Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/EnergyrefugecomBlog/~3/OE4QQdWU54g/
Monday, October 31, 2011
Solar Power Spurs Job Creation in the US
Alternative energy is not only good for the environment; it?s good for job creation, too. According to the Solar Foundation, 100,237 Americans are now working in the US solar industry. The statement is based on preliminary data from National Solar Jobs Census 2011: A Review of the U.S. Solar Workforce. Solar businesses added 6,735 new [...]
Sorting Out Settled Climate Science From Remaining Uncertainties
© Skeptical Science Much ado is made about the phrase "the science is settled," but to what does the phrase refer?? There are certainly a number of climate issues for which the scientific evidence is so conclusive and robust, they can reasonably be called "settled."? For example, the fact that the increase in atmospheric CO2 levels is due to human emissions, the fact that the planet is warming (as confi... Read the full story on TreeHugger
Video: Siemens Enters Geothermal Market
For the second time this month, an international energy giant has jumped full throttle into renewable energy.
Oct 28, Supporting Green Energy on a Widespread Level: Eco Living Articles: Eco20/20
Green energy is undoubtedly great; however, without support from various place, it cannot prosper and continue to expand like it has recently. As an intelligent citizen who is currently concerned about the direction in which fossil fuels and other harsh energies that are not kind to the planet, you have sought out information on your own.
Source: http://www.eco20-20.com/Supporting-Green-Energy-on-a-Widespread-Level.html
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Oct 3, Digital camera to use the article summarized experience
Now, more and more people begin to use a digital camera, understanding, familiar with the current digital camera to use some of the canon eos 50d battery
Source: http://www.eco20-20.com/digital-camera-to-use-the-article-summarized-experience.html
Advantages of IP Based Multi Resident Automation Plans for Hotels and Other Paid Accommodation
If you want to introduce environment and other automation into your building, hotel or serviced apartment, traditionally you had to dig deep into the infrastructure of your building. With IP based solutions, meaning you are using the internet to manage your smart accommodation, the introduction of this technology is not as complicated as it once was. Energy management software and hardware can be installed into...
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/green-energy-news/~3/YwsACYwuxh4/
China Taking Uncertain Path Toward Electric Vehicles
China's Energy Saving and New Energy Vehicle Development Plan is still awaiting approval, stymieing the efforts of domestic new energy vehicle producers to map out their development plans and raising concerns that foreign rivals may come in to the local market and grab the new growth opportunities.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
ASU Buys Green Energy for Homecoming Game, Continues Commitment to Clean Tech
While clean tech naysayers and pessimists have been raising their voices of late, forward thinking individuals, companies and institutions continue to beat a path toward a new industrial revolution. ASU appears to be taking a leadership position in that regard. Having already announced that it will cover its parking lot with a 2MW solar parasol, Market Watch reports that Read the full story on TreeHugger
Chris Huhne attacks renewable energy critics
Climate secretary to tell conference that 'climate sceptics and armchair engineers' are selling the UK economy short
The climate and energy secretary, Chris Huhne, will attack "climate sceptics and armchair engineers" for criticising renewables, in a speech on Wednesday on the economic benefits of green energy.
Huhne will insist the government is backing renewable energy and has resolved to make the UK the largest market in Europe for offshore wind.
His speech to the annual renewable industry conference comes in the wake of the publication of government proposals to reduce subsidies for green technologies including onshore wind, although the plans contained better news on support for offshore wind, wave and tidal power.
And the solar industry is bracing itself for an announcement on the review of feed-in tariffs that pay people for the electricity they generate from small-scale renewables, which is expected to slash payments for solar electricity.
The industry claims the expected move will hit jobs and growth in the sector.
But Huhne will say today that renewable energy technologies will deliver a new industrial revolution, creating jobs and bringing investment into the UK.
And he will accuse an "unholy alliance" of short-termists, armchair engineers, climate sceptics and vested interests of selling the UK economy short by their refusals to acknowledge the benefits that renewables will bring.
Critics claim renewable energy is expensive and unreliable and that support for it adds to consumer bills, but proponents say shifting to green power reduces the reliance on fossil fuels which have driven recent large rises in household bills.
Huhne will tell the RenewableUK conference: "Across the length and breadth of Britain, new companies are creating new jobs and delivering the technologies that will power our future.
"At a time when closures and cuts dominate the news cycle, next-generation industries are providing jobs and sinking capital into Britain.
"I want to take aim at the curmudgeons and faultfinders who hold forth on the impossibility of renewables, the climate sceptics and armchair engineers who are selling Britain's ingenuity short.
"Yes, climate change is a man-made disaster. Yes, the UK is only 2% of global carbon emissions. But if we grasp the opportunity now our businesses and economy can be much more than 2% of the solution."
He will tell the conference that "we are not going to save our economy by turning our back on renewable energy".
