HOUSEHOLDERS are being encouraged to get their hands on some cash and save the environment in the process.
The Energy Saving Trust is pushing for more people to apply for a £4000 grant to make their houses more energy efficient.
Already the organisation has given £19million to homeowners across Scotland for systems such as solar hot water systems, ground source heat pumps, biomass heating systems and wind turbines.
Gill Davies of the Energy Saving Trust says: "What better time of year is there to nail your green credentials to the mast and reduce your carbon footprint?
"We work closely with applicants and it takes only 15 working days from grant application to knowing you'll get the cash."
The Energy Saving Trust - an independent advisory organisation - has approved close to 2300 grants during the past four years to Scots householders to make their homes more environmentally friendly.
It has seen a 1000% increase in the uptake of such grants over the past four years under the Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative, which is funded by the Scottish Government and managed by the Energy Saving Trust.
Grants are capped at £4000 and limited to two per household and have been given for renewable technologies such as solar hot water systems, ground source heat pumps and biomass heating systems.
Also eligible for funding are micro hydro-electric, automated wood fuel heating systems and wind turbines made by firms such as Glasgow manufacturer Windsave, which has sold 200 micro-wind turbines in Scotland.
Retired city solicitor Alan Barwell took advantage of a grant after moving to a new home in Blairgowrie.
He was given £4000 towards the cost of a £12,000 biomass boiler. Alan, 70, said: "Without the grant we would not have been able to afford to install the biomass boiler. The boiler has been in place for almost a year and we are very pleased with it."
For more information call the Energy Saving Trust's SCHRI on 0800 138 8858 or see www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/schri
full article
Friday, 4 January 2008
Thursday, 3 January 2008
Row over plan for new coal-fired power station
A furious row has erupted over a plan to build Britain's first coal-fired power station for more than 20 years.
The energy company E.ON UK wants to replace existing coal-fired units at Kingsnorth power station in Medway, Kent, with two new cleaner units.
The company claims the £1 billion project would produce power from coal more efficiently and more cleanly than ever before in the UK providing enough energy to supply 1.5 million homes while cutting carbon emissions by almost 2m tons a year.
Councillors in Medway have backed the plan but the final decision will rest with the Government.
If the plans are approved the plant could be up and running by 2012. But the proposals angered environmental groups who said a new coal-powered plant would inevitably damage plans to cut the UK’s CO2 emissions.
They said it would be better to invest the money in more sustainable energy projects such as wind power.
Paul Golby, E.ON UK's chief executive, said the company was committed to reducing its carbon emissions by half by 2030.
"This particular investment is significantly more efficient than conventional coal plants and that is equivalent to taking about half a million cars off the road," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
As well as building the new plant the company is hoping to design and build a carbon capture demonstration scheme where greenhouses gases would be stored in disused North Sea oil and gas fields rather than being pumped into the atmosphere.
By Paul Eccleston
full article
The energy company E.ON UK wants to replace existing coal-fired units at Kingsnorth power station in Medway, Kent, with two new cleaner units.
The company claims the £1 billion project would produce power from coal more efficiently and more cleanly than ever before in the UK providing enough energy to supply 1.5 million homes while cutting carbon emissions by almost 2m tons a year.
Councillors in Medway have backed the plan but the final decision will rest with the Government.
If the plans are approved the plant could be up and running by 2012. But the proposals angered environmental groups who said a new coal-powered plant would inevitably damage plans to cut the UK’s CO2 emissions.
They said it would be better to invest the money in more sustainable energy projects such as wind power.
Paul Golby, E.ON UK's chief executive, said the company was committed to reducing its carbon emissions by half by 2030.
"This particular investment is significantly more efficient than conventional coal plants and that is equivalent to taking about half a million cars off the road," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
As well as building the new plant the company is hoping to design and build a carbon capture demonstration scheme where greenhouses gases would be stored in disused North Sea oil and gas fields rather than being pumped into the atmosphere.
