New Zealand's smallest oil company today launched the first commercial biofuel to hit the nation's service station forecourts - a petrol blended with ethanol made from milk.
Gull's Force 10 biofuel is a blend of premium petrol containing 10 per cent ethanol produced by dairy cooperative Fonterra.
Prime Minister Helen Clark, who poured the first biofuel at today's Auckland launch, congratulated Gull on leading the pack.
She said: "Gull's new fuel provides motorists with real choice, helps New Zealand to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and takes New Zealand a step further towards achieving sustainability."
She said the biofuel obligation on fuel companies would reduce New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions by more than a million tonnes between 2008 and 2012.
Biofuel is any fuel derived from biomass, recently living organisms or their metabolic byproducts, such as manure, forest or crop waste, or even pond scum.
In February the Government set a national target of 3.4 per cent for the biofuel component of petrol and diesel in 2012.
Oil companies will have to start offering biofuels from April 1 next year, and the Government has said there will be no excise tax charged on the ethanol.
Fonterra's Edgecumbe dairy factory in the Bay of Plenty successfully tested petrol mixed with 10 per cent ethanol in a 1.8-litre car.
The Edgecumbe plant produces 30,000 litres of ethanol a day and over five million litres in a dairy season. Fonterra also produces ethanol at other plants, including Reporoa and Tirau, for use in industrial cleansers, vodka and gin.
The blend was approved by the Environmental Risk Management Authority (Erma).
Gull - a family-owned operation with 30 petrol stations in the North Island - signed on Fonterra in 2004 to produce ethanol to be added to "premium" petrol. Blending of petrol and ethanol will take place at Mt Maunganui.
It will be pitched to New Zealand drivers of recently-imported vehicles wanting to run the family car on a "green" fuel, according to the general manager of Gull New Zealand Dave Bodger.
The Force 10 fuel will initially be sold at Gull forecourts in Albany, Kingsland, and Wiri, and will later be rolled out to most of its 30 sites.
full article
Wednesday 1 August 2007
HIPS DAY
What is a HIP?
It is an indexed collection of documents including terms of sale, deeds and title documents, related searches including a drainage and water search and local authority enquiries, and an Energy Performance Certificates that has to be ordered before a property is marketed.
Who needs one?
Anyone who wants to put their four or more bedroomed property on the market in England and Wales after 1 August 2007.
Who is responsible for ordering one?
The 2004 Housing Act defines “the responsible person” as being either the estate agent or the owner if an agent is not employed. Failure to order one could result in a fine and/or a possible ban for an estate agent.
What will it cost?
At the moment a full HIP will cost anything over £299.00. Leasehold properties will cost more due to the increased information that is necessary. Figures of £1,000.00 have been quoted, although costs are highly likely to go down and most estate agents and specialist companies are offering attractive deals to limit costs – although it is always advised to explore all the options first and then have a throurough read of the smallprint before accepting one.
Find your ideal home here
Where do I get one and how long do they last?
Responsibility for producing the HIP will most likely fall to the person marketing the property, usually the estate agent, developer or auctioneer unless the house is being sold privately, and the pack itself will be valid for at least six months. Some lawyers acting on behalf of a buyer may recommend that elements like searches be refreshed earlier than this six month expiry date, however most sellers with realistic expectations are likely to sell before this point.
What are HIPs for exactly?
The Government hopes that the introduction of Home Information Packs will help speed up the homebuying and selling process through the provision of more upfront information from the outset. They are also designed to minimise the risk that a sale will fall through, whether through gazumping or simply the buyer changing their mind.
What are they really for?
As part of the Kyoto Protocol we signed up to we will be obliged to introduce Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) for all residential property in 2009. In addition to owner-occupier properties, all rented accommodation will require EPCs from August next year.
Find out how much your home is worth
What is an EPC and how much will it cost?
To start with, an EPC will cost about £130.00, hopefully becoming more affordable as the country adapts to the new regulations. It is a fridge style rating A-G produced by a Domestic Energy Assessor who will visit each property and take measurements to determine how energy efficient a property is, e.g. the depth of lagging in the loft.
Do I get to see the report?
Yes, it will be available to anyone who asks for it together with the Home Information Pack and can be viewed online via the LandMark website. You cannot challenge it nor can you have it withdrawn. It is therefore essential that you get a suitable Assessor who understands your type of property.
Top tips for sellers affected by the new law:
Buying a home without a HIP has been compared to buying a car without test-driving it first. If you have your doubts, keep this reasoning in mind. You might be loathe to stump up the cash, but it is highly likely that you’ll be buying another house so you will see the benefit first hand
Don’t see the non-compulsory Home Condition Report (HCR) as a hindrance, but rather as a help. The Report has been praised as an ‘early warning sign’ enabling homeowners and potential buyers to spot future problems before they arise
As a seller you need to be clear about all that is required of you – an incomplete HIP, or none at all, will cost your estate agent a £200 fine on top of the extra costs you will incur to complete it
As a buyer you need to be aware of what information to look for. If the seller has chosen to omit an optional but useful component like an HCR you need to question why, as there could be underlying issues
The Association of Home Information Pack Providers (AHIPP) has introduced the ‘HIP Code of Practice’ which sets standards that Pack providers have to conform to. Approved providers’ Packs will carry insurance and are identifiable by a unique logo
Leading by example, 60 per cent of homes for sale in the HIP trial areas have included an HCR in their Pack, something to keep in mind when deciding whether to do so yourself or not and the large majority of sellers have found the whole pack a very useful selling tool.
full article
It is an indexed collection of documents including terms of sale, deeds and title documents, related searches including a drainage and water search and local authority enquiries, and an Energy Performance Certificates that has to be ordered before a property is marketed.
Who needs one?
Anyone who wants to put their four or more bedroomed property on the market in England and Wales after 1 August 2007.
Who is responsible for ordering one?
The 2004 Housing Act defines “the responsible person” as being either the estate agent or the owner if an agent is not employed. Failure to order one could result in a fine and/or a possible ban for an estate agent.
What will it cost?
At the moment a full HIP will cost anything over £299.00. Leasehold properties will cost more due to the increased information that is necessary. Figures of £1,000.00 have been quoted, although costs are highly likely to go down and most estate agents and specialist companies are offering attractive deals to limit costs – although it is always advised to explore all the options first and then have a throurough read of the smallprint before accepting one.
Find your ideal home here
Where do I get one and how long do they last?
Responsibility for producing the HIP will most likely fall to the person marketing the property, usually the estate agent, developer or auctioneer unless the house is being sold privately, and the pack itself will be valid for at least six months. Some lawyers acting on behalf of a buyer may recommend that elements like searches be refreshed earlier than this six month expiry date, however most sellers with realistic expectations are likely to sell before this point.
What are HIPs for exactly?
The Government hopes that the introduction of Home Information Packs will help speed up the homebuying and selling process through the provision of more upfront information from the outset. They are also designed to minimise the risk that a sale will fall through, whether through gazumping or simply the buyer changing their mind.
What are they really for?
As part of the Kyoto Protocol we signed up to we will be obliged to introduce Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) for all residential property in 2009. In addition to owner-occupier properties, all rented accommodation will require EPCs from August next year.
Find out how much your home is worth
What is an EPC and how much will it cost?
To start with, an EPC will cost about £130.00, hopefully becoming more affordable as the country adapts to the new regulations. It is a fridge style rating A-G produced by a Domestic Energy Assessor who will visit each property and take measurements to determine how energy efficient a property is, e.g. the depth of lagging in the loft.
Do I get to see the report?
Yes, it will be available to anyone who asks for it together with the Home Information Pack and can be viewed online via the LandMark website. You cannot challenge it nor can you have it withdrawn. It is therefore essential that you get a suitable Assessor who understands your type of property.
Top tips for sellers affected by the new law:
Buying a home without a HIP has been compared to buying a car without test-driving it first. If you have your doubts, keep this reasoning in mind. You might be loathe to stump up the cash, but it is highly likely that you’ll be buying another house so you will see the benefit first hand
Don’t see the non-compulsory Home Condition Report (HCR) as a hindrance, but rather as a help. The Report has been praised as an ‘early warning sign’ enabling homeowners and potential buyers to spot future problems before they arise
As a seller you need to be clear about all that is required of you – an incomplete HIP, or none at all, will cost your estate agent a £200 fine on top of the extra costs you will incur to complete it
As a buyer you need to be aware of what information to look for. If the seller has chosen to omit an optional but useful component like an HCR you need to question why, as there could be underlying issues
The Association of Home Information Pack Providers (AHIPP) has introduced the ‘HIP Code of Practice’ which sets standards that Pack providers have to conform to. Approved providers’ Packs will carry insurance and are identifiable by a unique logo
Leading by example, 60 per cent of homes for sale in the HIP trial areas have included an HCR in their Pack, something to keep in mind when deciding whether to do so yourself or not and the large majority of sellers have found the whole pack a very useful selling tool.
full article
Tuesday 31 July 2007
Eco friendly new-homes at Ellesmere Port
Inside and outside, a Space4 home has the look and feel of a traditional property with the added bonus that the build process is more efficient, where impact on the environment has been reduced. On the outside, properties, built using brick, stone and render feature the familiar elegant design of a Persimmon home while the hi-tech backbone creates new levels of environmental efficiency.
Space4 homes are setting new standards for a whole host of environmental benefits – its patented manufacturing process means properties boast superior fire resistance while the high-performance insulation built into the structural walls deliver superior standards of thermal efficiency. This, together with high quality windows and doors means lower energy consumption and an end to draughts and in the days of ever-escalating utilities costs, the benefits are considerable.
“Going green is more than just a ‘noughties buzzword’ and is something we are placing high on our agenda” comments Gill Dale, field sales manager for Persimmon Homes Mercia.
Gill continues: “As we are proving at The Beeches, going green can be both attractive and affordable. By incorporating eco-friendly Modern Methods of Construction with striking designs that are synonymous with traditional properties, it is possible to be environmentally aware without paying over the odds for a property that looks too cutting edge.”
There are so many benefits to off-site timber frame homes – properties are constructed at a much faster rate which not only reduces effects on the environment, but also means street scenes and developments are completed much quicker – a bonus for anyone who wants to move into what feels like a new community rather than a building site - and The Beeches is no exception.
“Overall Space4 homes help create a better place to live and work. Lower consumption of heating fuels and transport helps reduce CO2 emissions, whilst the use of sustainable, recyclable materials creates less impact on the wider environment. What’s more, getting green should also increase the selling potential should residents wish to relocate in the future – the benefits are endless.”
full article
Space4 homes are setting new standards for a whole host of environmental benefits – its patented manufacturing process means properties boast superior fire resistance while the high-performance insulation built into the structural walls deliver superior standards of thermal efficiency. This, together with high quality windows and doors means lower energy consumption and an end to draughts and in the days of ever-escalating utilities costs, the benefits are considerable.
“Going green is more than just a ‘noughties buzzword’ and is something we are placing high on our agenda” comments Gill Dale, field sales manager for Persimmon Homes Mercia.
Gill continues: “As we are proving at The Beeches, going green can be both attractive and affordable. By incorporating eco-friendly Modern Methods of Construction with striking designs that are synonymous with traditional properties, it is possible to be environmentally aware without paying over the odds for a property that looks too cutting edge.”
There are so many benefits to off-site timber frame homes – properties are constructed at a much faster rate which not only reduces effects on the environment, but also means street scenes and developments are completed much quicker – a bonus for anyone who wants to move into what feels like a new community rather than a building site - and The Beeches is no exception.
“Overall Space4 homes help create a better place to live and work. Lower consumption of heating fuels and transport helps reduce CO2 emissions, whilst the use of sustainable, recyclable materials creates less impact on the wider environment. What’s more, getting green should also increase the selling potential should residents wish to relocate in the future – the benefits are endless.”
full article
Can We Trust The Energy Suppliers?
