That's Christmas: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

That's Christmas: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the team behind the That's Team of online magazines! We hope that you are able to get and to giv...

Radflek Radiator Reflectors – your way to a warmer winter

With forecasts of a harsh winter and increasing utility bills, we’re all looking for ways to save energy and keep our homes warm. Radflek’s revolutionary radiator reflectors are a cost effective and easy way to do this.

Many radiators waste about 40 per cent of their heat through the wall behind, but this can be easily redirected back into the room with Radflek. Radflek is quick and easy to fit - no sticking, gluing or radiator removal required as is the case with other radiator panels– Radflek just hangs from the wall brackets, reflecting the heat back into the room, and the savings start straight away. No DIY know-how needed – anyone can do it.

Michael Watson, CEO of Radflek said: “Forecasters are predicting another severe British winter, with snow expected from next month. Many homes could be so much warmer without using more energy or making any changes to your heating system. Using Radflek will help you save energy, cut your heating bills and reduce your carbon footprint.”

How it works
Because Radflek reflects heat back into the room (primarily into the radiator) the radiator will maintain its operating temperature using less energy with a lower load on the boiler. Radflek has a special laminate coating that maintains its greater than 95 per cent reflectivity for a certified lifetime of at least 60 years. Unlike radiator panels, Radflek is made from a high-tech laminated foil and is the most efficient radiator reflector available on the market, at least 23 per cent more effective than saw-toothed or louvered radiator panels.

How to buy it
Radflek is available for sale at www.radflek.com and through other online eco-retailers. It is regularly in the top 10 best-selling DIY products on Amazon and comes in 6, 10 and 20 radiator packs (based on a typical sized radiator) with all the accessories required for installation. Each sheet of Radflek is 600mm x 1200mm and sufficient for 2 typical sized radiators. The prices on www.radflek.com (exclusive of P & P) are:
· 6 radiator pack £12.99
· 10 radiator pack £19.99
· 20 radiator pack £34.99

Depending on the wall and the heating energy source, Radflek can pay for itself in six to twelve months.
www.radflek.com

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EU Launches new Eco-Innovation Action Plan - helping businesses to deliver green growth and environmental benefits

Eco-innovation is crucial to delivering the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. The new [Eco-InnovationActionPlan(EcoAP)ǀhttp://ec.europa.eu/environment/etap/index_en.html] will boost innovation that reduces pressure on the environment, and bridge the gap between innovation and the market. Eco-friendly technologies are good for business and help create new jobs, so eco-innovation is crucial to the economic competitiveness of Europe.

The EcoAP is one of the commitments of the Innovation Union Flagship Initiative, building on the 2004 [Environmental Technologies Action Plan (ETAP)ǀhttp://ec.europa.eu/environment/etap/files/com_2004_etap_en....] It expands the focus from green technologies to the broader concept of eco-innovation, targeting specific bottlenecks, challenges and opportunities for achieving environmental objectives through innovation.

The EcoAP includes actions both on the demand and supply side, on research and industry and on policy and financial instruments. The Plan recognizes the key role of environmental regulation as a driver of eco-innovation and foresees a review of environmental legislation. It also stresses the importance of research and innovation to produce more innovative technologies and bring them to the market. The Plan also puts emphasis on the international aspect of eco-innovation, and on better coordination of policies with international partners.

Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik said: "The innovation challenge for this Century will be making our resources go further - doing more with less – and reducing the impact of our activities. Europe must be in the lead in meeting that challenge if we want to be competitive in a world of increasing resource constraints. Worldwide demand for environmental technologies, products and services is growing rapidly even in these difficult times, and it's an area where Europe has much to offer. This is a plan for green jobs and green growth."

The Action Plan will accelerate eco-innovation across all sectors of the economy with well targeted actions. To help create stronger and more stable market demand for eco-innovation, it will take measures in the areas of regulatory incentives, private and public procurement and standards and it will mobilise support for Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to improve investment readiness and networking opportunities.

Key aspects of the new Action Plan include:

1. Using environmental policy and legislation to promote eco-innovation;
2. Supporting demonstration projects and partnering to bring promising, smart and ambitious operational technologies to market;
3. Developing new standards to boost eco-innovation;
4. Mobilising financial instruments and support services for SMEs;
5. Promoting international co-operation;
6. Supporting the development of emerging skills and jobs and related training programmes to match labour market needs; and
7. Promoting eco-innovation through European Innovation Partnerships

Next Steps

Implementation of the plan will be via partnership between stakeholders, private and public sector, and the Commission. The upcoming mid-term financial review will provide a good opportunity to assess the achievement of the goals set in this Action Plan. New efforts will focus on product development and demonstration activities to fill the gap between technology and market uptake.

Background

Eco-Innovation is any form of innovation resulting in or aiming at significant and demonstrable progress towards the goal of sustainable development, through reducing impacts on the environment, enhancing resilience to environmental pressures, or achieving a more efficient and responsible use of natural resources.

European eco-industries are a significant economic sector with an annual turnover estimated at EUR 319 billion, or about 2.5 % of EU GDP.

Further information:

[Eco-innovation Action Plan (EcoAP)ǀhttp://ec.europa.eu/environment/etap/index_en.html]
[Innovation Union Flagship Initiativeǀhttp://ec.europa.eu/research/innovation-union/index_en.cfm]

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Version One’s sixth year of tree planting will bring the total number of trees planted across the UK to almost 4,000

Wilmslow, Cheshire-based document management and imaging software author, Version One, continues to lead the way with its green initiative, by pledging to plant over 400 trees in 2012. The trees are being planted in partnership with Tree Appeal, a charity which plants trees to promote biodiversity, create new habitats and improve the environment.

Version One has pledged to plant over 400 trees in sustainable forests throughout the UK and in school and college grounds across the North West. This will mark the sixth year that Version One has been planting trees as part of its green initiative, bringing the total number of trees planted since 2006 to nearly 4,000.

Julian Buck, Managing Director of Version One says, “Our tree planting initiative is an intrinsic part of our green agenda, which naturally lends itself to our document management software solutions. We pride ourselves on providing software that cuts paper use, enabling organisations to operate more efficiently whilst being environmentally responsible.”

Ken Whitley, Managing Director from Tree Appeal says, “It’s clear that being green is a core part of Version One’s ethos and the company’s continued dedication to planting trees demonstrates that it is green in its actions, as well as its words.”

The Version One tree plantings in 2012 will help to create wildlife habitats, secure biodiversity and provide an interactive environmental learning resource for pupils in the North West.

FACTFILE:
www.versionone.co.uk

Version One Ltd is the author of electronic document management and imaging solutions. These solutions enable the electronic storage, retrieval, management, enhancement and delivery of business documents such as invoices, purchase orders and statements. This 'paperless office' technology is seamlessly integrated into all major ERP and accounting systems and with a typical ROI of less than six months, Version One's solutions are enabling thousands of organisations to cut paper consumption whilst saving dramatic amounts of time and money.

Version One is an Advanced Computer Software Group plc company.

About the Tree Appeal http://www.treeappeal.com/

Tree Appeal plants trees to promote biodiversity, create habitats and improve the environment for people. The trees are paid for by corporate partners - businesses that want to make a positive contribution to the environment.

Tree Appeal can help businesses to make a positive contribution to natural woodland habitats - both locally and nationally.

Food waste down

Tighter household budgets and soaring house prices mean people in Britain are throwing away 13% less food than three years ago. (EDITOR: And a desire to be 'greener'?)

The figures come from the government’s Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) which says that we threw away 8.3m tonnes of food in 2007 but only 7.2m tonnes last year. However, that is still enough waste food to fill Wembley Stadium right up to the roof.

However, even with this reduction a fifth of all food purchased is still currently wasted – of which 60% is fit for consumption! And with Christmas just around the corner it is estimated that families will bin around 230,000 tonnes of food over the festive period. (Source DEFRA 2010)

WRAP's chief executive, Dr Liz Goodwin, said "Despite the reduction, the food we waste in homes which accounts for about half the UK's food waste, is still worth £12bn a year as a result of food-price inflation. The food that is being wasted throughout the supply chain is significant, at a time when food security is a major global issue," she said.

