Tuesday 31 January 2012
That's Parenting: Trend for Hand-me-Down Culture Extends to Nappies
That's Parenting: Trend for Hand-me-Down Culture Extends to Nappies: The growing trend for recycling has spurred a hand-me-down culture that no longer has stig...
That's Food and Drink: Pan-Fried Wild Alaska Pollock With Crunchy Lemon A...
That's Food and Drink: Pan-Fried Wild Alaska Pollock With Crunchy Lemon A...: Start the New Year in a sustainable way with our new recipes from Alaska Seafood! This tasty wild Alaska pollock dish with spicy Spanish cho...
Tuesday 24 January 2012
WJ King helps dig a well in India
Top regional brewer, Sussex-based WJ King, has joined forces with local charity Drop4Drop to help provide clean drinking water in a village in India.
WJ King has committed to building a well in a village called the 'Mulla Community'. It has a population of 1,032 people and is based in East Goddavari, Andhra Pradesh, India.
WJ King will provide one litre of clean drinking water to this village for every bottle of WJ King bottle conditioned real ale they sell during all of 2012. Water or brewing liquor is fundamental to the quality of beer and with this in mind it seemed like a good match.
Ian Burgess, Head Brewer at WJ King commented "It seemed like an obvious connection, we will use approximately 5 pints of water for every pint of WJ King real ale we make and yet there are people in the world without a drop to drink.
"WJ King is very committed to supporting its wider community, both at home and abroad and the sponsorship of the well for the Mulla Community represents the 50th community sponsorship undertaken since Ian became head brewer in 2010.
"We are very proud of our efforts to improve the quality of life for those in need and with the massive growth we have enjoyed over the last 20 months since taking over at WJ King, it will not be long before the well is complete and we can look to further projects with Drop4Drop."
With a 200 year tradition of brewing some of the most respected and enjoyed Sussex ales, WJ King has evolved into a new style of micro brewery, using only the finest natural and local ingredients and traditional brewing techniques to produce the finest quality local ales.
Visit www.kingbeer.co.uk to find out where to taste the new beer.
WJ King has committed to building a well in a village called the 'Mulla Community'. It has a population of 1,032 people and is based in East Goddavari, Andhra Pradesh, India.
WJ King will provide one litre of clean drinking water to this village for every bottle of WJ King bottle conditioned real ale they sell during all of 2012. Water or brewing liquor is fundamental to the quality of beer and with this in mind it seemed like a good match.
Ian Burgess, Head Brewer at WJ King commented "It seemed like an obvious connection, we will use approximately 5 pints of water for every pint of WJ King real ale we make and yet there are people in the world without a drop to drink.
"WJ King is very committed to supporting its wider community, both at home and abroad and the sponsorship of the well for the Mulla Community represents the 50th community sponsorship undertaken since Ian became head brewer in 2010.
"We are very proud of our efforts to improve the quality of life for those in need and with the massive growth we have enjoyed over the last 20 months since taking over at WJ King, it will not be long before the well is complete and we can look to further projects with Drop4Drop."
With a 200 year tradition of brewing some of the most respected and enjoyed Sussex ales, WJ King has evolved into a new style of micro brewery, using only the finest natural and local ingredients and traditional brewing techniques to produce the finest quality local ales.
Visit www.kingbeer.co.uk to find out where to taste the new beer.
A consumer guide to what The Green Deal is and how it may affect you
New research from Pilkington energiKare™ has found that three quarters of us don’t know what the Green Deal is, with nearly one in five (17 per cent) admitting we have heard of the term but don’t know how it will affect us. To help explain the Green Deal and how it can be of benefit, Tony Smith, Business Development Manager at Pilkington Building Products, shares his expert advice.
What exactly is The Green Deal?
The Green Deal is the flagship government energy efficiency initiative contained within the Energy Bill 2011, which aims to give homeowners the opportunity to reduce energy use by installing insulation improvement measures and improving heating and lighting efficiency in their homes. The Green Deal will also give tenants the right to ask their landlords for reasonable upgrades to their homes.
The Green Deal is a loan scheme allowing people to upgrade their homes without having to pay for it upfront. An assessment of the property is made by a certified assessor who will recommend measures to save energy. The government has introduced a Golden Rule that requires that the cost savings from the reduction in energy use must cover the Green Deal loan repayments making the scheme self financing. The Green Deal Finance repayments will be collected through the electricity bill.
Why is The Green Deal being introduced?
Many of us want to improve our property and help the environment but the initial financial outlay of updating a property is off-putting, and for many tenants across the country, paying for updates to their rented home out of their own pocket is simply not an option. The Green Deal aims to help by covering the upfront expenditure with a loan from a government regulated Green Deal Provider.
What sort of energy updates will be included in the Green Deal?
Pilkington Building Products has been lobbying the government to encourage inclusion of energy-efficient glazing into the Green Deal in order to help meet the UK objectives to reduce carbon emissions in future. Improvement measures that will be covered by the Green Deal scheme will include energy-efficient glazing, solid wall insulation, loft and cavity wall insulation, heating upgrades, ventilation and lighting improvements and other energy efficiency measures.
We are pleased that energy-efficient glazing will be included in the Green Deal scheme. Energy-efficient glazing can help homeowners and tenants significantly save energy and reduce bills. Pilkington energiKare™ double-glazing can help people to save up to 20 per cent on heating bills, compared to single glazing.
The right glass such as Pilkington K Glass™ plays a key role in the prevention of energy loss through windows and is a vital part of making a home sustainable. Energy saving measures are essential for homeowners, landlords and businesses to reduce CO2 output and reduce the cost and dependency on energy.
How will the installations be affected if I move to a new home?
