An hour a week could help save the planet

An hour a week could help save the planet

Even a small amount of time devoted to environmental issues can mean big pay back, says research from Envirowise

One hour a week - it doesn’t sound like much, but that’s all the time companies in the East of England need to start reducing their impact on the Environment.

The suggestion comes as business owners across the region reveal they are struggling to fund the time to consider the effect their company is having on the environment.

A third of those East of England SMEs surveyed by Sustainable Business Experts Envirowise claim they can only devote an hour a week or less to taking action on environmental issues, with a further fifth saying they have no time at all to spare.

Yet even a small amount of time is enough for a company to put in place quick and easy-to-implement measures that can help the environment and most, importantly from a commercial perspective save some money.

The Envirowise Regional Manager for the East of England makes some suggestions: “There are all kinds of simple improvements that can be made with sixty minutes to invest. For instance, why not quickly check the water pipes at work for leaks and make a phone call for them repaired? Office could start a scrap paper pile which staff could use when they need rough paper for note taking, set printers to print double-sided, or add a ‘think before you print’ reminder to email sign-offs to discourage needless printing.

Those companies that feel they can devote more time to resource efficiency measures can set themselves bigger targets. For instance, with a day a week businesses could look into setting up a more structured environmental management system, which would allow them to demonstrate their sustainable credentials to customers and competitors.

The Regional Manager adds “No matter what the time available, the most important thing for any company to ensure is that hey have a dedicated member of staff who looks after environmental issues, and our research showed that over two thirds of businesses in the East of England do not have one. This could be a senior business manager, but it could very well be a more junior member of staff who has the time allocated to encourage his or her colleagues to help make the changes work.”

Further suggestions for what local companies could do in the time they have available include:

One hour a week available:

• Nominate a champion who takes up the environmental challenge and encourages staff to members to make suggestions on what improvements can be made
• Contact your suppliers and ask them to look at reducing their transport packaging so you have to less to dispose of

One day a month available:

• If you are office-based, order a copy of the Envirowise ‘Green Officiency’ toolkit and start to work through its four stages to be more resource efficient workplace
• Contact your landlord and ask about water ‘hippos’ - placing these in each toilet system saves water with each flush.

One day a week available:

• Begin a review of suppliers you work with, to ensure they have their own robust environmental policies
• Consider whether you are eligible to work towards a formal environmental standard such as the IEMA Acorn Scheme or IS0 14001

Envirowise offers a package of free advice to companies across the region, to help them understand resource efficiency and take appropriate action, which can have both environmental and economic benefits. For information on all levels of help please visit www.envirowise.gov.uk or call the Envirowise Advice Line on 0800 585 794.

From: http://www.envirowise.gov.uk/uk/Press-Office/Press-Releases/East-of-England/An-hour-a-week-could-help-save-the-planet.html

Wireless energy management system makes it easy to spot spikes in usage

Wireless telemetry specialist Radio-Tech has developed an energy management system to enable organisations to monitor and ultimately reduce their energy consumption.

The company’s wireless data capture technology allows for 24/7 monitoring of remote assets and consumption of water, electricity and gas; regular reports on consumption allow usage to be cut, reducing both bills and environmental impact.

The Carbon Trust, the independent body set up by the government to combat the threat of climate change, highlights the importance of automatic meter reading in its document How to monitor your energy use: “Automatic meter reading systems provide accurate and timely data with the minimum of effort. These systems make it easy to take readings in real time and therefore identify savings opportunities quickly. They often pay for themselves in under a year.”

Radio-Tech provides a range of radio telemetry products ideal for sub-metering applications (where organisations wish to measure energy consumption within particular areas of their sites). Low-power radio transmitters and data concentrators allow simple collection of metering data. Whether data is being collected from individual occupiers of commercial sites or different areas of a business, consumption and usage can be monitored remotely, accurately and securely.

Radio-Tech’s market-leading technology not only includes meter reading but also network sensors that relay operationally beneficial data, such as humidity and temperature, to the central database. Core to the wide area product portfolio are the retrofittable pulse transmitters that have a range of 2km, or 12km if used with a repeater.

