Environment Industry Magazine - Issue 31

ISSN 2043-0140

Issue 31

Flooding 96 IFAT Show Preview 179 Caroline Spelman MP 162 Green Deal 78 Garry Moore 222

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“….we should be using Nature's inexhaustible sources of energy — sun, wind and tide. ... I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don't have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that” ~ Thomas Edison in conversation with Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone (1931)

from the

Editor Welcome to the latest issue of Environment Industry Magazine. This issue comes hot on the heels of the Fifth Assessment Report from the IPCC – (Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/wg1).

This time the report is much more decisive than previous ones. For example; back in 2007, the IPCC Third Assessment Report stated that…

“Most of the observed increase in global average temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations” It is understandable that previous statements were non-committal, the Climate is such a massive and complex system and we have limited accurate historical climate data, so it is difficult to map. Moreover, there have always been some problems with the Climate Change argument; the world has alwtays been subject to fluctuating weather patterns and extreme weather events.

Climate change sceptics have exploited this to support argument that the increased incidence of extreme weather events “is nothing out of the ordinary, it is part of the natural cycle and everything will be all right if we just ignore it”.

(Paraphrased) The ambiguous use of language in the Third Assessment Report unfortunately gives enough reasonable doubt to give credibility to this argument, even though this stance is contrary to most of the evidence of a changing climate, (by most, I mean all of the credible evidence). In addition, many climate sceptics have either been proved to have a vested interest in maintaining our present consumption of fossil fuels and CO2

output or to have a limited grasp of the subject and the science behind it.

Our technology and accuracy of data has improved exponentially over the years; so has our knowledge and understanding of the climate systems. Despite this, the public still harbours considerable apathy and uncertainty about our impact on the environment and in particular, the effects of Climate Change. This apathy combined with lack of knowledge and the use of the relatively comforting term “Global Warming” (Mediterranean temperatures across Middle England would be just the ticket for most of us) means that not everyone is aware of the consequences of increased global temperatures.

For the first time in the Fifth Assessment Report, the IPCC has stated conclusively “it is extremely likely that human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century. Human influence has been detected in warming of the atmosphere and the ocean; in changes in the global water cycle; in reductions in snow and ice; in global mean sea level rise; and in changes in some climate extremes. This evidence for human influence has grown since Assessment Report 4”.

The latest report also states, “The atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide have increased to levels unprecedented in at least the last 800,000 years.

Carbon dioxide concentrations have increased by 40% since pre-industrial times, primarily from fossil fuel emissions and secondarily from net land use change emissions. The ocean has absorbed about 30% of the emitted anthropogenic carbon dioxide, causing ocean acidification”.

I have heard many ill-informed and ignorant statements in relation to climate change, a number of them express the ineffectiveness of changing our habits – “what’s the point

Note: (IPCC assessments are written by hundreds of leading scientists (259 in the case of the fifth report) who volunteer their time and expertise as Coordinating Lead Authors and Lead Authors of the reports (http://ipcc.ch/pdf/press-releases/ipcc-wg1-ar5-authors.pdf). They in turn enlist hundreds of other experts as Contributing Authors to provide complementary expertise in specific areas.)

when America and China have such a massive environmental footprint, what difference would we make?”

This really annoys me! Instead of complaining about the futility of the situation, we should be capitalising the fact that the other countries are not reducing their environmental impact. The UK could emerge as the global sustainability expert and leader in environmental technologies.

As a relatively small and relatively wealthy sovereign state, we are able to affect wide ranging environmental change with comparative ease. Our business community embraces sustainability. Our population is well educated, and is beginning to demand increasing environmental accountability from government and industry. We have some of the best universities and research facilities in the world. In addition, we are on an island with defined borders. We have an amazing opportunity to implement policy to strengthen legislation to ensure that sustainability and the environment is at the core of everything we do.

We can also encourage those who use fewer resources and act sustainably and ethically by reducing their tax burdens.

We also have a duty to support small businesses and entrepreneurship instead of stifling it as we do now. We also have an obligation to invest in home-grown environmental research and innovation. We have the capability of showing the world that it is possible for an industrialized country be sustainable and reduce its environmental footprint. An entire industry could be developed in helping others to scale our environmental solutions and in marketing UK environmental products and services.

There is no reason why we cannot be leading the global drive in mitigating climate change.

Enjoy this issue of the magazine.

Alex Stacey Editor

Contact: Vivek Pandey (Head of Publications) Tel: 0161 341 0156 Email: vivek@environmentmagazine.co.uk

BlooGlobe Limited, 254a Bury New Road, Whitefield, Manchester, M45 8QN

Alex Stacey (Editor) Tel: 0161 3410158 Fax: 0161 7668997 Email: alex@environmentmagazine.co.uk

Every effort is made to verify all information published, but Environment Industry Magazine cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions or for any losses that may arise as a result. Opinions expressed in articles do not necessarily reflect those of BlooGlobe Limited. Environment Industry Magazine welcomes contributions for publication. Submissions are accepted on the basis of full assignment of copyright to BlooGlobe Limited unless otherwise agreed in advance and in writing. We reserve the right to edit items for reasons of space, clarity or legality.

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Contents News & Comment 8 News 36 GreenTec Awards 42 The Watercooler 44 Jason Drew 46 Steve Grant 204 Environmental Prosecutions 220 Product Guide 222 Famous Last Words

48

Air Quality 48 Not all particles are equal

-- Jim Mills, MD, Air Monitors

52 CEM Show preview -- 14th - 16th May

Conservation 54 Biodiversity Offsetting

-- Lyn Nelson, Founder & Director, Emerald Heritage

54

60

66

78

60 A tiny, powerful answer to the European

ragweed invasion

-- Dr Urs Schaffner & Julia Dennis, Centre for

Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI)

Energy 66 Caught in the Crosswinds

-- Thérèse Brouwer, MD, Head SF Utilities, Power &

Renewables, EMEA at ING

72 Hydraulic fracturing and water management -- Rob Jeffries, Principal, Anne Johnstone, Senior

Manager & Robert Jones, Associate Consultant, ENVIRON

78 The Green Deal at Scale

-- Mat Lown, Sustainability Partner, Tuffin Ferraby

Taylor (TFT)

82 Walking the Tightrope – Manufacturing and the

Low Carbon Economy

-- Gareth Stace, Head of Climate & Environment

Policy, EEF

88 Unlocking the renewable potential of rural

property [in Scotland]

-- Mike Reid, Head of Utilities, CKD Galbraith

92 All-Energy Show preview -- 21st & 22nd May

82

Flooding 98 Open Letter to Mr Cameron

-- Mary Dhonau OBE, Chair, Flood Protection

Association

100 Flood Resilient Properties

-- John Alexander, MD, Aquobex

102 Battered Britain

-- Laura Brady, Senior Civil Engineer, Merebrook

Consulting Ltd

106 Sewer Flooding

-- Brian M Back, MD, Radio Data Networks Ltd.

98

102 environmentmagazine.co.uk | 5 |

Contents Food & Packaging 108 Recycle for the Future

-- Joe Franses Director, Corporate Responsibility &

Sustainability Coca Cola Enterprises

112 Raising the diversion rate for organic waste -- Robert Raw, Sales & Market Development

Manager, Biodegradable Polymers UK, BASF SE

108

116 Interpack Show preview -- 8th to 14th May 2014

Land Management 122 Asbestos: the hidden hazard on brownfield sites?

-- Joanne Kwan, CIRIA, Paula Whittell, Berrymans

Lace Mawer & Paul Nathanail, University of Nottingham and Land Quality Management Ltd.

126 Living at Risk: South Africa’s radioactive mine dumps

-- Lucy Yelland, Freelance Journalist

126

Sustainable Build & Civil Engineering 132 Greenbuild Expo Show preview -- 7th and 8th May 2014

136 The Future of the Eco-City: Delivering

measurable results

-- Dr Don Mclean, MD & Founder, Integrated

Environmental Solutions (IES)

Timber & Forestry 138 Sustainability in Construction

-- Andrew Carpenter, Chief Executive, Structural

Timber Association

136

138

Transport 144 CV Show preview

-- 29th April - 1st May 2014

148 Future Vision needs to be clear for LPG

autogas in the UK

-- Linda Gomersall, General Manager, LPG autogas

Ltd.

Waste & Recycling 152 The road map to a sustainable business

-- Angela De Vorchik, Operational Marketing

148

152

Manager UK, Arjowiggins Graphics

154 Arguments for the increased adoption of PAYT

are starting to weigh up

-- Ian Lewis, General Manager, MOBA UK

158 Waste as a Fuel

-- Ian Wakelin, CEO, Biffa

162 Remanufacturing: Towards a resource efficient economy

-- Rt Hon Caroline Spelman, MP for Meriden and

former Environment Secretary

158 | 6 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

For more news, editorials, and product reviews, visit www.environmentmagazine.co.uk

164 End of Life Vehicles - Legislative update

-- Ian Hetherington, Director General, British Metals

Recycling Association (BMRA)

168 CARS (Complete Auto Recycling and Secondary

Materials) trade show -- 5th - 6th June 2014

Water 174 The best way to clean up flooded lakes and reservoirs?

-- Tony Wynes, MD, Aquarius Marine Group

164

179 IFAT Show preview -- 5th - 9th May

184 New garden city developments - could water

be the secret ingredient?

-- Simon Hake, Property & Development Director,

Wardell Armstrong

188 Turning the tide on the global water crisis -- Peter T Knight, Chairman, Context Group

Misc 192 Active Share Ownership

174

184

188

196

-- Lisa Stonestreet, Programme Director, UKSIF

196 Qualifications: The hallmark of a knowledgeable practitioner

-- Tim Balcon, CEO, IEMA

200 A wake up call for us all

-- Eliot Whittington, UK Director, Prince of Wales’s

Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change

Case Studies 206 Cost effective recycling 1,000,000+ refrigerators -- BHS-Sonthofen

208 Industrial scale Bio-Thermic digester technology -- Advetec

210 Cutting noise and carbon footprint -- GI Energy

211 Breathing new life into a Victorian Warehouse -- Accoya

212 Re-creating the iconic Louis Vuitton Design -- Accoya

213 Runcorn energy recovery plant switches on -- Viridor

214 Reducing Residents’ Energy Cost

200

-- Thermal Earth

219 Heating system for rural off-gas house -- Ecodan

218 Siemens secures services for Anglian Water -- Siemans

222 environmentmagazine.co.uk | 7 |

News

Canadian solar announces the opening of its Microgrid Testing Centre Canadian Solar, one of the world's largest solar power companies, has announced the opening of the Canadian Solar Microgrid Testing Centre. The Centre will focus on micro-grid solution testing, system solution design and smart grid assessment services. The Canadian Solar Microgrid Testing Centre, partially funded by the Ontario Ministry of Energy, will be located in Guelph, Ontario. The Testing Centre has a team of highly qualified professionals who will facilitate the development of both off-grid and grid-tied microgrid projects.The Microgrid Testing Centre will work with its collaborators to provide shareable services for utilities, universities and colleges, communities, and companies that engage in the development of microgrid solutions.

In a statement Dr. Shawn Qu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Solar said: "We thank the Ontario Ministry of Energy for sharing our vision and our effort in making Ontario the centre of renewable energy technology in North America. The Canadian Solar Microgrid Testing Centre will serve as our newest addition to our Total Solutions strategy, and will help further strengthen our position in the emerging multi-billion dollar micro-grid and smart grid sector."

The new microgrid solution will give Ontario a strong competitive advantage in that segment of the smart grid industry that focuses on testing, developing and integrating high penetration renewable energy solutions into existing microgrid off-grid infrastructure. First Nations, remote communities and mining projects in Northern Ontario will directly benefit from using the Testing Centre. In addition the Testing Centre will serve an essential need in the smart microgrid application process, as Ontario Hydro requires all solutions to be lab tested before being testing in the field and then implemented into the microgrid.

Full details of the presentations are available from www. cem.uk.com and there is an early booking rate for delegates of 495 €uros (saving of 100 €uros) for bookings made before 1st April.

The CEM 2014 exhibition is already almost sold out and the organisers are anticipating a heavy demand for delegate places with strong attendance from the Turkish Ministry of Environment and the Turkish cement industry.

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SLR secures hat-trick of inquiry wins for Viridor A multi-disciplinary team from SLR has helped Viridor secure a change to the means of transporting refuse derived fuel (RDF) to the largest Energy from Waste (EfW) combined heat and power facility in the UK. The facility in Runcorn, which will manage up to 850,000 tonnes of RDF a year and supply heat and power to the adjacent INEOS ChlorVinyls chemical works, was subject to an unusual planning restriction that specified that 90% of the waste had to be delivered by rail.

SLR waste and carbon experts were able to demonstrate that it was actually more sustainable for local deliveries of waste to come by road.

This was backed up by comprehensive technical assessment work to show that the increase in traffic would not have an adverse impact on local residents or the environment.

Technical Director, Chris Herbert, acted as the planning witness at the inquiry – his third such success for Viridor after Ardley and AvonmouthEfWs. He said: “This case was yet another example of elected members ignoring the clear professional advice of their officers which has led to the full costs for the inquiry being awarded against the Council.

Once again the decision demonstrates the strength of our technical disciplines in delivering high quality assessment and expert witness support to clients – enabling their developments to proceed.”

News

Inspirational day encourages delegates to Be Their Own Boss

JCB, which started out as a one-man business nearly 70 years ago, has played host to potential entrepreneurs at an event encouraging them to start their own digger driving firms. The company welcomed scores of people from all over the UK to the World HQ at Rocester, Staffordshire, for the ‘Be Your Own Boss’ seminar, designed to inspire delegates to become backhoe loader owner operators.

JCB Backhoe Loader Business Growth Managing Director Yvette Henshall-Bell said: “Many of JCB’s customers started their business with just one backhoe loader and today run very successful businesses with hundreds of JCB machines. The Be Your Own Boss event is the start of a journey to encourage people to be the entrepreneurs of the future.”

Delegates spent the day talking to experts from the world of banking, accountancy, finance, law and taxation to guide them through the potential pitfalls of setting up their own business.

SLR instructed to handle next phase of Manchester Geothermal Project

SLR Consulting has been appointed by GT Energy (GTE) to submit a planning application for the next phase of its proposed deep geothermal heat plant and district heating network in Manchester.

The instruction follows SLR’s recent success in helping GTE to secure planning permission for the heat plant element of the scheme – a project which involves the drilling of two 3,200 metre deep boreholes and the construction of an underground heat plant capable of providing heat to around 6,000 homes and businesses.

Commenting on the recent instruction, Alan Mitchell, Principal Planner with SLR, said: “We are delighted to continue our long running relationship with GTE and extend our involvement with them in Manchester. This geothermal project is an innovative green energy development that has the scope to be replicated across the UK in similar urban environments and areas with similar geology.”

SLR’s brief includes the completion of a number of environmental studies and the submission of a planning application for a district heating network. This will connect the proposed heat plant site in the Ardwick area of Manchester to the Oxford Road corridor and the city center.

ential’s Solar Sense

SLeading environmental monitoring and management specialist enitial has installed solar panels at its head office in Wolverhampton in a bid to offset its carbon emissions.

The new Renesola solar panels have a capacity of 30,000W and an estimated annual output of 25,980kWh, enough to power nearly half a million light bulbs. At 1.6m2 each, the 120 panels cover a total area of 192m2. With the installation, enitial hopes to lead by example by embracing renewable energy sources, and will offer the service to other businesses in the future.

The project is the brainchild of newly appointed low energy and solar pump liaison manager, Shaun Grainger, who set out to make the office more energy efficient when he joined the company last year.

With a short payback period of just five years, the panels will prove to be a great long term investment and protect the company against electricity price rises as well as improving enitial’s carbon footprint.

| 10 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

News infrastructure in Aberdeen in 2014. This will include the production of hydrogen from a 1MW electrolyser and establishing a state-of-the-art hydrogen refuelling station, Scotland's first commercial-scale hydrogen refuelling station that will include hydrogen production through electrolysis in partnership with BOC. The Aberdeen Hydrogen Bus Project is a large-scale bus demonstration project led by Aberdeen City Council. It is testing the economic and environmental benefits of hydrogen transport technologies and aims to drive the development of hydrogen technologies. The use of hydrogen as a transport fuel offers great promise as a key component of a low carbon energy system. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles emit no harmful emissions and are virtually noise free.

Arrival of first hydrogen buses marks milestone in Aberdeen project

The Aberdeen Hydrogen Bus Project marked a major milestone with the unveiling of the first vehicles of Europe’s largest hydrogen bus fleet.

The city council has taken delivery of four of the 10 hydrogen vehicles ordered from Belgian firm Van Hool as part of the Aberdeen Hydrogen Bus Project.

The arrival of the buses signals a significant step forward in the Aberdeen Hydrogen Bus Project – the most high-profile of a range of projects designed to create a hydrogen economy in the city.

The Aberdeen City Council-led bus project will deliver a hydrogen

PassivSystems Limited to partner with Good Energy

PassivSystems Limited, a provider of smart technology systems for domestic energy use and solar PV efficiency management, has announced that it is to partner with Good Energy the renewable electricity company, to provide its customers with a simpler way of claiming Feed-in Tariff (“FIT”) payments for the electricity generated from solar panels installed on their homes.

Good Energy will be trialing a new smartphone app that has been designed and built by PassivSystems. The app provides customers with a simple interface to capture and submit meter readings for their solar generation FIT claims. Customers will instantly receive feedback on whether or not the reading has been validated, making it straightforward to ensure that they will receive payment for their generation.

HomeGen is Good Energy’s award-winning solar PV scheme that has

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Because this hydrogen technology is so new a considerable amount of education and learning must be carried out before the buses start carrying passengers. The arrival of the buses has been planned in advance of the hydrogen production and re-fuelling facility completion to ensure driver training, technician training and other operational planning can be completed prior to passenger operations commencing.

The buses will be officially launched at the All-Energy conference which takes place in Aberdeen on 21 and 22 May. The Aberdeen Hydrogen Bus Project partners are: Aberdeen City Council; Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (AREG); the Scottish Government; Scottish Enterprise; Technology Strategy Board; Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution; BOC; Van Hool; First; Stagecoach; Scotland Gas Networks; and Element Energy.

been devised especially for domestic generators typically 4kW in size or less, where the majority of the electricity produced is used on site.

Traditionally customers would have to go online and complete a series of forms to submit their meter readings in order to receive payment for their generation, so PassivSystems expects there to be a strong take-up from Good Energy customers.

PassivSystems provides information and tools to consumers that enable them to control and optimise energy usage, delivering significant energy and cost savings. For example, the PassivLiving™ Heat product allows users to control the heat and hot water in their homes using a smart phone, tablet or PC. The app can be used with both iPhone and Android devices and will be available to download from iTunes and the Google play stores.

For more news, editorials, and product reviews, visit www.environmentmagazine.co.uk

Severn Trent Backs Watersafe’s National 'Get Girls Plumbing' Campaign Otto Graf GmbH acquires SCP Water Management

Otto Graf GmbH has acquired SCP Water Management to create the new company – Graf UK. SCP Water Management has been a major importer of Otto Graf GmbH products into the UK market for several years, making the acquisition a natural step. Well- matched goals and aligned operating methods mean that the two companies will swiftly gel. Graf UK will have a stronger brand presence and improved service in the UK market and will quickly secure opportunities to grow its business within the UK. Graf UK will provide the full range of Graf products in the UK including rainwater harvesting, stormwater management and wastewater treatment systems. The company to set up distribution agreements with national and independent builders merchants and buying groups throughout the UK to reach additional customers and to provide excellent value for money.

Brent Civic Centre wins Sustainable Project of the Year award The Skanska built Brent Civic Centre has been named Sustainable Project of the Year at the Building Awards 2014. The building’s ultragreen standards were recognised in winning this award. The new civic centre is set to achieve a 40% reduction in carbon emissions compared with a standard building, thanks to a combination of features including solar shading, natural ventilation, a highperformance façade and a combined cooling, heating and power generation system which uses waste fish oil.

Skanska’s Managing Director, Paul Heather congratulated the team saying: “It’s fantastic that our approach to sustainable construction has been acknowledged by this prestigious award. I’m extremely proud of the team’s determination to make the building as environmentally friendly as possible.”

The awards ceremony and gala dinner, hosted by comedian James Corden, was held at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London.

The evening highlighted the people involved in outstanding building projects recognising contractors, architects, engineers and specialist sub-contractors.

Brent Civic Centre is home to Brent Council. The new building accommodates 2,000 employees and brings together all council functions from across the borough.

Against the backdrop of mounting gender inequality in the corporate world Severn Trent announces its support of WaterSafe's newly-launched 'Get Girls Plumbing' campaign, designed to encourage more women to take up tools.

According to a poll of 2,000 consumers by WaterSafe, the UK's leading plumbing assurance scheme, UK homeowners would like to see more women take up a trade with nearly a third stating they would prefer a female plumber to carry out work on their home. Reasons cited include feeling safer with a woman, trusting advice from a woman more than a man and the likelihood that a woman wouldn't patronise them. Encouragingly, four in five homeowners surveyed said the most important consideration when choosing a plumber, regardless of gender, is if they have the skills to do a good quality job.

Of those polled nearly two thirds feel it's time traditional stereotypes were broken and would like more women to take up a manual role.

Over a third of women surveyed said that if they had chance to start out again they would like to 'take up a trade’ because it offers a more stable career path.

Despite this determinably warm welcome for women plumbers amongst homeowners, females remain severely under-represented in the plumbing industry. Tellingly the most recent figures show less than 1% of the UK's plumbers are currently female.

Fuel Economy Record for the Peugeot 308 In official witnessed tests the PEUGEOT 308, recently awarded European Car of the Year 2014, has been shown to achieve new records for fuel economy: 99.1mpg and 1124.7 miles on a full tank of fuel.

This performance was achieved at the Almeria circuit in Spain, officially witnessed by the authority UTAC (Union Technique de l'Automobile, Motocycleet Cycle). A PEUGEOT 308 Hatchback, specified with the new PureTech 1.2-litre e-THP 130 turbo petrol engine with a manual six-speed gearbox, was driven for over 32 hours to consume the 51.4-litre contents of its fuel tank. In so doing the PEUGEOT 308 set a new record for fuel economy and distance driven on a single tank of fuel, and to achieve this several drivers took part in the driving because of the time and distance covered.

This performance was achieved with a standard production model and therefore allows the PEUGEOT 308 1.2-litre e-THP 130 to become the benchmark for its sector for most economical vehicle with a petrol engine.

environmentmagazine.co.uk | 13 |

News

Government Earmarks East Coast Marine Areas for Tidal Stream Energy The East Marine Plans designate several areas of high tidal stream resource off the East Yorkshire, Suffolk, and especially Norfolk coastlines where tidal energy development will be prioritised. Other developments in these areas will have to be justified to the MMO, and any adverse impacts on tidal energy development minimised or mitigated. The REA has played a key role in ensuring that wave and tidal energy is supported under the Marine Plans programme.

REA Head of Marine Renewables Dr Steph Merry said: "We have been working hard to highlight to Government the nonfinancial barriers to wave and tidal energy in UK waters. These provide opportunities for cost-effective policy measures that will support this nascent green industry at minimal cost to the taxpayer. The kind of excellent support the MMO has demonstrated is very much needed if we are to preserve our world-leading position on wave and tidal energy.