Greenhouse gas emissions, associated with the manufacture, distribution, storage, use and disposal of wasted food, are still at a worrying 17 million tonnes.

Although sending less waste food to the tip has saved councils £80m a year due to lower landfill charges, more can be done and households can help to reduce this cost further still.

Richard Barker, CEO of food waste recycling firm BiogenGreenfinch says “Each Christmas we see a large increase in the amount of food sent to our three anaerobic digestion plants around the country. In these austere times we would encourage households to realistically consider what they will purchase, store and cook over the festive period in order to reduce the amount of food wasted. However there will always be some food wasted and where this occurs, sending it to be processed by anaerobic digestion to produce power for homes is a far more sensible option than throwing it into the ground to cause pollution.”

BiogenGreenfinch takes household food waste from 12 local councils around the country and processes it to produce electricity for the national grid and a fertiliser for crops.

FACTFILE:

• BiogenGreenfinch owns and operates 3 food waste AD plants in the UK, Biocycle in Shropshire, Twinwoods in Bedfordshire and Westwood in Northamptonshire.

• These plants process a combined total of 90,000 tonnes of food waste each year to generate sufficient electricity for 6,000 homes continually for a year.

• For more information on anaerobic digestion see www.biogengreenfinch.co.uk

Gas Oil Removed From Power Station With Full Environmental Safeguards

National fuel distributor, Crown Oil, has removed 6.4 million litres of surplus gas oil at Derwent Power Station in Derby. The four month operation has released a substantial sum for the generator and required 200 tanker movements. The closely controlled operation was completed without a single spillage.

Mark Andrews, Crown Oil’s general manager explained, “There are many power stations and industrial operation facing similar problems with bulk back-up fuel that is no longer needed. This fuel is a potential environmental threat and will only degrade over time. Fortunately, we can remove this material and so release working capital for our client.”

A major fuel oil distributor that has its own environmental services operation, Crown Oil is one of only a handful of companies in the UK with the technical, commercial and distribution resources for this work. Before removal, samples of fuel are carefully analysed to assess condition. Should it be necessary recovered fuel is re-blended and appropriately graded before it is sold on to the market.

Crown Oil offered a better return to the client and demonstrated a capability to do the work without environmental impact. The company also has a track record, having successfully completed a similar project last year to recover 25 million litres of fuel at Medway Power Station in Kent.

Preparations are now in hand for the final environmental work. This will involve the removal and safe disposal of oil residues, draining of pipework, cleaning of tanks and degassing so that they are safe and ready to be re-used at any time in the future should the need arise.

Crown Oil can offer a national fuel recovery service to any power station or industrial site. As a major oil distributor, with substantial technical resources and market knowledge, the company is uniquely placed to provide an integrated and competitive service.
  www.crownoiluk.com

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Facing the challenges of labelling changes from phosphates in detergents ban

Household laundry detergent manufacturers now have just over 12 months to remove phosphates from their products as the EU ban is due to come into effect on 1 January 2013. As well as all the work required for reformulation, there is also the task of updating all the packaging content.

Brand owners will be required to react quickly to ensure the new products reach the market within the required timeframe and with accurate and fully compliant messaging. For businesses with out-dated manual paper or email based artwork creation and sign-off processes, even making small changes can be a lengthy and expensive exercise.

Generating artwork automatically
However, companies using Kallik’s AMS360 Automated Artwork Management Solution can make changes across all types of labelling and marketing collateral in a matter of seconds. Kallik’s end-to-end enterprise solution is designed to manage the entire labelling and packaging artwork process. AMS360 easily integrates with existing systems and allows users to initiate new projects, capture data, create artwork and approve print-ready files while keeping a fully auditable archive history.

The starting point is a web-based Asset Repository that enables business divisions to share branded assets across their organisation, which are then used to automatically generate artwork for labels, packaging and point of sale materials – in seconds. These assets include product descriptions as well as regulatory information, ingredients, etc. The powerful ‘where used’ function can easily identify where a specific phrase or image has been used, so if it needs to be changed, this can be implemented very quickly and efficiently.

A single source of truth
“We believe in having content that is a ‘single source of truth,’ says Kallik CEO Neil Gleghorn. “The original content can then be propagated to whatever communication channel you need and in whatever region or language it is required. The agility this offers when replacing a text phrase or image is where the real power lies. By changing the content or image just once, you can populate all types of collateral almost at the touch of a button.”

Compliance
Kallik’s AMS360 solution automatically creates a full archive and audit trail of the entire artwork management process, so that compliance can be proved.

For more information on how to manage changing labelling requirements efficiently, contact Kallik on + 44 (0) 1827 318 100, sales@kallik.com or visit www.kallik.com

FACTFILE:
Kallik is a software technology company that specialises in developing labelling and packaging artwork solutions. These enable businesses to generate accurate print-ready artwork automatically from a database of approved content. Clients range from SMEs to global corporations in the pharmaceutical, life science, cosmetic and chemical sectors.

Kallik has over 25 years of experience and success in the field of packaging and software development and is located in Tamworth, in the UK.

(EDITOR: So long as phosphate-free products actually  work!)

Unilever PLC announced as Grand Prix Winner at 6th International Green Awards

The 2011 International Green Awards™ in association with sponsor Celestial Green Ventures PLC are proud to announce Unilever PLC as the overall Grand Prix winner at this year’s glittering ‘green carpet’ awards ceremony held at the iconic Natural History Museum.

Sponsored by Celestial Green Ventures PLC, Unilever PLC became the 6th Grand Prix winner after an extremely close contest following in the footsteps of the China Environmental Protection Foundation, Keep Britain Tidy, Nokia, Honda and O2 from previous years.

The Grand Prix is the overall winner of the event which is judged the best amongst all the entries and which, in the opinion of the expert judging panel, has the greatest capacity to change the way society and business is perceived supported by factual evidence of systemic change.

Ms Karen Hamilton, Vice President – Sustainability, Unilever Plc pointed out: “We’re delighted to be awarded the International Green Awards™ Grand Prix and Best Green International Business Award for a large company by the influential jury of sustainability experts and luminaries.

"The Unilever Sustainable Living Plan commits us to halve the environmental impact of our products, help more than a billion people improve their health and well-being and source 100% of our agricultural raw materials sustainably. We are making solid progress towards these goals and the International Green Awards™ are an important recognition of these efforts".

“Celestial Green Ventures felt both privileged and honoured to be the sponsors and presenters of this year’s Grand Prix award at the International Green Awards™ of special significance in this, the UN International Year of the Forest. The diversity of the entrants for this year’s awards demonstrates that embracing sustainable development in business is key in the fight against climate change and it's encouraging that business is waking up to this clarion call.

"The International Green Awards™ are a great way of highlighting and rewarding these efforts and encouraging individuals and organisations alike to actively contribute to making a positive environmental difference.” Ciaran Kelly, CEO, Celestial Green Ventures PLC

This prestigious award went to Unilever PLC by virtue of its ambitious Sustainable Living Plan, which puts the multinational company on track to reduce its impact on the environment whilst also developing and expanding as a company. Whilst each of the category winners displayed true innovation in their own sector, judges were impressed by the extent and ambition exhibited by the strategy considering the wide-ranging nature and size of the organisation, with measured progress and ambitious targets to install sustainability within all aspects of the company, forming a world leading core strategy for the future business behaviour.

While it was a close run competition for the International Green Awards™ Grand Prix winner, the judges thought that Unilever deserved the award owing to their past success, present goals and future promises towards sustainability.

The International Green Awards™ judges thought: “Unilever’s ‘Sustainable Living Plan’ reflects the most comprehensive value chain approach with ambitious goals and genuine ethos for sustainability. As a prolific global organisation, Unilever has a huge responsibility towards promoting and embodying sustainability; something that they have never been shy of, represented in the ambitious goals they have set through this plan.”

