Lisburn Bus Station

Lisburn City officially opened their new world class £2.5m bus station on the corner of Hillsborough Road and Smithfield Street, adjacent to the Lisburn Square on 30 June. Whilst I have procrastinated in visiting, I did today and took a few snaps of the building which will serve 71 000 people who live in the city centre, and the countless visitors that will travel in from surrounding towns to visit.

The building provides excellent facilities, with full disabled access across the building, a huge improvement to the bus shelters available across the street before the building opened.

The building includes some sustainable building processes including solar skylights, which create a light and spacious feel throughout the building. A solar thermal heating system which provides hot water all year round for heating the building and also the toilet facilities. There is also a covered bike shelter for cyclists to park and ride, covered by CCTV.

Hopefully the facility will encourage more people to make use of buses to commute and for leisure purposes, the centre also provides information, and for a first time bus user the information screens detailing the destination of each bus and where it will be located (ie stand number) and its current status (ie on time). I was quite shocked on my first visit to see a steady stream of human traffic using the new centre, a very positive first look!

Cow $h*t Could Provide 3% of North America's Energy Needs

Turning animal faeces into a fuel source could generate enough electricity to meet up to three per cent of North America's entire energy needs, scientists claim.

A study in the Institute of Physics' journal Environmental Research Letters says that fuel from livestock manure could also help to bring about a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs).

The research is the first attempt to quantify how much electricity can be generated by livestock manure. Left to decompose naturally, livestock manure emits two particularly potent GHGs – nitrous oxide and methane. Through anaerobic digestion, similar to the process by which compost is created, manure can be turned into energy-rich biogas, which standard microturbines can use to produce electricity. The hundreds of millions of livestock inhabiting the US could produce approximately 100 billion kilowatt hours of electricity, enough to power millions of homes and offices.

"In light of the criticism that has been levelled against biofuels, biogas production from manure has the less controversial benefit of re-using an existing waste source and has the potential to improve the environment."
Dr Michael Webber and Amanda Cuellar, University of Texas, Austin

Can You Afford to Fill Up? ... No, Try Our Petrol Saving Tips

BBC One's topical weekly investigative current affairs programme, Panorama, this week took a look at the price of petrol, how it is affecting the motorist and what can be done to encourage us to use less fuel and greener alternatives.

You can view the program on BBC iPlayer, until Monday 04th August (UK Only).

Changing your car to a new environmentally friendly model may not be easy for us all. But there are some ways you can reduce your fuel consumption, save money and help the environment too. The following simple tips could save the average driver £180 a year and reduce your CO2 emissions by 200kg per year.

• Do You Need to Drive?
  Short journeys that are generally less than two miles cause the most pollution and are inefficient in terms of fuel consumption. A straining cold engine will produce 60% more pollution than a warm one. A cold engine uses almost twice as much fuel and catalytic converters can take five miles to become effective. Walk or cycle where possible instead.
  
  
• Gear Changes
  Change up before 2,500rpm (petrol) and 2,000rpm (diesel).
  
  
• Plan Ahead
  Anticipate road conditions and drive smoothly, avoiding sharp acceleration and heavy braking. This saves fuel and reduces accident rates.
  
  
• Air Con
  Use air conditioning sparingly as it significantly increases fuel consumption.
  
  
• Kill Your Speed
  The most efficient speed depends upon the car in question but is typically around 55 - 65mph. Faster speed will greatly increase your fuel consumption.
  
  
• Don't Wait Around
  Drive away immediately when starting from cold - idling to heat the engine wastes fuel and causes rapid engine wear.
  
  
• Aerodynamics
  Roof racks, bike carriers, and roof boxes significantly affect your car's aerodynamics and reduce fuel efficiency, so remember to remove them when not in use.
  
  
• Plan Your Route
  Plan your journeys to avoid congestion, road works and getting lost. Sat Nav and online map services such as Google Maps can help you find the way.
  
  
• Tyre Pressure
  Under-inflated tyres are dangerous and can increase fuel consumption by up to 3%.
  
  
• Switch Off
  Stuck in a jam, switch the engine off if you expect to be there for more than a minute or two. Cutting the engine will save fuel and reduce emissions.
  

Maximising Efficiency

Increasing passenger numbers on any mode of transport effectivily increases the efficiency of the vehicle and reduces average energy used per passenger km. This video clip from Japan shows how they maximise efficiency out of peak hour trains, if not resulting in an uncomfortable ride, it's a pitty these aren't sites to often seen in the UK (more people using the trains, oppose to people being pushed in them).

