Local community green schemes have been given an extra boost today, with the Government’s announcement that an extra £10 million of funding will be made available to boost energy efficiency and renewable energy generation. 

The Local Energy Assessment Fund (LEAF) scheme – which will be administered by the Energy Saving Trust – will give local community groups and organisations the opportunity to win up to £50,000 until the competition closes its doors at the end of March. Projects in England and Wales that are designed to encourage the uptake of energy efficiency and renewable energy generation are eligible to apply.

“We need to get green energy generation and energy efficiency into our communities. That’s why we are making £10million available for communities to help spur an energy revolution at a local level,” said energy secretary Chris Huhne.

That energy revolution will see the Government making massive changes to the country’s energy system, and the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) recognises how important it is to make sure local communities have the necessary funding available to help make that happen.

In addition to the LEAF scheme, another £20 million of extra funding has been set aside to increase the existing public sector energy efficiency loan scheme. The loans will cover the cost of energy efficiency projects, such as cavity wall and loft insulation, and will help to reduce the sector’s energy bills and emissions.

Community groups interested in applying for financial assistance through the LEAF scheme can find out more by ringing the advice line on 02920 467 015 or by visiting www.greencommunitiescc.org.uk

A new report has highlighted the enormous task the UK faces, if the country stands any chance of meeting its carbon emissions reduction targets through a massive ‘get Britain retrofit’ scheme. 

From now until 2050, one green makeover will need to be given every minute, otherwise the country will fail to meet its targets, reveals the Centre for Low carbon Futures report, which was compiled in conjunction with the Energy Saving Trust.

Given that around 45% of emissions come from existing buildings, of which 70% will still be standing come 2050, there’s no escaping the fact that getting Britain’s buildings retrofit is of the utmost importance.

According to the report, schemes like the Renewable Heating Incentive (RHI) and the Green Deal have gone some way to encouraging people to make improvements to the energy efficiency of their properties. However, in order to achieve an 80% cut in carbon emissions, more still needs to be done – and the urgency to do more and the challenge facing the built environment should not be overlooked

“Despite the best efforts to encourage households and industry to adopt low carbon solutions through regulation and incentive schemes, they are not achieving the step changes required,” explained Jon Price, director of the Centre for Low Carbon Futures.

Mr Price explained that a lack of knowledge and understanding of energy performance, coupled with the diversity of the country’s buildings would hinder the extensive retrofit plans because one size cannot fit all, as it were.

Government schemes like the Green Deal and the RHI are designed to encourage Britain’s home owners and businesses to become more energy efficient by implementing energy saving measures, such as installing energy efficient new boilers, cavity wall insulation, double glazing and green heating technologies like heat pumps and solar water heating. The Green Deal in particular should, in theory, totally revolutionise the energy efficiency of the UK’s housing stock.

A pioneering eco-village – a housing estate consisting of environmentally friendly properties located in the middle of nowhere – has failed to attract significant interest from private buyers, casting doubt over the commercial viability of greening Britain’s housing stock.

The eco-village, which is situated in Balvonie Braes, near Inverness, comprises 52 eco-friendly properties, of which 10 have been purchased under a co-ownership scheme and a further 10 have been occupied by housing association tenants. The remaining 32 properties have been put on the market for private sale.

Unfortunately, only four properties have sold since August, during which time the newly completed eco-village was put on display for public viewing, attracting thousands of people who were seemingly very keen on the idea of living in a purpose-built eco-home.

The properties built at Balvonie Braes offer several advantages, but perhaps none is more attractive to new buyers than energy efficiency. According to developers, some of the eco-homes can be heated for an entire year at a cost of £100 or less.

Energy efficiency is an important consideration for any prospective home buyer, not least because energy bills are expected to rise steadily over the next few years. Homeowners throughout Britain have employed various measures to control energy bills, which can be reduced by installing solar photovoltaic panels or cavity wall insulation. The homes at Balvonie Braes, however, include many environmentally friendly measures as standard.

So why are potential buyers looking elsewhere?

The issue might have little to do with energy efficiency and everything to do with price and location. Although situated close to the A9, the Balvonie Braes eco-village may be described as a little too remote for some buyers, whilst asking prices of around £300,000 for three-bed semi-detached properties is hardly representative of current market conditions.

Affordability and location are obviously more important to buyers than energy efficiency – and understandably so. The implications for developers and the local council, however, are potentially dire.

Highland councillor Roddy Balfour, who suggested the properties might not be as environmentally friendly as advertised, noted: “Exaggerated claims have been made about the design of the houses but the public have not wanted to buy any. Now we are stuck with these houses, which won’t sell”.

Aberdeenshire is to be home to Scotland’s first sustainable village, and the general public will be able to give their feeback during an open consultation period.  

Kincluny Village is aiming to be carbon neutral by providing affordable homes that benefit from renewable energy systems. To ensure the community is self-sufficient, residents will have the opportunity to work on-site, be it in local businesses or schools.

