News

Eight of the UK's leading environmental groups have joined forces to urge political parties to adopt a joint approach on green issues.

They have produced a 10-point checklist of policies which they say are essential if the UK is to help protect the local and global environment.

The list includes a large investment in energy production and green transport.

It also calls for an end to airport expansion and a nationwide housing re-fit to boost energy efficiency.

Ed Miliband is asking people to vote for what they think the government’s top priority should be in tackling climate change.

Click here to choose one of the following:

1) the Prime Minister attending Copenhagen to help deliver a deal
2) doing more to provide home insulation in the UK
3) more government support to create green jobs

Devon County Council have committed a Match Fund to provide Schools and Colleges the capital to invest in Carbon Saving projects.

This Green Challenge Fund is a fantastic opportunity for Schools and Colleges to upgrade the Building Services and Fabric of their buildings, contributing to the reduction of climate damaging carbon dioxide emissions, reducing fuel bills and increasing the efficiency of their buildings.

We live in an old terraced house on a cloudy, rainy island. Yet the solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on our roof, put up two years ago, are supplying around 90% of all the electricity used by my family.

The initial cost is high, but don't let that put you off. Two key developments in recent months have made it worth considering solar PV panels.

The famous pilgrimage to Shirdi in Western India will soon include meals cooked by the world's largest solar thermal installation for steam cooking. Its estimated cost is at INR 13.3 million (approx. US$ 300,000), for which the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy provided a subsidy of INR 5.84 million (approx. US$ 130,000) to the temple's Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust.

SunPower Corp, a manufacturer of high- efficiency solar cells, solar panels and solar systems, today announced that its industry-leading solar cells will power PlanetSolar's new solar catamaran. The solar boat, currently under construction, is expected to be the largest of its kind and will be powered exclusively by SunPower's high-efficiency solar cells.

E.On the power and gas generating and distributing company has announced the launch of a new Sustainable Energy Fund.

The E.ON Sustainable Energy Fund offers grants of up to £20,000 to community groups and not for profit organisations who wish to consider and implement sustainable energy projects in their buildings.

Projects that can be considered include:

Many of us think we know how our local town or community can be improved but only some of us try to develop practical ideas to get things done, and too often, such initiatives falter because of lack of funding.

Now, if you are a local community group, local business, not for profit organisation or charity which has ideas on how to improve the Greater Dartmoor area, a new organisation may be able to help you.

As part of the UK Low Carbon Transition Plan the Government has announced the details of the proposed feed-in tariff for electricity generated through renewable energy systems, like solar photovoltaics.

The new tariff will pay for ALL electricity generated by your system, irrespective of if you use it yourself or sell it back to the grid. The amounts paid are in addition to any saving you will make by purchasing less electricity from your supplier and any income you earn from selling your surplus power to your electricity supplier.

The key points of the announcement are:

Loan schemes and finance for energy efficiency or renewable energy schemes are thin on the ground, so it's always good to hear about a new one. It's especially good to hear about a pioneering new approach that has the potential to be replicated around the country.