, three easy to remember steps that will see a typical driver save between 15-20% on fuel and emissions.

Gears – stay in as high a gear as you can, for as much of your journey as possible
Anticipation – look well ahead and adapt your speed to what is happening in the distance
Smooth Driving – accelerate and brake as little as possible to maintain momentum, thus saving fuel

Additional smart driving tips include:

Reduce driving speeds by 10mph where safe to - higher speeds use more fuel
Regularly check tyre pressure – under-inflated tyres use more fuel and need replacing more regularly
Air conditioning uses fuel so turn it off and open the window a fraction – ideally no more than 10% as full open windows can create drag
Turn the engine off if stationary for more than 10 seconds – smart’s mhd system does this automatically
Cruise control can help minimise inadvertent variations in throttle
Reduce loads - clear the boot of unnecessary junk
Regularly check air and fuel filters, as well as spark plugs – clogged filters can reduce efficiency
Roof racks increase drag – take them off when not in use
Use the MPG indicator (trip computer) so you’re always aware of how much fuel has been used
Plan journeys well in advance and try to avoid times that will be congested

Eco driving lessons will be available from Mercedes-Benz World later this year.

The smart range of cars starts from £8,272.87 and is available through the Mercedes-Benz retail network. To find out more about the new smart fortwo cdi visit: www.smart.com

The smart range of environmentally friendly models include:
The new diesel model from smart, the smart fortwo cdi, boasts the lowest CO2 emissions of any production car currently on the road, at just 88g/km. Delivering 85.66mpg across urban and country driving conditions, it’s the best yet for economical and environmental driving.

The smart fortwo micro-hybrid drive (mhd) features a user-friendly automatic stop/start system, switching off the engine when the car is not in motion, and restarting again when the brake pedal is released. At speeds of less than 5mph, no petrol is used and no exhaust fumes are emitted, reducing CO2 emissions to 103g/km, and cutting fuel consumption by an average of 9 per cent.

The smart fortwo electric drive is currently undergoing an exclusive UK market trial. Kind on the environment, the smart fortwo electric drive emits no carbon dioxide or any harmful substances, and has the ability to cover up to 70 miles on a single charge, with a top speed of 60 mph.

100 Scientists Support Ten By Ten Call

2009-06-30T13:31:00.001+01:00

The Environmental Parliament calls for ten per cent reduction of CO2 emissions in London by 2010

10x10 campaign launched at LSE Summit

More than a hundred scientists specialising in climate change, the environment and ecology came together in London to support the Environmental Parliament's launch of the TEN BY TEN campaign.

The Chairman of the Environmental Parliament, Pano Kroko announced the campaign after a Summit meeting at the London School of Economics considered ways to reduce London’s CO2 emissions by 10per cent by the end of next year.

“The 10X10 campaign seeks a 10per cent reduction in London’s CO2 emissions by the end of 2010,” said Pano Kroko. “We believe this saving is realistic and will help the city take a giant step towards meeting its goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 60per cent by 2025.”

The assembled scientists and environmentalists agreed that only a combination of taxation, public policy and resource management can meet the 10 per cent reduction target.

The Environmental Parliament also unveiled a campaign website which will serve as a focal point for news and activity concerning the campaign - http://www.environmentalparliament.org/10x10

“Today most of London's electricity comes from coal fired power generating plants,” said Kroko. “One in three children in London suffers from some form of asthma and London has the lowest air quality among European capitals. The first step towards CO2 emission reductions can be among the most difficult – in London however it is very achievable.”

The Summit endorsed the Environmental Parliament’s 10x10 plan as a first step in community action which aims to galvanise political response.

“It is a gauntlet to the politicians and the rulers thrown to them by empowered citizens,” said Kroko.

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson has pledged to achieve 60per cent CO2 savings and the Environmental Parliament believes this pledge needs to be broken down into a series of achievable benchmarks.

Pano Kroko said: ''We can make significant progress to the long-term plan by breaking the target down and committing to cycles of 10 per cent reductions. It simply takes political will and a commitment to the necessary legislation.”

Kroko called for the London Olympics to be the focal point of a green push to achieve a further reduction of 10per cent by 2012. He added that by providing encouragement and support for Green industry initiatives to reach a total reduction of 30per cent by 2015.

Kroko added that higher energy prices coupled with the certainty of CO2 emission taxation would provided economic stimulus that would lead to a greening of the economy.

“With a robust & changing economy and a growing green industry,” said Kroko, “we can save an additonal 10per cent every three years and reach the Capital’s goal of a 60 per cent reduction by 2025.

“The regeneration of the city's economy and the creation of Green legacy from the 2012 Olympics will see London move into the Gold Medal position of global Environmental leadership.”

For more information about the Environmental Parliament and to keep up to date with the 10x10 campaign visit www.environmentalparliament.org

Power to your palm

2009-06-18T10:56:00.001+01:00

New services from Intamac Systems deliver home energy use information straight to your mobile phone.

Northampton, UK, 15th June 2009: Have you ever stopped to wonder how much energy is being consumed in your home, even while you’re not there? Thanks to a new service from Intamac System Ltd., consumers are now able to monitor and control power consumed in their home from a handset such as the iPhone; and can view home energy usage information at any time. This revolutionary service even allows consumers to manage standby devices and detect appliances that are left switched on for extended periods of time.

Intamac Systems, a global market leader in connected home monitoring services, has partnered with Current Cost to develop this new capability. Current Cost is a leading UK based designer and manufacturer of energy monitors, and has recently launched its updated ENVI self-install home energy monitor device. With over half a million monitors sold, consumers in the UK are able to track the power consumption in their homes, and use this information to make savings and reduce their CO2 emissions. Intamac Systems has developed a way of linking the Current Cost ENVI display to the web without the need for a PC, so consumers can record trends and monitor energy usage from anywhere in the world. Information is presented to the consumer via their Intamac Home Manager account, accessible via website and mobile devices.

“Home energy monitors help consumers reduce their average energy consumption by as much as 15 per cent through cutting energy waste, making them a very cost effective tool with a fast pay-back period.” said Martin Dix, CEO of Current Cost. “The work Intamac has done to link our monitors to the web and provide remote mobile access and control, means we can offer customers even more capabilities. In addition to monitoring usage patterns, we can encourage savings by allowing consumers to compare their carbon footprint against their neighbours, receive tips and advice on how to make further savings, and choose to receive alerts based on consumption data.”

The new mobile management includes an iPhone application that offers new levels of control for Intamac’s Home Manager web enabled home monitoring service. Extending this application to include the Current Cost device means customers are now able to much more; “We want to give homeowners the ability to remotely monitor and control their homes, with simple interfaces and mobile applications which adapt to peoples’ changing lifestyles and demands” explains Kevin Meagher, CEO and Founder of Intamac Systems. “The rapid adoption of broadband as a utility is allowing us to develop new and exciting service for homeowners and small businesses. The new services we are providing with the Current Cost monitors are a great example of the benefits to consumers of networking devices using the web.”

Intamac and Current Cost are already extending its collaboration by introducing a range of new products and services which take remote control to the next level. This allows consumers to track the energy usage of individual appliances and allows them to turn on their central heating before leaving the office, or turn off any devices left on standby, with the touch of a button on a mobile phone. “Our belief is that this information will empower people to make simple changes to the way they manage their homes, and make a real difference in reducing overall energy consumption and costs.” adds Kevin Meagher.

Intamac’s award winning web-based services are currently available through various global partner companies including British Telecom, DSC Tyco, LockOn, WoonVeilig, and Yale.

For further information on Intamac’s Energy Management services and applications or to simply find out more on what Intamac’s technology can do for you please visit: www.intamac.com .

Biggest Wind Farm in Europe

2009-05-20T14:38:00.002+01:00

Scotland now has the biggest wind farm in Europe.Its a big achievement.

Developers ScottishPower Renewables said the 140-turbine Whitelee wind farm in East Renfrewshire would generate 322MW at full capacity and provide enough power for 180,000 homes.

MPs offered energy efficient lighting

2009-05-18T21:08:00.001+01:00

RS Components, Europe’s largest supplier of Electronic Components, today offered David Willetts, Shadow Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities & Skills and MP for Havant, 30 free energy efficient lamps. The lamps will do away with Willetts’ need to spend £240 of tax payer’s money on replacing his lights, as reported in the media this week.

Willetts allegedly spent £150 of tax payer’s money to replace 25 lamps in his second home in West London and another £80 to change the lights in his bathroom. Energy efficient LED lamps require up to 80 percent less electricity than a standard lamp, and typically last up to 50,000 hours. Had these been used in the first place, the tax payer would only need to foot the bill for their replacement every 11 years*.

In addition to the lamps offered to Willetts, RS Components is offering to send a free energy efficient lamp to any other Parliamentary Member.

“It’s so easy to save huge amounts of money by simply switching to energy efficient lamps,” said Neil Harrison, Customer Marketing Manager at RS Components. “We would be happy to speak with Mr. Willetts to provide the right energy efficient lamps for his home.

“Perhaps if every MP switched to energy efficient lamps further embarrassment on related expense claims could be avoided. The potential savings for tax payers on energy bills and maintenance would run into the millions over time,” he said.

LED lights typically replace household-standard low voltage halogen lamps, which have a life span of around 4,000 hours (less than one year).

MP’s can get more information about Energy Efficient Lighting at rswww.com/buildings.

* Calculation based on an LED lamp used for 12 hours per day, seven days a week, at £0.10kWh

About RS Components

RS Components is a catalogue based distributor of Electronic, Electrical, Electromechanical and Industrial Components. Founded in 1937, RS is part of Electrocomponents plc, and is a global business supporting over a million engineers. It has operating companies based in over 25 countries and distributes to over 160 countries worldwide.

Since it began RS has had the simple objective of providing a part for every job, from research and development though pre-production to maintenance and repair. As industries have evolved, so too has RS to offer expertise, advice and value-add services that best support its customers’ needs.

RS Components offers the industry’s broadest range of products from a single source, plus unrivalled choice, support and reliability underpinned by outstanding customer service, technical advice and free delivery as standard.

In Energy Efficiency, RS has been serving the needs of buildings, facilities and energy management professionals for decades. Our understanding of industry requirements and a comprehensive knowledge of energy efficient products in lighting, heating & plumbing, control & metering, test & measurement, insulation, IT and renewable energy offers a unique ability for our customers to ensure compliance and return cost savings through energy efficiency projects through a single source.

Based in Corby, Northamptonshire, RS employs over 2000 employees nationwide. Recent awards achieved include Regional Winner at the East Midlands National Training Awards 2008 and the award for Contact Centre of the Year at the Customer Service Awards 2008.

For more information on RS Components, log on to www.rswww.com

How Important are Polar bears?

2009-05-12T19:11:00.003+01:00

How important are Polar Bears to us? In my mind they are beautiful wild animals that need protection.
Their habitat is being taken away from them as the temperatures increase.Their home is being melted under their feet.
Yet laws can be made to protect their status,their home but why is this not happening?
Maybe we still rely too heavily on fossil fuels.Yet a Polar Bear cannot be replaced but where we get our energy from can.

If you go to http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/ You will find a good article on how Greenpeace is trying to help protect the Polar Bears.

Cenex to Host UK National Biomethane Conference

2009-05-12T10:26:00.000+01:00

From waste to transport fuel, a two-day event to be held in Loughborough

London, 11 May 2009 – Cenex, the UK’s Centre of Excellence in Low Carbon and Fuel Cell Technologies, will host a two-day conference on biomethane between the 3-4th June 2009 at Loughborough University’s Holywell Park. The conference, sponsored by Chesterfield BioGas and Greenlane Biogas, will showcase expertise covering the production of biomethane from organic waste, management of transport fleets and insights into the UK national biogas market.

