You have no items in your shopping cart.
Questions about a product?
The global aviation industry is rapidly accelerating its testing program for alternative fuels, with experts predicting new aviation fuel blends containing biofuels could be sanctioned as safe for commercial use travel within the next 12 months.
Under existing plans biofuels are expected to be certified as safe in 2013, however the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said the industry is now actively pushing for some biofuels to gain certification in early 2011.
IATA spokesman Steven Lott said that successful testing of alternative fuels has moved far faster than many experts predicted.
“There is a lot of momentum thanks to the industry’s united environment strategy and goals,” he explained, adding that a further three commercial airlines are planning to trial biofuels this year building on the growing list of test flights undertaken since 2008.
US airline Jetblue is expected to fly an Airbus A320 biofuel within the next few weeks, followed by Brazilian airline Tam, which plans to test a Jatropha-based biofuel in the second half of the year. Mexican airline Interjet is also planning to test a biofuel developed from Salicornia, a type of halophyte that grows in saltmarshes mangrove swamps. Halophyte-based biofuels are widely regarded as a potentially exciting development, as they can be produced without eating into agricultural land.
Lott said a major driver in the speedy deployment of new technology is the industry’s four pillar strategy, signed in 2008, which calls for investment in new technology, improved flight operations and efficient infrastructure, and the development of new economic instruments in order to help cut carbon emissions from the sector.
However, the imminent inclusion of airlines in the EU emissions trading scheme from 2012 and the on-going volatility of fuel prices, which saw oil prices spike to almost $150 per barrel in the summer of 2008, has also increased pressure on operators to identify alternative fuel sources.
“There is a lot of interest from across the industry, airlines, manufacturers, suppliers, to see certification within the next 12 months,” said Lott. “We will be eagerly watching the additional tests and certification process.”
According to a new report for the United Nations plants and animals are becoming extinct at a rate one thousand times faster than expected.
It reports humans are failing to put a proper value on nature’s benefits, making their own future poorer as a result. Even though efforts are being made man kind needs to act faster, people need to step back and assess how they can be more ethical and less polluting.
Check our free advice and tips pages on the energy saving company blog to find out how you get begin to take some small green steps which make big green differences or visit our online store and start saving Carbon and Energy TODAY!!!
Countries around the world realise task they face in the coming years is how to create a more sustainable environment while still competing in the global economy.
Businesses have often been reluctant to change their practices for fear of them impacting on their bottom line.
However, the annual Climate Competitiveness Index, compiled by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and non-profit organisation accountability, suggests that many nations are already making strides in this area.
The report analysed the activities of 95 major countries across the world. Together, these nations account for 97 per cent of the world’s economic activity and 96 per cent of its carbon emissions.
Germany, Europe’s largest economy, was shown to be performing well in many areas. It was named as an “outstanding example” of a country which is making significant strides towards a low carbon economy.
The country was also said to have achieved “consistent progress” in combining climate accountability with performance, which UNEP said is the key to increasing Climate Competitiveness.
Sweden, Denmark, Japan and France were all shown to be performing well in this area. North Africa and the Middle East region were of the worst performers in both areas.
In terms of the performance index, the UK was shown to be the strongest nation in the world. However, it lagged behind a number of other European countries when it came to accountability.
UNEP suggested that the countries which performed well in the index had a strong record in reporting and managing carbon emissions, as well as developing their range of low carbon products and services.
It said that a network of organisations dedicated to the support of low carbon growth was present in those which performed best.
But in Bolivia, Ghana, Vietnam and Bangladesh, concern among members of the population was a key driver and in Scandinavia and Singapore businesses were playing a major role.
We would like to hear your views and opinions on how you think the UK is if fairing against other countries, if the low carbon economy drive is effecting you and how.
PAYERNE, Switzerland – A solar plane with wings as wide as a 747 and the power of a small motorboat took to the skies for the first time Wednesday, cruising a mile high at low speeds for nearly 1½ hours in a step toward becoming the first sun-powered aircraft to circle the world.
In its maiden test flight, “Solar Impulse” — designed by Swiss adventurer Bertrand Piccard’s team — completed a series of turns, slip maneuvers and bank angles reaching 5 degrees. Most importantly, it proved able to take off and land.
The team plans to fly it around the world in 2012, the goal being to show that renewable energy can replace fossil fuel.
“There has never been an airplane of that kind that could fly — never an airplane so big, so light, using so little energy,” said Piccard, who in 1999 copiloted the first nonstop round-the-globe balloon flight. “So there were huge question marks for us.”
At a military airport in the Swiss countryside, the plane lifted off at a speed no faster than 28 mph after only a short acceleration on the runway. It slowly gained altitude above the green and beige fields, and disappeared eventually into the horizon as villagers watched from the nearest hills.
The descent was even slower, as the sun-powered craft hovered ahead of the runway for a couple of minutes before touching down to cheers from spectators.
The weather for the maiden flight was sunny, and there was little wind.
The UK government has launched a new scheme to help consumers save money on their energy bills and reduce their carbon footprint.
Feed-in tariffs will allow households and businesses to generate their own electricity and sell it back to the National Grid.
