Commercial property owners. Shouldn't they be LEDing the way?

Although we’re all now familiar with LED lighting many commercial building owner operators are still not aware of the financial and environmental benefits of LED upgrades.

The Empire State Building NYC is currently upgrading its facade and mast lights with 1,200 LED fixtures that should save the building $4.4 million by making a 75% reduction in lighting costs! This is one high profile example of how the potential savings of LED are only just being realised in commercial settings around the world.

Here in the UK commercial building owners / operators, councils and other organisations are embarking of large LED retrofits to achieve the same type of energy savings. For example Salford City Council are reported to be expecting a £1.6m and 30% carbon reduction from over the lifetime of a 2000 LED bulb street lighting retrofit in 2011.

Tower Bridge in London was covered in eco friendly’ LED bulbs for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee that are expected to bring a 40% reduction in energy usage on the bridge and last 25 years! So why aren’t more people with incredibly high energy bills such as owner / operators of UK commercial buildings having LED upgrades?

Experts offer many different opinions – people focusing on the amount of life still left in their existing lighting instead of the huge savings offered by LED, they may have been waiting to hear the results of other big commercial LED upgrades, or they may simply not be aware of the benefits of LED and how that could realistically translate to their own buildings. Most experts however seem to agree that LED use is going to keep growing at huge rate.

Chris Gunn is a man with inside knowledge of the real benefits that LED lighting can bring. Chris works for Acorn Limited who provide maintenance engineering services to an impressive array of commercial buildings across London.

“My experience with our clients has convinced me that where LED technology is used appropriately in commercial buildings it can deliver significant energy and cost savings. We’ve been designing, installing, upgrading and retrofitting commercial lighting systems for many years now as well as providing the energy management systems that can accurately measure the resulting energy savings. That’s how we know first hand that LED upgrades really do deliver the goods” says Chris.

LED bulbs use much less power and can last 10 times longer than many other types of lamps / bulbs.

For more information about how LED lighting upgrades and replacements could work for your commercial building(s) contact Acorn Maintenance Engineering now on 0845 528 0774 or visit http://www.acornlimited.co.uk/

Brits still not switched on to energy saving, new study shows

According to a new study, while 94% of us say we want to become more energy efficient, only 37% of us currently rate ourselves as such.

Despite ever-increasing fuel costs, the British public just can’t seem to get motivated on energy saving, regardless of our good intentions. According to a new study, while 94% of us say we want to become more energy efficient, only 37% of us currently rate ourselves as such – and it’s the basics that are still eluding us.

With energy costs at an all-time high and four of the ‘big six’ energy firms putting up their prices again this week, it is surprising to learn that 40% of us still leave the heating on all day and a third of us leave windows and doors open when the central heating is on.

Two thirds of people say they leave the TV on when they’re not in the room and almost half leave it on standby overnight, while 63% leave their mobile charging all night. Almost half of those asked say they still leave the tap running unnecessarily when brushing their teeth or washing up.

Although rising energy prices are quoted as being one of the biggest concerns for UK homeowners, almost a fifth of us still don’t have energy saving light bulbs, 29% overfill the kettle when boiling it, and only 46% of us would use extra layers of clothing or blankets when it gets cold instead of turning up the heating.

The study, which was conducted by Anglian Home Improvements to mark Big Energy Saving Week (22-27 October 2012), found that 40% of us still don’t have energy efficient windows or doors, even though around 30% of a home’s heat is lost through windows and doors, and only 44% of us have an energy efficient boiler.

Yet 82% of people say if they could make one simple change to become energy efficient they would, and 88% say that if making that change would be guaranteed to save them money over the next five years, they would do it.

TV presenter and environmental science expert Philippa Forrester has championed environmental issues for many years. She says, “In light of the latest news about rising energy costs, heating our homes and using electricity is going to cost us more and more. How high do prices need to get before we think about making fundamental changes to the energy efficiency of our homes? We can all stop money leaking out of our roofs, windows and doors and by reducing our energy consumption, we’re also reducing our bills and our carbon emissions, so we should all try to make it a top priority. Saving energy and saving money – it’s a win-win situation.”

Melanie McDonald, Head of Marketing and Communications at Anglian Home Improvements, says, “The cost of running a household is radically increasing due to rising energy prices and food inflation. So as we head into the winter months and energy consumption increases, it’s more important than ever for people to look at ways they can improve their energy efficiency. There are lots of quick, easy things we can all do straight away and there are also many ways in which homeowners can improve the efficiency of their property for the longer term. Installing the best thermal windows on the market, for instance, will ensure they get the maximum return on investment and benefit for many years to come.”

Anglian Home Improvements is an Energy Saving Trust Recommended supplier and offers a broad selection of stylish and energy efficient products, including windows, doors conservatories, roof trim, solar panels and much more. For more information and to view the full product range, visit anglianhome.co.uk.

npower has 'Grand Designs' on saving energy

Consumers looking to take control of their energy costs will be able to get the latest energy efficiency advice from npower at this year's Grand Designs Live.

Visitors to Grand Designs will be able to meet with npower's energy experts, receive energy efficiency advice, discuss what renewable technologies are available to them and sign up to receive more information about the Government's new Green Deal initiative, as it progresses.

npower is inviting visitors to the stand to learn more about how to create a warmer home, including how the Green Deal might help them to achieve this. The aim of Green Deal is to revolutionise the energy efficiency of British properties and reduce carbon emissions. With the Green Deal, households will be able to receive finance in the form of a loan, to help pay for energy efficiency improvements, such as loft, cavity or solid wall insulation. It works on a 'pay as you save' principle allowing consumers to repay the loan in instalments via their energy bill. As well as avoiding potentially large up front costs, which can be a massive barrier, consumers can take comfort in the knowledge that repayments should not exceed the estimated savings on their energy bills – the so called 'Golden Rule'.

Visitor's who sign up to receive more information about the Green Deal and request an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for their home from npower, will automatically be entered into a free prize draw for up to £5,000 worth of energy efficiency improvements.

David Titterton, npower's Director of ECO and Green Deal Delivery said: "Saving energy for consumers is key to running a successful energy services business. There are significant changes to government legislation taking place which, in principle, should make access to key energy saving improvements easier for everyone. The Green Deal is a fundamental shift in the way that people can finance energy efficiency improvements for their home.

"While the final details are still being worked on, we want to encourage as many people as possible to find out more about the Green Deal and energy efficiency. So why not come down to Grand Designs and visit us at our stand."

Grand Designs Live is taking place until October 14th at the NEC and is the UK's leading home show. The event will have over 500 exhibitors, across six different sections, covering interiors, gardens, home improvement, renovations and technology. Visit npower on stand B550.

New App lets you watch the arctic ice melt over the North Pole daily

The new Pole Watch App brought to you by the Telespazio group is the only App to push images of the North Pole from Space to your phone every day.
Click here to download Pole Watch from the App Store

As scientists have predicted that due to the combination of summer ice melting, annual decrease in ice extent and ice pack drift driven by wind and current there may soon be open water at the North Pole for the first time in recorded history you will want to be the first to see it.

How far will the ice shrink this year? Will open water reach the North Pole this year? Watch these historic events unfold with the Pole Watch app!

The App comes pre-loaded with three historic Ice Extent Maps and the latest Satellite image of the North Pole. It will then download on a daily basis* the new maps so that you watch the ice coverage change and zoom in on an actual satellite picture of the North Pole. You’ll get a notification each time a new map has been downloaded so you can be first to see what’s happening to the arctic ice.

The App also contains information about the North Pole Watch project, polar science and interpretation advice for the Satellite imagery. There’s a link to the companion website at North Pole Watch website where you can find out more about the project, those involved and see higher resolution versions of the images in the App. Plus there’s other interesting information about the state of the poles, with inputs from polar scientists such as Dr Seymour Laxon of the UCL CryoSat team.

How did we get these images? The Telespazio group have exploited their unique access to the COSMO-SkyMed satellite constellation to bring you the North Pole Watch. The COSMO-SkyMed system is the only one designed to be able to image the North Pole utilising standard very wide field of view operating modes and regardless of cloud cover as it is a radar.

Telespazio VEGA UK has combined this COSMO-SkyMed data with polar ice extent monitoring data to show the whole approach of the ice edge towards the pole and to compare events at the last record minimum in 2007 to this year’s new record minimum.

*Images are uploaded daily Monday to Friday.

NOTE: You need to accept the Push Notification on the App as it will send you a message at 12noon GMT when new images are available for the App. If you download the App after 12noon GMT you will not receive a new image until the following day.

Green energy provider asks: How green are you?

