As the finer points of the Copenhagen climate talks are analysed in detail, it has become clear that at least two of the decisions made at the summit are unlikely to benefit either the planet or its peoples. Unfortunately, the EU’s green political posturing of late has amounted to very little in the way of definitive action.

In particular, the EU has decided to scrap its plans to cut carbon emissions across its member states by 30% by 2020. Disappointingly, the EU chose not to pursue a 30% reduction in carbon emissions over the next ten years because other countries failed to follow suit.

Amid various political debates, economic deals, side interests, subplots and counter strategies, it would appear that the main point of the Copenhagen talks took a back seat to less relevant issues. Although the main details of the summit are still being picked apart, it would appear that the Copenhagen talks ended in abject failure in terms of countries uniting with the aim of reversing climate change – a result that may have sealed the fate of future generations.

More relevant to domestic energy consumers of this day and age, the talks have also led to the possibility, if not probability, that energy prices will soar even higher than previously predicted.

Two major energy suppliers in the UK, E.ON and Centrica, have warned that the fallout from the EU’s decision to scrap its ambitious carbon emission targets will likely result in higher domestic energy bills. Following the EU’s limp response to the narrow-minded and short-sighted policies of other countries, the cost of carbon, which is paid by heavy polluters, was cut by almost 10% on Sunday on Europe’s emissions trading market. The current carbon price of €12 per tonne of carbon is far from the €40 per tonne required to make building new nuclear reactors financially viable. As stressed by E.ON and Centrica, unless action is taken to raise carbon prices, the cost of going green will be pushed even further onto consumers.

Osmosis power generation plantDomestic energy consumers are aware fuel bills are set to soar in future. Unfortunately, fuel poverty is already a term used to describe countless homes throughout the UK, which is bracing itself for one of the leanest winters in living memory as the effects of the recession and higher fuel costs combine to reduce the affordability of central heating.

One of the key reasons why domestic energy bills are expected to rise in the near future is the UK Government’s heavy reliance on wind farms, solar energy and nuclear energy is likely to be subsidised by both taxpayers and energy users. In other words, almost everybody.

Environmentalists and other such lobbyists are constantly in search of greener and cheaper ways in which energy can be produced in the UK. However, it may be worth looking at a European neighbour for inspiration, as Norway has recently established the world’s first prototype Osmosis power plant. Osmosis refers to a process that occurs naturally in plant organisms, which describes the diffusion of water particles through semi-permeable membranes.

The Osmosis test plant near Oslo works using an artificial membrane that separates fresh and salt water, the former of which is drawn towards the latter to create a pressurised flow on the seawater side. This pressure is then used to drive a turbine, which in turn produces electricity. In theory, the Osmosis facility in Norway represents an ideal green technology, as it produces zero carbon emissions. Furthermore, around 25 megawatts of electricity can be generated in a relatively small Osmosis facility. Unfortunately, as with most other methods of harnessing renewable energy, the costs associated with Osmosis are extremely high in terms of generating a profit. Indeed, as the world nudges closer and closer to an environmental catastrophe, humanity’s best efforts to avoid it are facing the highest financial penalties.

Those of a certain age will remember the many problems caused when the coal industry was effectively brought to an end in Britain, although today’s reduced domestic output offers a number of advantages insofar as the environment is concerned. However, domestic and imported coal continues to fuel much of the UK’s electricity demands and the fossil fuel is also important for those consumers who rely on central heating systems that are fed by natural open fires with back boilers.

As the world’s governments continue to thrash out plans to reduce global carbon emissions, the importance of coal has been undermined by green lobbyists but remains central to energy production throughout the world.

Fortunately, it seems that the dirty business of generating biofuel from coal is set for a green makeover. Indeed, scientists working at the Columbia University have developed a more efficient and environmentally friendly way to go about gasification, which refers to the process of producing syngas – hydrogen and carbon monoxide – from heated organic matter. The production of biofuels through gasification, however, emits vast quantities of carbon dioxide as a by-product and large amounts of solid waste materials are also produced.

However, Marco Castaldi’s team of researchers has discovered a more efficient way in which to go about gasification: an approach that could have a hugely positive effect on meeting energy efficiency targets. Indeed, the team has discovered that adding carbon dioxide to the gasifier at the steam heating stage produces more useful syngas from the same quantity of coal. Furthermore, the carbon dioxide that is required to improve efficiency in this way can be sourced from that which is given off by the gasification process. In short, it is estimated that the refined process could eliminate 437 tonnes of greenhouse gases, which is the equivalent of removing 308 million vehicles from the roads.

The Reheat Britain Campaign is an initiative devised by Mick Williams of Williams and Co., a plumbers’ merchant in the South of England, aiming to scrap old and inefficient boilers in Britain. Inspired by the UK Government’s car ’scrappage’ scheme, Reheat Britain hopes to turn British domestic central heating into an altogether more efficient and environmentally friendly industry.

