Recycling Scheme Gets Recognition

Environment Minister Sammy Wilson this week paid tribute to a Lisburn recycling project which is helping people on low incomes.

During a visit to the Voluntary Service Lisburn’s (VSL) facilities, the Minister saw at first hand how electrical goods and furniture were being recycled for the benefit of the local community.

Voluntary Service Lisburn was established in 1981 to help meet the needs of the disadvantaged, disabled and elderly in the local community. In addition to its furniture refurbishment and white goods recycling, VSL operates a substantial volunteer system, and carries out environmental and community projects.

Financial backing from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency’s (NIEA) Community Waste Innovation Fund has enabled the project to provide an important service which is recycling goods which would otherwise have gone to landfill and which are sold on to people on low incomes at low costs.

NIEA’s Community Waste Innovation Fund is providing support to VSL until 2009, for its electrical (white) goods recycling project.

VSL Interiors is located in Haslems Lane in the city, just off the main shopping district Bow Street, and is part of the Lisburn Square shopping centre. They collect unwanted domestic white goods such as cookers, washing machines, dryers and small electrical items and repairs and refurbishes them for sale at low cost to those on low incomes.

This project to date has reduced the household appliances going to landfill by 132 tonnes to date, and any that cannot be reused and sold on is recycled in accordance with the latest environmental protection legislation.





Whilst I am impressed with such a service existing and this is a model example of recycle, reduce and reuse. But in the case of appliances, should we be putting old electrical appliances in homes which are less energy efficient than that of new ones.

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Energy Saving Week

"Before I put my heating on I check that all the windows in the house are closed. Heating a house while its windows are open is like lighting a fire with £5 notes!"

This week is energy saving week, and this year's theme is 'Green/Life Balance' - the fact is we are getting busier, working harder and have less time to do the things we want to do. An EST survey found that half of us say we would be greener if we had more time, and a third of us say our job is the main reason we don't have time to be green.

The aim of Energy Saving Week is simple: to help consumers learn how they can reduce their carbon footprint and show how significant savings can be made in money, energy and time by making a difference.

One of the ways in which you can join in the fun is with the new Energy Saving Trust blog / social network, "Britain Unplugged", where you can throw your ideas into the pot and find new ways to reduce energy, save money and save the planet, in the "What's green and takes 60 seconds? Challenge".

According to the EST, Digital Marketing Manager, Jasper Bell, who is the first editor of BU, the project is a slow burner which hopes to bring people together with a view to sharing ideas and promoting the benefits of reducing energy consumption. You should be seeing and hearing more of the project in the media in the future.

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Alternative Christmas Presents

It's that time of the year again when we are all thinking of Christmas, not least so because of the current financial crisis. I was in town this week and already the operation of installing decorations has begun, with ten weeks til the big day there are some ethical Christmas presents from charitable organisations.

Oxfam and Christain Aid however this year has also launch with this presents for the eco-warrior. These include Bicycles (£30), Solar Panels (£35), Organic Cotton (£29), Baby Buffalos (£93), and Protecting Forest (£45).

If your pondering what to buy your friends, mother, brother, auntie, granny or colleague for Christmas but fear you will be amongst the £2.3 billion spent on unwanted Christmas gifts or the three-quarters of us who spend £50 on tat, you could spare a thought for those less fortunate and give two gifts in one, or three;

• A real gift for someone or community in a developing country
• This gift can be given as a gift to your friends or family
• The gift of not having to find a space for the initial gift to gather dust (38.7% of unwanted presents meet this end) or touted on eBay (27.5%)

Many charities including World Vision, Christain Aid and Oxfam have launched this year their alternative Christmas gift shops, and by asking communities what they want, they really hope to not just help people but improve the lives of many people for the future to come. Asking an 11-year old girl what they want for Christmas would most likely end with a discussion about the High School Musical 3 Dance Mat, ask a child in Bolivia, it might be a birth certificate (£6), or in Sri Lanka, might be 20 chicks (£14).

Whilst World Vision pledge each gift you buy will go towards the scheme involved, however if a gift is oversubscribed funds may be allocated to a different project to ensure that funds are used where appropriate and needed most. Oxfam also suggest that gifts are symbolic and funds are used where appropriate to ensure maximum value for donations. In a small way I feel cheated, that funds from buying 20 chicks may actually buy a goat. Imagine if you asked Santa for 20 chicks but got a goat, you'd be pretty disappointed, not to mention you can't even sell goats on eBay. In reality, each gift was requested by the communities so no matter where the money goes it will benefit the community as a whole, giving chickens to every person in town would do little if no good to a community, in a similar way to giving them all cows or goats.