We all understand the importance of being environmentally friendly, but many avoid self-evaluating their efforts to go green, assuming change could be costly. Small amendments to our daily habits will have a positive impact on the environment and needn’t take up a lot of time or money. Leading sustainable energy supplier green energy uk is encouraging people to be honest and ask themselves: “How green am I?”

An environmentally friendly lifestyle is easy to adopt as the smallest changes around the home can make a substantial difference. Evaluating our level of eco-friendliness can help us identify simple areas for improvement and can highlight things we may overlook such as energy saving bulbs and double glazing.

“Many people don’t realise just how easily they can incorporate more environmentally friendly measures,” explains green energy uk’s CEO, Doug Stewart. “With the government still offering free cavity wall and loft insulation until October, homeowners should look to utilise the grants that are available which will help them save energy in the colder months when we will put our heating back on.”

“There’s nothing more satisfying than being self-sufficient and at home you can physically see the results as you reap the benefits from the circle of recycling. Disposing of waste food and converting it to compost in garden bins can be a great way to produce soil full of nutrients, which is great for vegetable patches and allotments. Growing your own food also has the added benefits of cutting transportation costs and supermarket packaging.”

Those wanting to be more eco-savvy, they can look to green energy providers for competitive electricity prices and install solar panels or geothermal water heating systems.

Doug continues: “Green energy is at a really exciting time with the technology now enabling us to be much more self-sufficient. We should all be asking what more we can do to live greener lifestyles from the slightest of changes to the grandest gestures of eco-change, every step can make a difference. Even one positive change has an encouraging impact for the world that we live in.”

For further information about becoming green, to find out more about sustainable energy or to get a competitive electricity quote visit www.greenenergyuk.com.

That's Christmas: Woolenstocks, the ideal and ethical Christmas gift...

That's Christmas: Woolenstocks, the ideal and ethical Christmas gift...: Woolenstocks’ range of indoor slippers and boots is directed towards everyone! Men, women and children who value comfort and luxury...

That's Christmas: Woolenstocks, the ideal and ethical Christmas gift...

That's Christmas: Woolenstocks, the ideal and ethical Christmas gift...: Woolenstocks’ range of indoor slippers and boots is directed towards everyone! Men, women and children who value comfort and luxury...

Building adaptation achieves 80% reduction in running costs

Dr Jerry Harrall

Dr Jerry Harrall of SEArch architects describes how simple, low invasive design techniques such as using extruded polystyrene as external insulation transformed the cost of living and quality of life for residents of a 200 year old house in High Wycombe.

“For some, the clock is ticking towards zero carbon goals. For others, it’s already become a reality. The good news is that it doesn’t require complex building methods or even high tech equipment to achieve significant improvements in the energy performance of existing building stock.

Greening-The-Box™ offers a suite of building techniques developed by SEArch (Sustainable Ecological Architecture Ltd) applying straightforward, low invasive design methods to enable existing buildings to operate without reliance on fossil fuels.

Greening-The-Box™ High Wycombe is the first private dwelling to benefit from such adaptation techniques, resulting not only in remarkable cost and energy savings but, according to the homeowners, an improvement in their quality of life too. When a client uses words such as “uplifting” and describes their new environment as providing “serenity and tranquillity”, you know you are on to something!

I believe the environmental and cost benefits are just as impressive, including:
•100% reduction in CO2 emissions of 18 tonnes/year (17,878kg CO2/year)
•80% reduction in running costs (a very considerable £2,000 reduction in the first year)
•100% reduction of fossil fuels use.

Providing further credence to the building’s enhanced performance, the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) produced a rating of 89A, a highly notable performance when most housebuilders are working to ratings of lower than 80 for new dwellings. The pre-design SAP rating was 49.

So how was this achieved? Let’s go back to the beginning. The High Wycombe project is a 200 year old detached house. The owners were looking to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, cut energy bills and at the same time have less of an impact on the environment. Their ambitions were to design out the need for an oil fired central heating system, and put in its place a naturally heated environment as well as a natural ventilation regime.

Perhaps surprisingly, just five key changes were needed to make the existing building fit for a low carbon future:

•enveloping the house externally with STYROFOAM™-A extruded polystyrene insulation
•increasing internal thermal mass of walls and floors
•increasing the southerly glazed areas
•decreasing the northerly glazed areas
•modifying the layout to encourage natural ventilation.

Insulating the envelope
In its pre-adapted condition, the absence of any external insulation to the solid external walls and below the ground floor slab meant that both building elements offered little resistance to heat transfer; it was a difficult building to keep warm. The average rate of heat loss, or U-Value, was calculated at 2.17W/m2K.

STYROFOAM™–A insulation from Dow Building Solutions was specified for the project for both environmental and performance reasons. The material is not only UK-manufactured, but is blown with carbon dioxide giving it a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of less than five. The material also has an Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) of zero and is ideal for external use where moisture resistance, rigidity and strength are key requirements.

Post adaptation, the introduction of 200mm of STYROFOAM™-A insulation to the external fabric and below the floor slab reduced the rate of heat loss by a very considerable 620% to just 0.35W/m2K. Thermographic images show minor surface temperature variations over the STYROFOAM™-A clad external fabric and junctions with minimal heat loss detected. In comparison, thermographic images of the adjacent, twenty year old property indicate significantly higher levels of fabric heat loss with noticeable variations across different building elements.

Increasing thermal mass
Adding such high levels of insulation also contributed to the effectiveness of thermal mass within the structure. The pre-adapted, un-insulated thermal mass of the building was calculated as 0.68MJ/K/m2. Post adaptation, the property’s thermal mass marginally increased by 9% to 0.72MJ/K/m2, a small incremental increase.

Despite the small increase, the thermal mass acts as a highly effective heat-sink and helps to moderate internal ambient air temperatures throughout the year for both heating and cooling; introducing STYROFOAM™-A externally means the thermal mass becomes that much more effective.

Residents now enjoy a relatively stable ambient internal air temperature of around 21⁰C without the aid of a central heating system. Instead, supplementary heat contributions are achieved with a low grade, self-regulating electric under-floor heating system, a wood burner and secondary heat from household appliances. The 35KW rated under-floor heating contributed 1200KWhr of heating load over the first twelve months; this is anticipated to reduce over the second year due to drying out.

Adapting fenestration
To the south of the building, the potential for solar heat gains through the fenestration was increased by creating a larger area of direct south facing glazing which now measures 9.3m2 in total, an increase from 3.9m2. This represents a 72% increase in south facing glazing areas with a net solar heat gain contributing to the overall heating load.

In contrast, the north elevation glazed area was reduced from 11.3m2 to 6.1m2. This 50% reduction in glazing combined with the higher specification replacement glass (24mm low–E double glazing), reduced the heat transmittance through the north windows collectively from 34 W/m2K to 11W/m2K. This resulted in a 68% reduction in the rate of heat loss from the north windows alone.

A change in the view!
As an additional touch, who would have thought that simple changes to layout could result in dramatic changes? Simply by putting bedrooms on the ground floor and principal occupation rooms on upper floors, solar receipts could be increased and elevated daylight levels enjoyed where they are needed most.

Finally, as well as relatively simple changes to the building structure, 5.5KWp of roof mounted photovoltaics (PVs) were added, generating 4,200KWhrs in the first year and displacing 3,106kg of CO2.

Blueprint for the future
What has been created at Greening-the-Box™ High Wycombe is a pragmatic, affordable and replicable solution which will no doubt be of great interest to those working hard to get the Green Deal out of the policy papers and into our homes.

A highly inefficient 200 year old building has been transformed into a genuinely low carbon, low impact household which offers a perpetual environmental legacy. It’s been achieved by employing simple design techniques and by using materials which are already widely available in the UK, and as such offers a potential blueprint for the benefit of generations to come.”

For more information on Greening-the-Box™ visit www.searcharchitects.co.uk. For STYROFOAM™-A product details visit Dow Building Solutions at www.styrofoam.co.uk.

Urban Jungle, recycled rug made from 99 plastic bottles

Urban Jungle is the latest genius idea from Plantation Rug Company, bringing style to your home and a smile to your conscience. The first recycled rug in their collection!

This little beauty is made totally from recycled bottles, 99 of them to be exact, and with a little bit of magic from Plantation – voila - a 100% PET stunner. Urban Jungle takes its inspiration from the rainforest: wild, daring and ready to make a style statement in your home.

Available in three tangy colourways and two sizes (rectangle) 120 x 170 cm £100 and 150 x 240 cm £175

All Plantation rugs can be purchased at www.plantationrug.co.uk.
Stockist number: 0800 012 1511.