They will receive guaranteed payments for each unit they produce and an extra three pence per kilowatt hour for every unit they do not use.
According to the Department of Energy and Climate Change, a “well-sited” 2.5 kilowatt solar photovoltaic installation could provide savings of £140 a year.
It could also allow householders to earn £900 a year from the energy they generate. Commercial companies can achieve even greater results
In addition to feed-in tariffs for consumers, the government has also announced the launch of its Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme for businesses.
The initiative is designed to boost take-up of cost-effective energy efficiency measures that are not yet being utilised.
Energy and climate change secretary Ed Miliband said: “The UK is leading the way in tackling climate change.
“Organisations and householders can play a central role in leading the move to a low-carbon economy whilst saving money on their energy bills.”
The launch of the new schemes comes after the government announced that greenhouse gas emissions were cut by 8.6 percent in the UK last year.
The energy saving company has the ability to review which technology is best suited to your building, calculate your payback and forecast revenues generated via the best technology specific to your site. contact info@theenergysavingcompany.com to find out more.
Highly motivated driven sales staff are required by the Energy Saving Company to generate and drive business across UK, you will arrange appointments, Identifying client and customer needs in relation to energy reduction, sustainability and cost cutting.
Full sales and product training will be provided giving you the confidence and knowledge required to deal with Directors, management and key decision makes with a wide range of sectors.
The Energy Saving Company has access to government funds to help clients begin energy reduction practice in their organisation enabling you to build better relationships, generated sales easier with potential customers.
If you are interested in the position or to find out more send your CV to info@theenergysavingcompany.com n
A new scheme, which aims to reduce the carbon emissions in more than one million homes, was launched by the mayor of London today (November 10th).
The aims is to introduce a number of simple changes and larger scale measures to increase energy efficiency in at least 200,000 homes by 2012.
If necessary funding is made available, it is hoped the scheme will reach 1.2 million homes in the capital by 2015.
As part of the scheme residents will be able to make a number of free and simple changes such as switching to low energy light bulbs and energy-saving standby switches.
Larger modifications available through the scheme include loft and cavity wall insulation which will be subsidised for people who can afford to pay and free for those on qualifying benefits.
By installing the measure the scheme could mean a reduction of more than 1.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in the city by 2015.
Residents in nine of the city’s boroughs will be able to benefit from trials of the scheme before it is rolled out on a wider scale over the coming years.
Boris Johnson, the mayor of London, said: “With more than a third of London’s climate change emissions being generated from domestic properties, making our homes more energy efficient is a no brainer.
“London is crying out for a much more simple, easy to access scheme to help people go green, and these trials will help us create this.”
If successful, the new measures could provide a large contribution to helping the UK achieve its target of reducing carbon emissions on 1990 levels by 34 per cent for 2020.
Unresolved supply issues may block the UK government’s plan to have 15 percent of renewable energy come from biomass, it was claimed today (November 12th).
Plans are in place for seven large-scale biomass power generators to create 2,100 MW by 2014.
There are also incentives for local authorities to invest in smaller biomass boilers under the government’s Carbon Reduction Commitment.
However, new analysis from independent research firm Verdantix showed that unless investments to increase UK biomass supplies are made, only five to ten percent of the target will be met.
James Pinney, who lead the research, said: “UK biomass supplies will only meet small-scale demand.
“The low volume of UK supply means that every year power generators will import millions of tonnes of wood chips, elephant grass, palm kernels and olive pellets to feed their huge biomass facilities.”
Mr Pinney also said there were uncertainties surrounding the cost and reliability in importing biomass from places like Canada and Sweden, from where the UK is likely to source it.
A rural community in Scotland has become the first to trial an electric car.
Fergus Ewing, the Scottish government’s minister for community safety, unveiled the vehicle at the Cairngorms National Park yesterday (November 16th).
The minister test drove the modified five-door Vauxhall Astra from Aviemore to Kingussie High School as part of the Clim-ATIC Cairngorms Electric Vehicle project.
“This is the first time I’ve driven an electric car and I’m very impressed with the work that’s gone in from all partners involved,” he said.
“We want Scotland to be at the forefront of building a sustainable low carbon economy of the future – to do that we need more great projects like this one in the Cairngorms.”
Local charity the Badenoch and Strathspey Community Transport Company (BSCTC) was then handed the keys to conduct a test trial of the car.
The organisation helps people with limited access to transport get around so they can make use of local services.
Mr Ewing added that he hoped the scheme would encourage similar green transport projects to be established across the country.
Businesses in the UK could save themselves money as well as help the UK step closer to a low carbon economy by being more energy efficient, the government has claimed.
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) cited research from WRAP, which revealed that 47 percent of businesses recognise they could make savings of more than £100,000 through low and no cost energy efficiency measures.
Businesses could contribute up to ten percent towards the UK’s greenhouse emissions targets for 2020 by being more eco-friendly, the government advised.
Hilary Benn, environment secretary, said: “Sustainability is the key not only to the environment but to business success.”
“There are opportunities here in the UK too in the low carbon and environmental goods and services, where we currently have just over three per cent of the global market.”