"It is this three-party consensus that makes the UK such a a good place to invest. So I can today assure you that this government has resolved that we will be the largest market in Europe for offshore wind."
Louise Hutchins of Greenpeace said: "It is increasingly clear that there's a green war at the heart of government.
"On the one hand Chris Huhne is making a strong case for the strategic role renewable energy can play in creating jobs and reducing CO2 emissions, while at the same time George Osborne seems to be in perpetual denial about the benefits of investing in green growth.
"The renewables industry urgently needs a clear and coherent policy from the government so that lost confidence is restored.
"We'll know the coalition's priorities are sound if in the coming weeks ministers support smallscale solar and wind power at a level that will protect the growth in jobs and manufacturing in that sector, rather than slashing support as is currently rumoured."
But Simon Less, head of environment and energy at thinktank Policy Exchange, said: "Huhne's words are unhelpful and deeply worrying.
"Conflating those who want to see cost-effective carbon emissions reduction - in other words policies that can be sustained and so will deliver our long-term carbon targets - with climate science deniers, is insulting.
"To be greener, we must be cheaper.
"Existing renewable technologies have a key role to play in emissions reduction, alongside a range of other actions including increased energy efficiency, switching coal to gas generation, nuclear and emerging new technologies.
"What cannot be defended is wasting tens of billions of pounds on excessive short-term deployment of hugely expensive technologies, such as offshore wind. This damages decarbonisation," he said.
A report published by WWF on Tuesday said between 60 and 90% of the UK's energy could come from wind, solar, tidal and other sustainable sources by 2030.
guardian.co.uk © 2011 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/oct/26/chris-huhne-renewable-energy-critics
Cape Wind Held Up Yet Again: Court Claims it Could Prove Hazardous to Airplanes
phault via Flickr/CC BY 2.0 Cape Wind was supposed to be the nation's first offshore wind farm. It was announced over ten years ago, and after fighting through miles and miles of bureaucratic red tape, it was finally approved by the Department of the Interior earlier this year. But after fielding -- and overcoming -- complaints from rich neighbors who worried it would spoil their coastal views, utilities who claimed they didn't want to buy the electricity, and an animated conservative ... Read the full story on TreeHugger
Exxon's Profits Hit $31 Billion So Far This Year, Yet Big Oil Subsidies Flourish
Steve Snodgrass via Flickr/CC BY 2.0 I'm not sure this can even be considered news anymore, given the regularity with which it happens: ExxonMobil has posted massive earnings. Again. The oil giant claims quarterly earnings of $10.3 billion dollars, bringing the yearly total thus far to $31 billion. And yet, this obscenely profitable company still gets annual federal handouts to the tune of billions of dollars a year. To make matters worse, Read the full story on TreeHugger
Friday, October 28, 2011
Sep 28, The Sun is One of the Largest Energy Resources: Solar Energy: Eco20/20
The sun is one of the largest energy resources. The rays are generated into a powered format; therefore, creating solar energy. It is available to all walks of life and is becoming more and more cost effective. Depending on the method used to capture the suns rays will determine if the power is active or passive.
Source: http://www.eco20-20.com/The-Sun-is-One-of-the-Largest-Energy-Resources.html
Sep 9, Water-Saving Requires Technology and Techniques: Eco Living Articles: Eco20/20
There are a number of things every homeowner can do that will effectively conserve water - with the side benefit of reduced water bills
Source: http://www.eco20-20.com/Water-Saving-Requires-Technology-and-Techniques.html
Oct 24, cost effective grid energy storage
I believe that large scale energy storage can be stored profitably if one recognizes the challange. While one kilowatt-hour can raise 2000 lbs 1300 feet,costs
Source: http://www.eco20-20.com/cost-effective-grid-energy-storage.html
UK renewable energy subsidies slashed
? Cuts to biomass, energy from waste and microgeneration
? Marine and offshore wind funding remains high
Public subsidies for a range of renewable energy technologies are to be cut under plans unveiled by the government on Thursday, as ministers respond to complaints of "green taxes" driving up energy bills.
Power stations using biomass from plants or waste byproducts to generate energy are among the worst losers, with developers disappointed that their subsidy levels have been left at a level they say will not encourage new projects.
Companies generating energy from landfill gas will cease to receive any subsidies at all. Projects to produce energy from waste will have their subsidies slashed, and hydroelectric power will receive only half the subsidy it used to.
Gaynor Hartnell, chief executive of the Renewable Energy Association, said: "If the government wants to encourage a greater contribution from the very cheapest technologies, this is the wrong way to go about it. No new projects have been built since 2009, at the existing levels. Reducing them further cannot help."
The savings from the subsidy cuts are likely to be small ? they could be as little as �400m at the lower end, and no more than �1.3bn.