The UK National Biomethane Conference is an opportunity for professionals to network with key contacts involved in the production and use of biomethane and enhance their knowledge on how biomethane offers a unique opportunity to integrate waste management solutions with the production of a clean burning, low carbon transport fuel.

Highlights of the event programme include a keynote address from Labour MP Alan Simpson, who, as a previous recipient of the “Environmental Politician of the Year” award, is recognised as a leading campaigner for green issues. The programme also includes presentations by the Biomethane for Transport Working Group plus biogas vehicle manufacturers and fleet operators on the UK potential for transport applications of biomethane.

The event will consist of a conference, workshops, exhibitions (both indoor and outdoor) and an event dinner with evening entertainment. Holywell Park's extensive indoor and outdoor exhibition areas will provide industry stakeholders with ideal presentation opportunities, and key issues of the conference will be explored further in workshops held on both days. Conference delegates will also receive copies of the latest UK Biomethane Toolkit - an industry resource to enable the analysis and development of biomethane schemes in the UK.

For further information about the event visit: http://divacreative.com/biomethane

EARTH DAY TODAY-SHOW YOU CARE!!!!!!

2009-04-22T14:35:00.002+01:00

Today we think about our planet.What do you think about your home,do you care ,show you love your planet and celebrate Earth Day.

UK Government Not Motivating Industry to Reduce Carbon Emissions

2009-04-01T12:16:00.002+01:00

Government incentives required to encourage businesses to reduce their carbon footprint

Colchester, UK, April 1st 2009 – A recent carbon accounting survey by Access Accounting has highlighted that the Government is not doing enough to motivate businesses to make carbon-reduction initiatives a priority in the workplace. A staggering 84% of respondents felt that the government needed to do more, while only 5% felt no motivation was needed.

Furthermore, 62% of respondents felt that the Government should incentivise businesses to reduce their carbon footprint by introducing beneficial tax breaks. Over half (57%) felt that greater education and public initiatives were required. As many as 36% of respondents felt that the Government should impose tougher regulations on carbon emissions even during the economic downturn.

Kevin Misselbrook, Customer Services Director for Access Accounting said, “With such a strong majority feeling, I’m surprised that green incentives haven’t been prioritised. The Government is committed to cutting greenhouse-gas emissions by 80% in the UK by the middle of the century, and this would be a big step in the right direction.”

Misselbrook continued, “While the Government needs to do more to encourage carbon-reduction, businesses should look beyond the environmental benefits of going green and understand the cost benefits associated with reducing carbon emissions. By measuring its current carbon footprint, a company can start to understand where carbon-cuts can be made. This might be initiatives to reduce power consumption and waste in the office, or utilising new communication technologies to cut back on unnecessary travelling.

“The real key to reducing carbon emissions is to encourage behavioural changes within the organisation. Businesses may be surprised when they identify their areas of highest carbon consumption and the potential associated cost savings to be made. To gain this understanding it is vital to have the right tools to measure emissions – after all, you can’t manage what you can’t measure.”
John Doyle, Sustainable Development Policy Co-Coordinator, Information Society DG, European Commission said, “The carbon challenges set by governments are virtually unachievable, and the 2020 guidelines are not realistic. However, companies must start acting proactively in understanding their carbon footprints. If more companies measured and reported their carbon emissions, we would be able to get more mileage for carbon reduction.”

In 2009, Access Accounting launched Accounting for Carbon Emissions (ACE), the first practical tool to incorporate carbon emissions in the finance function. It was a landmark change, and now enables businesses to easily measure their footprint at low cost with little complexity. Access Accounting pioneered carbon footprint measurement into the day-to-day accounts function so that reporting on a business’ carbon footprint is now as easy as extracting financial reports.

Doyle continued, “ACE is an enabler, providing a tool that can help organisations manage and gain visibility of their carbon footprint. Eventually tools like ACE will be obligatory for all businesses.”

New system for analysing the risks of climate change by Get Mapping

2009-04-01T09:34:00.001+01:00

Getmapping has announced a new enhanced height dataset of Scotland derived directly from its aerial photographic survey of the country. Processing for the rest of the Britain is now underway. The arrival of a new more accurate height model will be welcome coming shortly after scientists at the recent climate change summit in Copenhagen said that earlier UN estimates for sea levels were too low. Height data is used for numerous earth studies including impact assessments for rising sea levels and flood modelling.

In 2006 Getmapping became involved in a DTI co-funded Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with Bath Spa University, Geosense and SCS. The remit was to provide a more accurate nationwide height dataset at lower cost. The result is a new methodology for producing height data from stereo aerial photography. While it has always been possible to create highly accurate height data from vertical aerial photography using photogrammetry it was time consuming and expensive to carry out. However as a result of the KTP project, new workflows and algorithms have refined and speeded up the process to deliver the best possible balance between accuracy and cost. The result is significantly more accurate than Radar (SAR), less costly than LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and provides nationwide coverage.

The new eDEMs (enhanced Digital Elevation Models) consist of a first surface model (DSM) and a digital terrain model (DTM), contours will be added in due course. In open areas accuracy is comparable to LiDAR but out performs it in urban areas by virtue of the ability to extract building detail photogrammetrically. The datasets are considerably enhanced by aerial photography providing the ‘intelligence’ to aid interpretation and risk assessment and opening the way for 3D visualisation. The data is available in one square km tiles and is therefore very cost effective.

“Height data provides the third dimension in a land survey, and is a vital resource for analysing the risks associated with climate change, such as flooding and the threat of attack from the sea. It is also invaluable for use in planning and 3D visualisation,” said Tristram Cary, Managing Director of Getmapping. “This Knowledge Transfer Project is a brilliant example of co-operation between government, academia and the private sector producing what we believe to be the best product for the market,” continued Cary.

About Getmapping Plc

Getmapping Plc is the UK’s leading provider of aerial photography and digital mapping. Based in Hartley Wintney, Hampshire Getmapping was the first company to have up to date nationwide coverage and pioneered online delivery of aerial photography to business and the public and large. A reseller of professional mapping, oblique photography, height data, OS maps and third party aerial photography, Getmapping services a wide variety of markets including press and media, local authorities, property and construction, environmental consultants and the public. It also provides mapping services for specific client needs and has undertaken contracts to provide bespoke image databases. A pioneer of many online products through its website, Getmapping is the only company currently re-flying the whole country at enhanced 12.5cm resolution.

www.getmapping.com

We have switched off our lights for Earth Hour,did you?

2009-03-28T21:15:00.002Z

Here we sit in beautiful candlelight and reflect on a major global effort to unite the world and protest .
Listen to our voices.
We care about our planet.

Royal Mail goes green with hydrogen fuel cell technology

2009-03-27T11:29:00.003Z

Royal Mail, the postal operating authority for the United Kingdom is working with CENEX , PostEurop, the association of European public postal operators, and FuelCellEurope, the European association of fuel cell developers to develop a universal design specification for hydrogen fuel cell postal vans. Once a draft design specification has been developed Royal Mail intends to share the design brief with all the other European postal operators for input in order for it to be presented to major vehicle manufacturers around the world for consideration and to stimulate main stream construction at relatively affordable prices.

Dr Martin Blake, the Royal Mail's Head of Sustainability stated “ we clearly see hydrogen fuel cell technology as the future means of small and medium vehicle propulsion in the not too distant future, it is now just a question of seeing which one of the major motor manufacturers can bring such fuel cell commercial vehicles to market in large numbers and reasonable prices first”.

Patrick Maio, FuelCellEurope’s Executive Director commented: “ We are delighted that a leading European public postal service operator such as Royal Mail in UK is taking the lead to propose common technical specifications for small hydrogen fuel cell delivery vans. This is an important step forward in terms of recognition of the hydrogen fuel cell technology as a tangible solution for high rotation transport fleets. Whether the solution will come from Europe or to Europe is for us to respond now as an industry. Indeed we are talking about replacing vehicle fleets of tens of thousands of units in the next coming years, and the postal service business is very serious about radical greenhouse gas emission reductions and energy efficiency improvement. Now is the time for European fuel cell developers and global automobile manufacturers to put their act together, partner and take on this challenge. We are delighted to be associated with this initiative and will work hand in hand with Royal Mail, Cenex and PostEurop to try to make this initiative a great success”

Philippe Hlavacek, Chair for Social Responsibility of PostEurop added : “At Posteurop we are year after year more and more involved to improve the eco-efficiency of the postal operators. We have launched different projects such as the Green House Gas Reduction Program that includes an up to date measurement protocol or the Green Post Project to test an electric and hybrid vehicle for the delivery of mail - among initiatives carried out by our members and their share of best practice. With the hydrogen fuel cell technology, Royal Mail proposes another innovative step forward to reduce our carbon footprint in the area of transport. I have no doubt that PostEurop and other actors from the postal sector will take up the challenge and will encourage and promote this initiative all over the European postal members, as the interest shown by postal operators is a key factor to partner successfully with the industry.”

Cenex CEO Robert Evans said: “UK Government policy is leading the global shift to a low carbon economy, and developing a commercial market for fuel cell technologies is a key part of this effort. Along with helping to tackle the climate change targets and security of energy supply challenges, fuel cell technologies represent significant market opportunities for the UK’s strong capability base. As one of the country’s largest fleet operators, we are very encouraged that the Royal Mail has taken a leading role in furthering the development and wide-scale deployment of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.”

Can we do more than just switch our lights off for Earth Hour 2009

2009-03-27T10:12:00.002Z

Can we do more than just switch our lights off at 8.30pm to 9.30pm local time for Earth Hour 2009?
In what do we mean "do more".To switch our lights off is one huge way to show a united front against climate change.Its a simple action that we all can do,however big or small,whoever we are.We are showing the planet that we do care about it.
Yet what more can we do.
We can put pressure on our Govts to make the changes that really do impact on our lives.The Govt is not a "higher being" that cannot be touched but the Govt is elected by the people,for the people.It is mean't to listen to the concerns of its people and we all need to get our Govts to LISTEN.
We are all important,we all have a voice and we can make a difference.
Don't think that by just switching your lights off for Earth Hour that you have done your bit but do more,contact your local Govts,central Govts and make yourself heard.
We ask for more renewable energy,we ask for education ,change of attitudes.
We want to turn our Earth back on and thats our aim.

Earth Day 22nd April 2009

2009-03-26T11:13:00.003Z

As we approach Earth Hour we also have another event on our horizon.It is Earth Day and it will be on April 22nd.
If you happen to be in the Washington DC area on Sunday April 19th why not head to the National Mall as the Earth Day Network will be holding an event.
www.earthday.net

Earth Hour and Edward Norton

2009-03-26T11:00:00.007Z

Earth and Edward, the two Es that go together and help promote Earth Hour .Earth Hour is an opportunity to make the world think between 8.30pm and 9.30pm local time to switch off.To not use energy for one hour and make a difference.
Its more than a mere gesture it takes alot of organising,preparation and time to switch off major landmarks.
So advertising the event and making everyone aware is also an important aspect.
We ask ourselves
"What will it matter if I don't bother to switch off for one hour"
Yet it does matter,because we all matter.We do all contribute to global climate change in one way or another but just trying to make a difference,just one small action really does add up,it really does.

Please think about what you are doing between 8.30 and 9.30 pm on Saturday.

"Going green might cost a lot but refusing to act now will cost us the Earth."-President Mohammed Nasheed,Maldives.