This year, the International Green Awards™ took further steps to establish the event globally, encouraging worldwide participation in all 20 categories. Entries were received from all over the world, including Bahrain, Singapore, India, Kenya, United States, Pakistan, Peru, Denmark, Australia, South Africa and Sweden amongst others.

The quality of work submitted made the judges’ task of choosing winners quite difficult. The judging criterion was based on the pillars of creativity, sustainability and effectiveness, but it was not only the high standard of the entries, but also the cultural and social variances between countries which made judging an interesting and challenging experience.

BBC veteran, Philippa Forester and sustainability author and finance expert Leo Johnson hosted the ceremony and announced winners for all 20 categories, which made up the shortlist for the overall Grand Prix Winner.

For further details of all this year’s winner and to find out how to get involved next year visit http://www.greenawards.com

ABB gives its name to new educational facility aimed at teaching new ways to save energy

ABB has given its support for a new facility built by City College Plymouth aimed at encouraging the uptake of energy efficient, sustainable technologies in industrial, commercial and residential projects in the UK.

Named the ABB Energy Centre, the hi-tech facility is the centrepiece of a pioneering new initiative being led by the College to connect education and industry with the latest low carbon technology and methods.

Working with its local partner, Western Electrical, ABB has supplied a range of equipment for use in the Centre, including its i-bus (KNX) intelligent building controls, variable speed drives, solar inverters and various instruments from its measurement products range. This equipment features throughout the Centre, which incorporates 14 purpose-built bays for demonstrating and training on a variety of energy saving technologies and techniques.

ABB's i-bus (KNX) intelligent building controls are used extensively in one of the bays. Built around a smart home scenario, the bay demonstrates how ABB's i-bus (KNX) technology can be used throughout the home to help improve energy efficiency.

The ABB Energy Centre also features technologies and training systems around grey water harvesting, solar thermal paneling, photovoltaics (PV), air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps, combined heat and power (CHP) systems, variable speed drives and environmental monitoring systems.

ABB became involved in the project after being recommended to City College Plymouth by Stuart Morrison, MD of electrical distributor, Western Electrical.

"Western Electrical has worked closely with City College Plymouth for many years, sponsoring its electrical apprenticeship programme to help get young people into work in the electrical industry," says Stuart. "When the College came to us with the idea of building a dedicated training centre to showcase the energy efficient and environmental benefits of today's available technologies, I immediately suggested ABB to help bring the idea to fruition."

The ABB Energy Centre will also have its own dedicated conference and training facility, showcase areas and an interactive workshop. It will give both students and visiting schools an opportunity to explore a range of ideas and processes through interactive activities. Academic and commercial training will be delivered through the College with the help of ABB and construction giant Cowlin, covering the use of low carbon innovations and products.

ABB's involvement in the Energy Centre project is part of its continuing focus on encouraging UK users to help save both energy and cost through the adoption of energy efficient technologies.

"With energy efficiency and sustainability at the very core of ABB's business, we are always keen to find new ways to promote awareness of our technology and the ways in which we can help both people and companies to better manage their energy consumption," says James Haigh, General Manager for ABB's UK Low Voltage Products business. "Our involvement in City College Plymouth's Energy Centre project is a great way for us to take an active role in educating and training the workforce of the future about how they can use energy more sustainably."

The ABB Energy Centre will officially launch on 8th December 2011 and will be opened by TV presenter and sustainability champion Charlie Luxton.

Says Charlie: "The ABB Energy Centre will play a key role in demonstrating the value of low carbon technology to a variety of audiences and I am certain it will bring huge benefits to the region's economy for years to come."

As well as students, the Centre will also be open to local groups such as the ECA and NICEIC, school children, and also local companies including architects and consultants, to enable them to see how technology is offering new possibilities for saving energy and protecting the planet for future generations.

"It's great to have a location based in the south west of England that brings together the leading technologies available within the electrical industry where we can train and educate our industry to apply the environmental and technological benefits that this technology brings," says Western Electrical's Stuart Morrison.

"By appealing to everyone from architects through to young schoolchildren, the ABB Energy Centre can play a significant role in promoting the ideas of energy efficiency and sustainability to help change the world we live in."

Viv Gillespie, Principal at City College Plymouth adds: "We are thoroughly looking forward to showing what we will be able to deliver for students and companies alike at the ABB Energy Centre, which we are confident will put the College at the forefront of the sustainability agenda."

For more information about either the ABB Energy Centre or ABB's energy-saving products, please email lv.products@gb.abb.com or call 02476 368500 ref. 'Energy saving products'.

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As biodegradable nappies gain in popularity, so does home composting

As we all strive to be eco-friendly and reduce our carbon footprint, many parents are turning to biodegradable nappies as part of that strategy and to reduce the burden on landfill – and as such home composting has also become a popular practice. Home composting can seem like a major step or a daunting prospect for busy people, but it’s actually quite easy to get started and get into the habit, says gNappies – inventor of the hybrid nappy.

Home composting not only reduces landfill waste, but provides great benefit in the way of nutrients the soil will love. Research shows that almost half of home food waste could be composted, and in doing this, in just one year, save global warming gases equivalent to the CO₂ emissions a kettle produces annually or a washing machine in three months.

gNappies gives parents the option to choose between disposable nappies or cloth nappies – with the disposable element being a gRefill – an insert which is home compostable or can be disposed of in the domestic waste. In landfill, the gRefill only takes 50 – 100 days to biodegrade, compared with 500 years for a single disposable nappy. However, nothing totally biodegrades in landfill, so there are many benefits to home composting them.

Says Kim Graham-Nye, co-founder of gNappies, “Environmental issues are something that are a consideration for most people these days – and although it’s not always entirely convenient, actually once you incorporate eco-friendly habits into your everyday life it just gets easier and quickly becomes part of the normal routine. Our eco-friendly nappies help parents who want to be considerate to the environment to do so in a more convenient way, with the use of the gRefill. Home composting them is great for the environment and the soil – as the components used in the gRefill are absorbed back into the eco-system in a neutral or beneficial way.”

Parents may have been reluctant to try a non-disposable due to the perceived downtime, but changing nappies is easy with gNappies as it offers the two different options.

Kim and her husband Jason introduced the hybrid nappy concept after discovering shocking facts about disposable nappies and their impact on the environment. Around 11 million disposable nappies enter UK landfill every day, each taking up to 500 years to decompose and accounting for a third of the world’s landfill.

In addition to helping protect the environment, the gNappies range is stylish – the nappy ‘pants’ come in a range of colours, patterns and sizes. The dedicated gNappies UK website - www.gnappies.co.uk - features all the products as well as gBundle starter packs.

Professor Wangari Maathai honoured with the 2nd International Green Awards™ Lifetime Achievement Award

LONDON 25th November 2011 – The 6th International Green Awards™, in association with Climate Change - The New Economy (CCTNE), is proud to announce the Kenyan visionary, Professor Wangari Maathai was posthumously awarded the inaugural ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ sponsored by First Eastern Investment Group for her lifelong commitment to environmental protection. The Nobel Peace Laureate; environmentalist; scientist; parliamentarian; founder of the Green Belt Movement; advocate for social justice, human rights, and democracy; elder; and peacemaker; was honoured for her vast contribution to sustainability at the annual gala dinner, which took place on 24th of November 2011 at the Natural History Museum, South Kensington, London.

As it is the United Nations’ International Year of the Forests, it seemed fitting that the prestigious 2nd Lifetime Achievement Award be given to a woman who established perhaps the greatest tree planting initiative in the world - the Green Belt Movement. Having already become the first Eastern African woman to hold a Ph.D., Professor Wangari Maathai went on to establish this movement, which has now planted over 45 million trees in Kenya.