Picture: Greenpeace Protest Coal Shipping (... and the Coal of Course)

Greenpeace activists used an inflatable boat to reach this coal ship off the east coast of Australia, before painting their environmental slogan on the hull.

M&S Make Bras Which are Comfortable on the Conscience

Official Images of the newly opened building may follow soon.

In partnership with supplier, MAS, Marks & Spencer is opened its first ‘eco- factory’ in May 2008. Based at Thulhiriya in central Sri Lanka, the bra manufacturing site is designed to be carbon neutral.

The primary power source for the factory will be green energy from the national grid, supplemented by on-site solar panels. These will supply 10% of the energy.

Every aspect of the building has been designed to minimise its environmental impact. Even the building materials – mainly ‘eco-bricks’ - have low embodied energy. Overall, it will use around 40% less electricity than a standard, similar scale factory.

Planting greenery on and around the site (including the factory’s roof) will create a cooler micro-climate. In addition, the bio-diversity will enhance and revitalise local flora and fauna.

Rainwater harvesting and low-flow fixtures will reduce water usage in the factory by around 50%. Nearly all waste will be separated and sorted for recycling, with anaerobic digestion being processed to produce bio-gas for the kitchens.

For the workers, the natural lighting, views and fresh airflows will provide a comfortable, positive environment. There’s a holistic medical centre on site, too, with provisions to care for the 1300 personnel expected to be working there by 2010.

This groundbreaking development is a logical move on from the success of M&S first eco-stores in Bournemouth and Pollok. Many of the best practices implemented there translated on a larger scale for the factory. Even during the construction stages, Plan A was in consideration – the work was carried out in an environmentally-friendly way, with waste being recycled wherever possible.

The factory is aiming to achieve the highest status in ‘green building’ certification by LEED, a widely accepted international scheme run by the US Green Building Council.

MAS in Sri Lanka will be manufacturing bras exclusively for M&S in a factory that’s aiming to be as green as the surrounding countryside.

How Can Two and Four Wheels Coexist?

With the increase in bike usage around the world, there has come issues of capacity and infrastructure, however there has also come a social ill. Swarms of cyclists have ventured onto the intimidating multi-lane roads of Los Angeles on a regular basis, breaking the law by passing stationery cars and infuriating motorists at the same time. Officials are so worried by the culture clash or cyclists and motorists, that they have drawn up a Cyclists' Bill of Rights, and initiated discussion on how LA's roads can be harmonised so that two and four wheels can co-exist together, as well as implementing a bike task force. Two cyclists have already been hospitalised as a result of a motorist deliberately breaking sharply in-front of them, for which criminal charges are already being processed.

How will Budget Airlines Compete As Oil Price Rises?

With the soaring oil prices over the passed 12 months, and higher fuel bills for the majority, how are budget airlines going to compete, let alone survive in the uncertainty of the future?

Europe's biggest budget airline Ryanair, carrying 49m passengers annually, announced today that it could make an annual loss of 60m euros. Ryanair's fuel bill now represents almost 50% of its operating costs, compared with 36% last year. Shares fell by 22% on the news, and competitors BA and EasyJet were down 5% and 8% respectively. EasyJet, have also announced that their profits for the year could be half of expectations.

Whilst Ryanair are shouting that they wont be increasing fares or adding a fuel surcharge, industry experts have suggested that average fares will rise this and next year by over 10%, the number of flights and seats will be reduced and even some airlines will end up in the aeroplane graveyard that was once a distant memory. We have already seen two airlines meet this demise this year, in the shape of low-cost airline Oasis Air, flying from London to Hong Kong, and low-cost business only airline Silverjet.

Airlines have anounced that they will be reducing the capacity available over the next year, so will this have a positive environmental impact?

According to DEFRA research the average short-haul flight is 500km, with CO2 emissions for that flight of approximately 65kg. If the airlines reduce the number of flights and seats, etc in a uniform and efficient way, the three mentioned above would reduce the total number of seats by approximately 7.5m, and CO2 emissions by 500 000 tonnes.

In the airline industry the price demand ratio is, for every 10% increase in prices, a typical 6.5% fall in passenger numbers is experienced.

Feeling Hot ... Fancy a Dip in the Pool?