Chris Huhne, energy and climate change secretary, presented the reforms as a way of "getting more for less", through cutting consumer energy bills ? by an average of �2 per year. He said the government's job was to ensure the subsidies were high enough to stimulate new green energy generation, but not so high as to encourage profiteering at the expense of bill-payers. "We have carefully studied what the level of subsidy should be, and we have pared them back [where they were] unnecessary, to get a lower level of consumer bills but a higher level of deployment," he said.
The long-awaited review of renewable energy subsidies came as the solar panel industry braced itself for severe cuts to the feed-in tariffs (Fit) that have stimulated a mini-boom in panel installations in the last 18 months. Treasury officials are understood to be concerned by the success of the Fit scheme, where householders receive a guaranteed income for the power they generate, and want to rein it in.
The tariffs for domestic solar installations are likely to be slashed, greatly reducing their appeal to householders and, the solar industry fears, potentially scaring off investors and costing thousands of jobs.
The Fit scheme, like the renewable obligation, is not paid for from general taxation but by energy companies adding a small amount to all customers' bills. Ministers are sensitive to a growing clamour in sections of the media attacking high energy bills and blaming "green taxes" for the problem, even though research shows low-carbon subsidies make up only a small fraction of bill rises.
Huhne had little comfort for the fledgling solar industry - although he refused to give details of cuts to the feed-in tariffs, he hinted strongly that they were to come, noting that the costs of photovoltaic technology had been falling by about 6% a year. "If suddenly there is a dramatic reduction in costs, it is appropriate that we should be looking at the energy bill payer and the taxpayer, and getting value for money," he said.
Huhne has tried to make the case that investing in green energy will cut bills in the medium term, because soaring and volatile fossil fuel prices are the main cause for increasing energy bills. However, he is up against stiff opposition within the government.
Green campaigners and the renewables industry were relieved, however, that the cuts announced on Thursday were not much worse, as many had feared.
Doug Parr from Greenpeace said: "Despite some prominent Tory scepticism over the role renewables can play in delivering clean and secure energy, it's a relief to see the doubters have lost this internal battle and incentives are being left in place to spark an expansion of green energy generation. David Cameron can build on this decision and show real leadership by now making the UK the world leader in marine renewables technologies, in the process providing new jobs and building economic growth."
Under the new plans set out on Thursday, windfarms escaped relatively lightly. Onshore windfarms will have their subsidies cut, but only gradually by 10%, while offshore windfarms will be granted a breathing space until 2015, after which their support will be reduced by 5% in successive years.
Hartnell said: "Onshore wind developers should be able to live with this. It's a modest reduction, but it will have an impact on smaller and community schemes. Offshore wind remains at the higher level introduced by the emergency review, which is welcome news."
There were also a few clear winners ? chiefly tidal and wave energy, which will receive five renewable obligation certificates for each megawatt (MW) on smaller schemes. However, bigger installations ? above 30MW ? will receive only two. Renewable obligation certificates are the means by which low-carbon energy is subsidised ? energy companies buy them from developers to fulfil their legal obligations to generate green power.
Tim Cornelius, chief executive of Atlantis Resources Corporation, said: "This decision should provide the necessary economic stimulus to catalyse the next phase of growth in the UK marine energy sector. Technology developers and their project partners are preparing for commercial-scale deployment and this support will prime investment and create jobs. The industry can now proceed with confidence. Tidal energy has a major role to play in the UK's future energy mix."
Now that the government has laid out its plans, investors are expected to review their business plans and some that were put on hold may now be brought forward.
"There is great relief that this document has finally been published. The delay had put billions of pounds worth of investment on hold. Developers will need to see these new numbers in legislation before they can resume development activity, however. We welcome the broad thrust of the proposals, although we have views on some of the details, which we'll feed in to the consultation," said Hartnell.
Arnaud Bouill�, director at Ernst & Young's environmental finance team, said: "With GDP growth forecast close to zero and much debate about affordability and increasing energy bills, today's announcement of a cut in the support of both onshore wind and solar energy generation is not totally unexpected. The biggest loser will be the solar sector which is receiving its second setback in its short-lived UK history. This may be a missed opportunity for a maturing industry which had achieved significant cost reductions in recent years and demonstrated job creation benefits at a local level."
Commenting on the collapse on Wednesday of talks between government and a consortium of companies to build a pioneering carbon capture and storage (CCS) plant in Scotland, Huhne blamed the withdrawal of the Longannet CCS demonstration plant on the specific conditions of that project, which could not be made economically viable. He said he was "confident we can deliver CCS elsewhere within the budget [of �1bn in public subsidy] and we have undimmed determination - CCS is a massive industry opportunity". DECC officials pointed to half a dozen other potential CCS demonstration plants, including one at Peterhead in Scotland proposed by Scottish and Southern Energy.
guardian.co.uk © 2011 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/oct/20/renewable-energy-subsidies-slashed
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Aug 31, Making Fuel from Plastic Debris: Green Technology Articles: Eco20/20
Once upon a time, kids snatched glass bottles to return for the nickel deposits. Then aluminum cans gained value; so they were gathered, squashed and sold. Soon, plastic bags will be counted among the booty of those who plunder discards - because now plastic can be converted into fuel.