2009-03-23T20:31:00.003Z

President Mohammed Nasheed wants to make the Maldives carbon neutral.The Maldives will use solar and wind power to provide their islands with energy.President Mohammed Nasheed no longer wants energy to come from oil and he wants his Islands to show an example to the world.
The Maldives is under threat from rising sea water levels due to climate change but it is not the only group of islands in the world that is under threat.The Scilly islands that are just off the coast of western Britain are also under threat.

We cannot ignore the fact that many of our beautiful islands will no longer exist as the Earth warms.People will have lost their homes,history and livelyhoods.They will have to find a new place to live and the world just becomes smaller as the land disappears.
Lets make the changes now.

EARTH HOUR 28th March 2009

2009-03-20T12:24:00.003Z

SUPPORT EARTH HOUR ON THE 28TH MARCH 2009

SWITCH IT OFF TURN EARTH ON

"It goes way beyond turning off the lights," said Roberts of the WWF. "The message we want people to take away is that it is within our power to solve this problem. People can take positive constructive actions."

The Little Green Lunch Bag

2009-03-09T12:04:00.001Z

Boots and ‘diet Coke’ join forces to launch recycled and reusable ‘Meal Deal’ lunch bag

Boots and ‘diet Coke’ have teamed up to create the ‘Little Green Lunch Bag’, exclusively for Boots ‘Meal Deals’. The small textile bag is made from 100% recycled plastic bottles and, with a pretty butterfly design, it is a stylish alternative to a carrier bag.

As we have less time to spend on leisurely lunches, the new ‘dash-and-carry’ lunch offer provides a cheerful solution for time-poor workers. Fans of the credit-crunch-busting Boots ‘Meal Deal’ will be able to pick up the bag for just £1 and re-use it every time they grab lunch. It’s small enough to roll up and keep in your handbag so you can take it with you every time you hit the high street.

Boots ‘Meal Deal’ is one of the nation’s best value for money lunch options and the ‘Little Green Lunch Bag’ is its first recycling initiative with the soft drinks giant ‘Coca-Cola’. The clever little bag demonstrates how plastic bottles can be recycled and reused. The bottles are shredded into flakes that are then melted before being processed into granulates which are used to make the bag.

The initiative is part of Coca-Cola Great Britain’s campaign challenging us all to reduce the plastic that we throw away. Boots is also committed to substantially reducing its carbon footprint. Ian Blythe, Boots Corporate Social Responsibility Manager explains: “Climate change is such an important issue that we all need to be looking for those simple changes that will help make a difference. Within Boots we're continuing to drive changes that reduce energy and fuel consumption throughout our supply chain. ‘The Little Green Lunch Bag’ is a great example of a simple step change we can all take to make a difference, and a great example of collaboration between two of the nation’s favourite brands.”

Claire Murray, Shopper Marketing Manager, Coca-Cola Enterprises, adds: “These new lunch bags are made from the equivalent of two 500ml plastic bottles. This is a clear example of how important recycling is to ‘Coca-Cola’ - ‘the act of helping a bottle re-fulfill its destiny and become something great again’”.

Did you know that for every five Boots ‘Meal Deals’ purchased, you get the sixth one free? (You must claim your free meal within a calendar month). The ‘Little Green Lunch Bag’ is available from 12th March at all Boots ‘Meal Deal’ stores. Pick one up next time you grab your lunch and you’ll be doing your bit for the environment. Stylishly simple!

Why Denmark can show the world that renewable energy is the future

2009-03-02T11:16:00.003Z

Denmark is a beautiful country.Copenhagen is a wonderful city.We think of Hans Christian Anderson and his mermaid.Yet Denmark is also remarkable in the way it has taken to renewable energy sources.
How did this happen?
In 1973 Denmark was hit by an oil crisis.90% of Denmarks energy came from petroleum.In dealing with this crisis,a shortage of oil it decided it had to conserve energy.It introduced car-free Sundays,asking businesses to switch off lights during closing hours.
When the oil shortage was no more and Denmark didn't have to worry about conserving energy anymore,it didn't just go back to the way it had been.The oil shortage had proved to be a valuable lesson for the country and its people.It wanted greater energy efficiency.It didn't want to have all its energy needs coming from one source.
Denmark began to invest in wind power.Vestas,a Danish company has become a global leader in building wind turbines.Denmark now gets 19% of its electricity from wind.Denmarks carbon emissions are down.
Denmark doesn't just use its wind power ,power plants recycle waste energy from their operations to homes and businesses.Many houses and farms in Denmark have solar panels.Denmark is also interested in promoting an electric car and plans to construct a network of charging stations.
Denmark is showing the world that renewable energy can work and it can make a difference.
Copenhagen will host the U.N. climate change talks this December and they are better qualified than most to show that it is possible to change.

How green is your office?

2009-03-02T10:31:00.000Z

New research has revealed that UK offices are holding back their workers from being environmentally friendly. A YouGov research poll has exposed that, despite office workers being keen to make a positive difference when it comes to the environment, they are being held back by a lack of empowerment and facilities. Key facts emerging from the research include:

· 3 out of 4 of us think that we are leaving our green efforts at home DESPITE 79% of UK office workers believing that being environmentally responsible at work has a big impact on the environment.

· 92% of office workers believe that it is important for UK companies to be environmentally responsible BUT only 51% of us say our company has a green policy in place AND only 54% think their company does enough towards the environment.

· 48% of us don’t have the right office equipment to be environmentally friendly AND 45% say we lack the power to do anything about it.

In response to the findings, this week office expert Avery® is mobilising the UK’s office workforce by launching the first ever Green Office Week, 2nd - 6th March 2009. Designed to empower workers to be able to make a positive impact on the environment while in the office, the event will unite offices up and down the country in an effort to change the way we work. To see how you can make a difference, log on to www.greenofficeweek.eu

Read the full, detailed report below, including a regional breakdown of office differences from across the country.

A LACK OF EMPOWERMENT AND FACILITIES HOLDING BACK OFFICE WORKERS!

Environment not on the Office Agenda

3 out of 4 of us think that we are leaving our green efforts at home DESPITE 79% of UK office workers believing that being environmentally responsible at work has a big impact on the environment.

A YouGov poll has revealed the startling fact that most Britons feel their offices are betraying their environmental efforts at home despite workers wanting to make a difference. The independent survey, conducted on behalf of office products experts Avery, found that 75% of office workers thought that they were less environmentally friendly in the office than at home, despite 79% believing that being ecologically responsible at work has a significant and positive impact on the environment. Frustratingly, a lack of empowerment, facilities, education, communication and company apathy were all cited as major reasons for the surprising findings.

Leading Eco-expert, Nicky Amos, urged offices to start prioritising the environment: “We spend a third of our lives at work, and businesses are responsible for 40% of the UK’s carbon emission, compared with 27% from the home – so it’s vital that offices start to take action. Employees in the workplace hold the key to meaningful change by simply adapting their behaviour at work and they must be allowed to do so.”

Doing Things by Halves

92% of office workers believe that it is important for UK companies to be environmentally responsible BUT only 51% of us say our company has a green policy in place AND only 54% think their company does enough towards the environment.

Remarkably, only half of those surveyed said their companies had any formal green policies in place. And, despite 92% of office workers surveyed thinking that it was important for UK companies to be environmentally responsible, only half thought that their company did enough towards the environment, thereby disempowering their efforts. Examining the results, psychologist Donna Dawson explained: “There was a feeling emanating from the research that people are confused about just what exactly they should be doing to be ‘greener’, especially in the face of an uncommitted company. Feeling empowered at work stems, firstly, from whether the company has a formal green policy in place and, secondly, on how well that policy is implemented and how open the company is to green suggestions from their workers.”

Amos said: “Like it or not, the environment is on everyone’s agenda. These findings suggest that companies are generally poor at communicating their policies to employees or making them part of their culture. Green housekeeping should form the cornerstone of any company’s environmental agenda, yet many offices fail to bring their approach to life for employees or empower their workforce by making environmental responsibility a part of employee workplace practices or company culture.”

Green with Envy?

Interestingly, the survey revealed that office workers in Scotland are 48% more likely to feel their company does enough towards the environment than their Southern counterparts, meaning that for every two people in the South that are happy with their company’s green credentials, there is one more eco-happy office worker in Scotland! However, this is not to say that Southerners take their environmental responsibility any less seriously or that the grass is necessarily greener on the other side! Instead, this may simply reflect the expectations and standards that Southerner’s place on their companies to be green. In fact, the survey demonstrates that workers in the South feel it is more important that their companies act green than in any other region.

Disappointingly, Londoners place the least importance on having a green office, with the lowest percentage of workers thinking that being green in the office has a big impact on the environment. However, in light of the survey, the real cause of such apathy might actually be rooted in their respective lack of power - when it comes to ensuring their office is environmentally-friendly, Londoners are 52% more likely to feel disempowered by their bosses. Perhaps it’s no coincidence then that in the Midlands and Wales, where office workers feel more empowered, they consider themselves to be more environmentally friendly at work than at home.

In terms of facilities and equipment, it’s the South that’s lagging behind. Workers in Scotland are 46% more likely than those in the South to feel that they have the facilities and equipment needed to be environmentally-friendly. Irrespective of where we work, the overriding theme for all of us is that we must be encouraged and allowed to do more, with Dawson arguing: “People are confused about just exactly what they should be doing to be greener, especially in the face of an uncommitted company.”

The Green League

My company does enough to help the environment:

1. Scotland

2. Midlands and Wales

3. London

4. North

5. South

My boss empowers me to be green at work:

1. Midlands and Wales

2. Scotland

3. South

4. North

5. London

It’s important that UK companies are green:

1. South

2. Midlands and Wales

3. North

4. Scotland

5. London

I have the facilities and equipment to be green at work:

1. Scotland

2. London

3. Midlands and Wales

4. North

5. South

Tools of the Trade

48% of us don’t have the right office equipment to be environmentally friendly AND 45% say we lack the power to do anything about it.

Interestingly, almost half of office workers surveyed stated that there were not sufficient facilities and equipment in place to enable them to do their bit for the environment, irrespective of their intentions to do so. Dawson explains that this can be the green office’s undoing, no matter how positive its environmental targets. “A company may have an environmental policy in place, but if there isn’t the equipment or facilities to implement the policy, then it is as bad as not having a policy at all and will hamper worker’s efforts.” Amos agrees with the importance of offices providing the right facilities, noting the example of “IT literate employees who recognise the role that equipment can play in helping to green the workplace – from double sided printing options to video-conferencing.”

Questions as to why office workers lack the right facilities to help the environment indicate that they simply don’t have the authority to make a difference despite most wanting to, as 45% stated that they are held back by their bosses not empowering them with the ability to be environmentally-friendly. Often this adds to the threat of a long-term rebound effect which could mean that the apathy experienced at work could transfer to apathy in the home, with office workers giving into a sense of helplessness.

Office supplies companies are well aware of the importance of providing products that help both the environment and business. Marc Pinner of Avery said: “When considering that 80% of the world’s original old growth forests have been logged or severely degraded, you can see why companies such as ourselves are taking our responsibilities seriously, working with established third parties to ensure that what remains of our natural heritage is protected. The priority for Avery has been to provide office workers with eco-friendly products that don’t compromise on quality so that choosing them is good for business and good for the environment.”

Office Evolution: The Natural Selection for Business Benefits

70% of office waste is recyclable BUT only 8% is actually recycled.

