Britain has become a nation of guilty greens – people who admit they do not do enough to fight climate change – according to a Guardian/ICM poll published today. While almost everyone claims to have made some effort to live environmentally-friendly lives, almost two-thirds also say they could do more. The poll was carried out ahead of today'sthe launch of the 10:10 climate campaign, backed by organisations including the Guardian. It finds widespread agreement that climate change exists – 85% say it is already a threat or will be in the future. Click here for full story

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband has outlined Government’s latest measures to help householders save money and energy as he welcomed 10:10 – a new campaign to cut carbon emissions by 10% in 2010. Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband has outlined Government’s latest measures to help householders save money and energy as he welcomed 10:10 – a new campaign to cut carbon emissions by 10% in 2010. Click here for full story

An unprecedented coalition of scientists, companies, celebrities and organisations spanning the cultural and political spectrum will today commit to slashing their carbon emissions as part of an ambitious campaign to tackle global warming. The 10:10 campaign, which will be launched at London's Tate Modern this afternoon (1 Sept), aims to bolster grassroots support for tough action against global warming ahead of the key global summit in Copenhagen in December. Click here for full story

Please join 10:10 today. By committing to cut your emissions by 10% in 2010, you will join thousands of individuals, schools, hospitals, businesses and organisations all actively helping to combat climate change by making simple changes to their lifestyles, homes and workplaces. More importantly, your voice will help to put pressure on the politicians to cut Britain’s emissions as quickly as the science demands. If we in the UK can prove that fast, deep cuts can be made at a national level, then we may just inspire all the other big polluting countries to follow suit. Click here for full story

E.ON has today (28 August) submitted a planning application to the Department of Energy and Climate Change for a 150MW biomass-fired energy plant at the Royal Portbury Dock in North Somerset. If granted planning consent, the new development could produce enough power for around 200,000 homes by burning carbon neutral fuels such as wood. Dave Rogers, regional director for E.ON's renewables business, said: "This project - and biomass generally - has a vital role to play in the UK's future energy mix as we look to produce affordable, secure and lower carbon energy for generations to come. This scheme alone will displace more than 450,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year, which is the equivalent of taking around 150,000 cars off UK roads. Click here for full story

Helius Energy plc, the biomass to power company, and Veolia Water Outsourcing Ltd have formed a strategic alliance to use Helius' innovative GreenFields® technology to turn distillery by-products into organic fertiliser, animal feed and biomass fuel. Traditionally, distillery by-products such as wet grain, draff and pot ale have been dried for use as animal feed using an energy-intensive process. GreenFields® membrane technology takes these by-products and produces a highly effective organic soil condition, animal feed and biomass fuel for a renewable energy plant, whilst significantly reducing carbon emissions. Click here for full story

Europe represents the largest global market for energy-from-waste (EfW) power generation plants, it has been revealed. According to a new study by analyst Frost & Sullivan, over 429 renewable energy power stations capable of deriving energy from rubbish were installed in 2008. The development of the sector has been encouraged by the EU's drive to move away from landfills to more environmentally-friendly ways of disposing waste, the report suggested.
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Old-style 100-watt light bulbs will be banned in Europe's shops from next week in favour of new energy-saving models…… From September 1, 100-watt versions of the old incandescent bulbs will be banned from Europe's shops and other bulbs with lower wattage will follow in the ensuing years, under a system agreed by EU experts last December. New technology light bulbs, such as compact florescent lights (CFL) can save up to 80 percent of the energy used by the worst old-style lights in homes. Click here for full story

Sudbury Hall and Museum of Childhood became one of the first National Trust-owned mansions to be powered by small-scale renewable energy when it formed a green partnership witn NPower last year. The property’s bio-mass wood pellet boilers were installed a year ago this month and, since then, Sudbury’s annual carbon emissions have dropped from more than 52 tonnes to under 12. Click here for full story

