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Autumn 2011 Newsletter
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We’ve moved!
Please make a note of our new contact details:
Climate Works Ltd,
CREATE Centre, Smeaton Road, Bristol, BS1 6XN.
Tel: 0117 903 0361.
For more information about CWL visit www.climate-works.co.uk
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Recent Projects
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‘GreenTalk’s strap-line, ‘Short Talks, Big Ideas’ is something of a contradiction. But in June this year 11 of the UK’s leading thinkers and doers showed it is possible to convey big, radical and challenging ideas in less time than it takes to introduce the speakers at most events. Read more
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TECHNICAL / RENEWABLES:
The introduction of Feed-in Tariffs has produced a surge of interest in renewable electricity technologies such as PV. By virtue of their orientation many churches (and church buildings) have large, unshaded, south facing roofs which could be suitable for large PV arrays.
So when should churches consider PV systems and how do the financial, energy and environmental sums stack-up? Climate Works has been working with three of the dioceses in the South West on the numbers, energy and carbon savings and the planning issues and produced guidance for churches considering PV systems. Read more
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EDUCATION:
Many schools want to reduce their energy costs and carbon emissions and help their students to become ‘carbon literate’. But experience from initiatives around the UK shows that making the long-term and cultural changes needed to do this in schools can be difficult.
Climate Works has looked a ten highly successful programmes in schools across the country and drawn out 8 key factors which are critical to running successful and long-term awareness raising programmes, as well as guidance on evaluating ‘free’ PV systems from third parties. Read more
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FARM RENEWABLES:
Feed-in Tariffs and the Renewable Heat Incentive are opening up new opportunities to farmers to diversify, make a healthy, long-term return on investment and create a buffer to rising energy costs.
But CWL’s work with farm businesses has found that many farmers are missing out through poor selection and siting of renewable technologies, reducing the financial and energy returns and in the worst cases leaving an expensive mistake on the balance sheet for many years to come. Read more
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POLICY:
In the light of a pressing need to cut emissions and energy running costs, is it reasonable to set environmental standards for new buildings which exceed Building Regulations? Or is this a step too far in the current economic climate?
Climate Works has been working with Bristol City Council to look at the evidence to support higher environmental standards, as part of the revisions to the Council’s Core Strategy, and the opportunities for developers, local authorities and householders. Read more
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Comment
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The Government thinks that raising the speed limit on motorways will shorten journey times and pump millions of pounds into the economy. The reality may be quite different. So is this just a ploy to boost flagging fuel sales at the expense of the motorist and the climate? Read more
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There has been no official announcement, but the view amongst many in the housing sector is that that the Government would like to kill off the Code for Sustainable Homes. So what does this mean for the housing sector and what could take its place? Read more
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Other News
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RETScreen® – new tool in the box
We have recently begun using RETScreen® International in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects requiring detailed technical and financial analysis.
Originally developed in Canada RETScreen® has evolved for use around the world to evaluate the energy production and savings, costs, emission reductions, financial viability and risk for various types of Renewable-energy and Energy-efficient Technologies (RETs). Regarded as one of the leading tools for this type of work we are using it in conjunction with our own analysis tools where very detailed analysis of climate data is needed to assess the financial viability of a scheme.
You can find further details of our technical services here
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Staff news
We say thanks and goodbye to Sarah Smith and Robert Dixon, who have been working with us over the summer.
Sarah a recent MSc graduate in Energy Policy and Sustainability at Exeter University helped to deliver our first GreenTalk and make it a huge success as well completing research on the current state of coal in the UK.
Rob recently completed an Environmental Sciences degree at the University of Southampton has been undertaking research updates for CWL on electric vehicles, and key aspects of climate science. He also set up a monitoring system for our own energy use and emissions and assisted with the technical aspects of GreenTalk.
Both contributed a great deal to our work for which we are very grateful. We wish them well for the future.
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