Source: http://www.eco20-20.com/Making-Fuel-from-Plastic-Debris.html
15 Ways to Go Green without Spending a Penny
1. Put those car keys down and give walking a go. Whether it is to work, the school run or simply to the shops, walking has a host of health benefits as well as being good for the environment. 2. Make sure you recycle tin cans, bottles and paper by using the containers the government provides. This means materials can be used again and again rather than taking up space in a landfill. 3. Save the...
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/green-energy-news/~3/xu5IY2IIKB4/
Three Israeli Innovations that Could Power U.S. Renewables
Renewable energy?s growth and competition for market share with fossil fuels has increased the need to develop new innovations ? but that doesn?t always happen in our backyard. Some of the most cutting-edge energy inventions are happening in Israel, and they could have major implications for renewables in America.As part of energyNOW!?s ?Israel Connection? series, chief correspondent Tyler Suiters explored how discoveries half a world away could revolutionize the way we generate clean energy.Related posts:
- Shai Agassi: The Israeli T. Boone Pickens?
- 90% of Israeli Homes Solar Hot Water Equipped
- Wind Turbine Output Boosted 30% by Breakthrough Design
Source: http://feeds.importantmedia.org/~r/IM-cleantechnica/~3/tzop7OXo2WI/
Giant Amoebae Discovered in Mariana Trench (Video)
National Geographic Society Remote Imaging Dropcam/via Deep sea researchers have caught footage of the most unlikely and extreme of creatures: giant amoebas. Using specially-rigged untethered landers or "dropcams," the team spotted these mysterious single-celled organisms earlier this summer in the planet's deepest known region, the Mariana Trench of the Pacific Ocean. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Warming Up to Geothermal's Potential Via Google Earth
Work a bit slow today? And did you ever wonder just how hot it is miles beneath your cubicle? Luckily, the good folks at Google have you covered on both fronts.
Welcome to geothermal data heaven. Researchers at SMU’s Geothermal Laboratory have built a vast database detailing the geothermal potential way, way below the earth’s surface, and Google has taken that information and laid it atop its interactive Google Earth platform.
Spend a little time with it — or a lot — and you’ll end up with all sorts of nuggets that will help you better understand Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) and its immense potential in the United States. The experience will certainly give you a better sense of where the hot spots are. You probably didn’t need Google Earth to tell you that Firehole Lake in Wyoming was a rather good source of geothermal energy. But did you know that places like Louisiana and Mississippi also pack their fair share of heat? Or that West Virginia’s geothermal resource is equivalent to the state’s existing king of power — coal?
The goal of the 35,000 data sites is to help users deepen their knowledge of geothermal potential in areas not often associated with the energy resource. As technologies improve, methods such as EGS may one day tap into this often undiscovered source of clean energy.
In the meantime, you have some exploring to do. First, download the latest version of Google Earth and then download and open the file.
SolarWorld Files Complaint Against Chinese Panelmakers and Cell Manufacturers
A coalition of seven U.S.-based solar panel manufacturers filed a complaint Wednesday alleging unfair trade practices, setting off an investigation that could thrust the solar industry in the middle of a U.S.-China trade dispute.
Aug 29, Iceless Ice Skating: Eco Living Articles: Eco20/20
It should be self-evident that synthetic ice doesn't involve flooding a floor with water. It should be indisputable that any product that would save hundreds of gallons of such a precious and treasured resource is a triumphant achievement. But water-savings is not the sole eco-friendly benefit of an iceless ice rink
Oct 19, Key Advantages of Alternative Fuels: Renewable Energy Articles: Eco20/20
In this day and age people are becoming more aware of the truth that we need to start using alternative fuels for several reasons. For one thing, there may not be enough oil in the world left to power the things it is used for today if we keep using it at the rate we are doing today. Studies have estimated that nearly 90 percent of the energy that is used in America is through traditional fossil fuels. At this rate they won't last and the earth also can't take the stress and strain of this use either.