Built on a former quarry brownfield site, it will be the largest sustainable construction project of its kind, offering properties that will not only be affordable but desirable. With more than 1,500 homes being built – ranging in price from £90,000 to £500,000, it’s expected that 30% of the mixed tenure homes will be affordable for those on low incomes.

Kincluny is unlike any other development. It’s not all about the buildings. Bricks and mortar come later. It’s about creating a community where people want to live and work,” said Bill Burr, managing director at CHAP Homes.

“We’re excited about sharing our mission with the public during the consultation period. Their feedback is essential to further the vision,” he added.

The Robert Gordon University’s Centre for Understanding Sustainable Practices has been commissioned to provide research into water, sewage and renewables such as wind power.

Currently the north-east of Scotland is facing a housing shortage, and this project is set to pioneer a new era of housing developments.

Scottish Government Minister Alex Neil has pleaded for help from the UK in providing Scotland with a greener housing stock.

Mr Neil, the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment, has urged the UK Government to exert its influence over the banking sector to free up greater capital for ‘green’ mortgages.

Ahead of a Greener Homes Summit on the 23rd November at South Lanarkshire College, Mr Neil said: “Helping increase the uptake of more energy efficient homes would be a massive step on the way to beating fuel poverty.

“The financial institutions are missing a trick. They need to look to adapting their products by introducing green mortgages. They should recognise that new technologies are key to energy efficient homes and a vital element in economic recovery”.

The Scottish Minister added: “Existing and prospective homeowners should be encouraged and supported to invest in new forms of technology and energy efficient measures – and lenders need to be part of the solution by providing suitable home loans”.

Following the credit crunch of late 2007, few lenders in Scotland provide mortgages in the absence of sizeable deposits – around 25 per cent in many cases. Whilst Mr Neil’s pleas are surprisingly optimistic considering the frugality of the current UK Government, which earlier this month managed to all but destroy the solar industry, providing environmentally minded homeowners with financial incentives does make a great deal of sense.

Head of Policy at WWF Scotland, Dr Dan Barlow, noted: “Green mortgages with favourable interest rates could act as a great incentive for homeowners to invest in measures such as insulation to make their homes more energy efficient and protect themselves from rising energy bills. It is high time that the banking sector stepped up its efforts to support us all to green our homes”.

Whilst Scotland calls for help from Westminster, homeowners on either side of the border can improve the energy efficiency of their properties by installing loft insulation and cavity wall insulation. During the coldest months, homeowners could also save money by installing the Condensate Trace Heater Kit (produced by Multifit), which protects condensate pipes from freezing – a common occurrence in the greenest Scottish homes.

They may be one of the world’s most popular smartphone makers, but according to a survey, Research in Motion – the firm behind the brand – produces some of the most energy inefficient products on the market.

In Greenpeace’s Guide to Greener Electronics, Research in Motion (RIM) featured bottom of the list, signalled out as the world’s least greenest electronics firms.

The Canadian-based mobile phone maker featured for the first time in the environmental campaign group’s quarterly guide, which ranks the top 15 electronic companies in the world for their environmental policies and the green impact of the products they design and develop.

According to Greenpeace, the firm has no target in place to increase its uptake of renewable energy use. The absence of a clean electricity plan has incurred the production of  energy inefficient products.

The report, which was first introduced in August 2006, ranks companies according to their energy use and carbon footprint, as well as how eco-friendly their products are. Greenpeace also uses the guide as a means of putting pressure on technology manufacturers like RIM to encourage them to reduce the amount of toxic chemicals they use, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is a widely produced plastic, likened because it is cheap to produce and also very durable.

Speaking to the Guardian, a spokeswoman for BlackBerry maker RIM said they continue to improve their sustainability practices, and have a number of initiatives underway to help them achieve this.

Computer manufacturer DELL took second place, up from its previous 10th spot. The firm scored well for having the most ambitious climate targets, not least due to its ambitions to reduce emissions by 40% by 2020.

Panorama, the BBC’s popular current affairs TV show has been heavily criticised for it’s recent investigation into Britain’s rising energy bills.

The programme set out to look at the reasons why the country is being forced to deal with soaring energy costs, but since going to air on Monday evening, the show has come under fire for failing to address the issue of rising wholesale gas and electricity costs. Instead, Panorama focused the blame onto the uptake of renewable energy.

An article in the Guardian, written by environment correspondent Damian Carrington, has heaped criticism on the BBC investigation, with Mr Carrington saying:

“There was a vast, astonishing and utterly unforgivable hole at the heart of the BBC Panorama TV show on Monday, which claimed to be investigating what has caused energy bills in the UK to soar in recent years: the rising wholesale cost of gas and electricity.”

Instead, the show’s reporter, Tom Heap, claimed that renewables, and essentially offshore wind farms, was the main contributing factor. The Panorama programme failed to address the fact that wholesale energy costs have continued to rise, and that the price of this winter’s gas is around 40% higher compared to last winter’s. According to energy regulator Ofgem, these wholesale costs make up 56% of home energy bills, which is far and away the biggest single factor.

