You’d be forgiven for thinking the gossip of the week is football manager Alex Ferguson’s retirement after 27 years in the job – Man U fans around the country are currently snivelling into their red shirts. (As a lifelong Hammer, it’s no skin off my nose…)

But I’m afraid Fergie’s small fry compared to the news story which could affect virtually every household in the country. Not even the Red Devils can claim to have that reach.

So what’s more newsworthy than that? The Government’s smart meter roll-out – let me rummage in my top pocket for a second – has got the yellow card. Cue the frustrated footie chants.

The start of the nationwide programme to put smart meters into 53million homes and business properties has been rained off for 12 months, so the rumours go, with kick off now scheduled for 2015. Of course it follows that the roll-out won’t be finished by 2019, but 2020 instead.

It’s been a tough season for the Department of Energy and Climate Change, what with financial quibbles to rival the most hard-up Premier League clubs and tricky transfers on the cards (two senior officials are said to be departing soon). In DECC’s changing room there are rival technologies jockeying for pay rises, with New Nuclear and Wind both demanding bigger wages, while the old stars (Coal,  the original fuel is hanging onto shirt number 01) struggle to keep their form.

Now the much trumpeted smart meters are giving them grief too – the Big Six suppliers have had a word with the referee and want more time to work out team tactics before play begins.

You can bet DECC and its smart meter supporters – the legions of builders, installers, home owners and businesses – are fervently hoping an extra year of practice does the trick before the whistle blows.

The world’s favourite sport can now help charge electronic devices, thanks to a “revolutionary” football which is able to produce and store electricity whilst it is being kicked around.

The initiative, started by five Harvard students, could provide a power solution for developing countries.

Dubbed the ‘Soccket’, the ball is capable of producing enough energy to power a light for around three hours, from just thirty minutes of play. It is fitted with an induction coil in the centre along with a magnet, which moves forwards and backwards when the ball is in motion. The movement powers a motor and the electricity is stored in an on-board battery.

Commentators say it could be a hit in Africa. Chris Hurcombe, Managing Director of energy broker Catalyst Commercial, who has spent time on the continent said: “This is revolutionary. It has a huge potential to change people’s lives where there is no electricity… Most areas there are off-grid with no electricity… (The ball) would be a privilege out there.”

The ball costs only slightly more than a normal high end ball to produce.

Five Harvard students have created a concept football that is able to produce and store electricity whilst it is being played with.

Dubbed the ‘Soccket’, this revolutionary ball is capable of producing enough energy to power a light for around three hours, from being kicked around for just thirty minutes.

Using an induction coil fitted into the centre of it’s construction, the Soccket contains a magnet, which rapidly oscillates when the ball is in motion. This oscillation powers a motor, and the electricity is stored in an on-board battery.

An AC Adaptor is fitted behind one the panels of the Soccket, allowing a multitude of appliances to be powered in such a manner, though the designers – Jessica Lin, Julia Silverman, Jessica Matthews, Hemali Thakkaras and Aviva Presser – envision it’s best use is to charge mobile phones and power lights.

Many developing countries – where football is often the most popular pastime – rely on old kerosene lamps for light during the night.

These outdated light sources have often been associated with health problems, and the World Bank’s research suggests that burning these lamps indoors is the equivalent of smoking two packs of cigarettes a day.

As well as improving health, it would also be a huge improvement for the environment; kerosene lamps generate 190 million metric tons carbon dioxide emissions per year: the equivalent emissions of about 38 million automobiles.

As well as having won praise from various philanthropic organisations, the Soccket can also boast presidential backing, as Bill Clinton has thrown his support behind the invention, dubbing it ‘extraordinary’.

To see the Soccket in action, click here.

Bolton Wanderers Football Club has made a bid for more sunshine in the North of England. The Premiership club is taking on Chinese solar group Hanwha as one of its major sponsors for the 2011/12 season.

Phil Gartside, Bolton’s Chairman said: “We look forward to developing a mutually beneficial long-term relationship with Hanwha, whose strong environment credentials and philosophies are closely matched with our own.”

Sung Soo Lee, CSO of the Hanwha’s business division said: “We see this partnership as a way to underscore our dedication to energy and to the UK, both on-and-off the football field.”

Bolton are the second Premiership team in a week to get a solar sponsor, after Fulham FC.

Plans for a wind turbine to be built on Hackney Marshes have been abandoned.

According to a spokesperson from Hackney Council, the funding from the potential energy companies involved had been withdrawn.

Mayor of Hackney Jules Pipe said: “We’re disappointed that the current economic situation has resulted in the banks making it more difficult for electricity generation companies to borrow the money they need to build such turbines.

“We will continue to explore options for generation green energy, and we hope to be able to revisit the idea of a turbine in the future.”

A public consultation held between October and December of 2009 had found 87% approval for the Hackney Marshes scheme. The town hall had also backed the plans as the turbine would not only have helped reduce CO2 emissions, but also powered street lights.

However, there was opposition to the plans, particularly from the football community. Johnnie Walker, chairman of Hackney and Leyton Football League, spoke of the impact on the dozens of Sunday League teams the turbine would have: “We have already lost tons of space – we have lost pitches left, right and centre. There is major disruption around the Marshes.”