Amos was not completely surprised by the findings and urges offices to buck the trend and revolutionise themselves. She said: “In my experience, blue collar workers are more likely to work in companies and industries where environmental responsibility is very highly rated – and even more heavily regulated – than in companies employing white collar workers. As a result, for many of us, our efforts at home are undone when we go to work.”

For Amos, it’s the little things that make all the difference. For example, 70% of office waste is recyclable but only 8% ever makes it as far as a recycling bin. What’s more, going green has many benefits that some businesses are missing out on. “It saves businesses money, fits with our modern values, helps us to follow a healthier lifestyle and, nowadays, is hassle-free. With the price of oil, gas and electricity escalating, along with the rising costs of raw materials, it has never been a more critical time for offices to take definitive action.”

Becoming a Green Office!

5 quick tips to green your workplace and to help you on your office on its way to becoming green:

1. Put plants in the office to literally green your workplace! Not only do they look good, but plants can reduce air pollution in enclosed spaces.

2. Choose recyclable products and paper and wood products that are FSC-certified, to guarantee that they come from sustainable sources.

3. Set up a green ideas scheme to encourage and reward colleagues who come up with energy saving and other green ideas.

4. Use labels to stick over existing labels on envelopes then re-use them.

5. Avoid disposable products such as paper towels, paper plates and paper cups.

For loads more tips and advice, log on to www.greenofficeweek.eu this Green Office Week!

Turned On by the Environment?

To increase awareness of the issue and to empower the UK’s office workers to make a difference, Avery is launching the first ever Green Office Week, March 2nd – 6th 2009. To join forces with offices across the country and to find out more about how you can make a difference, log on to www.greenofficeweek.eu

Nuclear energy ,is it the lesser of two evils?

2009-02-24T12:21:00.003Z

In an age where coal and oil are looked apon as wicked ,destroying our environment and contributing to climate change..we need to look elsewhere for our energy needs.The answer to many....is Nuclear.Many Green players such as Greenpeace have realised that Nuclear would be the lesser of two evils.
Yet I personally have never liked the idea of Nuclear power.Yes,it doesn't create the carbon emissions but it does create dangerous waste.This waste has to be buried deep in the ground.An accident at a Nuclear plant could harm the environment and people.Nuclear is dangerous.
Yet what choices do we have?
I would like to see a world where nearly all our energy is created by our planet.Its possible.It really is.
Nuclear power is not the answer to our energy problems and to be honest its a "get out" clause I don't think we should ever use.

Sahara desert could help European countries

2009-02-24T11:59:00.002Z

The natural world can help our modern world.We need energy ,thats a fact of life.Yes we need to switch off our energy when we are not using it but we do need it.
Thus we need to find a way to produce energy that is renewable,safe and clean.
Our answer is glaring at us.It shines at us.Sun,solar energy.
Where is it sunny? In hot places such as deserts and one of the biggest is the Sahara.
This is why EU countries are very keen to use solar power from the Sahara desert as it could power the whole of Europe.Its a brilliant idea.Its so obvious..really.Our planet is our salvation.
Yet Europe must also help Africa and thus it must be a combined effort to provide energy for Europe and Africa.

Green Schools and Eco Schools

2009-02-23T21:15:00.005Z

Our children are our future and they are the ones who can help their environment.There are many projects in the UK ,US and around the world that encourage our children to think about how they can improve the environment.Firstly there are Eco-Schools where a school can have its own eco code.This could be a charter that the children ,teachers and parents can follow.It could be reducing water usage,recycling,turning lights off and saving energy.This can be done throughout the school and in turn the school will receive rewards such as bronze,silver and eventually a green flag.
There is also an idea that schools can be built from scratch and thus be green.In the new build plans there can be bigger windows for more natural light.There can be water saving devices ,solar panels and wind turbines.
It is so important to get the children involved in environmental issues from an early age .They can take this knowledge with them and use it for the rest of their lives .
Check out
http://www.globalgreen.org/news/153
http://www.eco-schools.org.uk/

17th Century is green with National Trust and Sudbury Hall

2009-02-17T13:36:00.002Z

When we think of green and the environment we tend to think of the 20th and 21st centuries but what about a 17th century building becoming green.Well the National Trust in the UK have decided to reduce its CO2 emissions by replacing an old inefficent bolier with a new biomass wood pellet boiler.
The National Trust together with npower have decided to combine with a green energy partnership and implement energy saving projects involving National Trust properties around the UK.
The bolier at Sudbury Hall was placed in August 08 and from October 08 the new renewable bolier was turned on.
Two biomass boilers were installed at Sudbury Hall.This was to help prolong life of the boilers as they will be used on a rota system.
The fuel for the boiler is fast growing willow coppicing which is sustainable and grown locally in Nottinghamshire.The willow potash is used in the gardens of the Hall.Co2 usage at the Hall has been reduced from 151 tonnes per year to 10 tonnes per year.Thats pretty amazing stuff!!!!
Thus our historical houses can also be environmentally friendly aswell as giving pleasure to visitors.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Why not show your planet some love this Valentines day

2009-02-10T21:36:00.004Z

Valentines is consumer heaven.Think of all the flowers that will be sent,chocolates bought,cards and gifts.
Yet how can we show our planet a bit of love.We can love our beautiful planet by choosing greener options for our Valentines.
We can buy recycled cards.We can buy our flowers locally and think about fair trade chocolates.
If we decide to have a meal,why not cook a romantic meal at home with locally produced goods or walk to a local dining outlet.
There are so many options available.
We could choose a present that could help our environment.We could purchase a tree and make that our gift for our loved one.
Do something different ,special and make our Earth feel loved.
Check out this site www.seltzergoods.com

Charles Darwin and his thoughts on the environment 200 years after his birth

2009-02-08T14:45:00.004Z

Charles Darwin was born 200 years ago on February 12th.He wrote a book called the "Origin of Species" that changed the world.I often wonder at what he might have thought about our changing environment and its impact on evolution.
I am sure he would be an eco warrior but would he have suggested that mans involvement in the climate was a force of natural selection? Mans damage to the planet would affect what animals would survive...would this be survival of the fittest? ,or would this be a step too far?
How could we prove we were the highest of evolution, if infact we were destroying our home?
There are many questions that Charles Darwin would ponder and a real debate for evolutionary theories.

Do you want to live longer? Well cut back on pollution.

2009-01-26T11:13:00.004Z

Its common sense to believe that if you live in an environment where the air is clean...you'll be healthier.
Its not surprising that a report has been done on a study of major cities from the 80s till now that shows that if you live in a place that has less air pollution you will live an average five years longer.
I remember as a child that pollution was a huge issue for the environment before we ever became interested in green issues.
Pollution used to disgust me then.
Yet there are many countries around the world that would rather see the coppers in their pockets than live a healthy life.
I'm sure that in this day and age we can use clean manufacturing.We haven't got the excuse of ignorance that they had a hundred years ago.
Its the cost...isn't it...yet what cost to our planet and our health ...can we put a value on it in Pounds,Dollars or Yen.

"Green industrial revolution"-Anaerobic digestion

2009-01-22T21:31:00.002Z

Have you ever wondered what happened to all the food waste from the Supermarkets? Well it normally gets thrown in landfills and is therefore an environmental threat.It is also costing the retail industry millions.
Wait...couldn't we recycle the food? This seemed an impossible dream..until now.
By using a combination of innovative technologies,bio mass combustion and anaerobic digestion we can create energy from food waste and in turn save the landfills of huge amounts of waste and in turn save costs.
Sainsburys in the UK are using this technology at their Scottish shops and will then roll it out to all their other shops in the UK.

Antarctica and solar power

2009-01-22T17:30:00.003Z

It has been discovered that part of the Antarctica is melting and over the last fifty years the temperatures have increased.Now scientists are not sure if that is due to the Greenhouse effect or it is a natural cycle.We haven't been on the planet long enough to know what sort of cycles the Earth goes through.
Yet on thing is certain..."we are not helping".
Yet the Antarctica can also help with renewable energy.In the summer months it can produce a huge amount of energy because of the suns reflection on the snow.This has been used by the bases that are situated on the Antarctica.They are using solar panels to generate energy for their bases and also wind power can be used as Antarctica is one of the windiest places on the planet.

Thinking of a white wedding? Why not try a green one

2009-01-17T22:01:00.003Z

Now that the Christmas rush has finished and New Year celebrations are complete,we now think of Spring.
You may have noticed the Wedding outfits arriving in the shops and people are thinking of Spring and Summer Weddings.
I think it may be time to think of a way to make your wedding eco friendly.
This can be done in various ways.
You can buy a vintage wedding dress.If that doesn't take your fancy than maybe a dress made from organic cotton,hemp,bamboo and even soy.
Instead of sending out invites.Why not send invites via the net or evite.com
You don't have to invite everybody and you can have your food locally produced.Your Honeymoon can be local aswell.
A wedding doesn't have to produce a huge carbon footprint and it may save you money at the same time.
Instead of presents,you could have your guests donate to a good cause.
This is a good blog to visit http://www.everythinggreenweddings.blogspot.com/

Televisions and the environment

2009-01-13T19:35:00.003Z

If you are thinking of buying a new TV this year.Think about the impact that the TV will have on the environment.Plasma TVs can consume four times as much energy as traditional TVs.LCD flat screens are a better choice.
In an age where we use more gadgets than ever..we need to pick the most energy efficient and the ones that do the least harm.
In the US legisation comes into affect from 2011 that all TVs must be "green".

Eco-friendly cars-Blue is the future.

2009-01-13T13:42:00.001Z

1: Seat Ibiza, 1.4 TDI 80PS Ecomotive, diesel

CO2 (g/km): 99

Price: £11,000

Seat's probably not the first name you think of when it comes to green cars, but this three-door supermini's both cheap to buy and cheap to run.

2: Volkswagen Polo Bluemotion, 1.4 TDI 80PS

CO2: 99

Price: £11,995

This little diesel has all the solid German build quality you'd expect, plus an incredibly economic engine that'll make the man at the garage a distant stranger.

3: Honda Civic Hybrid 1.4 IMA ES

CO2: 109

Price: £16,300

As the cheapest hybrid in the UK, the Honda Civic Hybrid is a good, small family alternative to the Prius -- so long as you can stomach automatic transmission.

4: Renault Megane Sport Hatch 1.5 dCi 86 Expression 3 door

CO2: 117

Price: £13,000

Like Citroen, Renault's one of the unsung French brands which has been doing a huge amount to cut emissions across its range. This small family car is a particularly economic example.

5: Citroen C3 1.6HDi

CO2: 118

Price: £13,000

The Citroen C3 is an efficient, straightforward car with a big boot and not quite enough legroom at the back.

6: Ford Focus ECOnetic 1.6 TDCi

CO2: 115

Price: £15,800

This is a brand new version of Britain's most popular car. It's incredibly fuel-efficient and, if it's similar to the Ford bioethanol Focus we reviewed, will make for a good reliable drive.

7: Renault New Laguna Hatch dCi 110

CO2: 130

Price: £17,100

As it emits 130g of CO2 per kilometre the Laguna is just on the borderline of being a greener option, and it's also on the pricey side. But it has some of the best green creds you'll get for a car of this size.

8: Skoda Fabia Estate1.4 TDI PD 80PS

CO2: 109

Price: £13,100

No more funny jokes about Skodas. This one is big and clever -- not to mention as cheap and green as estate cars come.

9: Peugot 207 SW, 1.6 HDi

CO2: 119-123

Price: £13,900

Another big but green option. According to Autoexpress it's a little dear, but it has everything you could want in an estate.