Source: http://www.eco20-20.com/Key-Advantages-of-Alternative-Fuels.html
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Alarming Scale of Global Shark Fin Trade Revealed in New Photos
© Shawn Heinrichs for the Pew Environment Group Pew Environment Group this week released a series of photos that are simply jaw-dropping as they reveal the scale of shark fishing for fins. The group released a report earlier this year noting the world's 20 largest shark catchers, including Taiwan, which is where these photos were taken. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger
Oct 18, Mr
In May 2010, SONY NEX micro single camera, released the first time APS-C format sensor into portable in the fuselage, breaking the graphics and the sony
Source: http://www.eco20-20.com/mr.html
Monday, October 24, 2011
Solar's "Nasty Secret" is Neither Nasty Nor Secret: Grist Sets the Record Straight
"Solar panels do not work that well?.and few know it," Ray Burgess, president and CEO of Solar Power Technologies... Read the full story on TreeHugger
SolarWorld Files Complaint Against Chinese Panelmakers and Cell Manufacturers
A coalition of seven U.S.-based solar panel manufacturers filed a complaint Wednesday alleging unfair trade practices, setting off an investigation that could thrust the solar industry in the middle of a U.S.-China trade dispute.
Solar Cells for Sale ? All You Need To Learn About Residential Solar Power Systems
Solar cells for sale are available in a multitude of locations these days – right from local DIY stores to the internet. A lot of people tend to be gradually realizing the advantages as well as need for renewable energy sources and therefore are interested in switching to solar power. What are solar cells? How [...]
Solar Cells for Sale ? All You Need To Learn About Residential Solar Power Systems
Solar cells for sale are available in a multitude of locations these days – right from local DIY stores to the internet. A lot of people tend to be gradually realizing the advantages as well as need for renewable energy sources and therefore are interested in switching to solar power. What are solar cells? How [...]
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Can the Geothermal Industry Overcome Challenges to Raising Capital?
Geothermal energy presents baseload clean energy at a lower cost than many other renewable energy alternatives. Despite this compelling value proposition, long development horizons and the risks associated with exploration and drilling activities present hurdles to developing the country's rich geothermal potential. Financing projects that use conventional geothermal technology remains challenging in the uncertain economic environment.
Aug 3, $15,000 Buzzard Roost
Please visit this website to see a video of our $15,000 Buzzard Roost: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dwo4qDcTkKE Also, please visit http://b-d.ranch.tripod.com/twoskystream37installationsgonewrong
Despite Methane Emissions Upstream, Natural Gas Is Cleaner than Coal on a Life-Cycle Basis
Share New study concludes that natural gas offers greenhouse gas advantages over coal despite higher EPA estimates of methane emissions from natural gas systems. Washington, D.C.-Over its full cycle of production, distribution, and use, natural gas emits just over half as many greenhouse gas emissions as coal does for equivalent energy output, according to a [...]
Saturday, October 22, 2011
The peak oil brigade is leading us into bad policymaking on energy | Dieter Helm
One can't assume energy prices are going ever upwards. The real problem is there may be too much fossil fuel, not too little
?�Michael Pollitt: A test of EU's commitment to renewables
It is almost always a mistake to assume you know where energy bills are going. This is especially true for secretaries of state, and energy policy should never be based upon assuming you know what the future will bring. Unfortunately, it is the new conventional wisdom and an assumption prevalent across much of Europe.
Yet Chris Huhne, the British secretary of state for energy and climate change, is pretty sure that oil and gas prices are going ever upwards, that they will be volatile and that a core function of energy policy is to protect British industry and consumers from the consequences. It is a convenient assumption for renewables and nuclear: if the price of fossil fuel is going to get more expensive, then renewables and nuclear will be relatively cheap. Add in energy efficiency, and then it can be predicted that energy bills will fall if these technologies are supported.
The last time policymakers were this sure was the last time oil prices peaked ? back in 1979. Oil peaked at $39 a barrel (around $150 in today's prices). It was assumed then that oil prices would go ever up, and the incoming Conservative government launched a plan to build one nuclear reactor per annum for 10 years. Instead, prices collapsed in the mid 1980s, and didn't return to the 1979 prices for more than a quarter of a century (even with two Gulf wars).
As then, we are led to believe that the world's fossil fuel resources are finite and known, and that the peak of production has either been already met or will come soon. Gas, it is assumed, will follow oil. Put simply, we are going to run out of fossil fuels, and they will therefore get (much) more expensive. For the peak oil advocates, the convenient truth is that de-carbonisation via renewables and nuclear is not only good for the climate, but sound economics too. Almost all of this is nonsense ? and some of it is dangerous nonsense. There is enough oil and gas (and coal too) to fry the planet several times over. The problem is there may be too much fossil fuel, not too little, and that fossil fuel prices might be too low, not too high.
The Earth's crust is riddled with fossil fuels. The issue is not whether there is a shortage of the stuff, but the costs of getting it out. Until recently, the sheer abundance of low-cost conventional oil in places like the Middle East has limited the incentives to find more, and in particular to go after unconventional sources. But technical change has been driven by necessity ? and the revolution in shale gas (and now shale oil, too) has already been transformational in the US, one of the world's biggest energy markets.
New technological developments take time to penetrate markets, and customers may not feel the benefits for quite a while. But it would be a mistake to assume they won't eventually. Even worse, it would be wrong to design energy policy to protect them from price volatility so that if gas prices fall, they will be prohibited from gaining the benefits.