The Green Deal loan charge is attached to the electricity meter so if the homeowner sells the property the new owner will get the benefit of the measures and continue the loan repayments through the electricity bill. People can get worried when you mention finance and loans, and immediately think of debt – but you have to think of it very differently to buying a sofa or a car on finance and paying it back over many years. The car or the sofa will diminish in value, but because the products included in the Green Deal are required to meet the governments Golden Rule, saving energy and money on your energy bills, they will be continually be working for you, so over the period of the loan the measures should have paid for themselves. No specific loan period is set for the Green Deal, but full repayment must be made within the guarantee period of the product.
Green Deal Summary
The Green Deal would consist of the following steps:
1. An independent and impartial accredited assessor will carry out an energy survey of the property showing advice on the best energy-saving solutions.
2. Green Deal funding is to be provided only through a regulated Green Deal Provider which is then paid back through savings on energy bills, making properties more energy economical immediately.
3. Homeowners then receive the energy efficiency package, safe in the knowledge that only accredited measures will be installed by qualified and accredited installers.
4. The homeowner will also have the peace of mind in knowing that the Green Deal Provider is required by government to guarantee the measures for the full life of the Green Deal loan.
In the meantime, while we wait for the Government’s Green Deal plans to be finalised, here are a few simple suggestions on how to improve your home’s energy efficiency.
Energy-efficient light bulbs – Fitting just one energy saving light bulb can save you on average £2.50 a year - and by swapping all the light bulbs in your home for energy-efficient ones, you could save around £37 per year*. Energy-efficient bulbs will produce the same amount of light as a standard light bulb but will use a fraction of the electricity.
Turn down the thermostat – Invest in a digital room thermostat and timer, this will automatically reduce the heating while you are asleep or out at work. As much as 10 percent can be saved on heating bills by turning the thermostat back by just a few degrees.
Eliminate draughts and Insulate – Inspect your home for draughts that will let the cold air in. Particularly feel for air coming in around doors, windows and electrical sockets. If you find any draughts, seal them! Make sure your loft is well insulated, the loft is a common source of draughts and the cold air quickly finds a way to circulate through the home. Insulation is relatively easy to install and it could save you up to £150 a year.
Insulation jacket for your hot water tank – Keep your hot water cylinder warm by wrapping an insulator blanket around it as this will reduce the rate at which it loses heat. Also try adding insulation to internal exposed pipes in the airing cupboard and around the cylinder, as this will also help conserve the heat.
Turn off at the switch – don’t leave electrical appliances on standby – This means that the appliance is still using electricity and therefore wasting energy. It has been estimated that more than £740m of electricity is wasted every year in the UK by things being left on standby the equivalent of more than two power stations' output. So make sure you switch off at the main power source ensuring you save both energy and money.
Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) energy saving calculator for a mains gas, detached house www.ggf.org.uk/energy-savings-calculator
www.pilkington.co.uk/sustainability
www.pilkington.co.uk
What exactly is The Green Deal?
The Green Deal is the flagship government energy efficiency initiative contained within the Energy Bill 2011, which aims to give homeowners the opportunity to reduce energy use by installing insulation improvement measures and improving heating and lighting efficiency in their homes. The Green Deal will also give tenants the right to ask their landlords for reasonable upgrades to their homes.
The Green Deal is a loan scheme allowing people to upgrade their homes without having to pay for it upfront. An assessment of the property is made by a certified assessor who will recommend measures to save energy. The government has introduced a Golden Rule that requires that the cost savings from the reduction in energy use must cover the Green Deal loan repayments making the scheme self financing. The Green Deal Finance repayments will be collected through the electricity bill.
Why is The Green Deal being introduced?
Many of us want to improve our property and help the environment but the initial financial outlay of updating a property is off-putting, and for many tenants across the country, paying for updates to their rented home out of their own pocket is simply not an option. The Green Deal aims to help by covering the upfront expenditure with a loan from a government regulated Green Deal Provider.
What sort of energy updates will be included in the Green Deal?
Pilkington Building Products has been lobbying the government to encourage inclusion of energy-efficient glazing into the Green Deal in order to help meet the UK objectives to reduce carbon emissions in future. Improvement measures that will be covered by the Green Deal scheme will include energy-efficient glazing, solid wall insulation, loft and cavity wall insulation, heating upgrades, ventilation and lighting improvements and other energy efficiency measures.
We are pleased that energy-efficient glazing will be included in the Green Deal scheme. Energy-efficient glazing can help homeowners and tenants significantly save energy and reduce bills. Pilkington energiKare™ double-glazing can help people to save up to 20 per cent on heating bills, compared to single glazing.
The right glass such as Pilkington K Glass™ plays a key role in the prevention of energy loss through windows and is a vital part of making a home sustainable. Energy saving measures are essential for homeowners, landlords and businesses to reduce CO2 output and reduce the cost and dependency on energy.
How will the installations be affected if I move to a new home?
The Green Deal loan charge is attached to the electricity meter so if the homeowner sells the property the new owner will get the benefit of the measures and continue the loan repayments through the electricity bill. People can get worried when you mention finance and loans, and immediately think of debt – but you have to think of it very differently to buying a sofa or a car on finance and paying it back over many years. The car or the sofa will diminish in value, but because the products included in the Green Deal are required to meet the governments Golden Rule, saving energy and money on your energy bills, they will be continually be working for you, so over the period of the loan the measures should have paid for themselves. No specific loan period is set for the Green Deal, but full repayment must be made within the guarantee period of the product.
Green Deal Summary
The Green Deal would consist of the following steps:
1. An independent and impartial accredited assessor will carry out an energy survey of the property showing advice on the best energy-saving solutions.
2. Green Deal funding is to be provided only through a regulated Green Deal Provider which is then paid back through savings on energy bills, making properties more energy economical immediately.
3. Homeowners then receive the energy efficiency package, safe in the knowledge that only accredited measures will be installed by qualified and accredited installers.