10: SMART Fortwo Cabrio

CO2: 113

Price: £10,500

With their heavier frames for safety and structure, it's surprising any open-top cars made this list. But we can fully recommend this Smart, since it emits so little CO2 and only costs mite over £10K.

You can see more low CO2 cars by class on the Government's Best on CO2 site .

Fuji batteries are green

2009-01-08T14:30:00.002Z

Do you fancy a battery thats eco friendly? Why not try Fuji.
The Fuji EnviroMAX Alkaline Battery, an eco-friendly battery that eliminates harmful chemicals found in standard alkalines.
The Fuji EnviroMAX Digital Alkaline and Super Alkaline batteries are free of Mercury, Cadmium and PVC, manufactured without the release of ozone depleting compounds, and feature packaging made with recycled paper.

Additionally, the battery claims to offer full alkaline battery power and a long shelf life.

The Super Alkaline batteries will be available in AA, AAA, C, and D. Digital Alkaline batteries will be available in AA and AAA.

Batteries will are available for purchase direct from the Fuji EnviroMAX website, www.greenfuji.com.

Greenhouse Nightclub NYC-How green is it!

2009-01-07T20:57:00.003Z

We've moved into an era of green thinking and thus its only logical to think that our leisure time should be filled with green.
Hopefully there will come a time when to be green will be "just the norm" and accepted.Green Nightclubs,well what are they? It might be a joke in the future as all places will become environmetally friendly.
I guess this is the concept of Jon B the owner of the Greenhouse nightclub in New York City.
Jon says the idea for a green club came to him while sitting on a beach in Miami. "I was trying to think of a good club concept for the next generation," he says. "I think green is cool. And if it's not cool yet, it's going to be cool."
Greenhouse apparently runs on 100% wind power.You might ask yourself...are their wind turbines at the club.No,it runs on a reward scheme.The toilets are low flow and use less water.The floors are made of bamboo and the club is covered in leaves.There is organic 360 Vodka.
Yet we might consider that bamboo has been shipped from China,oh dear not good for the carbon footprint.The beverages are not made locally,oh dear another blow for the carbon footprint and the leaves have been sprayed with a not so environmental fire resistant coating.
Yet its trying to do its bit to make us aware that there are alternatives.I guess it can be difficult to get it totally right.
It might be an idea to consider local options in future and using locally produced resources.
I guess this could be a new beginning of a revoultion in nightclubs.

Greenhouse
150 Varick Street, New York, NY
212-807-7000

Area:
Meatpacking District

Venue:
Nightclub

Hours:
Mon. to Sun.: 10:00 pm - 4:00 am

Price Range:
$$$ (Within Reach)
Payment:
Master Card, Visa, American Express

Why not try out an environmental diet for the New Year

2009-01-07T14:15:00.002Z

Are you thinking of a new diet for 2009.Have you considered cutting back on beef and dairy.This is a great way to help the environment.Also choose foods that are fresh and local and have not been processed or have travelled across the globe in airplanes or trucks.
Farmshops are a great way to get local produce.Also when you shop think about the way it is packaged.Try to go for less packaging and recycled materials.
When thinking about your health...you can also think about the health of the planet.
Try http://www.eatlowcarbon.org/

Green jobs,green future and a green world

2008-12-12T12:03:00.003Z

What is the answer to reducing unemployment and economic troubles.Invest in a Green economy.The world is in a difficult position and we see disasters in our banks,manufacturing bases.Green is not just good for our planet but also our pocket.Our interest in our environment may save the world in more ways than we thought.

What is better for the environment an artificial tree or a natural tree for Christmas

2008-12-06T20:58:00.005Z

This is a question to ask yourself.Is it better for the environment if I buy an artifical tree or a natural tree?
Do we prefer plastic or the real deal?
Well I guess with an artifical tree...we can re use it every year and thats not waste..right?
Yet maybe we encourage waste with the box it was packaged in,the chemicals that were used in its manufacturing,the use of energy to ship it and the energy to make it and millions of others like it!
The natural tree has given us the benefit of growing it from a seed and helping the environment.Yet when we cut it down,it eventually dies and has to be destroyed,but we do have recycling options now.
Maybe the the best choice would be to re plant the tree in the garden or better still plant a tree and decorate the tree outside.
I think I would opt for a natural tree and at least the children can see nature in their home,even for a brief moment.Maybe there could be schemes where when we buy a natural tree,we can replace that tree with another one.

For those of you in the US why not go and look at this website!
http://www.livingchristmastrees.org

Recycling and Christmas

2008-11-30T10:09:00.002Z

Christmas is a time for presents and unfortunately waste.When the market has gone out of recycling and many Local Authorities are having to hold on to our recycled waste,what can we do to help the situation.We've got very good at recycling over the years but all our good effort doesn't want to go to "waste".
When we go to buy our Christmas presents we can look for goods that have less packaging.We can re use Christmas bags that have been sent to us from Christmases past and we can make more cards,decorations.We can be very frugal.

Pres elect Obama switches the lights off

2008-11-27T13:30:00.003Z

In an interview President Elect Obama is showing what a great example he is to the American people and the world as he switches off his lights,TVs and mobile charger at home and he intents to do an environmental review of the White House.Hurrah!!!
We can all do our bit and remember to "Switch it off and turn Earth on"
Go on do your bit!!.

Its beginning to look alot like LED Christmas as we switch to eco friendly lighting

2008-11-26T18:37:00.002Z

The Christmas season is nearly here and its a time for many lights.Lets face it...we love our Christmas decorations and lights.This year has been a harsh one and thus we want to be cheered up.
Yet how can we celebrate Christmas without the fear of using too much energy and in turn it then affecting our environment.
Well a revolution is on its way.Its called LED and these little lights are the future for Christmas.They use less energy and last longer .They are very bright aswell.
When you are out and about look for the LED lights and brighten your Christmas this year the eco friendly way.

"Green growth"

2008-11-20T19:46:00.003Z

The green economy: ten global facts

The London Array, planned for the Thames Estuary, could become the world's largest offshore windfarm.

A proposed tidal barrage over the River Severn could provide 5 per cent of the UK's electricity. It would cost £15bn and cut carbon emissions by 16 billion tonnes a year.

Barack Obama will invest $150bn in renewables, in the hope of creating five million new jobs in the US.

Abu Dhabi's Masdar Initiative, launched in 2006, will invest $15bn in global green energy. It will take eight years and cost $22bn to build Masdar City , which will rely entirely upon renewable energy.

Qatar is investing $150m in developing green technology in the UK.

There is one large-scale commercial tidal power station in the world - in Brittany, France. It has operated for 30 years without mechanical breakdown and has recovered the initial capital costs.

Consumer goods in Japan will soon be labelled with their carbon footprints. Producing a packet of crisps emits 75 grams of CO2.

Nine out of ten new cars in Brazil use ethanol-based biofuels. Flex-fuel vehicles make up 26 per cent of the country's light vehicle fleet.

Since 2006, disposable chopsticks in China have been taxed at 5 per cent, safeguarding 1.3 million cubic metres of timber every year. Green venture capital accounts for 19 per cent of China's investments.

The Australian government has invested $10.4bn in making 1.1 million homes more energy-efficient, creating 160,000 jobs.

Will we ever have an answer on climate change?

2008-11-13T10:19:00.002Z

It seems that every week there is new research that is either saying "global warming" is man made or "global warming" is normal for climate change.
We have research that has said recently that the world has infact cooled over the last ten years and now there is more research saying that man made global warming may steer off a huge ice age.
I'm totally confused...are you?
We know that our climate changes.We have periods of warmth and periods of cold.It depends on many factors.There could be sun spots,solar rays,solar wind.There could be a slight move in Earths orbit,slight tilt.
We can't control the forces of nature.Yet we do know that we have contributed to global warming and that we have damaged our beloved planet.
Whats my attitude on it all.
Well I think that helping the environment can only be good.I think that if we think about recycling,saving water,saving energy....it helps .It makes us feel good and that in itself is a benefit.It makes us think.Waste is ugly and greedy.
Protecting our animals and countryside is beautiful.
So whatever the truth,protecting your environment is good for your soul.

Retail industry find environmentally friendly products excite consumers and save costs

2008-11-10T10:20:00.004Z

"Green is good".It excites the consumer and saves the shops money on energy costs.
The increase in turbulent weather hasn't gone unnoticed by the general public.The general public are consumers who want to make a difference to their environment.They want to consume environmentally friendly products in an environmentally friendly world.They want to go to shops that have wind turbines,low energy light bulbs and recycled furniture.
This is a "win,win" situation for big and small companies.McDonalds want to attract new and dynamic customers.Wal Mart want to show that it does care about the planet and maybe these companies want to repair some of the damage they are responsible for.We'll give them the benefit of the doubt for now.
In Chicago ,USA McDonalds has recently opened a store with energy saving gadgets.It has high efficency applicances,pavement that filters rainwater(wow)and recycled chairs.It even has a garden on its roof!
At Wal Mart ,all new stores have highly efficent lights,sky lights and improved heating,cooling and refrigeration systems.
Wal Mart opened an energy efficient store in Beijing Wanging area at end of Oct.The Store has LED as a major lighting source,sliding glass doors are used in refrigerators and coolers to conserve energy and reduce carbon emissions.The entire store is equipped with motion senses to control lighting during non-peak hours.
Wal Mart is planning to re fit all of its 113 stores in China in three to five years.
It makes good business sense to introduce these environmentally friendly gadgets and gizmos.Soon it will become the norm everywhere.

The US election and the environment.

2008-11-03T20:46:00.003Z

In the eight years of Bush being President we haven't seen much evidence of good environmental policies.Its sad really.The US can make a huge difference to our climate and they can make the changes that can help combat global warming.Yet the chance to make a change could be coming with a new President.
What do Obama and McCain offer the world on environmental issues? Its a bit unclear at the moment.
Yet the environment is serious stuff.If the next President of the US does the same as Bush,what hope have we got?
Our world is in need of a changing attitude.
We need hope for the planet.

Now will we listen as we melt the ice sheets!

2008-11-03T20:16:00.004Z

How can we ignore the facts.How can we ignore the floods,droughts,storms and heatwaves.We are to blame,we are the cause of the melting of the ice sheets in both polar regions.
The Arctic has warmed sharply in recent years.The sea ice has melted in 2007 to a record low.Yet the Antarctica puzzled scientists.Its winter ice sea had expanded.Now a new study by the University of East Anglia has revealed that the Antarctica has also warmed by a few tenths of a degree and temperatures in the Arctic have risen by two degrees in the past forty years .The study compared temperature records and computer climate models and showed that warming in the polar regions could be best explained by a build up of green house gases and mainly from burning of fossil fuels.
This will cause sea levels to rise and many changes to our climate patterns.

Starbucks not so environmentally friendly ?

2008-11-02T10:14:00.002Z

I wrote an article on how Starbucks were trying to do their bit for the environment but I did have a feeling that they couldn't live up to their promise.
The Sun newspaper in the UK has discovered that Starbucks has a policy where the staff have to allow their "dipper" tap to be turned on and flowing constant water to maintain health standards.
Well this is a total waste of water and very damaging to the environment.All their environmental projects can not undo the huge loss of water from their coffee houses each day.
What a disappointment.

Hawaii to become an example to the world on renewable energy

2008-10-25T19:42:00.002+01:00

Hawaii is a place that I've always dreamed of visiting.It just seems so beautiful.It has a very special eco system.
Yet it is it has been dependant on oil.Why when it is surrounded by the ocean.Thats the problem and thats the answer to its energy needs.
Hawaii can use water,wind and solar and geo thermal to provide its energy needs.It has access to these and now the time is ready for change.

