Enviromental

14 energy-efficient ways to cut bills this winter

Posted: November 30th, 2009

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last six months or so, you’ll have realized that the UK is in the grip of a recession that’s refusing to be swept aside even by a plethora of government economy-stimulation measures.  Yawn, yawn, yawn, we hear you cry – and yes, we’re sick of hearing about it too.  But there’s no getting around the fact that desperate times call for desperate measures, and with very few spare pennies floating around at the minute it’s in everyone’s best interests to make their money work harder.  When it comes to shaving vital pounds off those nasty household bills, energy efficiency is key, and it’s a win-win situation; you save money and do your bit to save the planet too!  Here are our top tips for reducing your energy bills this winter:

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EPC spot checks.

Posted: March 27th, 2009

epcAnyone selling their house in NI without the required energy performance document may soon be facing a stiff fine.

It has just been revealed that householders marketing their home without an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) when government officials undertake visits next week will face fines of up to £1,000.

The Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) will be carrying out a series of spot checks at properties being marketed for sale or rent in a bid to see if an EPC is in place.

EPCs, which rates energy efficient on a scale of A to G, became a legal requirement for all residential properties for sale or rent last year.

However, this announcement is the first clear sign from the DFP of enforcing the legislation and penalising those householders or landlords who don’t have an EPC.

Local estate agents have already received a letter from the department spelling out its intention to impose penalties on those who don’t comply with the requirements.

“We intend undertaking follow-up visiting during the coming weeks,” said the letter adding the department was of the view “sufficient time has elapsed since the introduction of the regulations”.

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Posted in Enviromental, Property News

New Eco-Friendly Housing Scheme for Bangor.

Posted: February 17th, 2009

shutterstock_7532692Oaklee Housing Association have announced a new eco-friendly social housing scheme at Shaftesbury in Bangor.  The development will consist of thirty four, two bedroom apartments, boasting a number of energy saving features.

The apartments will have photovoltaic roof panels which convert sunlight into electricity and will be some of the first public funded homes in Northern Ireland to satisfy the new Code Level 3 environmental impact rating system.  The Code has been designed to encourage sustainability and increase energy efficiency.

The apartments will be available only to people over the age of 55.  The scheme has been praised by Housing Minister, Margaret Ritchie.  ”The delivery of highly energy efficient and sustainable public sector housing is a key priority for my department, especially given the volatility in energy prices and living costs.” says the Minister.

Oaklee and MMM Design & Build have considered everything, right down to the planting.  Mr Brian McVeigh from MMM Design & Build said his company was “also focused on providing highly efficient internal and external fittings”.   “Waste management and recycling is another key design feature with internal storage bins within each apartment allowing the recycling of three types of waste.”

The effects of all these eco-friendly measures are estimated to produce a 25% improvement in CO2 emissions over traditional building regulation requirements.

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No Confidence Vote for Environment Minister

Posted: February 13th, 2009

Following Minister Sammy Wilson’s decision to block a government advertising campaign on climate change, Stormont’s Environment Committee has passed a vote of no confidence, by six votes to four. 

Leaving a less than pleasant atmosphere in Stormont,  some are accusing members of using this as a forum for political point scoring, many of Wilson’s peers and experts in climate change are appalled by his comments.  Environment Chair Patsy McGlone confirmed ahead of yesterday’s meeting, that she had no sympathy with Minister Wilson.

It appears that Mr Wilson’s comments that the adverts were part of an insidious propaganda campaign, are only the tip of the iceberg.  A leading expert on fuel and energy and a former consultant to the government has revealed details of an e-mail from Mr Wilson stating that claims that fossil fuels would run out are “nonsense”.

Following a request from the Green Party’s European candidate, Steven Agnew, Mr Wilson’s actions will be discussed in Brussels next week during a plenary session of the European Parliament.  Mr Agnew stated “Sammy Wilson is entitled to his own views, but he is not entitled to ignore the overwhelming scientific evidence that man-made climate change exists.”

These latest comments from Mr Wilson have further fueled the fire, sparked off last summer when he announced that he would vote against the government’s Climate Change Bill.  It appears that Minister Wilson’s credibility in the political and scientific world has all but evaporated.   So far Mr Wilson has resisted all calls for his resignation.

Click below to view one of the advertisements from the blocked campaign. 

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NI’s Environment Minister Slams Green Ad!

Posted: February 10th, 2009

Sammy Wilson, Minister for the Environment in Northern Ireland has blocked a government advertising campaign on climate change.  Minister Wilson claims that the adverts are part of an “insidious propaganda campaign”.

The Green Party amongst others have called for the Ministers removal from office stating that he has made “a laughing stock out of Northern Ireland.”  Brian Wilson of the Green Party has said of Minister Wilson,”He is a climate change sceptic. We have got to take all measures we can to reduce our carbon footprint. Mr Wilson does not agree with that.”

Minister Wilson defends his position stating that the advertising campaigns were ”giving people the impression that by turning off the standby light on their TV they could save the world from melting glaciers and being submerged in 40ft of water”.  He states this is ”patent nonsense”.

Minister Wilson wrote to the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), stating that the campaign “was not welcome”.  He does not believe in its message that ”man-made greenhouse gas emissions are the main cause of climate change”.

Whatever Minister Wilson’s own belief’s are, his blocking of this campaign has caused many of his peers to call for his removal.  Tommy Gallagher, SDLP, accused Mr Wilson of “political sabotage of an important public awareness campaign”.  Friends of the Earth Director, John Woods has registered his disbelief at the Ministers actions calling them “Completely Irresponsible”. 

Despite Minister Wilson’s departmental website claiming that it takes a lead on climate change issues, Mr Wilson has told Whitehall that such messages will only be promoted within Northern Ireland on his say so.  

Many of the Minister’s peers are questioning his decision, is this based on personal opinion or consultation?

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