4. The homeowner will also have the peace of mind in knowing that the Green Deal Provider is required by government to guarantee the measures for the full life of the Green Deal loan.
In the meantime, while we wait for the Government’s Green Deal plans to be finalised, here are a few simple suggestions on how to improve your home’s energy efficiency.
Energy-efficient light bulbs – Fitting just one energy saving light bulb can save you on average £2.50 a year - and by swapping all the light bulbs in your home for energy-efficient ones, you could save around £37 per year*. Energy-efficient bulbs will produce the same amount of light as a standard light bulb but will use a fraction of the electricity.
Turn down the thermostat – Invest in a digital room thermostat and timer, this will automatically reduce the heating while you are asleep or out at work. As much as 10 percent can be saved on heating bills by turning the thermostat back by just a few degrees.
Eliminate draughts and Insulate – Inspect your home for draughts that will let the cold air in. Particularly feel for air coming in around doors, windows and electrical sockets. If you find any draughts, seal them! Make sure your loft is well insulated, the loft is a common source of draughts and the cold air quickly finds a way to circulate through the home. Insulation is relatively easy to install and it could save you up to £150 a year.
Insulation jacket for your hot water tank – Keep your hot water cylinder warm by wrapping an insulator blanket around it as this will reduce the rate at which it loses heat. Also try adding insulation to internal exposed pipes in the airing cupboard and around the cylinder, as this will also help conserve the heat.
Turn off at the switch – don’t leave electrical appliances on standby – This means that the appliance is still using electricity and therefore wasting energy. It has been estimated that more than £740m of electricity is wasted every year in the UK by things being left on standby the equivalent of more than two power stations' output. So make sure you switch off at the main power source ensuring you save both energy and money.
Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) energy saving calculator for a mains gas, detached house www.ggf.org.uk/energy-savings-calculator
www.pilkington.co.uk/sustainability
www.pilkington.co.uk
Monday 23 January 2012
Legal bid to put halt to construction of nuclear power plants
Lawyers send complaint to European Commission about subsidies for nuclear power
A formal complaint about subsidies for nuclear power has been sent to the European Commission. If it is upheld, it unlikely that any new nuclear power stations will be built in the UK or elsewhere in the EU. The complaint may be followed by legal action in the courts or actions by politicians to reduce or remove subsidies for nuclear power.
The complaint has been prepared by lawyers for the Energy Fair group, with several other environmental groups and environmentalists participating.
One of the largest subsidies in the complaint is the cap on liabilities for nuclear accidents. “Like car drivers, the operators of nuclear plants should be properly insured” says Energy Fair.
It has been calculated that, if nuclear operators were fully insured against the cost of nuclear disasters like those at Chernobyl and Fukushima, the price of nuclear electricity would rise by at least 14 Eurocents per kWh and perhaps as much as 2.36 Euros, depending on assumptions made. Even with the minimum increase, nuclear electricity would become quite uncompetitive.
Other subsidies in the complaint are: that uranium is exempted from a tax on fuels used to generate electricity, and that the UK government is proposing to provide support for the disposal of nuclear waste, and to provide a subsidy in the form of a “feed-in tariff with contracts for difference”. Research by Energy Fair shows that there are several other subsidies for nuclear power in the UK and that proposals by the government would introduce more.
Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion and leader of the Green party of England and Wales, said: “The Government’s planned Electricity Market Reform is set to rig the energy market in favour of nuclear, with the introduction of a carbon price floor likely to result in huge windfall handouts of around £50m a year to existing nuclear generators.
"Despite persistent denials by Ministers, it’s clear that this is a subsidy by another name, which makes a mockery of the Coalition pledge not to gift public money to this already established industry. If these subsidies are found to be unlawful, I trust the European Commission will take action and prevent the UK’s nuclear plans from seriously undermining the shift towards new green energy.”
Dr Dörte Fouquet, the lawyer who has been leading the preparation of the complaint, said: “The European Union has opted for opening up the energy market and is vigilant about creating a level playing field. In this regard, the Commission over the last years repeatedly underlined that distortion of the market is to a large extent caused by subsidies to the incumbents in the energy sector. This complaint aims to shed some light on the recent shift in the energy policy of the United Kingdom where strong signals point to yet another set of subsidies to the nuclear power plant operators.”
“There is no justification of any kind for subsidising nuclear power” says Dr Gerry Wolff of Energy Fair. “It is a mature technology that should be commercially viable without support. Renewables have clear advantages in cost, speed of construction, security of energy supplies, and effectiveness in cutting emissions of CO2. There are more than enough to meet our needs now and for the foreseeable future, they provide diversity in energy supplies, and they have none of the headaches of nuclear power.”
FACTFILE:
1 Lawyer Dr Dörte Fouquet, with a lawyer colleague, has prepared the formal complaint to the European Commission (Directorate-General (DG) for Competition) on behalf of Energy Fair and other environmental groups and environmentalists (see note 3 below). Apart from her legal work, Dr Fouquet is Director of the European Renewable Energies Federation (EREF, www.eref-europe.org/).
2 In summary, the “grounds of complaint” are:
* That the so-called “carbon price floor”, introduced in the Finance Act 2011, is a de facto tax on fuels used for the generation of electricity and that the exemption of uranium from that tax is incompatible with EU state aid rules, Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).
* That the cap on liabilities for nuclear accidents of the Paris/Brussels Conventions constitutes state aid in the sense of Article 107 of the TFEU. Since Article 351 of the TFEU requires EU Member States to adapt and align their pre-existing Treaty obligations to be compliant with EU law, since relevant UK laws have not been amended in the light of that requirement, and since the cap on liabilities has not been notified to the European Commission, it is, technically, illegal under EU law.
