Wave power generator to be tested

A wave-power electricity generation device is to be tested off the coast of Southwold later this year.

The device, which consists of a floating platform moored to the floor which rises and falls with the waves, was developed by Essex-based Trident Energy and is being built by Lowestoft marine engineering firm Small and Co.

Trident Energy spokeswoman Kate Hill told the Eastern Daily Press: "Trident is looking to develop a marine renewable energy system and this machine uses quite simple technology. It has one moving part which sits on the sea and generates electricity from the movement of the waves."

She said there was not a firm trial date set yet but that it would probably take place in the autumn.

If successful, the device which is still in prototype stage, could generate enough electricity for 60,000 homes if used on a wave farm of less than half a square mile.

Other marine power devices, such as that installed in Argyll and Bute use the strong underwater currents to turn turbines.

Better to send waste to China than put it in landfill

It is more carbon efficient to send paper and plastic waste to China than it is to put it in a landfill, according to new research.

The Waste & Recycling Action Plan, a government-funded body, carried out the research and discovered that less carbon dioxide is emitted into the atmosphere by sending recycling waste to China, where it is used to make goods than in burying waste in a landfill and manufacturing new products from scratch.

About 4.7 million tonnes of used paper and 0.5 million tonnes of used plastic are exported, with China receiving half the paper and 80 per cent of the plastic.

The waste is being exported because recycling collection far exceeds the processing capacity of UK recycling facilities.

According to the study, the carbon emitted by transporting the material to China – which often takes place on containers that because of the trade balance would be returning to China empty anyway – was a third of the carbon that would be emitted procuring the paper and plastic from scratch.

Liz Goodwin, WRAP’s chief executive, said that recycling in the UK was still a preferable alternative.

She said: "WRAP will continue to build both the environmental and economic case for domestic recycling."

Hertfordshire pubs to launch green ale

Two Hertfordshire pubs are to become the first to launch a carbon-neutral ale.

The Three Hammers and King William IV in St Albans are to serve Adnams’ East Green cask ale in September.

The ale, which is grown from aphid resistant hops which require less pesticide than other varieties, has alcohol strength of 4.3 per cent.

An Energy Recovery System that recycles steam created during brewing and then recycles it to heat the brew also contributes to the ale’s green reputation.

The energy efficient brewery was developed in conjunction with the University of East Anglia’s carbon reduction team.

Some of the CO2 emissions from the plant are also offset.

Cilla Palmer, manager of the Three Hammers, said: "As a pub manager you get to hear about what matters to your guests and helping to preserve the environment certainly comes high up their agenda."

At the moment the ale is available only at Ember Inn pubs.

‘Very Good’ Eco Homes development opens

Residents of a new development that achieved Eco Homes ‘Very Good’ rating expressed their joy at moving into their new homes.

The £6 million development by Broadland Housing Association is to house over 250 people from the Breckland area, many of whom had been on a waiting list for some time, reports 24dash.

A total of 65 flats, houses and adapted bungalows were built with timber frame construction, which is more carbon efficient than other construction techniques.

It is also has a high insulating value, trapping heat and saving on energy costs.

Commenting on the opening Paul Claussen, Breckland Council’s executive member for housing and economic portfolio said: "I am particularly impressed with the quality and the energy efficiency levels anticipated at these new homes, as well as the care that has been taken to ensure the layout and design of the buildings are sympathetic to the area."

From April 1st the new standard for sustainability of new homes has been the Code for Sustainable Homes, which replaced the Eco Homes ratings.

Epping Forest recycling and waste up

Recycling and composting in Essex’s Epping Forest has risen and earned Audit Commission praise, although the council was also criticised for failing to reduce significantly the amount of waste collected.

The inspection revealed that the district council had boosted recycling and composting rate from 23.5 per cent in 2005-06 to 41.7 per cent in 2007-08.

Epping Forest’s kerbside collection service, which runs weekly during the summer and fortnightly at other times, was praised for the range of materials collected.

The borough uses a blue box for all glass bottles, and a clear recycling sack for plastic bottles, plastic food containers and plastic bags as well as cans, cardboard and papers.

However, the report said the authority had had "limited success" in waste minimisation and that the amount of waste collected per person had risen from 409 kilograms on 206-07 to 420 in 2007-08.

Letsrecycle.com reports that the commission said that "the council is not proactive in diverting waste from the waste stream or promoting waste minimisation".

Food recycling scheme extended

A food recycling trial in Norfolk is to be extended following a positive response from households involved.

Broadland District Council has been collecting ten tonnes of food waste a week from around 6,000 households and has announced plans to continue the scheme until at least 2010.

Food waste is collected and turned into compost at a facility in Brundall.

Andy Jarvis, Broadland District Council’s head of Environmental Services, told the Norwich Evening News: "It’s gone really well, the residents love it and I’m really pleased with it. The extra 18 months will allow us to do some more studies and analysis.

"We won’t know until after the next 18 months if we will roll it out due to a number of factors - costs, government review and the fact that there is not an awful lot of places where you can take the food waste to be processed. We’re currently going to a facility in south Norfolk."

Broadland also has 130 recycling sites, located in parishes and most main supermarkets.

East of England energy bills could rise to £1,500

Residents in the east of England may be looking to energy efficiency measures to protect them from rising electricity costs.

According to figures from uSwitch cited in the Eastern Daily Press, the average energy bill in the east of England could rise to £1,500.

Energywatch has reported that across the UK gas price hikes, such as those carried out by British Gas, Scottish and Southern Energy, EDF and E.On, have raised the average gas bill by 31 per cent this year.

As a consequence householders, who have been warned by business minister John Hutton that the "era of cheap energy is over" might decide to take steps to make their own homes more energy efficient.

The Energy Saving Trust suggests installing insulation as one of the easiest ways of reducing fuel consumption.

Ofgem also revealed recently that 187TW of electricity savings were made primarily as a result of a programme by energy companies of installing insulation.

Hunstanton gets turbine application

Although the masts and gently spinning turbines can be seen from Hunstanton, the town itself does not have any of the renewable energy devices, though that could change.

Tesco has applied for permission to build a "micro turbine" at a branch near the sea front, despite having a previous application for a full turbine in a car park at another site turned down.

Should the supermarket giant receive permission, the turbine will be the first to be put up on the southern side of The Wash, reports the Eastern Daily Press.

The East of England is rich in renewable energy and has been bidding to become a hub for clean technology in the UK.

With government target of cutting carbon emissions by 60 per cent in relation to the 1990 baseline, renewable energy is set to play an important role.

Last year business secretary John Hutton proposed the construction of offshore wind farms with the capacity to generate up to 33GW, enough to power 25 million homes.