The number one issue for the marine sector is ensuring there is room for growth for wave and tidal energy under the new Contracts for Difference scheme -– for instance, by setting minimum deployment thresholds. It is vital that developers can access State support in order to get over the commercialisation hurdle, scale up development, create more jobs and further bring down the technology costs."

| 14 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

The Crown Estate has also demonstrated leadership in developing practical measures to boost the marine energy industry, such as funding open access wildlife surveys for the benefit of the sector as a whole, reducing the burden on developers to fund their own surveys duplicating those of their competitors. The REA has also called for similar costeffective, practical measures, such as: • Assuring support for wave and tidal in the Government's EMR programme, via guaranteed capacity in the Contracts for Difference scheme • Providing all projects equal access to the grid at a reasonable rate • Ensuring the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult programme for the sector is effective • Joint procurement and installation Green Investment Bank involvement The East Marine Plans cover the coast and seas from Flamborough Head to Felixstowe, with a major area earmarked for tidal energy development off the Norfolk coast near Great Yarmouth. They also contain similar policies for offshore wind. The next Marine Plan will cover the South Coast, from Folkestone to Dartmouth. The REA will continue to engage with the MMO to ensure that all future Marine Plans also support the UK's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and boost energy security with marine renewable energy.

value loves waste Used catalytic converters often contain precious metals of considerable value which can be recycled and recovered by a reliable and trusted partner. With over 100 years of service and an established culture of integrity, BASF Metals Recycling can provide customers with superior overall value. When waste is valuable, it’s because at BASF, we create chemistry. www.converter-recycling.basf.com Our recycling services include: ■ Automotive catalytic converter substrates ■ Spent chemical catalysts ■ Industrial resins, filters and sludges ■ Targets and shields ■ PGM jewelry and dental scrap ■ Electronic scrap

Contact BASF Metals Recycling to learn the value of your waste materials: Email

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News

ZubaBox Solar Internet Hub

'inside the box'

So what do you do when you have an empty container, a number of used computers and a solar panel? You think 'inside the box' and call on Computer Aid International to send a Zubabox - a solar powered, allin-one, internet-enabled IT classroom, equipped with 11 reconditioned computers.

With the support of Cargill and Maersk Line, the Asarekwaa community and Asarekwaa Al Furqn Islamic School in Ghana are celebrating the opening of their very own Zubabox - the first of its kind in Ghana. Zuba is the word for Sun in Nyanja - a language spoken in Zimbabwe, Malawi and Southern Zambia.

The Zubabox is made from a converted shipping container, shipped ready-to-use and operates without the need for electricity connections and internet wiring. This ICT solution was designed by Computer Aid International to support rural communities in Africa.

The school, which has over 390 children and only 11 teachers, is located approximately 150km from the port of Tema.

Asarekwaa community and at our school. ICT is an important part of the school's curriculum which until now has largely been taught as theory.

This computer room will allow our students to put theory into practice and enable our teachers to research new and exciting lessons. We would like to thank Computer Aid International, Cargill and Maersk Line for helping to link us with the wider world through technology."

Initially the Zubabox will be used by the school but there are already plans to open this up to the broader cocoa community, particularly farmers.

"The ZubaBox concept was designed to help rural communities access the internet and IT equipment which can have a huge impact on poverty reduction. Learning IT skills at school means children will be able to gain better paid employment in the future. As we have seen in other locations, extending the box to local farmers can help them access local weather forecasts thereby allowing them to adjust the planting and harvesting times of their crops which in turn will lead to increased agricultural productivity and food security", says Keith Sonnet, Executive Chair for Computer Aid International. www.computeraid.org/zubaBox-solar-internet-hub.asp

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Alfred Fuah, ICT Teacher at the School, said: "We are absolutely thrilled that the Zubabox is being placed in the

| 16 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

News

Air Products Smartfuel® fuels Commercial Group’s first hydrogen hybrid transit van Commercial Group’s first London-based hydrogen hybrid van is fuelled at Air Products’ fuelling station as part of the London Hydrogen Network Expansion (LHNE) consortium project Air Products welcomed the Commercial Group to its Smartfuel® hydrogen fuelling station at Heathrow airport London, to fuel the Group’s first London-based hydrogen hybrid Ford Transit delivery van.

The fuelling was one of many to come as Commercial Group will continue to use the Air Products Smartfuel® station for its growing hydrogen hybrid delivery fleet.

Deployed by Revolve Technologies and operated by Commercial Group, the van is the first of a fleet of hydrogen hybrid internal combustion engine transit vehicles that will soon be deployed in London. The fleet will be delivered as part of the Technology Strategy Board funded London Hydrogen Network Expansion (LHNE) project. The initial van is currently undergoing a test period before the fleet is fully rolled-out over the coming months.

The vans will be used by Commercial Group’s office supplies division which provides a next day delivery service to customers across the UK. Described by Revolve as a ’specially built demonstration vehicle’ the vans will promote low carbon transport and are designed to show that hydrogen, as a fuel, can be deployed in real life commercial operations.

In addition to Commercial Group’s fleet of vans Air Products recently signed the UK’s first commercial lease granted by Hyundai Motor UK Ltd, for a new Hyundai ix35 hydrogen fuel cell vehicle to be delivered later this year. This will be one of a number of Hyundai hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to be deployed as part of the project.

The Air Products-led LHNE project will also deliver a new publicly accessible state-of-the-art 700 bar hydrogen fuelling station. In order to establish a viable and standardised network of 700-bar refuelling stations the project will upgrade the existing SmartFuel® station located near Heathrow Airport London, and deliver a new Smartfuel® station of the same specification to another planned London location.

EMECto study integrity of subsea cabling The world leading European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) Ltd, based in Orkney, is to share learning on the performance of subsea cabling in high energy environments to support the development of commercial wave and tidal energy sites. Funded by The Crown Estate the project will see EMEC and Engineering Technology Applications Ltd (ETA) carry out a review of existing data to assess the reliability of subsea cables installed in the harsh wave and tidal conditions at EMEC’s test sites at BilliaCroo on the west coast of Orkney, and the Fall of Warness off the northern island of Eday.

To date there has been little information published about how subsea cables survive and perform in high energy marine environments, and as commercial wave and tidal sites around the UK enter the initial planning

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phases information on how subsea cables may perform in areas such as the Pentland Firth and Orkney waters (PFOW) lease areas will be vital to project developers and investors to progress successfully.

With its first cables installed over 10 years ago EMEC has collected considerable amounts of data. Numerous routine remotely operated vehicle (ROV) surveys have been undertaken to examine structural integrity alongside comprehensive electrical cable testing.

The report will cover cable armouring, marine growth, anthropogenic interactions, and cable movements, as well as the electrical and communications performance of the cable, and will take various factors into consideration including seabed type, current speed, wave loadings, cable usage, cable type and installation methods.

News

BREEAM Outstanding dragon centre to breathe life into Beijing Green Building Park

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For more news, editorials, and product reviews, visit www.environmentmagazine.co.uk

The iconic dragon shaped visitor centre designed for the Beijing Green Building Park in China (part of the BRE Innovation Park Network) has been awarded a BREEAM Outstanding design certificate. Designed by Ian Bogle of UK-based Bogle Architects, the 4070.5m2 centre will be the first of the Beijing Park's series of best of British buildings demonstrating world leading innovation and sustainability to be constructed on the 450,000m2 site.

With its undulating form creating a front door for the park then blending into the adjoining landscape – suggesting head to tail of a protective dragon – the inspired building will welcome visitors, host exhibitions, provide an educational experience for all ages and a knowledge hub for exchanging green building ideas.

Created by Vanke, the world's largest private developer who is leading on the Beijing park project with BRE, the building scored 100% in the Energy, Water and Waste sections of the BREEAM assessment.

Five innovation credits were achieved for exemplary performance in the Energy, Transport and Pollution sections, with frequent local bus services, provision of priority parking spaces for car sharers, electric car charging facilities and cycle storage areas earning a 92% score for Transport. The building's total BREEAM score was an impressive 86.56%.

Some of the key sustainable features of the steel and concrete parametrically designed building include a green biodiversity area on the roof and glass curtain walls on the north and south elevations to increase natural daylighting. Thermally active surfaces throughout provide effective energy transfer through radiation with the benefit of thermal mass, and suspended radiator ceiling slabs for heating and cooling along the roof spine form a unique architectural feature. Insulation is provided by subtly visible high performance vacuum glazing and by a timber window frame curtain wall to minimise cold bridging.

environmentmagazine.co.uk | 21 |

News

Scottish Water selects advanced aeration solution to improve water quality and reduce costs Scottish Water has purchased three advanced Aquaerator aeration and mixing systems from Aquarius Marine Group (AMG), a world specialist in lake aeration, to improve water quality in Aberdeenshire’s Craighead Reservoir. The new ‘Aquaerator’ technology developed and installed by AMG, will help combat thermal stratification and increased levels of iron and manganese, a common issue for reservoirs and lakes during the

E.ON scraps rollover contracts for all SME business customers In an industry-leading move E.ON is the first major energy supplier to end the process of automatic contract rollovers for all new and existing SME business customers, taking another step towards making energy deals simpler and fairer. The move is the latest in a series of commitments designed to improve fairness and transparency for E.ON’s micro business customers and will benefit customers joining E.ON or renewing on to a new product.

Research among E.ON’s small business customers revealed that 86% would prefer to negotiate a new contract or move to a more flexible agreement rather than automatically being ‘rolled' on to a new long-term fixed price deal. E.ON already has provisions in contracts allowing small business customers to opt out of auto-rollovers but from 31st March 2014 both existing and new customers will only be offered products without an auto-rollover option.

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summer months. Scottish Water expects to see water treatment cost reductions and less dependence on expensive chemical interventions at the local water treatment works.

Selecting the solution from AMG will provide Scottish Water with a more environmentally sound and cost effective solution to water quality and oxygenation. Scientifically proven, the Aquaerators work by mixing air and water horizontally just above the bed of the reservoir, above the silt layer, to form a powerful rotating plume. The bubbles aerate and mix the de-oxygenated bottom waters to introduce oxygen and return metals and manganese held in suspension to the silt at the bottom.

SME customers who choose not to take a new product once their existing deal runs out will be moved on to E.ON's cheapest variable rate tariff, with a 30-day notice period and no exit fee. In response to customer feedback the window for negotiating a new deal has been extended to 30 days ahead of their product end date, giving customers more time to ensure they can find the best deal for them.

Alongside these changes E.ON now publishes all variable SME tariff rates on its website allowing customers to easily compare the rates available to them.

In a recent survey of UK small business decision-makers commissioned

by E.ON fewer than half of respondents said they completely understood their energy bills (46%), and nine in ten said that clear and open information on what makes up a bill was crucial to maintaining good relationships with their energy providers (89%).

For more information about E.ON's service for business customers, visit eonenergy.com/for-your-business. authorities through successfully. The project will deliver a significant contribution to the achievement of recycling targets in South Wales and valuable savings that may help to safeguard frontline council services."

Pinsent Masons is also advising the procuring authorities on the North Wales residual waste project, which is to be funded with Welsh Government support, and is scheduled to complete in 2014.

Register at energy-enviroexpo.com/EIM

Driving the energy & environmental agenda 17-19 June 2014, ExCeL London

Addressing the critical issues within energy and environment management London’s only exhibition developed to address the needs of those responsible for driving forward the energy and environmental management agenda within their organisation.

Designed to help your organisation truly minimise its environmental impact, the show will provide solutions, technologies and strategies to maximise energy efficiency, reduce costs, ensure compliance and develop effective CSR & sustainability programmes.

#Energyexpo @energy_enviro

In association with

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CRCs

Energy

Lighting

Heating & Ventilation

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Recycling

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News

Mark Group fits UK’s largest solar PV installation for Wolseley UK Mark Group has installed 8000 solar panels on the roof of Wolseley UK’s National Distribution Centre (NDC) in Leamington Spa, capable of generating enough electricity each year to supply around 450 homes.

A roof area of 13,113m² - roughly the size of two football pitches has been covered. The installation, carried out over a 6 month period including preparation, is rated at just over 2MW and could generate £6.5m over 20 years under the Government’s Feed In Tariff (FIT) for

commercial buildings. Over a year the system should generate more energy than is consumed at Wolseley UK’s National Distribution Centre along with a surplus of around 10%.

The installation incorporates various innovations and one such innovation is to channel some of the exhaust air from the inverters into the building’s heating systems to further reducing the building’s carbon emissions.

An overview of how the PRIMOVE system works and how it compares to diesel buses is available under the following link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hGrk8AHKmw

World's First Electric Bus Transport operator BraunschweigerVerkehrs-AG's first electric bus equipped with Bombardier PRIMOVE technology began revenue service in Germany. In the presence of senior federal and state representatives the PRIMOVE electric bus completed its first regular passenger service in the city. This marks another important milestone for the practical application of the PRIMOVE system.

The passenger service has started with a 12m long electric solo bus operating on the central circular line M19. From October four additional 18m articulated e-buses will be phased in. It will be the first time that ecofriendly 18m electric buses have replaced conventional buses in regular passenger operation.

Each bus is equipped with the wireless PRIMOVE fast-charging system and the new PRIMOVE high-performance batteries. In Braunschweig the

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world's first inductive charging system is coming into use. With an output of 200 kW it charges electric buses in just a few seconds, enabling them to cover the distance to the next charging station with ease.

The electric buses from the manufacturer Solaris are fully charged overnight in the bus depot. A quick recharge of the batteries during the regular 10 minute interval at the last station is sufficient to ensure the smooth operation of the 12m solo e-bus on the 12 km route. The 18m articulated buses require more energy and are therefore additionally charged for a few seconds at two intermediate bus stops. This custommade charging concept ensures a maximum battery life and an uninterrupted operation with a clean e-mobility solution on the existing bus route.

For more news, editorials, and product reviews, visit www.environmentmagazine.co.uk

Iconic Volkswagen XL1 features in Designs of the Year exhibition At first glance the link between recycling and homelessness may seem a little abstract. But waste and recycling company Biffa is bringing the subject to the attention of industry in an attempt to raise awareness and ultimately save lives. People sleeping rough have many dangers to contend with, from abuse from passers-by to hypothermia. Finding somewhere dry and sheltered to spend the night isn't easy, and people may not consider the specific dangers when climbing inside a waste container. Biffa drivers are trained to check the waste containers of their 60,000 commercial customers, with drivers last year reporting over 20 incidents of finding people. Tragically, however, one person was not found until it was too late, and that fatality was not the waste industry’s first.

Biffa is now hoping that by raising awareness further incidences like this can be avoided.

In order to start to address the problem Biffa has partnered with StreetLink, a telephone line and website which enables the public to help connect rough sleepers to local services, to raise awareness of the issue of homeless people sleeping in bins. Working with the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management an industry-wide survey has identified the scenarios in which people are most likely to be found sleeping in bins. The report highlights the need for clear guidance so that vulnerable people can be better protected.

Matt Harrison, Director of StreetLink commented: “The study has shown that people are most likely, though not exclusively, to be found sleeping in unlocked bins stored at the rear or side of buildings, and largely in urban areas. People sleeping rough seek shelter in bins through the night and in particular in cold or wet weather.�

The conclusions show that simply by encouraging commercial customers to lock their bins lives can be saved. Organisations working with people who are sleeping rough can also help to share advice on the matter. Although a bin full of cardboard may seem like a practical place to stay, the risk of being injured, or worse, is ever-present.

This important piece of research will enable homeless charities to better communicate with rough sleepers about the dangers of sheltering in bins, whilst helping raise awareness of the issue amongst waste management crews and the public at large. Health and safety policies of waste management organisations do in some cases encourage staff to check bins for rough sleepers. However, this is not yet widespread enough to provide the consistent protection that these vulnerable people need. By raising awareness of the issue amongst the industry, and promoting best practice in training waste collection staff to be alert to such incidences, it is hoped that the sector will witness fewer injuries, and eliminate the risk to rough sleepers from their choice of a bed for the night.

StreetLink aims to offer the public a means to act when they see someone sleeping rough and is the first step someone can take to ensure rough sleepers are connected to the local services and support available to them.

If you are concerned about someone sleeping rough call StreetLink on 0300 500 0914 or visit www.streetlink.org.uk.

environmentmagazine.co.uk | 25 |

News

Kebony wood selected for the world’s first Quiet Mark Treehouse The Quiet Treehouse has been designed by Blue Forest Luxury Treehouses and will be donated for permanent use by Chestnut Tree House, the children’s hospice in Sussex Kebony has been working with Blue Forest Luxury Treehouses, John Lewis and Quiet Mark to develop an ambitious tree home made from Kebony wood, the sustainable alternative to tropical hardwood and toxic treated timber.

The technology behind the wood is an innovative process that enhances the properties of sustainable softwood species to give them similar characteristics to tropical hardwoods, making it suitable for use in indoor and outdoor applications. The wood is strong and durable – as a result Kebony has been used for a number of high profile projects in the UK, USA and across Europe.

Blue Forest is the world’s leading luxury treehouse and eco-home builders. They create treehouses which reflect the environment in which they are built, aiming to bring people closer to the natural world and the great outdoors. With environmental credentials and sustainability a key consideration in all of their designs Kebony was a fitting choice for this project because of its strength, beauty and environmental credibility.

The silver-grey patina which Kebony develops when exposed to weather is an attractive quality of the wood that will add to the ambience of the treehouse when it is implanted to the tree canopy at Chestnut Tree House children’s hospice in Sussex.

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A not-for-profit organisation, Quiet Mark is the international mark of approval from the UK’s Noise Abatement Society, encouraging the design of quieter high performance technology and solutions to reduce unwanted noise in our environment.

For more news, editorials, and product reviews, visit www.environmentmagazine.co.uk

Biofore Concept Car drives sustainable change through innovative use of biomaterials The Biofore Concept Car showcases the use of UPM’s innovative biomaterials in the automotive industry. The majority of parts traditionally made from plastics are replaced with high quality, safe and durable biomaterials, UPM Formi and UPM Grada, which can significantly improve the overall environmental performance of car manufacturing. The Biofore Concept Car is designed and manufactured by students from the Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences.

Elisa Nilsson, Vice President of Brand and Communications at UPM said: “The Biofore Concept Car showcases the potential of UPM’s biomaterials. Not only for the automotive industry but also for various other end-uses including design, acoustics - a wide range of industrial and consumer applications. The possibilities are endless. According to our Biofore strategy we create value from renewable raw material - wood from responsibly managed forests - and strive for a more resource efficient future. The Biofore Concept Car is a fine manifestation of this. We are proud of the cooperation with Metropolia’s automotive engineering and industrial design students and what we have achieved together.”

Parts made of UPM Grada thermoformable wood material are the passenger compartment floor, centre console, display panel cover and door panels. Grada technology revitalises the forming of wood with heat and pressure, and opens up new opportunities for designs not achievable with traditional methods. UPM Grada’s unique forming properties enable high quality ecological designs which are also visually appealing.

Parts made of UPM Formi biocomposite include front mask,

side skirts, dashboard, door panels and interior panels. UPM Formi is a durable high quality biocomposite for injection moulding, extrusion and thermoforming production. Consisting of renewable fibres and plastic, the material is non-toxic, odourless and uniform in quality. UPM Formi is ideal both for industrial and consumer applications. UPM's responsible supply chain combined with use of renewable raw materials ensures a small carbon footprint.

The vehicle runs on UPM’s wood-based renewable diesel UPM BioVerno which will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels. UPM BioVerno is suitable for all diesel engines including the 1.2 litre low-emission diesel engine featured in the Biofore Concept Car. Moreover, thanks to UPM’s biomaterials, the car is approximately 150Kg lighter than its equivalents, resulting in lower fuel consumption.

UPM Raflatac’s self-adhesive label materials are used to mark spare parts as well as in the interior and exterior design of the car. All labels used in the Biofore Concept Car have been manufactured using the latest adhesive technology and solvent-free production processes.

Pekka Hautala, Project Director from Metropolia said: “Sustainability is a major subject globally. We were excited to be able to design and build a vehicle that would demonstrate that already today we have biomaterials that are a real alternative to traditional oil-based materials. During the past four years of building the Biofore Concept Car our students have come to see that these biomaterials are of high quality, durable and also offer new design opportunities.”

A technician tending a vat of hot molten metal.

Molten Man 2.0 taken by Shane Butler

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Shane Butler

2013 EEF 'MADE IN BRITAIN' Photography Competition Winner

Our winning image uses strong composition and well controlled exposure to combine rich, warm tones and shadow. The judges liked the intensity and concentration involved in the centuries old process, which is still key to modern manufacturing through the tools it produces.

environmentmagazine.co.uk | 29 |

News

Job opportunities galore at the new Essex Residual Waste Treatment Facility

Leo Group marks double milestone with ‘Green Fuel’ shipments

With construction almost complete on Basildon’s new residual waste treatment facility at Courtauld Road, Urbaser Balfour Beatty (UBB) the company contracted by Essex County Council to manage and operate the new stateof-the-art facility has started a major recruitment drive to secure its workforce in readiness for the facility’s commissioning in July 2014.

With its modern architecture, surrounding landscaping and a three storey education and visitor centre, the Courtauld Road facility offers a vibrant and hi-tech working environment for the right candidates. The recruitment current drive is timed to coincide with the start of the commissioning and training phase for the project.

Over sixty positions are being advertised now with details available on UBB’s website (www.ubbessex.co.uk). Recruitment to skilled and unskilled roles includes hands-on roles such as recycling operatives, shift supervisors, plant operators, technicians, mechanical and electrical maintenance posts to office-based administrative and communication staff.

Over £120m has already been spent on construction of the facility with £6m of this investment being spent with local companies and suppliers for the new residual waste treatment facility which will process household waste generated by residents in Essex and Southend-on-Sea.

A West Yorkshire environmental specialist has completed its biggest shipments of “green” oil which will be used as a hi-tech aviation fuel across the world.

In its first 4 full ocean tankers the Halifaxbased Leo Group has shipped 10,700 tonnes of tallow recycled at its Omega Proteins plants in Bradford and Penrith. This accounts for 10,700,000 litres of oil.

The tallow, a natural by-product rendered from animal waste collected by the company from all over the UK, is a key component in the process to create an advanced form of biodiesel.

The overseas shipments come as the company marks another environmental milestone – the tallow and poultry oils produced at both of these rendering plants are now certified under the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) scheme. The ISCC seal is used by industry to distinguish between truly sustainable and unsustainable biomass fuels.

Leo Group managing director Danny Sawrij said: “We are delighted that customers around the world are drawing upon our expertise to drive down the world’s carbon footprint. Waste is not in the Leo Group’s

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vocabulary or culture – everything these days has a use and 100% of all by-product materials on our sites are now recycled. A few years ago a dead sheep would be buried in the ground with the risk of contamination. Now we can turn that sheep into diesel and electricity – you can run your car on it and turn your lights on. That is how far we have come.”

There has been a push in recent years from the EU to increase the use of biofuels in the world’s energy mix in order to reduce reliance on traditional fossil fuels with their associated greenhouse gas emissions.

Biodiesel is proven to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90% compared to traditional fossil diesel. However, not all biofuels are sustainable. Unsustainable biofuels can cause significant environmental damage, the most obvious example being the clearance of virgin rainforest to grow oil plants such as palm oil.