Indeed, the Reheat Britain Campaign claims around 4.5 million old and inefficient boilers are in active service throughout the UK. Such boilers are thought to be rated at less than 70% efficiency, although the precise figures are significantly skewed by various factors, including service history, condition and state of installation and maintenance.

It is thought millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions can be eliminated by replacing these 4.5 million old boilers with modern condensing gas boilers and controls. Furthermore, old boilers are notoriously fuel hungry, so domestic energy users living with such dinosaurs, which were built in an age that did not fully recognise the importance of global warming, will most likely be losing considerable amounts of money on them. The Energy Saving Trust has argued that around £200 could be saved each year on annual fuel bills by upgrading to condensing boilers offering an efficiency rating of 90% or more.

Although the Reheat Britain Campaign is not officially endorsed by the Government – nor is it backed financially by large corporations or energy companies – it essentially aims to raise sufficient awareness in order to bring about change. Any political development of the campaign would likely result in a cash incentive for those replacing old boilers. Promisingly, ministers are beginning to warm to the idea of Reheat Britain, which has attracted the approval of some 53 MPs, one of whom includes the current Parliamentary Under Secretary for the Department of Energy and Climate Change, Joan Ruddock MP.

A petition for the scrappage scheme has been created at www.number10.gov.uk here so please sign-up here

UPDATE: The Boiler Scrappage Scheme has been announced.

There is much controversy surrounding the emergence of vegetable oil as a fuel source for domestic power stations. Blue-NG’s vegetable oil power station in Beckton, East London, has been lauded and derided in equal measure. On the one hand, deriving electricity from vegetable oil is seen as an effective, efficient and environmentally friendly process attracting twice the amount of public funding as that of wind turbines.

On the other, the process of harvesting crops for the production of vegetable oil to be used as a fuel source is often forgotten in terms of its human impact. Biofuelwatch has calculated the land required to harvest sufficient rapeseed oil for one power plant could otherwise feed some 35,000 people annually, which will become a more significant issue in years to come as food poverty worsens.

Vegetable oil power stations burning rapeseed oil are thought to produce more carbon emissions than those burning traditional fossil fuels. Moreover, any vegetable oil power station that uses soya or palm oil over rapeseed oil will produce even higher carbon emissions. A report by Wetlands International suggests 33 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions are released into the atmosphere for every tonne of palm oil used to create electricity, which is some ten times greater than that of petroleum.

However, rapeseed oil power stations such as Blue-NG can produce around 153,541 MWh of electricity annually, which is sufficient to power some 45,000 homes. There also appears to be confusion over whether burning rapeseed oil as a combined fuel source is actually worse or better for the environment in terms of carbon emissions. What is certain is the opposing views on the subject are similar to many others affecting green energy initiatives, which are by no means gaining in popularity among those in positions of power.

Despite frequent and vocal noises made by the UK Government that the country is committed to a greener future in which nuclear, solar, wind, tidal and geothermal technologies will be utilised in order to reduce and eventually eliminate the dependence on fossil fuels – notably oil and coal – it is clear that not everybody is listening.

In fact, this issue is not limited to the UK, as a recent survey by the Pew Research Centre for the People & the Press suggests that only 57% of Americans accept that climate change is a scientific reality.

Of course, the ever-growing gap in the Earth’s ozone layer is testament to the seeds of change that industrialised humanity has sown. Nevertheless, people and, more importantly, the major international energy companies are often reluctant to make changes to a format that has served modern man well, both in terms of providing reliable energy and lining the pockets of energy executives.

However, the UK Government’s call for change is apparently so weak that the leading energy companies in the country are planning to push forth with their plans to build new coal-fired power stations. Although such initiatives will no doubt increase jobs and stabilise local communities in the grip of a lingering recession, burning yet more fossil fuels to meet domestic energy demands is undoubtedly a backwards step in ecological terms.

Therefore, plans to build some 30 new coal-fired power stations are seen as a direct affront to both the UK Government and the ensuing environmental catastrophe, which is why protesters ascended chimneys of the Didcot Power Station earlier yesterday morning. Indeed, the Didcot site, which is operated by RWE npower, is seen as the latest battleground in a war that promises to last for many years to come as the increased demand for cheaper fuel conflicts with the need to prevent an ecological disaster.

According to the non-governmental organisation, Global Witness, renowned for uncovering the so-called ‘blood diamond’ trade in Africa, the world’s fascination with and reliance upon oil is set for disaster. After two years of investigation, Global Witness has released its ‘Heads in the Sands‘ report, detailing the coming struggles facing humanity in the context of oil supply and demand.

In particular, the report highlights the facts that global oil production had ceased to grow between 2005 and 2008, production has outstripped new oil discoveries since 1984 and the biggest year of new oil discoveries was back in 1965. Added to these unsavoury facts, Global Witness argues oil reserves such as those found in Canada’s tar sands simply will at best yield only enough oil to plug the gaps left by depleting resources worldwide.