Businesses can adopt sustainable energy to boost CSR credentials, says green energy provider

As the environment is an increasingly prominent issue to both individuals and businesses, choosing sustainable energy for the good of the planet offers a double-whammy in terms of benefit to businesses, says green energy uk. As well as the environmental aspects, choosing to go green can really boost credentials when it comes to a company’s CSR policy. In the current business climate, this is a key consideration.

Corporate social responsibility has definitely become more of a ‘business-must’ as oppose to a ‘business could-have’. From charity donations to community events, there are many ways to approach and interpret it.

Doug Stewart, chief executive of green energy, says: “Many people may roll their eyes skywards at the mere mention of corporate social responsibility – thinking it may involve endless charity donations. However, it is a wider issue; the crux of CSR is, in short, understanding how your business impacts on the wider world and using consideration as to how you can use this impact in a positive way. But don’t fall asleep just yet! Although I understand that CSR may not be seen as a sexy subject or a topic that has people on the edge of their seats, some fun can be had with it and it is an important issue. Initiatives such as Fairtrade have proved that, with product sales increasing by 40 per cent last year, proving that being ethical is an issue close to the hearts of many.

“When it comes to CSR, if you’re creative enough, there’s no reason why it has to be boring. Getting involved in or contributing towards a community project, for instance, could fulfill it. Some companies might want to immerse themselves in a local cause. There are endless opportunities. And who would have thought what comes out of the back of a pig might help with CSR? As a source of green energy that can be adopted to help reduce a company’s carbon footprint, pig poo can play a part! Tangible green efforts such as alternative energy sources are a great way to fulfil the CSR quota of a business.

“Let’s face it, energy is something every business, regardless of size, uses and can’t function without. Choosing business electricity from a renewable source is a relatively easy way to fulfil CSR. As well as pig manure, our energy is sourced from tomato plants and used cooking oil. These sources fulfil criteria in two ways: re-using waste that would otherwise have to be disposed of and could harm the environment, and using waste to generate energy to reduce carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels. Add all of that to the impact of continued and growing demand on depleting fossil fuels, and it quickly adds up that a small change can make a big difference.”

As well as pig waste, green energy uk’s sources include wind and hydro power from free falling water. Customers are both domestic and business users throughout the UK.

For further information about green energy uk and its energy sources visit www.greenenergy.uk.com.

CBI says green or growth is a “false choice”

The controversy over whether the ‘green’ economy is a good or a bad thing for UK PLC has been given a positive boost by one of the country’s most influential groups. A new report from the CBI claims that green policies are a “vital driver” of economic growth, and that a straight choice between going green or boosting economic growth is a false one. In a rare moment of confidence in what has been an otherwise gloomy month for fiscal predictions, the CBI say that the UK could become a leader in low-carbon products and services, and that cutting edge research and development in the UK could also have long-term implications for global green economics for years to come.

The study found that maximising the UK’s green growth potential could result in a £20bn boost to GDP by 2014-15, and an improvement in trade balance of almost £0.8bn – especially good news just after the country has received a recovery downgrade from the EMF. Green business now accounts for nearly 8% of the country’s GDP, and currently supports nearly a million jobs. Many of those jobs are in green energy production, and in a market where traditional fossil fuels are struggling, the ‘green’ options such as bio-energy are holding their own. “We applaud the CBI’s positive statement on going green,” comments EDW Service Delivery Director, Graham Paul. “And they are also absolutely right in saying that the green economy isn’t a case of either/or – we have to realise that in the future, green energy and products are going to form a fundamental part of our economy and growth. Without the ‘green’ pound, not only will we struggle environmentally, but financially as well,” he adds.

Going green globally
The CBI’s report also hints that where the UK leads, others will follow, and that could have major implications for the future of wholesale energy markets in particular. The report gave several specific recommendations that will impact the energy sector, including:

• Ensuring the ambition of the fourth carbon budget was maintained and matched with consistent messaging from the government
• Giving market signals that have stability and longevity
• Collaborating with business to ensure the right mix of incentives and regulation
• Reducing complexity in the existing low-carbon landscape, including immediate action on the Carbon Reduction Commitment.

“Put all the right pieces in place, and you could see a substantial increase in business positivity,” comments Graham. “The energy industry has been committed to the production of greener fuel for years, and it has been our research and development into the use of green energy that has really driven the market forward. What the CBI is saying in their report, and what we have been saying for years, is that the government has to stop using the green economy as some sort of stick to beat British industry with, and promote its positive role in building a stronger future economy,” he adds.

And it seems that consumer demand is responding to the green economy too. “Not only is the green economy creating new opportunities both in the energy sector and elsewhere, but the public’s response to going green is becoming more positive,” says Graham Paul. “The energy sector has been positioned to take advantage of this for some time, and now it’s time for the rest of industry – and the government – to do the same. As renewables become cheaper and more plentiful, now is an ideal time to invest in long-term green energy projects, both in the private and the public sectors. It’s nice to know that for once, the energy providers aren’t the ‘bad guys’ and have been right all along about the importance of green energy and the green economy!” he concludes.

Trex high performance eco decking hits the UK

Innovative Trex Transcend® Collection Couples Enduring Beauty and Unmatched Durability  

The wait is over; Trex®, the world number 1 in high performance decking is now available in the UK.  Bringing its 20 years’ experience of wood-alternative decking to the British consumer, so this Spring/Summer there is no excuse not to have a beautifully kitted out garden.

Already the preferred wood-alternative decking brand across America, Trex decking is guaranteed to look “like new” for decades and as it’s made from 95 percent recycled materials; it is eco-friendly too.    You can now get your hands on The Trex range of durable and beautiful outdoor living products – including the revolutionary Trex Transcend® decking from Arbordeck dealers nationwide. 

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MEETS LOW-MAINTENANCE - Engineered with an exclusive low-sheen, high-traffic formulation, Trex Transcend decking combines a finish that resists stains, scratches and mold with a distinctive and natural-looking, wood-grain pattern in deep, saturated colours inspired by the great outdoors – Gravel Path (a pristine grey); Lava Rock (a reddish black); Spiced Rum (an umber hue with diverse streaking); Tree House (a warm earth tone) and Vintage Lantern (a deep-burnished bronze).

In addition, Transcend is extremely low maintenance. It won’t rot, warp, crack or splinter, so upkeep is hassle-free. The product requires no sanding, staining or painting, and spills wash off easily with just soap and water. The key to Trex Transcend decking’s extreme durability is its integrated shell, which is two to three times thicker than that of other manufacturers’ products. Each board is protected on three sides for superior defense against severe weather and heavy foot traffic, while the underside of each board breathes to avoid surface separation and ensure lifelong endurance. The entire Transcend decking collection also is backed by a 25-year Limited Residential Fade and Stain Warranty. 

DESIGN FLEXIBILITY - Each Trex Transcend deck board is available in two profile options – square and grooved. The grooved boards accommodate the Trex Hideaway® Hidden Fastening System, which allows for a smooth, unfettered finish free of nails and other visible fasteners. The system’s clips create a seamless look with no screws or screw holes to interrupt the smooth texture and comfortable feel of the decking. Matching fascia boards serve as a finishing touch.

The Trex Transcend collection also includes railing components in both Vintage Lantern and Tree House, which offer the same beauty and low maintenance as Transcend decking with mix-and-match capabilities to suit any style. 

ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENT - As a company built on green principles and practices, Trex decking is manufactured of reclaimed wood and sawdust, as well as recycled plastic from many common household items – including sandwich bags, newspaper sleeves and grocery bags. In fact, Trex saves approximately 300,000 tonnes of plastic and wood scrap from landfill sites every year, and no trees have ever been felled to manufacture Trex products. The company regularly seeks third-party audits to ensure that it is continually improving green practices while meeting all environmental, health and safety guidelines and industry regulations.

Prices start from £75m2 including VAT (tax) and secret fixings.

For more information about Trex products and to find local dealers, visit www.trex.com/uk

Opus Energy signs 250th renewable generator

Opus Energy's 250th renewable generator

Independent energy supplier to UK businesses, Opus Energy, has announced its 250th renewable generator agreement, signed with Milford Haven Port Authority this month.

The agreement will see Opus Energy purchasing power from solar PV systems across 11 of Milford Haven Port Authority’s sites. This adds to an existing two sites owned by the group that were signed with Opus Energy earlier this year, including Milford Haven Port’s flagship 100.8kW Phoenix Power PV Station - the largest integrated solar PV system in Wales - located on the roof of a tenpin bowling centre.