As the Summer gets almost too hot to handle, have a thought for those in the swimming pools in Japan (or, China which was reported in todays Times). Would the pools have to remove the word "swimming" before "pool" should this happen at one in the UK. This isn't really an environmental post, but of course sharing a bath can conserve energy, and water. Check out the free swim (or other activity tokens) on packets of Kellogs and Nestle cereals.

When's a Green Tariff Not a Green Tariff? ...

... When Ofgem sets the guidelines for a Green Tariff.Philip Sellwood, Chief Executive of the Energy Saving Trust has hit out at Ofgem at the weekend;

"If Ofgem's guidelines progress as proposed then green tariffs cannot make a meaningful contribution towards increased renewable energy supply in the UK. What the public needs is clear and simple information so that they can make informed choices about the energy they use. They'll end up being misled and buy something which will not have a direct impact on their carbon emissions. Welcome to Greenwash. The world needs to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 80 per cent by 2050 in order to avoid dangerous climate change. Personal carbon emissions - the emissions from homes and travel - account for around 43 per cent of the UK total, or around 235 million tonnes of C02 a year. A low carbon lifestyle means using energy responsibly and efficiently - it also means choosing energy we do need from renewable, low-carbon sources. A million people each year contact our advice line for practical help in reducing their carbon footprint. We would not be able to advise those people to buy the Ofgem version of green tariffs as these will make no meaningful difference to whether the energy they buy in renewable or not."

The Energy Saving Trust & we at Energy Saving are not supporting Ofgem's expected proposals on Green Tariffs because:

1. They are misleading. Consumers presume that green means that the energy produced comes from a renewable source. A study commissioned by Ofgem shows that for most, 'green' in energy terms means the same thing as renewable energy. The study goes on to say that most expect all of the electricity included in the tariff to be from renewable sources. The Energy Saving Trust's own research shows that over one third of all households were interested in signing up to a green tariff, once the concept had been explained to them. In Ofgem's proposals, green can mean offsetting or giving cash to environmental charities which would not have any impact on energy sources.
   
   
2. No increase in energy from a renewable source. If the consumer buys a Green Tariff it does not result in more renewable energy being produced. The energy companies have an obligation to produce 9.1 per cent renewable energy anyway. Consumer demand would have to exceed this obligation for there to be an overall increase. But Ofgem are taking the decision to deny customers the chance to use their buying power to drive more demand for renewable energy in the long term. More customer demand would lead to more investment in renewable energy.
   
   
3. No transparency. Ofgem is proposing that the suppliers will not need to provide information about how much renewable energy is included within the individual tariffs they are selling. The suppliers are only required to make public their overall fuel mix eg renewable, nuclear, gas or coal. How can consumers know what they are buying? It is like if a supermarket was selling a range of sandwiches and on the labels for each sandwich was the overall mix of ingredients in all its sandwiches.
   
   
4. They are not independently certified. Ofgem has appointed the Energy Retail Association to appoint an independent certifier. The accreditation process should be fully independent from suppliers and overseen by the regulator.
   
   

Views from The Carbon Challenge blog;

OFGEM yesterday published a press release along with a consultation piece which was headed up "OFGEM Clears Up Green Tariff Confusion". Unfortunately I wish it were so, as I believe there is every possibility that if the guidelines to customers OFGEM are proposing are adopted, this could lead to even greater confusion in the market itself. There have been numerous studies commissioned, amongst them one by OFGEM, which consistently show that for most people "Green" in terms of "Green Tariff" is synonymous with renewable energy. Therefore, most customers expect that all electricity included in a Green Tariff should come from renewable sources and we know that is simply not the case at the moment.

Under OFGEM’s proposals suppliers will be able to launch a series of options which will illustrate additional environmental benefits - such as proposals around demand management, renewable heat, or offsetting. All of these I have no problem with, but they are environmental benefits and not what people expect of a Green Tariff. The whole purpose, from a customer’s point of view, is that buying a Green Tariff should result in more renewable energy being brought to market. However, and to be fair to OFGEM they do make this clear, just re-packaging what is already an obligation under Government plans is not likely to bring forward any additional renewable energy capacity to the Grid. If these tariffs were offered as Environmental Tariffs that’s one thing, but to call them Green Tariffs means customers will not be able to exercise their buying power to drive even greater demand for renewable energy in the medium term.