So if your thinking what to get someone, and feel it may become a tatty mistake, or are really busy and short for time, these gifts provide a one-stop shop for Christmas buying. You don't even have to leave the office to fight amongst 500 other people to end up with another lamp with incandescent bulb that doesn't fit in with their decor.

All in all a feel good Christmas gift. Remember however goats are for life, not just for Christmas. And don't try to do a DIY version by sending 20 chicks Air Mail via Royal Mail to Sri Lanka, the postage is too high, and Royal Mail don't accept chicks (I've already checked), and of course it's just wrong.

Don't forget if you are a UK tax payer you can Gift Aid your gift, so that means you can give an extra 5.6 chicks, 0.28 of a goat or 19.6 meals.

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Reducing Energy Costs The Green Way

In recent years householders have seen the cost of energy rise sharply and therefore more and more people have been turning to more energy efficient methods. One such noticeable area for improving home efficiency has been in home heating. Householders are looking to cut heating bills by installing more resistant and efficient wall and roofing insulation. The trend of rising home insulation use is plain to see these days as big companies such as Tesco have entered the market place. The government is also doing its bit by setting up a £3bn fund to help householders insulate their homes. This is part of their much wider green campaign which aims to reduce emissions by 2015.

Although there are many home insulation products on the market there are very few that actually make use of an environmentally friendly product. This is where a company like Sprayseal differentiates itself. Sprayseal is a specialist insulation company that uses a unique brand of spray foam insulation that is completely environmentally friendly. What’s more is that the Sprayseal formula contains no toxic fibres or materials and can be used in almost any environment.

Sprayseal itself feels that offering a green alternative is extremely important in today’s climate because environmental change is very much at the forefront of people’s agenda. Pushing people towards greener products can only be a good thing.

Sprayseal’s commitment to the environment has essentially changed with the times as the family run business started out in 1987 and originally made use of more traditional insulation methods. When the opportunity arose to using a new modern and more efficient product came along the directors jumped at the chance. The pair was initially impressed by the products ability to reduce heat loss by up to 80% but on further use they found it was ideal for installing insulation quickly and easily.

Sprayseal as a company has also been growing as a result of it’s environmentally ways and has recently launched a new website. The interest stemming from the product means that they now operate home insulation services across the country and have a growing workforce. In the future it will be interesting to see how insulation and other energy saving methods will evolve.

Sprayseal also is a unique product in that it can be adaptable to any situation, and must be the sure choice of industry, where large scale projects can be carried out with the minimum of disruption. Their previous clients include some prestigious companies, including Endemol, creators of, Big Brother, who had the house insulated, the Tate Gallery, and many local councils and health authorities.

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UK Searching For Energy Efficiency

Britons are increasingly concerned with making their homes more efficient, if their internet searching habits are anything to go by. According to internet traffic monitor Hitwise, there has been a significant increase in the amount of searches for terms such as 'loft insulation' and 'underfloor heating'.

The growing interest in methods for making a home more energy efficient reflects the fear of rising fuel and electricity gas prices.

According to Energy Saving Trust recommended supplier Anglian Home Improvements, the average energy bill is set to rise to £1,406. The drastic increase from £676 in 2005 is a major reason for the new interest, claimed Hitwise research director Robin Goad, who also noted people were looking to change their energy providers.

"Concern about energy prices has also led to more people visiting utilities websites, presumably to check prices and change suppliers. UK internet traffic to a custom category of electricity and gas suppliers has doubled over the last year."
Robin Goad, Research Director, Hitwise

The Full Blog Post by Robin Goad

As well as an increase in search terms on energy efficiency, the EST website has received a daily Alexa rank decrease to 60k from 80k, and this blog has had a decrease from 820k to 770k in the last week.

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Tesco Ireland Opening First Eco Store Next Month

Tesco Ireland will be opening its first environmental store ("eco store") in Tramore next month. When completed the 30,000 sq ft retail outlet will use 45% less energy than a supermarket of a similar size. Setting a new benchmark for green technology and construction in retail in Ireland, Tesco Tramore will save 420 tonnes of CO2, a 30% annual saving. It's all part of a number of steps that Tesco is taking to reduce the environmental impact of its business operations.