However, after the movement was established, it soon became clear that Maathai was fighting for a cause that spread far beyond the ecological. She insisted that the tree planting be carried out by women in the villages of Kenya, who through protecting their environment and ensuring paid employment for planting the trees, are now able to better care for their future generations. Essentially, Maathai’s unique insight was that social and economic issues were fundamentally intertwined with the environment.

In fact, the Green Belt Movement helped to profoundly improve the lives of Kenyan women and all Kenyans, through education, food-security and income, and rights- standing up to the then dictator Moi which lead to the first democratic elections in Kenya. In 2004 the Nobel committee awarded

Maathai the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to link peace, sustainable development and democracy. This was a momentous achievement, as she was not only the first African woman to win
the award, but the first environmentalist, indicating that her efforts had demonstrated that environmental protection in itself, was a path to peace.

Sadly, Maathai passed away in September 2011, and the world lost a true heroine and environmental luminary. Nevertheless, we can look back over her life and celebrate her remarkable selfless dedication to improving the environment, and enhancing the lives of women in Kenya, where her legacy continues to inspire leaders around the world. It was for this reason that the 6th International Green Awards decided to celebrate the life of Wangari Maathai by awarding her the Lifetime Achievement Award which she agreed to receive before her untimely passing.

The award was presented to Francesca de Gasparis, Europe Director of the Green Belt Movement who worked closely with Wangari for six years. The award was handed over by sponsor Ms. Elizabeth Kan, Managing Director of First Eastern Investment Group who came from Hong Kong for the occasion. A celebration of her life was screened which included a goodwill message and thanks from Wangari’s daughter Wanjira Maathai.

Francesca de Gasparis, Director of the Europe office of the Green Belt Movement commented “The International Green Awards Lifetime Achievement Award for Wangari Maathai, founder of the Green Belt Movement and Nobel Laureate 2004 has come at a time when we are grieving her loss to the world and celebrating her life. Wangari committed her life to planting trees, protecting forests and inspiring us all to do our bit to help create a sustainable future. Through this award, in recognition of her life, more people will come to learn of the deep commitment, humour and energy Wangari brought to the Green movement. Going forward, as Wangari used to say when she told the wonderful story of the little hummingbird- we will do the best we can!”.

For further details of the International Green Awards please visit http://www.greenawards.com or follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/GreenAwards

To view the celebration of her life and message from her daughter visit http://www.greenawards.com/about/lifetime_achievement_award/...



FACTFILE:

GREEN BELT MOVEMENT
The mission of the Green Belt Movement (GBM) is to mobilize community consciousness- using tree planting as an entry point- for self-determination, equity, improved livelihoods and security, and environmental conservation.
www.greenbeltmovement.org

FIRST EASTERN INVESTMENT GROUP
A private equity and venture capital firm specializing in expansion stage. The firm seeks to invest in manufacturing, construction, financial and real estate industries. It prefers to invest in China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand. The firm typically invests between $1 and $10 million and a minimum annual sale of $12 million is required for all portfolio companies. It also looks for a seat on the Board of Directors and a minor stake in the portfolio company. First Eastern Investment Group was founded in 1988 is based in Hong Kong with additional offices in Shanghai Province, China; Beijing Province, China.
www.first-eastern.com

INTERNATIONAL GREEN AWARDS
Launched in 2006 to critical acclaim, the INTERNATIONAL GREEN AWARDS™ were set up to recognise strategies that use creativity in an engaging and effective manner, leading to more sustainable outcomes. It is now an established event on the global sustainable business-calendar.

By showcasing “best in class” examples of effective, innovative and creative approaches to sustainability, the INTERNATIONAL GREEN AWARDS™ aims to be an agent of change. To this end, the Awards team searches the globe every year to find true influencers, leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators, identifying worldwide sustainability success stories that inspire and motivate others.
www.greenawards.com

Winner of Best Green International Celebrity Award – Gisele Bündchen

After a phenomenal response to the public vote and the short listing of three accomplished and globally recognised nominees including Sir Paul McCartney and Miguel Bose, the International Green Awards™ announced supermodel Gisele Bündchen as the distinguished overall winner for the first ever Best International Green and Responsible Celebrity Award at the Natural History Museum, London.

The public voted overwhelmingly through an online competition for the clear winner to be international supermodel Gisele Bündchen. She was heralded as the greenest media exemplar internationally for 2011 at a glittering green gala dinner where she thanked the public for their support in a video acceptance speech and gave a clarion call to all businesses and individuals to protect the rainforest. The award was collected on behalf of Gisele by Mr Nick Nuttall, Acting Communications Director and Spokesperson for the United Nations Environment Programme based in Kenya, whose organisation is behind the Billion Trees Campaign and the recently launched Green Economy Report.

Gisele commented “I am blessed to have grown up in a family that embraced the importance of nature and community coexisting in harmony. My career in the public eye has given me the opportunity to raise awareness about important socio-environmental causes in hopes of promoting a more conscious relationship with our environment.”

This accolade pertinently coincides with the UN’s International Year of the Forest as forestry protection is an issue of particular significance to Gisele. The award carries with it the responsibility to continue to promote a global green agenda through the media. Gisele’s interest in green issues began when she witnessed the effects of deforestation and water pollution in the Xingu River, which in turn led to her working with Grendene, a footwear company she knew, to use her flip-flop line to call attention to environmental causes and raise funds to sponsor environmental projects, especially forest and water related projects in the Amazon and the Atlantic Rainforest.

Goodwill Environmental Ambassador for the United Nations Environment Programme UNEP, she has actively campaigned for a number of issues. During this year’s World Environment Day, she challenged actor Don Cheadle to see who could get more people to take action to plant a new forest. She won and will be planting her Legacy Forest in Brazil in the fall. Their combined effort tripled the activities from the previous years. In 2008, she and her family launched the Projeto Água Limpa (Clean Water Project) in her hometown Horizontina, aiming to make a difference by implementing sustainable environmental management and promoting the recovery of riparian vegetation and the region’s micro basins.

From fashion to fanfare, Gisele finds a way to share her environmental passion in various aspects of her life. Aside from designing footwear to raise awareness, Gisele also dedicates part of her website to environmental issues. She launched a “green” blog in 2008 with the tag line ‘here the fashion is to be responsible’.

To view the video of Gisele’s career and her video acceptance speech visit http://www.greenawards.com/about/best-green-celebrity/2011-w...

For further details of this years other International Green Awards™ winners please visit www.greenawards.com and follow them on Twitter http://twitter.com/GreenAwards

International Business Game Changers announced at the 6th International Green Awards

The 2011 International Green Awards™, in association with Climate Change - The New Economy (CCTNE), is proud to announce the winners of this year’s awards, including the overall Grand Prix Winner - Unilever PLC.
This year’s 6th International Green Awards™ came to a climax last night with a magnificent, glittering, ‘green carpet’ event at the iconic Natural History Museum. BBC veteran, Phillippa Forrester and sustainability luminary Leo Johnson hosted the ceremony and announced winners for all 20 categories, along with the Best International Green Celebrity Award, new this year, won by Gisele Bündchen; the 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award and this year’s overall Grand Prix Winner, Unilever PLC for their Sustainable Living Plan.

The awards posthumously recognised Prof. Wangari Maathai, founder of the Green Belt Movement, with the 2nd Lifetime Achievement Award; for her lifelong commitment to environmental protection particularly through the establishment of the Green Belt Movement.

The award was presented by Ms Elizabeth Kan of First Eastern Investment Group to Francesca de Gasparis, Director of the Europe office of the Green Belt Movement, who was a close friend of Prof. Maathai. Aside from the inspiration of Wangari’s story, the entertainment of the ‘Green Poet’ and singing from Opera Mezzo Soprano Jennifer Brisk, the night’s speakers, Nick Nuttall, Acting Communications Director and spokesperson for UNEP and Peter Byck, Director, Producer and Writer of climate change movie Carbon Nation, gave enlightening and insightful speeches to an audience of wide-ranging sustainability professionals. The turnout this year was the best yet, with representatives from almost all shortlisted entries and considerable interest from numerous socially and environmentally focused organisations.

