Entries for November 2009

The European Scrutiny Select Committee has issued a challenging report on the European Commission’s proposals to “act quickly” to increase the use of low-carbon energy technologies

As initial optimism for a global climate deal at Copenhagen drains away, some groups are looking at the consequences of continued inaction on mitigation and increasing fossil fuel emissions

In 2008-09 the Warm Front scheme assisted 233,594 households, DECC minister David Kidney told Labour MP Ben Chapman, but he admitted that the number of people eligible for help under the scheme cannot be accurately estimated.

Householders will have to invest up to £15,000 on a full energy efficiency makeover if national targets for cutting grenhouse gases are to be achieved, Lord Adair Turner, chairman of the Climate Change Committee has warned.

The Energy Saving Trust is currently carrying out heat pump field trails and is due to report in 2010, DECC energy efficiency minister Joan Ruddock told Labour former environment minister, Janet Anderson in a written answer.

Ministers have rejected the call by MPs to retain the ‘need test’ as a component of town centre planning policy

The Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College in Birmingham has been judged this year’s winner of the Prime Minister’s Better Public Building Award, but how did it come out on top among the 23 other hopefuls?

Conventional electricity meters are still being installed by energy companies, DECC energy conservation minister David Kidney has admitted in a written answer to Labour MP Dr Lynne Jones.

DECC is providing £6m for a renewable construction demonstration project, in England, which aims to increase the use of renewable construction materials in affordable homes

DECC energy efficiency minister David Kidney relaunched the Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP)

The HCA has seen the value of its development assets fall by £1.1bn – resulting in an impairment charge of £542m – while proceeds from land sales also fell from £333m to £51m

Local authorities crucially can help their communities become low carbon, DECC energy efficiency minister David Kidney told the Sustainable Communities ’09 Conference on Securing our Low Carbon Future

Crossrail has signed up for assessment under the Civil Engineering Environmental Quality Assessment & Awards Scheme (CEEQUAL)

Water resources need to be considered to a greater degree in the pre-planning stages of development, a new Policy Position Statement from CIWEM says

An independent panel has been set up to review designs for the UK’s proposed new ‘eco towns’