Tim James, Energy Development Manager, Milford Haven Port Authority, comments on the signing: “Milford Haven Port has a long established tradition of working at the cutting edge of energy production. Renewable generation now makes up part of our energy interests and is set to grow considerably as we make the transition to low carbon energy generation. We now have over 800kW of renewable energy generators and Opus Energy’s speed and ability to deliver within our deadlines and targets made them a great choice.”

Opus Energy is experiencing a growing level of interest amongst small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in generating renewable power from their own businesses, allowing them to power their own sites whilst reducing their carbon footprint. Generating renewable energy also provides SMEs with an additional income, as Opus Energy purchases their renewable power - via its power purchase agreements (PPAs) - to supply to its customers.

Charlie Crossley Cooke, Managing Director, Opus Energy, says: “Our growing customer base is evidence that renewable energy generation can provide businesses with a much needed boost to their income. This also contributes to a company’s energy provision  in a sustainable and environmentally-friendly way, which in turn will help bolster CSR credentials.”

Opus Energy’s 100th renewable generator agreement was signed with sustainable Devon crab fishery, The Blue Sea Food Company, after they installed solar PV panels onto the roof of their manufacturing sites.

David Markham, Sales Director, The Blue Sea Food Company explains: “We’re proud to process sustainable South Devon crab and try to instil this ethos throughout the business operation. Fitting solar panels is one of several initiatives the company has carried out in order to minimize our environmental footprint. We hope the new solar panels will supply upwards of 25% of our entire factories’ electricity requirements.”

Crossley Cooke continues, “So far, we’ve seen take-up of our renewables PPA across a range of different business sectors, from food manufacturers and suppliers to farms and community centres. Our challenge is to grow this customer base and the take-up of renewables generation amongst UK SMEs, despite decreasing subsidies.

“With the economic situation still so uncertain, any additional income will be invaluable for businesses. A 100kW solar panel on the roof of a factory, for example, will typically generate an income of over £16,000 per year, and will help reduce running costs, which makes sound business sense.”

(PICTURED: Milford Haven Port’s flagship 100.8 kW Phoenix Power PV Station, the largest integrated PV system in Wales, located on the roof of the Phoenix Bowl tenpin bowling centre.)

Opus Energy is the UK’s leading business energy supplier. With offices in Northampton and Oxford, Opus Energy employs 410 people.

Opus Energy supplies over 130,000 UK business sites across all sectors. Corporate customers include: Stagecoach, Pizza Hut and Virgin Media.

Opus Energy’s management team has a 50 per cent stake in the business, while International Power Plc (LSE: IPR.L) holds 30 per cent and Telecom Plus Plc (LSE: TEP.L) has 20 per cent.

For further information about Opus Energy, please see the Opus Energy Renewables website.

Vote for the world’s ‘Most Responsible Celebrity’

Voting is now open for the INTERNATIONAL GREEN AWARDS™ Most Responsible Celebrity Award. Nominees include the global eco-glitterati such as George Clooney, Penelope Cruz, Ian Somerhalder, Sachin Tendulkar and fashion visionary Vivienne Westwood, among others.

This award seeks to recognise an international media figure who has consistently promoted the sustainability agenda globally and as a result, influenced mass audiences as a celebrity. The competition is now open to a public vote at www.greenawards.com. This year’s nominees are comprised of 10 well respected celebrities who are deemed to have used their prominence to promote environmental and sustainable development issues and thus have become ‘responsible celebrities’. The candidate with the most votes will be announced as the winner at a showcase sustainable gala dinner on Tuesday 20th November at the Battersea Power Station, London. The winner will then be heralded as the ‘greenest’ media exemplar internationally.

Last year’s winner international supermodel Gisele Bündchen said in her acceptance speech “I have been blessed with the opportunity to bring attention to environmental causes, they are dear to my heart.” She also thanked her fans for voting and said of the award “Thank you for this special honour, I am filled with gratitude.”

In these troubled times for the environment, with climate-related disasters never far from the front page, it’s often news which features celebrities which attracts the most green media interest. The International Green Awards™ aims to raise the bar around the ‘cult of celebrity’. This award puts the spotlight on those progressive individuals who are keen to harness the power of the media, challenge conventional thinking on the climate agenda and who are really ahead of the game by ‘doing their bit’ for the future of us all.

Celebrities are undoubtedly some of the most powerful influencers in the world – they set trends for others to follow and thus are opinion leaders in their own right. In recent times as we adjust to the age of business transparency, an increasing number of celebrities have jumped onto the environmental bandwagon, while still others have truly embraced issues from animal rights through to deforestation and famine. Aside from their affluence, celebrities can set a very clear example for others as role models by endorsing sustainable lifestyles from recycling and purchasing low carbon vehicles through to switching to renewable energy.

All of the media figures selected have already used their media prominence in some way in the past few years to engage with mass audiences on environmental, CSR or sustainable development issues. In fact, many of the nominated celebrities are already recognised as ambassadors for organisations such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Tony Juniper, Writer, Campaigner, Independent Sustainability Advisor and 2012 International Green Awards™ Ambassador commented “This is why I am proud to support the International Green Awards™, so that more people can see what is already happening, the leaders of positive initiatives be recognised and the rest of us to be encouraged by what they are doing.”

Don’t forget to make your vote count vote for the celebrity you respect the most by visiting www.greenawards.com before 6th August.

Quick-Fit steam trapping station saves energy, cuts carbon emissions

More energy efficient steam systems are the promise of the new STS17.2 steam trapping station launched by Spirax Sarco in an expansion of its Quick-Fit steam trap range. The STS17.2 comprises isolation valves, steam trap connector with strainer and a check valve in a sleek modular body, supported by a 10-year warranty for total peace of mind.

A steam trap can be replaced in minutes instead of hours, enabling steam systems to be kept at peak performance and energy efficiency. Plant downtime is also reduced significantly.

Traditionally, steam traps are welded or screwed into the pipeline and considerable work is needed to replace them. Often this means that an underperforming steam trap needing maintenance is left in place for a significant period until safe access can be arranged.

The single-piece body of the STS17.2 also virtually eliminates the potential leak paths caused by screwed connections that conventional steam trapping stations and on-site fabricated installations typically suffer.

“The STS17.2'S’s innovative leak-free stainless steel body helps steam system operators to further reduce carbon emissions,” says Paul Mayoh, Spirax Sarco Product Manager. Total cost of ownership is lowered through the use of high performance stainless steel components, ensuring long and trouble-free operation.”

Apart from the steam traps themselves, no other components need to be specified or purchased, eliminating the time, cost and inconvenience needed to select, size, build and install a conventional steam trapping station.

An important safety feature of the STS17.2 is the inclusion of lockable handles on the isolation valves to help ensure maintenance can be carried out safely by minimising the possibility of accidental operation. Internal parts including the ball valves, check valve and strainer screen can all be replaced easily.

A new option with the STS17.2 is the double isolation adapter. This provides added security of two upstream isolation valves and allows the replacement of steam traps whilst the system is live, eliminating the need for plant downtime. This can also be considered for upstream and downstream applications for more specific maintenance procedures.

The STS17.2 boasts several other options such as an automatic steam trap monitoring facility and strainer blowdown valves to further reduce maintenance. The compact design of the STS17.2 allows it to squeeze into positions that are too tight to accommodate traditional steam trapping stations built from separate components.

Although there are several connector steam traps available, selection here is further simplified by considering thermodynamic for mains drainage and float for heat exchanger applications. Steam traps can be changed or maintained quickly with only two bolt connections without breaking the pipeline.

The new trapping station is suitable for clean steam and filtered applications such as hospital sterilisers, dairy production, food and beverage processing and some pharmaceutical plants. No sizing or selection is required for the STS17.2 and it is considered suitable for all steam main applications up to 10 bar g and DN150 line size.

Other applications can be sized using the appropriate Quick-Fit steam trap selection data and then selecting the same size STS17.2. The majority of applications will use the ½” or DN 15 unit.

For more information on the STS17.2 please visit www.spiraxsarco.com/uk/sts17.2, email uk.enquires@uk.spiraxsarco.com or call 01242 535319.

Corner Shop Culture Resonates More Than Price for Super-Savvy Consumers, says Green Energy firm

Whilst the recession has created a nation of price hunters as many scramble to save money on products and services, companies with a longer term strategy of retaining and attracting customers should instead look to provide first class customer service, says green energy uk, a provider of sustainable energy.

It’s no surprise that this period of economic uncertainty has borne an army of bargain hunters, but it has also created a more competitive business environment, meaning customers are now looking for better service for their money from the companies they do business with. In fact, even in a negative economy, customer experience is a high priority for the new breed of super-savvy consumers, with 60 per cent often or always paying more for a better experience and 59 per cent willing to try a new brand or company for a better service experience.