One of the key reasons for the consultation and for OFGEM taking action was that customers consistently tell us they need to be able to understand the attributes of each tariff on offer. However, under OFGEM’s proposals suppliers will not need to provide information about how much renewable energy is included within individual tariffs only that they declare their overall fuel mix, which includes renewables, gas, coal even nuclear.

So how do customers know what they are buying? It’s as if Marks and Spencer were to label all of their sandwiches with the mix of ingredients contained in all the varieties of sandwich sold within its range, rather than the ingredients specific to that sandwich. What the customer wants is clear and simple information so that they can make informed choices about the sort of energy they buy. I cannot see how this scheme will deliver on that aspiration. We will not doubt see this one run and run. I am all in favour of giving the public an increasing choice around environmental benefits, but that is not the same as clearing up the confusion around Green Tariffs, far from it.

Woodland Trust Plants Seeds to New Wood with £8.5m Project Land Purchase

The Woodland Trust has bought an 850-acre site to grow the largest continuous native forest in England. They are expected to plant more than 600 000 trees on the site near St Albans in Hertfordshire, within the London Greenbelt, and a Biodiversity Priority Area. This site will be the flagship in an unprecedented national tree planting campaign, including 250 acres at Elmstead Market and 183 acres near Durham. In total, these three sites cover an area four times the size of Hyde Park.

The trust says a new native forest of this size and type has never been created in England before, and could take shape within 12 years.

England has lost half its ancient woodland to development, agriculture or conifer woods since the 1930s. The site contains four small remnants (44 acres) of precious ancient woodland, the British equivalent to the rainforest, which now sadly makes up only two per cent of UK landcover.

Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering around 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres) of woodland. You can visit any of their woods for free and there's probably one on your doorstep, you might not know it's there.

World’s First Commercial-Scale Tidal Power System Feeds Electricity to the National Grid

The world’s first commercial-scale tidal turbine, located in Northern Ireland’s Strangford Lough and developed by British tidal energy company, Marine Current Turbines (MCT), has delivered electricity onto the grid for the first time.

The tidal current turbine, known as SeaGen, has briefly generated 150kW of power onto the grid as part of its commissioning work, ahead of it achieving full capacity in a few weeks time. SeaGen’s power is being intentionally constrained to 300kW during the commissioning phase, but once fully operational, it will generate 1.2MW of power, supplying clean and green electricity to the equivalent of 1000 homes.

“This is an important milestone for the company and indeed the development of the marine renewable energy sector as a whole. SeaGen, Marine Current Turbines, tidal power and the UK Government’s push for marine renewables all now have real momentum. The marine environment poses a number of unique technical challenges, not least installing SeaGen in an extremely aggressive tide race, so we are delighted that Marine Current Turbines has delivered yet another world-first in this sector. It’s a major technical break-through. Our engineering team have done a fantastic job.”
Martin Wright, Managing Director, Marine Current Turbines

"This kind of world first technology and innovation is key to helping the UK reduce its dependency on fossil fuels and secure its future energy supplies. Marine power has the potential to play an important role in helping us meet our challenging targets for a massive increase in the amount of energy generated from renewables. My department has supported SeaGen from the start, granting £5.2 million in funds to take it from the drawing board and into the waters of Strangford Lough. This, and our plans to double the financial support for marine technologies, is further evidence of our commitment to making the UK one of the most attractive places to invest in green energy."
John Hutton, Secretary of State for Energy

SeaGen was installed in Strangford Lough in May of this year and commissioning work has been taking place since then, including the vital grid connection undertaken in partnership with Northern Ireland Electricity.

SeaGen is the world’s first commercial-scale tidal stream generating system by a large margin. It is more than four times as powerful as any other tidal current system, including the 300kW SeaFlow, the world’s first offshore tidal device in 2003 installed off Lynmouth on the north Devon coast in 2003.

Marine Current Turbines expects that the present testing and commissioning phase will be completed by the end of the summer and an official “switch on” will take place. Irish energy company, ESB Independent Energy, is purchasing the power generated by SeaGen for its customers in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.

“We are on course to be the first company in Ireland and Britain to provide customers with electricity powered by tidal energy. This is a very significant breakthrough which underlines ESB Independent Energy’s ongoing commitment to providing our customers with a range of renewable energy options.”
Liam Molloy, ESB Independent Energy

Marine Current Turbines’ next project, announced in February 2008, is a joint initiative with npower renewables to take forward a 10.5MW project using several SeaGen devices off the coast of Anglesey, north Wales. It is hoped the tidal farm will be commissioned around 2011/2012.