Anna Hughes of the Green Party admitted that there were unanswered questions surrounding the turbine

“Investing in renewable now will eventually generate an economic advantage later. But as good as it would be to have a turbine, we have to consider which would have been the most cost-effective.”

Premier League football club Blackburn Rovers has cut its carbon emissions by 270,000 tonnes, saving it around £60,000 per year.

A new commercial energy efficient condensing boiler, heat recovery ventilation system and full replacement lighting system have been installed at the club’s Ewood Park ground following a comprehensive site audit.

Following the audit by Preston-based GB Energy, Blackburn spent £234,000 on an improvement programme which was part funded through a 0% business loan from The Carbon Trust.

Stadium Safety ManagerJohn Newsham said: “We have been actively pursuing ways of saving energy for the last five years or so and this project has moved us another vital step forward in our energy efficiency drive.

“Key areas for carbon savings were identified and it was surprising – and pleasing – to see the sizeable cost savings that were there to be had.

“The business loan made it particularly attractive as there was minimum capital risk for the club, only financial and environmental benefits. It has proved a win-win situation for us.”

A new computerised system enables Blackburn Rovers FC to control the heating and ventilation of most of the major rooms at Ewood Park at the touch of a button.

“I can set and adjust temperatures in any given room at any given time from the comfort of my office,” explained Mr Newsham. “It is all very impressive, but we are not standing still and we are now looking at other ways to further improve our energy management.”

Luke Watson from GB Energy said: “Energy efficiency is something that all businesses must address in line with the government’s Climate Change Levy. In addition, rising energy prices force businesses to look at streamlining their operational costs.

“New funding streams are being made available all the time and there are numerous grants which can be unlocked to fund projects of this type.

“The beauty of this project is that it’s been cost-neutral for Blackburn Rovers FC – the cost savings cover the loan repayments and after four years they’ll be able to reinvest those funds back into the club.

“We often find that the full benefits of an energy audit are overlooked. Environmental responsibility is of course a big driver but significant financial costs savings can be secured too. Blackburn Rovers FC is a great example of how energy efficiency need not cost the earth.”

Energy efficiency is not restricted to football’s top tier. All 72 Championship, League One and League Two clubs across England and Wales now have their funding from the Football Leagure Trust partially linked to improvements in environmental performance.

This has led to several successful initiatives across the country. Middlesbrough has fitted solar panels; Barnsley, Huddersfield, Sheffield United, Coventry, and Southampton have all carried out energy audits; Scunthorpe, Lincoln, and Ipswich Town have installed motion sensor lights; and MK Dons has fitted low energy floodlights.

Qatar is to use carbon-neutral technology to cool its stadiums during the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Yesterday Qatar was successful in its bid to host the football tournament in 2022, with Russia being picked for the 2018 competition.

Three state-of-the-art stadiums will be built for the event in Qatar, with two existing arenas due for expansion. The stadiums will all feature low carbon technology to keep temperatures down to 27°C – vital for fans and players alike as outside, the heat in Qatar in June and July tops 40°C plus.

Qatar 2022 chairman Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani said: “Our stadiums will have zero carbon cooling equipment utilising solar technology to ensure the temperature is no higher than 27 degrees Celsius, ensuring optimum playing conditions and a comfortable environment for fans.

“What we have unveiled is a world first, and as part of Qatar’s commitment to delivering an historic legacy we will share this groundbreaking technology with the rest of the world.”

When England’s World Cup team took on the USA at the weekend, they were facing a team wearing the most environmentally-friendly kit in the competition.

The USA team strip is made by Nike from recycled plastic bottles destined for landfill sites in Japan and Taiwan.

Each shirt is made from up to eight bottles and Nike rescued nearly 13 million plastic bottles, totalling nearly 254 tonnes of polyester waste, from going into the ground.

If the bottles used to make the jerseys were laid end-to-end, they would cover more than 3,000 kilometres – more than the entire coastline of South Africa.

By using the bottles, Nike cuts its energy consumption by up to 30% compared to the process of manufacturing virgin polyester.

Nike has also made the eco-friendly kit for Brazil, Portugal, The Netherlands, South Korea, Slovenia, Australia, New Zealand and Serbia.

Nine teams taking part in this summer’s World Cup will be wearing Nike shirts made from recycled plastic bottles.

Nike last week unveiled the kit for the United States. The other sides wearing the environmentally-friendly strips are Brazil, Portugal, The Netherlands, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Serbia and Slovenia.

The shirts are made from recycled polyester sourced from bottles destined from landfill sites in Japan and Taiwan. Each shirt is made from up to eight bottles and Nike rescued nearly 13 million plastic bottles, totalling nearly 254 tonnes of polyester waste, from going to landfill.

If the bottles used to make the jerseys were laid end-to-end, they would cover more than 3,000 kilometres – more than the entire coastline of South Africa.

By using the bottles, Nike cuts its energy consumption by up to 30% compared to the process of manufacturing virgin polyester.