State energy agreement
The Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative, announced at a press conference by Gov. Linda Lingle, calls for:

» 70 percent of the state's power will come from clean energy sources and 40 percent from renewable energy sources by 2030.
» 400 megawatts of wind-generated power to be transferred to Oahu via undersea cable from Maui County. The cable would connect the power grids of Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Oahu.
» 1,100 megawatts of additional renewable energy will be added in the state, 700 of which will be implemented within five years. Oahu's current capacity is 1,700 megawatts.
» The state is currently paying $5-$7 billion a year to purchase imported oil, but Lingle said it is too early to tell how much the undersea cable will cost or what potential savings could be.
Source: State energy agreement

Changing bad habits into good ones

2008-10-25T19:03:00.002+01:00

As its energy saving week in the UK its time to reflect on habits.How many times do we forget to switch off our TVs,Radios,CDs and leave them on stand by.Well nearly half of us do! Its a bad habit and hard to break but it can become a good habit.We just need to use the switch and turn it off.
What about plastic bags.
We need to think about using paper bags and recycled bags.This is becoming a good habit as I see so many people with cotton bags now when I go shopping.Infact everyone seems very proud of the fact that they don't want a plastic bag.
Its the same with washing our clothes.We can easily save energy and money if we use 30 degrees instead of 40.
Our bad habits become good habits and in the process we are all doing our bit for the planet.

UK is world leader in offshore wind

2008-10-25T18:56:00.001+01:00

The UK has overtaken Denmark to become the world's number one for wind farms built offshore, with 597MW fully constructed. The achievement has been made possible after building work finished at Centrica's Lynn and Inner Dowsing wind farms near Skegness.

Offshore wind farms now have the potential to power the equivalent of around 300,000 UK homes. This follows the Prime Minister's announcement at the British Wind Energy Association's conference that the UK now gets 3 gigawatts of electricity from wind power.

Energy saving week in the Uk from Oct 20th to 26th.

2008-10-21T20:12:00.001+01:00

Its Energy saving week in the UK and maybe we can take the time to think about all the energy we are using in our lives and cut it down.

10 ways to a more energy-efficient house

Eco hat

A rooftop gadget that uses warm air rising through the house to heat domestic water or re-circulate it through the home. Some types act as an internal chimney, capturing some of the heat from extracted air to be reused to heat incoming air.

Ground source (or geothermal) heat pump

This works by extracting heat from the ground and consists of a length of pipe containing water and antifreeze which is pumped around, absorbing the heat. The pump can cost from £6,000 to £12,000 but is able to generate £1,000 worth of electricity a year.

Air source heat pump

This exchanges heat with the air rather than the ground. A system costs about £7,500 but can produce £750 worth of energy a year. Grants are available from the Government's Low Carbon Buildings Programme for eco heat pumps and other green technologies such as solar, wind and hydro power.

Hydro turbine

People with streams or rivers on their property can use a hydro turbine, the most efficient of the renewable energy technologies. Up to 90 per cent of the water's energy can be converted to electricity. A small hydro turbine can cost between £4,000 and £10,000 depending on size.

Energy meter

A Wattson energy meter displays your energy consumption at any given time in terms of pounds per year for that level of consumption. This allows you to track just how much you are using and prevent catch-up bills from energy companies that may have previously billed on estimated usage.

Triple-glazed window

Double-glazing has been superseded by triple-glazed windows, with cavities filled with argon gas, which is a better insulator than air. Commonly used in Canada and Scandinavian countries, they are more efficient than traditional double-glazed windows.

Biomass burning boiler

These burn pellets made from compressed waste sawdust to heat water and provide central heating. They cost from £5,000 to £10,000 to install. But a typical system can produce up to £1,000 worth of energy a year and saves six tons of carbon dioxide compared to a traditional boiler.

Underfloor heating

Usually powered by ground source heat pumps, underfloor heating is more energy efficient than radiators. Because the floor has a larger space than a standard radiator, the water can be heated to a lower temperature than usual.

Solar-powered charger

For about £30 you can get a portable solar-powered charger to keep mobile phones, satnav units, laptops and other electronic gadgets fully charged.

Wind turbine

By installing a wind turbine on your roof, you can meet some of your energy needs. Although it can cost from £1,500 to £5,000, grants and long-term savings make this a viable option.

and what you should be doing already

Using energy-efficient lightbulbs

Turning down your thermostat by at least 1C

Switching to a green energy supplier

Making sure your home – including potentially wasteful areas such as the loft space – is well insulated

Turning off appliances such as computers and televisions when they not in use, rather than leaving them on standby

Using energy-efficient washing machines and fridge-freezers

Getting a free Home Energy check by logging on to www.energy savingtrust.org.uk

New Orleans comes back to life .

2008-10-14T12:54:00.005+01:00

Solar panels adorn the new houses' roofs. Concrete columns hoist some homes several feet up off the ground, which remains vulnerable to flooding. Walkways of permeable concrete will allow rain to flow through, instead of pooling up; it's hoped that the material could end storm runoff and ease pressure on the city's pumping system.

Inside the homes, walls are sealed with sprayed insulation. The drywall is made without paper, so it will dry quickly and resist mold. Windows are made to withstand hurricane-force winds and don't need to be boarded up before a storm. The solar panels probably wouldn't survive a 200 m.p.h. wind, but the homes should.

"The idea is that families have a house to come back to" after a storm, said Make It Right's director, Tom Darden. "The difference between having to replace your solar panels or having to replace your home is night and day."

A key consultant in the Lower Ninth Ward project was architect William McDonough. His other projects include Ford Motor Co.'s River Rouge turf-covered truck plant in Michigan, and a building at Oberlin College in Ohio that produces more energy than it uses.

McDonough's adviser for the Lower Ninth Ward project is Katherine Grove, who said energy independence "doesn't have to be rocket science." There are three basic principles, she said: Make sure there's daylight in every room, insulate according to climate and reduce water loads.

Green homes don't have to be new, she said. Reusing materials is especially beneficial in urban areas so long as the building's shell is safe. Salvaging old windows and frames, for instance, can be an efficient and attractive way to bring light through interior walls. Old mantels and other ornamental touches can add beauty.

In New Orleans, Darden said, the new houses incorporate some tried-and-true design elements used in the area for generations. Ceilings are high. Windows can be opened to bring in cool breezes. Porches are shaded.

Added to that are the solar panels, and geothermal systems that can cool and heat using underground circulation.

About a mile from the Make It Right project is another energy-efficient residence, the first of five planned houses to be accompanied by an 18-unit apartment building and a community center. The Global Green Holy Cross project, like the Make It Right project, aims for energy self-sufficiency.

Birgitta Bisztray of Global Green USA takes visitors on tours of the house. All the electricity comes from the 28 solar panels on its roof, she said. And knowing their house will have power when storms knock out public systems is reassuring for residents, she said.

The second floor has a deck with city views and a garden.

Interiors feature nontoxic materials, such as paint with low VOC (volatile organic compounds) and natural-fiber carpeting. Bathrooms feature dual-flush toilets. Windows are double-paned. Appliances are Energy Star whenever possible.

Among those touring the state-of-the-art home are groups refurbishing some of the thousands of residences damaged by Katrina. A Brookings Institution study found that as of March 2008, the city was dealing with 65,000 blighted properties or vacant lots. It estimated that before the storm there were no more than 15,000 such properties.

Yet another project, about four miles from the Global Green house, involves about 100 homes being fixed up by a group called NOLA 100. It's funded by the Salvation Army, Clinton Foundation, AmeriCorps and Hope Has a Face.

From Freep.com

People Tree-Buy organic cotton and change the world

2008-10-14T12:21:00.003+01:00

Conventional cotton takes up to 2.5% of the planet's cultivated land and consumes nearly 11% of the pesticides used globally.Of this nearly 23% of all insecticides,some of the most toxic of pesticides,is used on cotton.
Every year tens of thousands of cotton farmers and their families suffer serious damage to their health after contact with these toxic chemicals in the air they breathe and the water they drink,and the soil where they grow their food and graze their livestock.

There is another way
Organic farming promotes long term environmental protection.Through mixed cropping,using natural pesticides like neem and fertilizing their fields with organic matter,they can achieve long term sustainability.
What is more,farmers are paid a 30% premium for organic cotton.
Organic cotton farming allows farmers to escape from a cycle of debt which has driven many thousands in India to suicide every year.
It is easy to be part of the solution-support organic cotton clothing revolution,a movement that is growing 30% each year.

Go to www.peopletree.co.uk

The Credit Crunch and the Environment

2008-10-06T09:32:00.003+01:00

Have you noticed that everytime you switch on your TV,Radio or Net all you hear or see is the "Credit Crunch".The media are going over time and loving every moment of it! Its another good reason to switch it off!
Yet on a serious note the Credit Crunch has wider implications.It can actually affect our environment.
Why? you ask.Well it means that the building industry is not going to expand into greener housing as its more expensive.Environmental issues are put to one side as people think about how they can sort out the financial situation first.Who cares about the planet when our money is involved...right?
The Credit Crunch is not only hurting the economies but it is hurting the planet.
We are at a time where we need to concentrate every effort into the environment.We can't afford not to be on the ball when it comes to our planet.

Thought for the day

2008-09-27T16:13:00.001+01:00

"The ultimate test of man's conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard."

— Gaylord Nelson
former governor of Wisconsin, co-founder of Earth Day

Bottled water and the environmnent

2008-09-27T15:57:00.002+01:00

I think its crazy to buy bottled water when in the western world we have safe ,clean drinking water.Yet there it is! In our shops,our schools,homes and offices.
Yet bottled water can create environmental damage.The bottles are plastic and unless we recycle them all,we just create waste.Yet getting a glass under a tap costs the environment less.
Also another reason not to buy bottled water is Africa and third world countries.Imagine if they had clean water by taps in their households.There we are with water following through our taps and we got to the supermarket and buy it bottled.....madness.
Next time you go to the shops and think about buying bottled water just think about these two facts and I guarantee you'll put it back.

World Environment Day

2008-09-25T10:24:00.002+01:00

Mexico will host World Environment Day 2009 on the 5th June.
"Your Planet needs You-UNite to combat Climate Change".

Will man ever learn? The quest for oil at the expense of the eco-system

2008-09-16T13:32:00.005+01:00

We all know that global warming is a reality.We know that the "Planet Earth" is getting hotter.We also know that the climate on our beloved planet has changing over millions of years.Yes we've had cold periods,we've had hotter periods and its all part of the ever changing Universe.I guess it would be boring if we never changed.
Yet what is different this time?
We are the difference.Yes us,mankind.We have caused an increase in global warming.Yes the planet was warming naturally but we have helped to increase the warming at a rapid rate over the last 10 years.Our pursuit of economic growth has lead to ice melting at a rate that has never been seen before.Ice is melting near Canada to a point where the eco systems will be changed forever and I'm afraid this time the damage will be for good.Ice that has remained in place for thousands of years is disappearing.
Yet what does mankind do? He thinks "great the ice has gone and more oil to plunder".The Canadian Govt is looking at ways to get to this oil and the same is happening in Alaska.
Wait a minute...isn't it all this plundering of oil that has lead to global warming? Are we not just going in circles? Are we that greedy,do we not care about our childrens futures?
Why aren't the Govts thinking of using wave,wind,bio-fuels,solar more? Strange?
In an era of banks collapsing because of their own greed,can we not see what we are doing?