Of course, as oil production continues to grow, the depletion of existing resources can only escalate. Thus, according to the Heads in the Sands report, the global production of oil will sooner or later be notable for its declining output, declining new discoveries and increased demand. Unfortunately, these points lead to higher prices and, worse still, global oil shortages. Worryingly, conservative estimates produced by the International Energy Agency (IEA) suggest by 2015, there will be a gap between the supply and demand of oil of some 7 million barrels per day, which is approximately 8% of the anticipated global demand. In other words, the world is fast running out of oil.

Nevertheless, the major oil companies are continuing to spend vast sums on finding new sources of oil, which may never be found according to Global Witness. In a world that is already thought to be heading for climatic catastrophe due to the use of non-renewable forms of energy, it would seem, one way or another, oil will soon be relegated to history.

No, don’t worry, there are precious few coal mines left to close. In fact, the current Conservative party, headed by the bicycle loving David Cameron, this week outlined its energy and climate change policies. Under the so-called ‘green deal’, every UK homeowner would benefit from an allowance of up to £6,500 to make their homes more energy efficient.

This may involve the installation of solar panels, upgrading the central heating system or fitting double glazing. In short, the green deal aims to provide homeowners with a cash injection so they are able to make a green contribution to the country’s carbon emission targets.

Domestic energy (power and heating) accounts for some 27% of the UK’s carbon emissions, so it seems sensible a future Conservative government would want to target homeowners, many of whom will be keen to accept the £6,500 allowance, to address the bigger picture. Of course, the Conservative plans are similar to those of the current Labour Government, which is in itself fairly unsurprising. Furthermore, following recent claims by Professor David MacKay, the Government’s new chief energy scientist, the UK is among the top three polluters in historical terms, it is clear that the country has an obligation to make significant environmentally friendly changes.

In fact, according to the Stockholm Environment Institute, it is estimated the average UK citizen is responsible for 15 tonnes per year of embedded carbon emissions, whilst the average Chinese person only pollutes some 3.1 tonnes annually. Ironically, the Conservative proposals also include the approval of coal-fired  power stations worth around 5GW of electricity. These power stations will comprise carbon capture and storage technology to reduce carbon emissions by a further 90% whilst providing a relatively clean form of power that will be available for domestic energy consumers.

The UK’s green energy targets have been widely derided as lacking ambition or not sufficiently aggressive to make a difference to global warming. Indeed, the facts remain that the hole in the ozone layer is expanding at an alarming rate, having increased in size from 130,000 sq km to 25,000,000 sq km in the past thirty years.

Whilst supranational agreements are sought on climate change, domestic energy consumers have been made aware of their obligations to help reverse the effects of global warming by reducing the size of their carbon footprints . In fact, many energy companies now offers customers the opportunity to purchase high efficiency condensing boilers and  electricity that has been generated entirely from clean, renewable sources. However, those aforementioned substandard renewable energy targets of the UK Government are actually proving to be more ambitious than first thought, but for the wrong reason.

Unfortunately, whilst critics continue to condemn the Government’s apparently half-hearted efforts to reverse climate change, those efforts are in themselves failing. Indeed, generating clean electricity from wind power is one of the driving forces behind the UK’s green energy strategy, yet the recent closure of the Vestas turbine manufacturing plant, which would have been involved in much of the development of new wind turbine plants in Britain, has blown the wind out of its sails. Faced with the prospect of a failing strategy that is already derided as insufficient, Gordon Brown PM aims to recapture the initiative by holding talks with Peter Löscher, the chief executive of Siemens, which only last week received a Government grant of £1.1m to help develop an offshore wind power converter. The prime objective of the talks is to convince Siemens, which is yet to commit to more extensive green energy developments in the country, that Britain is an attractive option for such business.

If you have a wood burner or a combustion stove, you may be interested in a nifty little device that turns old newspapers into paper logs! Showcased (quite aptly) by the Guardian Newspaper, in their Eco Store section, a Newspaper Log Maker is the ideal way to recycle and reuse old newspapers as a source of home heating.

The cost of this environmentally friendly product, comes in at a credit crunch busting £30 and like everything these days, can be conveniently ordered online. The Log Maker is surprisingly easy to use, although does require a little time and effort. Whilst one newspaper should make one log (which equates to sixty minutes burning time) it is recommended you make the logs in batches, using about a dozen newspapers at a time.

You need an old dustbin or really large bucket and an old broom handle. You chuck the newspaper into the dustbin, add water and give it a great big stir! It will take up-to 48 hours for the pulp to be pulpy enough and you may have to check every now and again, sloshing the mixture around. You then simply add the gloopy mixture to the Log Maker and squeeze out the water. Of course, doing this outside or somewhere mess is not an issue is highly recommended! Once squashed the logs need to dry out, so place on top of some layers of dry newspaper (which can be recycled afterwards, but must be changed daily) and give it a light breeze, some sunshine and at least seven days.

Combine your paper logs with wood logs in your burner, to help your wallet and the environment!