For more news, editorials, and product reviews, visit www.environmentmagazine.co.uk

Sustainable Entrepreneurship celebrated at this year’s Sustainable City Awards Sustainable Entrepreneurship celebrated at this year’s Sustainable City Awards

Master of lorry logistics Carbon Voyage was crowned winner of Sustainable Entrepreneurship at the Sustainable City Awards, presented by the Lord Mayor at Mansion House, London For the first time, the awards recognised the UK’s greenest entrepreneurs and Major James Swanston is the first businessperson to be awarded for his innovative traffic management system, which is described as ‘an air traffic control system for trucks’.

With an estimated 4,300 Londoners dying prematurely as a result of air pollution it is essential that improvements are made to urban transport given predictions for substantial increases in city populations in the coming years. People in London sit in 66 hours of traffic every year and 20% of this congestion is as a result of freight traffic, a third of which is driving around empty. At two current locations where Carbon Voyage's technology and app is working they estimate that they will save in excess of 100,000 hours in waiting time for freight vehicles. Aside from the operational savings that this generates for those locations and the drivers it helps to reduce congestion and air pollution for local communities.

Founded by James Swanston, an army officer and veteran of tours of duty in Afghanistan, East Timor and Iraq, Carbon Voyage has several partnerships past and present including Transport for London, Tesco, Aegis Group plc and Earls Court and Olympia Venues.

Hosted by the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman Fiona Woolf CBE, who is championing sustainability as a key priority, the awards promote UK expertise within the green business sector, of which the UK has a £122bn share of a global market worth £3.3trillion. The sector employs close to a million people in the UK.

Sustainable City Awards 2013/14 winners Sustainable City Award Rosh Engineering Ltd

Greening the Third Sector Poplar HARCA

Sustainable Food The Castle Climbing Centre

Sir Peter Parker Award Nampak Plastics Europe Ltd

Resource Conservation Zoological Society of London

Sustainable Travel and Transport GetMoreBikes

Air Quality Nomura International plc

Responsible Waste Management Zoological Society of London

Tackling Climate Change Shropshire Energy (UK) Ltd

Entrepreneurship (commercial) Carbon Voyage

Sustainable Fashion Thrifty Couture

The Farsight Award Lloyds of London

Entrepreneurship (social) PleaseCycle

Sustainable Finance Abundance Energy

Sustainable Building United House for their Kingston Heights development

environmentmagazine.co.uk | 31 |

POWER-GEN

Middle East2014

The 12th annual POWER-GEN Middle East event is all set to present a world-class conference and exhibition as it returns to Abu Dhabi, UAE in October 2014. This dedicated conference and exhibition for the electric power industry will run in conjunction with WaterWorld Middle East for the second occasion as a co-located event for the water and wastewater industries. Together, POWER-GEN Middle East and WaterWorld Middle East are expected to attract around 4,000 delegates, exhibitors and visitors from more than 60 countries across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and around the world. This high quality event is renowned for being one of the industry’s leading platforms to meet and network with senior executive and industry leaders. The conference will present the latest trends, developments and benchmark projects by eminent international speakers.

Running alongside the conference the combined exhibition will bring together leading industry professionals, senior executives, managers, supervisors, engineers and operation and maintenance professionals, all with purchasing responsibilities.The exhibition will feature more than 100 leading companies from over 20 countries within the region and globally. Most of the household names in the industry are represented with many to exhibit from hi-tech bespoke large booths. The largest exhibitor will be the event’s strategic partner ADWEA. POWER-GEN Middle East will feature hot topic themes such as Market Structure and Regulation, Strategic Planning, Market Trends, Project Issues, Renewable Energy Fossil Fired, Renewable Energy and Nuclear Power Technologies, Operation & Maintenance and Transmission & Distribution.

A highlight of the conference will be two panel discussions – Planning Abu Dhabi's Power & Water Future, a joint panel discussion with WaterWorld Middle East and the Latest Trends in Project Financing which will allow delegates from POWER-GEN Middle East to hear about current project trends and developments by leading industry panelists.

Over the course of three days the POWER-GEN Middle East conference will cover as many as 20 topic themes covering everything from Today's Opportunities, Tomorrow's Challenges and MENA's Changing Fuel Landscape to Renewable & Grid Integration Technologies and Plant | 32 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

Technology Case Studies. Guided technical tours of local Abu Dhabi plants also give delegates the opportunity to experience rare behind the scenes tours about the various cutting-edge technologies employed.

The event attracts attendees from the utility and private power sector as well as engineering and commercial personnel from the equipment, manufacturing and consulting fields. Top players from the international and Middle East power sector will also demonstrate their latest products and design solutions. The purpose of the conference and exhibition is to provide delegates, visitors and exhibitors the chance to engage in information exchange and share lessons learned about power and water generation and establish new business connections. The event also provides an ideal forum for companies to promote trade and mixed investment by establishing or improving a presence in the market.

Further to this, attendees are able to advance their knowledge about business opportunities in the region, keep abreast of the latest trends, technologies and equipment within the power industry and generate new leads and business contacts.

Register now for POWER-GEN Middle East Earlybird Discounts

Register as a Conference Delegate before or on 12 September 2014 and take advantage of discounted Early Bird Delegate rates. Save 10% ($620 for 1 day delegates or $1,240 for 3 day delegates) or as much as 20% on Corporate Group Packages for 15 Employees.

Registration to POWER-GEN Middle East also provides full access to all WaterWorld Middle East Conference Sessions and full Exhibition Floor.

+ More Information Free Exhibition Entry - Pre-register as a visitor for FREE admittance to Middle East’s premier power and water industry exhibition or register on-site at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).

Register Online - On-line registration via the POWER-GEN Middle East website is a straightforward and simple process. Just log-on to www.power-gen-middleeast.com, select the registration tab and then click on the online registration link.

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12-14 October 2014 Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre Abu Dhabi, UAE www.power-gen-middleeast.com

REGIONAL OPPORTUNITIES • STRATEGIC THINKING • TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS

JOIN MIDDLE EAST’S INTERNATIONAL POWER COMMUNITY Join us in Abu Dhabi, UAE for the 12th annual POWER-GEN Middle East conference and exhibition as the world’s leading decision makers converge for this important power house event.

Attracting delegates, exhibitors and visitors from over 60 countries across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and around the world, this world-class event is the industry’s leading platform to meet and network with senior executive and industry leaders with a dedicated and diverse exhibition floor and multi-track conference.

This high quality forum provides the gateway to establishing a strong market presence in the region, and the opportunity to hear about exciting new developments in what has become one of the most dynamic power sectors in the world.

Delegates, visitors and exhibitors will have the chance to: •

SHARE your knowledge and expertise amongst a captive audience

•

EXPERIENCE this top quality event that draws interest from high-level decision makers and influencers

•

NETWORK with peers and professionals and develop new business contacts

•

IDENTIFY the latest equipment and technological solutions that promote power sustainability to help cope with increasing demand

WHERE POWERFUL MINDS CONVERGE Register now at www.power-gen-middleeast.com Owned and Produced by:

Official Strategic Partner:

Presented by:

CONFERENCE AND DELEGATE ENQUIRIES: Mathilde Sueur Conference Manager T +44 (0) 1992 656 634 F +44 (0) 1992 656 700 E mathildes@pennwell.com BOOTH AND SPONSORSHIP ENQUIRIES: Kelvin Marlow Rest of the World T +44 (0) 1992 656 610 F +44 (0) 1992 656 700 E kelvinm@pennwell.com Bridgett Maddux Americas T: +1-918-831-9130 F: +1-918-831-9834 E: bridgettm@pennwell.com Liu Zizhen China China Exhibition World Co.Ltd T: +86-10-659 200 71 ext 888 T: +86-13-910-435 166 E: zghwfzxh@163.com or liuzizhen@world-fairs.org

Co-located with:

GreenTec Awards at IFAT 2014 In May 2014 and for the first time ever, the GreenTec Awards will take place in cooperation with Messe München and IFAT, the world’s leading trade fair for water, sewage, waste and raw materials management. The GreenTec Awards are Europe’s largest environmental and business prize.

Once a year the Awards honour environmental commitment and green technologies., the GreenTec Awards will sound the bell for the world’s largest environmental trade fair IFAT. The venue for the prize giving of the GreenTec Awards is the International Congress Center ICM in Munich, which is provided by the host, Messe München. The team behind the GreenTec Awards is composed of representatives with different backgrounds such as engineers, communication scientists, economists and media designers and is supported by representatives in the areas of business, science, politics and media. Including Environment Industry Magazine

The unique gala

The prize-giving of the GreenTec Awards is also known as Germany’s “Green Carpet”: Guests are received on a green carpet instead of the usual red one.

About IFAT

Is growth possible when raw materials are becoming increasingly scarce? Can we protect the environment and improve prosperity at the same time? IFAT has answers to many urgent questions by looking far into the future. As a trade fair for environmental technologies, IFAT continuously | 36 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

proves its significance – and sets standards for an entire industry in the process. In 2012 a total of 2,939 exhibitors from 54 countries gave visitors an inspiring look at the world of tomorrow on some 215,000m2 of exhibition space. A wealth of innovations and solutions in the sectors for water, sewage, waste and raw materials management shows where our modern industrial society is headed: into a world that unites prosperity and environmental compatibility.

Objectives

The international trade fair aims to heighten awareness about dealing responsibly with valuable resources. It highlights strategies and solutions for using resources in intelligent cycles and in a manner, that ensures their long-term preservation. Exhibits, some of which are quite spectacular, revolve around the pioneering use of raw materials that ensures ecological welfare.

The goals of the awards

The GreenTec Awards are organised with the aim of promoting ecological and economic involvement and the use of environmental technologies. To us, GreenTec means companies, technologies, products, innovations and services that help reduce pollution and the burden on the environment and our resources. Our technological focus is closely connected to the concept of efficiency and an economically practicable implementation.

The implementation

The GreenTec Awards honour pioneers who take a step forward towards a green-minded future with their green products, projects and technologies. The GreenTec Awards show in which areas innovation is possible and successful.

The gala of the GreenTec Awards is a prize-giving event and exhibition at the same time, for the purpose of presenting the newest developments and thus inspiring an exchange of ideas and networking. A multitude of famous companies are the visual and contextual highlight and have their own booth at which they present environmentally friendly and resource-sparing products.

This way the GreenTec Awards create a media platform for green innovations that prove that sustainability is not in contrast to profitability.

Our supporters from business, science, politics and media help bring innovative thinking, professional knowledge, passion and glamour together at one event. This is what makes the GreenTec Awards unique.

Welcome Speech by Peter Altmaier

The German Federal Minister Peter Altmaier, Chief of the German Chancellery, will again open the GreenTec Awards with a welcome speech. In his former function as Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Peter also delivered the opening speech at the awards ceremony in 2013.

Peter Altmaier’s commitment in 2013:

“Everyone is there when it is rolled out once a year: Germany’s green carpet! For a change the carpet is not made out of fabric, but instead of a long strip of natural grass on which the guests enter the gala. This alone demonstrates: here the clocks tick differently – and that is a good thing! The GreenTec Awards honour companies, technologies and services that make a difference. It’s about products that help us save energy, protect the climate and reduce pollution. They all show the same thing: environmental protection is possible – and can be a profitable business model! I gladly took over the patronage for the GreenTec Awards 2013 because this award is not just about having a fun evening. You can feel that something is under way in Germany. Sustainability is possible, because the right ideas exist – and because people exist who can get excited about them!”

The prizes

The Awards come in the form of a wooden sphere that is combined with metal, created exclusively by the artist Peter Wagensonner. The wooden sphere symbolizes nature as a whole, which must be safeguarded. Every wooden sphere has a unique vein and colouring, which represents the diversity of nature. An engraved metal plate shows the laureate’s name and the category. The prizes reflect the compatibility of nature and technology and thus perfectly represent the outline of the GreenTec Awards. ►

environmentmagazine.co.uk | 37 |

GreenTec Awards 2014 - Nominees We would like to particularly express our thanks to all applicants for the innovative submissions and especially congratulate the nominees. We would also like to thank the participants of the online voting and the jury for the thorough and profound verification of the submissions.

Automobility

Communication

Nominations are: • clickApoint.com – organizing the mobility of people and goods worldwide, GPSoverIP GmbH • E-FORCE – The better Truck, E-FORCE ONE AG • RUBIN - Dandelion Rubber Goes Industrial, Continental Reifen Deutschland GmbH

Nominations are: • bettervest – investing together in a better world, bettervest GmbH • Strom09 - Volle Pulle Zukunft mit dem BVB, LichtBlick SE • TerraCycle - Eliminating the Idea of Waste, TerraCycle Germany GmbH

Energy

Aviation

Nominations are: • Battery Park for the technical and economic integration of wind and solar power, Younicos AG • SOLARTE – The new kind of photovoltaics, BELECTRIC OPV GmbH • Solar energy for sensor nodes, Fraunhofer-Institut für Mikroelektronische Schaltungen und Systeme, IMS

Nominations are: • Ascent, IBG2, Institut für Pflanzenwissenschaften Forschungszentrum Jülich • Ce-Liner: Concept study for a potentially emission-free airliner, Bauhaus Luftfahrt e.V. • E-PORT ON - Electromobility at Frankfurt Airport, Stadtwerke Offenbach Holding GmbH

We are looking for technological innovations (e.g. for weight reduction, mileage optimization, life cycle extension, production, materials), environmentally friendly mobility concepts and mobility services. Decisive criteria for the award are: how the project contributes to the protection of the environment, which level of innovation the idea represents and whether the idea is a good messenger for more eco-friendliness in the area of mobility. Both the potential as well as the results achieved thus far are evaluated. This category is sponsored by the VDA, Verband der Automobilindustrie e. V. and the ADAC, Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club e.V.

How can energy generation, distribution and use be made more efficient and sustainable? This ranges from the improvement of efficiency to solutions regarding energy storage; from fuels to solutions regarding decentralized energy supply and usage. Decisive criteria for the award are: how the project contributes to the protection of the environment, which level of innovation the idea represents and whether the potential contribution serves the future energy supply. Further, the jury evaluates whether the idea is practicable, if it is compatible with current structures and if it has the potential for extraordinary medial distribution. The jury evaluates both the potential as well as the results achieved thus far. This category is sponsored by Fraunhofer-Institut für Solare Energiesysteme ISE.

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Change thrives on enthusiasm. How can we appeal to and mobilize as many supporters and consumers as possible? Brand and/or advertisement campaigns as well as editorial contributions (print, radio, TV) are awarded. Decisive criteria for the award are: does the campaign contribute to the protection of the environment and whether it can clearly communicate which use an environmental technology or environmentally friendly product has. Equally considered is how efficient and effective the campaign reaches its target audience and how large the reached/reachable target group is. This category is sponsored by the agency Serviceplan.

How do we achieve ecological aviation? Examples are new materials, engine components, emission-free fuels, “green“ logistics and airports, air traffic control focused on resource conservation, and innovations to noise reduction. Decisive criteria for the award are: which measurable contribution to the improvement of the environmental compatibility the idea provides, which level of innovation the idea represents and whether it is technologically viable and saleable.

Decisive are the environmental and energy use, the economic practicability and market relevance as well as the longterm and systemwide usability. In addition the jury evaluates whether the idea can be distrubted in the media and used as a suitable messenger for more environmental protection in air traffic.

Construction & Living

Lifestyle

Nominations are: • Carbon Concrete Composite (C3), TU Dresden, institute for solid construction • ECOLIFE® - The eco-friendly window-system, Kaiteya GmbH • Home charging station for electric vehicles, Etrel d.o.o.

Nominations are: • bio-nature-straws , Bio-Strohhalme.com • DasEis. THE TASTE OF HEIMAT, DasEis. from healthy planet • VeggieHotels - hotel association for purely vegetarian hospitality, VeggieHotels

Production

Galileo Wissenspreis

This category is targeted at both industry and the private sector. Examples are innovative materials and construction methods, architectural concepts, domestic engineering and interior design all the way to questions of redevelopment and ecological demolition. Decisive criteria for the award are: how the project contributes to the protection of the environment, whether the function meets the aesthetics and if the indoor environment quality is improved. Equally important is the potential as well as the results achieved so far, whether the project is useable in the media and if it is suitable as a lighthouse project.

Eligible are projects with an approach to a more efficient use of resources and/or reduction of polluting by-products. Topics are, among others: exhaust air treatment, lightweight design, methods of process optimization or the reduction of defected goods. Decisive criteria for the award are: how environmentally compatible the production technologies and methods are, whether the application is transferrable and if the idea is a suitable messenger for more environmental protection in the production of goods. The jury evaluates both the potential as well as the results achieved thus far. This category is sponsored by ZVEI, Zentralverband Elektrotechnik- und Elektronikindustrie e.V. Nominations are: • Factory of the future – intelligently linking production & buildings , Weidmüller Interface GmbH & Co. KG • printed paper solar cells, TU Chemnitz, Institut für Print- und Medientechnik & e-PINC GmbH • Rhabarberleder (Rhubarb Leather) by deepmello, rooters (DEEPMELLO)

Trends define our everyday lifestyle and are the expression of changes and streams in our society – not only in fashion, but also in the economy or technological developments. We award ideas, products and new concepts in all areas of lifestyle, for example: fashion, cosmetics, sports, travel, health and nutrition.

In this category the jury evaluates the contribution to the protection of the environment, the level of innovation and the trend potential. In addition the jury assesses whether a technological connection is present and to what extent the idea is suitable for utilization in the media.

The Galileo Wissenspreis awards inventions and initiatives that make our lives in our environment more harmonious or help protect the environment. The focus is on inventions and ideas for a more sustainable and environmentally friendly lifestyle. Especially the connection to everyday life, commitment and technology is at the center of attention.

The Galileo Wissenspreis wants to wake up, enlighten and point out what each individual can do for the environment. The jury rewards inventions, ideas and technological innovations that protect the environment and change the future. This category is sponsored by ProSieben.

Nominations are: • Bees Go Balcony - An Urban Home For Bee populations, Balkonbienen • iFixit. The free repair guide for everything, written by everyone. iFixit GmbH • Certified water permeable paving stones- GODELMANN GmbH & Co. KG und HEINRICH KLOSTERMANNGmbH & Co. KG Betonwerke

environmentmagazine.co.uk | 39 |

Recycling & Resources

We are looking for concepts that are aimed at a complete and high-quality recycling of waste. Possible submissions deal with design approaches, the collection and separation of waste as well as differentiated recycling concepts. Decisive criteria for the award are: which contribution to environmental protection the idea provides, which improvements in recycling can be made, how innovative and practicable the idea is and whether it is suited as a messenger with a positive image. The jury evaluates both the potential as well as the results achieved thus far.

Nominations are: • Pacific Garbage Screening , HST Systemtechnik GmbH & Co. KG and architect Marcella Hansch / RWTH Aachen • Separation of composite materials with micro-emulsions , Saperatec GmbH • Unlocking the potential of coffee pulp biomass, Pectcof B.V.

Water & Sewage

Clean water is one of the most important resources. We are looking for ideas for the improvement of water quality as well as access and economic use of water. For example technologies for the treatment of drinking, industrial and wastewater. The jury evaluates the technological connection and level of innovation, the contribution to the sustainable use of water as well as the economic feasibility of the projects and the amount of administrative effort. In addition the jury pays attention to the qualification of the idea and the corresponding team for promoting a more careful use of water.This category is sponsored by DWA, Deutsche Vereinigung für Wasserwirtschaft, Abwasser und Abfall e.V. Nominations are: • akvoFloat™ allows more sustainable and affordable desalination, akvolution GmbH • myCleaner- future of car cleaning, Cleaner GmbH • PUROO power-saving wastewater treatment plant, ATB Umwelttechnologien GmbH

| 40 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

Intelligent urbanization Special Award

The megatrend urbanization is one of the defining phenomena of both today and of the future. In face of the current population growth as well as the constantly growing urbanization rates, figuratively speaking one new city of a million inhabitants will be created every five days until 2050.

The topic of urbanization is also present at this year’s GreenTec Awards.

In cooperation with intelligent urbanization, the new portal of Messe München surrounding the topic of urbanization, the special prize will be awarded for the first time in 2014. Projects and initiatives, which contribute to an improvement in the quality of life in the urban space, will be honored by the event.

Nominations are: • Anshan District Heating Energy Efficient Surplus Heat Utilization Project, Danfoss • Forté, Lend Lease • Water Square Benthemplein, City of Rotterdam

Start-up Special Award

Along the way of improving our "life cycle assessment", especially young companies play an important role. This is why the special award in the category Start-up will be handed out for the first time in 2014. All companies and institutions participating in the GreenTec Awards which have not been in existence for more than 3 years, automatically qualify for this special award.

The goal of the award is to support entrepreneurship and to point out promising start-ups that contribute to environmental and resource protection. The jury evaluates the level of innovation of the base technology or service, the contribution to environmental and resource protection as well as the commitment of the founder or founding team.

This category is sponsored by Climate-KIC. Nominations are: • Ascent, IBG2, Institut für Pflanzenwissenschaften - akvoFloat™ allows more sustainable and affordable desalination , akvolution GmbH • Unlocking the potential of coffee pulp biomass, Pectcof B.V. • tado° - The Heating App, Tado GmbH

WWF Special Award

In 2014 the GreenTec Awards are giving out a special award for outstanding nature conservation projects in cooperation with WWF Germany (World Wide Fund for Nature) for the first time.

Nature conservation starts at your own front door. Based on this conviction, the WWF annually announces the competition Wildes Deutschland and supports 50 natural conservation projects to counteract the destruction of our local environment. The competition offers financial support to innovative ideas, which often fail due to financial reasons. The WWF supports measures that protect waters, forests and coastal areas, or activities for the preservation of nature in the urban environment. The call for competition is addressed to citizens’ initiatives, leisure groups, clubs, schools or kindergartens. Ten out of 50 winning projects of this year’s Wildes Deutschland competition are nominated for the WWF Special Award. The winner will be exclusively elected through the online voting.

The WWF Special Award is therefore the sole audience award.

Criteria of the jury: Is the project relevant from the point of view of nature conservation?

Does it support the protection of flora, fauna or habitat?

What impact on environmental education does the project have?

Does it include the education of kids, teenagers or adults? Does the project develop educational material?

What potential for inclusive nature conservation does the project show? Does it include various actors?

What impact does the idea have on the public? Does it influence the public positively? Is the regional media involved?

How innovative is the project? Does it use new distributional methods?

+ More Information www.greentec-awards.com/greentec-awards

environmentmagazine.co.uk | 41 |

News / Watercooler Green Gong for Jones Lang LaSalle in Scotland

TheWatercooler

Niall Robertson, from Jones Lang LaSalle’s Glasgow office, has been named one of the UK’s top sustainability stars. Robertson, who is part of the Buildings and Construction team, has been listed as one of 50 up and coming talents in the green sector by Building Magazine. In his role within the Buildings and Construction team, Robertson provides advice to commercial clients on shopping centres, offices and industrial buildings, working with the likes of Standard Life and Scottish Widows Investment Partnership.

Dr Robin Bidwell CBE appointed as LOC Group chairman

Nicola Owen Returns To The Redrow Fold In Sustainability Role

Utilitywise’s Tim Hipperson appointed chairman of Alliance for Energy Management

Tributes Paid as Link With JCB’s Pioneering Past Dies Aged 87

LOC Group - a leading global marine engineering consultancy - is delighted to welcome Dr Robin Bidwell, CBE as its nonexecutive chairman. For 35 years Dr Bidwell built and led Environmental Resources Management (ERM) the global environmental advisory firm employing more than 5000 employees in over 40 countries. He currently holds a number of non-executive appointments (private sector, public sector and charities) and was awarded a CBE in 1999 for services to the environment.