By Paul Eccleston
full article
Wednesday, 2 January 2008
Eco-homes forest plan put forward
Plans to restore the ancient tradition of living and working in woodland areas are being submitted in the Highlands later this month.
Scotland's largest public landowner, the Forestry Commission, is behind the scheme to build 32 "eco-homes".
It has chosen Kilnhill wood, near Nairn, for the demonstration project.
However, some locals have expressed concern over a new distinct community in their midst. Highland Council will decide whether the project goes ahead.
The idea is to have small groups of low-energy mixed housing, including some affordable and some holiday homes, made, where possible, from local timber.
Intimate connection
Anyone buying a home in the Scots Pine forest would also have to join a trust, signing up to common values, which could include elements such as shared cars and non-car transport.
Phil Whitfield, of the Forestry Commission, said: "We're clearly interested in the idea of people becoming much more intimately connected with trees.
"Living in a forest, as opposed to some landscaping around a housing development, is really where this idea came from."
Plans for Kilnhill wood
The plans are for a community of about 30 homes in the woods
But the Friends of Kilnhill group has concerns over the impact on an area used by locals.
Chairman Stephen Gray said: "Our community, which is using the woodland, and the Nairn people, who are using the woodland, are going to get that taken away from them and replaced by a community of a certain way of thinking."
Other opponents have also claimed the plan could severely disrupt animals and birds in an area home to badgers, roe dear and red squirrels.
However, the Forestry Commission has stressed that its planning application is aimed at creating a sustainable lifestyle and ensuring that the concept of "living in a forest" has minimal impact.
full article
Scotland's largest public landowner, the Forestry Commission, is behind the scheme to build 32 "eco-homes".
It has chosen Kilnhill wood, near Nairn, for the demonstration project.
However, some locals have expressed concern over a new distinct community in their midst. Highland Council will decide whether the project goes ahead.
The idea is to have small groups of low-energy mixed housing, including some affordable and some holiday homes, made, where possible, from local timber.
Intimate connection
Anyone buying a home in the Scots Pine forest would also have to join a trust, signing up to common values, which could include elements such as shared cars and non-car transport.
Phil Whitfield, of the Forestry Commission, said: "We're clearly interested in the idea of people becoming much more intimately connected with trees.
"Living in a forest, as opposed to some landscaping around a housing development, is really where this idea came from."
Plans for Kilnhill wood
The plans are for a community of about 30 homes in the woods
But the Friends of Kilnhill group has concerns over the impact on an area used by locals.
Chairman Stephen Gray said: "Our community, which is using the woodland, and the Nairn people, who are using the woodland, are going to get that taken away from them and replaced by a community of a certain way of thinking."
Other opponents have also claimed the plan could severely disrupt animals and birds in an area home to badgers, roe dear and red squirrels.
However, the Forestry Commission has stressed that its planning application is aimed at creating a sustainable lifestyle and ensuring that the concept of "living in a forest" has minimal impact.
full article
Friday, 28 December 2007
Energy-saving light bulb used in mobile phones could replace all household bulbs within three years
Scientists are developing a new generation of super efficient household light bulbs which could spell the end of regular bulbs within three years.
Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are already used in electrical gadgets like mobile phones and computers.
Until now they have been unsuitable for use in the home because they are not bright enough to light whole rooms.
Now researchers believe they have found a way of introducing LEDs into households that are brighter and use even less power than current energy efficient light bulbs.
Dr Faiz Rahman, who is leading the project at the University of Glasgow, said: "By making microscopic holes on the surface of the LEDs it is possible to extract more light, thus increasing the brightness of the lights without increasing the energy consumption.
"As yet, LEDs have not been introduced as the standard lighting in homes because the process of making the holes is very time consuming and expensive.
"However, we believe we have found a way of imprinting the holes into billions of LEDs at a far greater speed, but at a much lower cost."
full article
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