Blog

Greenhouse Weekly Roundup

Sally Hill | 24.09.10

Thursday was 'switch on' day for the world's largest offshore wind farm off Kent and with it, Britain took a huge step forward on renewable energy.

The wind farm can generate enough power to supply 200, 000 homes and nudged Britain's total wind power capacity to 5 gigawatts, or enough electricity for 5 million people.

There was a resounding response online along the lines of 'we need more' and  'it's a good start'.

Let's hope our leaders are listening and this heralds the start of something big.

Here are the links we loved this week:

Read more

Weekly Greenhouse Updates | Share +
renewable energy, solar power, rapanui, wind power, feed-in tariff, renewables, no impact man, offshore wind

UK Government Threatens Future of Solar in the UK

Sophie Rivett-Carnac | 14.02.11

The government has made a damaging decision to pull the plug on large scale solar feed-in-tariffs, threatening the growth of renewable energy in the UK.

This week, Chris Huhne, Britain’s Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, announced the government would start its first review of the feed-in-tariff scheme for small-scale, low-carbon electricity generation. This news comes earlier than expected and will lead to uncertainty within the UK renewable market, in particular for solar PV.

Read more

Eco Commmunities Environment Green Living | Share +
renewable energy, solar power, feed-in tariff, carbon reduction commitment, government

5 Unique ways to use solar power

Greta Jonyniate | 04.08.11

It might seem crazy, but solar energy has been harnessed by humans since the ancient times: the Greeks and Romans used magnifying glasses to burn the sails of enemy ships, the ancient Chinese used concentrated solar power for heat energy and Native Americans used hot springs as renewable geothermal sources for cooking and healing. 

So many centuries have passed and yet we are still learning new ways to use what Mother Nature has given us. Whilst roofs with solar panels might not surprise us anymore (although we would like to see more of them!), here are a few inventions which we put together just for a bit of fun.

Read more

Green Living | Share +
solar, solar power, solar plane, solar gadgets

GREENHOUSE WEEKLY NEWS ROUNDUP

Greta Jonyniate | 11.11.11

An escalating conflict between government and the solar sector reached new heights this week when Friends of the Earth threatened to take ministers to court over plans to slash feed-in tariff incentives. 

Read more

Weekly Greenhouse Updates | Share +
solar power, wind power, food waste

Greenhouse Morning News

Greta Jonyniate | 28.02.12

News stories – 28th February 2012

Top news stories

Global development podcast: Focus on the fair trade movement – The Guardian
Pollution row after minister deems air quality goals too costly – The Guardian
UK edges closer to first CCS plant, as Davey pledges support – Business Green
Fairtrade boom drives green standards adoption – Business Green

Solar

Does solar still have a bright future? – FT Adviser
Renewable co-operative reinvests £20000 into local community – Solar Power Portal
Solar map will surely help all of us decide - This is Bristol
‎
‎Wind
‎
Debate whether windfarms are ugly but not their efficiency, says Lord Turner – The Guardian
Has the wind revolution stalled in the UK? – The Guardian
Do wind turbines kill birds and bats? – The Guardian
Wind turbines bring in 'risk-free' millions for rich landowners – The Guardian

Food
‎
Overfishing by European trawlers could continue if EU exemption agreed – The Guardian
Meatier prices give farmers a rare boost - FT
Shark fin soup is bad for the environment and your brain - Greenfudge

Ethical Finance
‎
Paradise restored: Coalition gives £7.5m to conserve nature hotspots – The Independent
Ernst & Young: Green energy investors turned on to UK opportunity – Business Green
DECC dishes out first grant from £5m offshore wind supply chain pot – Business Green
Campaign calls for link between £4bn carbon tax and Green Deal – Business Green

Interesting news

London's red buses get greener still with Routemaster launch – Business Green
Fairtrade boom shows why green firms need to start making more noise – Business Green
The Self-Sufficiency Manual: A Complete Practical Guide to Living Off the Land – The Ecologist
Warming Arctic Means More Tundra Fires—And More Warming - Treehugger

Environment | Share +
solar, solar power, wind power, wind power news, organic food, green news, organic farming, wind turbine, solar news, eco news

Greenhouse Morning News

Greta Jonyniate | 01.03.12

News stories – 1st of March 2012

Top news stories

The abuse of political power is as dangerous as nuclear power itself – The Guardian
Ed Davey: We can export Green Deal to rest of Europe – Business Green
UK sneaks into top 10 countries for clean-tech start-ups – Business Green
Landlords schedule viewing with government to unlock Green Deal potential – Business Green

Solar

GE unit buys stake in Arizona solar project -Reuters UK
The Easy FIT Co aims to simplify FiT registration process – Solar Power Portal
Church of England puts faith in solar - Edie
Berlin cuts billions in solar subsidies -SmartPlanet.com