Tim Hipperson, head of supplier relations and regulations at one of the UK’s largest utility cost management companies, Utilitywise, has been appointed chairman of the Alliance for Energy Management (AfEM). Hipperson’s appointment will see him work with members of the AfEM to drive a greater understanding of the contribution that the professional energy management sector makes to the UK’s economic, social and environmental goals.

Lord Taylor to Chair award winning Kensa Heat Pumps

Kensa Heat Pumps has announced Lord Taylor of Goss Moor as its new Chairman. Lord Taylor’s appointment will be instrumental in the Cornish company’s growth as the nation’s leading supplier of ground source heat pumps – the environmentally friendly renewable heat source that offers lower running costs than gas. A long-time advocate of ground source heat pump technology, Lord Taylor is extremely knowledgeable about housing issues, having been commissioned by both the last Government and the present one to lead reviews of housing and planning policy.

He is also the Chairman of the National Housing Federation, the body representing England’s 1100 Housing Associations.

| 42 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

Signaling its commitment to the future of the industry, environment and the communities in which it builds, Redrow Homes has appointed Nicola Owen as sustainability manager. Nicola has been employed to drive the company’s social responsibility agenda forward. Bringing more than 15 years’ experience in a range of public and private sector positions, Nicola will play a key role to introduce more environmentally friendly ways of operating across all areas of the business.

Tributes have been paid to one the first ever people to work at JCB who has died at the age of 87. John Wheeldon was the 6th person recruited by company founder Joseph Cyril Bamford in 1948. He went on to become the company’s first ever demonstrator, before going on to set up JCB’s Training School and later becoming Visits Manager. He retired in 1990 after 42 years service, later returning part-time as a tour guide.

John Wheeldon also had the distinction of being one of JCB’s first customers. He worked on farms between Uttoxeter and Alton before he joined the company and when he decided to buy himself a screw-tipping trailer in 1946 he purchased one from Mr Bamford.

New Sales And Operations Director For Bss Industrial

BSS Industrial, a leading supplier of heating and pipeline solutions, has appointed Columba Zaal as its new Sales and Operations Director.

Columba, who joins from ATSEuromaster where he held the position of Group Operations Director, has over 24 years of experience within senior operations management roles.

Prior to his time with ATSEuromaster, Columba worked with companies including RAC Auto Windscreens and BSM. Columba began his new position with BSS Industrial following the promotion of Chris Hufflett to Managing Director.

For more news, editorials, and product reviews, visit www.environmentmagazine.co.uk

ARM welcomes back project manager following seven year gap

Staffordshire-based ARM Group Limited is continuing to grow its team as it welcomes back a project manager who initially embarked on his career with the business 10 years ago.

The UK’s leading specialists in the design, development and construction of natural wastewater systems has added Gavin Lewis to its ranks as project manager. Gavin rejoins the company after spending the last seven years working for Galliford Try as an engineer and construction site manager.

Leading Geochemist Consulting

joins

SLR

Chartered Geologist Jamie Robinson has joined SLR Consulting as a Technical Director, Accredited as a Specialist in Land Condition (SiLC), Jamie is an examiner for the SiLC qualification and a scrutineer for the Royal Geological Society. At SLR he is tasked with developing the company’s global geochemistry and hydrochemistry capabilities and his expertise will be invaluable to existing clients currently being supported by the company’s Water Environment, Land Quality, Landfill, Process Engineering and Oil and Gas teams.

New Chairman at SBWWI

PassivSystems announces the appointment of Sir Roy Gardner as Nonexecutive Chairman

Sir Roy was formerly Chief Executive of Centrica plc and was knighted in 2002 for services to the Gas and Electricity Industries. Sir Roy is also Chairman of Mainstream Renewable Power, a Non-executive Director of William Hill plc, a Director of Willis Group Holdings Limited and a Senior Advisor at Credit Suisse.

SLR appoints new Communications Manager

Communications specialist Sarah Daly has joined leading independent environmental firm SLR Consulting as Communications Manager.

Sarah is a Chartered Marketer and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing with 28 years experience in senior roles, including 21 years as Managing Director of her own full service marketing consultancy in the East Midlands and more recently as Managing Director of Heath Avery Architects and Strategic Sustainability Consultant with mygreeneye.

Skanska wins FT ArcelorMittal Boldness in Business Award

2014 sees a change in Society Chairman, with Martyn Hopkinson, MH20, returning to the role after two and a half years, and David Smoker, ACO Technologies, taking up the mantle of Immediate Past Chairman.

Colin Waugh, Clancy Docwra, remains as Vice-Chairman and Tony Griffiths, WRc, was elected as Society Treasurer.

SBWWI is the trade association for the water industry supply chain and provides representation for contractors, manufacturers, distributors, consultants and training providers, primarily supplying goods and services into the UK Water and Wastewater industry.

CEO and president of Skanska UK Mike Putnam has picked up the FT ArcelorMittal Boldness in Business Award for corporate responsibility and environment.

“Our green agenda and our wish to build what society needs help to define us as a company”, said Mike Putnam, who represented parent company Skanska AB at the award ceremony in London. The company beat household names from other industries, including BMW, IKEA and Philips.

The Financial Times pointed out how Skanska: “Champions sustainability throughout its value chain and incorporates environmental concerns into every aspect of its design.”

Saint-Gobain Named As Top Employer For 2014

British Metals Recycling Association Expands Board

There was a double celebration for Saint-Gobain when the Group was recognised as a Top Employer both across Europe and in the UK. The Top Employers Certificate was awarded to Saint-Gobain after an extensive audit by the Top Employers Institute, a process which includes independent verification by leading accountancy practice Grant Thornton. This is the second year in a row that Saint-Gobain UK has achieved Top Employer status.

The trade association which represents the UK’s £5.6bn metals recycling sector has appointed five new board members to fill existing vacancies and replace members who are retiring.

David Barraclough, director of Robinson & Birdsell, John Boyd, managing director at JSB Metals, Susie Burrage, director of Recycled Products, John Rice, a director of Metal & Waste, and Alasdair Jackson, operations director at Recycling Lives took up their roles on the board of the British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA) on Tuesday 25 March.

environmentmagazine.co.uk | 43 |

News / Opinion

The Number

The cause of the current global unrest and impending resource collapse is our lack of understanding of the environment and its relationship to the number 70. Our civilization is on the brink because of it.

The problem is that we are locked in the industrial revolution concept of economic growth as a measure of success and driver of our future prosperity.

It is about as sensible as using a depth gauge to fly an aeroplane.

Here is why the number 70 is to blame. It is the driver of the 'Doubling Time'; the time it takes to double anything. If you are growing your economy by 7% per annum your economy will double in size in 10 years. Take the number 70, divided by the growth rate - and the answer is the number of years it takes to double your economy.

This however underplays the effect of that seemingly mundane rate of growth, as it does not describe the total wealth created during this doubling period.

Mathematically more wealth is created during that doubling period than since the measurement of GDP began. Mathematically, during the 10 years it takes you to double your GDP you would have created more growth than in all the proceeding years since you first started measuring GDP. The same maths is true in terms of depletion. It is this exponential consumption increase during the doubling of usage of something that we don’t understand or underestimate and causes tipping points.

To put that in a resource context, during the 1950’s and 1960’s American oil usage grew at 7% compound per annum. The effect of consumption during the doubling period was what President Carter was referring to in his speech on energy when he noted: “In each of those decades more oil was consumed than in all of mankind's previous history.” In the 1960s’ more oil was consumed than in all of mankind's previous history including the 1950’s when the same statement was true. It is hard to understand that anything as completely normal as 7% growth per annum could lead to such an incredible consequence.

Say for example that our seas are being fished at 5% a year above their replacement rate. In just 14 Years the volume of fish our seas contain will have halved. At 7% a year their capacity will have halved in 10 years. During that 10 years we will have eaten more fish than have been eaten in total since we first started fishing unsustainably. That is why we are seeing more and more fisheries declared ’depleted’ or overfished or endangered.

| 44 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

It is bizarre that we are prepared to grade the fish we eat according to how endangered they are. It would be like being in a restaurant and the waiter saying ‘Sorry Sir, the panda is off the menu but there is fresh rhino just in and only on the orange list, or perhaps the venison which is on the green list?’

We need to re-evaluate our natural resources and our use of them in terms of the number 70 and understand what we need to do differently before we hit tipping points and collapse, like the fisheries of the Canadian Grand Banks.

Just as continued GDP growth is mathematically impossible wherever that growth relies on natural and non-renewable resources, so is our continued over use of the environment physically impossible. Our rate of resource depletion is still growing along with our population. The number 70 will not change, so we need to.

The math 70 is simply a constant used in the following formula to find the 'doubling time'.

Doubling Time =

70

% growth per unit time

For example, a growth rate of 5% per year has a doubling time of: 70 Doubling Time = 5

Why the number 70?

The number 70 is approximately 100 multiplied by the Natural Logarithm of 2.

100 x ln2 = 69.314

= 14 Years

News / Opinion

Steve Grant So here it is. We now have a solid 26 years of climate study and analysis produced by tens of thousands of scientists and observers from different countries, different disciplines, different institutions, races and cultures and they have used arguably the most rigorous review and correlative procedures ever applied before submitting conclusions to the IPCC.

This vast body of scientific expertise reached a chilling conclusion back in 1995 – the report that led to the Kyoto Protocol in 1997.

As the knowledge base increased and technology improved, further reports were issued in 2001 and 2007. The conclusions of the fifth and most recent report were stark; the evidence for anthropological climate change is now 'overwhelming' and there is no longer any reasonable doubt that our activities are damaging the world's climate. This was followed soon after by a report from the International Programme on the State of the Ocean (IPSO). "The health of the oceans is spiralling downwards far more rapidly than we had thought, exposing organisms to intolerable and unpredictable evolutionary pressure", said Alex Rogers from the University of Oxford and IPSO scientific director. The litany of disaster listed in the report is nothing short of frightening, and it provides what Ralph Keeling of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in the US described as “the final evidence – if more were needed – that climate change is here and happening”.

We are now as certain of anthropological climate change as we are of the link between smoking and lung cancer. At the same time, the world has seen an alarming increase in the incidence of extreme weather events.

Long-standing records tumble every year, and thirteen of the fourteen warmest years on record have occurred this century. Each of the last three decades have been warmer than the preceding, and there are very few - if any - people who have not been directly affected by at least one extreme weather event in the last 12 months.

Yet there are a great many people who simply deny it.

Lord Lawson, for one. He was on a radio show with Sir Brian Hoskins, and said that the floods we endured last winter were nothing whatsoever to do with climate change. Sir Brian said that whilst no direct causal link can be demonstrated, the seas have warmed by 0.8%, and that the West Antarctic ice sheet has receded to an unprecedented level, and along with other changes that this must have had an effect on the weather.

Lawson replied that there has been no global warming for fifteen years, and that's a FACT. He later told the Guardian that climate change didn't concern him because “if you look around the world today there are countries that are very cold, and countries that are very hot, and you have to adapt” - as though the world's scientific community hadn't quite grasped the hot/cold thing, and as long as Eskimos are prepared to put | 46 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

up with their igloos not lasting all year round and Arabs invest in more air conditioning, humankind will be just fine.

He is the founder of the Global Warming Policy Foundation. It has charitable status and yet will not reveal where its funding comes from.

Membership is £100 per year, but that raised just 1.6% of its income according to its published accounts. Quite how a foundation with the status of an educational charity can get away with hiding its funding whilst enjoying the tax advantages brought by charitable status escapes me completely.

In April 2011 the Foundation published a much publicised review of over 900 papers which it claimed supported scepticism of “Man-Made Global Warming Alarm”.

It transpired that nine of its ten major contributors had funding ties to ExxonMobil. It also transpired that Lawson is the chairman of the huge Belchatow coal-fired power station in Poland – Europe's largest single source of GHG's. On Channel 4 news he stated that he had 'no links to any oil companies of any kind' as a credential for Chairmanship of the Foundation. He didn't mention coal.

It goes on. Professor Ian Plimmer, a member of the Foundation's Academic Advisory Council, sits on the board of a large Australian coal company, Queensland Coal Investments. And many of the prominent scientists quoted did not agree that their work supported the sceptical view and had requested their work be removed — unsuccessfully. The journal most cited was Energy and Environment, edited by Sonja BoehmerChristianson, a well-known climate change denier who has stated online* that "the journal I edit has tried to keep this debate [climate scepticism] alive". She also states elsewhere "I'm following my political agenda -- a bit, anyway" ... "But isn't that the right of the editor?" It is indeed her right, but is it right to masquerade as a scientific journal?

I highlight this foundation and the magazine because they are quoted and cited endlessly by deniers – at governmental and policy-making level never mind the ludicrous and often poisonous blogs and forums on the web. Neither withstand any scrutiny, whilst both demanding impeccable standards from others. On the one hand, >99% of the world's scientific community is personified in the IPCC. On the other, misinformation, misrepresentation and secretly funded 'Foundations'. *http://andyrussell.wordpress.com/2011/02/22/realclimate-libel-threat/#comments

GreenbuildEXPO 7th & 8th May 2014 Manchester Central

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14

More than 100 FREE to attend seminars register now other highlights for 2014 include: Green Deal and ECO debates Retrofit zone Funding options Training Sustainable cities Heat networks Renewable Heat Incentive Solar thermal/heat pumps/CHP/biomass PassivHaus Energy saving/water saving Rainwater harvesting Energy management

For more information visit:

www.greenbuildexpo.co.uk

...serious about sustainability

Air Quality

Ji m Mi l l s/ A i r Pol luti o n / A i r Mo n i to r s

Not all Particles are Equal Air Monitors MD, Jim Mills sheds some light on the problem of invisible particulates and explains why and how monitoring provides a path to clean air.

In the 1950s particulate matter was an unclear and present danger – air pollution was highly visible to the public and politicians. Today, ‘out of sight and out of mind’ is an apt description of political attitude to air quality. It seems that the streets of London need to be flooded before regulatory bodies are given the power and the funding that they need to protect the environment.

At the time of writing, the Prime Minister’s car is covered by a thin layer of Saharan dust and an item entitled ‘Air pollution reaches high levels in southeast England’ is currently the fourth most read news item on the BBC website. However, this is a good example of the communication challenge presented by air pollution – people just aren’t interested unless they can see it.

Encouragingly, a team of journalists from Sky News is about to arrive at the Air Monitors facility in Tewkesbury to collect a portable particle monitor | 48 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

and an AQMesh ambient air quality monitor. They are planning to travel to the parts of the UK most affected by the current ‘pollution episode’. We hope that it will be possible to convince them that shortterm spikes in poor air quality are not as significant as the invisible chronic air quality that exists in many towns and cities.

It is unfortunate that it took a smattering of fine sand from the Sahara to raise the profile of air pollution, particularly because these particles are relatively large in comparison with the fine particulates that pollute our towns and cities. In fact, the reddish dust that has caused such alarm is unlikely to have any significant health effects, because it is only the finer particles that are drawn deep into the lungs.

The problem with solving urban air quality problems is that death certificates never say ‘Died from air pollution’ so the statistics that show 29,000 ►

Air Quality

Ji m Mi l l s/ A i r Pol luti o n / A i r Mo n i to r s

premature UK deaths (as a result of air pollution) pass largely unnoticed because the ‘cause of death’ is usually a heart attack, a stroke or some other cardiovascular ailment. The fact that this figure exceeds those for obesity, alcohol and road traffic accidents is ignored.

Why is monitoring essential?

It is a simple incontrovertible fact that without monitoring data it is not possible to manage air quality effectively. A yardstick is necessary to determine whether improvement measures are having a beneficial effect and it is also important to be able to identify pollution hotspots – rural air quality is generally good but most air quality problems lie in our towns and cities, and pollution levels vary enormously; temporally and spatially, so high intensity monitoring is necessary.

How to monitor?

The problem with particles is that they vary greatly in size and shape, and the smallest, which have the greatest capacity to enter deep into the lungs, have almost no mass. As a result, there is no single silver bullet when it comes to particulate monitoring. If we focus on say PM10 or even on PM2.5, we risk ignoring the serious consequences of finer particulates. So, the answer is to have an armoury of monitoring techniques, and this is the reason for the wide range of particulate monitors in the Air Monitors fleet; each addressing a specific monitoring requirement, so that customers can choose the most appropriate monitor for their needs.

Ambient particulates

The most common particulate monitor employed by the UK’s ambient monitoring networks is the TEOM, an instrument which measures particulate content by mass.

The latest TEOM FDMS instruments have met the Environment Agency’s MCERTS performance standards and the EU Equivalence designation criteria (Defra and MCERTS approval) for both PM2.5 and PM10. The existing TEOM FDMS models (1400 series) used in the AURN network and in many local authority sites also continue to enjoy full equivalence designation and if maintained correctly will continue to offer good service for years to come. However those considering replacement or buying new monitoring equipment now have the ability to choose these new lower cost models (1405 series) with the highest level of certification of any PM monitor currently on the market.

For those that need to measure both fine and coarse particulates simultaneously, a dichotomous format version of the 1405 is available (1405-DF) for continuous monitoring of both PM2.5 and PM10. This provides a | 50 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

Shirokazan

substantial reduction in cost, power usage and space requirement in comparison with two individual instruments.

A new advanced beta attenuation monitor (BAM), the 5014i is an option for monitoring either PM10 or PM2.5. With a smart sampling system to minimise the loss of semi volatiles, the 5014i runs on a single sample tape for up to six months; unlike other models which only run for 2 months on a tape and therefore incur greater costs.

Offering additional information on both particle size distribution (0.18 – 18 microns) and the number of particles in each size range, the new FIDAS (Fine Dust Analysis System) system also provides continuous real-time simultaneous mass concentration measurements of TSP, PM1, PM2.5 and PM10. Importantly, FIDAS runs on low power and without air conditioning and uses no consumables; all of which combine to lower running costs.

The ‘problem’ with new technology is that it usually requires extra capital, so the launch by Air Monitors of ‘AQWeb’ is a major development because it provides access to new technology without any capital cost. Instead, users are provided with a data gateway, software and communications package, and access to the data is provided as part of a service contract.

Many local authorities have already signed up to AQWeb and now enjoy the benefits of live data and improved data quality and capture rates.

No article on particulates would be complete with mention of Black Carbon; a form of particulate that is the cause of great concern because of its health effects and its impact on global warming. Because of an extremely high surface area/weight ratio, Black Carbon is not adequately measured by traditional PM

methods, but can be measured accurately and specifically with an Aethalometer, and Air Monitors provides these in two formats: a fixed continuous monitor for ambient monitoring and a portable Micro Aethalometer.

Workplace exposure

Dust and bioaerosols can represent a significant hazard to workers in a wide variety of industries, and Air Monitors also offers monitors that are designed specifically for these applications.

For example, the ‘Coriolis µ’ has a wet-walled cyclone technology that improves bioaerosol sampling for bacteria, pollen, endotoxins, viruses and fungal spores. Air Monitors also provides portable monitors for site surveys and fixed site instruments for continuously monitoring locations of specific concern.

Conclusion

Particles matter because of their enormous effect on human health, especially in certain urban areas, and whilst the Clean Air Act of 1956 and subsequent legislation have helped to reduce certain types of particulate pollution, there is still a great deal of improvement to be made. As the saying goes: ‘if you don’t monitor it, you can’t manage it,’ but it is clear that not all particles are equal, and dust on the Prime Minister’s car is not necessarily a sign of air pollution that would affect human health ■

Title Photograph: Iain Buchanan

+ More Information www.airmonitors.co.uk

Air Quality

CE M 2 0 1 4 / Show Prev i ew / 1 4 -1 6 May 2 0 1 4

Istanbul Welcomes International Emissions Monitoring Event CEM 2014 is the 11th in a series of international conferences and exhibitions focusing on emissions monitoring. Taking place at the Renaissance Polat Istanbul Hotel in Turkey from 14th to 16th May, CEM 2014 provides an international focus for anyone involved with emissions to air.

The CEM Conference will feature speakers from 13 different countries covering a wide variety of subjects within the event’s emissions monitoring theme. Registration costs ₏595 or ₏360/person/day and provides access to both the CEM 2014 Conference and the associated exhibition, including complimentary lunches and refreshments.

The opening presentation and welcome speech will be given by Mr Soner Olgun, Head of the Laboratory, Measurement and Monitoring Department at the Turkish Ministry of Environment. The Conference will address all of the most topical issues relating to emissions monitoring and will contain four main themes: 1.

2.

3.

4.

Regulation - international and industrial Standards, quality assurance and control Equipment innovation Case studies

Within these themes there will be presentations covering the latest regulatory changes in both Europe and the USA, in addition to a range of papers that will provide an update on relevant | 52 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

standards such as Quality Assurance EN14181, EN ISO 16911 for volume flow calculations, ISO 17025 for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, and VDI 3862-8 for formaldehyde measurement with FTIR. In addition to standards relating to industrial emissions there will also be a paper on particulate emissions from residential heating appliances and boilers burning solid fuels.

Fine particulates are a major concern for most countries because of their ability to enter deep into the human respiratory system, so there will be a high level of interest in a presentation on particle sizing in stacks. The speaker, from Belgium, will provide a review of the techniques available for monitoring particulates and ultrafine particulates.

The Conference programme was created by the CEM 2014 Scientific Committee which vetted abstract submissions and selected the most interesting and informative presentations.

Chaired by Dr Lesley Sloss from the IEA Clean Coal Centre, the committee is comprised of leading figures from standards organisations, industry, instrument manufacturers and specialist consultancies, many of whom also sit on international standards committees.

All of the most important pollutants will be covered by the presentations, but there will be specific papers on mercury, particulates,

Web: www.cem.uk.com

14-16 May 2014

Istanbul | Turkey

VOCs, ammonia, dioxins, furans, formaldehyde, hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

The presentations will address process and emissions monitoring issues for all types of regulated processes including power stations, steelworks, industrial processes, combined heat and power plants, energy from waste systems and carbon capture. For example, one of the speakers will describe the application of FTIR monitoring technology to emissions from Germany’s vast biogas industry.

The CEM Exhibition is 15% larger than the previous event which took place in Prague in 2011 and will run in a hall adjacent to the Conference. The Exhibition was sold out 2 months ahead of the event and will feature over 50 of the world’s leading manufacturers of emissions monitoring equipment and providers of instruments, test houses, consultancy and support services relating to the testing and monitoring of emissions. Registered Conference delegates are able to visit the Exhibition without further charge, but any visitors that do not require Conference entry can complete Exhibition-only registration at www.cem.uk.com (€65/person/day).

Visitors to CEM 2014 will be drawn from all over the world, including national regulators,

industrial process operators, test houses, consultants, researchers, academics, instrument manufacturers, the media and anyone with a professional interest in air quality. This will include significant representation from the Turkish Ministry of Environment and the Turkish cement industry.

In addition to the CEM 2014 Conference and Exhibition there will also be a number of poster presentations and opportunities to attend the event’s Gala Dinner, and to enjoy a boat trip on the Bosphorus.

CEM 2014 organiser Marcus Pattison says: “Air quality and climate change are two of the major challenges facing the world, so a heavy responsibility is placed on the shoulders of those that monitor, control and regulate emissions to air.