This year, the International Green Awards™ took further steps to establish the event globally, encouraging worldwide participation across 20 categories. Entries were received from all over the world, including Bahrain, India, Kenya, United States, Denmark, Australia, South Africa and Sweden amongst others. The quality of work submitted made the judges’ task of choosing winners quite difficult. It was not only the high standard of the entries, but also the cultural and social variances between countries which made judging an interesting and challenging experience. The winners of each category demonstrated true commitment and innovation in pursuing sustainability. The judges chose both original technological solutions like Lucid Design Group (USA) and their Building Dashboard, and effective campaigns being implemented within developing country contexts, notably Peru’s ambitious tree planting scheme, Eco Arki.

The International Green Awards™ Grand Prix is the overall winner of the event which is judged the best amongst all the entries. This Award is for a campaign which, in the opinion of the expert judging panel, best exemplified an outstanding sustainably message, and had the greatest capacity to change the way society and business is perceived. This prestigious award went to Unilever Plc, by virtue of their ambitious Sustainable Living Plan, which puts the multinational company on track to reduce its impact on the environment whilst also developing and expanding as a company. Judges were impressed by the extent and ambition exhibited by the strategy considering the wide-ranging nature and size of the organisation, with measured progress and ambitious targets to install sustainability within all aspects of the company, forming a world leading core strategy for the future.

For details of all this years winners see www.greenawards.com with examples of the work that won

INTERNATIONAL GREEN AWARDS 2011 WINNERS

Best Green International Business Award (Large) (BRONZE PARTNER Climate Change The New Economy)

WINNER Unilever plc (UK)
Silver Puma SE(USA/Germany)
Bronze DNV (Norway)

Best Green International Business Award (Medium)

WINNER The Yalumba Wine Company (Australia)
Silver Kebony ASA (UK)
Bronze Wellman International (Ireland)

Best Green Entrepreneur Award (or Start-up) (BRONZE PARTNER The Carbon Trust)

WINNER Dale Vince (UK)
Silver Double Helix Tracking Technologies (Singapore)
Bronze Reel Gardening (South Africa)


Best Green Government Award

WINNER Dublin Fire Brigade – “Kilbarrack Fire Station” (Ireland)
Silver CityWest Homes –“Solar PV Project” (UK)
Bronze Peterborough City Council (UK)


Best Sustainable Investment (BRONZE PARTNER Emerald Knight Consultants Ltd)

WINNER The Environmental Investment Partnership LLP (UK)
Silver Global Environmental and Social Business (UK)
Bronze Sindicatum Sustainable Resources (Singapore)


Best Green Technology Award (BRONZE PARTNER Danwood)

WINNER Flexenclosure (Sweden)
Silver Pavegen Systems Ltd. (UK)
Bronze NLYTE (UK)


Best Green Energy Efficiency Initiative Award

WINNER Marks & Spencer (UK)
Silver OPower -“Leading the Way Towards Taking Cities off the Grid” (USA)
Silver Hewlett-Packard –“HP Wynyard Data Centre” (Germany)
Bronze BBC / Arup- “BBC low energy lighting programme”(UK)


Best Green 4R’s Award (Reduction, Reuse, Recycling, Recovery)

WINNER Ecologic Brands (USA)
Silver Insource Energy (UK)
Silver Reliance Industries Limited (India)
Bronze LSE (UK)


Best Green Intelligent Buildings Award

WINNER Deutsche Bank -Deutsche Bank Towers (Germany)
Silver PWC – 7 More London (UK)
Bronze Beijing Chyau Fwu Properties Co Ltd – “Parkview Green FangCaoDi” (Hong Kong)

Best Green New Product Innovation

WINNER Solvatten AB – “Solvatten” (Sweden)
Silver Samsung Electronics – “Ecobubble Washing Machine” (UK)
Silver Nissan International SA – “Nissan Leaf” (Global)
Bronze Puma SE – “Clever Little Bag” (USA)


Best Green Service Innovation Award

WINNER Onzo Ltd. (UK)
Silver Ricoh Europe (Netherlands)
Bronze Clipper Logistics Group Ltd (UK)

Best Green Educational and Sustainability Awareness Award

WINNER South West College –“SWC Sustainability” (UK)
Silver Neal’s Yard – Neal’s Yard Remedies (UK)
Bronze Groundwork Pennine Lancashire –“Offshoots Permaculture Project” (UK)
Bronze Convention on Biological Diversity - “The Green Wave for Biodiversity” (Canada)


Best Green Employee Engagement Award

WINNER Earthwatch – “Engaging HSBC Employees in Sustainability” (UK)
WINNER Marks & Spencer – “Plan A Employee Engagement” (UK)
Bronze Deutsche Bank – “Earth Week” (Germany)


Best Green Not for Profit Organisation

WINNER The Nottingham Energy Partnership (UK)
Silver Tap Water Ltd.(UK)
Bronze Global Action Plan (UK)


Best Green Conservation and Biodiversity Award

WINNER Blue Marine Foundation (UK)
Silver Coral Cay Conservation (UK)
Bronze De Beers Group (UK)


Best Green Water Stewardship Award

WINNER Environment Support Group – “A Collaborative Initiative for the Wise Use, Conservation and Protection of Lakes” (India)
Silver Wessex Water – “Wessex Water Catchment Management” (UK)
Bronze Coca Cola South Pacific Pty Limited – “Project Catalyst” (Australia)


Best Green Advertising & PR Award

WINNER The Danish Transport Authority – “Drive Green” (Denmark)
Silver British Gas –“Green Streets” (UK)
Silver Greater London Authority –“ Capital Bee - Saving London's Bees” (UK)
Bronze Republic of Everyone - “Garage Sale Trail” (Australia)
Bronze P&G – “Future Friendly 4 2010” (UK)
IFAW – “Meet Us Don’t Eat Us Campaign” (Iceland)


Best Green Audio-Visual Award

WINNER O’ Domhnaill - “The Pipe” (Ireland)
Silver Peterborough City Council- “Gillian’s Footprint Counts” (UK)
Bronze Do The Green Thing – “Climate Kid” (UK)


Best Green Cross Platform Digital Media Solution Award (Best use of Mobile Applications Social Media and online content Award)

WINNER Lucid Design Group Inc – “Building Dashboard” (USA)
Silver Greenworld.org – “Times Square Takeover” (USA)
Bronze Orange – “Do Some Good Mobile Volunteering App” (UK)


Best Green Collaborative Initiative Award

WINNER EcoArki SRC - “AGRORURAL “The 230 Million Tree Campaign” (Peru)
Silver The Forest Trust – “Nestle TFT Partnership” (UK)
Bronze TTXGP Limited – "TTXGP World Championship - The world's leading electric vehicle motorsport series” (UK)
Bronze University of La Punta - “Balance Zero” (Argentina)

(EDITOR: Well done, everyone!)

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RWE npower renewables receives green light for green energy

RWE npower renewables has been granted planning permission to build a twelve-turbine wind farm located between the villages of Bozeat, Harrold and Lavendon.

Nun Wood Wind Farm was the subject of a thorough and rigorous public inquiry, held before a Government appointed Planning Inspector. The public inquiry, which concluded in October 2011, was open to all local residents and businesses.

Matt Pinfield, Regional Manager for Eastern England at RWE npower renewables said: "We are delighted with the Planning Inspector's consent for Nun Wood Wind Farm. It is a superb location for a wind farm - well designed and appropriately sited and will generate enough energy to meet the annual average needs of thousands of homes each year. The Nun Wood Wind Farm will make a substantial contribution to clean energy supply and the reduction in emissions of greenhouse gasses."

In his written report the Planning Inspector seemed to agree that there would be some harm caused by the creation of the wind farm. However, stated: "The degree of harm in landscape and visual amenity is limited. In my judgement the harm is outweighed by the urgent need for renewable energy as promoted in national and regional policies and the wider environmental and economic benefits that it would bring over a 25 year period."