‎Wind
‎
Wind power could lead to £3bn spend in UK and 45000 jobs by 2022– The Guardian
David Cameron says countryside wind farms have been 'wasteful – The Telegraph
The wind knocked out of our sails – The Engineer
Europe's wind sector 'will have to consolidate' -Windpower Monthly

Food
‎
Farming and energy: lessons from collapsed civilisations – The Guardian
Corn set to stay tight despite US crop hopes - FT
Unilever calls on companies to tackle food waste mountain – Business Green
'Keep it local' at heart of Greens' policy – This is Devon

Ethical Finance
‎
Barclays under pressure to slash Bob Diamond's bonus as he's accused of running 'tax avoidance factory – Daily Mail
A complaint every 12 seconds: Ombudsman flooded as banks reject PPI complaints despite mis-selling – Daily Mail
GE Invests in $550 Million LS Power Solar Plant in Arizona – Bloomberg
How Oil Speculation and Energy Policy Impact the Price of Gas - Treehugger

Interesting news

Wild animals to be banned from circus – The Independent
Five of the best… natural ways to quit smoking – The Ecologist
The World’s Oldest Nuclear Power Plant Shuts Down in the UK – Inhabitat
Eco fashion focus: Collective t-shirts - Hippyshopper

Environment | Share +
solar power, wind power, wind power news, green news, solar news, solar, food waste, ethical banking

Greenhouse Morning News

Greta Jonyniate | 02.03.12

News stories – 2nd of March 2012

Top news stories

Oil exploration: too high a price – The Guardian
Global mining boom is leading to landgrab, says report – The Guardian
Updated: UK hands out first free aviation emission permits – Business Green
Exclusive: CBI steps up calls for carbon tax shake-up – Business Green

Solar

Gatwick solar system cleared for take-off – Business Green
Britain’s lights to stay on thanks to 1.6GW of solar a year – Solar Power Portal
German solar industry unites to fight FiT cuts - PV-Tech
New solar panels for vicarages – This is Bath

Wind
‎
Support for wind energy remains strong – The Guardian
New UK strategy looks to reduce costs of offshore wind power - Click Green
Decc and Ofgem turn on to offshore wind 'supergrid' savings‎ - Utility Week
Deadline looms to beat wind power tariff cuts - Farming UK

Food
‎
Can Sheffield grow its own coconuts? – The Guardian
That's a smart move! Nestle becomes first brand to ditch all artificial additives from its products – Daily Mail
VIDEO: Armani launches global drinking water challenge - Edie
New £60m grants scheme to boost farm and rural businesses – Farmers Weekly

Ethical Finance
‎
Exclusive: UK CCS plants clear European funding hurdle – Business Green
GE ramps up solar investments, diversifies from wind - Environmental Finance
Ethical spending at an all-time high in the UK- The Fresh Outlook

Interesting news

Are the 'big six' energy companies blocking renewables in the UK? – The Ecologist
Sustainable information: Beyond tofu news and high-fructose media – The Grist
Retro, bespoke furniture from re-used materials – The Alternative Consumer
Street lights to be dimmed on British roads to reduce emissions and save money - Ecofriend

Environment | Share +
solar power, wind power, wind power news, green news, wind, solar news, solar, food waste, ethical banking

Greenhouse morning news

Greta Jonyniate | 05.03.12

News stories – 5th of March 2012

Top news stories

Plea to Osborne: keep up the heat for our green jobs – The Sunday Times
BP yet to finalise £5bn settlement over Gulf of Mexico oil spill – The Guardian
Ancient woodlands under threat from new planning laws, campaigners warn – The Guardian
Lord Smith: The man who hopes his flow of ideas will save us from drought – The Independent
Water levels in 250 stretches of river are dangerously low – The Independent

Solar

Germany to cut solar power subsidies – The Guardian
German solar incentive cut to be delayed: sources‎ Reuters UK
Greenbury Energy launches to give South Yorkshire an energy boost- Solar Power Portal
Solar revolution could bring power to 1.4 billion people- Responding to Climate Change
‎
Wind
‎
Wind power adds £45bn to cost of climate targets – The Sunday Times
How much profit will a turbine turn? - Telegraph.co.uk
‎Brian Monteith: Tories could benefit from wind farm fears - Scotsman
‎Opposition gathers over wind farms - H&V News
‎‎
Food
‎
Now the Asparagus crop arrives a month early because of our mild winter weather – Daily Mail
Cattle virus hits nine more farms – The Independent
Is the food revolution just a great big fat lie? – The Guardian
The People's Supermarket: where even the smell of baking bread is genuine – The Guardian
Organic product sales in UK fall by 3.7% in 2011 – The Guardian
Agroforestry comes of age, but will UK farmers embrace it? – The Ecologist

Ethical Finance
‎
Guinness Starts a Fund for U.K. Clean Energy, Energy Efficiency – Bloomberg
Report: US Green Deal-style financing could help yield $1tr in energy savings – Business Green
Chu unveils $180m offshore wind innovation fund – Business Green
Energy savings to finance the Bridgelux-Chevron LED deal – Ecofriend