They can be used in the UK on Radio-Tech’s exclusively licensed 153.100MHz band, or an alternative product range is available for use in Europe on the 169MHz ERMES band. A range of receivers is also available to interface transmitters with existing building management systems.

The hardware will output to Radio-Tech’s own or third-party software, and benefits from a 10-year battery life.

For further information please email Radio-Tech Ltd 

From:http://www.edie.net/news/news_story.asp?id=16900&channel=0

Carbon Trust launches UK bid for breakthrough in fuel cell technology

An example of fuelcell technology - Pearl bicycle

“Critical moment” as new analysis shows $180bn global market potential

The Carbon Trust is today launching a UK bid for a breakthrough in fuel cell technology, which could open up a global fuel cell market worth over $180 billion by 2050, according to new analysis. 

The “Polymer Fuel Cells Challenge” aims to accelerate the commercialisation of breakthrough UK technology that could see the mainstream cost effective (mass) production of fuel cell powered cars and buses, as well as providing electricity and heat in homes and business. These kinds of mass market applications could be saving the UK up to 7 million tonnes of CO2 a year in 2050, equivalent to taking two million of today’s cars off the road.

Launching the initiative, Dr Robert Trezona, Head of Research and Development at the Carbon Trust, said: “Fuel cells have been ten years away from a real breakthrough for the past 20 years. This is a critical moment for UK fuel cell technology as emerging markets combine with technology cost breakthroughs to create a golden opportunity to launch world-beating products onto a massive global market.  Our initiative aims to drive forward the commercialisation of the UK’s unique fuel cell expertise which will play a crucial role in the UK’s Clean Tech Revolution both cutting carbon and creating jobs and economic value.”

The initiative aims to deliver the critical reduction in fuel cell system costs that must be achieved to make mass market deployment a reality. New Carbon Trust analysis shows that if substantial cuts can be achieved, the global market could be worth over $26bn in 2020 and over $180bn in 2050. The UK share of this market could be $1bn in 2020 rising to $19bn in 2050.

David Hart, Head of Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Research, Centre for Energy Policy and Technology, Imperial College, said: “For many years fuel cell and hydrogen technologies have been expected to become a cornerstone of a low-carbon, more efficient energy system, but the cost, durability and performance of current fuel cell systems remain unattractive in most applications. The Polymer Fuel Cells Challenge is an exciting opportunity to address these issues with a fresh perspective and co-ordinated approach to make polymer fuel cells an everyday commercial reality.”

Celia Greaves, Fuel Cells UK, said: “We warmly welcome the Carbon Trust’s new Polymer Fuel Cells Challenge. The UK is home to a number of world class fuel cell companies and research centres, and substantive IP has already been created in this area. Initiatives such as this from the Carbon Trust are vital to strengthening the UK’s position and ensuring that the UK is innovative and remains competitive in this growing global industry.”

Current fuel cell system costs are still too high by a factor of at least ten for widespread uses. These costs could be brought down in the future through volume production, but projections show that even then, with today’s technology, costs would remain too high by 30-40% for most markets. The Polymer Fuel Cells Challenge will aim to support those breakthroughs that will allow high-volume costs to come down by 35%, making fuel cell systems attractive for mass markets.

Fuel cells efficiently convert the chemical energy contained in a fuel directly into electricity - they produce electricity like a battery but are fuelled like an engine or a boiler. Fuel cells are already marketed around the world, with sales growing at over 60% a year - they are used to power forklift trucks, mobile phone masts or provide power in camper vans. However, they currently remain too expensive to be more widespread.

By 2030, polymer fuel cells worldwide could be saving every year more CO2 than the UK will emit.

The £8 million Polymer Fuel Cell Challenge will be split into two phases.  A call for proposals opening today (http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/fuelcells) will lead to the selection of up to three novel ideas, offering up to £1m per project to further develop and prove them. If one of these demonstrates its potential for lower-cost fuel cell systems, the Carbon Trust will then co-invest up to £5m in the technology to develop it commercially.

From:http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/News/presscentre/091009_Polymer_fuelcell_challenge.htm

East Midlands EXPO 2009 - Greening the Economy

The sessions will take place during the afternoon of the East Midlands EXPO and will be introduced and managed by a facilitator, who will provide feedback and provoke discussion to the audience throughout the afternoon.

