How to become an installer of solar systems

Malcolm Wicks, the Energy Minister, recently announced that there would be seven million solar thermal systems in the next ten or so years. It is a wonderful aspiration because in the long run it will save us money, stop us emitting as much carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases as we do and lower airborne [...]

Suddenly, renewable energy is important, say the Government

There have been many new “green energy” policies announced recently; we have heard about £100 billion that will be spent on green energy in the next ten years, the forests of wind farms that will be built in the United Kingdom and solar thermal systems for seven million UK homes by 2020.
Suddenly we are [...]

Exxon Valdez, punitive damages and the environment

Nearly twenty years ago, in the Prince William Sound off the Alaskan coast, the Exxon Valdez super tanker struck a reef and disgorged eleven million US gallons of crude oil into the sea. Eleven million is the generally accepted figure; the Exxon Valdez was carrying 53 million gallons and some believe that far more was [...]

Carbon trading does not reduce carbon emissions

The carbon trading scandals under the Kyoto Clean Development Mechanism continue to grow. The original point of the Clean Development Mechanism was to reward environmentally friendly energy projects with valuable “carbon credits” in order to create an incentive for them, so that they could take place. The clean project earns carbon credits which can be [...]

Increased methane in the atmosphere – what is the cause?

For the past ten years methane levels have remained rather stable, while carbon dioxide levels have risen. Now it seems that methane levels are on the rise, especially around the Arctic region.
Methane, you will remember is a greenhouse gas which is about forty times more potent than carbon dioxide but fortunately it is no where [...]

How to get the best out of your solar water heating system

You can get more free energy from your solar system they will involve some modest adjustments to your style of living, but it will provide you with more free energy if you can follow these tips.
If you cannot follow these tips because of the way you have to live – do not worry – your [...]

Mundra’s new coal power station – built with “green” subsidies

How do you get to a position when public money and international programmes devised to reduce carbon emissions is earmarked to build and continuously subsidise a 4000 megawatt power station that burns coal? The answer lies in the advice that you get.
If you go to someone for advice, they will advise what they know. A [...]

Solar heating panels will come on 7 million homes

Malcolm Wicks, the energy minister whom I have much maligned in these posts, told the BBC radio 4 programme that green energy targets to meet at least 15% of the UK’s energy from renewables would lead to over seven million homes being fitted with thermal solar systems in the next 12 years.
Of course the plan [...]

Civil disobedience and protests at coal deliveries to power stations

Environmentalists have been in the news recently for stopping a coal train in Yorkshire, on its way to the Drax power station near Selby. A small group of protesters stopped the train, draped a banner reading “leave it in the ground” and delayed the coal train for several days. They wanted to talk to the [...]

Birds – why we are losing more species and what it means for us

As far as we know since 1500 over 134 species of birds have become extinct. Birds are an important part of the biodiversity of the planet. Losing birds species is not just a matter of concern to bird watchers, zoologists and sentimental folk, it is important to all of us because if we lose species [...]