Doug Stewart, CEO of green energy uk, said: “Whilst the economic climate remains challenging, we’ve found the attitude towards ‘value for money’ has changed. For many consumers, the emphasis seems to have shifted in the direction of value and what value means rather than just selecting the cheapest deal. Many people now view value for money as including the entire service they receive, and most are frustrated with the money-saving approach taken by companies who outsource communication to overseas call centres.

"People also want a better bang for their buck, so finding new and innovative ways of ensuring they don’t start to look elsewhere should be a constant priority for providers of goods and services to consumers. Until now, the recession has meant that price has been one of the key factors for consumers when looking at food, clothes or even electricity prices, as everyone wants to cut costs as much as possible.

“Initiatives such as customer share schemes can make a real difference to the offering – and really make them feel like you’re giving something back for their custom, which is a huge step in securing loyalty. In addition, the environment is becoming more of a key factor in everyone’s lives, as the issue of climate change increases in prominence, so ways to be greener should be looked into by businesses to use as a USP when selling their services.”

Sourcing energy from a variety of renewable sources,green energy uk is a highly-regarded supplier of green electricity in the United Kingdom. Its customer base comprises homes and businesses from around the country who have made the energy switch to cleaner energy.

Doug added: “We’re a small company and it’s something we’re really proud of as it means we’re small enough to care about our customers and give them a great service – we find that really matters these days. The friendly, personable ‘corner shop’ culture is growing and we’re glad to be part of it, and, without wanting to sound like an environmentalist, if we can do it alongside trying to make a difference to the planet then why not?”

For further information about green energy uk and to find hints and tips on how to reduce your carbon footprint, visit www.greenenergy.uk.com.

Wildlife Sound Recording Society “Silver Fox” Trophy awarded to Martin Garnett for Black Grouse recording

The Wildlife Sound Recording Society’s (WSRS) annual sound recording competition has been won by Martin Garnett, a former Forest Ranger and professional ornithologist, for his recording entitled Black Grouse. The winning recording captures the magical bubbling calls of three blackcock, dancing and sparring as they compete to attract female birds one early morning at their remarkable courtship gathering known as a “lek”.

Martin has put his win down to having many years’ experience of monitoring Black Grouse leks in Wales as part of his job and, for the winning recording, had spent months researching the site along with his wife Annie.

Martin tells of the build up to the winning recording: “As Black Grouse are quite rare and susceptible to disturbance, we took special care not to disturb them at all. To begin with our modus operandi was to leave unattended recorders at two leks and observe the birds from a distance, returning to pick up the recorders after the birds had left. This was very hit and miss, although by trial and error we did achieve some reasonable recordings.

"Later I found that I could use the car as a hide near one lek and run a 70m cable to the mics. This was carried out at night time before the birds arrived. The grouse were not at all disturbed by this, arriving, displaying and leaving the lek as normal. Over three separate mornings I experimented with finding the best position and orientation for the mics, which I partly concealed in a clump of rushes to one side of the lek.

“The day of the recording, the weather was perfect and everything worked as planned. The mics were placed and I was in position well before the first birds arrived. The birds displayed right in front of the mics, the closest only a few feet away! Most importantly now I had control of the recorder and preamp and could monitor and change recording settings. I also had a good view of most of the action.

“The recording was helped by it being one of the driest Aprils on record (2011) – the fast flowing mountain river, which was about 150m away from the lek site was nearly dry and is hardly audible on the recording. This was also the most active time of year at the lek, with females coming to the site on most days. The behaviour of the males was much more animated when females were around!”

Chairman of the WSRS, Alan Burbidge commented "Martin's recording gives a fantastic sound picture of the Black Grouse lek: building to a crescendo and full of action. Martin's attention to detail, his background field work as well as the expert field craft used, make this recording a worthy overall winner of the annual WSRS competition. Martin's high quality recording, and those of the other outstanding class winners in the competition are testament not only to the skills of the individual recordists, but to the sharing of expertise and knowledge that runs through the veins of WSRS." website

In addition to being the custodian of the coveted Silver Fox trophy for a year, Martin will also receive a DPA SMK4060 Stereo Miniature Microphone Kit courtesy of WSRS competition sponsor , Sound Network.

“Sound Network Ltd is proud to maintain its continued support of the Wildlife Sound Recording Society and donating the prize for the “Silver Fox Award” for the 6th consecutive year. The Society’s energy and enthusiasm to record and archive wildlife sound as faithfully as possible is a unique contribution to the audio industry and a valuable social record for the future.” Said Ralph Dunlop, Sound Network co-founder.

Martin has been a member of the WSRS since 2008 and had this to say about his membership:
“Since joining the WSRS, I have benefited greatly from the generous and unstinting advice from the more experienced members of the society about the equipment and techniques needed to succeed with wildlife sound recording. I have found the WSRS website full of useful guidance and the forum a great place to ask questions and get answers. I have found attending meetings and workshops another excellent way of gaining information.”

As London Olympics get underway, don’t waste energy, says green provider

Whilst major sporting events can be energy intensive with activities such as travelling, setting up and maintaining temporary environments, the impact from people at home tuning into the game can also have a dramatic effect on energy consumption.

Doug Stewart, CEO of green energy uk, said: “With the London Olympics about to start, it’s definitely a recipe for increased domestic energy consumption. However, there are simple ways to go green and reduce our usage by making a conscious effort. Sitting down watching an event on the TV means not using any energy keeping warm and it may be tempting, especially with the tempestuous UK weather, to turn the heating up a little – when actually just adding another layer will save energy and money.

“Since people tend to use the kettle more often in breaks or at half time, they shouldn’t be tempted to fill the kettle to the top if they only intend to pour one cup, instead they should just boil the water needed. These are tactics people should employ as much as they can at all times, but during times of increased usage such as this, it should be an extra consideration. Even using energy saving light bulbs is a quick and effective change people can make,” he added.

As a sustainable energy company, green energy uk supplies 100 per cent green electricity to both domestic and business customers. It buys energy from a wide range of sustainable sources including solar, wind and free falling water as well as more unusual ones such as pig waste! By making them shareholders in the company, green energy uk encourages customers to take an active role in the business.

Doug concluded: “In addition to the energy saving tips, people can consider switching to green energy – a gesture that will yield benefits way beyond 2012!”

For further information about green energy uk, to find out about how to make an energy switch energy switch or to get a competitive business electricity quote visit www.greenenergyuk.com.

Best Green Marketing Initiative 2011/12

Lasswade Country House and Restaurant, Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys, has won the award for its role in the innovative creation of ‘Welsh Road Trips’, providing great ideas for UK short breaks in Wales.

Lasswade is one of three mid-Wales Green Tourism Business Scheme Gold award holders (the other two being the Old Vicarage, Dolfor near Newtown and the other being Westview Guest House in Llowes, near Hay on Wye) which have come together to form ‘Welsh Road Trips’ (WRT).

A destination marketing tool aimed at encouraging visitors/guests to take UK short breaks touring mid-Wales by foot, by bike or by car – using the developing electric car market. WRT forms a triangle, set in the green open spaces of mid Wales providing a complete six day tour – using carefully chosen routes showing everything from the best nature can offer in terms of landscape, flora and fauna, to notable architecture – with two nights stays at each of the three quality establishments in short, visitors/guests are given all the information required for a memorable journey of their choice – whether experienced on foot, bike or in a car.

An aspect that particularly impressed the judges was the fact that electric vehicles are catered for at each of the three locations through the provision of full fast charging stations (32amp and 13amp charging points). Indeed WRT has worked with Zero Carbon World (ZCW) to provide suitable charging for electric vehicles –ranging from the Tesla Super car to a modest electric bike, or the B-bug. WRT is very closely associated with the development of the B-Bug – a small fun, legal electric road buggy carrying two passengers. ZCW regards WRT as a prime mover in tourism fro the use of electric cars and has provided 100 re-charging sets for Wales.

An inscribed Dartington Crystal bowl was presented to the Lasswade Country House for WRT. In the eyes of the judges, it was presented to the hotel/accommodation provider who has produced the most outstanding marketing initiative within the CHA award category areas.

Arbtech Implements Special Offer on Bat Surveys until End of June

Arboricultural and Ecology Consultancy Arbtech have built a reliable company upon expert advice and low prices with quality surveyors situated around the country. Carrying out tree and bat surveys, the team pride themselves on helping developers and individuals before putting in an application for planning. For this month only, all customers can get fast, efficient and professional bat surveys for just £329.

The team at Arbtech have a wealth of experience when it comes to carrying out bat surveys around the UK. Due to habitat destruction, the population of bats is decreasing and thus they are fully protected by UK law. As part of the planning process in the UK, all developers and homeowners are required to have a bat survey carried out by someone with a Natural England license.

Arbtech have bat consultants based at their offices in Chester, London and home based consultants across the country. All consultants hold a Natural England and Countryside Council for Wales license and are fully qualified to carry out the surveys required for planning applications.

When carrying out bat surveys, the specialist consultants look for bats, activity of bats and also habitat value. Many past customers have praised Arbtech for the work they have carried out at their homes, allowing them to put planning applications in at their properties.

Employing three licensed bat survey ecologists, prospective customers can contact Arbtech on 08450176950 for free and friendly advice about bats, surveys, the reports or planning application. Until the 30th June, bat surveys are available for £329 instead of the usual £399. Contact the team now to find out more.

Paint everything Green!

At last, a truly eco-friendly paint is available in the UK – and it has the same base that our forefathers used centuries ago – Linseed oil.

Histocolour specialises in supplying this excellent paint which is unsurpassable in both quality and in its “green” credentials.

Before the introduction of modern paints, which are petrochemical, solvent based, linseed oil was recognised as the perfect paint base for internal and external works. Extensive research today has proved that they were right!

Why use linseed oil paint?

• It penetrates the surface – giving a longer life span
• Easy to maintain – a simple wipe of the surface with linseed oil
• Natural product – leaving no harmful waste residue
• No paint failure – no build up on the surface so allowing moisture to escape
• Protects buildings – it preserves wood very well

In addition, linseed oil paints now have a similar drying time to modern paints and a high gloss finish can be achieved by applying more coats. Linseed paints cannot easily match the very bright colours of chemical paints but they can last for 50-100 years with minimal maintenance!

Gazasia develops clean fuel made from organic landfill waste for Asian market

Gazasia, a UK company that develops waste-derived biofuels, is to begin operations in the Philippines to develop a vehicle fuel made from organic waste products in landfill.

Gazasia creates liquid biomethane - a carbon-neutral, sustainable and high-quality vehicle fuel – by cleaning and refining the natural gas produced by organic waste found in landfill sites.

In the Philippines, as throughout much of the world, landfill remains the most common means of waste disposal. But left alone, it creates potentially damaging gases, including methane and carbon dioxide. Gazasia cleans this methane and converts it to liquid biomethane, creating a clean and commercially viable fuel, as well as preventing harmful methane being released into the environment.

Earlier today, Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc (AEV) announced it had signed an agreement in London with Gazasia worth USD 150 million to fund the development of plants to create liquid biomethane from organic waste.

Vehicle fuel prices in Asia have risen sharply over the last year and are expected to continue rising. Many governments throughout the region are subsidising fuel costs but have insufficient resources to maintain their subsidies indefinitely.

“The impact of higher vehicle fuel prices has been especially severe in South East Asia,” says Richard Lilleystone, CEO of Gazasia. “Public transport is essential to the workforce. Rising fuel costs have a direct impact on transport costs and food prices, which of course has the greatest impact on those least able to afford it.”

The use of biomethane as a vehicle fuel is growing across the world, and particularly in South East Asia. {{It is an economical alternative to fuel, and has a positive impact on air quality.}} Waste organic material is abundant and inexhaustible, making the fuel sustainable, and unaffected by the sort of geopolitical events that impact on oil-based fuels and lead to price volatility.

New Hope for Elephants Under Threat in Central Africa

Central African countries today signed a groundbreaking regional plan to strengthen law enforcement and better combat poaching of elephants and other species at risk from illegal wildlife trade. The plan was adopted by the ten member states of Central African Forest Commission, known as COMIFAC, as escalating rates of wildlife crime plague the region.

Wildlife ministers from the COMIFAC countries pledged to undertake unprecedented levels of cooperation with law enforcement agencies, such as the police, customs and the judiciary, to tackle the issue. They also announced plans to hold a head of state conference next year to address wildlife loss and maintaining Africa’s biodiversity. The conference would bring together African leaders as well as government officials from key Asian trading partners and intergovernmental supporters such as the Africa Development Bank and the UN to explore opportunities for cooperation.

“Without strong and efficient collaboration among the COMIFAC range states, we will never succeed in combating this plague,” said Mahamat Bechir Okormi, the Chad Minister for Environment and Fishery, in his closing statement at the COMIFAC preparatory meeting held yesterday in Ndjamena, Chad.

The law enforcement action plan approved today includes provisions to increase anti-poaching efforts in each of the countries and to enable joint-country patrols in some transborder areas. Ivory, often bound for Asia, is frequently smuggled across inland borders before reaching overseas exit points such as ports and airports. Under the plan, customs controls are also set to be bolstered at international transit hubs.

To ensure that criminals engaging in illegal wildlife trade are arrested and prosecuted to the full extent of the law, COMIFAC countries plan to ramp up investigations and conduct more thorough prosecutions. Cases will also be monitored for corruption and action taken against anyone attempting to impede justice.

“This regional action plan comes at the right time, as a coordinated response to the recent upsurge of large scale poaching witnessed in Central Africa,” said Marc Languy, Leader of WWF’s Green Heart of Africa initiative. “This is an important milestone and there is need now for COMIFAC countries to initiate the first steps to implement it. The plan will also need support from the international community.”

Finalization of the plan has come just after the president of the African Development Bank spoke strongly about the urgent need to tackle illegal wildlife trade. “We are taking our ecosystems for granted,” Africa Development Bank President Dr Donald Kaberuka told reporters Friday. “The increase in large scale seizures is evidence of the involvement of well organised criminal networks in illegal wildlife trade, now the fifth largest illicit transnational activity, worth between $8-10 billion per year. It is something we must absolutely put to an end.”

Also at the Ndjamena event, Chad, Central African Republic and Cameroon signed a tri-partite declaration to join forces and increase transboundary collaboration to fight poaching. “This is a welcome sign and will help ensure that there will never again be a slaughter of elephants on the scale witnessed in Cameroon earlier this year,” said Lamine Sebogo, WWF’s African elephant expert.

“We were all shocked by the recent killing of more than 200 elephants in Bouba N’Djida National Park,” said Bas Huijbregts, Regional Field Programmes Manager of WWF’s Central African Regional Programme Office. “The strategy defined in this action plan will allow countries to react more quickly and efficiently to similar threats in the future.”

WWF, together with TRAFFIC and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, has provided technical and financial assistance toward the development of the plan and is offering ongoing support for implementation.

The 10 COMIFAC countries are Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Central Africa Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Rwanda and Sao Tome e Principe. The COMIFAC treaty was signed in 1999 in a bid to improve conservation and improved management of Central African forests.

FACTFILE:
WWF is a world leading conservation organization, working in 100 countries for nearly half a century. With the support of almost 5 million members worldwide, WWF is dedicated to delivering science-based solutions to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth, halt the degradation of the environment and combat climate change. Visit www.worldwildlife.org to learn more.

Follow them on Twitter @WWFnews for latest news

Just 2% plan to buy electric car in next five years

They may represent our motoring future, but only two per cent of people are likely to buy an electric vehicle (EV) in the next five years according to a new survey.

Despite Department of Transport claims that 2011 would be ‘the year of the electric car’ - offering hefty subsidies and advising councils to plan for an electric future - just 1,000 of the battery-powered vehicles were sold in the UK last year.

And when specialist car insurance broker Adrian Flux asked 1,000 of its customers how likely they were to buy an EV in the next five years, just two per cent were seriously considering swapping the petrol pump for the charging point.

Nearly 70 per cent ruled out a switch entirely, with the remaining 28 per cent firmly in the wait and see camp.

While most of us agree that petrol and diesel-powered cars are unsustainable in the long term, it seems few of us are prepared to buy a car we feel has a high purchase price, limited range, long recharge times and questionable resale value.

However, the electric revolution is still charging forward despite the lukewarm appetite of the British people.
Last month, 60 charging points were opened in Oxford, making the city the EV capital of Europe with one charging point for every 2,400 people, the best ratio in the EU.

London has 654 charging points – the most in Europe – and British cities dominate the top 10 list of electric-friendly locations in the continent.

New charging stations will recharge an electric car battery in four hours, slashing previous charging times by 50 per cent, and future charging points could cut this time to just 20 minutes.

There will also be almost 30 new models of electric or hybrid car brought to market in the next 18 months, with BMW preparing to launch its first “all electric” cars, the i3 and the i8, Ford unveiling the Focus Electric and Vauxhall premièring the Ampera, which has a small petrol-fuelled generator that extends the range of the car to 360 miles.