Features of the eco store include;

• Timber frame shop floor instead of traditional steel
• Enhanced insulation to minimize heat loss
• Trigeneration Combined Heat and Power Plant producing the majority of all central heating and hot water for the store whilst also contributing to the electricity generation
• Double glazing sections in the roof to maximise natural light
• Photovoltaic roof cells that generate electricity for use instore
• Roof-top rainwater collection for use in toilets
• Cold air recycling system which takes cold air from chilled areas to warmer areas - reducing the need for air conditioning
• CO2 based refrigeration replacing the more traditional HFC refrigerants.
• Energy-saving LED lighting in all fridges with below shelving lips in dairy and milk cabinets to reduce cool air loss
• Bakery ovens that are 50% more efficient than similar installations
• Photocell lights in loading areas which are triggered by low external light
• Light movement sensors to ensure lights in offices and other staff areas are only on when this space is in use
• The building as designed will receive an A1 Building Energy Rating (BER) the highest energy efficient rating

Tesco Ireland is taking a number of practical steps to reduce its environmental impact and to help consumers make informed greener choices based on good science. The company is measuring the carbon footprint of 30 Tesco own brand products, measuring the overall CO2 emissions throughout their life cycle.

Since announcing its Strategy for the Environment and Carbon Reduction last year Tesco Ireland has been investing and trialling new technologies throughout its store network, and as a result has developed a more sustainable blueprint for its new buildings. This includes an extensive energy management programme with energy managers appointed locally to all stores. The company commissioned its first Combined Heat and Power unit at Tesco Nutgrove store last year, saving 25% in energy costs. A bio diesel mix has been introduced to the distribution truck fleet along with double deck trailers which will save on road miles.

Pictured is the 50,000sq ft Tesco in Wick, in the north of Scotland. It was designed to be the most environmentally-friendly of its kind in the UK, and it is expected to have a 50 percent smaller carbon footprint than similar sized traditionally built stores. Not only is the building envelope designed to have minimum impact on the environment but construction methods were also as low-carbon as possible, while road freight was replaced with shipping to reduce both emissions and road congestion.

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Milk Sludge Fertilising Willow

Dale Farm’s environmentally aware staff have come up with a novel solution for reducing the company’s carbon footprint – using sludge from the waste water treatment plant at Dunman to grow willows.

Traditionally the sludge, which is a normal by-product of dairy processing, has been spread on farmland – where it acts as a valuable fertiliser. However, the Nitrates Directive has effectively reduced the amount of land that can be treated this way and other outlets had to be examined. After reviewing a range of possible options, it was decided that applying the sludge to Short Rotation Coppice Willow for producing renewable energy biomass, was an environmentally friendly solution that was also cost effective.

The scheme, which is operated in partnership with Rural Generation Ltd, began on a trial basis in June. It uses bespoke machinery that injects the sludge below the surface of the ground in a willow plantation in the Cookstown area, relatively close to the Dunman factory.

A permit had to be attained from the Environment and Heritage Service to allow the sludge to be used this way. The effluent has to be treated using a belt press, which increases the solid content to approximately 12% – which results in fewer transport movements and thus reduces the fuel and labour required.

Willow production is a renewable and sustainable energy crop that is harvested and used to produce either heat or electricity. Harvesting is usually on a two yearly rotation when the willow is cut and chipped, and some local Councils are currently using willow as an alternative energy source for heating e.g. swimming pools.

Willow production does not contribute to global warming – the only carbon dioxide released upon burning is that which was fixed from the air whilst the willow was growing, making it “carbon neutral” unlike other fuels such as coal and oil.

The use of sludge as a soil conditioner and source of nitrogen on willow plantations is a good example of an environmentally sustainable, low carbon route for recycling an organic waste stream. It is well established in Europe and N America, but is still relatively new in N Ireland and Dale Farm is the first local company to investigate this opportunity.

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Chimney Balloon

I just had my head up my chimney today, and when I told people I was inflating a balloon up my chimney earlier, they thought it was some kind of euphemism. Usually not one to get my hands dirty, I was right in the action with soot everywhere. I had ordered a Chimney Balloon from Flusystems on Sunday and it arrived today. I had tried to order one last year just before Christmas when I wrote Winter Warmer Ideas, you have to practice what you preach, but the company was just featured in a national newspaper (the Guardian, I believe) and they were struggling to cope with the orders they were receiving.

The device was designed in 1990 to stop chimney draughts, and has some bold claims on their website, including;

"A room with a blocked chimney needs only about half the heat compared with rooms with open chimneys, so it makes sense to fit a chimney balloon in every chimney which is not in everyday use."