The UK's last publicly traded port operator plans to build four 100-megawatt plants at Dundee, Rosyth, Grangemouth and Leith, in partnership with Scottish and Southern Energy. Forth Ports said the plants – fuelled by wood pellets and forestry waste – will help tackle climate change and create 600 jobs during construction and a further 180 permanent posts once in operation. Charles Hammond, chief executive of Forth Ports, said: "Scotland has the potential to be a real powerhouse in renewables. These modern plants will provide clean, renewable energy and will make a major contribution to meeting Scotland's energy needs in the decades ahead." Click here for full story

If you've ever tried to digest a long-winded explanation of how your energy supplier works out your bill, and wondered why you can't simply pay for what you use and have done with it, government plans to get smart meters into all UK homes by 2020 will be welcome news. "It's like you go to the supermarket, fill your trolley, and three months later somebody sends you an estimate of what you might have eaten," says Hermione Crease of Sentec, which designs technology for smart meters. "With no understanding of how your bill is composed, there's little motivation to change your use. It's your data – you should be able to see and understand it." Click here for full story

The Government has today given the green light for a new 60 Mega Watt power plant, fuelled by biomass and waste, to be built on a disused site at Tilbury Docks in Essex. Energy and Climate Change Minister Lord Hunt said: “If we are to tackle climate change we must reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and also make use of renewable sources of fuel. This power station will achieve both those objectives by turning waste into energy and using biomass, which will also contribute to delivering the UK’s renewable energy targets. In addition, the three year construction of the plant will require up to 380 jobs at its peak and up to 120 jobs once it is operational.”


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BEAMA has welcomed the Government’s commitment to support heat pumps. Kelly Butler, BEAMA’s marketing director, comments: “The BEAMA Domestic Heat Pump Association has only recently been set up, so the Government’s announcement so soon is great news for the industry. The Renewable Energy Strategy identifies that by 2020 heat pumps can play a key role in increasing the renewable heat share from 1% to 12%. BEAMA welcomes the Government’s commitment and clarification of applying the Renewable Heat Initiative (RHI) to all renewable heat installations from July 2009 up to, and beyond, RHI’s launch during April 2011. It’s bringing confidence to industry and customers.” Click here for full story

Savills is celebrating after getting £63k for a client to help meet the cost of installing a straw-burning boiler. Using the Bio-Energy Capital Grants Scheme, the Cambridge firm managed to get the funding for a boiler which will save 200 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year and provide energy to heat a farmhouse, cottages, estate office, converted warehouses and grain dryer on the client's farm. Click here for full story

Two Co Down businesses have signed up to a green energy deal with local supplier Energia. Energia said Banbridge Golf Club would save up to 15% on electricity costs, while also reducing its carbon footprint. Gilford restaurant Sax on the Street has also signed up to an Energia deal. Click here for full story

Energy and Climate Change minister Joan Ruddock has demonstrated her support for community-based renewables projects on a visit to Northumberland-based Community Renewable Energy (CoRE). CoRE is a co-operative that helps voluntary and community groups set up and manage community-owned renewable energy plants that generate a sustainable income. CoRE takes a stake in the newly formed companies to recoup development costs and support the establishment of more community-owned renewable systems. Click here for full story

Groups in need of cash and expertise for community energy projects are being invited to bid for a share of a £2million fund. The Scottish Gas Green Streets campaign, backed by TV personality Ben Fogle, aims to encourage innovative and green energy projects. Ben said: "The funding will give local people the chance to set up and run their own energy-saving schemes which will benefit entire communities. "If you are looking at ways to help your community save energy and save money, Green Streets could give you a helping hand." Click here for full story

Cementation Skanska is installing 52m-deep foundation piles for low energy heating and cooling system. The UK’s deepest ever energy piles are being installed at NEO Bankside, a luxury residential development next to the Tate Modern in London. The 52m-deep, 1.5m-diameter rotary bored foundation piles are being installed by foundation contractor Cementation Skanska on the 229 apartment building, which is designed by architects Rogers Stirk Harbour and Partners. As well as supporting the building the piles are also an integral part of the development’s low energy heating and cooling system. Click here for full story

