New measures on buildings and climate change
In December 2006 the Department of Communities and Local Government launched a package of measures to reduce carbon emissions from buildings including: a Code for Sustainable Homes - a standard for the design/construction of new homes; consultation on a new Planning Policy Statement on Climate Change - intended for introduction in 2007, which will make clear that the location and design of new developments should promote the reduction of carbon emissions (consultation ends 8 March 2007), and a consultation on Mandating Water Efficiency in New Buildings - to make minimum standards of water efficiency performance mandatory in all new homes and commercial developments (consultation ends 9 March 2007).

Click here for more information on these proposals.

Proposed Emission Trading Scheme
In November Defra launched a consultation on measures to reduce carbon emissions in the large non-energy intensive business and public sectors. This includes an Energy Performance Commitment (EPC), a new mandatory emissions trading scheme for organisations not covered by the EU-ETS, potentially affecting many universities and colleges, together with Voluntary Benchmarking and Reporting. The EPC would cover organisations whose electricity use is monitored by mandatory half-hourly meters; and whose half-hourly metered electricity use is over 3,000MWh per year. A series of workshops are being held throughout January 2007 and consultation ends 31 January 2007. Click here for more details.

Stern news about climate change
The long awaited government-commissioned report on climate change by Sir Nicholas Stern was published in October 2006. It concludes that it will be cheaper to act on global warming now than to wait. This widely publicised report estimates the costs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to avoid the worst impacts of climate change would be around 1% of global GDP each year. If we don’t act, the results will be catastrophic, and undermine world growth. If HEIs need any justification to start managing carbon emissions, look no further.

Click here for a copy of the report and press releases.

2006 Times Higher Award nominees announced

Congratulations to the Times Higher award nominees for outstanding contribution to sustainable development. These include London School of Economics & Political Science (recycling project), University of East Anglia (building energy efficiency), University of St Andrews (new degree in sustainable development), Bournemouth University (student community involvement) and Gloucestershire University (ISO 14001). Other nominees include Dave Reay of Edinburgh University (Young Academic Author of the Year) for his book Climate Change Begins at Home. Click here for his excellent website. Winners to be announced 15 November. Click here for more details.

New biodiversity guide for the HE sector

The Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges, EAUC, have launched a new practical guide, 'Biodiversity on Campus’. This Guide encourages universities and colleges to incorporate biodiversity into their environmental management and create new opportunities for wildlife on all campuses across the UK. Click here for a copy of the guide.

People & Planet going green report

In September 2006 People & Planet published a new report, going green, which identifies how universities can improve their environmental performance, and lists 4 key institutional factors driving improvements. Click here for a copy of the report.

Sustainable Consumption recommendations

Conclusions from the Sustainable Consumption Roundtable, recommends, among other things, a sustainable products unit within government to develop roadmaps for high impact products.

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New Building standards come into force

Revised building regulations that increase energy efficiency standards for new buildings and when building work is carried out in existing buildings came into force in April 2006. The regulations require greater use of energy saving insulation, more efficient boilers and consideration of Low or Zero Carbon Systems such a solar panels and mini-wind turbines to demonstrate compliance. The revised Part L (Conservation of Fuel and Power) implements parts of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive including a requirement that when existing buildings with a floor area over 1000 m2 undergo major renovation, their energy efficiency should be upgraded in so far as is feasible.

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New Climate Change Programme announced

Tighter building regulations, stricter emissions cap under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and increased levels of microgeneration are just some of the measures proposed in the Government’s new Climate Change Programme released in March 2006.

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Draft Code for Sustainable Buildings

The ODPM’s draft voluntary code for sustainable homes, criticised as too weak by environmental groups, has been strengthened to include minimum energy and water efficiency standards at every level. New homes that include micro-renewables such as wind turbines and solar panels will also gain extra points. The code is expected to be finalised by the end of 2006, with other changes announced in the interim. The final code will form the basis for future building regulations. Energy efficiency ratings, which form one component of the Code, will be made mandatory for new homes and existing homes. The ratings will be included in energy performance certificates set out to EU standards.

Click here for more details

Biomass Task Force: Government Response

The Governments response to the Biomass Task Force, published in April 2006, promises more support for biomass in England including capital grant schemes for biomass boilers and a new Biomass Energy Centre. A UK biomass strategy will be published in 2007. The biomass capital grant scheme, which will cover up to 40% project costs, has received a lukewarm response from industry. Unlike Scotland there are no plans to set renewable heat targets to drive the market forward .