The chimney balloon is made in a special laminate of three plastics to make it airtight, tear-resistant and long-lasting. It also has a special shape that allows a little ventilation on two corners to keep your chimney dry. Using a chimney balloon is completely safe, if it is accidentally heated, it shrivels and deflates.

I was slightly skeptical about the claim that it requires only 50% the energy to heat a room with one installed, so I did the non-scientific hand infront of the flue, outside there was a small breeze, and this could be felt entering the room slowly and consistently.

I placed my chimney balloon into the flue and started blowing, gently making sure that it was postitioned well as it inflated, it took a few tries as I was dubious that my inflation, angle and postitioning was, well not good.

After completion I repeated the non-scientific hand infront of the flue, no breeze, good job. Just to make sure it is functioning properly you should check it after 24 hrs to make sure that it hasn't reduced in size due to cooling of the air in the balloon, and again every month or so.

The chimney balloon is effective mainly because of one single principle, warm air rises and cold air sinks. With the chimney balloon we can stop both at once, keeping cold air from entering the room, and warm air from escaping up the chimney. Chimneys act as a funnel and pump to take warm air away. This is a good thing when your fire is lit and the warm air is full of smoke.

It did make the room feel warmer, but then again I am a nieve person that when taking placebos thinks they are working. I believe it works, and works effectively, it's a small difference, that will save some energy without even having to try, and with global energy prices still high it could pay for itself in less than one winter.

As well as ordering a chimney balloon, I ordered radiator reflector panels, which hopefully will arrive soon (I'm going to try a more scientific test with them), and will be installing solar thermal water heating this October which we hope will reduce our energy consumption by providing the equivalent of 1500kWh of hot water heating a year, for an energy efficiency dork like me it's mighty exciting.

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Is The Government Right to Scrap the One-Off Winter Fuel Payment?

The government today announced that it would not be providing the much anticipated "Fuel Payment Plan" of £150 to seven million households, which was originally announced in the media last month after it was leaked by a senior civil servant travelling on a train. Is this the right decision?

Our homes consume energy, copious amounts of it. 83% of domestic energy is used for space and water heating, and in the huge majority of homes this is done in an inefficient way. One-off payments purely provide assistance in the short-term, delaying the issue and exacerbating the situation further. In addition by providing a "subsidised" fuel, encourages the user to continue to use energy in an inordinate way, becoming reliant on benefits to subsidise their existence. Reduction of consumption has not be ingrained into the mindset of the individual, increased consumption, increased demand, and whilst on a global scale, relatively minor, increased prices, inevitably leading to further hardship.

By focusing on reducing energy consumption, via energy efficient technologies such as cavity wall insulation and loft insulation, this assists with the core aims of a reducing dependency of fossil fuels and lowering CO2 emissions. It is an investment for the future and progresses the nation towards a low carbon economy. It alleviates the burden on the tax payer, freeing up future revenue to be invested in further projects. By empowering individual awareness of the environmental and economic benefits of reducing their consumption, this kick-starts a revolution of energy savers.

According to Uswitch, this year the average annual household bill will be £1,467, up 61% on last year. As a whole, this equates to an annual spend for domestic households of £31bil annually, of a total UK consumption expected to exceed £200bil (three times the level of 1998). If all households that could install the two measures mentioned above did so, with the help of government grants or assistance, we could reduce UK energy use in monetary terms by 0.88% per annum, and reduce UK CO2 emissions by approximately 8.4m tonnes.

Political benefits from energy efficiency in the long-term oppose to "short-term gimmicks", reduced reliance on imported 'old sun' energy, sustained decreased in energy consumption, reduced CO2 emmissions from point of implementation year-on-year, improved air quality and decrease in associated illnesses.

Whilst I believe the that the government has made the right decision, those that will suffer from this announcement, are those most in need of support, however there is genuine help available to those who are fuel poor, individuals on certain benefits, and even for those that are not.

Specific advice is available, you can contact the Energy Saving Trust or, if you contact us via email, with information about your current energy use, type of housing, installed heating methods, your location, energy supplier details. We will try to find the best solution to reduce your energy bills right now for free, through grants, support and practical advice.

Further information on how you can reduce your energy consumption this winter is available on our Winter Energy Saving Ideas page.


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Tesco Launch Home Insulation Service

Market leading supermarket Tesco have launched a Home Insulation Service offering cavity wall insulation and loft insulation at bargain price. It doesn't matter if you own a 4-bed detached house, or a 1-bed apartment Tesco offer each service for the great price of just £199. In comparison to the guide prices you could save anywhere between £98 and £541.

For those in receipt of certain benefits you can install the measures for free. If you are a homeowner, residential landlord or private tenant and anyone in your property is over 70 or in receipt of one or more of the following benefits, you may be entitled to free insulation (subject to survey).

• Child tax credit
  (with household income less than £15,592)
• Working tax credit
  (with household income less than £15,592)
• War disablement pension
  (must include constant attendance allowance or a mobility supplement)
• Disablement pension
  (must include constant attendance allowance)
• Attendance allowance
• Disability living allowance
• State pension credit
• Income support
• Housing benefit
• Council tax benefit
  (single persons allowance does not apply)
• Income based job seekers allowance

83 per cent of domestic energy is used for heat. Cavity wall insulation can help prevent the 25% - 40% of heat in a building lost through uninsulated walls. The potential savings is about £120 on your annual heating bills and up to 1 tonne of Co2 a year. The cost of installation should be recouped in less than 2 years, however with the Tesco prices this is just over one year. Loft insulation will help prevent the 25% of heat in a building lost through an uninsulated loft. The potential savings are about £155 on your annual heating bills and up to 2 tonnes of Co2 a year.

Overall if all the homes in the UK that are uninsulated at the moment were insulated the annual savings would be equivalent to £2.5 billion and 14.3 million tonnes of Co2 emissions annually.

Tips when Choosing an Installer

• Ensure what you are getting there are many types of insulation used, at the moment the standard is bonded bead, this is available in white and graphite, the graphite is 20% more effective, and slightly more expensive.
• Ask whether they will install ventilation guards, many installers will not mention this, it is essential that these are installed to prevent beads from blocking the vents, this can lead to advanced rotting in floor boards.
• Ensure the company is CIGA registered, check their site and look for the logo

Tesco Home Insulation Service do not operate in every area of the UK, if you are still interested in insulation in your area, you can contact use the Energy Saving Trust search to find details of installers in your area. The Energy Savings Trust can also give further advice on grants available.


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Smart Zero Emission Driving with The Smart Ed

Businesses and organisations across the UK are using new electric smart models in one of the car industry’s biggest carbon neutral test programmes...

The new smart ed may not be on sale here yet, but Britain is currently the centre of a pioneering test programme involving the new electric-powered model. Over the next four years the electric vehicles will be operated using only ‘green energy’ – electricity generated from renewable sources. From manufacture to delivery and on to final operation, the ultimate objective has been to create a virtually carbon-free car. Where any use of fossil fuels or resulting CO2 emissions have been identified and quantified, equivalent funding is being invested in carbon offset projects in both the UK and Germany.

The smart fortwo passion is transformed into an electrically-powered vehicle by UK-based technology partner Zytek at their facility in Lichfield, Staffordshire. The British company adds the electric motor, battery pack and other modifications, but the end result is indistinguishable from a conventional smart model. Only the power socket hidden underneath the normal fuel filler flap and a dash-mounted display showing the charge level remaining, give any indication that this is a vehicle with an entirely different propulsion system.

The car has a maximum range in excess of 70 miles and can be fully charged from empty in eight hours and partially charged from 30 per cent to 80 per cent in 3.5 hours. With a top speed of 60mph (electronically limited), and acceleration from 0-30mph in 6.5 seconds – faster than its petrol equivalent – the smart ed is no slouch around town.

Powered solely by electricity, and chargeable from any three-pin socket the smart ed can achieve the equivalent of 300 mpg – that amounts to a saving of up to 80% in fuel costs over the already highly economical smart fortwo. The ed can travel up to 72 miles between charges, which typically take around 8 hours for a full charge – ideal for charging at work between your morning and evening commutes. If your journey takes you into the capital, you will find free electricity provided by some London boroughs, as well as free or discounted parking. With a top-up charge during the day, the smart ed’s daily range weighs in at 100 miles.

With that in mind, Smart are running a market trial with selected blue chip companies who are happy to meet their requirements to power the cars using only renewable energy sources. When they say zero emissions, they really mean it! Among the partners already enrolled in the trial are The Urban Splash, Islington and Coventry Councils, Foster & Partners, CarbonNeutral Company, EDF Energy and Amey.

To add to the environmental benefits of CO2-free emissions and zero noise pollution, users can point to the savings resulting from not needing to pay either vehicle excise duty or the Congestion Charge. What’s more there are Benefit in Kind tax savings as the Inland Revenue doesn’t treat electricity as ‘fuel’, while some London Boroughs will also offer smart ed models free parking and free top-up electric charge facilities.

Whilst the Smart Ed is yet to be available to the general public just yet, there are ways we as individuals can speed the process, by letting companies like Smart know that we want this technology, that we will buy this technology, and let the governmnent know that you want this technology and you want them to help people, business and manfactures employ this technology.

In their quest for greener driving, Smart have announced the introduction of a diesel engined smart fortwo – with the lowest C02 emissions on any car in the world – which will be joining the family in March 2009.


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How Much Energy Does a Hotpoint Freezer Use?

Fridges and Freezers can account for over 30% of the electricity you use in your home, as they are constantly on, drawing electricity for cooling cycles over the day as and when required, therefore to gauge how much energy the freezer used in our test, we measured the electricity consumption over a 24hr period. You should be proud, I braved the garage at 1am, with spiders just to get the reading.

For this test we measured the Hotpoint RZA54G graphite tall freezer with an energy rating of A, from the product specifications it should use approximately 257kWh per year, this equates to about 0.7kWh/day, however this is the manufactures test using their optimum settings.

We measured the freezer using the mid-setting of (3) for 24hrs.

Total Electricity Consumed; 0.78kWh over 24 hrs (average of 32.5W)

Over a year this would equate to 284.7kW or £37.01 and 153kg of CO2

Consider if your fridge or freezer is 10 years old, it could be using twice as much, or over 15 years old, and you could be looking at four times this figure.

Energy Saving Tips for Fridges and Freezers;

• Keep to a minimum the number of times and length you keep the door open, this not only saves electricity but reduces wear
• Keep fridges and freezers away from heat sources and direct sunlight if possible
• Keeping your fridge and freezer full will reduce the energy required to keep the fridge cool
• Defrost frozen food in the fridge, this will reduce the energy the fridge requires to keep at a constant temperature and is safer than defrosting at room temperature
• Keep the condenser coils clean and dust-free, allow space for air to circulate, and do not block vents
• Defrost fridges and freezers regularly as this ensures that they are working more efficiently
• If your fridge or freezer is older than 10 years, a new energy efficient model could half your refrigeration costs
• Ensure the doors seals are tight and working by closing the door on a piece of paper, if it can easily be removed, consider replacing the seals
• Consider installing an eCube, which reduces the number of cooling cycles required as it measures food temperatures not air temperature

For information on the electricity consumption of other products check out "How Much Electricity Does a ... Use?"

Please Note the energy use figures are taken from an energy monitor and are not scientifically analysed, therefore the range and margin of error is greater. If you would like a specific product tested let us know and we will endeavour to check it out.

Burning Holes in Government Fuel Payment Plan

At the weekend it was leaked by a senior civil servant travelling on a train, that the government have it laying in the wings for a "Fuel Payment Plan", the one-off payment of £150 would be targeted at those in receipt of child benefits, the total number of people that are set to benefit from this windfall is estimated to be over seven million households, requiring in excess of £1 billion.

Taking into consideration the "Winter Fuel Payments" paid to 11.7m people over 60 years in age, which costs a further £2 billion pounds. A total of £3 billion is effectively subsidising energy, making it cheaper, less expensive to use. In times when we should be reducing energy, friend of the blog and chief executive of the Energy Saving Trust, Philip Sellwood, believes that this money would be better spent and more effectively in terms of energy reduction and environmental benefit (not to mention the 17.5% return to the government from VAT, instead of the 5% on fuel), if this money was invested into energy saving measures.

For example, £3 billion could easily insulate every cavity wall in the country. Saving those householders £720m a year, every year (without inflation of energy costs), saving 4.8m tonnes of CO2 annually.

Philip Sellwood posted his own back of envelope savings on his blog;

Our own stats show that with £150, a householder could:

Draught proof an entire house, saving around £25 a year with an outlay of around £90.
Buy a hot water tank jacket, saving around £20 per year, with an outlay of just £12.
Fully insulate all pipe work, saving around £9 per year, with an outlay of just £9.
Replacing existing light bulbs with energy saving ones. With a typical cost of around £3 per bulb it would be possible to replace every light bulb in the house. This could save around £45 a year or £600 over the lifetime of the bulbs!

My maths was never much good, but even I can see that by spending this £150 on energy saving measures means saving around £100 this year, next year, the year after....well, you get my drift!

My own quick back of envelope calculation suggest that each household would reduce their CO2 emissions by 710kg. £3billion would be enough to offer all these measures to every household in the UK saving 14.91m tonnes of CO2. If the government instead decided to invest all the money into wind turbines, and start their own government wind co-op they could install a minimum of 300 wind turbines with up to 2GW, almost doubling the current capacity, providing, clean green energy for 1.2m homes, or approximately 5% of UK domestic properties.

The scheme has not yet been given final approval. The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (DBERR) confirmed that further help with fuel bills was being considered, but insisted no decisions had been taken. So now is the time to get it right, and make positive changes, so that the money makes a return socially, environmentally, and of course politically.

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Diageo Invests £65m in Renewable Energy

Plans for a pioneering bioenergy facility at Scotland’s largest distillery, Cameronbridge in Fife, were announced by Diageo this week. Following two years of rigorous research, Diageo - which makes leading global brands including Johnnie Walker, Tanqueray and Smirnoff - has signed a formal partnership agreement with energy management company, Dalkia, to create the new facility.

Costing approximately £65 million, the planned state-of-the-art facility will generate major environmental benefits and is set to place Scotland at the forefront of green technology on the world stage.

The facility will for the first time integrate sustainable technologies – including anaerobic digestion and biomass conversion – on a commercial scale. It will be the largest single investment in renewable technology by a non-utility company in the UK and is set to reduce annual CO2 emissions at the site by approximately 56,000 tonnes (equivalent to taking 44,000 family cars off the road).

The proposed facility, which is subject to planning approval, will recover 98% of thermal steam and 80% of electrical power at the distillery. It is an example of Diageo’s commitment to the environment and the use of energy efficiency programmes to reduce energy and water consumption. Dalkia will construct the facility over the next two years and it will then transfer to Diageo under a finance lease, while continuing to be managed by Dalkia.

“This will be a showcase bioenergy facility which harnesses a variety of green technologies in a project of an unprecedented scale. It is without question the right way forward in terms of environmental benefits and secures the long-term sustainability of our operation, moving the site away from reliance on fossil fuels"
Bryan Donaghey, Managing Director, Diageo Scotland.

The bioenergy facility will generate renewable energy from ‘spent wash’ – a mixture of wheat, malted barley, yeast and water - produced during distillation. The spent wash is separated into liquid and dried solids. The liquid is then converted, via anaerobic digestion, into biogas and the dried solids form a biomass fuel source.

Around 90,000 tonnes of co-products, which would have required transport off-site by road, will be turned into bioenergy in the form of electricity and steam for use at the distillery. The facility will also recover almost a third of the site’s water requirements.

"SEPA welcomes the use by industry of efficient, sustainable energy sources. We are very supportive of new and developing technologies that can help protect Scotland's environment and make a meaningful contribution to tackling climate change. Diageo is to be commended for its investment in bioenergy.”
Campbell Gemmell, CEO of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)

"This pioneering scheme demonstrates the effective use of bioenergy and highlights our shared commitment to efficient sustainable energy for industry. It will deliver real environmental benefits.”
Frédéric Pelège, CEO of Dalkia plc

The bioenergy project is in addition to a £100 million programme of investment currently being undertaken by Diageo in Scotland. This includes a new distillery at Roseisle in Morayshire which will also feature cutting edge sustainable technology, together with a £40 million expansion at Cameronbridge Distillery due for completion in spring 2010.

Diageo, and partner Dalkia, have been working closely with local and national stakeholders, as well as consulting widely with representatives of the local community, to ensure the full potential of the project is realised.

Cameronbridge currently employs around 100 people and the new bioenergy facility is expected to create up to 20 additional jobs.

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Moving Forward From Zero Growth

Liz Goodwin, the chief executive of the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), has something to celebrate, zero growth. Historically, the amount of packaging used for grocery products has grown every year. However, in 2007 the same amount of packaging was put onto the market by the major retailers and brands as they used in 2006. This is despite increased sales. This is the first reported occurrence of zero growth achieved anywhere in Europe.

From the WRAP blog, Moving Forward From Zero Growth;

"This is a fantastic achievement but what I really want to see is actual reductions - that is going to be even more challenging. Our next target under the commitment is to see real reductions by 2010.

If you're thinking that you haven't seen much evidence of this work to reduce packaging, it's possible that you're not aware of it. There are lots of examples of products now being packaged in lighter bottles or cans and things being wrapped in thinner films. Much of this is very difficult to spot. However, there are other changes which we can see - for example:

the move to concentrates for washing liquids; or even
some new cleaning sprays which include a refill sachet.

As we move to some of the more visible changes, we as householders are also going to need to change the way we do things. Are we going to remember to use the refills or will we forget and just go and buy a new container? If we want to see real reductions in packaging then we are all going to need to engage and adapt. I hope we will - the gains are certainly going to be worth it.

The other area covered by the Courtauld Commitment is food waste - we need the retailers to help us all waste less of the food that we buy. We waste a staggering 6.7m tonnes of food waste every year. The retailers can help by giving us more advice on storage, working on portions sizes and giving us recipe ideas. I'll write more about our work on food waste in a future blog.

I want to ensure that WRAP continues to work closely with the retailers over the coming years to build on the progress already made so we can make an even greater difference - achieving real reductions in the quantity of packaging we use as a society and the amount of food we waste.

And I, for one, am looking forward to seeing far less packaging in my bin."

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Reduce Plastic Bag Use by 70%

Reduce Plastic Bag Use by 70% ... Or Else!

I like it when the government give ultimatiums and idle threats, usually then to forget about them by the deadline or go back on what they originally wanted to achieve in the first place. It doesn't fill me full of confidence really, as this is not the first time that the government has asked the big four (supermarkets, that is) to reduce the number of plastic carrier bags they give to customers by 70 per cent by next spring. The Government has warned stores that a failure to do so voluntarily will trigger a change in the law to put an end to the distribution of free throwaway bags.

'When we met retailers recently, we told them we thought a reduction of 70 per cent would be a ball-park figure. That is the order of reduction. If the reduction can be achieved voluntarily, then excellent. If it can't, we will impose charges. We know that is what the public wants.'
Joan Ruddock, Environment Minister

The target was revealed by Environment minister Joan Ruddock yesterday at a press conference with the Waste and Resources Action Programme, which is funded by the Government to tackle waste, to highlight how stores and manufacturers are tackling excess packaging.

The proposals have the support of all the major political party leaders and leading figures in the administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

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Go Green Without Reducing Your Geek Chic

Dell has launched its Studio Hybrid their greenest consumer desktop PC. Their smallest design is about 80% smaller than standard desktops, and it contains about 75% less printed documentation by weight when compared to typical tower desktops.

Going green without cramping your style, Studio Hybrid, personalisation is easy with 6 interchangeable color sleeves or also one in bamboo (for an extra $130 USD (or £110 in the UK with a 15 day extra wait on delivered systems), but what's $130, when your saving the planet). So why the huge extra cost in the UK? and why charge an extra £30 to select the colour of your choice, when you charge £29.99 for two covers, surely multiple plastic covers are not a good thing right? and in the US Dell charge no fee to choose another base colour? and only £10 for extra plastic covers.

However, the Hybrid uses about 70% less power than a typical desktop, and meets Energy Star® 4.0 standards with an 87% efficient power supply. The system uses only 1 watt of power when off or in hibernate mode, 26W while sitting idle, and 44W when pushed to the limit. Studio Hybrid packaging is made from 95% recyclable materials. And the Studio Hybrid comes with a system-recycling kit, so you can help preserve and protect the environment.

Systems in the US start at $499 (ex del) and in the UK at £399 (inc del).

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"Cool UN" Initative Starts

Under the new initative the UN's New York headquarters will get hotter in an attempt to make the world cooler. For all of August the UN building's thermostats will rise from their usual chilly 72 degrees Fahrenheit (22 degrees Centigrade) up to 77 degrees (25 degrees Centigrade).

The main UN premises in Bangkok, which houses over a dozen of the Organization's entities, joined the Secretariat today in rolling out the “Cool UN” scheme.

“Cool UN” is just one of several schemes United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is involved in to slash energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Since 2002, it has cut back electricity consumption by 16 per cent yearly by replacing old and inefficient appliances such as power transformers, elevators, air conditioners, lights and pumps.

ESCAP's service also has pilot solar panels and wind turbines, and water usage has been reduced by 30 per cent every year through new higher-efficiency water closets and using recycled water for the main gardens.

It is expected the programme will reduce CO2 emissions by 300 tonnes and $100,000 this month, with annual savings of 3000 tonnes and $1m, the initative will be implemented all year round.

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.

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.