Expense is still an issue, however, even with the £5,000 government grants available for electric car buyers – the Ampera will cost £29,995, but drivers will benefit from considerably lower running costs.

Industry figures suggest that by 2020, five per cent of vehicles on the road could be electric.

Gerry Bucke, of Adrian Flux Insurance Services, explained that people’s reluctance to switch to electric cars was often related to the perceived “hassle” of owning a vehicle which relied on charging.

“People are worried that they can’t just ‘drive and go’ and that they will have to plan ahead depending on how far they plan to travel each day and the ‘range’ of their car,” he said.

“Presently, a domestic charge at 240 volts on a 13 amp socket could take between six and 10 hours to fully charge an electric car, although this will change significantly as technology improves.

“Although the majority of people’s car journeys are short, they still want to know that – if they choose – they could travel long distances in their car without having to worry about finding a charging station.

“There are options available, such as range-extended electric cars with petrol or diesel generators to provide extra electricity and hybrid cars which recover energy from the movement and braking of the car.

“In insurance terms, insurers still have reservations about electric cars. mainly based on their cost and the disposal of the batteries, which can push up premiums.”

Is the new Energy Market Reform Bill a ‘dash for gas’?

The long-awaited Energy Market Reform Bill (EMR) has finally been launched by the government – and has already come under attack from environmentalists as heralding a ‘dash for gas’, and by the energy industry as not providing the clarification they were looking for.

The Bill, which has been eagerly anticipated by all parties, puts forward the government’s stated wish that the electricity industry should be completely ‘de-carbonised’ by the 2030s. However, this is only on the government’s ‘wish list’ and there is no guarantee within the Bill that this will be the case.

The Bill also proposes reforms that will bring a greater element of planning into the energy markets to allow for a greater spread of provisions, including the ever-controversial nuclear solution and the proposal of expanding shale gas extraction in the UK. However, that spread of supply will still be primarily relying on gas to ensure that the energy demands of the UK are met throughout the early part of the 21st Century – a situation that environmentalists believe is detrimental in the long term.

Relying on gas for the next 20 years
The Committee on Climate Change admits that gas is going to be the primary provider of energy well into the third decade of this century. But the concern is that the Bill hasn’t exactly helped to clarify to what extent the reliance on gas will be, and what alternative supplies are both logistically and financially viable. “What we’re seeing here is a failure to communicate adequately between the energy providers and the government that has led to a Bill that’s causing confusion and consternation across the board,” comments EDW Service Delivery Director, Graham Paul. “While everyone has been anticipating a Bill that would give us a clear roadmap for wholesale energy production in the UK for the next 20 years, what we actually have is a muddle of ideas, some of which may not even be workable,” he adds.

To add to the confusion, the government has also announced that there will be a consultation on the use of gas for electricity generation that will run alongside the legislation.

Keeping the lights on…
Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Edward Davey has made it clear in a written statement to Parliament that he believes the proposed Bill will “keep the lights on, bills down and the air clean”. The key element of the Bill is the government’s Feed-in-Tariffs and Contracts for Difference – two proposals that the government believes will encourage companies to invest in low-carbon energy generation. But coming so soon after the proposal to seriously explore the concept of ‘fracking’ or shale gas extraction on an industrial scale, environmental groups are suspicious of the government’s real commitment to green energy production.

The Energy Bill is also set to reinforce the regulatory position of Ofgem, as well as provisions that will enable the sale of the Government Pipeline and Storage System (GPSS). But all of this adds up to a Bill that is being regarded as messy and unworkable in many quarters. “We were really hoping for a little clarification on the government's position for the long-term energy security of the UK,” comments EDW’s Graham Paul. “What we’ve actually ended up with is a mish-mash of ideas that appear to have been tossed randomly into the melting pot as an afterthought, with no clear strategy for the long term. While short-term fixes might impress those who are too myopic to look beyond the immediate future, it isn’t impressing anyone who has the forethought to look further ahead, and that includes both the energy industry and the environmental sector. For once, I think both sides are in agreement – this Bill isn’t what any of us were hoping for,” he concludes.

FACTFILE:
 EDW have a long history in developing, implementing and supporting best-of-breed software solution for retail electricity quoting and customer management including their bespoke electricity billing software for the industrial and commercial market sector.

Eurostar announces winners of Ashden Award for Sustainable Travel

Eurostar has announced that Norfolk-based car-sharing organisation, liftshare, and the Belgian city of Ghent's cycling programme have beaten off stiff competition from over 120 sustainable travel initiatives across the UK, France and Belgium to win the inaugural Eurostar Ashden Award for Sustainable Travel.

The winners were selected against four other finalists for the ground-breaking ways in which they encourage people to think differently about how they travel. liftshare and Ghent City Council will now share £30,000 in prize money to further their work to promote sustainable travel.

liftshare was chosen as a winner for its tireless efforts to fill empty car seats on the roads, via its online car-sharing network, which offers a friendlier, greener and cheaper way to travel. liftshare stood out to the judges because of the breadth of its initiatives to promote car-sharing including; a free-to-use public car-sharing network for individuals, and tailor-made paid for schemes for local authorities, organisations and businesses which they then provide free to their users. This strategy, combined with creative marketing and innovative product development, has attracted over 332,000 active liftshare members, with 1 in every 100 cars in the UK registered on the network. Liftshare helps remove around 100,000 journeys from the UK's roads each day, which will cut 113,000 tonnes of carbon emissions, this year alone.

Ghent City Council was selected for its far-reaching mobility plan, which is designed to get more people cycling. Their approach, which includes the creation of a car-free city centre, extensive safety initiatives and investment in creative marketing support, impressed the judging panel. As a result of these efforts, Ghent has transformed from a city with high levels of traffic congestion to a clean, tranquil and safe cycling city, where two wheels take priority over four.

Nicolas Petrovic, Eurostar Chief Executive said: "We were delighted by the breadth and quality of all the entries into our first sustainable travel awards, making it a difficult decision to select both the finalists and the overall winners. liftshare and Ghent City Council stood out to us as winners for their innovative approach in helping to transform the way people think about travelling. By celebrating their achievements we hope to inspire more people to consider the environment when making their own travel choices."

Sarah Butler-Sloss, Founder Director of Ashden added: "liftshare's achievements are very impressive: with 1 in every 100 cars in the UK registered on the liftshare network a huge number of car miles are being saved, resulting in phenomenal carbon savings.

"The city of Ghent has made cycling safe, easy and pleasurable through its excellent cycling infrastructure, innovative marketing campaigns and well thought-through cycling support, from rentals and repairs at stations through to providing gloves for when it’s cold."

Eurostar, in partnership with Ashden, launched the Sustainable Travel Award in 2011 to celebrate and support local sustainable travel projects across the UK, France and Belgium. The Eurostar Ashden Award for Sustainable Travel forms part of Eurostar's Tread Lightly programme to reduce the business’s impact on the environment and encourage people to switch to more sustainable modes of transport.

National Trust recognises unsung 'Green Heroes'

The National Trust has announced the six winners of the first ever Octavia Hill Awards at a special ceremony in London.

A prolific drystone waller, an intrepid volunteer youth worker and famous TV walker were among the green heroes celebrated by the National Trust.

The awards are named after Trust founder and social reformer Octavia Hill who died in 1912. They are being run in partnership with Countryfile Magazine.

Nominated by the public and then put to an online poll that saw nearly seven thousand votes, each winner is keeping the spirit of Octavia alive - standing up for precious natural spaces and places. 

The winners of the Octavia Hill Awards were:
Patrick Frew from Country Antrim, Northern Ireland is the 'Growing Hero' - Patrick has turned a one-acre site into a diverse growing space. Young children enjoy visits to the site to reconnect with nature while elderly residents are treated to home deliveries of compost and easy salad plants ready to make their own DIY 'Doorstep Allotments'.

Roger Parkinson from Wakefield, West Yorkshire is a 'Natural Hero' - Roger is an inspirational tree conservation leader, a public speaker and field teacher. As a practitioner, he's helped restore a five-acre arboretum with more than 150 tree species and he's helped individuals and groups with their own woodland creation projects.

Matt Smith from Bootle, Liverpool is the 'Inspirational Hero' - Volunteer youth worker Matt is tackling anti-social behaviour by getting young people into the outdoors. As a volunteer he organises nature hikes, camping and self-sufficiency trips that educate, inspire and sometimes change lives.

