Policy: UK Gov publishes CO2 Offsetting code of practice

The UK government has opened consultation on a draft standard for carbon offsetting. The aim of the code of practice is so that people will be able to tell whether the offsetting schemes they are using, or thinking of using, really do take that carbon out of the global carbon economy for good and whether they can trust the schemes they are using.

Defra launched a consultation on a Code of Best Practice for the provision of carbon offsetting to UK customers on 18 January 2007. The purpose of establishing a Code is to ensure consumer confidence the emerging carbon emissions offsetting market. The consultation will finish on 13 April 2007 and the intention is to have the Code operating by November 2007.

UK Government (DEFRA) Carbon Offsetting page: Link

Action: London Borough of Richmond introduces parking fees linked to emissions levels

Liberal-Democrat controlled Richmond upon Thames Council in southwest London has introduced a sliding scale of parking fees linked to vehicle emission levels. The cost of parking the most polluting vehicles will rise to 300 pounds from 100 pounds.
A sliding scale of charges for permits will come into force from around April, based on the government's car tax bands. Band A, electric cars, will be free. Band B, which includes the Toyota Prius hybrid and the Renault Megane dCi 106 diesel hatchback, get a 50 percent reduction. Hardest-hit will be owners of 4x4s like the BMW X5, the Renault Espace people-carrier and saloons like the Jaguar X-type.

Action: UK Retailer Tesco installes $13m BIPV roof array

In January 2007, Los Angeles-based Solar Integrated Technologies won a US$13 million contract to put solar panels on the roof of Tesco USA's new distribution centre in Riverside, California. The BIPV roofing system will provide a fifth of the depot's power supply, and save 1,200 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year. Tesco accounts for almost one pound in every three spent in British supermarkets.

Tesco has also pledged to spread an environmentally friendly message to its millions of customers and to set an example by spending over 500 million pounds (US$987 million), cutting prices on energy-efficient products and reducing pollution.

Australian Government research body publishes national energy options analysis

The CSIRO created the concept of the Energy Futures Forum (EFF) in 2003 as a means of engaging in developing and assessing pathways for the future of energy in Australia. It published the findings of extensive research into the future energy options for Australia in December 2006.

Report: Link

Policy: UK Gov - Zero Carbon Homes by 2016

UK Government publishes new report: ‘Building a Greener Future: Towards Zero Carbon Development’ that proposes a requirement that by 2016 all new homes should be net zero CO2 emitters.

The energy used to heat, light and run homes in the UK accounts for 27 per cent of all UK CO2 emissions - around 40 million tonnes.

Energy efficient and insulated buildings, which draw their energy from zero or low carbon technologies and therefore produce no net carbon emissions from all energy use over the course of a year, will help reduce carbon emissions as well as lowering fuel bills for households.

The report is part of a number of such measures, including:

• a framework for progressively tightening building regulations up to 2016 to increase the energy efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint of new homes;
• publication of the Code for Sustainable Homes, which aims to increase the environmental sustainability of new homes and give homeowners better information about the sustainability of their home. It sets out a star rating from one to six (with six being the most sustainable) which can be applied to all new homes
• From April 2008, after a voluntary phase, all new homes should be required to have a mandatory Code rating, indicating whether they have been assessed and the performance of the home against the Code;
• the requirement that by 2016 all new homes should be net zero CO2 emitters.
• a draft Planning Policy Statement on climate change, which expects planning strategies to be tested on their carbon ambition and, in providing for new homes, jobs and infrastructure needed by communities, shape places with lower carbon emissions and resilient to climate change.
• consultation on regulations to set minimum standards for water efficiency in new homes and new commercial buildings.

Gov Press Release: Link

UK Retailer announces carbon neutrality target among raft of green measures

UK retailer Marks&Spencer (M&S) announced in January 2007 that it would spend around 200 million pounds (US$394 million) over the next five years going "green". It aims to become carbon neutral by 2012. Proposed measures include ensuring:

• all its packaging and clothing is biodegradable or compostable;
• none of its waste is dumped in landfill sites;
• it will label all products on its shelves that have been flown in from suppliers;
• trial using food waste to power its stores;
• trial using electric vehicles (Smith Trucks, manufactured by Tanfield Group Plc) for city centre logistics operations, with a view to replacing existing trucks where possible.

Policy: Building Green Guidance Report published by UK Gov

The UK Environment Agency has published a report providing practical advice on reducing the environmental impacts of new development, titled ‘Building a better environment’. It argues that development doesn’t have to harm the environment – if it is well located, planned and designed, it can actually make improvements to the environment and provide a better place for people to live.

The report includes guidance on:

• Managing the risk of flooding
• Managing surface water
• Using water wisely
• Wildlife and green space
• Preventing pollution
• Managing waste
• Land affected by contamination
• Sustainable construction
• Recreation, society and health

Report: Link