Planning Refused for Stanstead Expansion…

Expansion plans for a second runway at Stansted Airport which could boost the number of passengers to over 35million a year have been rejected.

Planning officers turned down BAA’s planning application for growth of the existing runway. Their reasons for recommending refusal included the impact it would have on noise, air quality, and local quality of life. Councillors said they were concerned about the impact expansion would have on the local environment.

Campaign director for the “Stop Stansted Expansion” Carol Barbone said she was “absolutely delighted” by the decision.

BAA is likely to appeal against the decision, although unless they plan to make the second runway for Gliders only then we think it is unlikely to effect the outcome.

Turn it off

Ever walked around London after closing time and seen the lights on in an office and wondered who was working that late?

Global Action Plan sent their office junior around the City of London at closing time to count the number of light bulbs left on.

Incredibly £17m worth of electricity is wasted. This equates to a similar amount of Carbon as a flight from London to New York, 346,000 times.

Whilst having truned lights on at night could be blamed on cleaning, security or the office juniors getting fruity on the boardroom table, it is still a massive waste that can be easily addressed.

Global Action has assisted organisation in the past including the GLA, who recently reduced their energy use and costs by 9% in four months. (We are not going to consider

how a four year old local authority flagship building could be plagued by inefficiencies)

 Local Authorities up and down the country should take note. Consideration should be given to turning the lights off when every employee leaves for the evening at 4pm.

Inconvenient Truth

Al Gore, the almost man of American Politics, has released a documentary film about climate change. The film is called the Inconvenient Truth

He personally presents, in a simple manner, the effect we are having on our climate. He illustrates how soon we will loose the polar ice cap which will lead to a dramatic rise in sea levels.

For anyone who doubts the effect they have on the environment then they should go and see the movie.

The film attempts to wake America up. There is also the occasional dig at the Bush Administration, which is never unnecessary. It would have been interesting to have seen what would have happened had Gore been sworn in instead of George W.

The only criticism of the movie is the amount of times we see Mr Gore in a plane, at least 5 different occasions… Surely this could have been edited out?

Be prepared.. after the film you will want to go straight down to your local Homebase and pick up a pack of energy efficient light bulbs.

A Lot of Hot Air?

The Times recently featured an advertisement article by B&Q on how to generate your own energy.

The article starts by telling us how much energy is lost through a lack of proper insulation in older buildings. An average household emits enough carbon fuel to heat six hot air balloons. Not a great barometer, how many air balloons should we expect to keep up?

The reader is drawn to the point that all electrical goods left on standby should be switched off, saving approximately £37 per year. Consideration should also be given to cavity wall insulation, with another possible saving of £165 per year.

The driving point of the article is to persuade the reader to go down to their local DIY store and buy some solar panels or a wind turbine.

(Where on earth do you start when putting together solar panels on your roof? Does it come with an Allen key?)

The panels start at £1,498.00. This does not include any pipe work, access costs, tea & donoughts, and the cost of a man to come round, take them down, and put them up again properly.

Whilst the inonoughtsstallation of greener energy is the ‘correct’ thing to do it is undoubtedly expensive and the payback period is a long way off.

B&Q are clearly satisfied that a market exists for its new range of products fuelled by stories in the press reminding us to reduce our carbon footprint.

Regrettably, as always, the powers that be (excuse the pun) have still not reacted. The Government has gone to great lengths to introduce a new Part L of the Building Regulations focusing on Carbon Emissions. This is great, but why is it not mandatory for new houses/ conversions to include renewable energy schemes?

Surely house builders should ensure that a percentage of the energy for any new development should come from a renewable source?

Mind you, with the quality of the new stock of properties coming onto the market, you can expect to some imitation wind turbines made of the odd bicycle wheel and set of skis attached to an imitation slate roof soon…