Al Gore won the Nobel Peace Prize today for warning the world about the dangers of global warming, and leading the campaign to persuade governments and individuals to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.
The former US vice-president will share the £750,000 prize with the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the United Nations panel which has worked for two decades to establish consensus on the science of man-made warming.
Mr Gore said tonight that climate change is the most “dangerous and urgent challenge” the world faces at the moment and said it is time to “elevate global consciousness” about the challenges of global warming.
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Friday, 12 October 2007
Thursday, 11 October 2007
Insulation the 'most important' energy saving step
Landlords in England, Wales and overseas hoping to increase the energy efficiency of their homes in order to reduce costs in the long run have been advised that improving insulation and installing a new boiler are two of the most effective ways in which this can be achieved.
Sam Turnbull, co-founder of DownwithCO2.co.uk, revealed these measures had been found to be both successful and simple.
"Evidence shows that insulating the loft and insulating cavity walls are important and easy steps to take," he explained.
"On top of that there is improving your boiler. It is one of the most important users of energy in the house. These options may not be as trendy as putting a wind turbine on your house but they do have the most impact."
Ensuring a home is properly insulated is also relatively cheap - and even free for those on benefits.
Mr Turnbull also recommended that landlords replace their existing light bulbs with energy-saving alternatives - especially as the latter are coming down in price.
This article was brought to you by holidaylettings.co.uk, the UK's No.1 holiday home website.
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Sam Turnbull, co-founder of DownwithCO2.co.uk, revealed these measures had been found to be both successful and simple.
"Evidence shows that insulating the loft and insulating cavity walls are important and easy steps to take," he explained.
"On top of that there is improving your boiler. It is one of the most important users of energy in the house. These options may not be as trendy as putting a wind turbine on your house but they do have the most impact."
Ensuring a home is properly insulated is also relatively cheap - and even free for those on benefits.
Mr Turnbull also recommended that landlords replace their existing light bulbs with energy-saving alternatives - especially as the latter are coming down in price.
This article was brought to you by holidaylettings.co.uk, the UK's No.1 holiday home website.
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Tuesday, 9 October 2007
Energy-saving lightbulbs branded a health hazard
NEW energy-efficient lightbulbs could pose a threat to the elderly and to people with less-than-perfect eyesight, it was claimed yesterday.
The Labour peer Baroness Hollis of Heigham told the House of Lords the bulbs took much longer than standard ones to light up fully and were potentially dangerous on stairs and landings.
Lord Rooker, the environment minister, agreed there was a problem and called on manufacturers to rectify it.
However, he said technology had improved the performance of energy-saving bulbs.
"Things are improving," he said. "If the bulbs carry the energy-saving recommended logo, they will reach at least 60 per cent of their brightness in 60 seconds."
However, he admitted: "There are sometimes rooms that have no windows, such as bathrooms and cupboards, where one needs to have the light on straightaway. This is a matter that has got to be dealt with by the industry."
The minister said the number of energy-efficient lightbulbs in British homes had risen from 26 million in 2000 to 110 million last year.
And he said it was intended that Britain should lead Europe in the usage of more efficient and greener lightbulbs.
"We are working with energy suppliers, the Energy Saving Trust, retailers and manufacturers to phase out inefficient light bulbs in the UK, ahead of our European partners," Lord Rooker said
RAYMOND HAINEY
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The Labour peer Baroness Hollis of Heigham told the House of Lords the bulbs took much longer than standard ones to light up fully and were potentially dangerous on stairs and landings.
Lord Rooker, the environment minister, agreed there was a problem and called on manufacturers to rectify it.
However, he said technology had improved the performance of energy-saving bulbs.
"Things are improving," he said. "If the bulbs carry the energy-saving recommended logo, they will reach at least 60 per cent of their brightness in 60 seconds."
However, he admitted: "There are sometimes rooms that have no windows, such as bathrooms and cupboards, where one needs to have the light on straightaway. This is a matter that has got to be dealt with by the industry."
The minister said the number of energy-efficient lightbulbs in British homes had risen from 26 million in 2000 to 110 million last year.
And he said it was intended that Britain should lead Europe in the usage of more efficient and greener lightbulbs.
"We are working with energy suppliers, the Energy Saving Trust, retailers and manufacturers to phase out inefficient light bulbs in the UK, ahead of our European partners," Lord Rooker said
RAYMOND HAINEY
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Shocks kill three fixing insulation
Homeowners considering installing their under floor thermal insulation should heed warnings that they risk electrical shock and electrocution if they don't take appropriate precautions.
Three people have died this year stapling under floor insulation material into power cables.
Their deaths follow a similar fatality in 2005.
The practice of installing under floor insulation has become widespread among homeowners since the Government began promoting ways of making homes more energy-efficient.
And while people may know they must turn the power off while installing the insulation, they can still unwittingly create a death trap when they switch the power back on.
Evidence at a coroner's inquest in Huntly last month showed that entire sheets of newly-installed aluminium foil beneath homes could become electrified once jobs were complete, creating a death trap for anyone who went underneath the house.
Coroner Bob McDermott criticised the Government's lack of warnings over do-it-yourself insulation, asking why safety and awareness campaigns were not launched alongside those to promote energy efficiency.
Since the deaths, Associate Energy Minister Harry Duynhoven has issued a warning advising homeowners of the dangers.
"As with any electrical work being carried out, whether in the home or at work, it is essential that any potential hazards or risks are identified and eliminated," he says.
"A cable that has been damaged by a staple can still make the aluminium foil live when the power is turned on and create the same electric shock hazard.
full article
Three people have died this year stapling under floor insulation material into power cables.
Their deaths follow a similar fatality in 2005.
The practice of installing under floor insulation has become widespread among homeowners since the Government began promoting ways of making homes more energy-efficient.
And while people may know they must turn the power off while installing the insulation, they can still unwittingly create a death trap when they switch the power back on.
Evidence at a coroner's inquest in Huntly last month showed that entire sheets of newly-installed aluminium foil beneath homes could become electrified once jobs were complete, creating a death trap for anyone who went underneath the house.
Coroner Bob McDermott criticised the Government's lack of warnings over do-it-yourself insulation, asking why safety and awareness campaigns were not launched alongside those to promote energy efficiency.
Since the deaths, Associate Energy Minister Harry Duynhoven has issued a warning advising homeowners of the dangers.
"As with any electrical work being carried out, whether in the home or at work, it is essential that any potential hazards or risks are identified and eliminated," he says.
"A cable that has been damaged by a staple can still make the aluminium foil live when the power is turned on and create the same electric shock hazard.
full article
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