Growing list of European airports addressing their carbon footprint

February 1st, 2012 by Airports Council International

With the inclusion of the airline industry into the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme from 1 January 2012, ACI EUROPE has released an update on its flagship climate change initiative, Airport Carbon Accreditation, detailing the progress made by airports in lowering their own CO2 emissions.

Guernsey Airport has many options to address its carbon footprint (click image to expand - ©RLLord)

As of the 31 January 2012, some 55 airports in Europe welcoming 52% of European passenger traffic each year are now Airport Carbon Accredited at one of the 4 available levels of certification (‘Mapping’, ‘Reduction’, ‘Optimisation’ and ‘Neutrality’). Continue reading

A little solar power helps Nissan Leaf electric cars to market

February 1st, 2012 by Richard Lord

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd Roll-on/roll-off (RORO) Nichioh Maru coastal car carrier began its maiden voyage on 27 January 2012.

Four years in construction, this vessel of almost 170 metres length and 11,400 tons, boasts 281 solar panels on its top deck, which helps power energy efficient LED lights in the ship’s hold and crew quarters. Continue reading

PwC sees significant M&A activity in renewable energy sector despite industry and economic uncertainty

February 1st, 2012 by PwC

(click on report cover to go to PwC report download page)

Deals for ‘new generation’ renewable technologies – wind, solar, biomass – are entering the big time driving the market to new record highs, reports PwC in its annual global analysis of merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions in the renewable sector. Continue reading

Earth warming during reduced solar output

February 1st, 2012 by NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies

A NASA study underscores the fact that greenhouse gases generated by human activity — not changes in solar activity — are the primary force driving global warming.

The study, ‘Earth’s energy imbalance and implications’, published in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics in December 2011, offers an updated calculation of the Earth’s energy imbalance, the difference between the amount of solar energy absorbed by Earth’s surface and the amount returned to space as heat. Continue reading

UK electrical energy storage roll-out requires apt regulatory framework

January 31st, 2012 by Bloomberg New Energy Finance

Energy storage has long been regarded as a transforming technology for the future, enabling the better integration of intermittent renewable electricity such as wind and solar power, without requiring more high-cost peaking capacity.

A report published to clients by analysis company Bloomberg New Energy Finance has found that the breakthrough for storage could be closer than previously thought – thanks in large part to an expected drop in battery prices over the coming few years. Continue reading

Ecobuild exhibition and seminars at ExCeL London- 20 to 22 March 2012

January 31st, 2012 by Events

(click logo to go to Ecobuild website)

Ecobuild, the world’s largest event for sustainable design, construction and the built environment, takes place at London’s ExCeL from Tuesday 20 March to Thursday 22 March 2012.

Over 1,500 suppliers will be exhibiting, from companies such as Saint-Gobain, BASF Construction Chemicals, Kingspan, Vaillant, and Worcester Bosch, to up and comers in Ecobuild’s Green shoots entrepreneurs’ zone.

The exhibition will show the latest in everything from building materials to micro-renewables, from rainwater harvesting systems to interiors. Continue reading

Guernsey Mind fund raising quiz at Les Cotils on 16 March 2012

January 30th, 2012 by Guernsey Mind

The “Nearly” St Patrick’s Day Quiz in aid of Guernsey Mind takes place in the Harry Bound Room, Les Cotils Christian Centre, St Peter Port beginning at 7 pm on 16 March 2012.

(Please click on the image to download the PDF flyer)

There will be teams of six people and the cost is £10 per head. Continue reading

WildGuernsey Wild food foraging workshops in winter & spring 2012

January 30th, 2012 by Events

WildGuernsey guests sharing wild food at Pouquelaie Vinery (click image to expand - image courtesy of WildGuernsey)

12 February 2012

WildGuernsey at Pouquelaie Vinery, Rocquaine Road, St Pierre du Bois, Guernsey offers an ‘Introduction to WildFood Foraging‘ on Sunday 12 February 2012 from 1 pm to 4 pm.  The £30 course includes tapas.

11 March 2012 Continue reading

Lloyds TSB Foundation provides financial support for Criminal Justice Alcohol Service

January 30th, 2012 by Drug and Alcohol Strategy

More offenders will be able to benefit from help and support from the Criminal Justice Alcohol Service (CJAS) from the start of 2012 thanks to new funding from the Lloyds TSB Foundation for the Channel Islands.

The Foundation has promised £30,000 to match the £30,000 pledged by Guy Hands and Terra Firma.

The funding from both sources will go towards the salary of, at present, a part-time worker over three years from 2012 to 2014. This means that the service will expand from 18 hours a week to become a full-time service. Continue reading

Beaches receive microplastic from machine washing synthetic fabrics

January 29th, 2012 by University College Dublin

Microplastic, polyester and acrylic particles of less than one millimetre in size, released from synthetic fabrics during machine washing, is contaminating the world’s shorelines.

Microplastics released from synthetic fabrics during the wash cycle enter the wastewater stream and contaminate beaches (click image to expand - ©RLLord)

According to a study led by Dr Mark Anthony Browne now with the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) in Santa Barbara, California, over 1,900 fibres can wash off a single piece of clothing during a machine wash cycle and end up on the shoreline. Continue reading