As well as Nun Wood Wind Farm generating enough electricity to meet the annual average needs of between approximately 13,700 and 15,600 homes annually, the local community could receive a windfall of at least £540,000 over the lifetime of the wind farm.

This funding would provide a valuable long term source of income for the local community. It is flexible funding that can address what is really important to communities and has the potential to fund large and small projects as well as capital and revenue activities. The annual funding of £1,000 per megawatt (MW) per year would become available when the wind farm is operational and local people can be involved in deciding how it is distributed.

Matt Pinfield added: "We have consulted with the local community during the planning and development of this wind farm and as a responsible developer we will continue to work with the community throughout the next stages of the project as the wind farm is constructed. We will be providing detailed construction and traffic management plans to Milton Keynes Council, Bedford Borough Council and the Borough Council of Wellingborough which will also be available for public consultation."

Construction of the wind farm presents opportunities for local economic benefit and employment. Whilst current legislation and competitive tender process for each part of the works is followed, it is normal to expect that local suppliers and contractors with appropriate skills will be well placed to tender for contracts.

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That's Food and Drink: Redwood Food voted 'most ethical': The Redwood Wholefood Company is the most ethical vegetarian food firm in the UK, says The Good Shopping Guide. Every year, the consumer ...

61% say Energy-Saving is most popular reason for replacing windows & doors

DGCOS (The Double Glazing and Conservatory Ombudsman Scheme) commissioned a survey by Opinium Research , which revealed that 61% of homeowners now consider reducing energy bills as the most popular reason for replacing windows and doors.

This radical change constitutes a major shift in consumer priorities. Over the last 30 years homeowners have usually cited improving the comfort or look of homes, or improving security as their top reasons. Now the next most important reasons trail 18% behind energy-saving in the survey: 43% say making their home more comfortable is their most important reason, and 42% say it is making their home look better.

This summer, newspapers were full of headlines of soaring domestic energy price increases which may have prompted homeowners to give energy-saving as their number 1 reason for replacing their windows and doors.

Tony Pickup (DGCOS Founder) says “Energy-saving used to be an accidental by-product of installing new windows and doors; it wasn’t even on the radar but suddenly it’s front of mind because of rocketing energy bills this summer: gas prices rose 22% and electricity prices rose 12%. People living in outlying areas are particularly hard-hit and almost being held to ransom by a price hike of 28% in heating oils since last September, so homeowners have grasped an important message that more energy-efficient windows and doors will help them cut fuel bills.”

In response to continuing consumer misery highlighted in TV programmes such as Rogue Traders and Cowboy Builders, Tony Pickup founded The Double Glazing and Conservatory Ombudsman Scheme (DGCOS) to help the industry clean up its image. DGCOS provides the most comprehensive consumer protection cover in the home improvement industry and has over 200 members nationwide who install double glazing products, conservatories, doors, porches, fascias, soffits, roofline products and orangeries.

The organisation’s ambassador is TV presenter and consumer champion Nick Ross who fronted BBC Watchdog and Crimewatch for many years.

Tony observes “Even when energy price rises headlines fade, the need to reduce fuel bills long term remains strong because of the recession and squeezed incomes because even more energy price rises are expected.”

But before signing contracts with an installer, Tony recommends homeowners do their research into the strength of consumer protection being offered. He says ‘There are numerous trade bodies and organisations offering very different levels of consumer protection. You have to read the small print or, for genuine peace of mind, use DGCOS members who automatically offer full deposit protection and Insurance Backed Guarantees.”

Under DGCOS, in the unlikely event that an installer goes into liquidation or ceases trading, consumers are still protected unlike other schemes which may leave consumers stranded. DGCOS also provides a completely free dispute resolution service, whereas other schemes may charge for these services. Most importantly, the DGCOS Ombudsman has the authority to adjudicate and make legally binding awards backed up by a Compensation Fund so consumers are comprehensively protected.

Tony’s parting shot is ‘If you invest in new energy-efficient double glazing, you not only insulate your home but you future-proof your wallet against energy price increases as well! And if you use a DGCOS member, you are guaranteed a job completed to the highest levels of customer satisfaction!”

The online Omnibus survey of 2,014 nationally representative UK adults over 18 was carried out between 27th and 30th September 2011. Of these, 1,224 or 61% were homeowners.

FACTFILE:
Appendix: Other key findings including age & regional differences : -

Reducing their carbon footprint seems to have failed to convince homeowners or capture their interest, with only 12% of respondents placing it within their top three reasons for replacing windows or doors.

18-34 years olds emerged as more influenced by making their home look better than older age groups, with 45% of 18-34s citing aesthetics an important reason for installing windows and doors as opposed to only 39% of over 55s.

Making their home look better was significantly more important to homeowners in Yorkshire & Humberside (48%), East Midlands (51%), West Midlands (49%) and the South East (44%) than in the South West (25%).

Over 55 year olds (48%) emerged as more likely to replace their windows and doors to make their home more comfortable than 18-34s (32%) but increasing the value of your home emerges as of less importance as homeowners get older. 34% of 18-34 year olds cited it compared with 25% of 35-54 year olds and just 18% of over 55s

Website: www.dgcos.org.uk Email: info@dgcos.org.uk Tel: 0845 053 8975

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After several weeks of testing, That's Green looks at the JetStorm Eco Showerhead

Ecocamel has introduced a new graphite trim for its revolutionary JetStorm showerhead, which cuts hot water bills by 40% while saving water, energy and carbon emissions. The new colour joins the popular metallic blue, which launched earlier this year and proves that eco can be sleek and stylish too, allowing customers greater aesthetic choice, to suit their existing bathroom colour scheme.

JetStorm is the most advanced eco showerhead on the market and will help you save the environment whilst stopping you splashing the cash in your shower.

The JetStorm showerhead allows you to:
· Cut hot water bills by 40%

· Significantly reduce the water you use in the shower
(a typical family of four can save up to 56,000 litres a year*)

· Cut energy use and carbon emissions

· Provide payback periods of just 3 months (with annual savings calculated to be £240 a year)

* Test results based on a family of four taking a daily seven-minute shower (Independent testing conducted at Liverpool John Moores University)

Developed by UK firm Ecocamel, JetStorm is the only showerhead to use patented Twin Injet technology, which maximises pressure while saving you water, allowing you to go green and save money without compromising on the quality or performance of your showering experience.

The design of the JetStorm features a large faceplate for an even spa-like shower spray; wipe clean rubber nodules to prevent the build up of limescale and a choice of two coloured trims, to add style to your shower room. The showerhead fits any standard shower hose and works with most electric showers.

JetStorm costs £49.95 and is available to buy from www.ecocamel.com

After several weeks of testing, That's Green can state that a reduction in water use has already been identified. Plus, as the testing is taking place in an area of exceptionally hard water,the concept of having wipe clean rubber nodules has already received due praise!

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Nominees for the International Green Awards™ 2011 announced

The International Green Awards™, in association with Climate Change-The New Economy, is excited to declare shortlists across all 20 categories for 2011, representing a diverse spread of inspirational and ground-breaking organisations, individuals and ideas from across the world. Winners will be recognised on 24th November 2011 at a glittering green gala ceremony and dinner.

This year marked a transition for the Awards, encompassing overall business sustainability leadership and vision across 20 categories such as Best Green International Large Business, Best Green Product Innovation and Best Green Employee Engagement. Businesses across the globe responded with enthusiasm, with entries pouring in from every continent.

The range and variety of applications found much appreciation amongst our international judging panel and provided many avenues for debate and discussion. The global aspect of the Awards made it both an interesting and challenging task for the judges. While the entries presented the judges with a global panorama of sustainability related projects, they also had to understand diverse cultures in judging entries. As part of evaluating individual merit, judges also had to consider the relevance and topicality of each entry with a micro and macro perspective.

