Recession impedes energy efficient IT
by David Masters
Businesses are wasting money buying energy-inefficient computing equipment, new research discovered. A study by CDW Corporation for its 2009 Energy Efficiency IT Report found that although firms are doing more to improve IT energy efficiency compared to last year, a new focus on short-term financial gain threatens to undo their efforts. “Under extreme budget pressure in a recessionary economy, the number one IT purchasing concern is the current cost of equipment and ...
London encouraged to drink regular tap water
by Alan HartenIn an effort to promote awareness of tap water as a viable option over bottled water businesses, MPs, and community groups across London will receive a total of ten thousand water carafes designed by the Thames Water. The Houses of Parliament will also receive some water carafes which chief executive of Thames Water, David Owns, said he hopes will make MPs think about drinking tap water on a frequent basis. Even the ...
Tits turn vampire on bats
by Alan Harten
The tit is often considered a friendly guest in gardens throughout Britain, but it has been discovered that in Hungary the birds have a darker side as they are predators that actively hunt hibernating bats and eat them. They turn to predators that seek flesh is thought to be caused due to a lack of the normal dietary needs that tits seek. Tits were first found to be seeking out bats in ...
Engineer shortage threatens UK’s low-carbon future
by David Masters
Britain's future prospects as a low carbon economy could be jeopardised by engineering being viewed as a "dirty and menial" subject to study at university. Interviews conducted with 14-19 year olds on behalf of the National Grid found young people view engineering as a subject suited to less academic students. Over 1,300 young people were interviewed for the 'Engineering Our Future' report, which concluded that parents and teachers view engineers as "blue ...
Bumblebee to return to UK
by David Masters
Plans are afoot to repopulate the British countryside with a native species of bee that died out nearly a decade ago. The short-haired bumblebee officially went extinct in the UK in 2000. However, a small population of the bumblebee survives in New Zealand. Conservation groups plan to bring short-haired bumblebees across to the UK from New Zealand in an effort to repopulate the British Isles with the species. If their plans prove successful, it ...
Bumblebee re-introduction plan
by Alan Harten
Scientists have discovered that the key to getting captive short-hair bumblebees to thrive in a new habitat is simply feeding them what they want to eat. Project officer of a scheme to reintroduce the bumblebee to the UK, Nikki Gammans, stated that the bumblebee is simply a ‘fussy eater’ due to the fact that it only will eat fresh pollen on a daily basis. Thus, when presented with the fresh pollen ...
Wales ahead of schedule on landfill targets
by David Masters
Welsh councils have smashed recycling targets a year ahead of schedule. Figures published this week show Wales sent 599,703 tonnes of biodegradable waste to landfill in 2008/09, 24% less than its target for the year, and 16% less than its target for next year. Reaching the landmark ensures Wales won't face financial sanctions when the EU's landfill directive comes into force next year. “These new figures are great news and show how councils ...
Wind power “pivotal” for Northern Ireland
by David Masters
Wind turbines are set to adorn the Ulster countryside if Northern Ireland's environment minister gets his way. Edwin Poots believes wind farms are the key to Northern Ireland meeting its renewable energy targets. Wind power will play a "pivotal role" in ensuring Northern Ireland meets of target of producing 40% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020. The minister made the comments during a keynote speech at an Irish Wind Energy Association ...
Escaped salmon dampen enthusiasm for fish farms
by David Masters
Wildlife conservation groups in Scotland have condemned a Scotland-based fish farm after 37,000 juvenile salmon escaped following a suspected predator attack. The Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland (RAFTS) and the Association of Salmon Fishery Boards (ASFB) said the salmon, which escaped from a unit on Lock Frisa owned by Scottish Sea Farms (SSF), present a "major risk to the genetic integrity and survival of wild salmon populations". The fish escaped through ...
Artic should be cooling not warming
by Alan Harten
Research that was published in Science magazine points to the 1990’s as the warmest period of time for the Arctic temperatures over the last 2,000 years. The study results allege that if CO2 gases were not controlling the natural climate patterns than the Arctic would now naturally be cooling down. The report also said that this cooling which should happen gradually would still continue to happen on into the future if CO2 ...
Brits demand the right to peaceful protest
by David Masters
Half of British adults think the police are too heavy handed during peaceful protests, according to the results of a new YouGov poll. The Christian Aid commissioned study found 50% of people think the police are too violent towards peaceful protesters. A third (33%) of the 2,000 people polled believe that police filming protesters is an invasion of privacy and is another example of Britain becoming a "Big Brother" society. One in five ...
Supermarkets are Ireland’s litter bugs
by David Masters
Supermarkets in Ireland are failing in their legal responsibility to keep their premises free of litter, recent research discovered. A survey by Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) found the entrances, car parks, and surrounding pavements of supermarkets are scattered with litter in many Irish towns. These areas were more than twice as likely to be heavily littered compared to other locations. Tesco was found to be the worst offender, followed by Aldi and ...
Can sci-fi solutions solve CO2 dilemmas
by Alan Harten
Soon, there may be actual scientific solutions to reverse the effects of climate change that do not include reducing CO2 emissions if an UK science organization can gain support for some outlandish and very Sci-fi like ideas. According to the Royal Society a Plan B may have to be used if CO2 levels are not reduced soon. The plans include large giant mirrors that could be placed ...
Solar panels add value to UK homes
by David Masters
One third of British adults would pay extra for a home kitted out with a renewable energy source, the Energy Saving Trust (EST) revealed today. A poll by the energy advice group found 35% of people in the UK would be willing to pay more for a home where some of their energy supply came from renewable resources such as solar, wind, or hydro-power. Nearly half (49%) of those surveyed said they'd ...
Christian Aid stages virtual climate protest
by David Masters
With 100 days until world leaders meet in Copenhagen to forge an agreement on tackling climate change, Christian Aid staged a mass virtual trespass at E.ON Ironbridge power station. Instead of taking direct action to close down the power station, the charity beamed images of Christian Aid supporters onto the plant's cooling tower. In the images supporters held up messages to Prime Minister Gordon Brown encouraging him to take the lead in ...
Insurance company plants carbon offset trees
by Alan Harten
Kwik Fit Insurance, a Lanarkshire intermediary company, confirmed its commitment to the environment this week by planting about 300 trees as part of its contribution to Greener Travel Week which lasts from Aug 24-30. The Green Travel Week was an initiative launched by the Scottish Government as part of its overall campaign to encourage Scots to be more eco-friendly in their daily lives. Outside of planting trees, staff at the ...