The company is also investigating the potential for tidal energy schemes in other parts of the UK, and in North America.

Tesco Save 72m Bags in Northern Ireland

Tesco customers in Northern Ireland have saved 72m plastic carrier bags in the last two years since implementing "Green Clubcard" points scheme in July 2006.

The scheme allows you to reuse your old plastic bags from any retailer, a bag for life, or any other receptical to carry your goods away, in exchange for avoiding the use of a single use bag you can collect recieve a clubcard point. Often at the discretion of the customer service staff.

This figure would represent a saving of 491 tonnes of bags, across the two years of the scheme, or 20 bags per person per year, approximately a 12% reduction in the annual bags used in Northern Ireland, and from just one retailer. Nationwide, the campaign has lead to a reduction of approximately 1.5 billion bags since inception.

Zara's Organic Cotton Collection

International clothing retailer Zara, have officially launched their Organic Cotton range with an "Eco Warning". You can view their promotional movie on their website. Below is stills from just that, and includes some of the tees for men and women you can find instore now.

So why is organic cotton eco chic and so much environmentally friendlier than your standard cotton. Non-organic cotton is considered to be one of the dirtiest crops in the world, to produce one cotton tee would require 150ml of potentially leathal pesticides, so deadly one drop could kill you.

Organic cotton is obviously made without pesticides, environmentally sound, and safer for those who pick the cotton.

So what has Zara got to offer ... (lets hope that they move to 100% organic across their entire clothing collection in the near future)

How to Fill the Other Half of the Train?

Today it was announced that Northern Ireland Railways operates its train service with a capacity averaging 50%, or the equivalent to 257 000 empty seats per week. The figures were taken from an average week in 2007.

Which Line Performed Best?

• Londonderry Line - 70%
• Portadown Line - 50%
• Bangor Line - 36%
• Cross-Border Rail Service - 35%

Northern Ireland has one of the lowest uses of public transport, at half the UK average, however since 2001, NIR has seen a 50% increase in passenger numbers, with a 23% increase in the last two years. A considerable achievement, with factors including new rolling stock, and a faster, more efficient service. In comparison to other cities, a train every half-an-hour (off-peak), city-to-city may be a factor reducing the use of the service.

If the trains were full, it would be equivalent to reducing 156 707 car journeys a week, or 8.15m a year in Northern Ireland. Unfortunately supply and demand pricing in the public transport sector is not correlated with train fare pricing. Fare reduction often leads to increased pressure at peak periods, with minor traffic increases in off-peak services. This could reduce CO2 emissions by in excess of 15 000 tonnes annually based on small cars emitting 99gCO2/km.

How Much Can I Save?
Following on from my attempt last month to quantify the annual savings by using public transport, Translink have came up with their own figures below. Taking several typical Belfast commuter routes, Translink compared the total cost by car (AA ‘cost per mile’ data, plus parking charges) against the cost of the public transport option. In each case, commuters fare much better with public transport, with big savings to be made in the course of a year:

• Antrim Road to Belfast City Centre by Metro – save £1532.70 per working year (10 months)
• Newtownabbey to Belfast City Centre by Metro – save £2510.30 per working year
• Lisburn to Belfast City Centre by NI Railways – save £2274.30 per working year
• Carrickfergus to Belfast City Centre by NI Railways – save £2666.20 per working year
• Bangor to Belfast City Centre by NI Railways – save £2572.10 per working year
• Larne to Belfast City Centre by Ulsterbus – save £3748.50 per working year
• Magherafelt to Belfast City Centre by Ulsterbus – save £3962.70 per working year

What About the Future Rise in Fuel Tax?
An increase in fuel taxes is often connected with the hypothesis of a triple dividend: Apart from the modal-shift-effect, which relieves the environment as well as the infrastructure, and the fiscal effect, which should increase the public revenue, the movement of passengers to public transport systems should decrease its deficit. However, this calculation fails because higher fuel prices increase peak-hour transit use but not leisure or off-peak transit. But the typical attribute of peak traffic is above-average marginal costs and below average revenues. Therefore, higher fuel taxes will increase public transports deficit rather than decrease it. The fiscal lucrativeness of higher fuel taxes will be significantly lower than is often expected.

How Can NIR Fill the Other Half of the Train?

