Archive for the ‘Sustainability’ Category
Energy Saving tips with Green Week
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This week, the Universtity of Central Lancashire are holding Green Week from Monday 6th February to Friday 10th February. The event is held annually and is designed to educate staff, students and members of the public on green issues and sustainable living.
Planet Solar and Energi Installations have worked with UCLAN for many years on their Solar PV projects and are pleased to be part of their renewable energy future – click here to see one of our case studies. This week long event is a credit to UCLAN who continue to promote green living and help the local community to both work and live sustainably.
More and more businesses and homes are using Solar PV as a way of generating their own electricity. As well as the savings which can be made on electricity bills, Solar PV panels also help protect against future rising electricity costs. As if this wasn’t enough, there is also a feed-in-tariff scheme which means you get paid for what your system generates. Domestic customers can arrange a free, no obligation site survey whilst commercial businesses can visit our 
Sustainability will be at the heart of the next budget, promises Chancellor
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Friends of the Earth has welcomed today’s pledge by Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, that “it is sustainability that will be at the heart of the next budget”. But the environmental campaign group, which has been calling for green budgetary action, said that the Chancellor’s commitment to protecting the environment would be measured by actions not words.
Earlier this month Government figures revealed that green taxes, as a percentage of overall taxation, fell again in 2006. Since Labour came to power taxes from pollution (as a percentage of total taxes) have fallen from 9.4 per cent to 7.3 per cent.
Friends of the Earth’s head of economics, Simon Bullock, said
“Previous Government promises to deliver a green budget have been extremely disappointing. We welcome the Chancellor’s speech today, but next spring’s Budget will be the real test of Mr Darling’s green credentials.”
“The Budget is a crucial weapon in tackling climate change, encouraging green solutions and delivering a low-carbon economy. The Chancellor must make it cheaper and easier for people to go green. This should include higher taxes on pollution and tax cuts and spending that encourage greener activities. Alistair Darling must put the right systems in place to …
Questions & Answers on Zero-Carbon Homes
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The government wants all of our homes to be zero-carbon by 2016. Is this target achievable?
What does a zero-carbon home actually mean?
The government’s definition of a zero-carbon home is one where there are zero net emissions from all energy used over one year. This means that energy needed for heating, lighting, hot water and all electrical appliances in the house, such as TVs and computers, must be obtained from renewable sources.
Why has the government set a target of all new homes to be zero-carbon by 2016?
The move is intended to give impetus to investment into zero-carbon technologies. Our homes create 27% of all CO2 emissions in the UK (153m tonnes per year), so action needs to be taken. The government also sees housebuilding as an easier sector from which to cut carbon emissions from than, say, aviation, so is putting in a lot of time and effort.
Is it achievable?
Many in the housebuilding industry say privately that it is too big a task. The major players tend to be a traditional bunch, and deal with change slowly. Most are already grumbling because Gordon Brown has recently told developers they have to build more homes each …