“CEM2014 therefore provides a perfect opportunity for visitors to catch up with the latest regulatory requirements and standards, and with the technologies that are being developed to comply with them. The CEM events are always very well attended and we look forward to welcoming everybody to the beautiful city of Istanbul.” ■ Photo Credit: Guillaume Piolle;

+ More Information www.cem.uk.com

environmentmagazine.co.uk | 53 |

Conservation

Ly n Nel so n / Bi o d i versi t y / Emerald Her i tage

Biodiversity Offsetting

By Lyn Nelson

Founder and Director, Emerald Heritage

Biodiversity Offsetting has a wonderful ring about it. Simple really, anything we need to take from nature, from the living world can conveniently and easily be replaced by creating a similar habitat elsewhere, and even more of it. Sounds ideal! Statements from Owen Patterson, the Secretary of State, add to this impression, describing it as “an exciting opportunity to look at how we can improve the environment as well as grow the economy” – but, as is often the case, the world in which we live and the complex relationships within it, don’t easily fit together. ►

| 54 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

Web: www.emerald-heritage.com

environmentmagazine.co.uk | 55 |

Conservation

Ly n Nel so n / Bi o d i versi t y / Emerald Her i tage

Photo: Will Bakker

Lyn Nelson

Founder and Director, Emerald Heritage

| 56 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

When one digs a little deeper, biological offsetting has many potential pitfalls. Yes there are merits in the thinking that lies behind it, but there is a real danger that it can become a ‘carte blanche’ for developers to destroy irreplaceable sites of significant ecological and heritage importance. The oversimplified approach that the government is taking, as governments have traditionally taken with environmental issues, is dangerous. Ministers are not ecologists and more often than not, modern economic thinking doesn’t take the true meaning of what the environment is into account. Recently there has been a move to put a cost on what nature does for our economic systems. This is a prudent step and while it’s not without its challenges it is starting to change policy focus on issues that are in some ways more easily measured using our conventional economic models.

Biodiversity offsetting is not such an

easy model and risks the destruction of long established habitats that cannot, in most cases, be replaced with a 'like for like' approach.

Ancient habitats of woodlands, wetlands and meadow can’t be so easily ‘offset’. Twenty acres of new forest will take centuries to match the biodiversity of a very small patch of ancient woodland. Also the loss of local provenance woods can never be replaced by a new ‘popup’ habitat. The natural connections within a habitat spread widely and deeply. These connections are at all levels and take many hundreds and, in some cases, thousands of years to create. The destruction of mature woods is more than the cutting down of the trees – it is literally destroying the ancient living community or ecosystem that lives in that wood.

Trees are just the frame of woodlands on which the multilayers of rich and often biodiversity of local provenance exists. It is the same with an

Web: www.emerald-heritage.com

Photo: Will Bakker

ancient meadow – to many they may just be some flowers and grasses, but what we don't see are the complex connections that happen above and indeed below the soil, which can take centuries to form and once destroyed may never return.

While Emerald Heritage wants to create new habitats for wildlife and for people we are totally against the destruction of the last remnants of mature woodlands, meadows, wetlands and other species-rich habitats. They are a central part of the heritage of the state and unlike a piece of human engineering they cannot be replaced ‘like for like’ in an offset scheme.

Ancient places are not just old, they are complex and once a local wood or other old habitats are destroyed they can never be replaced, because the old and the new are not the same.

The current offsetting plans are something to be seriously concerned about and the public should be vigilant with regard to these plans.

Creation of habitats should go hand-in-hand with development. Anytime we build something it should be a legally binding part of that process that we honestly and sincerely create space for nature – in, on and around where we live. We should also be creating new habitats where little existed, such as new woodlands, which can only be good for people and nature.

However existing wild places and species-rich

habitats, even if they haven’t got some special designation, are too important and are all too precious. Offsetting cannot be a ‘get out of jail free card’ for industry, politics and commerce to conspire against nature. Politics runs in very short cycles from one election to another, so by its very nature it is short sighted. Nature runs in cycles that are millennia in the making. That should be kept in mind before bulldozing rich, increasingly rare and sacred habitats.

I was born and raised in the North Coast of Ireland. As a wife and mother of two daughters I learnt through the local press about the very serious situation facing our native woodlands in Northern Ireland and how the deforestation over the centuries has impacted upon the whole of Ireland’s landscape. During my visits home to see my family I was horrified to find out that we were the least wooded country in Europe. The EU average is around 34% and it could take at least 80 years to reach the EU average even with the work that local government and charities are already doing to tackle the issue.

Ireland has a very limited range of tree species despite having an ideal climate for tree growth.

Forest cover, while once extensive, reached an all time low of approximately 1% at the start of the twentieth century. This was due to a number of factors including the development of agricultural practices and over-exploitation ► environmentmagazine.co.uk | 57 |

Conservation

Ly n Nel so n / Bi o d i versi t y / Emerald Her i tage

Photo: Jennifer Boyer | 58 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

Web: www.emerald-heritage.com

of the forests. Today forest cover has increased to almost 3% of the land area, predominantly comprising exotic conifers.

At Emerald Heritage we simply refuse to rely on Government grants, goodwill or donations – instead we want to involve the community, children, volunteers and landowners alike to get involved and interested in conservation by inviting them to come and plant trees and take pride of their very own plot of land in the much loved famous Glens of Antrim, named one of the most spectacular and scenic destinations in the world.

As a business we also have the independence to address often controversial subjects surrounding conservation and our landscape. I have never professed to know everything about everything and thus we always ensure that we are advised and under the careful direction of local conservation specialists.

Northern Ireland has merely 1-3% of native woodland left. We already owned land in the beautiful area of The Glens of Antrim and realised that we could make a difference with the public’s help. By inviting them to purchase their own little souvenir plot with Emerald Heritage, together we can ensure that this valuable natural resource will never be destroyed by developers or the like, thus ensuring its conservation for future generations. We will plant the trees on their behalf, with the funds raised from the sale of the plots. The woodland will then be allowed to regenerate naturally and provide a safe haven

for wildlife and people alike – in perpetuity.

Initially creating a plan to redress the problems experienced with Irish woodland depletion, we have put our heart and soul into developing a fun solution to the very real and serious issues affecting Ireland’s depleting woodland. We chose the land because of its spectacular location, yet within easy reach of local amenities. We wanted to ensure that this land was never developed and by selling these little plots we can ensure that this never happens.

We were concerned about the possible development of this historical area. We decided to purchase the land within the spectacular Nine Glens of Antrim to ensure that it was permanently protected and preserved with its natural habitats, wild plants and animal species and offer others the opportunity to invest in the future of the area by acquiring souvenir plots.

Our goal is to protect, preserve and enhance the quantity of native Irish woodland, its surrounding wildlife and habitats. We intend to take a positive approach towards the restoration and expansion of Ireland’s native woodland, therefore simultaneously providing a solution to this age-old problem.

We will be providing and demonstrating our commitment to ‘The Glens’ by offering comprehensive funding (through the sale of the small plots) to acquire further land that we can protect, maintain, improve and preserve.

Already there have been thousands of Irish

native trees planted beside the estate and we are optimistically looking forward to further restoration and regeneration of a number of species.

The whole of Ireland holds a very special place in the heart of millions and it is our aim to bring a smile to everyone who opens the property ownership pack, knowing that they own a little piece of the Emerald Isle and by doing so will protect it forever.

We have teamed up with the wonderful Ulster Historical Foundation, a Charity based in Belfast who we highly recommend to help people trace their Irish ancestry. We also work closely with local tourism agencies and we will be offering holiday breaks and tours of the area via The Causeway Coast & Glens Tourism in the future for when our landowners come to visit.

Our vision for the future is to create woodland of hundreds and hundreds of acres which will be protected forever and will leave a stamp on the Island forever. I can see myself walking through the new woodland and seeing local people enjoying it too for walks, nature trails, picnics and school children getting involved with the planting and learning the about the importance of conservation.

I am motivated by creating a solution to a problem. I get out of bed every morning full of excitement and ready to work hard to drive this project forward. It’s my home and I am determined to focus on all its positives, protect it, enhance it and develop the initiative for landowners to visit, via our local tourism agencies thus helping the local economy too as visitors will undoubtedly spend their money locally. We want to encourage our landowners from all over the world to come and visit this area of outstanding beauty and proudly take them on tours around the North Coast of Ireland. I am pretty sure they will also be compelled to see the whole of Ireland and its beauty.

Passionate and proud of my homeland and wanting to do something positive still comes with a huge responsibility. Whenever I am asked why as a company we feel so compelled to give so much back the answer is easy! It is simply the right thing to do ■

Title Photo: Umberto Nicoletti

+ More Information www.emerald-heritage.com

environmentmagazine.co.uk | 59 |

Conservation

R ag weed / C A BI

A tiny, powerful answer

to the European ragweed invasion

By Dr Urs Schaffner & Julia Dennis Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI), Switzerland

In China, Ophraella communa, a small dark brown ragweed leaf beetle, is known as an omen of relief. Since 2001 it has spread from Nanjing City across several provinces, eliminating ragweed or Ambrosia artemisiifolia in its path. This, of course, has huge potential benefits for regions of the world which are plagued by ragweed. This is the invasive alien species that clogs agricultural productivity and is best known for releasing neuroallergens that instigate annual hay fever for millions of people. Despite the acknowledged unpopularity and punitive costs associated with ragweed in Europe, and the success of the ragweed leaf beetle so far in Asia, this insect has never been allowed within European Union borders.

But now, even without regulatory consent, it has found its way in, and is suppressing ragweed quickly as it spreads from northern Italy into Switzerland. It will likely impact other ragweed-heavy regions in a short time with the potential to reduce the seasonal effects of the weed in the EU. It is rare to discover a breakthrough natural enemy like this which has so quickly and effectively suppressed a harmful invasive species, and has the potential to exist and thrive in different environments in the region.

In Europe this would be the first case in history of this kind of biological control success.

This tiny beetle should mean hope not just for current EU allergy sufferers but also those who could be affected as ragweed continues to spread north across the continent due to climate change. For researchers in the field of ecosystems and invasive species management this is an opportunity to show first-hand to the public and to policy makers that sustainable cost-effective biological control is possible in the EU before it is too late. Today’s biological control approaches take into account that if a development like O.communa can be harnessed it must first be carefully investigated. | 60 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

This is the mission now untaken by the EU-wide COST Action consortium of field researchers, ecologists, economists and humanhealth scientists who will quantify benefits and put forth new strategies for ragweed management, a field which is currently dominated by mechanical (mowing and pulling) and chemical (spraying with herbicide) means. For a cure to ragweed we will also be looking to the public to help track and monitor the spread of this alien invasive species through mobile app technology. Scientists and policy makers are up against the clock.

But before legislators act we as scientists also have a responsibility to weigh the potential risks posed by the spread of O. communa as a powerful biological control agent. There is a reason that countries such as Australia, which also experiences ragweed invasions, have not welcomed this tiny insect in the past. It is our job to study what this and other biological control measures against invasive species can do to Europeans and the ecosystems on which they depend.

How big is the Ragweed problem?

Ragweed originates from North America, appearing across the Atlantic in the early 1860’s when it was known as ‘red clover’. This alien weed first touched down in the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands and France around the same time and moved throughout Europe. There are over 30 countries interested in collaborating in the EU COST Action to fight ragweed, demonstrating its reach and impact in the EU in a relatively short time. Reports spell out that the few countries where ragweed is not yet so prevalent will see its effects soon as climate change draws warmer weather and new species northward.

Today an estimated €4.5bn is spent on addressing the ragweed ►

Conservation

R ag weed / C A BI

invasion in the EU, which includes the medical costs of treating its potentially life-threatening symptoms such as asthma attacks. As allergy sufferers are well aware, the effects of ragweed-induced hay fever range from irritated eyes and nose to chronic sinusitis and asthma. Results from heavily-infested south-eastern Europe indicate that every fourth person develops allergic rhinitis and asthma when exposed to ragweed pollen.

In urban areas ragweed runs along roadsides and river banks and quickly populates vacant lots. Even if it’s not visible nearby, ragweed pollen has been found over 400 miles from the source. High aerial concentrations of immensely allergenic ragweed pollen cause rates of sensitation among Europeans ranging from 15% to 60%, leading to allergic rhinitis and severe asthma in over 20% of the population.

Loss of labour productivity and expenses spent on prescription and over-the-counter treatments alone are in the billions. Ragweed is one of the most destructive and quickly spreading invasive species in the world, but there are many others which collectively pose a significant threat to the global economy, natural biodiversity and, most alarmingly, the future of food security. For Hungary alone the costs inflicted by ragweed on human health have recently been estimated at €100m annually, and on agriculture an additional €130m annually. The total cost of damage from invasive species worldwide reaches $1.4trillion each year. The threat to humans is only half the story as invasive alien species reportedly contribute to an estimated 40% of all animal extinctions. According the UNEP, invasive species like ragweed are on a par with global warming as a threat to global food security.

What is Biocontrol?

Photos (this page): Peter Toth, Slovak Agricultural University

While biological control of invasive species is widely used on other continents it is not widely understood in the EU nor are its benefits and risks. Biological control of invasive species, often termed classical biological control, aims to permanently reduce the pest’s density below an economic or ecological threshold by introducing specialist natural enemies from the weed’s native range. Decisions by national competent authorities to release or not to release candidate biological control agents are based on the results from many years of pre-release studies during which the biology, host-specificity and impact of candidate biological control species are studied. Hence classical biological control should not be confused with the release of polyphagous predatory species, such as the voracious cane toad, that feed on a lot of different hosts, including native species, and that have led to ecological disasters.

This year the EC has put out a European-wide directive for research of prevention and management opportunities against invasive species, ringing the alarms for action now against further damage from alien species like ragweed. For the first time classical biological control is explicitly mentioned as a means to control invasive species. This reflects the growing awareness also in Europe that, unlike conventional management options such as herbicide application, classical biological control has the potential to permanently suppress invasive species.

What do we do and don’t know about O. communa

Our recent collaborative study with partners from Italian and Swiss universities shows the beetle has arrived in Europe - this is certain. Of 150 sites surveyed the beetle was already present in 80% of these sites, and is quickly destroying established ragweed plants and bringing down pollen levels fast.

Though the cause of its appearance in the EU is yet unknown it may have been brought in from international air traffic or commercial exchange through the Milano Malpensa International Airport, in the province of Varese, where the highest densities of the beetle have been found. It has since spread quickly to other ragweed-heavy regions of Northern Italy and Southern Switzerland. However it is also possible that ► | 62 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

INVASIVE SPECIES ARE SERIOUS IN THEIR PURSUIT OF DOMINATION.

ARE YOU SERIOUS IN YOUR PURSUIT OF ERADICATION? We are. The Invasive Non-Native Specialists Association (INNSA) is the industry body for companies involved in controlling and eradicating invasive non-native species.

Membership of INNSA demonstrates professional knowledge and understanding of invasive species and the best methods for eradicating them. Registration provides members with a recognised accreditation backed up by a comprehensive insurance scheme.

INNSA aims to:

o:

• Encourage the highest standards within the industry

• Represent members’ and sectors’ interests at all levels of the legislative and regulatory process by providing interfaces between the industry and the government, other industry and non-industry organisations.

• Improve the business climate in which the industry operates • Promote and protect the interests of our members • Provide members’ customers and clients with peace of mind and quality standards assurance

SERIOUS? THEN CONTACT US. Registration demonstrates commitment, expertise and professionalism in your field.

www.innsa.org info@innsa.org alternatively call us on 0161 723 6457

Conservation

R ag weed / C A BI

Before Ophraella communa.

the beetle was purposely introduced to combat Ragweed outside of the regulatory framework. There is a history where exotic organisms that were under consideration for biological control of insect pests or weeds were deliberately collected in the area of origin and released without careful pre-release studies and without permission.

However it arrived, the impact of the beetle has been swift and severe.

Subsequent monitoring by our team over a 3-month period revealed that up to 100% of ragweed was attacked and destroyed. Damage-levels were high enough to completely eliminate further growth, thereby effectively supressing the weed and its harmful effects. In areas where we have seen O.communa appear we have also seen a dramatic reduction in the amount of pollen, dropping over 70-80% in one season so far. This is one of the focuses for this coming year to further document these changes more closely in the field and in the lab. For the EU public the mission is to turn research results into relief in the long term of ragweed management.

It’s already evident that it is a potential answer that could become the first successful case of biological control over an invasive species ever in Europe. But before any steps are taken to mass-rear and mass-release the beetle in the EU as they have done in China, our task force under | 64 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

the EU Cost-Action is aimed at investigating all potential benefits, along with the risks.

As ragweed has long been a costly problem with medical and agricultural impacts the study of possible biological control agents, including this ragweed leaf beetle O.communa, has come up in the past.

Ragweed is part of a larger family of plants, some of which are not noxious pests. In fact ragweed is a cousin of Helianthus annuus, otherwise known as the common sunflower. Previous testing has shown that the beetle can survive on sunflower under no-choice conditions, meaning there were no other viable options where it could survive. A concern that sunflower could also be considered a possible host for the ragweed leaf beetle now that it has arrived in the EU,is still being investigated. However, in preliminary tests in both Europe and China, scientists found little to no damage by the beetle on sunflower when introduced in a natural habitat with alternative choices to eat and destroy, like Ragweed. In any event this is still being closely tested and monitored, as sunflower is a major crop for which there is a major trade market in the EU both in agriculture, oil production and distribution. In 2008 the EU produced 2.1 million tonnes of sunflower oil, largely grown in France. Trade in seed oil from

Web: www.cabi.org

After Ophraella communa.

sunflowers is in decline, as soya and palm oil increase their share of the market, but it was still estimated to be worth $2bn as of 2009. Besides offering long-term solution for invasive species management, biological control is also attractive from an economic point of view. In Australia the successful biological control program against ragweed provides revenues of Aus$103 for every $1 invested.

The future for Ragweed

This breakthrough in biological control could be the start of a new chapter for invasives management in the EU, but that is ultimately up to policy makers.

The SMARTER COST Action against Ragweed, the largest collaboration of researchers across disciplines and spanning 30 countries, was initiated last year by Professor Heinz Müller-Schärer of the University of Fribourg and our Ecosystems Management team at CABI in Switzerland. The goal is to develop habitat-specific management recommendations against ragweed across Europe, setting a model for the sustainable management of all invasive alien plants of European-wide interest.

As the SMARTER Cost Action community continues to delve into

Photos: Jian-Ying GUO, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences

the potential impact of the ragweed leaf beetle, researchers will look to the public to help them gain an accurate picture of the spread and status of ragweed on the continent. The SMARTER Ambrosia Reporter mobile phone app will allow other research professionals and the public to locate, map and monitor ragweed throughout Europe. A pilot project will focus on Switzerland and the Netherlands and later expand across the EU research community.

There is reason to be hopeful that biocontrol using this natural enemy to ragweed could present enormous benefits to the EU, as it has in China, but only after investigation into the impacts on European ecosystems ■

+ More Information www.cabi.org Title Photo: Peter Toth, Slovak Agricultural University

environmentmagazine.co.uk | 65 |

Energy

| 66 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

Thérèse Brouwer / Of f sho re W i nd / I NG

Web: www.ing.com

Caught in the Crosswinds

Thérèse Brouwer

Managing Director, Head SF Utilities, Power & Renewables, EMEA at ING

The growth of offshore wind energy in the North Sea has largely been driven by the European Union’s commitment to decarbonise the region’s economy by 2020.

With legally binding targets in place, offshore wind has found crucial support from North Sea governments in the shape of favourable long-term regulatory frameworks and other incentives that encourage investment in the sector and increase its commercial viability.

Installed capacity in offshore wind power grew by 10.5% in 2011 and by 11.4% in 2012, according to the European Wind Energy Association, which put it on track to deliver the approximately 40GW in capacity it required to approach its 2020 goal. The North Sea achieved and was able to sustain this growth because it is an ideal environment for large scale, multimegawatt wind turbine technology to develop, increasingly further away from land where wind currents are stronger and more consistent, and offer better yields. Technological development is also making the rotors last longer in harsh environments and has resulted in lighter and more efficient blades. All things being equal, it seemed that offshore wind would soon reach a sufficient scale and be available at low enough prices to compete effectively against more conventional energy sources.

Broadening financial interests

At the same time a wide range of global investors had become active in the sector.

Offshore wind is a long term business with large-scale financing requirements which a growing number of investors have become more comfortable with. They include utilities, technology manufacturers, engineering and construction companies, oil and gas companies, pension funds, private equity players, commercial banks, development banks, and export credit agencies.

Multiple companies typically invest together, with one lead sponsor. These parties often have different risk appetites, and usually undertake extensive research on construction, operation and maintenance risks before committing any funds. So wide is the range of project risks associated with offshore wind that lenders invariably look for clarity in the regulatory environment and to experienced sponsors to partner with.

ING has been active in offshore wind power projects since 2010 when it first began to actively increase its involvement in the sector. In July 2011 it signed its first offshore wind project with a participation in the €1,047m financing for the 400MW Global Tech I project in German waters. In 2012 it acted as lead arranger on the 216MW Northwind offshore wind farm in the ► environmentmagazine.co.uk | 67 |

Energy

Thérèse Brouwer / Of f sho re W i nd / I NG

Deployment of North Sea wind power is not slowing down through a lack of interest from developers or investors, but because regulatory risks and uncertainties have significantly increased in several countries.

Belgian North Sea, 37km offshore Oostende on the Lodewijkbank. More recently, in 2013, it joined a syndicate of investors to assemble €1.3bn for the 288 MW Butendiek wind farm in North Sea for German developers WPD. When complete the farm will provide green energy to approximately 370,000 households – a major contribution to the nation’s transition to renewables.

Quick off the mark

The main proponents of North Sea wind in recent years have been Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK. By and large these countries have been the most successful at implementing legal and regulatory structures that help to offset the financial and operational risks for developers. Progress among North Sea countries has varied because member states are left to determine their own milestones and targets for reaching the legally binding 2020 targets as part of their National Renewable Energy Action Plans (NREAPs).

Denmark and Sweden were the earliest adopters of offshore technology in the North Sea over a decade ago. More recently it has been the frameworks offered by other countries that have led to rapid industry growth. The UK implemented its successful Renewable Obligation Certificate (ROC) programme to give incentives for renewable investments, while Germany has opted for a feed-in tariff system that supports the financial viability of its projects, and allocates responsibility for the grid connection to grid operators.

Early last year European-installed offshore capacity had reached 6GW at a cost of between €17bn and €24bn. By the middle of the year, a further 4.5GW was also in construction but an additional 18.4GW in projects that had already been approved by authorities was being delayed by developers. Since then the lag has continued to grow, and there is every indication that the industry is heading for a major slowdown. Not only is progress falling behind the planned milestones towards 2020, the downward trend is expected to accelerate in the foreseeable future.

Even if those projects approved to date | 68 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

were to move forward, the total deployment of European offshore wind power would reach just 28GW, which is in line with the 2018 targets set by the various NREAPs, but falls well below the overall 43GW target for 2020.

Stifling growth

Deployment of North Sea wind power is not slowing down through a lack of interest from developers or investors, but because regulatory risks and uncertainties have significantly increased in several countries. The national frameworks that have driven the industry’s rapid development since 2009 are being revised or are being brought into question.

