Energy Conservation
James Smith, Shell's outgoing UK bossGuardian Unlimited | 08 Apr 2011Chairman James Smith says Shell has had to respond to the global warming challenge. Now is a good time to be running an oil company. Prices are sky-high, energy demand is increasing at an unprecedented rate as the global economy recovers, and there are new markets to be explored. Royal Dutch Shell largely dodged the criticism heaped on the industry after BP's catastrophic oil spill last year in the Gulf of Mexico, and is delivering golden results to shareholders.
United Kingdom | Energy | Energy Conservation | Industry | Initiatives | Policy Greenpeace targets Facebook employeesGuardian Unlimited | 30 Mar 2011Unfriend Coal campaign calls on world's most successful social networking site to free its energy-intensive business from coal power. Greenpeace says it is targeting Facebook employees in a renewed campaign that is urging the world's most successful social networking site to lead an energy revolution. A local television advert broadcast on Wednesday in Silicon Valley, where many of the company's 2,000 employees live, will urge the company to "Unfriend Coal".
Access to Information | Energy Conservation | Energy Consumption | Energy Production | Initiatives Homebuyers ignore efficiency labelsGuardian Unlimited | 02 Mar 2011A Consumer Focus report found 79% of prospective buyers did not act on recommendations of energy performance certificates. Homebuyers overwhelmingly ignore energy labels designed to encourage greener homes, a new survey revealed on Wednesday. Consumer Focus carried out a survey to find out how useful prospective buyers and tenants found energy performance certificates (EPC), which vendors and landlords are legally required to provide when selling or letting a home.
England | Certification | Economics and the Environment | Economy | Energy Conservation | Energy Consumption Cold weather turns UK gas demand up to record levelsGuardian Unlimited | 20 Dec 2010Increased gas consumption will add about £10 to the average household's energy bill this week. Britain's gas system is under unprecedented pressure after cold weather pushed demand to a new record today. Gas consumption hit an all-time high of 465.8m cubic metres today as people opted to work from home instead of braving the icy roads to the office, and turned the heating up a notch or two, according to initial estimates by National Grid, the network operator.
England | Economy | Energy Conservation | Energy Consumption | Extreme Weather Shaking off the dominance of energy giantsGuardian Unlimited | 13 Dec 2010Any move to a sustainable future is unlikely while it is not in the interests of the energy companies to deliver more efficiently. After more than 25 years working on energy issues, I have recently come to an extraordinary personal realisation: there is very little need to have heating bills at all. Since refurbishing my coastguard's cottage in July, I have - to my total surprise – been able to more or less rely on solar heating for warm water and a wood burning stove, occasionally, for heating.
England | Energy | Energy Conservation | Energy Consumption | Energy Efficiency | Environmental Awareness Passivhaus flats for Exeter tenantsGreen Building Press | 07 Dec 2010Three cosy flats in Exeter are the first new council homes built by the city in more than 20 years. The flats, known as Rowan House, will arguably be the first social housing scheme in the UK to enjoy standards of energy efficiency reaching the Passiv-Haus standard. Managed by Exeter City Council, the flats will be for people over the age of 55 paying social rent, with priority for those downsizing from larger homes.
England | Energy Conservation | Energy Efficiency