The programme was partly based on the ‘Thinking About the Affordable’ energy report from accountancy firm KPMG. But the renewables industry has hit back at the inaccurate energy report, saying the publication is flawed and misleading. The report claims that favouring cheaper nuclear and gas-fired power stations over wind energy would save every person in the UK around £550.

The Guardian also criticised Panorama’s failure to reveal that energy consumers would only have to pay around £20 a year for all renewables subsidies. By including all Government levies for schemes to increase energy efficiency and alleviate fuel poverty the cost rises to about £80 a year which is far less, when you compare it to the £170 increase in the average gas bill since last year, thanks to  the rise in wholesale prices.

In response, reporter Tom Heap said Carrington’s “vast, shocking hole” refers to figures based on current costs. Heap pointed out that the programme was clearly focused on future bills.

“Damian Carrington’s description of this week’s Panorama is strident, inaccurate and also reveals a big green blind spot: renewable technologies are currently expensive and demand subsidy,” hit back Heap.

“Panorama did not lay all the blame for likely price rises at the green door. A large chunk of the programme was spent explaining how old power stations needed replacing and pricey or volatile foreign gas is mentioned three times,” he added.

As contentious issues go, this one is unlikely to run out of steam anytime soon.

Under the Renewable Heat Premium Payment (RHPP) scheme, funding for social landlords to install renewable heating technologies has been increased to £4 million.

The announcement was made at yesterday’s Solar Power UK 2011 conference in Birmingham, with Greg Barker, the Minister for Energy and Climate Change confirming that funding set aside for social housing has been increased by 33%.

In August, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) launched the RHPP, the first phase of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme. An initial pot of £3 million was made available, and housing associations and local authorities were invited to bid for up to £175,000 to help off set the installation costs of renewable heating equipment.

According to the energy minister, 34 projects had made successful applications, but he added that overall interest in the scheme had been somewhat disappointing.

“Take up under the RHPP is marginally slower than expected, particularly for solar thermal, and I would urge you all to embrace this scheme which is due to finish at the end of March next year,” he said.

Technologies eligible under the RHPP range from air source heat pumps and biomass boilers, to ground source heat pumps and solar water heating.

If you’re a builder, renovator or simply someone interested in making your home greener and more energy efficient, then the Big Green Home Show is going to be right up your street.

A one stop shop for eco and sustainable help and advice for the thousands who visit, the Big Green Home Show 2011 is held annually at the National Self Build & Renovation Centre in Swindon.

Catering for all your eco-friendly needs, the three-day exhibition plays host to a wide range of industry experts who can help you find ways to reduce your energy needs. Offering impartial and comprehensive advice, the Big Green Home Show is dedicated to people keen to reap the benefits of a more eco-friendly and sustainable home.

The best and brightest experts in the renewable energy industry will be in attendance. From the Renewable Heat Incentive and the Feed-in Tariff, to solar PV systems and ground source heat pumps, industry experts will be on hand to deliver a packed schedule of seminars, lectures and presentations to held guide you through the maze of eco options available. There’s even a walking tour – undoubtedly one of the most unique elements of the exhibition – which is designed to give visitors an in-depth understanding of the sustainable building and eco technology options currently available.

“You will find free expert advice and guidance on the essential eco elements along with a wealth of seminars, products, new technology, systems and services, all on hand and designed to help you achieve an energy efficient and more sustainable home,” explains Verdi Taylor, from the National Self Build & Renovation Centre.

“It’s the UK’s brightest eco exhibition, and could help you save pounds as well as the planet.”

Now in its fourth year, the Big Green Home Show exhibition will take place at Swindon’s National Self Build & Renovation Centre from 28 – 30 October, 2011.

For more information, or to obtain free tickets, visit www.biggreenhomeshow.co.uk

Greenhouse gas emissions in Europe are on the increase but despite the rise the EU remains on track to meet set targets to cut gas emissions by 2020.

According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), last year gas emissions increased by 2.4%, compared to a 7% drop in 2009. The rise is being attributed to a return to economic growth, coupled with a cold harsh winter, which caused more people to put their heating on.

Under the Kyoto Protocol – which is aimed at fighting global warming – the industrialised countries which have committed themselves to the initiative, must meet individual targets to cut their greenhouse gas emissions and to keep the EU on track. The protocol was established in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997, and is based on principles set out in a framework agreement signed in 1992.

“Alongside renewable energy or energy efficiency, efforts to reduce water pollution from agriculture also led to emission reductions,” commented Professor Jacqueline McGlade, executive director of the EEA.

“This experience shows we can reduce emissions further if we consider the climate impacts of various policies more systematically,” she added.

The 15 member states that committed themselves to the Protocol have successfully manged to reduce their emissions by 10.7% on 1990 levels. By beating the 8% target that was originally set, it means the EU remains in a good position to meet its goal.