In the UK, the EU’s leading proponent of offshore wind, the ROC system is being replaced by a contracts-for-difference system of which the exact workings are still unclear and creating uncertainty. Sponsors are adopting a waitand-see approach and delaying projects until they have a better understanding of how the new mechanisms will work in practice from 2014 onwards. Industry players estimate that the slowdown in UK deployment during this transitional period could last well into 2017, and may affect whether the UK meets its targets.

In Germany, which decided in 2011 to phase out its nuclear energy capacity and replace it with offshore wind and solar power, implementation delays are being caused by uncertainties surrounding offshore grid connections. The risk for developers was addressed by a December 2012 amendment to the Renewable Energy Law that entitles them to receive 90% of the Feed-in Tariff if the offshore grid connection is provided later than promised. Nevertheless, supply chain issues continue to cause delays in completing the offshore grid connections and grid operators have been asked to provide a new plan. More recently, in the run-up to the 2013 German elections, some politicians put the long trusted Feed-in Tariff system up for discussion, which caused further uncertainty. Although the new German government has sought to provide necessary clarity, developments were put on hold for much of 2013 pending the elections and the formation of a new government.

In the Benelux region the Netherlands had ►

Web: www.ing.com

Indre Osterbro in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Denmark and Sweden were the earliest adopters of offshore technology in the North Sea over a decade ago. More recently it has been the frameworks offered by other countries that have led to rapid industry growth.

Photo: CGP Grey environmentmagazine.co.uk | 69 |

Energy

Thérèse Brouwer / Of f sho re W i nd / I NG

was finally provided in January 2014, although the grid-related issues remain to be solved.

France meanwhile has initiated plans to build 6GW in offshore wind power generation capacity by 2020. The process is conducted by means of auctions to obtain the right to exploit sites and is supported through a 20-year PPA with EDF at the price proposed by the bidders. The nation has arrived relatively late to offshore wind, mainly due to difficulties in selecting suitable sites given the more challenging geological conditions in the French seabed. Round 1 tenders (four sites, total ~2GW) were awarded in 2012 to two consortia led by EDF/Dong and Iberdrola. The winning bidders are currently performing the feasibility studies and going through the permitting process. These parks are expected to come online around 2018. A Round 2 tender (two sites with a combined 1GW) was launched in 2013 and EDPR/GDF and EDF/Dong presented bids to both sites. A preferred bidder is expected in April this year but the projects are not expected to come online before 2021 Adding to these localised disruptions there have been lingering doubts as to what the EU’s commitment level to offshore wind will be after the 2020 target date has passed. The combination of these factors has significantly increased the perceived risks in what is still a very long term investment for developers and investors. The former point was finally addressed in January this year, when the European Parliament reaffirmed its support for an ambitious climate and energy policy and committed to binding targets for renewables, greenhouse gas reductions and energy efficiency by 2030.

Promise and potential

Photo: David Carter

successfully realised two offshore wind farms based on the previous MEP subsidy regime of fixed prices per kWh on top of grey electricity prices. In 2008 the MEP subsidy regime was deemed too expensive and was replaced by the current SDE system, which provides projects with a capped top-up on grey electricity prices for a 15 year tenure. The total available SDE subsidy for offshore wind was tendered and awarded to the 600MW Gemini offshore wind project and to Eneco’s 129MW Luchterduinen project, which are currently under construction.

The 2013 Energy Agreement for Sustainable Growth provides clear intent for the further implementation of offshore wind (4.5GW | 70 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

additional installed capacity by 2023) but details of the envisaged support still have to materialise. The availability of subsidies for further offshore wind projects is still the subject of political discussions, the outcome of which will be crucial.

Belgium, which has so far successfully realised three offshore wind farms (two operating and one under construction) has five more projects which have been awarded concessions. However, the development of these concessions slowed down in 2013 due to a lack of clarity over changes to the subsidy regime, and pending decisions on grid connections.

Clarity on the new subsidy regime tariff level

The 2030 renewable energy targets at a European level are a move in the right direction, but one that must be met by the right response from the various North Sea member states.

The EWEA estimates that an additional €90bn€123bn in development will be needed in order to meet Europe’s 2020 goals, which under present conditions seems unlikely to occur. It is vital that North Sea member states accelerate their efforts and find ways to continue supporting the industry, especially those that are lagging severely behind. Although it is almost certainly too late to meet the 2020 ambitions, the North Sea still holds the promise and the potential to transform Europe’s energy future ■

Title Photo: Siemens AG

+ More Information

www.ing.com/ING-in-Society/Sustainability

YOUR BUSINESS IS PRODUCING ENERGY FROM WIND. OURS IS PRODUCING THE FINANCE PLAN.

The wpd group is the leading German developer and operator of wind farms.

As a lead arranger for their Butendiek project we helped raise approximately €1bn of necessary funds. That’s how we’re supporting sustainable business.

www.ingcb.com

Energy

Frack i ng / Env i ro n

Web: www.environcorp.com

Rob Jeffries Principal

Anne Johnstone Senior Manager

Robert Jones

Associate Consultant

The shale gas industry is currently booming in North America encouraging many countries around the globe, including the UK, to look carefully at their own shale reserves and determine whether they can emulate the experience of the US and Canada.

Shales are widespread geographically and although their potential as a hydrocarbon resource has been known for decades, the possibility of shale reserves forming a significant part of global energy supplies has only recently been realised due to improvements in technology, primarily directional drilling, 3D seismic processing and imaging and hydraulic fracturing (or fracking).

In the UK the opportunity to commence hydraulic fracturing is under intense scrutiny. There are a range of potential environmental concerns associated with the operation, especially in regards to water management.

Stress on water supplies, groundwater contamination, induced seismicity, health risks from fracking fluid additives and waste water have been identified as harmful by-products of the practice. While some operators may find this scrutiny frustrating it is important to the UK’s development of hydraulic fracturing to address the concerns, both in terms of the water supply required for hydraulic fracturing and managing the volumes of waste water produced from the fracking process. Innovative approaches to reduce and recycle recovered hydraulic fracturing waters are being surveyed.

Shale gas and the UK

It is important to distinguish between ‘conventional’ and ‘unconventional’ oil and gas. Conventional oil and gas is generated in organic-rich source rocks and migrates over time. Under specific geological conditions (a permeable formation overlain by a less permeable rock seal) the hydrocarbons can collect and form a reservoir that is (relatively) easy to exploit. Unconventional oil and gas is the same gas and oil that remains trapped within its source rock, eg shale.

The economics of shale gas depend on a number of factors in addition to the estimated resources and the host rock characteristics including market forces, tax regimes,

operating costs, planning restrictions and technological advances. There is often confusion between shale gas resources and reserves: a resource is the volume of gas in the deep subsurface that is technically recoverable whereas a reserve is that part of the resource that can be produced economically. What is clear, however, is that both are potentially substantial and shale gas could be a crucial part of the UK’s future energy mix. To date the British Geological Survey has only published detailed resource estimates for one shale play, the Bowland-Hodder unit1.

A similarly detailed study on the Weald Basin in southern England is currently awaiting publication and there is one underway at Midland Valley of Scotland.

The government plans to offer petroleum exploration and development licences (PEDLs) covering more than 37,000 square miles of currently unlicensed parts of England, Scotland and Wales in 2014 (the 14th onshore licensing round). A strategic environmental assessment (SEA) for onshore oil and gas licensing was published by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) in December 20132. This was followed by a consultation period through to late March 2014 and once responses have been considered a post-adoption statement will be produced to set out how the government intends to proceed with the 14th round3. A PEDL gives the licence holder exclusive rights to carry out a range of exploration activities including exploration and development of unconventional gas within the licenced area, subject to obtaining the necessary drilling/development consents and planning permission. To date only three wells have been drilled into the Bowland-Hodder unit that specifically targeted shale gas. All were performed by Cuadrilla and only one of these has been fracked. In order to understand how significant shale reserves are in the UK far more exploratory activity will have to take place. ►

environmentmagazine.co.uk | 73 |

Energy

Frack i ng / Env i ro n

Water Requirements

Water resources, both in terms of the water supply required for hydraulic fracturing and managing the volumes of waste water produced from the fracking process, have become a focus and unconventional oil and gas development companies are increasingly looking towards investment in sustainable on-site water treatment systems.

(See figure 1) Shale gas is typically 95-98% methane, trapped in very low permeability rock. Where gas does not naturally flow to a well, additional stimulation by hydraulic fracturing is required to break the rock to increase permeability and available surface area. This allows gas to flow. Once a well has been drilled and cased, often using multiple casings with cement seals to screen off shallow groundwater aquifers, a mixture of water, sand (‘proppant’, to hold open the generated fractures) and additives to facilitate the hydraulic fracturing process (which may include friction reducers, biocides and anti-scalants) is pumped into the well under high pressure. The fracking fluid

Temporary Wastewater Storage

Surface Water Contamination due to poor practices during transport of waste water

Surface water contamination caused by inadequate containment of runoff at the production pad

Hydraulic Fracturing Well

Water Supply (Surface & Groundwater abstraction) Fresh Water Storage

Well Head

typically consists of 95% water which can potentially be sourced from groundwater, surface water abstraction or mains water supply. A single shale well typically uses approximately 18,000 cubic metres of water (or between 4.5M and 5M gallons). This is equal to the approximate amount of water used to water a golf course in a month or operate a 1,000 MW coal-fired power station for around 12 hours4. However, in arid areas water supply is, and will be, a limiting factor, particularly where shale development is likely to rely on groundwater resources. Multiple well developments will only further increase demand on available water resources. A research paper analysing the water demands of hydraulic fracturing operations across the United States and Western Canada5 has been published, which examines the challenges created by the intense and localised nature of shale development in areas that often lack resources to manage water resource constraints. The research indicates that in Texas alone half of the wells examined were in regions of high water stress.

Hydraulic fracturing-related water use is predicted to ►

Wastewater Transport

Off-site wastewater treatment

Surface Potential Aquifer

Soil and groundwater contamination due to poor practices during transport of waste water

Water Abstraction Borehole

Water Table Potential depletion of groundwater resources

200m

Contamination of groundwater due to poor well design or failure

500m

Confining Layers

1000m

Production Zone

Potential mobilisation of solutes or methane

2000m

Figure on Water Water Resources Resourcesfrom fromaahydraulic hydraulicfracturing fracturingoperation. operation Figure 1: 1: Potential Potential Impacts Impacts on | 74 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

Web: www.environcorp.com

environmentmagazine.co.uk | 75 |

Energy double over the next decade whilst at the same time over two-thirds of Texas is experiencing drought conditions, key groundwater aquifers are shrinking and the state’s population is growing. Similar challenges could materialise in the UK without appropriate water resource planning and management, particularly in southern England. The water-based solution that flows back to the surface during and after the completion of hydraulic fracturing is termed ‘flowback water’ and contains rock and mineral particles, additives in solution, dissolved metal ions and total dissolved solids (TDS).

Subsequently, naturally occurring water in shale formations flows to the surface during the entire lifespan of the gas well; this is termed ‘produced water’. The majority of flowback occurs within the first 30 days of initiating fracking, as the well is cleaned up, recovering a proportion of the fracturing fluid and initiating gas production6.

Initial fluid recovery rates may be as much as ~1m3 per minute, dropping off to around 1m3 per day within a few weeks as gas begins to flow instead of water. Initially the composition of the flowback will predominantly be the fracking fluid (recovery rates varying from 5% to 75%, depending on the shale characteristics and extent of fracturing) whereas towards the end of the well’s lifetime the flowback will more closely reflect the natural water composition within the shale. As most shales were deposited within a

| 76 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

Frack i ng / Env i ro n marine environment this water is usually high in saline and, in some shale formations, may contain low concentrations of heavy metals and naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM)7.

During the early phases of the North American shale gas industry, fresh water was used as the base for fracking fluids as the high TDS content of saline water interfered with the performance of proppants and chemical additives, principally friction reducers7. The UK is not starting from the same position as the US, and the latest materials, additives and process technologies available from years of research, development and best practice in the US can be adopted from the outset. Many problems associated with using saline waters as base fluids for fracking have been overcome given the innovation and advancements in using seawater in offshore oil and gas production.

Adoption of these technologies by the onshore industry has enabled the use of saline waters from deep aquifers as fracking fluids in some US shales8.

There are a number of new technological innovations coming out of major investment and research into water management technologies with a definite trend towards recycling, mainly driven by cost, tighter regulation and increasing requirements for sustainable solutions.

Recycling and reusing waste water minimises

fresh water use, thereby reducing the demand in certain areas that may otherwise experience stress on resources. It also reduces the volume of wastewater that requires treatment and disposal. There are many approaches to increasing recycling and reuse of water including development of greener chemicals and new types of membranes to enable desalination and demineralisation. Other alternatives being considered are the use of waterless fracturing technologies such as gels, carbon dioxide and nitrogen gas foams6.

Case Study – Recycling hydraulic fractured water

As an example of ongoing research and development, ENVIRON has been developing innovative approaches to reduce and recycle recovered hydraulic fractured waters for a number of major shale gas and hydraulic fracturing stakeholders in North America. One concept involves recycling 100% of the water (the ‘100% water recycle’ or ‘zero discharge’ concept) that was initiated to enhance sustainability and minimise the environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing, particularly water-related issues. The concept is primarily based on organising and managing the hydraulic fracturing sites as traditional industrial wastewater management projects, with the primary objectives being to:

Web: www.environcorp.com

Specific constituent Removal, e.g., Boron (with Guar Use), Fe or Fragmented Polymer

This 100% recycle concept was developed by Dr. Carl E. Adams, Jr., Principal, ENVIRON Corporation, under contract to Stakeholder

Figure 2: ENVIRON's Zero Water Discharge process.

• Reduce vehicle transport and acquisition costs of freshwater supplement • Reduce off-site transport and disposal costs of associated wastewaters (flowback and produced waters) • Reduce quantities of chemical additives in the fracturing fluids • Organise and implement the project along industrial wastewater management methodology protocols

The concept involves a pre-treatment step of suspended solids removal of combined flowback and produced wastewaters as the foundational element. Chemical constituents that would interfere with re-injected fracturing fluids are also selectively removed during this step. Other wastewater contaminants such as NORM, heavy metals, organics and TDS can be chemically adjusted to remain in solution and re-injected into subsequent well activities.

The technology review phase of the project has been oriented towards technologies and methodologies that are most effective with filtration alternatives and included chemical oxidation, electrocoagulation, tight membranes (both micro and nano-scale membrane filtration) and biocide oxidants. (See Figure 2) Progress to date has been very positive with all implementation goals achieved: • 100% achievement of performance and operations

• Environmentally sound completely contained process, with no contact with air, surface/ groundwater or soils • Cost-effective • Maximum flexibility to apply to any hydraulic fracturing activity globally • Modularly expandable to accommodate emerging regulatory criteria and to manage a range of field scales

Further trials are underway to confirm the effective performance and commercial viability of the concept.

+ More Information www.environcorp.com 1

2

In Summary

Given the level of business risk involved in competing for water resources, technologies that have been in research and development mode for years but could not find a market to make them commercially viable, are now being trialled or deployed in the shale gas industry.

This is a rapidly growing new market for water treatment technologies, which may have high initial capital costs, but are proving to be very cost effective and worthwhile investments. This is a key area of opportunity for ENVIRON and UK wastewater treatment specialists in preparation for future onshore oil and gas exploration and production ■

3 4 5

6

7

8

Andrews (2013). The Carboniferous Bowland Shale gas study: geology and resource estimation.

British Geological Survey for Department of Energy and Climate Change, London, UK. AMEC (December 2013) Strategic Environmental Assessment for Further Onshore Oil and Gas Licensing, Environmental Report, Department of Environment & Climate Change, London, UK DECC (December 2012) Oil and gas: petroleum licensing guidance, London, UK Moore (2012) Gas Works? Shale gas and its policy implications, Policy Exchange, London, UK Freyman (2014) Hydraulic Fracturing & Water Stress: Water Demand by the Numbers, Ceres, Boston MA King (2010) Thirty years of shale gas fracturing: what have we learned? Society of Petroleum Engineers Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Florence, Italy King (2012) Hydraulic fracturing 101: what every representative, environmentalist, regulator, reporter, investor, university researcher, neighbors and engineer should know about estimating frac risk and improving frac performance in unconventional gas and oil wells, Society of Petroleum Engineers

http://stateimpact.npr.org/ texas/2013/03/28/drilling-boom-spurs-arush-to-harness-brackish-water/ environmentmagazine.co.uk | 77 |

Energy

Mat L ow n / G reen Deal / T F T

The Green Deal

at Scale

Mat Lown

Sustainability Partner, Tuf�in Ferraby Taylor (TFT)

The Green Deal has its critics. Take up numbers to date by homeowners has been slower and smaller than initial expectations on launch in January 2013. While the mechanics have not yet quite worked, there remains, I believe, a compelling case for the scheme. The nation's need and statutory requirement to improve energy efficiency, reduce domestic carbon emissions and mitigate energy security remain paramount. The Green Deal, along with other policy mechanisms such as ECO* (Energy Companies Obligation), has an important role to play.

The Green Deal's significance as an agent for change has been heightened recently by the announcement of a quadrupling of funds available to local authorities (LAs) this year to ÂŁ80m. The stimulus has been injected to promote the Green Deal in a number of areas, such as on a street by street basis, to incentivise the delivery of hard to treat cavity and solid wall insulation homes. Coined "Green Deal at Scale" there are very real needs for the latest initiative: 1. At April 2013, DECC statistics reveal of the 27.1m homes in Great Britain 5.3m homes with cavity walls and 7.8m solid wall homes do not have respectively cavity or solid wall insulation. So, more than 48% of homes in Great Britain do not have either cavity or solid wall insulation.

2. Since April 2008 (until April 2013) under various Government initiatives, such as CERT, ECO and The Green Deal, 2.75m cavity and solid wall homes

| 78 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

have been insulated. So, that's an average of 550,000 per year for the past 5 years.

3. According to Climate Change Minister, Greg Barker, "together with the ECO, the Green Deal has improved over 400,000 homes in their ďŹ rst eleven months". So, that is a slow down on previous years' insulation attainment.

4. It is estimated that 80% of the homes in which we will be living in 2050 - more than 35 years hence have already been built.

So, to extrapolate the figures at the current rate of insulation that has been achieved for the last 5 years, it will take just under 24 years (i.e. approximately 550,000 homes per year / 13.1million homes without insulation) to insulate them with either cavity or solid wall insulation.

The cost of insulating every one, and whom it will be borne by, e.g. the householder or the state (in the case of social housing), is simply astronomical. This explains the Government's determination and necessity to make the Green Deal or its various incarnations work not at its expense, wherever possible, but at that of private sectorial energy companies and homeowners.

Of course, what is a cost to some is an opportunity for others. The 13.1 million homes without wall insulation are there to be filled.

Already, according to Minister Barker, there are over 125 authorised Green Deal providers; over 2,900 advisors registered to carry out Green Deal assessments; over 2,300 organisations officially Green Deal approved to carry out installation.

Web: www.tftconsultants.com

The £80m made available to LA’s has, it seems, been well received. Reportedly, Leeds Council is considering bidding for a share. LA’s have been strongly encouraged to work together and with local partners to deliver, for example, local incentives, working with local community partners, or refunding Green Deal assessments where a household installs measures using Green Deal financing or self-finance.

The stimulus is necessary and timely, and must now be put to good use. Tuffin Ferraby Taylor (TFT), an independent construction and property consultancy with several UK regional offices, is ideally positioned to support "at scale" Green Deal and ECO LA-led partnerships. TFT works on a portfolio basis with public and private sector landlords, providing technical due diligence, appraisals, sustainability, compliance and project management services. *(The ECO was introduced in January 2013 and will run until March 2015. It supports the installation of energy efficiency measures in lowincome households and areas, and in properties that are harder to treat. It works alongside the Green Deal to give consumers support and funding for energy efficiency improvements in their homes.)

Understanding The Green Deal

The Green Deal is a UK government initiative to improve energy efficiency in Britain's households. Up to £10,000 is available per applicant for a number of energy saving works.

The money must be repaid back over 25 years.

It is important to note the Golden Rule which means the money to be repaid will never be more than the saving made, e.g. if wall insulation saves the homeowner £150 per year they will never pay back more than £150 a year.

The money is not repaid directly to the lender, but added to the property’s energy

bills. The person in charge of the energy bills is therefore responsible for repayments (even if the property changes hands). In other words: the bill-payer will probably save money and have a more energy efficient house.

The Green Deal can be broken down to three stages: 1. The first stage is an initial consultation or assessment carried out by a qualified Green Deal advisor. The current energy performance of the building will be assessed in order to decide which measures could and should be implemented through the Green Deal. The assessment will also make sure the bill payer will make savings equal to or more than the cost of installing the measures, as part of the Golden Rule.

2. The assessor will then provide the bill payer with a comprehensive quote, including how much the improvements will cost to install, how much the bill payer will be expected to save and how long the repayment will take. The bill payer may then compare this quote with other quotes from Green Deal accredited installers if they want.

3. Once a quote has been established the second step is to arrange financing for the Green Deal plan. The financing is dealt with by the Green Deal Provider, who makes sure that everything is in place for the loan repayments.

4. The loan repayment is attached to the property’s energy bills. So if the property is sold or passed on the Green Deal repayments will stay with the property. The loan repayment is stretched over a period of 25 years so that the debt is paid back each month in small amounts. The amount paid back will most likely be less than the saving made e.g. if a biomass stove saved you £90 a year, you will never pay back more than £90 a year back.

5. Once the financing measures are in place the next step is to actually install the new energy efficient measures. This is done by an accredited Green Deal installer.

The Green Deal Provider also has an important role in the process as they oversee all three stages to make the process easier. The provider may arrange an assessment for your property, organise the finance plan for your Green Deal repayments and put you in touch with an installer. The Green Deal Provider also has an important customer service role. Providers have on-going obligations to the consumer during and after the implementation of all Green Deal ►

An old boiler can be responsible for up to 60% of an energy bill.

environmentmagazine.co.uk | 79 |

Energy

Mat L ow n / G reen Deal / T F T

plans, including customer service related queries or complaints, and comprehensive information for a new bill payer that might move in.

Energy efficiency examples:

improvement

Efficiency measures will be prioritised according to the potential savings on the energy bill. This guarantees that wasteful appliances and urgent issues will be dealt with first.

• Cavity wall insulation: costs around £160 and repays in 2 years.

• Full loft insulation: costs £100-350 and repays in 2-4 years.

• An old boiler can be responsible for up to 60% of an energy bill.

• A house can lose up to 70% of its heat through un-insulated walls and roof.

Becoming a Green Deal Provider:

A Green Deal Provider is responsible for: • Offering a Green Deal Plan to customers, based on recommendations from an authorised Green Deal Assessor Organisation (GDAO).

• Providing finance to the customer for the energy efficiency improvements.

• Arranging for the installation of energy efficiency improvements to be carried out by an authorised Green Deal Installer.

• Establishing a long term relationship with the customer which can last for up to 25 years.

• Ongoing obligations in relation to Green Deal Plans, including handling customer complaints and providing information when a new bill payer moves into a property with a Green Deal.

• Green Deal Providers must operate to a high standard, and organisations will need

| 80 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

to be authorised and abide by certain requirements to operate. They may choose to undertake the assessment and supply of goods and installation using their own employees, or they may choose to subcontract.

Becoming a Green Deal Assessor:

A Green Deal assessment is the first step for consumers to enter into a Green Deal plan. The Green Deal Assessments must be undertaken by a Green Deal Assessor - an organisation or a sole trader that is certified by an accredited Green Deal Certification Body and is authorised by the Secretary of State to act as a Green Deal Assessor.

Organisations or sole traders who wish to become a Green Deal Assessor should contact an accredited Certification Body to discuss how they can become certified. The Green Deal Certification Body Register is available on the website.

To become a Green Deal Assessor you must: • Be certified by a Green Deal Certification Body against the Green Deal Assessor Specification • Comply with the Green Deal Code of Practice • Be listed on the Green Deal Participant Register

The Green Deal Installer Role:

Once a property has had an assessment and the finance for measures has been approved, installation of the Green Deal measures is the next step.

Only an authorised Green Deal Installer can install energy efficiency improvements under the Green Deal finance mechanism. Additionally,

only authorised installers will be able to identify themselves as 'Green Deal Installers' and use the Green Deal Quality Mark.

You can become authorised as a Green Deal installer if: • Your company is certified by a Certification Body as meeting the Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 2030 for the measures you wish to install. Both you and your company are required to meet the relevant requirements of PAS 2030. Certification bodies will certify installer organisations against the relevant parts of the PAS standard. It is then the responsibility of the certified organisation to ensure their employees meet the relevant standards.

• You comply by the conditions as detailed in the Green Deal Code of Practice on the DECC and GD ORB websites.

• You keep clear records of work done and allow monitoring of installation work when requested.

+ More Information www.gov.uk/green-deal-energy-saving-measures A PDF containing official statistics on home insulation in the UK can be found by following the link, or by scanning the QR code below: www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ attachment_data/file/209029/Statistical_release_-_ Estimates_of_home_insulation_levels_in_Great_ Britain_April_13.pdf

Energy

Gareth Stace / Manu factur i ng / E E F

Walking the Tightrope Manufacturing and the Low Carbon Economy Gareth Stace

Head of Climate & Environment Policy, EEF

| 82 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

Web: www.eef.org.uk

This colossal 10,000 tonne open die forge at Sheffield Forgemasters has been operating for over 40 years and is still capable of producing some of the largest and most technically demanding forgings in the world today. This image shows a 170 tonne plate mill roll being forged at around 1200째C. Photo: Mark Tomlinson

environmentmagazine.co.uk | 83 |

Energy

Gareth Stace / Manu factur i ng / E E F

Old and new, clean and not so clean technology, creating energy, outshone by natural energy. Image take near Drax Power Station in Selby, North Yorkshire.

Climate Change is very much back on the political agenda at the moment.

2013 was a year of extreme weather right across the globe; COP 21 is just around the corner and the IPCC’s most recent report provided some pretty sobering reading even for those of us with a naturally gloomy disposition.

The natural reaction is for many to call for a doubling of efforts to fight climate change and to respond to any perceived ‘weakening’ of climate change policy with calls of capitulation to polluters and big business. This is precisely what happened following last month’s Budget, so I’d like to take the opportunity to set out EEF’s stall as it were.

EEF fully supports the need for concrete action to cut global emissions but this must be done whilst fully taking account of the realities and difficulties with which we are faced. Somewhere along the line many seem to have forgotten that the ultimate goal is cutting global emissions, not simply a UK with the highest carbon price, the most climate change legislation and the highest targets. This is not to call for a reduction in UK climate change ambition, far from it, merely recognition of the fact that we remain a long way from reaching a globally binding agreement for all countries to reduce emissions, and that until we reach this point climate change policy must be designed in a manner that reflects this.

It will of course come of little surprise that EEF viewed the Budget’s energy related announcements as a positive step forward in terms of establishing a climate change policy framework that will facilitate the transition to a low carbon economy whilst allowing UK manufacturing to benefit from and contribute to it effectively. The TUC Budget response captured perfectly the predicament that the energy intensive industry is currently facing when it said industry is “...walking a tightrope from a high to a low carbon economy. Government policy should, we believe, | 84 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

Jean Illingworth

enable the transition rather than add to its perils.”

It is not purely energy intensive industry that is feeling the pinch from energy prices. In surveying our members we found numerous companies that don’t qualify as energy intensive (in terms of access to compensation) but whose energy costs still constitute 10-20% of their total costs. With climate policy set to add 50% to the price of electricity by the end of the decade this could add a further 10% to a manufacturer’s operational costs.

A view often espoused by those pushing for more ambitious climate change targets is that there has been no strong evidence for carbon leakage to date and as such calls from industry should largely be viewed as purely self-interested short termism. It would be dishonest of anyone to claim that we are already faced with a mass exodus of industry from these shores. This is clearly not yet where we find ourselves, but the situation is far more complicated than simply looking for past examples of relocation of production.

Firstly, where carbon leakage is likely to occur it will be in the years to come. The UK is at the start of its transition from a high to a low carbon economy. Climate change policy currently adds about 20% to electricity bills, climbing to 50% by 2020 and 70% by 2030. As such, it is in the years to come that we must look for the warning signs of relocation and guard against its eventuality.

Secondly, we are not merely concerned here with relocation of production but also with, the more subtle, relocation of investment. This is much harder to see and there is already some evidence that this is occurring even before the costs of climate change policy is fully ramped up in the years to come. Many investment decisions will be taken at a

Web: www.eef.org.uk

global level, and it is increasingly clear that for EIIs in particular the price of energy is having a major impact on where money is spent.

Thirdly, where a company has no overseas operations or the necessary ability to move production overseas, carbon leakage will be even more gradual and difficult to spot. For some time a company may be able to absorb costs, either by accepting reduced margins and/or by reducing spend in other business areas such as wages, plant investment or skills.

In the long term, margins may be wiped out altogether or the lack of investment overtime will place the company at an increasing competitive disadvantage. In the event that the company ceases production, the production facilities will not move overseas but the slack created in the global market will of course be taken up elsewhere.

Climate change policy must be designed in a manner that keeps manufacturing here in the UK and actually provides a boost and opportunities for the sector. To take one very simple example, the Committee on Climate Change’s ‘ambitious renewables’ scenario for decarbonising the grid up to 2030 demands for some 65GW of wind power. This will require some 7 million tonnes of steel and 26 million tonnes of concrete (plus a lot of copper, iron and fiberglass). With the production facilities here in the UK to produce this, why on earth would we risk putting ourselves in a position where we needed to import this all?

EEF’s Budget submission called for two principle actions: a freezing of the Carbon Price Floor (CPF) and an extension of the current Energy Intensive Industries (EII) compensation package both in scope, to cover the costs of the Renewables Obligation (RO) and small scale Feed in Tariffs (FITs), and in longevity out to 2020.

Let us first consider the extension of the EII package before getting bogged down in the quagmire of the CPF. I think most will accept the

need to minimise the risks of carbon leakage emanating from climate change policy where possible. Both the Committee on Climate Change and WWF have recognised this, as has government in granting the first compensation package for the costs of EU ETS and CPF and the exemption from the costs of the upcoming Contracts for Difference (CfDs). All the Budget announcement did was to complete this package, extending it to cover the other elements of the UK’s support for renewables and providing this comprehensive cover out to 2019/20. This will have no detrimental impact on emissions levels – it simply places UK EIIs on a more even footing with others in the EU and elsewhere.

Now for the rather more complex issue of the CPF. Its express aim when introduced last year was to encourage investment in low carbon generation by providing a sure and stable carbon price in the UK on which investors could rely. It was not, as some commentators have claimed intended to encourage industry to switch to greener fuels or to encourage energy efficiency. It is a tax on the fossil fuels burned to generate electricity which is then passed on to electricity suppliers raising wholesale and, ultimately, retail electricity prices. In doing so it raises the price of all forms of electricity, no matter what the generation source is, so how exactly a manufacturer is able to switch to a greener fuel and thereby reduce its costs is slightly beyond me.

Secondly, with the introduction of CfDs the CPF becomes essentially irrelevant and simply a government revenue stream. Low carbon generators entering into a CfD from this year will be guaranteed a price/ MWh; it is surely little concern to them what proportion of this comes from the wholesale price (inflated by the CPF) or the top up from the Levy Control Framework (LCF). They are guaranteed that price whatever. ► environmentmagazine.co.uk | 85 |

Energy

Yes it is true that there will be a greater demand placed on the available funds in the LCF but this should ensure that only the most cost effective generation projects go ahead, and the consumer gets more bang for its buck or more MWh/£.

Thirdly, carbon pricing is actually a highly inefficient way of funding low carbon generation. Because the CPF works by increasing the wholesale price of electricity, all generators will receive that increased wholesale price for electricity they sell regardless of whether they were subject to the tax. This has the effect of shrinking profit margins for fossil fuel plants (who have to pay the tax) and increasing margins for low carbon generation – precisely the aim. However, because of our current generation mix it does mean that only a small proportion, around 20%, of the additional money paid by consumers will actually go to new low carbon generation. About 60% will go to HMT and the remainder will go to existing nuclear or renewable generation as a windfall profit. One could actually increase funding for low carbon generation four fold and still save the consumer money.

Fourthly, EEF has for some time been concerned about the unilateral nature and impact on manufacturers of this policy and as the EU carbon

Gareth Stace / Manu factur i ng / E E F

price remains at historic lows the ability of the CPF to create a divergence in UK and EU electricity prices continues to grow. The Carbon Price Support (CPS) rate in 2015/16 is already almost twice that originally intended (at £18.08 as compared with the 2011 indicative rate of £9.86), and EEF estimates that this will constitute almost 10% of a large industrial user electricity bill and will leave the UK paying a carbon price about four times higher than the rest of Europe. This damages UK manufacturing and is not sustainable in the long term. Thankfully the Chancellor chose to freeze the CPS rates through to 2020 – if he had not we’d have seen a UK carbon price of around £40 in 2020, some eight times higher than the rest of the EU. Finally, many have commented that the freezing of the CPF has created uncertainty for low carbon generators. I believe these claims are entirely unfounded. The CPF was always going to be vulnerable to political circumstances and tinkering and the fact that it was deeply unpopular (not just with manufacturers) from the outset meant that it was never going to provide the rock solid investment signal it was meant to. CfDs provide that investment certainty in a far more effective manner and are

The final touches are put to the base of a massive tidal turbine in the factory at Inverness.

| 86 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

Mike Brookes Roper

Web: www.eef.org.uk

In February 2010, the Teesside iron and steelmaking facility ceased production ending 160 years of continuous manufacturing in the area. Two years later in April 2012, the plant which has been purchased by Sahaviriya Steel Industries PLC was brought back to life.

here to stay even in the event of a change of Government. Furthermore, the stability of the carbon price has not in any meaningful way been altered – it is just lower than originally intended.

The energy measures in the Budget have done nothing to reduce the UK’s ability to meet its climate change responsibilities. We still have the highest targets in the world, we still have the highest carbon price in the world, we still have binding targets for renewables out to 2020 and will soon have binding emissions reductions targets out to 2030. The 2030 target will almost definitely be accompanied by an EU-wide renewables target and, through the new governance structure, the UK will need to demonstrate how it will contribute towards this. This may mean increased investment in renewables in the 2020’s or it may mean a greater reliance on other forms of low carbon technology. We should not seek to box ourselves into an overly specific path right now and the renewable lobby should stop demanding that we do so. The UK climate change policy framework still provides a remarkably secure investment platform for

John Baker

low carbon generation and will continue to do so through the 2020s.

Tackling global emissions remains the ultimate prisoner’s dilemma – we must design our climate policy in a manner that accurately reflects the realities we face and how that world is, not how we would like it to be. If this means accepting that limiting a global temperature rise to 2°C is no longer a realistic target then so be it. This may sound pessimistic but I believe it is far better to be honest about what we can globally achieve and work towards this than to continue to kid ourselves, not least because this will help us take more appropriate adaptation options in the years to come. Far from an about turn on climate change I believe this year’s Budget represents a realistic view of the challenge we are facing, strengthens the UK’s ability to reduce emissions and our manufacturing sector’s ability to contribute to this ■

+ More Information www.eef.org.uk

environmentmagazine.co.uk | 87 |

Energy

Mi ke R ei d / R ural Energ y / CK D Gal bra i t h

Unlocking the renewable potential of rural property [in Scotland] Mike Reid

Head of Utilities, CKD Galbraith

Farms are at the forefront of renewable energy in Britain. Mike Reid reviews developments.

Whatever one thinks about individual forms of green energy, renewables are vitally important in protecting the environment and providing longterm cost stability and security of fuel supply.

Human activity has released large amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, mostly from burning fossil fuels to produce energy. These trap energy, causing the atmosphere to warm up. Not everyone agrees, but there’s an established scientific consensus that this leads to climate change, threatening not only ecosystems but potentially also entire populations. Hence the need for alternative energy supply.

We’re already living in the age of renewable energy. Though clean energy investment slipped 11% in 2012 as recession-hit governments slashed subsidies, the $268.7bn (£792bn) total was five times 2004 levels (Bloomberg New Energy Finance).

In three years the total electricity generated worldwide from wind, solar and hydro will exceed energy from natural gas, says the International Energy Agency, adding that by 2016 green power is expected to provide double the electricity from nuclear plants and outstrip all other electricity sources except coal.

So while our growing thirst for energy won’t stop new spending on older technologies such as coal- and gas-fired power stations, renewables are the world’s fastest growing power source. As much as anywhere else this is important in Scotland.

Total renewable energy investment was £1.57bn in 2013, according to Scottish Renewables, providing 11,136 full-time-equivalent jobs – both figures far greater proportionally than across the UK. Though responsible for 2% of global carbon emissions the UK is a leader in this revolution, with Europe’s largest market for offshore wind. | 88 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

Being produced locally, green energy brings security by lessening our reliance on fuel from politically unstable parts of the world, so the lights stay on no matter what fluctuations occur in the commodities markets.

The Scottish Government targets for renewable energy by 2020 are to have 30% of overall energy consumption met from renewable sources with specific targets of 11% of heat, 10% of transport and the equivalent of 100% of electricity consumption. This doesn’t mean that all of Scotland’s electricity will come from renewable sources as the Scottish Government is predicting some of the energy generated from renewable sources will be exported.

Included within the electricity and heat figures is a target of having community and locally owned schemes of 500MW by 2020 but, whereas progress has been made, funding for these schemes has been problematic. Community benefit is an important factor in any renewable project and, with Scottish Government objectives, will become more important as we move towards 2020 and beyond.

According to an Audit Scotland report from September 2013 the proportion of overall energy demand in Scotland is split 50% on heat, 30% on transport and 20% on electricity.

The report confirms that in 2012 Scotland only produced 4% of its estimated 2020 target figure for heat demand from renewable sources and there aren’t currently enough planned projects for this target to be met. However, it should be remembered that achieving the target isn’t just a question of installing projects to meet demand but also can be partly achieved by reducing heat demand by energy efficiency measures and public awareness.

Audit Scotland reported that in 2012 the proportion of Scotland’s

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total electricity demand met by renewable sources was 39%. The Scottish Government considers it has made steady progress towards their 2020 targets for renewable electricity but has acknowledged these are challenging. Audit Scotland estimates that in order to meet the renewable electricity target alone that average annual increases in installed capacity will need to double.

In order to meet the electricity targets within the relatively short timescale of the next six years will probably largely rely upon the continued expansion of wind technology both on land and sea.

Scotland has a wide and varied landscape from highly productive farmland to large areas of open hill. Population centres are generally concentrated around the more productive land often many miles from productive renewable sites. Scotland has the potential for a wide range of renewables but the main technologies available for rural property owners are principally power generation from wind and hydro power, power and heat from solar and biomass.

So how can a rural property in Scotland assist in renewable targets and green energy production and what can individual owners do to maximize their renewables potential? There isn’t an easy “one plan fits all” solution and each property needs to be considered on their own merits together with their owner’s objectives and attitudes.

At the moment there are incentives available to produce renewable heat and power primarily through the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), Feed In Tariff (FIT), Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCS) and the proposed Contracts For Difference (CFD) subsidy schemes. The Energy

Market Reform (EMR) is underway and, although not the subject of this article, will need to be understood by property owners looking to invest in renewables.

The FIT is now subject to degression where the subsidy support reduces depending on the take-up of a particular technology. Using onshore wind as an example the FIT reduced by 20% for schemes commissioned after 31 March 2014 unless pre-accredited. However, the deployment for turbines of greater than 100kW to 5MW to 28 February has already exceeded the minimum annual deployment threshold to 31 December 2014 to trigger a further 20% degression from 2015 with an interim 10% degression this October. For turbines of 100kW and under it is likely the annual threshold will be exceeded by the end of March.

Degression is having a profound effect on the viability of projects in development. For example an average 500kW turbine, assuming no pre-accreditation, which is commissioned in November 2014 will receive around £1.45m less subsidy than the same turbine commissioned in November 2013 over the 20 year life of the FIT. There will be pioneers in every sector who look to embrace change and lead the way but in order for the majority to follow there normally has to be either a carrot or a stick to persuade them. The carrots are currently available but with “the polluter pays” being an acceptable political principle. The sticks are now starting to appear.

Under the proposed Energy Act 2011, due to come into force in Scotland in April 2015, it will be unlawful to let residential or commercial properties with an EPC rating below E after April 2018. The Green Deal was introduced to help properties meet these standards but take-up environmentmagazine.co.uk | 89 |

hasn’t been widespread yet. While 2018 may seem some way ahead by planning for improvement works required now spreads the financial burden over a longer period.

Should it look likely that targets aren’t being met it would be no surprise if other punitive measures were brought in to incentivise property owners to help Scotland achieve renewable targets by 2020 and beyond. There are opportunities for rural property owners now to benefit from the current subsidy systems to help protect them from potential future costs.

Property owners need to review how they can contribute towards the targets and this may be by taking energy or heat saving measures, generating power or heat for themselves or exporting to the wider community or national grid. Some technologies aren’t suited to particular properties or geographical areas, and some owners don’t want to participate in the specific potential available, such as wind power.

Some schemes require personal investment but others can be achieved by joint ventures or by leasing the opportunity to others. This decision will be influenced by each individual owner’s attitude to risk and the size of the project comparative to the overall business.

Wind

Wind power is the most visible, and potentially controversial, of all renewable technologies available. However, Scotland has one of the best climates in Europe for wind power and, with over 160 wind farms, onshore wind power has overtaken hydro power as the most common form of renewable energy in the country.

When assessing a wind power project of any scale there are a number of criteria to consider including site constraints, planning potential, grid connection, and access to name a few let alone calculating the viability and returns from the project where wind speed is a critical factor.

Water

Scotland was one of the first countries in the world to harness electricity from its waters. Large-scale schemes from the 1950s and 1960s together | 90 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

with older pre-WW2 schemes on private estates are still producing electricity today.

There is considerable potential for hydro power in Scotland and the 2008 Scottish Hydropower Resource Study found there could be as much economically untapped hydro power potential at that stage to power a quarter of Scotland’s homes.

When considering a hydro project the key criteria are a suitable head of water (height and drop) and adequate flow together with an affordable grid connection and good access to reduce construction costs. Environmental impact is an important factor and having a water source free from migratory fish can be an advantage.

Solar

Despite historic perceptions that Scotland’s weather is mainly wet and windy it may surprise some that solar power is a viable option in some areas. Scotland has a similar climate and light intensity to Germany – however the latter is the European leader in solar, with an installed capacity of over 35GW (September 2013). This equates to 328 square miles of solar panels, an area amounting to 0.24% of Germany. A proportion of this will be roof-mounted equipment on pre-existing buildings, with the balance fitted on purpose-built structures or ground-mounted. Compare this to Scotland’s installed capacity of 70MW, which is around 500 times less.

Key factors for a good site for a solar farm are: grid connection, slope, shade and average sunlight. Solar farms are ideally suited to sites close to urban areas on level ground, and in addition these areas generally have good grid connectivity. There is also potential for smaller scale roof mounted schemes providing a local source of heat or power.

Biomass

Biomass schemes can be used for both heat and power production.

There are similar criteria for some aspects of these options but with renewable heat the end user is important whether this be heating a home, office, let properties, leisure facilities or drying grain after harvest using either wood chips, pellets or logs.

Planning considerations are less controversial than other technologies with construction or conversion costs becoming more important factors, but unlike other renewable technologies mentioned above biomass uses a raw material which comes at a cost. Having the potential to produce all your own fuel will give you control over these costs but having to buy in fuel at some stage makes it more difficult to predict the longer term viability of any project.

The timber should be harvested well in advance of it being used so it can be seasoned to ensure optimum efficiency. This means having somewhere suitable to store it and co-ordination between storage and use will minimise handling costs.

Domestic and non-domestic schemes are funded differently under the RHI and some farm based schemes have been supported under the Scottish Rural Development Programme.

There has been a lot written about renewables looking at the different subsidy support systems available and assessing the potential financial returns. From a development perspective return on capital is a critical part of any investment decision and without an appropriate return a project won’t get off the ground.

I find it somewhat ironic that when looking at renewable development, which is based around long term climate change and a sustainable future, assessing whether the scheme is viable after the subsidy payments are gone is often overlooked. We need to move away from looking at the return from the subsidy alone and plan renewable projects that will be viable economic sources of power or heat in the longer term.

There are opportunities for rural properties to develop a wide range of renewable schemes but a proper assessment of the full project should be undertaken before embarking on any scheme ■

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environmentmagazine.co.uk | 91 |

Energy

A l l-Energ y / Show Prev i ew / 2 1 -2 2 May 2 0 1 4

21-22 May 2014 Aberdeen

All-Energy, The Unmissable Renewable Energy Show A major exhibition; political keynote addresses; a debate between the Scottish Energy Minister and UK Shadow Energy Minister on energy implications of Scottish independence; dedicated sessions dealing with all sources of renewable energy and on the challenges and opportunities facing the industry; a share fair; seminar theatres on the show-floor; and a Giant Networking Event – All-Energy 2014 brings them all together on 21 and 22 May at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC) in Scotland.

What’s more, all are free to attend for those with a business/ professional interest in renewable energy. Speakers from 13 countries, and exhibitors from 20 countries will be joined by specialists from at least 16 countries. Those specialists are brought to Aberdeen by UK Trade & Investment to share their knowledge on the countries they represent. It’s no wonder that All-Energy has been called the AGM of the renewables industry.

The industry has been going through challenging times and this most certainly will not be swept under the proverbial carpet.

There will be conference sessions devoted to cost cutting, rising to the challenges of Electricity Market Reform (EMR) – including an ‘As the Experts’ session, skills, finance and funding and the grid. All-Energy may be the UK’s largest renewable energy exhibition, but it also explores the ‘sensible option’ – business energy efficiency, with a dedicated area within the exhibition, a conference session and a full day’s show-floor seminar theatre programme.

| 92 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

Major exhibition

With all sectors of the renewable energy industry gathered under one roof, All-Energy makes it easy for visitors to pre-plan their visit, and find their way around the large show by having a dozen sector-specific trails so that visitors can find exactly what they are looking for, and exhibitors know that those following the trails are really interested in what they have on display. The trails cover bioenergy, energy efficiency, hydropower, renewable heat, offshore wind, offshore maintenance, onshore wind, solar, wave and tidal, investment, low carbon transport and jobs.

‘What they’re showing’ information figures on the website at www.all-energy.co.uk with often fulsome descriptions provided by exhibitors – a small selection provides Environment Industry Magazine readers with a mini-preview of the two day show.