Interesting news

Top 10… green travel blogs – The Ecologist
Plastic Bag Makers Challenge San Francisco's Plastic Bag Ban - Treehugger
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie To Build Eco-Friendly Theme Park for Their Six Kids - Inhabitat
Love your old stuff – Do the Green Thing 

Environment | Share +
solar, solar power, wind power, wind power news, green news, wind, solar news, people's supermarket

Greenhouse morning news

Greta Jonyniate | 06.03.12

News stories – 6th March 2012

Top news stories

Controversial green energy report 'very, very poor', says government economist – The Guardian
Why Rio+20 must not leave politics out of sustainable development – The Guardian
UK's green credentials 'worsening' - PA
‎Controversial renewable energy report branded 'shoddy nonsense' – Business Green
Scotland steps up plans for 100 per cent green electricity by 2020 – Business Green
High profile support for anti-nuclear protest - Edie

Solar

Wrexham leads Europe's solar charge – The Guardian
Thousands protest sweeping solar cuts in Berlin - Reuters UK
‎Ilkeston Community Hospital solar scheme is completed – BBC news Derby
‎The Green Electrician South Wales installs £1.25 million of solar across Milford Docks – Solar Power Portal
Solar energy in off-grid locations - Engineer Live
‎Solar apartments are the hot, new trend in Japan – Smart Planet

Wind
‎
Does building turbines use more energy than they produce? – The Guardian
Partnership aims to help wind turbine budgeting - FarmersWeekly
‎Cheaper turbines to revive North American wind industry – Smart Planet
‎A tale of two consultancies: the evolution of the Panorama wind report‎ - Carbon Brief (blog)

Food

Cost of eggs set to rise another 20p per dozen after doubling last year – Daily Mail
Don't believe the lie: Organic farming CAN feed the world – Natural News
‘Outcry at Countryfile food claims’ – Farmers Weekly
In season now: what to eat during March – The Ecologist
Pig farmers attack organic and welfare campaigners - Meatinfo

Ethical Finance

Google Buys Wind, Bets on Sun - BusinessWeek
‎Oliver Letwin encouraged green investment in the UK - KMS Baltics
‎Wind grants to boost local good causes - This is The West Country
‎Planting the idea of alternative investment – The National
‎
Interesting news

Sustainability: Green business - Business Excellence Magazine
Springing into action: 10 eco-friendly cleaning tools – All MNN content
‘Mountain Band-Aid’ Transforms Strip-Mined Mountainside Into a Vertical Eco Village – Ihabitat
Thousands of Christians 'Give Up' Carbon for Lent - TreeHugger

Environment | Share +
solar power, wind power, wind energy, green news, wind, solar news, solar, food waste, ethical banking

Greenhouse morning news

Greta Jonyniate | 12.03.12

News stories – 12nd March 2012

Top news stories

Pollutionwatch: Winds from Europe blow stale pollution across to the UK – The Guardian
UK wants 2030 renewable energy target scrapped – The Guardian
A hard, dry future for the planet – The Independent
Government downplays Green Deal delay fears – Business Green
Global accord on nuclear safety needed urgently – World Energy Council – Business Green

Solar

Solar power firms in Mojave desert feel glare of tribes and environmentalists – The Guardian
Major solar panel maker calls for end to Government uncertainty on PV - Click Green
‎Solar Techno Park in Yokohama set to generate up to 60kW of clean power – Ecofriend
Solar panel slates approved for Cotswolds home - This is Gloucestershire
‎
‎Wind

Living next to a wind farm is good for you, says minister Ed Davey - Telegraph.co.uk
‎Hundreds of turbines to be built across the Highlands - Telegraph.co.uk
‎Wind of change in Scotland -The Scottish Sun
‎Fukushima: Solar power and wind energy projects under way - eco-business.com

Food
‎
Backing for GM food has halved since the 1990s with one in three Brits now opposed to it – Daily Mail
How those pesticides persist even when you wash your fruit and veg – Daily Mail
Should the UK now embrace GM food?- The Guardian
Can slow cooking change lives? – The Guardian

Ethical Finance

Islamic investment takes on a green tinge – Financial Times
‎Salmond welcomes £1bn wind farm plan - The Construction Index
‎£1billion wind farm investment to create 600 jobs in Scotland - Eureka
‎Giving credit where it's due bonding together to provide a better service – Herald Scotland

Interesting news

What do you love about England's national parks? – The Guardian
Top 10... alternatives to wheat – The Ecologist
Eco-friendly Mother's Day gift ideas for the fashion conscious mum – Hippyshopper
6 New Inspiring & Sustainable Museums You Must See Now – Inhabitat 

Environment | Share +
solar power, wind power, green news, solar, food waste, ethical banking