Top hotel is all about being green

2008-09-15T14:34:00.004+01:00

What we need are more hotels like the Fairmont Royal York hotel Toronto,Canada.
Chef David Garcelon grows herbs,tomatoes and edible flowers on the roof top harden on the 14th floor of the hotel.It even has a pear tree,apple tree and pepper plants.
This is producing local food!!!
Fairmont is proud of its green image.It is located in downtown Toronto.
I really hope more hotels will use their roof tops for producing food .What a great idea!!

Do we take our water for granted?

2008-09-15T14:12:00.002+01:00

The United Nations proclaimed the period from 2005 to 2015 to be the International Decade for Action, "Water for Life," in response to what had been identified as a full-blown global water crisis.

When you turn your tap on,do you think about the water? Do you think about where it comes from? Do you care?
You should.
In many parts of the globe there is a water shortage.Water is precious to many.
When we think about what we can do for the environment we don't always think about the water we drink,the water we use to wash ourselves in,the water we use to wash our cars,gardens and everything else.
Yet if we are to help our own environment we need to think about "turning the tap" off,don't let it drip.We need to only fill up our kettle halfway and have more showers than baths.
We need to harvest our water.We need to use rain butts to water our garden.
We need to use low flow fixtures,dual-flush toilets.
The next generation of house builders need to include water saving devices in their housing projects.

Fancy a cup of coffee?

2008-09-15T10:00:00.008+01:00

Starbucks can be found in nearly every high street in the world.Yet what is this coffee house doing for the the environment.This is a question you may ponder over sipping the 'White Chocolate Mocha with whipped cream'.
Starbucks has to be responsible for its environment.It has to offset its carbon footprint.Imagine all the trucks involved in transporting its coffee and goods and the energy it must be using in its shops and the waste it creates.
Firstly they encourage you to bring in your travel mug and you'll get 25p off the price of your drink.They also give you free bags of used coffee grounds for your garden.To be truthful I didn't realise that coffee was a good compost but I guess its natural.Its good for the roses and veggie!
They also have projects in Ethiopia.Since 2006 Starbucks has been working in partnership with CARE International to support projects that make a difference to coffee growing communities.They are supporting more than 1,500 households in the Gewgew Dingete villages of West Haraghe in Ethiopia.They are helping with their education,sustainable agriculture and water needs.
Starbucks also tries to promote local food in its stores.I hope that they do buy in local produce but its hard to know if this is what really happens.
How many large companies say they are doing this and that for the environment and then later we find out that they have froth all over their faces and have been exaggerating for their own benefit.
We know that the public are pushing for a greener environment and we also know that there is alot of money to be made out of the environment and thus companies that appear to care about the planet also have their own agenda and selfish motives.
Yet if a big company like Starbucks is helping in Ethiopia,then I say good on them and if they are trying to encourage us to bring in a travel mug,great and I think my roses could do with a bit of coffee compost.

Surfers paradise....I think not....huge waves in Australia

2008-09-13T12:48:00.003+01:00

Australia is suffering from climate change in an extreme way.It has severe droughts,bush fires and storms and now huge waves are battering the Australian coastline.Yipee the surfers might shout but these huge waves have a force that is eroding the coastline at a fast pace.
Australia is one of the countries that needs to tackle its use of energy and reduce its greenhouses gases.It has one of the highest outputs of greenhouses gases per person in the world.
They could use these waves in a positive way to generate clean energy and then offset their carbon footprint.
Australia is getting the brunt of climate change and something needs to be done soon.

Does the internet make us greener?

2008-09-10T21:32:00.004+01:00

When you turn your computer on .....you are using energy.This must be bad for the environment?
Yet the internet has actually helped in its own way to reduce the carbon footprint.We can shop on line,we can write e-mails,use social networking groups,we make less waste.
There is also a vital point of having the net.We can send clear messages to the world about what we can do for our environment.We can help change the world.
Hopefully there will come a time when we can have greener servers and greener computers.

Thought for the day

2008-09-10T21:00:00.000+01:00

"Don't blow it - good planets are hard to find." ~ Time

Parties are letting us down on green issues in the UK

2008-09-10T12:44:00.005+01:00

Now that the UK is heading for economic misery the three main parties have decided not to concentrate on environmental issues.This has been noticed.

The organisations, including Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and WWF, call for "far greater leadership, vision and courage than we have seen from any of the three main parties in recent months". They add: "Despite continuing green rhetoric, we've seen a retreat on this agenda by politicians unwilling to advocate the crucial steps to tackle climate change and other environmental problems for fear of media criticism and electoral unpalatability."

I think that the parties are making a mistake with their voters and although we are of course worried about our futures ,we are also very concerned about our environment.I think the parties should use the environment as a "positive" step .It is something that we can control and improve on.The economy has its ups and downs but without our planet functioning...we won't have any economies left anyway!

Where does our recycling really go in the UK?

2008-09-08T19:48:00.003+01:00

You know I spend alot of time each day sorting my waste and rubbish for my recycling bin.I wash the glass and tins and flatten the cardboard.Its actually "working" but at least I am doing something positive,productive and for our planet.It makes me feel good.
Yet I often wonder what happens to this waste when its collected every two weeks.Where does it go? Also I've thought "would people in the UK spend their time sorting out all the waste? Gosh it must be a hard job".
Well it looks like our Local Councils don't know what is happening to our recycled waste either...do they care ...or do they just want to get rid of it and look good.
I have heard stories before of refuse men saying that they just dumped the recycled waste in the landfill with all the other rubbish and I was horrified.Yet I believed this had been stopped.
Oh no it hasn't ...we've just moved the problem to India and Africa and other third world countries.Apparently our recycled waste is being dumped in landfills in India.This is a disgrace.We are being lied to.
This won't stop me for doing my bit every day but I do hope that the authorities "clean up their act".

Waste not Want not -Green hotels!

2008-09-05T09:30:00.005+01:00

When we enter a hotel we normally find the lights on,TV on with our guest name,a fridge stocked and all the energy we need.In this changing world we now find that the idea of using all this energy when we go on holiday is very much a "turn off".We now want to experience a hotel that is eco friendly, that cares about its guests and also the planet.
We want to see light saving bulbs,recycling our waste,using the same sheets and towels.We don't want a fridge in our room stocked with wasteful items.We want to know that the water we use in our room will be done in such a way it is not wasted.We don't want all this waste when we stay in our hotel.
There is a increased desire to stay in hotels that care about the environment and there are hotels out there that are trying to do this.
Hotels are now aware of the need for change and as we demand that change we will see a change in the way we take our holidays.
Eco friendly hotels will become the norm.

Sports go Solar!!

2008-09-04T11:43:00.005+01:00

The Arizonian Phoenix Suns want to be eco-friendly.They plan to use solar panels for their energy and thus decrease their use of energy equivalent to 26 home matches.Yeah for the Suns,way to go!!!!
They are using the car park area of US Airways Center for their solar panels and you know what it will make everyone feel better going to watch a sports event that is being eco-friendly.
The Suns installation will cost about $1.5 million but the team will receive a yearly rebate of $60,000 to $85,000 from the Arizona Public Service Co.
The project will not cost the team anything up front or lead to an increase in ticket prices.
Tioga Energy will be responsible for the maintenance of the solar panels over the next 20 years.The Suns pay Tioga a annual fee based on the amount of energy the panels produce.
The San Francisco Giants became the first baseball team to use solar power.The Los Angeles Lakers were putting more than 1,700solar panels on the roof of LA Lakers.
The Suns are also using green cleaning products and expanding their office wide recycling program.
Lets all cheer for the teams who are going solar and showing the supporters the future!! Good on them.

Native American Indians using green affordable housing

2008-09-03T15:18:00.004+01:00

When we think of the Native American Indian we instantly think of "nature","harmony" and "respect of lands".
Wisconsins First Nations are taking the lead in developing a "green house" that would not harm the environment or waste energy.
Professor Sue Thering of University Of Winconsin Madison has worked with several American tribal groups that wanted affordable,energy efficent homes.
In Native American culture the home was the home to many generations of one family.Thus the idea has arisen that they can have one large house with less impact on the environment.Thering obtained a grant of $1116,000 from US Dept of Agriculture Rural Development Program to help.The energy efficent homes would use 100% recycled roofing,insulation and interior materials that would be durable and low toxic,windows would be high quality for energy efficiency.They are truly getting back to their "roots".Yet the project goes beyond building the houses,they wish to train builders in new techniques.
This idea is hoping to expand to other tribes and who knows where else it will lead?

A golden era for green housing

2008-09-03T12:48:00.006+01:00

As energy prices increase it has a knock on effect.Its actually good for "green housing".In the 1980s we didn't seem to be bothered about saving energy and it was all about how we can progress,spend and achieve.
Today the climate is very different.We are sick to the teeth of rising energy costs and we are actually hostile to the gas,electric companies that are making vast amounts of profit while we pay through the nose.Well its back fired on all those greedy companies as we now turn our back on harmful energies and we realise we are destroying our planet and in that we want to make a difference.
It starts in our own home and demand for making our own homes energy efficent has risen and continues to rise.
The growth in green housing will be from 2% in 2005 to nearly 20% in 2012 according to the National Green building Conference in New Orleans.This drive for green housing is not just coming from the environmetalists but also the general public.
This is such a positive move.

Has Boris Johnson got any green bones?

2008-09-03T12:23:00.003+01:00

Boris wants to make London the leading "green city".Is Boris really going to produce the goods !! Boris yesterday launched the London Climate Change Adaption Stratedy document.
Here it is in all its glory
Mayor launches 'world-first' strategy to prepare London for climate change

London’s Climate Change Adaptation Strategy outlines the impact that past and present carbon emissions will have on London’s climate. It shows that currently our city is not designed to cope with the predicted changes. The launch of the strategy comes weeks after the Government’s chief scientist advised that the UK needs to adapt to increased average global temperatures of four degrees.

By the end of the century, winters will become warmer suggesting a traditional white Christmas might happen just once in a Londoner's lifetime. The rising temperatures will mean new and exotic flora and fauna in London which are more commonly seen in Mediterranean climates.

Key findings of the report:

Currently we are not very well adapted to our climate – the impacts of the heatwave of summer 2003 (in which 600 people died here and 15,000 in Paris) and the floods of summer 2007 highlight how vulnerable we are to extreme weather today.
As the climate changes, London will experience warmer, wetter winters and hotter, drier summers, whilst ‘extreme’ weather events such as heat waves and tidal surges will become more frequent and intense.
Londoners will face an increased risk of floods, droughts and heatwaves that will endanger the prosperity of the city and the quality of life for all Londoners, but especially the most vulnerable in the city.
The strategy proposes ‘greening’ the city by improving and increasing London’s greenspaces to keep the city cool in summer, managing flood risk coming from the tributaries to the Thames and surface water flooding from heavy rainfall, encouraging Londoners to use less water and raising public awareness to flood risk.
London is well placed to help the world adapt to climate change: it has the skills and services to prepare for the predicted changes, and there is a clear economic opportunity to capitalise on this leading position.
The Mayor of London said: ‘We need to concentrate efforts to slash carbon emissions and become more energy efficient in order to prevent dangerous climate change. But we also need to prepare for how our climate is expected to change in the future.

‘The strategy I am launching today outlines in detail the range of weather conditions facing London, which could both seriously threaten our quality of life - particularly that of the most vulnerable people - and endanger our pre-eminence as one of the world’s leading cities.

‘London is not unique - all major cities such as New York and Tokyo are at risk from climate change. By producing this strategy, we put London in a position of strength.’