Julia Bradbury was voted 'The People’s Campaigner' - Julia picked up the award for someone in the public spotlight who's championed an issue or cause. Her passion for walking began at an early age and she was formerly President of the Ramblers Association. Her public profile as a popular TV presenter gives her the chance to champion and promote the landscape she loves.

The Friends of King Henry's Walk Garden in North London are the 'Green Space Guardians' - A scrap of wasteland in North London is now a tranquil community garden thanks to this group. King Henry's Walk Garden is enjoyed by the many families who don't have outside space and people can rent space to grow their own produce.

Eric Shorrocks of Arnside Knott, Cumbria wins the 'Love Places' Award - A self-taught professional drystone waller, Eric has passed on his skills, training up at least 20 others in the craft and, as a National Trust volunteer, he's been dedicating his free time to everything from litter picking and path clearing to saving precious limestone grassland from scrub invasion.  

The Awards attracted more than 160 entries and a final shortlist was selected by a panel of judges with a wide knowledge of green and social issues. Sitting on the panel alongside Fiona Reynolds, Director-General of the National Trust, were Fergus Collins, Editor of Countryfile Magazine, academic and broadcaster Professor Alice Roberts and journalist and writer Candida Lycett Green.

The public then voted, in their thousands, for the shortlisted entries.

Each of the winners will receive a specially commissioned bowl made by Tony Alderman who works at the National Trust's Chartwell in Kent. The bowls have been made using English elm, oak and yew collected from woods near to Crockham in Kent where Octavia Hill lived.

They also win the opportunity to be mentored by a Trust expert and will be profiled in Countryfile Magazine.

About National Trust:
The National Trust looks after more than 250,000 hectares of countryside, 710 miles of coastline and hundreds of historic places across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. For more information, and ideas for a family day out, go to: www.nationaltrust.org.uk.

Government announcement on solar subsidy means future stability for all

Many homeowners may be aware of all the commotion that has surrounded the government funded feed-in-tariffs (FITs) since they launched in April 2011. This fuss would have undoubtedly put most consumers confidence at a low, however in a recent announcement made by the Department of Climate Change (DECC), stability for solar is on the horizon. We can now reveal that the subsidy is set to receive some security which will at least last for the next three years.

From August 1 2012, the subsidy which currently stands at 21p kWh for 4kW systems introduced into domestic properties will drop to 16p kWh. As the FITs were never set to be an everlasting subsidy, this new inevitable decrease has also been introduced with a range of new modifications set to help rebuild consumer confidence by bringing stability into the market. These modifications include;

• A multi-installation tariff for organizations with over 25 installations. They will receive 90 % of the standard applicable tariff, which is up from 80%
• Export tariff will be increased from 3.2p to 4.5p/kWh for those installations with an eligibility date on or after August 1;
• The FIT lifetime will be reduced from 25 to 20 years for those installations with an eligibility date on or after August 1; and
• Tariffs for installations that do not meet the energy efficiency requirements will mirror the tariffs for standalone installations.

This revision combined with the new rate has now outlined the FITs plans for the next 3 years, unless there is significant uptake. The DECC have announced the new tariff of 16p kWh and have outlined the process in which the tariff will decrease over the next three years. The announcement detailed that the FIT will steadily decrease at a rate of 3.5% every 3 months, beginning October 1st 2012. This means that over the course of a year the subsidy will reduce by around 2.24p which is a welcome and slow decline considering it has dropped a staggering 27.3p since December 2011. This new rate is set to introduce and reaffirm consumer confidence and put back some confidence in the installer that has invested their time and money into solar too.

As the new tariff is set for August 1 2012, consumers still have a 9 week window in which to gain the current higher rate of 21p kWh so as always time is of the essence for those wishing to obtain the higher rate which will be guaranteed for 25 years.

Carl Bennett, Managing Director of Trade Skills 4U, Britain’s premier electrical & renewable energy training company reveals his thoughts on recent announcement. “There have been a lot of gloomy headlines about solar power but the fact is the returns on offer are far better than anything you can get in the bank. The smart money is on solar PV. And by investing in solar power not only do householders protect themselves from rocketing electricity bills; they help local businesses and employment. Our business has enjoyed growth as result of our investment in solar.

"Last year we built a first storey training roof, which is the only one of its kind in the UK, in order to train solar installers and in the environment they will be working in when they qualify. Our dedication to ‘real life’ scenario training as seen a steady rise in business and helped to drive us forward in the recession when many have cut back. Now that government have announced future stability for the Feed-in-Tariff, we can only predict a steady and stable future for solar which is of course great news for everyone.”

Martin Gebbett, Director of DPS Renewable Technologies says: ‘The announcement by the DECC signals an end to the uncertainty that has prevailed in the PV solar industry since September 2011. We believe the new set guidelines allow us to plan move clearly for the future and drive our business forward. We have seen a noticeable increase in enquiries over the last few weeks and see a positive outlook’.

The environmental campaign group Greenpeace is keen to encourage people to invest in solar. Dr Doug Parr, Policy Director at Greenpeace UK explains why: “Local renewable energy remains a valuable contributor to a sustainable economy. We welcome further solar PV systems, taking advantage of genuinely sustainable energy in the drive to protect the planet from climate change.”

Virginia Graham, Chief Executive of the REAL Consumer Code said; “It is true that solar power can still offer attractive returns to householders in the right circumstances. We recommend anyone interested in installing solar power to ensure the supplier is listed on the REAL and MCS websites and to read our guidance for consumers carefully before going ahead: www.realassurance.org.uk/consumers/top-tips .”

There has been over a quarter of a million installations across the UK since the launch of the FIT in April 2010. The industry has blossomed to employ around 25,000 people and it is set to grow rapidly, despite the recession. Thanks to campaigning by the Solar Trade Association the role of solar power is now recognised by Government and the Prime Minister with 22GW anticipated by 2020.

Kellys earns Green Partner Award

Kellys Printing Solutions (Kellys) has been awarded a prestigious Green Partner Plus Accreditation from KYOCERA Document Solutions (KYOCERA), one of the world's leading document solutions companies. Launched in 2011, KYOCERA’s Green Partner programme encourages KYOCERA’s channel partners in their sustainability efforts and provides customers with assurance that the environmentally responsible printers they specify can also be supplied and serviced by a company with strong environmental credentials.

Tracey Rawling Church, Director of Brand and Reputation at KYOCERA Document Solutions commented: “Kellys is only the fifth KYOCERA partner to achieve this demanding accreditation. We were the first vendor to introduce a green partner programme to educate our partners about how to make their business more sustainable and we offer two levels of accreditation, Green Partner and Green Partner Plus.

"Green Partner Plus rewards those who have invested significantly in greening their business; it’s challenging and to achieve it takes real commitment and dedication in every aspect of sustainability within the business.”

The Green Partner Programme is open only to suppliers of KYOCERA Document Solutions includes an audit across 50 elements of sustainable operations. Ten of these are mandatory and of the remaining 40 minimum scores apply for each of the two standards of accreditation. A fast-track element avoids the need for partners which have already achieved recognised national or global sustainability accreditations to undergo a full audit that would only duplicate work already completed. At the other end of the spectrum, a Green Partner Guide provides support and guidance for those who are at the beginning of the process of making their business more sustainable.

Mr Mark Wilkinson, Operations Director of Kellys said: “We have worked exclusively with KYOCERA thirty years and we put huge value on providing a complete KYOCERA solution to our customers. In our experience, KYOCERA’s ECOSYS sustainable print technology has been paramount for our customers.”

“As a business we are very committed to sustainability and we felt that this was an important and valuable accreditation to achieve. Green Partner Plus is a key selling point for both our existing clients and prospects. We were ahead of the curve with managed print solutions which we’ve been offering for over 10 years now and we believe that sustainability, and the savings it delivers, will be a real driving force for businesses over the next decade. We look forward to growing our business in conjunction with KYOCERA Document Solutions and will continue to deliver the first class customer service we’re known for.”

About Kellys

Formed initially in 1982, Kellys is an established Print Solutions Provider with a network of offices across Scotland. With 30 years experience and expertise in its industry, the company is dedicated to providing its clients with tailored integrated document management solutions backed up by exceptional first class service.

Its business partner KYOCERA Document Solutions is one of the world’s leading office document solutions companies, which manufactures and markets monochrome and colour network printers, multifunctional products (MFPs) and a portfolio of solutions.

KYOCERA is in the unique position of being a company with a heritage in both the printer and copier markets and its exciting and comprehensive product range means that Kellys’ clients can be assured that they will have access to the latest developments in the document solutions marketplace.

For further information visit www.kyoceradocumentsolutions.co.uk