Jury member David De Rothschild, Environmentalist & Explorer, commented on this year’s awards: “Bigger dreams, more creativity and increased inspiration are going to be three vital components in moving the needle towards the sustainable ways of living and acting that nature and humanity so desperately crave! The International Green Awards™ manages to instigate all three and more!”

This year’s deserving winners will be lauded at the International Green Awards™ ‘green gala’ ceremony, to be held at the iconic Natural History Museum in South Kensington, London on 24th November 2011.

For further details and to view shortlisted entries, visit http://www.greenawards.com/winners/shortlists-2011

For more information and ticket sales please e-mail info@greenawards.com or call +44 (0) 20 7939 3958.

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Shortlist Announced for the Best Green International Celebrity Award

After what is claimed was a phenomenal response to their online poll, the International Green Awards™ is pleased to announce the shortlist for the Best Green International Celebrity Award. Voting from the public has been overwhelming and it was very close between the nominated celebrities. However, three of these nominees received outstanding support and are thus part of this year’s shortlist, of which one person will be crowned an international green media ambassador.

This accolade carries with it the responsibility to continue to promote a global green agenda through the media. These shortlisted nominees have used their prominence to promote environmental and sustainable development issues and many are already known as global ambassadors for organisations such as United Nations Environment Programme and Oxfam International.

The top three voted celebrities in our 2011 shortlist are:

• Gisele Bündchen- Supermodel; Brazil
• Miguel Bose- Musician/actor; Spain
• Sir Paul McCartney- Musician, UK

From this shortlist, the candidate with the most votes will be crowned the winner at the International Green Awards™ showcase sustainable gala dinner and be heralded as the ‘greenest’ media exemplar internationally. The international nature of the shortlist highlights the significance of green and sustainable issues to these high profile global media figures. Shortlisted supermodel Gisele Bündchen commented; “I am blessed to have grown up in a family that embraced the importance of nature and community coexisting in harmony. My career in the public eye has given me the opportunity to raise awareness about important socio-environmental causes in the hope of promoting a more conscious relationship with our environment.”

The International Green Awards™ will be announcing this year’s winner at the iconic Natural History Museum, the most appropriate place to remind us of our relationship with the environment, on Thursday 24th November from 7pm. This year’s event will also be themed around the rainforest to coincide with the United Nations International Year of the Forest with state of the art visual projections. To book your tickets for this event please visit www.greenawards.com

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Listed buildings require 'sympathetic' facilities

Buildings are listed so that they can be cared for and protected and to ensure that their special features are not unwittingly altered or destroyed.

Building regulations do not allow unsightly exterior pipe work as it is not in keeping with the original façade, and the alternative option of drilling through existing floors to fit internal soil stacks is restricted if it affects the aesthetics and originality of a listed dwelling.

Lack of toilet and bathroom facilities is a major problem in most old buildings. The invention of small bore macerator pumping systems by Saniflo over 30 years ago has done much to assist the modernisation and enhancement of such buildings. The Saniflo discharges waste and water vertically or horizontally from a WC through small-bore 22mm pipe work to a remote soil system.

Saniflo’s great advantage is that you don’t have to rely on gravity plumbing to the soil stack or sewer. The products success in overcoming bathroom-plumbing obstacles has lead to an extended range to accommodate kitchen and utility environments almost anywhere.

Saniflo -A perfect solution to the preservation of our Heritage.

For details on listed building projects using Saniflo products visit

www.saniflo.co.uk

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Saniflo receives Green Apple Environment Award

Saniflo is developing products that will address the problems now seen to be crucial to a greener planet. The Sanicondens Best is a pump mounted adjacent to and connected to a condensing boiler.

It is designed to avoid serious damage to the structure of buildings and the environment, by neutralising waste condensate before it reaches the ground. Acid waste is one of the highest causes of mortar breakdown in brickwork.

Saniflo is developing products that will address the problems now seen to be crucial to a green planet, including reduction of water use in toilets, and safe disposal and treatment of waste water.

Environmentally friendly, this durable and economic unit brings all householders peace of mind.

For further information please visit www.saniflo.co.uk or email sales@saniflo.co.uk

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UK Solar Energy Website Guarantees Low Prices With The Launch Of Its New Nationwide Installer Network

Total Solar Energy, a top UK solar power information website, has just added a nationwide solar installation service to it's list of services.

Visitors to their website can now receive no obligation quotes for solar energy from leading installation companies in their local region. Visitors fill in a short form which is automatically sent to 2 or 3 carefully selected local solar installers who will then battle it out for the job ensuring a low price for the customer.

Explaining the new service, co-owner Gary Hodgson said, "My email inbox is always full of enquiries from people wanting us to quote them prices to install solar power. But it's a service we didn't offer ourselves. But due to the interest and volume of enquiries we were receiving I decided it was something my website visitors needed."

"So I contacted all of the leading solar energy companies and set up one of the largest networks of installers in the UK. All our registered installers have been vetted and are 100% MCS accredited so customers needn't worry whether they are hiring a bunch of amateurs."

"It works well on both levels as local firms receive local jobs and the end customer receives a really competitive price without having to spend their valuable time researching different companies. We've basically done all the hard work for them."

With the cost of solar panels dropping due to better technology and increased competition, Gary believes there has never been a better time to install solar energy. "I think that people are fed up of the ever rising costs of their fuel bills. And if you factor in the current push to go green then you have a lot of interest. The introduction of the feed-in tariff has also contributed greatly to the demand because many solar installation companies are now offering to lease free solar panels to homeowners as long as they are able to keep payments for the excess electricity that is fed back into the grid. Which is a win-win situation for both the company and homeowner."

To receive a quote for solar power installation from an accredited company in your local area or to learn more about solar energy go to www.totalsolarenergy.co.uk

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Radisson Blu hotel Krakow wins Leaders of Sustainable Development contest

Radisson Blu hotel in Krakow has won the "Leaders of Sustainable Development" contest that was organized by Forbes Magazine in Poland. Fulfilling the criteria of eco-certification BS8901 has been revealed as one of the seven most important initiatives in Poland.

Located in the heart of the city, the Radisson Blu hotel Krakow was appreciated by the Forbes magazine for being the world's first hotel with prestigious BS 8901 Certification. It was worked out by British Standard International in 2007. Today, it is the most demanding certification in the area of sustainable meetings and events management and is based on three priorities:

- Reducing negative impact on natural environment
- Positive impact on local community
- Reduction of production and exploitation costs

Forbes' jury appreciated the pro-social and pro-ecological aspects of this achievement, and drew attention to the hotel’s competitive advantage, based on CSR actions and integrated business strategy. Attainment of BS8901 inspired Radisson Blu Hotel Krakow to create its unique offer for business - the Green Conference Package. These are the meetings organised according to the rules of sustainability.

Nino D. Rosenlund, General Manager at Radisson Blu hotel in Krakow said: "The Green Conference Package we offer is not only applicable to the companies deeply involved in CSR activities but also for those which just want to start building their responsible business strategy. We organise these meetings in our eight Krakow conference rooms, in luxury restaurants or, for really big groups, in the spacious underground parking area. I think that in a year or two such responsible and sustainable meetings in many countries will be a standard, not the exception."

Depending on the clients, the hotel organises meetings according to the strict rules. These include responsible waste separating, using recycled materials, responsible transportation and food planning. Additionally, all products are ordered locally, the hotel works with regional suppliers and supports local community. After the meeting, the client receives a "Green Meeting Certification" and the CO2 emissions report. The client has also has the option to plant trees that will quickly eliminate the event's negative impact on the environment.

These principles help to reduce negative impact on environment and have a positive impact on the local community and reduce costs of production and exploitation costs. They are all included in the client document "Sustainable Meeting Policy". It applies both parties - the Krakow accommodation and the client - at every stage of the meeting organisation.



FACTFILE:

The Rezidor Hotel Group is one of the fastest growing hotel companies in the world. The group features a portfolio of more than 400 hotels in operation and under development with 88,800 rooms in over 60 countries, including hotels in Krakow, Ankara hotel, an airport hotel Paris and Amsterdam hotel.