• With the continued increase in oil prices, over the last year there has been a 2% reduction in vehicle miles travelled according to the AA, as the price continues to rise, it has already been shown to affect driving habits, decreasing miles travelled, travelling at off-peak times, walking shorter journeys, driving in a more fuel efficient way. Whilst habits change it does also price those on the lowest incomes out of cars.
  
  
• Implementation of Park & Ride schemes for cars and bikes, have also contributed to the success in previous years. Avoiding city centre parking charges and congestion entering the city. These need to be developed further to reduce the negative impact of parking problems at restricted space sites.
  
  
• Could the next step in helping people get to work be implementation of Green Journey Planners, simply Translink could offer outreach to companies initially in the city centre of Belfast. Offering to look at how each individual travels to work, how much this costs them (in time and money), and a greener and maybe shorter alternative, detailing the annual savings (again in time and money).
  
  
• Reducing the cost of travel, or removing the cost altogether, through government funded schemes. Trialling this in the outset with a free travel day, to see how this affects passenger numbers. Cost could be fractionally offset with advertising, similar to other international transit systems, such as the London Underground or Hong Kong MTR. Long-term, higher footfalls, could lead to increased property rental values.
  
  
• Introduction of simple stored value card such as the octopus or oyster card to enable a simple straight forward journey, reducing staffing needs, all pricing structures reduced to lowest possible fare, time specific pricing. Multi use, in conjunction with bus system.
  

If you have any ideas on how Translink can increase bums in seats, then let them know.

Tax Rates for Cars

Car tax - vehicle excise duty - is changing from 2009, with vehicles classified according to the levels of carbon dioxide they emit. The tax applies to cars first registered on or after 1 March 2001.

Tax band	CO2 emissions (g/km)	2009-10	From 2010-11			Typical car	% drivers paying more
		Annual Tax	Annual tax	'Showroom' tax
A	Up to 100	-	-	-		VW Polo Bluemotion 1.4 Tdi (diesel)	-
B	101-110	£20	£20	-		Skoda Fabia Estate Greenline (diesel)	-
C	111-120	£30	£35	-		Mazda 2 1.4 (diesel)	-
D	121-130	£90	£95	-		Kia Picanto 1.1 (petrol)	-
E	131-140	£110	£115	£115		Renault Clio 1.2 Quickshift (petrol)	-
F	141-150	£120	£125	£125		Ford Fiesta 1.2 Zetec Climate (petrol)	-
G	151-160	£150	£155	£155		BMW 3 Series 2.0 320D SE (diesel)	-
H	161-170	£175	£180	£250		Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec Climate (petrol)	60%
I	171-180	£205	£210	£300		Vauxhall Zafira 1.6 Life E4 (petrol)	100%
J	181-200	£260	£270	£425		Land Rover Freelance 2.2 TD4 GS (diesel)	100%
K	201-225	£300	£310	£550		Peugeot 407 saloon 2.0 Auto (petrol)	100%
L	226-255	£415	£430	£750		Peugeot 807 2.0 Auto (petrol)	100%
M	Over 255	£440	£455	£950		Land Rover Sport Auto 3.6 TDV8 (diesel)	100%

Picture: Traffic in China

According to the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau, more than 1,300 new drivers took to the streets of China's capital each day last year.

Eco Design in Victoria Square

On a recent trip to the almost new Victoria Square shopping complex in Belfast, some rather interesting, but basic environmentally friendly features have been included into the core concepts of the complex. With an open ended mall there is no need to heat or cool the air inside, the glass ceiling providing sufficient light to illuminate the main walkways, where concrete ceilings exist large solar tubes funnel light to those areas minimising the need for extra lighting.

In the toilets, each cubicle has light sensors, illuminating each only when a person enters. The toilets also have dual flush functions to save water. The basin also benefit from sensors to reduce water use.

Solar Powered Parking Meters to Curb Illegal Parking

The Roads Service has implemented solar to power the simple functions of its new parking meters in Lisburn which will be implemented from 21st July 2008. This not a new technology in the world of parking meters, look at the uber stylish Misco Parkman Pay & Display. But this shows our continuing use of renewable technology into standalone amenities where supplying alternate mains power would be costly environmentally and financially.

Picture: Tesco Carbon Labels hit the Shelves

Shoppers can now see the full array of products with carbon labels in store, that Tesco announced earlier this year, and suggestions on which products are greener.