“London is set to become a greener place to live following an announcement by mayor Boris Johnson which will see ten of the capital’s boroughs receiving funding to put towards energy efficiency.

The mayor announced at the London Congress that the ten chosen boroughs – which include Lewisham, Westminster and Islington – will each receive a minimum of £200,000 to put towards improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions in the area.

And the aim of the project is to reduce carbon emissions by 20.12 per cent by 2012, while also creating more green jobs.

Both domestic and commercial properties will be the focus of the funds. Read more »

“The UK has made "significant" progress in the field of green construction, but more needs to be done, according to a new report.

In an update about its Strategy for Sustainable Construction, the Department for Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform stated that the country is on target to reduce emissions by 34 per cent under the UK Low Carbon Transition Plan.

Construction minister Ian Lucas, said: "I am pleased to see we are making steps towards reaching these targets, but there is further work to be done to build on these achievements and reach the overarching goals of the strategy."

Ian Pearson, economic secretary to the Treasury, added that the challenge will now be ensuring that the Climate Change Act targets for 2020 and 2050 are met. Read more »

“Construction firms which have concentrated on developing low-carbon expertise will be in a strong position when the recession ends, according to one expert.

Brian Berry, director of external affairs at the Federation of Master Builders, explained that there will be increased demand for green construction services in the near future.

This means that those who have the expertise to meet the need for such work should be well placed going forwards, he stated.

Mr Berry said: "Construction [firms] are looking ahead and looking to the future, thinking of ways in terms of their skill sets and the technology they are using. They will be one step ahead as we come out of the recession." Read more »

“Renewable energy is on the agenda in Wales, where it is hoped Aberdare, a former Valleys mining town, will become the UK’s first low carbon town, it is reported.

Wales Online reports that the Heads of the Valleys regeneration scheme will see the latest renewable energy technologies being integrated into the area, while energy efficiency will also be encouraged among businesses and households.

Furthermore, over the course of the coming 15 years, the campaign will assess some 65,000 homes for how energy efficient they are, while 40,000 properties will receive help in improving their efficiency.

Deputy minister for regeneration Leighton Andrews said: "The investment in Aberdare will help spearhead the development of the region as a low carbon zone where energy efficiency measures will be introduced on a scale that has not been undertaken in the UK to date." Read more »

“Microgeneration of electricity will provide people and the environment with a huge range of benefits, according to one expert.

Juliet Davenport, founder and chief executive officer of Good Energy, believes that adopting small-scale generation projects could help the UK solve many of the problems facing it.

She said: "Generating your own power not only helps reduce overall carbon emissions but can help insulate us all from fuel price fluctuations and provide an alternative income in the future."

Patrick Holden, director of the Soil Association, added that microgeneration should be of particular interest to farmers as the country looks to build a more sustainable model of agriculture. Read more »

“When considering property improvements such as renewable energy technologies, homeowners should start with small projects first, it has been advised.  

Adam Vaughn, author of e-books Smartplanet and the Greenguy, noted that the amount of information available about renewable energy projects in the public domain can be confusing. "One of the key things that people want to know when it comes to saving energy in the home is what the priorities are," Mr Vaughn claimed.  

He recommended that homeowners carry out easy tasks, including installing energy-saving lightbulbs and altering heating control settings, before tackling larger projects such as fitting solar water heating and new boilers. Read more »

“The UK needs to play catch-up when it comes to its focus on renewable energy, one sector commentator has claimed.

John Barwise, chairman of the Cumbria Green Business Forum, said: "We desperately need to rebuild the UK’s power industry and to invest now in training and skills [...] to ensure a sustainable power resource in the UK for future generations."

He added that recent comments made by chief executive of the Energy & Utility Skills council Tim Balcon were welcome.

Mr Balcon earlier urged that new low carbon technologies and strategies could mean a 700 per cent increase in trainees within the next 15 years. Furthermore, the renewal of power stations over the next 15 years will also have a significant need impact for a specialist workforce. Read more »