The Mayor launched the strategy at a visit hosted by the Environment Agency to the Thames Barrier – London’s most famous example of a structure designed to manage the threat of extreme weather.

Robert Runcie, the Environment Agency's Thames Regional Director, said: ‘London's world class city is currently protected from the increasing risk of tidal flooding by the iconic Thames Barrier, which will see us into the next century as the people and businesses of London move forward in adapting to meet the challenges of climate change.

‘We welcome the Mayor’s strategy and will be playing our part in helping deliver the solutions such as planning for London's future tidal flood defences.’

The publication of the strategy underlines the Mayor’s manifesto commitment to make London a leading ‘green’ city through effective, value for money programmes including an ambitious target to cut carbon emissions by 60 per cent by 2025.

This strategy will now be open to consultation with the Greater London Authority bodies – the London Development Agency, Transport for London, London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, Metropolitan Police Authority – and the London Assembly although wider comment from organisations are invited. The Mayor will consider the responses submitted by these bodies and then publish a second version of the strategy for public consultation. The Mayor’s intention is to publish the public consultation draft of the London Climate Change Adaptation Strategy in 2009.

Interesting stuff..heh! The Major has now appointed Isabel Dedring as his green guru and she is known as a "smart ,tough,lean American"."don't mess with me" or my "green ideas".
Are the Green members of City Hall satisfied by her appointment.It seems to be ok as Dedring apparently wrote Ken Livingstones climate action plan and may have been the driving force behind the greening of transport,including hybrid buses.

Australian Labour Party promise to protect wilderness

2008-09-03T11:23:00.002+01:00

The Premier Alan Carpenter has promised to develop a new conservation model to protect Woodlands,which is said to be home to 3,000 types of plants and hundreds of native animal species.This area is known as the Great Western Woodlands.
The Wilderness is becoming a "hot" election issue in Australia.
I am pleased to see that the Australians are also very concerned about their Wilderness and that Govts are waking up to the reality of protecting our natural,beautiful areas of the planet.
What a shame we didn't save more of our wilderness.

Obama and McCain who would Planet Earth vote for?

2008-08-29T10:18:00.005+01:00

If our Planet was voting in the US Presidental Elections in November where would Earth cast its vote...ermm...I wonder?
Would it want a leader that would plunder the oil in its rich heart or a leader that would use wind,solar and water energy.
The real question that Earth would ask the new leader in the USA is "What are you going to do to help me".
Do we want a President that just wants to "take" or a President who wants to "give back".
Who can answer the question of Earth?
To me the one who can answer the question is the one who will use the energy that is the least harmful to our planet.

Thought for the day

2008-08-28T16:28:00.002+01:00

"Do not wait for extraordinary circumstances to do good action,try to use ordinary situation"
Jean Paul Richter

President Bush becomes an environmentalist-WHAT!

2008-08-26T20:55:00.008+01:00

President Bush isn't a man that many would consider as an "environmental champion" in fact quite the reverse.Though I guess even the White House isn't immune to the change in attitude towards our planet.
Infact what he is trying to do may be the most significant environmental act by any US President...shock...horror!
So whats it all about you may wonder?
President Bush wants to protect some of the Pacific Oceans most remote and unspoiled islands,coral reefs,atolls from fishing and deep sea mining.Bush used the Antiquities Act a few years go to establish the worlds largets Marine protected area near Northwest Hawaiian Islands.
The important issue is not just to designate these areas as monument or marine sanctuary but to establish these sites as "no take reserves" where no extractive activity is allowed.
Now would Bush go that far,lets wait and see.

Emirates is trying to be eco-friendly

2008-08-26T20:04:00.003+01:00

Dubai based airline Emirates is going eco-friendly.
Really...you gasp!When we think of an airline ,we would think that green issues would be the last thing we would think of!
Emirates is to receive its first eco-friendly Airbus A380.They want to reduce energy consumption and waste internally and increase reycling.
HH Sheikh Al-Makoum,Chairman and Chief executive for Emirates Airline and group stated
"our environmental commitment began well before it was considered fashionable,when we sponsored the creation of Dubai Desert Conversation Reserve in 1997"

The airline added that it is hoping to lauch next year one of the worlds most environmentally ambitious conservation resort in 400 acre Wolgan Valley Resort Spa in the Blue Mountains in Australia.
The idea is to restore tracts of distressed farming land back to its native state.Sounds great to me!

Will China be able to keep its "green promise"

2008-08-24T19:00:00.005+01:00

The Olympics has finished and China has shown the world that they can tackle their environment.Yet what will happen now when the worlds focus has moved from the Chinese shores and they go back to business.They will re open the factories and the cars will be back in Beijing.Smog returns.
We have already seen that China can create a cleaner Beijing and is building an ecocity but will the Chinese Govt be able to keep their green promise.I guess that to a certain extent they will try to.Yet China is a vast country with many issues.We can only hope and maybe the Chinese won't need to hold their breath again.

"Spoon me"-Frozen yoghurt serves you and your planet

2008-08-24T16:59:00.004+01:00

Ryan Combe of Spoon me frozen yoghurt has said "eco-friendly commerce will be the norm rather than the exception."
He has shown that this is possible with his frozen yoghurt restaurants
.The first store opened in Salt Lake City back in Oct 07 and more stores are now opening.You can eat your spoons if you like! His stores use eco-friendly paints,light saving bulbs,recycled linen and the staff wear recycled clothes.They even have community based projects.In fact nearly all their products are eco friendly and the fact that you can go to this "eating place" and feel that you've actually done something to help the environment rather than contributing to more waste...has to be a major reason to go there.

The National Trust in the UK concentrates on the environment in their shops

2008-08-24T16:42:00.002+01:00

The National Trust is an organisation in the UK with helps preserve our history,culture and wildlife.
The National Trust introduced a five pence charge for plastic bags from the 1st May 2008.This has caused a 95% drop in the usage of plastic bags from their shops.This equates to more than 325,000 carrier bags saved from landfill.They are also working closely with their suppliers to cut the amount of packaging waste and energy that is used in their shops.
Eco-friendly iniatives introduced into National Trust shops include recycled paper bags.

What does "sustainable" mean to the environmentalists and Shell.

2008-08-15T11:21:00.010+01:00

What image is Shell trying to portray.They released an advert in 2007 which has been branded as "misleading" by the Advertising Standards Authority.(ASA)
In the advert Shell stated that it wanted to meet the growing need for energy in ways that are not only profitable but sustainable.They have future projects lined up in Canada to unlock the potential of vast Canadian oil sand deposits.In the USA they are building the nations largest oil refinary and they are going to have a new generation of bio fuels from non food sources.
Hurrah,we think,at last the big boys at Shell care a bit about their environment!
Oh no,don't think so!
Now the WWF did not like the way Shell used "vague and ambiguous" claims to give the impression that Shell had a general concern for the environment.This advert certainly likes to blur what is really behind it all.
WWF argued that Shell is not helping provide a sustainable energy source by exploiting the oil sands.
Infact the oils sands according to the WWF are the worlds dirtest sources of fuel and had a major impact on the environment.
ASA decided to uphold WWFs complaint and this is an important step to stop companies such as Shell trying to give the impression that they are doing all they can to find ways to lessen the harm on the environment.
Lets face it,Shell have to answer to their shareholders and oil companies are just that,Oil companies.
Maybe Shell should think about investing in wind,solar and water power and then and only then can they claim a sustainable energy source that is a benefit to our planet.
In the this changing world and an increasing hostile world to oil they want to keep ahead but maybe they should look at their symbol the Shell and think about where it lived,the sea and maybe think about the life of the Shell and not its death.Its a big hint here!!

Why we should switch our computers off!!!!

2008-08-14T21:40:00.004+01:00

Its so easy to forget to switch our computers off and the net.We feel very proud when we switch off the TV and lights but we have forgotten to remember the tool we are all using the most! This one!!!

Also do you leave your mobile phone on the charger all day and night! Don't..you only need to charge it for a few hours.
We are wasting so much electricity and our bills are increasing.We seem to have more and more gadgets that we think require to be on 24hrs a day.They don't.
What about the wireless connections...are they always on?
Go on make a real difference,yes you!! Switch that computer off.

Dogs doing their bit for the planet.

2008-08-14T21:27:00.002+01:00

Do you have a dog? When you take your dog for "walkies" and he decides to do a number two...what do you used to pick it up?
Well there are poop bags that can make you feel better!
BioBag Dog Waste Bags - 100% Biodegradable / 100% Compostable

* Shelf-stable, like paper goods, but will start to decompose within 10-45 days once it enters a composting or landfill environment.

* Contains no polyethylene - therefore no plastic residue remains.

* Certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute, meets specification ASTM #D6400-99.

* Meets California Law, SB 1749, regarding biodegradable and compostable requirements.

* Made in Norway - Certificate, EN 13432 - certifies the bag is 100% biodegradable and compostable. This certificate is based on the strictest European standard for compostable products.

* Made out of GMO-free (genetically modified-free) corn.

* Inks and dyes used for color and printing on bags are soy-based, and does not contain any heavy metals.

I have these for my dogs and they are great.

Wilderness , conservation and the environment

2008-08-13T22:45:00.006+01:00

When we look at the environment around us and we think of conservation of the wilderness,we look at the first step of trying to help the whole planet.The Native American Indians in America valued their environment and the animals that were in harmony with the earth.The Europeans arrived and did not have any concern for their environment but that changed when the Europeans realised what we could do to the environment and thus they decided to protect the wilderness.Many of these changes took place in the 19th and 20th centuries and now we have wilderness projects in the US and Africa and around the world.
We need to protect the wilderness and conserve our lands.In protecting the wilderness we can infact protect our planet.

Solar Cities

2008-08-13T16:32:00.002+01:00

Solar cities are being developed in Australia.Perth Solar City is the seventh city to join the Australian Govt Solar Cities program.It is estimated that more than 6,OOO homes and businesses will participate in the Perth Solar City trial.Participants will receive access to low flow showerheads that save water,efficient low wattage light bulbs,home energy assessments and discounted solar heated water and panels.

New Orleans in the USA is being re built with solar in mind.New Orleans has an opportunity to become one of the most important sustainable solar cities in the nation, saving thousands of dollars for homeowners while reducing carbon emissions,” said Ron Kenedi, vice president, Sharp Solar Energy Solutions Group. “As the U.S. solar market leader, we are extremely proud of having brought together our installers to help rebuild a Katrina-damaged New Orleans neighborhood.”

India with the help of the Clinton Foundation is also going to develop a solar City.

Eco paints for cars

2008-08-12T18:41:00.005+01:00

Cars are not considered eco friendly but you can think about having them painted with a water based product.
Its cost efficent,there is less pollution and there many colours to choose from.
Its just that it requires a change of thought and the knowledge that water based paints are better over all.
So next time you think about buying a car or having it re painted...ask about a water based paint.

China leads the world in the first major green city

2008-08-12T11:00:00.002+01:00

Shanghai is buzzing.Its a place full of life , pollution and power cuts.Yet just outside the huge City is a place called Dongtan.
Dongtan is changing the way China and the world will look at planning and cities.Dongtan aims to use wind,solar power and bio fuels.It is using walkable neighbourhoods, a recycling scheme,organic farms and even green roofs.A new revolution is coming to China and it just might shape our world.
This is the hope of the Arup Group,based in London and designed by them.They also designed Beijings Olympic pool.
Dongtan should house 5,000 people by the end of 2010 and 500,000 by 2050.

How exciting is this....very!!
It shows that with planning and thought we can make eco towns and cities and feel proud of our achievements.