If you'd like to make a small symbolic gesture of your commitment to tackling climate change, just switch off your (non-safety related) lights for an hour on 28th March. Millions of others around the world will be doing the same.
26 February 2009
If you'd like to make a small symbolic gesture of your commitment to tackling climate change, just switch off your (non-safety related) lights for an hour on 28th March. Millions of others around the world will be doing the same.
Tags: climate change, earth hour
Posted by Gareth Kane no responses
This is the latest of a series of tips extracted from the Green Business Bible e-book:
Beware. There is a small but significant number of sharks out there trying to sell immature or ineffective technologies. This is the case in any economic bubble, but the green imperative has provided additional sentimental weak points for the unscrupulous to exploit. I have personally met several of these crooks in my time and I suggest you keep an eye out. A con man’s business is to trick people so be careful -before parting with hard cash, always ask for references (and follow them up), do a credit check and maintain a healthy cynicism.
Tags: tips
Posted by Gareth Kane no responses
18 February 2009
Very interesting piece on GreenBiz pointing out that 16 of the top 50 Innovative Companies compiled by Fast Company Magazine got on the list because of their green credentials. And that's leaving out businesses with a strong green message such as Google and, the winners, Team Obama.
This is more evidence that 'green' is a key opportunity to beat these economic conditions - and many people are taking it. Cutting costs, boosting productivity, future proofing against legislation, avoiding prosecution, creating strong PR stories, empowering employees and creating/exploiting new markets. What's there not to like?
Tags: green business, recession
Posted by Gareth Kane no responses
16 February 2009
This is the latest of a series of tips extracted from the Green Business Bible e-book:
Maintain your equipment and plant properly. I've lost count of the number of times I've pointed out the thousands (or tens of thousands) of pounds that a company is wasting in energy and waste costs through bad maintenance, only to be told "We don't have the budget". Sort it out!
Tags: maintenance, tips
Posted by Gareth Kane no responses
12 February 2009
Today the UK Government announced a package of green measures for every home in the UK. For some reason this will not start until 2013, which would be after at least one general election, but as the other two main political parties are proposing similar measures, this is unlikely to go away.
Very welcome, but maybe a little more haste would be in order.
There's plenty of work to do too, with the Energy Savings Trust estimating there are 7.3m cavity walls that could be filled with insulation, 7m solid walls that could be insulated, and 12.9m lofts which do not have the recommended depth of insulation, and 4.5m G-rated (the least efficient) gas boilers.
Tags: home improvements, insulation, news
Posted by Gareth Kane one response
Nicholas Stern, he of the UK Government's report on the economic impacts of climate change, has called for a $400bn investment in green technologies and home insulation to restart the economy along green principles. Given the warm welcome his original report had around the world, Stern's entry into the green recovery debate is extremely welcome. Maybe, just maybe, the dream will become reality.
Tags: green business, stern
Posted by Gareth Kane no responses
I spent yesterday in Birmingham looking at the Utilicom District Heating Scheme which is growing fast organically like their Southampton example. The initial scheme for Broad Street proved the principle, another cluster is under development with a hospital and Aston University and they are now planning to build a network around every rebuilt school in the city. The schemes are gas CHP with biomass being added soon.
The generic lessons you can take from this example to apply to any large scale environmental project are:
1. A reinforcement of the "evolution, not revolution" principle – grandiose schemes will usually collapse under their own weight. Start small and stable and grow.
2. Build a flexible business model – Utilicom sell heat, coolth and electricity, but each client gets what they need – some get all three, others get just one etc.
3. If you want to work with a Local Authority, take as much risk out of the equation as you can (Utilicom take 100% of the risk in this case). No matter how good your scheme is, gambling with tax payers’ money is not in the Local Authority psyche.
Tags: chp, district heating
Posted by Gareth Kane no responses
11 February 2009
I attended an excellent seminar at Newcastle University last Friday. Professor Tim Jackson was the keynote speaker and the reason why I was there – reading his 1996 book ‘Material Concerns’ on the problems of and solutions to unsustainable production was a turning point in my understanding of this subject. The book is now out of print, but is well worth tracking down on the second hand market.
He demonstrated that there has been no global decoupling of resource use and economic growth (any national decoupling is simply due to the offshoring of resource use). His conclusion was that we needed a new economic system of zero growth.
Tags: sustainable production and consumption, tim jackson
Posted by Gareth Kane no responses
9 February 2009
This is the latest of a series of tips extracted from the Green Business Bible e-book:
Avoid the following while making green claims:
Tags: green claims, green marketing, tips
Posted by Gareth Kane one response
6 February 2009
Just a quick note about comments on this blog - they are moderated and if you add something relevant and business-like it will be approved whether I agree with your point of view or not. The whole point of these posts is to stimulate debate, so the more the merrier!
On the other hand, posting blatant adverts/spam, however relevant to the topic, will not be approved, so it's a waste of time. I don't do link exchanges either...
As for the person who Googled "Green Business Bible free download", nice try pal, but you'll have to pay for it like everyone else!
Have a good weekend!
Tags: terra infirma
Posted by Gareth Kane no responses
2 February 2009
This is the latest of a series of tips extracted from the Green Business Bible e-book:
Use rainwater harvesting for a sustainable source of water but avoid grey-water recycling until technology improves.
Grey water-recycling is the use of water from sinks, showers and baths, although many people use the term erroneously when they mean rainwater harvesting. The main problem with recycling grey-water is the other material (eg soap and faecal matter) that comes with it which can cause odours, safety issues and other problems.
Tags: tips, water conservation
Posted by Gareth Kane no responses
Free monthly bulletin: