Mygreenweek

Many shoppers now look for good energy ratings when they buy new gadgets or appliances – but that’s not the only thing you need to think about before choosing your brand.

Environmental group, Greenpeace, publishes a green consumer guide covering some of the top manufacturers - and in its latest report, computer giant Microsoft and games supremo, Nintendo come off very badly.

The Greenpeace rating takes into account a variety of factors such as the presence of toxic chemicals in a product, whether the company has a good energy-saving record and its commitment to recycling of discarded products.

The guide is updated every three months and the latest, published a few days ago, puts Sony at the top of the tree (although even the Sony score can hardly be described as brilliant since it gets only 5.1 out of a possible 10 marks.)

Others that fare pretty well are Nokia, Samsung and Dell but Microsoft and Nintendo are currently bottom of the league.

Nintendo in particular has an almost non-existent score – managing just 0.8 out of 10, although it has apparently improved slightly on the use of toxic chemicals and is praised by Greenpeace for its commitment to cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

Sadly, it scored a big fat zero on all e-waste criteria, hence its pitiful overall score – which is even well behind the next worst in the league, Microsoft, which gained a score of 2.15.

So, before you invest in the next new piece of equipment, step one is to ask yourself whether you REALLY need it in the first place. We have become a real throw-away society, often discarding perfectly good gadgets just because we want a newer version.

Then, if you still think it’s a must-have, log onto the Greener Electronics Guide and check the environmental score of the big brand-names.

Greenpeace says the guide is designed to make the electronics industry face up to the problem of e-waste. It is pushing manufacturers to get rid of harmful chemicals in their products and it wants to see an end to the stories of “unprotected child labourers scavenging mountains of cast-off gadgets.”

Clearly, if people start buying more from the more environmentally-aware manufacturers, this will provide a big incentive to the poor performers to clean up their act.

Susan

New rules are being introduced to make it easier for consumers to choose “green” electricity tariffs that deliver extra benefits.

According to the government, some suppliers don’t offer many benefits other than satisfying their legal obligation to use renewable energy sources – whereas others also make a contribution to environmental projects or the fight against climate change.

So it is planning a new ratings system that will distinguish between the potential benefits of different green tariffs. That way, you’ll know whether you are paying more just because it’s renewable energy or whether the cost includes extra environmental actions by your supplier such as planting trees.

Environment Secretary, Hilary Benn, says: “I want to make sure that the green tariff market is clear for consumers.” 

He has now written to energy companies asking them to provide “the clearest possible information” about the environmental benefits of their green power and has asked energy regulator, Ofgem, to help collect information for the proposed ratings system.  

He said electricity is like any other product – people want to know what they are paying for – and this applies especially to a green tariff because it often costs more than traditional electricity.

The Carbon Trust says it supports the move because the green tariffs market is unclear and some tariffs deliver minimal extra carbon savings.

It says the sector suffers from significant double counting problems - and it’s essential that the benefits of renewables can be accurately reported by businesses towards their carbon reduction targets.

• The government has also just  announced a new round of biomass grants for  farmers and producers.

Grants of up to £200,000 will be available to support the biomass industry in England which ministers say has the potential to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and cut our carbon emissions.

The grants will apply to a range of crops  including willow, poplar, alder, ash, hazel, lime, grass and straw.

Susan

Environmental organisation, Greenpeace, believes it has come up with an excellent solution that could help to meet Britain’s energy needs and reduce C02 emissions.

It has commissioned research into CHP (combined heat and power) which it says shows that industrial sites around the country offer a great opportunity for bulk electricity generation.

According to Greenpeace, power stations in the UK currently waste almost two thirds of the energy they generate - and a massive 20 per cent of our total CO2 emissions come from the fuel which is burned to create this “wasted” heat.

Greenpeace says  the government has so far focused mainly on electricity generation but this accounts for only 17 per cent of our total energy demands whereas almost half of our energy needs are in the form of heat.

It says the government has no heat strategy for the UK and is concentrating on nuclear power which can provide only electricity whereas CHP has the  potential to generate enough power for the annual needs of two thirds of UK households.

The research carried out for Greenpeace by leading energy experts Poyry, claims that this potential could be harnessed by siting combined heat and power plants at existing industrial sites.

And it has identified nine sites around the country where CHP plants could be installed to meet the heat and power needs of local industry and supply electricity back to the national grid.

The proposal also offers substantial cost benefits since an industrial CHP plant is much quicker and cheaper to build than a nuclear power station. (Greenpeace cites the example of a CHP development at Immingham which supplies two refineries in Humberside with heat, steam and power. It is being expanded at the moment and is eventually expected to have the same generating capacity of  Sizewell B power station!)

You can read a summary of the report here

If the statistics stand up, it sounds like the obvious way forward but if it really is that simple then it begs the question – why hasn’t anyone thought about this before now ????

Susan

Almost every day we hear about a new project or initiative that has been set up to fight climate change or protect the environment.

Mostly, they are great campaigns or programmes that have our planet’s best interests at heart -  but with so many of them springing up, it’s getting harder and harder to become excited about another new kid on the block.

But today, I’m EXCITED !

And hopefully, you will be too - once you find out more about 350.  Yes, it’s a short title – and some critics complain that its name is meaningless and doesn’t tell us anything about its aims.

Okay, I’ll concede that at the moment, the name probably doesn’t mean a lot to most people. But it’s short and simple and as its founders point out, numbers are one of the few things that are universal to many countries of the world.

The name, 350, represents the number that top scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in our atmosphere –measured in parts per million (ppm)

And that’s what the new organisation is all about.  It is looking to build worldwide support for its campaign to get us back to 350ppm. (At the moment, we’re standing at around 387 ppm)

And if its launch video is anything to go by, it stands an excellent chance of reaching the masses – in many different countries.  This video is definitely one to watch.

It sums up the climate change challenge in just 90 seconds (without even using any words until the closing screen) so it will mean something to most people, whatever language they happen to speak.

I reckon the video is a definite award-winner – but see it for yourself and make up your own mind

So, what’s so exciting about 350.org ?  Lots of things actually, but for me, the main two are:

•     it boils down the technical mumbo-jumbo surrounding climate change to a level that an eight-year-old can understand (my daughter is proof of that) and it uses some great analogies to explain the challenges we face and what actions we can take

•    It hasn’t been set up by any government or official agency. It uses mainly volunteers – and its mission is to build “a global grassroots” climate movement

Those involved  – including environmentalist Bill McKibben who wrote one of the first books on global warming for the general public - recognise that many people in many places are already doing their bit to save our planet.

They say their hope is “we can shine a spotlight on the work of existing organisations, highlighting everyone’s incredible work and knitting these many efforts together for a powerful and unified call to action–a call that is global, scientific, and specific.

“By providing a common platform with the 350 target, we can help to stitch together a whole that is truly greater than the sum of its parts, a diverse movement that speaks with one collective voice.”

And so say all of us !!

The 350  launch website is excellent – certainly the best climate site I’ve seen in a LONG while and for those who want a simple history of the subject, there’s an excellent article about it.

Sign up to 350 now….. and take every chance you can to spread the word 

You can find out all you need to know about 350 and how you can get involved here

Susan

A massive development is currently underway near Margate in Kent to provide the UK with fresh fruit and salad vegetables all year round.

When completed, Thanet Earth will have greenhouses covering an incredible 80 acres of countryside and will be home to well over a million plants.

The seven huge greenhouses – upto 140m each in length – will be fed by their own reservoirs which will capture and recycle the water in which the crops are grown.

This will allow the site to be self sufficient for water throughout the summer while its combined heat and power system will provide energy for the national grid to offset costs.

Thanet Earth has come about because apparently Brits are chomping their way through ever-growing amounts of fruit and salad (which must be a good thing!)

When finally completed, the UK’s biggest ever greenhouse development will create up to 500 local jobs and increase home grown salad vegetables by around 15 per cent. Cucumbers and peppers will be picked from February until October while tomatoes will be picked throughout the year.

As you might imagine, for a site of this size, even clearing the ground ready for the development was a major undertaking….

I have to admit that  80 acres of glass houses is unlikely to be something you’d like to see in place of the countryside in your area. Fortunately,  the experts say that Thanet Earth type developments are unlikely to be springing up around the country.

The size of site needed isn’t easily available – and apparently there isn’t enough winter light in most parts of Britain to support the greenhouses.

Susan

People all over Britain are being invited to take part in Change Your World week which happens at the end of this month.

And the organisers, Sustrans, are stressing that if we all take just one small step, we can play a part in making a BIG difference.

They reckon that if all of us cut out just one car journey per week, we could reduce overall traffic by an amazing 10 per cent.

And they are asking people to commit to doing just that during Change Your World week which takes place from June 30 until July 5. So, all you have to do is cancel ONE car journey that week and either car share, use public transport, walk or cycle to your destination instead!

Change Your World is asking adults if they remember being free-range when they were kids. Back then, children regularly played outside and got around under their own steam rather than being chauffered everywhere by parents. The organisers says kids today are missing out on all that fun – and fresh air – and they believe the high levels of traffic on our streets is partly to blame.

Sustrans are asking people to sign up to the campaign online and the website has posters and wallpapers that you can download to support the campaign. You can also send e-cards to friends and family asking them to support the event.

You can find out more here

Susan

Europe is home to less than 10% of the world’s total population – but apparently we use more than our fair share of resources.

According to the European Environment Agency, we consume around 15% of the world’s energy – and almost a quarter of all paper produced on the planet!

Speaking at the opening of Green Week in Brussels last week, EEA executive director, Jacqueline McGlade, said: “Europeans have become a society of consumers. Consumption fuels our economy. Shopping for some has become a favourite pastime, even a hobby.”

Professor McGlade said our high - and ever-rising - consumption has a real effect on the environment and ambitious policies are needed to steer Europe in a more sustainable direction. At the moment, any efficiency improvements we do make are often outweighed by rising consumption.

For example, although average fuel consumption per car has dropped by 10 % due to technical improvements since 1990, the overall fuel consumption actually increased by 20 % - mainly because car ownership has increased and people now travel further.

And Prof. McGlade says it is a sad fact of life that many drivers still prefer larger and less fuel-efficient cars.

She added:“Our current consumption and production patterns may well lie behind our material wealth - but they are also responsible for many negative impacts on the environment.

“These impacts are rising and could lead to significant consequences for our planet and humankind if action is not taken to put our consumption and production on a sustainable path

Susan

Every cloud has a silver lining so they say ….. and it seems the old expression applies even to the much-maligned landfill site.

In America, gas from landfill sites is now being used as an alternative form of energy for around a million homes.

And as demand grows for alternative energy sources, experts predict that its use will become much more widespread.

Landfill gas is produced by the breaking down of organic matter in waste dumped in a landfill site and is made up of both methane and carbon dioxide.

Waste Management companies are now building special plants that can convert the gas into energy for household use and it is estimated that many landfill sites have sufficient gas to run for around 20 years.

In the UK alone, around 100 million tonnes of waste goes to landfill every year and if the gas it produces is simply left for release into the atmosphere, it is a potent greenhouse gas. There is also a danger that it could leak offsite to nearby buildings and cause explosions.

So, using it as a form of renewable energy actually avoids two potential problems in addition to saving fossil fuels!

This summer, sustainable energy company, ENER-G will open the UK’s first waste gasification plant on the Isle of Wight, generating enough power to serve around 3000 homes.

Planning permission has also been given for another plant in Irvine, Scotland where building is due to begin later this year and the company is also hoping to build a smaller plant on Merseyside. This would generate enough electricity for over 10,000 homes and produce heat for use by neighbouring businesses.

Susan

Many MPs are in favour of giving us all our own carbon credits to help Britain to meet its emission targets.

The UK’s Environmental Audit Committee believes the proposal would be more successful in cutting carbon emissions than the introduction of “green” taxes.

The idea is that we would all receive an annual limit for fuel and energy use and if we exceed our “credits” we could buy more from people who are using less.

The committee has criticised ministers for putting the proposal on the back burner following an early study. It admits that the carbon credits plan is unlikely to be popular with the public but says the government needs to show courage in tackling carbon emissions.

Tim Yeo, chairman of the committee, says “green” taxes, such as a petrol tax, are unfair to poorer people because everyone – from billionaires to those on the breadline – are charged the same amount.

“Under the personal carbon trading, someone who doesn’t have an enormous house or swimming pool or someone who doesn’t take several holidays in the Caribbean every year, will actually get a cash benefit if they keep a low carbon footprint.”

He said the scheme could be run on the same lines as supermarket loyalty schemes with everyone given a plastic card.

You can get a better idea of how it would work here

But critics say the proposal is ahead of its time, could cost up to £2 billion to set up and has real practical problems – such as deciding how to set the rate according to a person’s age, location or health.

Susan

More than half of all voters think their local council should be forcing people to take action on climate change, according to a new survey.

The Local Government Association, which represents councils in England and Wales, says its research found that 56% of people believe this would help in the fight against climate change.

More than 60% of people who took part in the survey also felt that local councils should offer financial incentives to encourage people to be “greener” – while 53% felt  councils should have penalty schemes for residents who do not do their bit for the environment.

An overwhelming number of people also felt that climate change should be    one of the top five priorities for their local council.

A spokesman for LGA said: “Families understandably wonder why they should stop flying abroad for their summer holiday when they see other people driving everywhere in a gas guzzler. People would doubtless be inclined to recycle more if they were confident all their neighbours were making the same effort.”

Last month, the LGA launched a climate change campaign – Small Change, Big Difference – which encourages the local government sector to do more and calls for greater powers for councils.

Sadly, at the same time as the LGA released its findings, a survey by car hire firm, Enterprise, apparently found that more than half of all public bodies in the UK  - which includes local councils  - don’t yet have an employee whose primary role is to address sustainability issues.

And an astonishing 87% of public sector purchase managers admitted that cost is still the most important consideration when deciding their transport policy.

Convenience was also seen as very important, pushing the environmental impact of travel into third place.

An Enterprise spokesman said: “It’s not surprising that cost ranks high on the list of factors when choosing methods of transport - after all, it’s important to get the best value from money that comes out of the public purse.  The worry is that environmental concerns came in such a distant third place.

“Environmental managers need to be given a louder voice within the public sector – and they need to be given the authority to make a real difference and ensure that cost concerns don’t completely overshadow environmental considerations.”

Not surprisingly, the Enterprise findings have led many people to suggest that local councils should practice what they preach – before they talk about bringing in rules or penalties for individuals who are not helping in the fight against global warming.

Susan