* That the proposed cap on liabilities of nuclear operators for the disposal of nuclear waste falls under the definition of state aid in Article 107(1) of the TFEU; that, unless or until it is notified to the Commission, it is illegal under EU law; and that, since the measure cannot be justified (Article 107(3) of the TFEU), it should not be approved by the Commission and should not enter into force.
* That the proposed “feed-in tariff with contracts for difference”, as applied to nuclear power, is, under Article 34 of the TFEU, a measure having an effect that is equivalent to “quantitative restrictions on imports” and is thus contrary to EU law.
3 This action by Energy Fair -- making a formal complaint to the European Commission about subsidies for nuclear power -- is endorsed by the following people and organisations: Tom Burke CBE (www.e3g.org/about/Tom-Burke/), Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (www.cnduk.org/), Eurosolar (www.eurosolar.de/en/), Jean Lambert MEP (www.jeanlambertmep.org.uk/), Caroline Lucas MP (www.carolinelucas.com/cl.html), Nuclear Free Local Authorities (nfznsc.gn.apc.org/), Michael Meacher MP (www.michaelmeacher.info/weblog/), People Against Wylfa B (PAWB, www.stop-wylfa.org/), Jonathon Porritt CBE (www.jonathonporritt.com/), Dr Jeremy Leggett and Solarcentury (www.solarcentury.co.uk/), Sortir du Nucléaire (www.sortirdunucleaire.org/), Keith Taylor MEP (www.keithtaylormep.org.uk/), and Urgewald (http://urgewald.org/).
4 Research by the Energy Fair group has identified 7 existing subsidies for nuclear power and at least 2 potential subsidies. They are summarised in “Forms of support for nuclear power” (PDF, www.mng.org.uk/ns) and described more fully in the following two documents, each with an executive summary:
* “Subsidies for nuclear power in the UK government’s proposals for electricity market reform” (PDF, www.mng.org.uk/emrdoc).
* “Nuclear Subsidies” (PDF, www.mng.org.uk/nsubsidies).
5 A report by the Insurance Forum, Leipzig, a company that specialises in actuarial calculations, shows that full insurance against nuclear disasters would increase the price of nuclear electricity by a range of values -- Euro 0.14 per kWh up to Euro 2.36 per kWh -- depending on assumptions made (see “Calculating a risk-appropriate insurance premium to cover third-party liability risks that result from operation of nuclear power plants”, www.mng.org.uk/gh/private/20111006_NPP_Insurance_Study_Versi...). Without the other subsidies for nuclear power, it would be even more expensive.
Counting only the Three Mile Island disaster in 1979, Chernobyl in 1986 and Fukushima in 2011 -- and excluding the near-disasters at the Narora nuclear plant in India in 1993, the Davis-Besse plant in Ohio in 2002, and the Forsmark plant in Sweden in 2006 -- we are averaging one nuclear disaster every 11 years.
6 With regard to the “carbon price floor” (now part of the Finance Act 2011):
* In Parliament on the 9th of May 2011, the then Economic Secretary, Justine Greening MP, said: “The existing nuclear sector is likely to benefit by an average of £50 million per annum to 2030 due to higher wholesale electricity prices.”
* According to calculations by WWF and Greenpeace, the measure could result in windfall profits for existing nuclear generators of up to £3.43 billion between 2013 and 2026 (“Energy bills to rise as nuclear gets £3.43 billion for doing nothing”, WWF press release, 2011-02-14, www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?4629/Energy-bills-to...).
7 Research by Energy Fair shows that renewables can, in general, be built much faster than nuclear power stations, they are cheaper than nuclear power, they provide greater security in energy supplies than nuclear power, they are substantially more effective in cutting emissions of CO2, there are more than enough to meet our needs now and for the foreseeable future, they provide diversity in energy supplies, and they have none of the problems of nuclear power (see www.energyfair.org.uk/misallocation).
In terms of the fight against climate change, nuclear power diverts attention, effort, and large amounts of money away from renewables and the conservation of energy, where those resources would be better spent.
A formal complaint about subsidies for nuclear power has been sent to the European Commission. If it is upheld, it unlikely that any new nuclear power stations will be built in the UK or elsewhere in the EU. The complaint may be followed by legal action in the courts or actions by politicians to reduce or remove subsidies for nuclear power.
The complaint has been prepared by lawyers for the Energy Fair group, with several other environmental groups and environmentalists participating.
One of the largest subsidies in the complaint is the cap on liabilities for nuclear accidents. “Like car drivers, the operators of nuclear plants should be properly insured” says Energy Fair.
It has been calculated that, if nuclear operators were fully insured against the cost of nuclear disasters like those at Chernobyl and Fukushima, the price of nuclear electricity would rise by at least 14 Eurocents per kWh and perhaps as much as 2.36 Euros, depending on assumptions made. Even with the minimum increase, nuclear electricity would become quite uncompetitive.
Other subsidies in the complaint are: that uranium is exempted from a tax on fuels used to generate electricity, and that the UK government is proposing to provide support for the disposal of nuclear waste, and to provide a subsidy in the form of a “feed-in tariff with contracts for difference”. Research by Energy Fair shows that there are several other subsidies for nuclear power in the UK and that proposals by the government would introduce more.
Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion and leader of the Green party of England and Wales, said: “The Government’s planned Electricity Market Reform is set to rig the energy market in favour of nuclear, with the introduction of a carbon price floor likely to result in huge windfall handouts of around £50m a year to existing nuclear generators.
"Despite persistent denials by Ministers, it’s clear that this is a subsidy by another name, which makes a mockery of the Coalition pledge not to gift public money to this already established industry. If these subsidies are found to be unlawful, I trust the European Commission will take action and prevent the UK’s nuclear plans from seriously undermining the shift towards new green energy.”