Each talk will take place at a table seating around 10-12 delegates, with 4 sessions throughout the afternoon. If a presenter is only taking part in one session then anyone who wants to hear from that presenter will have to make that their priority.

For more information about the ‘15 Minutes of Fame’ sessions please visit the 15 Minutes of Fame webpage. This page includes information on how to reserve your place for the sessions.

Hydrogen powered car could be built in Peterborough

Hydrocar H2

Peterborough is on the road to becoming the home of a futuristic car.

Discussions are ongoing as to where the new hydrogen-powered Riversimple car will be built and today manufacturers said that Peterborough was high on the list for a manufacturing base.

The city could also become home to a 50 vehicle pilot scheme in 2012 to test how successful the two seater cars would be on the roads.

Peterborough is top of list because of its close proximity to the Midlands, where Riversimple is based and because of its flat roads. 

Chief designer Hugo Spowers said: “We are delighted at the level of support we have received in Peterborough and will certainly look forward to entering further discussions. There will certainly be a case for the plant being in the same region as the pilot scheme.

Using state-of-the-art technology, the car will only produce water emissions - but will still have a range of more than 300 miles per gallon.

The news that Peterborough is still in the running to manufacture and test the new car was welcomed by the deputy leader of Peterborough City Council and cabinet member for environment capital and culture, Matthew Lee.

He said: “Hydrogen-powered cars are the future of the automotive industry and I would be delighted if they could be produced and manufactured in Peterborough. It would be a major boost for the city from a commercial point of view and in our drive to be the UK’s environmental capital.

From: http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/Hydrogenpowered-car-could-be-built.5638335.jp

“Make do and mend” costs British businesses £3bn a year

The Carbon Trust could help your business get that new computer that you need.

Theo Paphitis and the Carbon Trust launch scrappage scheme for power-guzzling equipment.

British businesses are being forced to “make do and mend” with old, inefficient equipment, as over half (52%), don’t have the money to upgrade it. Over half of small and medium-sized businesses (60%) wait until their equipment breaks down completely before replacing it.

The problem is costing businesses as much as £3.3bn a year in wasted energy according to the Carbon Trust. It was revealed in a survey of 1,500 small and medium-sized businesses at the launch, by Dragon’s Den star Theo Paphitis, of Carbon Trust’s Big Business Refit Campaign.

The aim of the Big Business Refit is to call on all UK businesses to scour their premises for old equipment, from air conditioners to fridges, compressors to factory machinery. With interest-free funding available to replace equipment, leading to average energy savings of 15%, and no security required, it’s an unbelievable deal.

Big Business Refit runs until 31 March 2010. It offers advice on identifying old equipment, and guidance on suitable replacements in clinics in UK cities, including London, Birmingham, Manchester and Belfast. Business can get expert advice, a free energy saving assessment, or apply for interest free funding by calling 01865 885879, or visiting http://www.bigbusinessrefit.co.uk/

The survey shows that around half of businesses are missing out on the opportunity to reduce bottom line costs through energy efficiency. 

Over half (57%) have resorted to staff cuts to save cash.

Nearly half (46%) are unaware that they can cut energy costs by replacing old equipment.

Nearly half (41%) have accepted higher energy bills as a fixed cost, preferable to paying the upfront cost of replacing old equipment.

Yorkshire-based Flexible Packaging Printers, Roberts Mart & Co Ltd has already saved by scrapping its old equipment.

Ben Roberts, Sales Director, said: “We’ve taken advantage of two Carbon Trust loans, totalling over £300,000, to replace printing press drying systems, a boiler and lighting. As a result, we’re saving around 130,000 a year on our energy bills, plus around 900 tonnes of CO2. The Carbon Trust loans scheme has been a simple and effective way for us to modernise our business, and reduce costs in the recession.”

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), the Institute of Directors (IoD), the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), the Mayor of London, and the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) have all pledged their support for the Carbon Trust’s Big Business Refit.