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2005 Pre-budget Report

The Chancellor's 2005 Pre-Budget Report published in December 2005 included the following measures to encourage energy efficiency:
-A new £35m Carbon Trust fund for interest free loans for the introduction of energy saving measures by SMEs and the public sector.
-A new £10m fund for carbon abatement technology demonstrators.
-Further consultation on carbon capture and storage, collaboration with Norway on this technology and additional funding for Carbon Abatement Technology demonstration;
-Further measures to improve energy efficiency through the proposed Green Landlord Scheme;
-A seminar in January 2006 to examine ways to encourage the development of energy services markets;
Climate Change Agreements with new industry sectors;
-A package of measures to boost UK production and demand for biofuels and biomass to complement the new Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation. These include a reduced rate of VAT on biomass boilers, and Enhanced Capital Allowances on the most efficient biofuel processing plants.
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Consultation on the draft Code for Sustainable Buildings

The ODPM has launched a consultation on ‘Proposals to Introduce a Code for Sustainable Homes’. The performance based code includes a five-level scoring system for new homes in England. WWF has resigned “in despair” from the Steering Committee that produced the Code. The deadline for response is 6 March 2006. Click here for more details

Analysis of UK Climate Change Programme

The Carbon Trust has published ‘The UK Climate Change Programme: Potential Evolution for Business and the Public Sector’, an analysis of the current UK Climate Change Programme. The Report advocates a new UK emissions trading scheme to cover industries not already included in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. This would include public sector buildings, and would cover emissions associated with electricity consumption. Click here for more details

Carbon Trust Priorities

The Carbon Trust has published ‘Carbon Trust Research Landscape Study’. This identifies polymeric photovoltaic cells and biological production of hydrogen from biomass as areas where small research grants could stimulate development advances. Click here for more details

New Voluntary Indicators for Business

Defra have published guidelines to help businesses to manage and report their impacts on the environment. The guidelines outline how environmental impacts can be managed through Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), which cover areas such as greenhouse gas emissions, waste and water abstraction, and how to report them. The consultation ended September 2005.Click here for more information.

Adapting to Climate Change: A Checklist for Development

Consultation on a new document, designed to help developers and planners change the design of new buildings in response to climate change, ended 30 April 2005. Click here for more information.

Sustainable Construction - Practical Guidance for Planners and Developers

Free training material on sustainable construction provides a practical introduction to energy use, water resources, biodiversity, amenity, natural resources and waste. Funded by the DTI Partners in Innovation project, click here to download presentations, instructions and background materials.

Sustainable Public Procurement Task Force Starts Work

The sustainable public procurement task force, set up under the government's Sustainable Development Strategy, started work in May 2005. They have until April 2006 to draw up an action plan to bring about a step-change in sustainable public procurement. Click here for more details.

Buying Green! A handbook on environmental public procurement.

A European Commission handbook for public bodies which explains how to take environmental considerations into account in the different stages of the procurement process. Click here to download the handbook.

Defra Grants £10.6 million for Energy Efficient Community Heating

A heating scheme which links Aston University with a children's hospital is one of the beneficiaries of a DEFRA grant for energy efficient community heating schemes. Click here for more details.

European Environment Agency - EEA Signals 2004

EEA Signals are annual reports covering a broad range of environmental performance indicator topics. They are typically built around 20–30 pages of indicator-based assessment. The key messages in this year's report highlight the need to make further progress in managing the environmental impacts of agriculture, transport and energy. This can be achieved by further increasing the use of market-based instruments to manage demand and internalise external costs (e.g. for transport), by switching more extensively to positive subsidies (e.g. for agriculture) and by promoting innovation (e.g. for renewable energies). The report can be downloaded here.

Cambridge Regional College - participates in UK Emissions Trading Scheme with great results

"We’re delighted to be amongst the first to benefit from our partnership with Dalkia in this venture" says Trevor Smith, Head of Facilities and Estates at Cambridge Regional College. "Besides reducing our annual CO2 emissions by 240 tonnes and cutting our energy overheads, we are proud to be associated with this ground-breaking environmental initiative."

story link: Cambridge regional college - click here

Solar Panels for Napier

Despite Scotland's lack of natural light Napier University in Edinburgh is planning to install solar panels on one of its buildings to provide a new source of power. This will be used to provide energy for 100 PC screens in its state-of-the-art computer sciences centre.

Napier is applying for planning permission for the £145,000 project which has partly been financed by a £81,000 government grant. The PV panels will cover a five-storey outer section of its teaching block in the city's Colinton Road.

Story link: Scotsman News Link - click here


Universities and Fair Trade Status

Many universities are working towards or already have Fair Trade status across their campuses, including Oxford Brookes. Most recently, the Fair Trade Prestigious award has been granted to University of Edinburgh

Story link: Edinburgh Uni Related Story - click here