Dr Dörte Fouquet, the lawyer who has been leading the preparation of the complaint, said: “The European Union has opted for opening up the energy market and is vigilant about creating a level playing field. In this regard, the Commission over the last years repeatedly underlined that distortion of the market is to a large extent caused by subsidies to the incumbents in the energy sector. This complaint aims to shed some light on the recent shift in the energy policy of the United Kingdom where strong signals point to yet another set of subsidies to the nuclear power plant operators.”
“There is no justification of any kind for subsidising nuclear power” says Dr Gerry Wolff of Energy Fair. “It is a mature technology that should be commercially viable without support. Renewables have clear advantages in cost, speed of construction, security of energy supplies, and effectiveness in cutting emissions of CO2. There are more than enough to meet our needs now and for the foreseeable future, they provide diversity in energy supplies, and they have none of the headaches of nuclear power.”
FACTFILE:
1 Lawyer Dr Dörte Fouquet, with a lawyer colleague, has prepared the formal complaint to the European Commission (Directorate-General (DG) for Competition) on behalf of Energy Fair and other environmental groups and environmentalists (see note 3 below). Apart from her legal work, Dr Fouquet is Director of the European Renewable Energies Federation (EREF, www.eref-europe.org/).
2 In summary, the “grounds of complaint” are:
* That the so-called “carbon price floor”, introduced in the Finance Act 2011, is a de facto tax on fuels used for the generation of electricity and that the exemption of uranium from that tax is incompatible with EU state aid rules, Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).
* That the cap on liabilities for nuclear accidents of the Paris/Brussels Conventions constitutes state aid in the sense of Article 107 of the TFEU. Since Article 351 of the TFEU requires EU Member States to adapt and align their pre-existing Treaty obligations to be compliant with EU law, since relevant UK laws have not been amended in the light of that requirement, and since the cap on liabilities has not been notified to the European Commission, it is, technically, illegal under EU law.
* That the proposed cap on liabilities of nuclear operators for the disposal of nuclear waste falls under the definition of state aid in Article 107(1) of the TFEU; that, unless or until it is notified to the Commission, it is illegal under EU law; and that, since the measure cannot be justified (Article 107(3) of the TFEU), it should not be approved by the Commission and should not enter into force.
* That the proposed “feed-in tariff with contracts for difference”, as applied to nuclear power, is, under Article 34 of the TFEU, a measure having an effect that is equivalent to “quantitative restrictions on imports” and is thus contrary to EU law.
3 This action by Energy Fair -- making a formal complaint to the European Commission about subsidies for nuclear power -- is endorsed by the following people and organisations: Tom Burke CBE (www.e3g.org/about/Tom-Burke/), Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (www.cnduk.org/), Eurosolar (www.eurosolar.de/en/), Jean Lambert MEP (www.jeanlambertmep.org.uk/), Caroline Lucas MP (www.carolinelucas.com/cl.html), Nuclear Free Local Authorities (nfznsc.gn.apc.org/), Michael Meacher MP (www.michaelmeacher.info/weblog/), People Against Wylfa B (PAWB, www.stop-wylfa.org/), Jonathon Porritt CBE (www.jonathonporritt.com/), Dr Jeremy Leggett and Solarcentury (www.solarcentury.co.uk/), Sortir du Nucléaire (www.sortirdunucleaire.org/), Keith Taylor MEP (www.keithtaylormep.org.uk/), and Urgewald (http://urgewald.org/).
4 Research by the Energy Fair group has identified 7 existing subsidies for nuclear power and at least 2 potential subsidies. They are summarised in “Forms of support for nuclear power” (PDF, www.mng.org.uk/ns) and described more fully in the following two documents, each with an executive summary:
* “Subsidies for nuclear power in the UK government’s proposals for electricity market reform” (PDF, www.mng.org.uk/emrdoc).
* “Nuclear Subsidies” (PDF, www.mng.org.uk/nsubsidies).
5 A report by the Insurance Forum, Leipzig, a company that specialises in actuarial calculations, shows that full insurance against nuclear disasters would increase the price of nuclear electricity by a range of values -- Euro 0.14 per kWh up to Euro 2.36 per kWh -- depending on assumptions made (see “Calculating a risk-appropriate insurance premium to cover third-party liability risks that result from operation of nuclear power plants”, www.mng.org.uk/gh/private/20111006_NPP_Insurance_Study_Versi...). Without the other subsidies for nuclear power, it would be even more expensive.
Counting only the Three Mile Island disaster in 1979, Chernobyl in 1986 and Fukushima in 2011 -- and excluding the near-disasters at the Narora nuclear plant in India in 1993, the Davis-Besse plant in Ohio in 2002, and the Forsmark plant in Sweden in 2006 -- we are averaging one nuclear disaster every 11 years.
6 With regard to the “carbon price floor” (now part of the Finance Act 2011):
* In Parliament on the 9th of May 2011, the then Economic Secretary, Justine Greening MP, said: “The existing nuclear sector is likely to benefit by an average of £50 million per annum to 2030 due to higher wholesale electricity prices.”
* According to calculations by WWF and Greenpeace, the measure could result in windfall profits for existing nuclear generators of up to £3.43 billion between 2013 and 2026 (“Energy bills to rise as nuclear gets £3.43 billion for doing nothing”, WWF press release, 2011-02-14, www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?4629/Energy-bills-to...).
7 Research by Energy Fair shows that renewables can, in general, be built much faster than nuclear power stations, they are cheaper than nuclear power, they provide greater security in energy supplies than nuclear power, they are substantially more effective in cutting emissions of CO2, there are more than enough to meet our needs now and for the foreseeable future, they provide diversity in energy supplies, and they have none of the problems of nuclear power (see www.energyfair.org.uk/misallocation).
In terms of the fight against climate change, nuclear power diverts attention, effort, and large amounts of money away from renewables and the conservation of energy, where those resources would be better spent.