London businesses looking to reduce their environmental impact through responsible purchasing can now seek advice from a revamped web site provided by City Hall. Greenprocurementcode.co.uk aims to provide businesses with guidance on how to develop a sustainable purchasing policy, as well as a list of approved green products and suppliers. Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said that the new site would make it easier for firms to make "eco-friendly purchasing decisions", adding that green procurement policies "can not only be kinder to the planet, but can also save money in tough economic times". Click here for full story

The prospect of growing crops for biofuels has taken a knock with one pioneering farmer saying the sums do not add up. Bruce Hamilton, of Blairnathort, Kinross, has just received the returns for his willow crop, which he has been growing for four years on eight hectares of land adjacent to the M90. "It is not even close to break even," he stated, adding that his costs over the four years totalled £2,500 per hectare while the income for the same period fell just short of £2,000. Click here for full story

With 73 municipalities in the UK now offering curbside collection of source separated organic waste, the UK is racing to meet EU Landfill Directives. The past 15 years have seen significant investment and development of the biowaste collection and treatment industry in the United Kingdom (UK), which has gone from virtually zero to an industry worth over £160 million (264.6 million USD). Driving this investment have been a number of regulatory and fiscal measures such as the first set of Landfill Directive targets due in 2010. Click here for full story

Faced with the need to cut fuel costs, an Oxford professor has invented a cheap wind turbine that uses an induction motor. Professor John Gregg at the University of Oxford is an international expert in the fields of spin electronics, spintronics and magnetic instrumentation. But he has designed and built something for homeowners facing high energy costs: a new-generation wind turbine. He is testing the turbine, which features a standard induction motor as a generator, in his mother's garden in Ireland. Click here for full story

An innovative renewable energy project by Scottish Borders Council will create enough green electricity to power more than 1,000 homes, while cutting annual carbon emissions by the equivalent of around 30,000 tonnes. The project, at Easter Langlee Waste Disposal site near Galashiels, Scotland, takes away the local authority’s burden of controlling and disposing of methane, a greenhouse gas that is 21 times more damaging to the environment than carbon dioxide. At the same time it has the capacity to generate up to 1.0MW of clean power for the national grid. Click here for full story

A renewable energy company based in Northamptonshire has been awarded a grant to help develop a new and clean way to heat buildings. Cool Planet, based in Higham Ferrers, has been awarded a £9,000 grant from the Sustainable Construction Innovation Network (iNet). The iNet is part-funded by East Midlands Development Agency. Cool Planet, says ground sourced energy, drawing energy from the earth, is the best way to heat buildings.
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Helius Energy and the Combination of Rothes Distillers have launched a joint venture to lead construction of a new £35m biomass-fuelled combined heat and power plant on Speyside in Scotland. The collaboration has created a dedicated company which will be responsible for the financing, construction and operation of the new plant, which could save more than 20,000t of carbon dioxide each year when compared to CoRD's current energy use. Click here for full story

Local communities and conservation groups have two weeks to apply for a share in a $3.3 million fund for the advancement of green technology, British Gas says. Conservationist and adventurist Ben Fogle teamed up with British Gas to encourage local British communities to advance green energy projects. British Gas said any community group advancing renewable energy projects or energy efficiency programs at the local level could apply for the so-called Green Streets funding. The green technology can include solar, wind, hydroelectric power or employ the use of biofuels, said Gearoid Lane, managing director at British Gas New Energy. Click here for full story

VAT should not be charged on energy-efficient appliances and consumers should be offered incentives to switch to more environmentally friendly white goods, it was claimed. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said reducing the tax on new appliances that met certain standards and introducing a car industry-style scrappage scheme to the high street would help households cut their fuel bills by encouraging them to switch to products that generated lower emissions. Click here for full story

A Derbyshire business has received funding through the Sustainable Construction innovation Network (iNet) to help develop its unique range of heating and energy systems. East Midlands Renewable Energy Ltd (EMRE Ltd), based in Derby, is an engineering consultancy specialising in integrated control of renewable and sustainable energy systems for domestic and commercial properties. Click here for full story

The anaerobic digestion, biogas, recycling and renewable energy industry has seen exponential growth in the last decade and will continue to accelerate in the years to come. A new web portal has been launched to bring a fresh approach to this booming market. Its mission is to develop one source of accurate, up-to-date, accessible, dynamic, top quality website that meets the needs of all companies across a range of businesses especially Anaerobic Digestion, Biogas, Gas Marketing, Renewable and Alternative Energy. Click here for full story

