Entries for October 2008

“We’ll take the cost of carbon into account if we’re building a new substation, [or] if we’re installing new gas lines,” Chris Mostyn, National Grid US unit, International Herald Tribune, Business of Green supplement, 14 Oct.

Amidst the doom and gloom, lo and behold some green shoots.At the weekend, Communities secretary, Hazel Blears, said that the government’s priority was to keep together the construction skills base and to do that finance will be found for large scale public investment.

From April 2010, large non-intensive energy consumers will have to buy allowances to cover the carbon they emit. But inclusion in the scheme depends on energy use in 2008, as Simon Napper explains.

Google, the world’s biggest internet company, has launched a campaign to promote the widespread use of alternative energy technologies and to implent stricter building codes across the United States.

Simon Napper explains the difference between an energy audit, survey and review.

October’s Energy Expo at London Olympia showed that various technologies are becoming embedded in the mainstream. Ian Grant reports on the new trends.

A pilot programme evaluating the use of EPCs in social housing ahead of their roll-out to rented properties this year has revealed a widespread lack of preparedness, at least up to early 2008, lack of tenant cooperation and technical difficulties, but has also improved preparedness and generated practical recommendations. Dr Paul K Hatchwell investigates.

Crucial new methodologies and an accompanying Notice of Approval for implementation of the Energy Performance in Buildings Directive covering Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and Display Energy Certificates (DECs) have been published by DCLG this month. Dr Paul K Hatchwell reports.

A cross-disciplinary approach involving a very wide range of consultants, sub contractors and property agents was the key to achieving high levels of sustainability in a new office building being constructed in west London. Ben Kochan reports.

The choice of construction materials and high levels of recycling  waste are helping a new shopping centre being built in St Austell achieve a Breeam ‘very good’ rating. Ben Kochan reports

The Council of EU Environment Ministers on 21 October held a debate on the action plan on sustainable production and consumption.

At this month’s EU Energy Council were both Geoff Hoon, Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury, and Ed Miliband, the new Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change – although credited in the Council minutes as Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

At the Ecodesign Regulatory Committee on 26 September, EU Member States endorsed the European Commission’s proposals for two Regulations aimed at reducing electricity consumption in Europe.

Gower MP Martin Caton tabled an early day motion seeking all newly procured public buildings to be in the top quartile of energy performance, in support of an amendment he tabled to the Climate Change Bill.