It is also wrong to assume the renewables and nuclear will pay for themselves ? and that therefore they are going to be cheap alternatives (though we would then at least be able to get rid of any subsidies). This was ultimately the real weakness of the Stern review, and why politicians fell over themselves to quote its 1% GDP per annum costs for tackling climate change. Customers were led to believe it would not hurt them, and hence were happy to support green policies. But now they are finding out that it isn't true, and the backlash has started. The very real risk is that having been misled by politicians, they start to doubt the veracity of climate change.
Is there another way forward, which enables possibly cheaper gas to feed through to customers without undermining attempts to reduce emissions? The answer is ? at least for the next couple of decades ? yes. At the global level, the reason emissions keep going up ? and why Kyoto has made so little difference ? is that coal is the rising fuel; its share has risen from around 25% to nearly 30% during the Kyoto period, and it is a percentage of a growing total. Switching from coal to gas is cheap ? and it cuts emissions by roughly half. It doesn't solve the climate change problem in the long run, but it gets emissions down much faster and much cheaper than all those offshore windfarms in the short to medium term.
guardian.co.uk © 2011 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/oct/18/energy-price-volatility-policy-fossil-fuels
Ethical money: 10 ways to greener spending
Every time we put our hands in our pockets we're making a choice. Guardian Money looks at how to be environment-savvy without it costing you the earth
National Ethical Investment Week, which kicks off tomorrow, aims to ensure everyone knows their options when it comes to their financial decisions. To celebrate its launch, Guardian Money has looked at the steps you can take ? some very simple ? to "ethicalise" your money and your spending decisions.
1. Savings
The good news for ethically minded savers is that there are a number of interesting options available. However, not all the accounts on offer pay particularly good rates of interest.
Bristol-based ethical bank Triodos has a range of savings accounts including an easy-access account called Online Saver Plus that pays 2% gross, which includes a fixed 1% introductory bonus lasting for 12 months, and two, three and five-year fixed-rate savings bonds paying 2.75%, 3.25% and 3.75% respectively.
Triodos only lends to, and invests in, organisations that benefit people and the environment, and now has thousands of savers, including award-winning Scottish folk singer Karine Polwart. The singer, who kicks off her latest UK tour next week, reportedly liked the fact that as well as financing organic farms and renewable energy ventures, Triodos also funds a number of arts and cultural projects ranging from community cinemas and artists' co-operatives to live music venues. However, Triodos does not offer a current account for UK personal customers (it does provide banking services to businesses and charities) or mortgages.
Many people won't have heard of it, but Charity Bank is the only regulated bank in the UK that is also a charity. It only lends to charities and social enterprises, and offers accounts that anyone can take out, including a cash Isa that pays 2.5%. Minimum deposit is �250 and withdrawals are subject to 33 days' notice. It is a member of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
Meanwhile, Ecology building society's accounts include an instant access cash Isa paying 2%, where the minimum investment is �25.
2. Shopping
Switching to a more ethical product choice doesn't have to mean paying over the odds. So says the Ethical Company Organisation, which has just published the latest edition of its consumer handbook The Good Shopping Guide. This gives hundreds of well-known brands, from pet food to paint, an ethical score out of 100 based on how they were rated on areas including the environment and workers' rights .
The highest scoring supermarket was the Co-op, with Asda (part of Walmart) propping up the bottom. But what about, say, coffee shops? Caff� Nero and Coffee Republic scored 72 out of 100 and 68 respectively, putting them ahead of Pret A Manger (64) and Starbucks (52). Starbucks, for example, received the lowest score in two categories (genetic modification, and the fact that a boycott of it has been called and not yet dropped).
When it came to fashion, the two highest scoring brands were Cornwall-based organic cotton clothing company Seasalt and fairtrade label People Tree. The latter attracted headlines after Emma Watson, best known for her role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films, launched several clothing collections for the company. New Look and Zara also achieved high scores. There are plenty of other books and websites that rank brands in this way ? for example, Ethical Consumer's website features free buyers' guides covering everything from brandy (organic producers Brard Blanchard and Guy Pinard come top, since you ask) to toilet paper.
3. Green energy
One of the quickest and easiest way to green your household is to switch to a renewable electricity provider. There are now a host of companies offering to supply your home's electricity from 100% renewable sources. Switching to a green supplier takes around 10 minutes and for most households it won't cost much more than they are already paying.
Before you jump in and switch to the first available tariff promising 100% renewable electricity, be aware some green tariffs deliver more than others.
The big six established power firms offer green tariffs; however, do you want to sign up to a company that operates coal-fired power stations alongside a single green deal?
Fortunately, there is a switching website devoted to those looking for a green electricity tariff that has done all the hard work for you. Greenhelpline.com lists all the deals and shows how each company's overall power is sourced and how it compares to the UK average. You need to key in your postcode and how much you currently spend annually on electricity. You can sort the list according to the 'greenest' green deals, or on price.
For those looking for the greenest option, two companies stand out. Good Energy is the only UK supplier that sources all of its electricity from renewables, and has done for more than a decade.
Ecotricity is the other long-established supplier. Its green credentials are equally strong but for a different reason. Unlike Good Energy, which buys in its electricity, Ecotricity builds its own generating capacity around the country -, mostly through wind turbines. It is one of the leading proponents of the renewables sector and is always looking to increase capacity.
Ecotricity offers two tariffs: a 100% renewables deal, and a second that is a bit cheaper but includes some power sourced from traditional supplies. It is also working on coming up with the first green gas supply, made from household waste.
Other companies to consider include Ovo Energy, which also has a green tariff that supplies 100% renewable electricity (at a slight price premium) alongside its standard tariff which provides 15% of electricity from green sources. The UK average is around 8%. Ovo offers one-year contracts at fixed prices. LoCO2 Energy is another small company that is competing on price and a 100% offering.
If you want a not-for-profit supplier, consider Ebico, the UK's only social enterprise supplier of gas and electricity. It was founded to offer poorer consumers using pre-paid meters a better deal.
Overall, most switchers won't pay much more than they would if they were on their electricity supplier's standard tariff ? but around 10%-15% more than on its cheapest online deal. Most households will save an average of 1.7 tonnes of CO2 a year by switching to a 100% renewables tariff.
Alongside a switch of supplier, do all you can to reduce your energy consumption. Low energy lightbulbs/appliances can make a big difference. Consider a wood-burning stove for heat, and running it on waste wood.
4. Mortgages
Homeowners and buyers looking for an "environmentally friendly" mortgage will soon discover that the choice is limited. Ecology building society lends on properties that have a clear environmental benefit.
Typical customers might include those renovating a derelict or run-down property (which in essence is recycling the building), borrowers keen to install energy-saving measures or renewable technologies, someone building a new property using sustainable materials and people looking for mortgages for back-to-back terraces, which are by design highly energy efficient.
"We are particularly interested to see derelict and dilapidated property brought back into use. So even if you do not consider your current lifestyle to be particularly green, your project might well be of interest to us and one we can support," the West Yorkshire-based society says.
The Co-op Bank has for some time had a policy where, for every new mortgage taken out, it makes an annual contribution to Climate Care, an organisation dedicated to combating global warming ? but this arrangement ceases at the end of this month. However, it still offers an "energy efficient advance" which is a product available to existing mortgage customers who wish to borrow additional money to finance energy-efficient home improvements. The rate is 1.54% for two years (1.04% above the Bank base rate).
Norwich & Peterborough building society used to offer "green mortgages", but withdrew them a few weeks ago after its contract with a carbon-reduction company came to an end. It says this area will be reviewed following its imminent merger with Yorkshire building society.
But are homebuyers really bothered about whether or not their mortgage is environmentally friendly? It is understood Norwich & Peterborough has sold very few green mortgages since 2007, and takes the view that it is not dropping something for which there was a demand.
5. Current accounts
When it comes to current accounts, the main green name on the high street is the Co-operative Bank, which ? along with its online banking arm, Smile ? operates a strict ethical policy based on the concerns of its customers. Launched in 1992, the bank's ethical stance prohibits it from lending money to companies involved in a range of dodgy activities, ranging from the arms trade and animal testing to genetic engineering and global warming.
This, arguably, makes it the obvious choice for people who want to run ethical current accounts. "Since 1992, the Co-operative Bank and Smile have withheld over �1bn of their customers' money from businesses whose activities conflict with the policy," it says.
The other option to consider for current accounts is a building society. They are widely considered to be ethical ? albeit by default ? because profits are typically ploughed back into the business for the good of borrowers and savers rather than shareholders. But, surprisingly perhaps, they are often overlooked by those looking to move their bank account.
Nationwide building society offers a full current account service and scored well in surveys from both Ethical Consumer, which describes itself as "the UK's leading alternative consumer organisation", and the website Your Ethical Money, which aims to provide independent information on green finance to mainstream consumers.
6. Lending money
Alternatively, how about lending a little money to someone in the developing world who is trying to lift themselves out of poverty by running their own business? In August, Guardian Money highlighted the microfinance website lendwithcare.org, backed by the Co-operative Group, which allows people to lend relatively small sums to people in countries such as Cambodia and Togo. You won't earn any interest, but the money you lend is paid back to you in instalments. The minimum you can lend is �15 and the site says the average repayment schedule is around 12 months.
7. Your company pension
Are you happy about where your workplace pension cash is being invested? Do you even know where it's being invested? If you are in a money purchase company scheme, your pension cash may well be in its "default" fund. This is where people's cash goes if they don't specify how they want it invested.