David Caro, FSB Energy & Environment Chairman, said: “Due to their size, small businesses are in a unique position to adopt energy efficiency measures more easily and quickly than their larger counterparts. However, small business owners are often limited by time constraints and are not always aware of where and how to access advice on how to green. The support of the Carbon Trust can help small businesses play their part in being energy efficient and cutting costs, saving money and boosting their own enterprise.”

Miles Templeton, Director General, Institute of Directors, said: “The Carbon Trust’s loan scheme gives small businesses access to the capital they need to unlock their future growth potential.”

Gareth Elliott, Senior Environment Policy Adviser, British Chambers of Commerce, said: “In the current downturn cash is king and the first place struggling businesses should look to redeem cash is in their business premises where it’s possible to eliminate energy wastage. The Carbon Trust loans scheme offers a practical solution for business survival through energy efficiency and we’d encourage businesses across the UK to take advantage of the funding available.”

The Carbon Trust’s unsecured, interest-free loans can be used for equipment replacements costing between £3,000 and £400,000. The loans are designed to pay for themselves through direct energy savings, so that once the loan was repaid, savings go straight to the bottom line. With a total of £100m in funding available, the Big Business Refit is expected to help up to 3,000 UK SMEs save a total of £40m from their annual energy costs.

About the Energy Efficiency Loans scheme

Energy Efficiency loans are available to businesses meeting one, or both, of the following criteria:

Companies that meet the EU definition of a small or medium-sized enterprise, i.e. companies with less that 250 employees and a turnover of under £42m at today’s exchange rate). Companies that are not eligible to participate in the Carbon Reduction Commitment, i.e. companies consuming less than 6,000MWh of half hourly metered electricity. This typically equates to an annual electricity spend of £500,000.

All loans are unsecured, interest-free and repayable over a period of up to 4 years. The minimum loan size has recently been reduced from 5,000 to 3,000 whilst the maximum size has been increased from £200,000 to £400,000 to help more businesses secure funding in the recession. There are no arrangement fees and applying is straightforward. For more information please visit http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/loans

From: http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/News/presscentre/big-business-refit.htm

Carbon Trust Energy Management Workshops

Carbon Trust Energy Management Workshops

20^th October - 22^nd October

England, London - 20^th October
England, Birmingham - 21^st October
England, Manchester - 22^nd October

One day free workshop will be packed full of of practical advice, hints and tips on how to save your company energy and money.

If you are responsible for facility management, general financial management or are interested at all in learning about energy management for your organisation you should come to one of our workshops.

This is an ideal introduction to energy saving that will be of benefit to
your organisation.

AM Session: 09:00 - 13:00: Introduction to Energy Management

• Analysing your energy bill
• Raising staff awareness
• Simple no-cost and low-cost steps to reducing energy spend

PM Session: 13:00 - 16:25: Intermediate Energy Management

• Monitoring your energy consumption
• Various metering and monitoring techniques
• Reporting on and maintaining your energy saving initiatives

Both Sessions: 09:00 - 16:25

Book by visiting https://www.carbontrust.co.uk/events/Energy-Management-Workshops.htm

Improving IT cuts power costs

Improving IT cuts power costs

On average companies can cut their power use and reduce costs by about 17% if they make sure their IT is up to date, according to a new report.

The report Energy Efficient IT issued by the CDW Corporation for the 2^nd year running surveyed 752 IT professionals in business, government & education.

The survey found organisations are doing more to improve energy efficiency in IT compared to 2008, and as a result, are finding ‘significant savings’ in their energy bills.

However, CDW also found energy efficiency became less of a consideration in the IT purchase year-on-year. 

The report goes on to say there are ‘recessionary pressures’ to reduce equipment costs, even at the expense of greater longer-term energy savings.

CDW vice president, Mark Gambill, said: “IT executives appear to be caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place.

“Under extreme budget pressure in a recessionary economy, their number one IT purchasing concern is the current cost of equipment & services, which can put a damper on efforts towards lowering total cost of operations.

While IT executives are trying to do the right thing - buy the best technology with the right capabilities at the best price - some may sacrifice greater long-term savings from reduced energy-use by downgrading the importance of energy efficiency in the purchase equation.”

From: http://www.edie.net/news/news_story.asp?id=16953&channel=1&title=Improving+IT+cuts+power+costs+