Rezidor operates the brands Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts, Park Inn by Radisson and Country Inns & Suites in Europe, Middle East and Africa, along with the Club Carlson loyalty programme for frequent hotel guests. Under a worldwide licence agreement with the iconic Italian fashion house Missoni, Rezidor also operates and develops the new lifestyle brand Hotel Missoni.

In November 2006, Rezidor was listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange. Carlson, a privately held, global hospitality and travel company, based in Minneapolis (USA), is the majority shareholder.

The Corporate office of the Rezidor Hotel Group is based in Brussels, Belgium.

For more information on Rezidor, visit www.rezidor.com

Trade Skills 4U launches sister company 'Solar PV Tools.co.uk'

Trade Skills 4U.co.uk, the UK's largest independent electrical & renewable energy training provider, have launched a brand new ecommerce website selling Solar PV Tools. The website, www.solarpvtools.co.uk, is designed to equip renewable energy installers with all the tools they would need to install, test and maintain solar PV systems.

Trade Skills 4U.co.uk Managing Director, Carl Bennett says: “We have always taken customer care very seriously, talking and listening to our customers and taking their views on board. We only recommend tools based on our own practical hands on testing; tools must be fairly easy to use and survive the rigours of daily practice to become a tool we trust, in order for us to feel able to sell them to our customers.

"Having found difficultly sourcing solar PV kits ourselves, it seems there is space for a market leader to supply solar installers with the kit necessary to complete installations and comply with MCS accreditation standards.”

In June this year, Trade Skills 4U successfully launched their Renewable energy training centre, complete with purpose built facilities built to cater for the demand for renewable energy installers. The centre houses the UK’s first and only single storey training roof that enables candidates to install solar PV at height and with all the necessary kit they would require on a real installation such as pulleys, ginn wheels etc.

“We are in great support of this growing industry and have invested £350,000 into building our dedicated renewable energy centre; it seems like a step in the right direction to enable candidates to buy the kit we trust whilst they train with us. We are continually innovating and improving our products and services. The new website is the natural next step," added Carl Bennett.

Joe Bennett, Sales Manager of the new site added: "We are in a competitive market. Customers rightly expect a good deal and a professional service. At Solar PV Tools we know that our products are not only the very best available but also that we listen to our customers and construct the kits they need for the job. We provide fully bespoke solar PV tool kits which installers and contractors can design for themselves based on need and continue to refine our products and services to meet their needs now and in the future."

FACTFILE:

Trade Skills 4U LTD are the UK’s largest independent electrical training centre that specialises in electrical training courses. Their Renewable Energy Training facility will be launching in May where a range of Renewable energy skills such as Solar PV courses will be on offer.

Carbon Zero Solutions launches

Dr Martin Blake today announced the launch of Carbon Zero Solutions (CZS) Limited. CZS supports executives and their organisations by providing leadership in the inception, development and successful deployment of energy efficiency programmes that improve profitability and reduce environmental and social impact. “It’s a multiple win,” claims Dr Blake.

“By investing, businesses stand to save money, reduce their carbon footprint, reduce their exposure to energy market volatility and, in doing so, improve their brand and customer acceptance.”

Dr Blake was until recently the architect of, and inspiration behind, the award-winning Carbon Management Programme at Royal Mail, the UK’s biggest postal services company. As Head of Sustainability Team for seven years, he oversaw a multi-pronged strategy in the areas of energy reduction and efficiency, waste management, water conservation and workplace diversity. Together this team of energy experts is credited with reducing UK Royal Mail Group’s annual energy bill by over £30million.

When Dr Blake left the Royal Mail at the end of October 2010, he left behind a legacy that is recognised as one of the best energy management programmes in the world, with 75 national and regional awards. “I wanted to share our learning and utilise the knowledge and experience of this team by making an impact on the most challenging environmental problems faced by some of the largest companies in the world,” said Dr Blake.

Speaking about the launch of CZS, Dr Blake suggested that UK Boards are poorly served by many ‘environmental consultancies’ that put compliance and marketing of green credentials before energy related savings. “In my time at Royal Mail Group, our main objective was to deliver bottom-line savings. The Board was rightly concerned about our environmental and social impact and the need to be sustainable, but there is absolutely no doubt that £30million in annual energy savings was an extremely significant motivator, thereby delivering a double win.”

Dr Blake continued, “There are many examples of boards that have not pursued the benefits of energy reduction because they are being sold on outputs that cannot be adequately quantified or explained. Too many initiatives have been conceived and implemented in a piecemeal fashion. Individually they may have been effective, but unless taken together within a wider coordinated programme, it is unlikely they will each deliver quantifiable ROI. It is therefore not surprising that some board directors feel ambivalent or wary.”

CZS brings together the same experts that Dr Blake convened at the Royal Mail Group, including Professor David Strong, a globally renowned practitioner in sustainable building design and refurbishment, Robert Evans, an expert in the field of low carbon transport, together with experts in the fields of energy wholesaling, energy data management, and a range of other carbon and energy reduction disciplines.

Nick Allen, Managing Director of CZS commented, “The CEO’s of large UK firms must now start viewing sustainability as a competitive tool. Their commitment and leadership is imperative, as the most significant opportunities of a low carbon strategy cannot be realised without full management and workforce engagement. Commitment from the boardroom to the factory floor is essential to achieve tangible and long lasting results.”

The team consists of:
• Dr Martin Blake, Executive Chairman – Dr Blake is an internationally recognised expert on carbon reduction. As ex-Head of Sustainability at the UK Royal Mail Group for over eight years, Dr Blake led a successful carbon reduction transformation strategy that reduced Royal Mail’s annual energy bill by more than £30 million. He has a track record of large scale corporate transformation and has developed programmes and influenced high profile stakeholders within Government and NGOs, as well as the postal, construction, healthcare, oil & gas and charity sectors.

• Professor David Strong, Lead Advisor for the Built Environment – Professor Strong is one of the most influential figures in sustainable building design and refurbishment and he specialises in low/zero carbon buildings. He established the UK Green Building Council and was presented with the “Building Sustainability Leadership” Award in 2007.

• Robert Evans, Lead Advisor for Transport & Logistics – Robert is a recognised expert in the field of low carbon transport. He is CEO of Cenex (Centre of Excellence for Low Carbon and Fuel Cell Technologies) and has more than 20 years’ experience in innovation and integration of new environmental technologies in transport applications, including low carbon vehicle emissions control.

• Bill Wright, Programme Leader – Bill was previously Corporate Energy & Environment Manager of the John Lewis Partnership (covering Waitrose & John Lewis department stores). He was responsible for the procurement and efficient use of all utilities and during his time there, his team achieved a 20% improvement in energy efficiency.

• Nick Allan, Managing Director – Nick is a corporate change specialist with more than 20 years’ experience in helping companies in the financial services, technology and energy sectors with corporate transformation, building workforce capability and strengthening and aligning leadership.

The CZS team will utilise Dr Blake’s carbon reduction methodology that he created whilst at the Royal Mail, providing programme components ranging from board engagement and programme definition through to full programme development and implementation. CZS predicts that it can save most organisations between 20% and 30% of the cost of their energy bills.

“Our team is accustomed to operating at board-level. It is the board that must articulate, embrace and lead the programme. We talk to many Directors who believe they are running a carbon or energy management programme, to then find it is contained within a silo somewhere in facilities and with little or no company-wide mandate. Worse still, most think that carbon and energy management programmes are a cost, when in reality they should always be cost neutral and bottom-line positive,” said Dr Blake.

“I have never articulated or deployed a programme that has not delivered bottom-line savings, and neither do I intend to start doing so now, because if you have not saved money, you have not saved energy. The CZS team members are not simply environmental evangelists; we are experts in the key disciplines that enable companies with multiple sites, complex property portfolios, large transport fleets, manufacturing plants, or long supply chains to drive real and measurable bottom-line savings,” he concluded.

For more information, please visit www.carbonzerosolutions.com