UK must go green to stimulate growth, says Chris Huhne
Former energy secretary’s intervention comes amid growing concern over how to recover from double dip recession.
Former cabinet minister Chris Huhne has issued a stark warning that the UK’s economic growth strategy will not work unless the government pursues “green growth” by investing in industries such as energy efficiency and clean energy.
Writing in the Guardian, Huhne says: “Much of our economic debate implies we must choose between going green or going for growth. That view may be the opposite of the truth. There is now hard evidence that the real choice is between green growth or no growth at all.”
The Benefits of Going Green for Companies by GreenProfit Solutions
In this moving video, set to the music of Rascal Flats, GreenProfit Solutions illustrates how any size organization or business can help their company, employees, members/customers, community, and planet by “Balancing Business and Sustainability” utilizing their Approved Green Business program.
Environmental Tips – How to Go Green
Some tips and suggestions for going green and doing your part to save the environment.
Solar energy industry may be on threshold of an exciting era
This has been the most challenging few weeks to date in the life of the nascent UK solar sector. After a short burst of unprecedented sales growth, with installations more than doubling between June and October,we had to intervene very quickly indeed to ensure the entire subsidy for this and other exciting micro-generation technologies supported by feed-in tariffs, wasn’t swept away by excessive returns for a lucky few. At 43p/kWh, your average domestic solar PV panel receives more than four times as much subsidy as renewable electricity generated from a wind turbine, way off the coast, in the hazardous conditions of the north sea.
Can solar PV really power the UK?
I am writing this in Tucson, Arizona, under an immense blue sky from which a powerful sun radiates strong energy almost all the year round. Surrounding the city is the Sonora Desert, a biodiversity wilderness full of beautiful cacti and other dryland species. Tucson has huge numbers of very large buildings with surely thousands of acres of combined roof space – and hardly a solar PV array to be seen.
How to buy solar panels (Solar water heating)
Solar water heating systems
A solar water heating (also known as solar thermal) system uses panels fitted to your roof to heat water for use around the home. A typical system is able to meet around a third of a household’s hot water needs – a saving of £55 to £80 on your annual water-heating bills, based on a three-bedroom semi-detached house.
Solar for Schools: It is really exciting having solar panels on our roof – VIDEO
EP Collier School’s plan, inspired by 10:10, to raise £10,000 in one term for solar panels raised some eyebrows but they did it – boosting morale and cutting the school’s carbon footprint in the process. Here the pupils and teachers explain how they did it – by gungeing teachers in part – and why
Solar panel demand down nearly 90% following subsidy cut
Solar industry concerns over the effect of the cut appear to be supported by dramatic dip in installations since 1 April. Solar panel installations have fallen by almost 90% in the weeks since the government halved cut the subsidy available, according toDepartment of Energy and Climate Change figures.
10 ways of going green
Go Green and Save Green
10 Ways to Go Green and Save Green
1. Save energy to save money
Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer to save on heating and cooling costs.
Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) when your older incandescent bulbs burn out.
Unplug appliances when you’re not using them. Or, use a “smart” power strip that senses when appliances are off and cuts “phantom” or “vampire” energy use.
Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water.
Use a drying rack or clothesline to save the energy otherwise used during machine drying
Hybrid Motor Vehicles – Pros and Cons
Hybrid Cars
Hybrid cars can have very low to near-zero greenhouse gas emissions. The Toyota Prius for instance has near-zero tailpipe emissions and no evaporative emissions.
Hybrid cars combine the two energy components of petrol and electricity to produce a hyper-low emission, cheap to run, quiet motor vehicle that recharges itself as you drive. Good for planet earth, and for your wallet.