Sunday 22 January 2012
That's Parenting: The Urban Meadow Supports Fairtrade Fortnight
That's Parenting: The Urban Meadow Supports Fairtrade Fortnight: ''There is no beauty in the finest cloth if it makes hunger and unhappiness...'' - Ghandi Ethical kids clothing website The Urban Meadow ...
Thursday 19 January 2012
That's Home and Household: New Chinese lanterns developed to extinguish fire ...
That's Home and Household: New Chinese lanterns developed to extinguish fire ...: In response to safety fears over the fire risks posed by Chinese lanterns, Sky Orbs the firm behind the first wire-free, 100% biodegrad...
Wednesday 18 January 2012
That's Education: The easy, green and friendly way to school fundrai...
That's Education: The easy, green and friendly way to school fundrai...: Schools are always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to raise funds. The traditional school fairs and cakes sales can no longer b...
Opus Energy signs wind power agreement with Danish energy company Nordjysk Elhandel
Opus Energy, the Northampton and Oxford-based energy supplier, has entered cooperation with Danish energy company, Nordjysk Elhandel (NEAS), specialising in renewables for the balancing and trading of wind power production from wind turbine generators in the UK. "Wind power generation is expanding rapidly in the UK and we at Opus Energy want to secure the best possible set-up in production management for wind power generators. The cooperation with NEAS gives us access to state-of-the-art services in scheduling and balancing of wind power, and competencies in trading of wind power.
"This will provide UK wind power generators with the best service and maximum value for their production and associated certificates. We believe this cooperation will give us a competitive edge to enable us to expand our market for wind power generation”, explains Charlie Crossley Cooke, Managing Director, of Opus Energy.
Today there's approximately 5,970 MW installed capacity of wind power in the UK. However, this number is expected to rise dramatically to over 10,000 MW in 2015 and well over 20,000 MW in 2020, based on the figures for wind turbines presently under construction, approved and planned.
“At NEAS we have invested many resources in building up the strongest possible set-up in production management and trading of wind power. For example, we have our own meteorologists and analysts forecasting production volumes, and we have developed specialized IT systems for balancing and scheduling of wind power generation. Also, we have years of experience in trading of wind power in Denmark, Sweden and Germany. The cooperation with Opus Energy provides us with a highly competent partner to market our services for wind power generators in the UK”, says Bo Lynge Rydahl, CEO at NEAS.
Opus Energy and NEAS expect to sign the first wind power production purchase agreements (PPAs) in the UK within the first quarter of 2012. They will market their services to wind power generators on the basis of competitive and dynamic pricing structures and outstanding balance responsible party services.
FACTFILE
Opus Energy is the UK’s leading business energy supplier. With offices in Northampton and Oxford, Opus Energy employs 360 people.
Opus Energy supplies over 110,000 UK business sites across all sectors. Corporate customers include: Stagecoach, Halfords, 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 www.opusenergy.com.
NEAS is the market leader in trading and balancing of wind turbine operation, based on market terms, in Denmark. Representing more than 1, 200 MW installed capacity under management.
Tuesday 17 January 2012
That's Travel: Premier Inn announces £5.9 million investment in C...
That's Travel: Premier Inn announces £5.9 million investment in C...: Premier Inn has announced it is set to open a new hotel and restaurant development in Camb...
Monday 16 January 2012
That's Travel: Airport Shuttles Going Green
That's Travel: Airport Shuttles Going Green: While shared-ride transportation is inherently eco-friendly, many members of The GO Group, the world's largest airport shuttle provider, are...
Sunday 15 January 2012
npower employees and Leicester students to take trip to Arctic Circle
Four Leicester University students and four npower employees will be taking a trip of a lifetime to the Arctic Circle after winning npower's Future Leaders competition. The intrepid group will visit the land of the Midnight Sun to dog sled over 200 km from a base camp into the wilds of Europe's most northern country.
The team of undergraduates from The University of Leicester found out that they had won the competition at a ceremony at npower's Rainton House attended by RWE npower Chief Operating Officer, Kevin McCullough.
The npower competition, which launched in June 2011, involved teams of students from universities across the UK, who each had to run a green sustainability project around their University. All teams had to produce films of their campaign from start to finish and submit to npower's judging panel, who ultimately judged the best team as winners of this prestigious prize.
The Leicester team came up with a project called 'Planet on Standby' which engaged young people to challenge their use of energy and the effects we have on the environment. The campaign focused on a regional education program for three levels of education which was rolled out to local schools, colleges and Leicester University. The team also created beer mats to reach a much wider audience, promoting ideas on how to save energy, the planet on standby website and of course, npower.
David Gray, Team Leader for Planet on Standby commented: "We can't believe we're off to the Arctic in March! It's an absolute trip of a lifetime and one which we think will be a real challenge. We worked extremely hard on our campaign which has reached over 200,000 people and is still growing. We look forward to its further self-sustained success regionally and nationally."
Kevin McCullough of npower commented: "Congratulations to Planet on Standby, the Leicester University team, on winning the prestigious Future Leaders Challenge that has offered a platform for students to help them develop specific skills for their future. I am positive that their project will continue to develop and that they will have inspired others to consider how they too can make a difference.
"We developed the npower Future Leaders Challenge to find undergraduates with passion and drive and I believe we have unearthed that passion and also found real climate change champions in this competition."
Heading off to the Arctic with the Planet on Standby team will be the four npower employees who all created individual sustainability projects, ranging from a bus service created to cut business miles, save money and reduce npower's carbon footprint, through to a project that harvests rainwater to reduce the environmental impact on the surrounding area at npower's Pembroke power station.
FACTFILE:
RWE npower is an integrated energy business, generating electricity and supplying gas, electricity and related services to customers across the UK. It operates and manages flexible, low-cost coal, oil and gas-fired power stations - generating over 11 GW of electricity. It serves around 6.5 million customer accounts and produces more than 10% of the electricity used in England and Wales. It is also on twitter (@npowerhq), Facebook and Youtube.