However, many schemes offer their members a choice of funds, and this will often include an ethical fund. For example, it might be one that tracks one of the "FTSE4Good" stock market indices. You can usually specify which investment mix you prefer. Depending on their circumstances, some people might decide to move a bit of their pot into the ethical fund and then see how they get on.
8. Investments
There are dozens of ethical unit and investment trusts to choose from, with most of them available as Isas.
Dark green funds avoid investing in companies involved in unethical activities such as the arms industry, animal testing and tobacco ? a process known as negative screening.
Light green funds, meanwhile, take a positive screening approach, investing in companies that make a positive environmental contribution such as those involved with renewable energy, recycling and water management.
But do investors who go ethical end up paying for their principles? Often it's not a clear picture. In the year up to June 2011, ethical funds had outperformed non-ethical funds (14.91% compared with 13.65%) but since then the tables have turned. In the year to October, the average ethical fund has shown a loss of 5.56% compared with a loss of 3.41% for the average non-ethical fund, says financial data provider Moneyfacts.
An example of a dark green fund is the Ethical Equity Fund run by Kames Capital (the new name for Aegon Asset Management), which operates a strict negative screening policy avoiding all animal products and so gets a thumbs-up from vegans.
The fund has done well compared with others in the same sector, says Richard Eagling at Moneyfacts. First State Asia Pacific Sustainability is an example of a positive screened fund that has consistently delivered top-quartile performance.
For more information about ethical investments visit Your Ethical Money. Professional advice website unbiased.co.uk has a "find an independent financial adviser" search tool allowing people to look for a local adviser with expertise in ethical investment. IFAs specialising in this type of investment include Barchester Green Investment, the Ethical Investment Co-op, Ethical Investors and the Gaeia Partnership.
9. Greening your workplace
If you are in a position to do so, carry out an environmental audit of your office. Establishing how much energy, water and waste your office is responsible for lets you know what you need to target and enables you to track progress. Environmental charity Global Action Plan can help with this.
An energy-efficient office also saves money and carbon. The Carbon Trust website is packed with tips on how to cut energy bills. The trust can also work out your organisation's carbon footprint. Next month the trust launches an online tool designed to empower employees to make energy savings around their office.
Recycling office waste is a hot issue as some waste collection companies are charging businesses a fortune to collect their waste.
Check with the Community Recycling Network to see if there is a low-cost scheme nearby. London-based firms could also try the London Community Resource Network.
Ethical purchasing can also help reduce the environmental impact of your office. The Green Stationery Company supplies everything from recycled paper to ethically sourced wooden desks.
Office workers can help farmers in the developing world by switching to fairtrade tea and coffee. Caf�direct supplies catering packs of tea and coffee.
If you drive to work every day, cut the carbon cost of your commute and save money by joining a lift-sharing scheme such as National CarShare or liftshare.com.
10. Invest in community schemes
If you'd rather not get involved with financial institutions of any kind, why not invest your savings in a local community project?
In 2008, Money reported on a successful appeal for �300,000 by a community group in Settle, north Yorkshire. The money was used to build an electricity generating hydro scheme using an archimedean screw turbine.
The scheme has now been generating power for 20 months and has picked up a string of awards. Those behind it say they expect to pay the first dividend in year four or five, and in the last year they produced 40% more power than projected.
More interesting is the fact that it has gone on to spawn several other schemes. More than 300 groups have visited the site, and those behind the Settle project say they are now passing on the information they learned to those interested in following their lead. Such schemes tend to be set up as an "industrial and provident society" ? run by members to redistribute net earnings into the local community.
The returns are not enormous by City standards, but that's not the point. There is a scheme in Stockport that is looking for funds ? go to h2ope.co.uk
And it is not just power-generating projects that are looking for local investments. Everything from community pubs to post offices and even filling stations have been taken over and operated by local community funding. For more information go to co-operative.coop/enterprisehub
Three to buy ?
? Bishopston Trading Company organic fairtrade jeans. Are these the greenest jeans in the world? They came top in Ethical Consumer's buyers' guide to jeans.
? Eurostar. Kick the flying habit and its climate-changing pollution, say campaigners, and take the low-carbon train.
? Insulation. Unless your house is properly insulated, extras such as solar panels are eco-bling, as heat will simply vanish through the roof. Click on energysavingtrust.org.uk
? And three to avoid
? Palm oil. It's an ingredient in hundreds of products, from biscuits to shampoo, but campaigners say palm oil's production is an environmental disaster for south-east Asia. Check out guardian.co.uk/environment.
? Giant plasma TVs. Known as the 4x4s of the living room, they can consume four times as much energy as old-style TVs that use cathode ray tubes.
? Factory farmed chicken.
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Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/oct/14/ethical-money-greener-spending