Water bills rise by 5.7%

As of today water bills in the UK rise by 5.7%, making the average household bill cost £376. The figure is 0.5% above the 5.2% rate of inflation. The regulator for water and sewage says the extra cost will put £22 billion into infrastructure improvements. Regina Finn, Ofwat Chief Executive Officer warned they would get […]

Solar leads global renewables boost

PwC report looks at energy trends for 2012

BOC joins Drax and Alstom CCS project

Industrial gases group BOC is taking a hand in Drax’s and Alstom’s oxy-fired carbon capture and storage (CCS) project, according to reports. The oxy-fired process burns fuel with gas that has a higher concentration of oxygen than air. BOC will provide the air separation technology at Drax’s 426 MW coal fired power station in Yorkshire.

Folding electric cars for tight EU streets

Folding electric cars could be the answer to parking in tight, busy European streets, if the European Commission’s President is to be believed. At a recent Commission event José Manuel Durao Barroso spoke out in favour of projects such as the HIRIKO car, the smart car which can fold up in a parking space, created […]

Energy issues not being taken seriously by bosses, report claims

One in three UK energy managers say that energy issues are not being taken seriously by their bosses, according to a new report. Siemens, who claims to show the views of 600 businesses, suggests that more than a quarter of board directors do not know what their energy management investment will be over the next […]

Apartment owners and residents could save $3.4 billion by upgrading energy

Apartment building owners and residents in the US could save up to $3.4 billion by upgrading energy efficiency, according to a new report. The report released by CNT Energy and the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) suggests that energy companies working together with building owners can help save can save utility costs of […]

Centrica splashes £142m on North Sea field

British Gas parent company Centrica is buying ConocoPhillips’ stake in a North Sea oil and gas field for £132million ($233m). The buyout takes Centrica’s stake in the Statfjord field to roughly a third (34%).Mark Hanafin, managing director of Centrica Energy said: “The acquisition, which follows our announcement last year of a new 10 year gas […]

Scotland makes good progress in emissions reduction, report suggests

Scotland has made increased investment in renewable forms of electricity and good progress in buying more energy efficient vehicles, according to a new report. The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) published its first progress report today following Scotland’s aim to tackle climate change in reducing emissions by 42% by 2020. The country saw a likely […]

Activists occupy British Gas head office

Six activists have barricaded themselves inside British Gas offices, according to reports. The protesters are campaigning against fuel poverty and what they claim is “Big Six profiteering”. The protestors have been at the energy supplier’s building in Staines, Middlesex since this morning and appear to have handed flyers to staff and strung a banner across […]

Microsoft and Starbucks share money-saving climate change tips

Microsoft and Starbucks are some of the big brands adding their business tips on saving money while adapting to climate change to a new UN-led online database. Other multinationals to share their “success stories” about making profits or savings – or preventing losses – with adaptation-related projects include Levi’s, Nestléand Coca-Cola, according to the UN […]