The team of undergraduates from The University of Leicester found out that they had won the competition at a ceremony at npower's Rainton House attended by RWE npower Chief Operating Officer, Kevin McCullough.
The npower competition, which launched in June 2011, involved teams of students from universities across the UK, who each had to run a green sustainability project around their University. All teams had to produce films of their campaign from start to finish and submit to npower's judging panel, who ultimately judged the best team as winners of this prestigious prize.
The Leicester team came up with a project called 'Planet on Standby' which engaged young people to challenge their use of energy and the effects we have on the environment. The campaign focused on a regional education program for three levels of education which was rolled out to local schools, colleges and Leicester University. The team also created beer mats to reach a much wider audience, promoting ideas on how to save energy, the planet on standby website and of course, npower.
David Gray, Team Leader for Planet on Standby commented: "We can't believe we're off to the Arctic in March! It's an absolute trip of a lifetime and one which we think will be a real challenge. We worked extremely hard on our campaign which has reached over 200,000 people and is still growing. We look forward to its further self-sustained success regionally and nationally."
Kevin McCullough of npower commented: "Congratulations to Planet on Standby, the Leicester University team, on winning the prestigious Future Leaders Challenge that has offered a platform for students to help them develop specific skills for their future. I am positive that their project will continue to develop and that they will have inspired others to consider how they too can make a difference.
"We developed the npower Future Leaders Challenge to find undergraduates with passion and drive and I believe we have unearthed that passion and also found real climate change champions in this competition."
Heading off to the Arctic with the Planet on Standby team will be the four npower employees who all created individual sustainability projects, ranging from a bus service created to cut business miles, save money and reduce npower's carbon footprint, through to a project that harvests rainwater to reduce the environmental impact on the surrounding area at npower's Pembroke power station.
FACTFILE:
RWE npower is an integrated energy business, generating electricity and supplying gas, electricity and related services to customers across the UK. It operates and manages flexible, low-cost coal, oil and gas-fired power stations - generating over 11 GW of electricity. It serves around 6.5 million customer accounts and produces more than 10% of the electricity used in England and Wales. It is also on twitter (@npowerhq), Facebook and Youtube.
That's Food and Drink: Fry's Vegetarian to be distributed by 3663
That's Food and Drink: Fry's Vegetarian to be distributed by 3663: "We Are Delighted To Announce That From January World Leading Meat Replacement Experts Fry's Vegetarian Will Be Available From Leading Food ...
Thursday 12 January 2012
That's Business: Commercial Printers Thinking Green
That's Business: Commercial Printers Thinking Green: Graphics and Print, an award winning commercial printers, based in Telford, Shropshire, are very conscious of environmental issues associat...
Wednesday 11 January 2012
New Luxury Eco-Lodge Tree Houses Attract Visitors to Sussex
Built almost entirely of sustainable timber and fully insulated, these spacious lodges contain a Queen size double bed, en-suite wet room & wardrobe, kitchen, comfortable seating and a dining area. The luxurious accommodation includes flat screen digital TV with integral DVD, wireless broadband, DVD library and a fully equipped kitchen with integrated dishwasher, washing machine/dryer, fridge with freezer, electric hob, oven with grill and microwave. Central heating, hot water, fresh white linen and towels are inclusive.
'Fair Oak Farm' welcomes visitors from around the world who enjoy self-catering weekly stays and weekend breaks.
These are often fully booked well in advance, but owners Ian and Penny Ledger hope the new eco-lodge tree houses will attract additional mid-week break bookings, which are attractively priced.
Booked in conjunction with existing accommodation in converted Grade II Listed buildings, the addition of the new self-catering accommodation in the trees means groups of up to 19 people can now stay at 'Fair Oak Farm'.
These larger groups can benefit from discounted rates for both accommodation and outdoor activities at the farm, such as falconry and archery. The large, open plan barn where everyone can cook, eat and relax makes Fair Oak Farm a perfect destination for large family get-togethers or celebrations.
Many guests enjoy the luxury of hiring Fair Oak Farm's chef for a lunch or dinner. Other popular activities are cycling, for which bikes can be hired, and fishing, which can be arranged at the nearby lakes owned by pop legend Roger Daltry of 'The Who'.
The accommodation at Fair Oak Farm appeals to families, couples and groups all of whom can enjoy the extensive grounds and gardens. Both adults and children will love the bow top gypsy caravan in the orchard and will enjoy seeing the farm's resident peacocks, chickens and alpacas.
To book a stay at Fair Oak Farm visit www.fairoakfarm.co.uk or call 01435 884 122.
That's Beauty and Living: All Things Tribal
That's Beauty and Living: All Things Tribal: The Aspiga 2012 Collection focuses on their new Masai Collection, being launched End of February. The Masai Collection inspired (and all han...
That's Beauty and Living: Prepare To Bare Suncare
That's Beauty and Living: Prepare To Bare Suncare: With thoughts turning to Summer and holidays in the sun, prepare to bare with a little help from organic skincare experts, Green People, and...
Monday 9 January 2012
Environmental Award Nomination for 'Flawless' Oil Recovery Operation by Crown Oil
Crown Oil is one of only a few UK companies with the technical resources to undertake this scale of oil recovery. The company carefully analyse and assess fuel recovered from industry and re-blend if necessary before it is sold on to the market. The scope of work includes not just oil recovery, but the complete cleaning and degassing of tanks. These may be left in-situ for future use or removed from site.
The Derwent contract was just one of several undertaken by Crown Oil UK. The company successfully completed a similar project to recover 25 million litres of fuel at Medway Power Station in Kent in 2010 and are in active negotiations for further work.