With the value of 'green tariffs' from energy suppliers under question, British Gas has launched a new energy tariff that it insists is the greenest on the market and will make a difference to the environment.
Energy suppliers have been offering 'green tariffs' for a number of years that promise to match your electricity use by putting the same amount of energy from renewable sources – mostly wind farms – back into the national grid.
The problem is that suppliers are already obliged by Government to generate a proportion of the energy they supply from renewables. This amount is far more than the renewable energy required to satisfy the demand from green tariffs, so there is no more renewable energy being generated overall.
The problem was highlighted in a National Consumer Council study this year and the new British Gas tariff has been designed to answer these criticisms. The Zero Carbon tariff promises to generate 12% of users' energy from renewable sources, above what was already being produced under Government obligations.
full article
In addition, the tariff will offset 100% of the users' energy use through carbon-offsetting schemes. The Zero Carbon tariff will cost £84 a year more than the British Gas standard dual fuel tariff.
Alongside the Zero Carbon tariff, British Gas is also launching a Future Energy tariff which, for an extra £20 a year, will make a donation into a non-profit British Gas green fund.
£5 will go to UK schools to help reduce their CO2 emissions. The rest will be invested in development of new renewable technologies and resources.
Gearoid Lane, managing director of British Gas new energy, said: 'Green tariffs are moving from niche to mainstream products and we're leading the industry by offering a tariff that will do more for the environment than any other product currently available.'
Scott Byrom, utilities expert at price comparison website moneysupermarket.com, said: 'Undoubtedly, these products tick all the right boxes from a 'green' point of view, but they come at a cost. Unfortunately, that cost will be to the millions of customers looking to play their part in the fight against climate change and go green.'
'The British Gas Zero Carbon offering is over £150 more than the cheapest dual fuel product around, British Gas Click Energy 3. It is this gap that providers need to bridge in order to gain consumer interest.'
'All customers would be advised to look at online products, such as 'Click Energy 3', and, for those of us who are eco-friendly, donate some of the savings to a green project of our choice.'
Energy suppliers have been offering 'green tariffs' for a number of years that promise to match your electricity use by putting the same amount of energy from renewable sources – mostly wind farms – back into the national grid.
The problem is that suppliers are already obliged by Government to generate a proportion of the energy they supply from renewables. This amount is far more than the renewable energy required to satisfy the demand from green tariffs, so there is no more renewable energy being generated overall.
The problem was highlighted in a National Consumer Council study this year and the new British Gas tariff has been designed to answer these criticisms. The Zero Carbon tariff promises to generate 12% of users' energy from renewable sources, above what was already being produced under Government obligations.
full article
In addition, the tariff will offset 100% of the users' energy use through carbon-offsetting schemes. The Zero Carbon tariff will cost £84 a year more than the British Gas standard dual fuel tariff.
Alongside the Zero Carbon tariff, British Gas is also launching a Future Energy tariff which, for an extra £20 a year, will make a donation into a non-profit British Gas green fund.
£5 will go to UK schools to help reduce their CO2 emissions. The rest will be invested in development of new renewable technologies and resources.
Gearoid Lane, managing director of British Gas new energy, said: 'Green tariffs are moving from niche to mainstream products and we're leading the industry by offering a tariff that will do more for the environment than any other product currently available.'
Scott Byrom, utilities expert at price comparison website moneysupermarket.com, said: 'Undoubtedly, these products tick all the right boxes from a 'green' point of view, but they come at a cost. Unfortunately, that cost will be to the millions of customers looking to play their part in the fight against climate change and go green.'
'The British Gas Zero Carbon offering is over £150 more than the cheapest dual fuel product around, British Gas Click Energy 3. It is this gap that providers need to bridge in order to gain consumer interest.'
'All customers would be advised to look at online products, such as 'Click Energy 3', and, for those of us who are eco-friendly, donate some of the savings to a green project of our choice.'
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