More than 150 delegates are expected to attend a community energy conference at Stirling University this month. The audience will include representatives from community groups across Scotland who are interested in benefiting from their own renewable energy installations. The first day of the conference is funded by the Communities And Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES), which replaced the Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative in April. Marion O’Hara of Community Energy Scotland, which runs CARES, said: “This event is about inviting folk to come and hear what other communities are currently doing.” Click here for full story

Rural businesses are set to discover how they can benefit from using or supplying biomass fuel thanks to a free workshop later this month. Forestry Commission Scotland is hosting the free workshop at Gartmore House near Aberfoyle, on Wednesday, August 19 from 12.45-3.20pm (lunch is provided) with a site visit following on at the end of the afternoon. Click here for full story

Emcor Group (UK) recently celebrated a key milestone in its major infrastructure upgrade project at the University of Liverpool, with a topping out ceremony for the newly constructed £14 million energy centre, marking the completion of the final section of the 47 metre chimney - the highest point of the development. The new energy centre, which will provide a new and more efficient way for the University of Liverpool to generate and utilise energy, will ensure the University remains at the forefront of greener energy generation and will enable it to meet its energy and environmental objectives, reducing the University’s annual energy consumption by over 13000 MWh and CO2 emissions by over 1,500 tonnes, equivalent to taking 477 cars off the road each year.
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Friends of the Earth launched an innovative flash website for its Get Serious About CO2 campaign, demanding councils play their part in tackling climate change by reducing local emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2020. Designed by CHI & Partners, the environmental campaign group's new ‘Get Serious About CO2’ website - gives political activism a digital facelift to deliver increased impact and participation. Click here for full story

Dimplex has launched Renewable Energy Finance, a scheme designed to overcome budget restrictions and spread the costs of the full installation of renewable energy systems, covering ground and air source heat pumps and solar thermal systems. Click here for full story

A project to harness landfill gas in the Borders will provide enough energy to power about 1,000 homes. The scheme at the Easter Langlee site in Galashiels could be worth about £2.6m to Scottish Borders Council over the life of its 15-year contract. The gas collected is used to power a generator, which then feeds the electricity into the National Grid. Click here for full story

Developer Bancon Homes has revealed details of the environmentally-friendly, sustainable heat supply it will be using in homes at its Forestside development in Banchory. This new system, in conjunction with Hill of Banchory (Energy Services Company) Ltd, will supply the heating and hot water to all the new homes at Phase II, Forestside, Banchory, from a district heating boiler which is initially being run on gas, but will be replaced by a wood-fuelled boiler in the near future. Click here for full story

The University of Delaware (UD) and Gamesa Corporacion Tecnologica have signed an agreement that could facilitate the installation of a utility-scale 2 MW Gamesa wind turbine at UD’s Hugh R. Sharp Campus in Lewes next year. Click here for full story

The £1bn Terminal 2 will more than double its capacity, providing for an estimated 20m passengers every year. BAA said large windows in the roof will cut the need for artificial lighting, and solar panels will also reduce dependency on energy supplies. A new energy centre, partially fuelled by renewable resources, will provide heating and cooling for the building. Click here for full story

Energy technology business Energos has received planning permission from Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council to build a gasification plant. The £75 million partnership with renewable energy company BioGen Power will provide a community-sized facility to handle Doncaster’s local waste – diverting it from landfill. Over the past three years, six planning applications based on the Energos gasification technology have been submitted and all six have received consent within ten months of the application date. The Doncaster permission was achieved in five months and none of the schemes have been subject to planning appeal. Click here for full story

Fast food giant McDonald's has sparked protests by bidding to build a wind turbine next to one of its restaurants in the Capital as part of a drive to boost its environmental credentials. The 20-metre-tall turbine is to tower above the American firm's outlet in South Queensferry. It will become only the second McDonald's in the UK to have a wind turbine to contribute towards an outlet's energy usage – and the first in Scotland. Click here for full story