“Following changes to the interruptible gas tariff, many power stations and industrial users face a dilemma. Large stocks of reserve gas oil, that is no longer needed, will only deteriorate with time to potentially become an environmental hazard.” explained Crown Oil’s general manager Mark Andrews. “We can help them with safe waste oil removal and the decommissioning of tanks, overcoming environmental problems and also releasing working capital.”
Crown Oil takes its environmental responsibilities seriously. The company fuel delivery tanker fleet is carbon offset so that all fuel delivery mileage is carbon free. For off road use, the company offer red diesel users an option to use a totally carbon offset fuel. To enable combined heat and power (CHP) plant operators to collect maximum renewable obligation certificates (ROC’s) Crown Oil have a high grade bio-fuel made from 100 per cent sustainable sources. This enables users to trade these certificates or use them to offset against their other carbon producing activity.
HazardEx is the leading journal covering industries such as oil and gas, exploration, production and processing where explosive hazards may be present. Award winners will be revealed at a gala dinner in Harrogate on February 29.
Sunday 8 January 2012
Planitherm Glass Is Clear Solution To Solar Panel Subsidy Cuts
An innovative new glass that can help shave 28% off energy bills is giving fresh hope to those households affected by the government's decision to reduce the subsidy available for solar power.
Financial incentives for householders to produce their own electricity are due to be cut by the government from 43p for each kilowatt-hour to 21p - this is for anyone who had solar panels installed after 12 December 2011 I.
In addition to halving financial incentives, the government has stated it will now be compulsory for a home that wants to install solar panels and benefit from the subsidy to hold an Energy Performance Certificate* of at least level C**. The new ruling means a home that has an energy band rating of between G - D would need to put other energy saving solutions in place before it reaches level C and is eligible for solar panel incentives.
Craig Dodsworth of Saint-Gobain Glass comments: "Tariffs paid to homes for electricity generated by solar panels have been halved for those installing them after 12 December and solar firms could see huge reductions in work as householders becoming disillusioned with the scheme. Through installing new windows with Planitherm, people can achieve an environmentally friendly, energy efficient alternative and reduce their energy bills. With 26% of energy loss in the home being through the windows, installing Planitherm glass will help less efficient homes move towards the C rating required for the solar panel subsidy.
"Our secret is simply an invisible coating applied to the glass itself, which can capture free heat from the sun and reflect heat already inside back into a room, rather than allowing it to escape out of the windows. With Planitherm, households can realise up to 28% savings on energy bills and it is a peace of mind investment, which is attractive to householders, especially in these austere and uncertain times."
The next generation energy saving glass can be fitted in any double or triple glazed window. Costing around the same as normal window glass, it provides the easiest route possible to an A rated window(II). In fact, energy efficient windows with Planitherm glass in them can reduce heat loss by 50% compared to traditional windows and frames.
PLANITHERM can generate savings of up to 28% on household energy bills - the equivalent of up to £478 per home per year when homeowners upgrade from single glazed windows to double glazed windows with PLANITHERM glass in them. The glass can also be used in doors, facades, conservatories (with solar control glass) and is available combined with a self-cleaning function.
PLANITHERM can be ordered and installed through its national Installer Network of UK members. Find a local approved installer by visiting www.planitherm.com/find-an-installer.
Financial incentives for householders to produce their own electricity are due to be cut by the government from 43p for each kilowatt-hour to 21p - this is for anyone who had solar panels installed after 12 December 2011 I.
In addition to halving financial incentives, the government has stated it will now be compulsory for a home that wants to install solar panels and benefit from the subsidy to hold an Energy Performance Certificate* of at least level C**. The new ruling means a home that has an energy band rating of between G - D would need to put other energy saving solutions in place before it reaches level C and is eligible for solar panel incentives.
Craig Dodsworth of Saint-Gobain Glass comments: "Tariffs paid to homes for electricity generated by solar panels have been halved for those installing them after 12 December and solar firms could see huge reductions in work as householders becoming disillusioned with the scheme. Through installing new windows with Planitherm, people can achieve an environmentally friendly, energy efficient alternative and reduce their energy bills. With 26% of energy loss in the home being through the windows, installing Planitherm glass will help less efficient homes move towards the C rating required for the solar panel subsidy.
"Our secret is simply an invisible coating applied to the glass itself, which can capture free heat from the sun and reflect heat already inside back into a room, rather than allowing it to escape out of the windows. With Planitherm, households can realise up to 28% savings on energy bills and it is a peace of mind investment, which is attractive to householders, especially in these austere and uncertain times."
The next generation energy saving glass can be fitted in any double or triple glazed window. Costing around the same as normal window glass, it provides the easiest route possible to an A rated window(II). In fact, energy efficient windows with Planitherm glass in them can reduce heat loss by 50% compared to traditional windows and frames.
PLANITHERM can generate savings of up to 28% on household energy bills - the equivalent of up to £478 per home per year when homeowners upgrade from single glazed windows to double glazed windows with PLANITHERM glass in them. The glass can also be used in doors, facades, conservatories (with solar control glass) and is available combined with a self-cleaning function.
PLANITHERM can be ordered and installed through its national Installer Network of UK members. Find a local approved installer by visiting www.planitherm.com/find-an-installer.
Saturday 7 January 2012
That's Travel: New Sustainable And Luxurious Holiday Destination ...
That's Travel: New Sustainable And Luxurious Holiday Destination ...: The launch date for Bivouac Swinton, a new accommodation venue with café facilities in the Yorkshire Dales, has been announced today, with c...
Wednesday 4 January 2012
That's Travel: N/a'an ku sê Lodge
That's Travel: N/a'an ku sê Lodge: Marlice van Vuuren, one of Namibia's most well-known conservationists, and her husband Dr. Rudie van Vuuren started N/a'an ku sê Foundation ...
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