World class conference

With nearly 300 speakers the All-Energy conference gathers some of the most influential people in the renewables business from home and overseas together to discuss and debate a wide range of topics.

Politicians Alistair Carmichael MP, Secretary of State for Scotland, Fergus Ewing MSP, Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism, Scottish Government; as well as Rob Cormie, Group Operations Director, UK Green Investment Bank; Bader Saeed Al Lamki, Director, Masdar Clean Energy; Angela Knight CBE, Chief Executive, Energy UK; Peter Boyd, Chief Operating Officer, ►

Energy

A l l-Energ y / Show Prev i ew / 2 1 -2 2 May 2 0 1 4

Carbon War Room; Benj Sykes UK Country Manager, Head of Asset Management, DONG Energy Wind Power are among the keynote speakers on the two days.

Topics under discussion encompass offshore and onshore wind, wave and tidal, carbon capture and storage, nuclear, bioenergy in all its guises, microgeneration and onsite renewables, renewables for the farming community, community energy, sustainable transport, hydrogen and fuel cells, energy storage, the grid, finance and funding, energy efficiency, overseas business opportunities, skills, finance and funding.

Four show-floor seminar programmes and the DECC RHI Roadshow: There are subject specific show-floor seminar programmes devoted to energy efficiency (21 May), community energy (22 May); and on both days wave and tidal, and offshore wind including O&M – where quick-fire presentations are the order of the day over the two days. Additionally, the DECC Renewable Heat Incentive Roadshow features a seminar programme for business and domestic needs throughout the show.

Key industry and public sector organisations have joined together to demonstrate Europe’s largest integrated hydrogen project. A fleet of 10 hydrogen fuel cell buses will arrive and be operational in Aberdeen by the end of 2014. The buses emit water vapour, reducing carbon emissions and air pollution, as well as being quieter and smoother to run. Building on Aberdeen's global reputation in the energy industry, this H2 project will enable the development and deployment of hydrogen infrastructure.

This work will open the way for new and innovative hydrogen technology projects and accelerate the commercial use of hydrogen as a fuel, offering green transport solutions. The AllEnergy exhibition is UK’s largest renewable energy event taking place in Europe’s energy city, which provides the perfect forum to launch Aberdeen’s hydrogen fuel cell buses. The event will provide significant exposure for the buses and provide delegates with the opportunity to meet the project team. The fuel cell and hydrogen joint undertaking (FCH JU, which is funded by the EU) Executive Director, Mr Bert De Colvenaer has this to say about the project: "The FCH JU is very pleased to see the commitment of Scotland and Aberdeen as a pioneer in fuel cell and hydrogen for public transport bus applications and as a cornerstone for future self-reliance in energy provision; just in the same way they were committed in the past for fossil fuels."

Looking forward to seeing you there!

You can register free of charge at www.all-energy.co.uk/register.

The All-Energy website carries a wealth of information on all aspects of the two day show, and of the associated events being held the day before that range from seminars on underwater noise, root cause analysis, maximising local supply chain opportunities for onshore wind projects, wave and tidal power, and the Atlantic Power Cluster Transnational Seminar to networking events. You can look forward to a highly stimulating and worthwhile time in Aberdeen. Don’t miss it! ►

| 94 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

Energy

A l l-Energ y / Show Prev i ew / 2 1 -2 2 May 2 0 1 4

• 40South Energy will bring you up to speed on their R115 wave energy converter • Altair Engineering will be showing all their HyperWorks applications for power generation, renewables, nuclear and offshore oil and gas • Arbuthnott Wood Pellets will feature a wood pellet boiler • ATB Morley intends to increase global awareness of its generators for use in wind, wave, tidal and hydro power generation • ATB Riva Calzoni will highlight their ATB 500.54 – a 500kW turbine • Atmos Consulting - Dr Geeta Puri will be launching the results of an analysis of onshore wind farm planning applications in Scotland that have used the Carbon Calculator • Briggs Marine & Environmental will launch their new inhouse Diving Division • Engine drives specialist, Centa Transmissions, has launched a new range of electro-magnetic clutches • County Battery Series /EnerSys will launch the Home Energy Storage Solution • From tailored met mast solutions providing robust data to comprehensive planning and development services Dulas offers a total service package designed to ensure profitable wind farming • EcoInnovation – PowerSpout hydro turbines are launching their new range of domestic scale hydro turbines • Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation (ECCI) is a hub for the knowledge, innovation and skills required to create a low carbon economy • eno energy systems will launch the eno 114-3.5MW wind turbine generator for WCIIS (S = elevated ambient

| 96 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

turbulence) wind sites in the UK and worldwide • Environmental Technologies will feature lubricants, filtration products, fluid condition monitoring systems and flow meters • Italy’s ESPE will exhibit the new high-technology and highperformance FX-Series medium wind turbine • Flanders Investment and Trade – Belgium is one of the European leaders in the development of offshore wind farms. The Port of Ostend became a one-stop-shop for wind farm developers for both the installation and O&M phases • Generation Wind Turbines will have a live SCADA system at the show • Green Marine (UK) will focus on their successful operation over the past year, in particular the installation of Andritz Hydro Hammerfest’s HS 1000 and Wello Oy’s Penguin wave energy convertor • Heriot Watt University - energy research is a core activity at Heriot-Watt University • Highland Heat & Power supply and install and maintain a wide range of biomass boilers • Hutchinson – Cernay Plant (TECHLAM) will highlight LEC (Laminated Elastomeric Component) technology • Hutchinson – Levallois plant will focus on thermal management solutions such as heat tank and superinsulating materials • ICE Renewables will introduce their new turbine product range which covers turbines from 60kW to 2.6MW • JCE Energy will focus on their newly launched E-Pod, a compact, stand-alone solar power unit • Linknode will demonstrate VentusAR allowing attendees

Web: www.all-energy.co.uk

+ More Information www.all-energy.co.uk

• • • • • •

• • • •

•

to trial the application on a variety of tablets and to answer the question ‘What would a windfarm look like in the landscape?’

MERIKA Project, University of the Highlands and Islands is an ambitious EU FP7 funded programme Northern Power Systems will exhibit a full-size turbine nacelle Norvento Wind Energy will introduce their nED100 100kW wind turbine to Scotland Ocean Science Consulting will feature the Marine Mammal Observer and Passive Acoustic Monitoring Handbook Pelamis Wave Power will exhibit a 3D scale model displaying aspects of the new P2e Pelamis machine design RM Capital Markets can help developers and operators of renewable assets by accessing construction funding, refinancing of the assets, restructuring of their existing debt and securitisation S&C Electric Europe will focus on energy storage Spaans Babcock is the only UK-based manufacturer and installer of Archimedes Screws and offers support throughout the hydro scheme Statkraft is Europe’s largest renewable energy generator Steel River Consultants will bring their new drone.- this will be used (when full licence and CAA approval has been granted) to inspect renewable structures and other ‘difficult to get access to’ places for possible safety issues The Sunamp 100 is a system which uses excess electricity from a solar PV array to heat hot water without the need for an immersion heater tank

• The biomass boiler company Treco will showcase the Guntamatic range of Austrian manufactured boilers • Turboden will focus on Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) Turbogenerators • University of Manchester is launching their new energy systems test bed that makes a unique range of real estate in a city centre location available to businesses developing new energy solutions • University of Nottingham will showcase a range of their energy research with novel ideas which span a range of multidisciplinary projects • Windflow Technology will launch their new wind turbine, the Windflow 45/500 2A • Windhager UK will feature their recently unveiled pellet boiler BioWIN 2 • WIPO Wind Power will showcase an innovatory independent pitch system to make wind turbines start at low wind speed, while limiting power at high wind speeds • WRH Walter Reist Holding will feature Steffturbine, their new micro hydro turbine with a capacity to produce up to 12kW power with a turbine efficiency of max 90% ■

+ More Information www.all-energy.co.uk

environmentmagazine.co.uk | 97 |

Flooding

Mar y D ho nau O BE

Top to Bottom: Oxford, July 2007 Morpeth, September 2008 Tillicoultry, January 2008 Keswick, November 2009 | 98 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

John Barker Johndal John Chroston Gavin Lynn

An Open Letter to Mr Cameron Written by Mary Dhonau OBE, Chair of The Flood Protection Association April 2014

Dear Mr Cameron, I am not an academic or a scientist – I’m just someone who has been unfortunate to have been flooded on many occasions. Since those experiences I have devoted my life to raising awareness of all forms of flood risk and promoting how we can plan, prepare and mitigate the damage. For over 13 years I’ve supported many victims of flooding in their misery and spoken to the media on their behalf. Can I please ask you to listen to me? My words are based on my observations of what has happened and good old common sense – something severely lacking in many politicians, seemingly!

You (and many politicians before you) have repeatedly said that “Lessons will be learnt”. Will they? When the media have ceased pursuing you and the brief ‘sympathy visits’ to all affected areas are over, will you remember your promise? Or will you move onto the next big thing, forgetting the many people who will be out of their homes for at least 9 months, as well as the farmers and the businesses struggling to keep going?

Flooding is the biggest natural risk we face in this country. The recent floods have shown us that water has the ability to bring vast swathes of this country to its knees – it is the silent burglar that wrecks so many people’s lives. We’ve all got ‘stuff’ going on in our lives and flooding can compound the problems people are already facing, bringing some individuals to breaking point. It REALLY is time now to take a good look at what is happening in our country and put a stop to it! So here is my advice to you – from just an ordinary person...

Despite the current economic climate, you have to invest much more in Flood Risk Management.

Remember the ‘Foresight, Future Flooding’ study which involved 90 national experts? The reports covered how flood risks would change up to the 2080’s and what we might do to cope with a changing climate. This was revisited in 2007 for Sir Michael Pitt’s inquiry into the devastating flooding that year. This concluded that climate change would lead every 10% increase in rainfall intensity to cause at least 40% more flood damage. The recent period of extreme weather has given us a grim foretaste of what this would be like! Worse still, this winter’s flooding crisis was not a ‘one off’ – the last decade has seen numerous ‘big’ floods and each one seems to get worse.

By the way, when I say ‘Flood Risk Management’ I DON’T just mean hard engineered defences – it includes natural flood risk management, such as reforestation. In other words, doing the exact opposite of cutting down vast swathes of historic forests in favour of housing developments, as promoted by your Secretary of State for the Environment in December. (I heard that when I was just about to go on BBC Breakfast to talk about the tidal surge and almost had to be resuscitated!) Does he not know that trees are the best form of natural flood management? Revisit farming practices and encourage farmers to plant trees and hedgerows – not tear them down. And please let’s have MORE (not less) green space!

Now something that everyone is saying - please stop building on the flood plain. No one in their right mind (I hope) would put in planning permission to build a housing development in the river, so why build houses where the river naturally goes when it floods?

I do understand that we are a small island, and much of London and Hull would not exist if flood plain developments had not taken

place, but why make things worse in our changing climate? I’ve heard many accounts from people in areas that had never flooded in living memory – but now the ‘flood meadows’ have got houses on them, forcing the floodwater into other people’s homes.

If we HAVE to build on the flood plain, we must insist developers build houses that are sustainable – make them resilient to flooding, make use of sustainable urban drainage (something your government is currently dragging their heels on) using green roofs, grey water recycling and the like. We also have to slow down the runoff from developments, because urban flooding is on the increase – we’ve paved over, tarmacked and concreted over far too much of the country already. It’s time to bring back our front gardens and to insist that local authorities, developers and individual householders use permeable paving or permeable asphalt. Mr Cameron – we HAVE to work with nature and not against it!

I warmly welcome the grants of £5k to enable householders to make their own homes properly resilient to flooding. Fitting kitemarked self-closing airbricks, coupled with either a kitemarked door guard, or an ordinary looking front door that, once locked, will act as a 24/7 flood defence, offering far more protection than any number of sandbags. However, will you please think about deploying more temporary defences during a flood, and cut back on use of the humble, ineffective, heavy and environmentally unfriendly sandbag?

Temporary defences have been kitemarked which can be deployed quickly and effectively wherever they are needed; they DO work and can be reused on many future occasions, so are more cost effective too!

You’ll be pleased to know that my rant is almost over – just a few more requests: PLEASE stop any planned cutbacks for the Environment Agency (who, incidentally, did a sterling job during the floods). The staff, and especially the chairman, have been harshly criticised – but in my book they are doing a great job, despite the strict treasury rules they have to obey, and they deserve huge praise! It also costs money to maintain our existing flood defences and manage the watercourses, including dredging where this is appropriate – so PLEASE enhance the Agency’s maintenance budget. Finally, will you PLEASE replace your Secretary of State for the Environment with someone who actually cares about and believes in Climate Change?

One who is willing to promote adaptation to our changing climate, and put measures in place to combat it? (Richard Benyon was a good and respected floods Minister – bring him back and promote him!)

You promised that the Coalition administration would be the ‘Greenest Government Ever’ in May 2010: I and many others have yet to see that! I do hope that you will realise the recent floods are (yet another) Wakeup Call – so please don’t press the Snooze button and go back to sleep. You have a chance to reshape our future – please do so!

Yours, very concerned

M��� Dh�n�� Mary Dhonau OBE

Flooding

Joh n A lex and er / Flo o d R esi li ence / Aq u obe x

Aquobex

Flood Resilient

Properties™

By John Alexander

Managing Director, Aquobex We know we will continue to build on flood plains so let’s make sure we do so with flood resistant and flood resilient solutions.

These technologies and building practices are available today and most are robust enough to be affordable and easily integrated into the homes of the future as well as being capable of retrofit into the houses and businesses of yesterday.

The flood resilient property we intend to build at BRE Watford will be a hybrid design to prove that these measures are as applicable to a home as they are to a shop, a factory or a utility premise.

Some of these measures also offer substantial green credentials so that it is possible to build a Sustainable Code 6 property that is also flood proof, with minimal cost impacts especially when bearing in mind the long term cost savings of such properties.

Consider the carbon footprint that is created by drying a flooded property, scraping all the white goods and furnishings, tearing the walls back to the brickwork and disposing of those useless sandbags that were stacked up at the door as a last minute gesture to hold back the floods.

It is an accepted principle that flood waters can be effectively kept out of a building at heights up to 600mm with simple door & window guards, air brick covers and if necessary (for long duration floods) waterproof treatment for walls.

For less than the price of a summer holiday the average home can be protected from simple flash flooding. Ground water flooding and river flooding can be more problematic but within reasonable budgets can be controlled. | 100 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

Consider the types of floods and how to protect against them.

Flash Flooding

Comes and goes in minutes or hours. Protecting all openings (doors, low level windows and airbricks) is a very simple solution. Because of the sudden nature of the flooding with little or no warning passive and/or automatic barriers should be used – Flood Proof doors and SMART air bricks are the right solution here.

River Flooding

Solutions are the same as above but if long duration flooding then walls will need waterproofing and all holes and pointing repaired to good order.

Coastal Flooding

Usually lasts the duration of the tide with a maximum duration of 6 hours. Solutions are the same as river flooding.

Ground Water Flooding

As well as the steps highlighted above it may be more crucial to consider the construction of the floor and floor/wall joins. Raised wooden floors have a void beneath them where the water level could be contained by pumping out waters and keeping it below inner floor levels.

Concrete floors may be more problematic and tanking may be the only answer in some instances.

In reality a combination of measures are required, with sewer flooding via downstairs toilets also being a major consideration, but all of these will be ascertained by a good quality flood risk assessment of the property.

BitBoy

Web: www.aquobex.com

All of these solutions will be on display in the flood resilient property. These will range from simple manually deployed door and air brick covers through flood doors to automatically rising flood barriers and self-closing roller shutter doors for all building types. Automatic non-return valves will prevent sewer back flow and Flusher will ensure the pipes are cleaned even while we continue to pour inappropriate liquids and solids down our drains.

These are flood resistance measures that will prevent flood ingress into the property up to a pre-determined height.

After this we let the waters in (to prevent structural damage of the property) but into a prepared interior with waterproof walls, floors, doors, skirting boards and Flood Proof Kitchens with electrics, services and meters all placed above the anticipated flood height.

None of these products absorb water so it is a simple matter of flushing the house out, cleansing it and redecorating after allowing it to dry out naturally. With these measures in place people can be back in their homes or back at work in under 4 weeks with little stress and anxiety compared with today’s agonies.

Also on show in the flood resilient house will be a Science Museum type area highlighting the good and bad of today’s building practices and where and when such measures should be used.

• Building with engineering bricks up to the flood level in new homes • Not using air bricks in flood plain buildings • Raising finished floor levels (FFL) • Raising power sockets above the flood zone • Using closed cell insulation in cavity wall constructions and not wool or paper!

• Ensuring foundations can withstand anticipated hydrostatic loads

Lots of talk about new homes but all of these measures are also available for the current housing stock, retail shops and factories and warehouses around the country.

Aquobex is working on this property with the assistance of Baca Architects and BRE through an initial grant funding of £50,000 from Defra.

From this grant we will jointly develop an “open standard” design for products and standards that will enable all property developers and home renovators to specify and install measures to flood protect their properties and make them more resilient and INSURABLE. With some forethought and a little planning the most important asset in people’s lives CAN be protected from flooding ■

+ More Information www.aquobex.com

Small changes and careful decisions can help make a house flood resilient and reduce cleanup after flooding. For example, choosing a kitchen with water resistent high gloss solid acrylic doors, or raising power sockets above the flood zone. environmentmagazine.co.uk | 101 |

Flooding

| 102 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

L aura Brad y / Flo o d R i sk A ssessment

Web: www.merebrook.co.uk

Battered

Britain

Following a winter beset by storms, flooding and catastrophic damage at the hands of Mother Nature, Laura Brady, Senior Civil Engineer at Merebrook Consulting Ltd, one of the UK’s leading engineering and environmental consultancies, discusses how engineering solutions can help mitigate and adapt to ever increasing environmental challenges.

With the immediate emergencies allayed, this winter’s storms may have taken a back seat on primetime news, but for many the ill-fated legacy of the floods lingers on.

Floodwater damage has taken its toll on thousands of homeowners, businesses and farmers, and while the government has implemented ‘repair and renew’ grants, and has instructed dredging of rivers, what can our industry learn from ‘Battered Britain’? Did we learn nothing from the floods of 2007? And, can we be stronger and more flood resilient next time in the face of environmental adversity?

Global warming, failure to dredge rivers, fluctuations in the jet stream and extreme weather patterns across the Atlantic have all been blamed for the conveyor belt of storms. While scientists debate what caused it, and politicians debate who’s to blame for it, the answer to the question that should be being asked lies within our industry, and that is what can be done about it?

An environmental problem tackled with a civil engineering solution will help mitigate and adapt to environmental challenges.

Being caught off guard, as we have learned at the hands of these most recent storms, is nothing

less that disastrous. Defense is the best offense and strategic planning and preparation is key.

There are many types of flooding, and the UK has recently experienced all of them in different parts of the country over the last few months.

Each requires its own specific tactically engineered solution, and the responsibility for each individual flood category is divided amongst a large number of parties, legislators and areas of governance.

Tidal flooding was a major concern this winter as rail links in the southwest of the country suffered some of the most dramatic tidal flooding ever witnessed in the UK, when the Dawlish railway was literally washed away by huge waves and powerful winds after the sea wall collapsed. Sea defenses were breached and high tides caused tidal flooding in other areas of the country, including Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland, and along the coast in County Down, Northern Ireland.

Fluvial flooding occurs when rivers overflow due to intense rainfall, and has proved to be both prolonged and highly damaging. This type of flooding was widespread in Buckinghamshire this year, and along other sections of the Thames where the river burst its banks.

Somerset was also hit hard with Fluvial ► environmentmagazine.co.uk | 103 |

Flooding

L aura Brad y / Flo o d R i sk A ssessment

flooding from rivers across its’ floodplains. The controversial issue of dredging was highlighted, which involves scraping sediments off a riverbed to increase its depth, which can potentially reduce the risk of flooding into surrounding areas.

It was also evident in housing developments all over the country that there was more incidence of pluvial flooding, which occurs when the ground becomes saturated and rainwater flows off fields, gardens and through urban developments, often overcoming the drainage network.

This is an issue that will be exacerbated as developers continue to build on Greenfield land, if the impacts of increasing the amount of urban area are not properly assessed and managed. The incorporation of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), to allow surface water management to mimic the natural situation, is vital to addressing this problem and helps prevent flooding from various sources.

Following the 2007 floods the Flood and Water Management Act (FWMA) was implemented by government in 2010, as a result of a report known as ‘The Pitt Review’. The Act brought about some big changes in the way that water and flood risk are managed in the UK, | 104 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

the biggest change being that responsibility for flooding in the UK does not fall entirely with the Environment Agency.

New ‘flood risk management authorities’ were introduced. The majority of these are known as ‘Lead Local Flood Authorities’ (LLFA’s), and are usually County Councils, who are now responsible for managing flooding related to surface water (pluvial flooding), groundwater and smaller rivers. As part of the Flood and Water Management Act these LLFA’s will also become responsible for adopting SuDS. The Environment Agency remains responsible for managing flood risk related only to main rivers and the sea. In addition, planning policy in the UK has changed as part of the government’s reforms in a bid to make the planning system less complex. The new National Planning Policy Framework has replaced PPS25 in terms of how flood risk for planning purposes should be assessed.

These changes affect flood risk assessments in that the completion of a flood risk assessment is no longer limited to consultation with the EA and compliance with PPS25. Instead, FRA’s must be written in accordance with the new National Planning Policy Framework, and other new guidance, such as the British Standard

Web: www.merebrook.co.uk

for assessing and managing flood risk in development (BS 8533) introduced in 2011.

This means that planning application decisions are no longer based solely on flood risk from and to main rivers, but also on flood risk related to surface water (pluvial) sources, groundwater and from smaller rivers.

In addition to the EA, the Lead Local Flood Authority also needs to be consulted as part of the planning process, as they are a key consultee to the Local Planning Authority, often the local district or borough council.

Flood Risk Assessments must also take into account new strategies and guidance compiled by county and district councils as part of the Flood and Water Management Act, such as Preliminary Flood Risk Assessments.

Merebrook has a wealth of experience in water management and Flood Risk Assessments in order to support new development projects through the planning process.

Level 1 – Screening Study – general indication of potential flood risk to the site and how this may affect the feasibility of a development.

Level 2 – Scoping study – qualitative appraisal of flood risk and the potential

impacts of the development, flood zones, development vulnerability as outlined in NPPF, including consultation with flood management authorities and an assessment of run-off and storage volumes.

Level 3 – Detailed Study – required if the planning consultees require further qualitative assessment of flood risk, such as catchment analysis, hydraulic calculations and flood modeling.

In addition, Flood Risk Assessments can be tailored to include a drainage strategy, and assessment of credits in terms of the Code for Sustainable Homes or BREEAM if required. Merebrook also has experience of SuDS design, and can prepare drawings and calculations for technical approval of SuDS by LLFA’s under the FWMA ■

+ More Information For further information on flood risk assessment, flood study analysis, drainage control and flood attenuation design contact www.merebrook.co.uk environmentmagazine.co.uk | 105 |

Flooding

Br ian M Back / Br i ti sh Water

Sewer Flooding

Brian M Back, BEng Hons CEng FIET MIoD, Managing Director, Radio Data Networks Limited; Convenor, British Water Networks Focus Group

| 106 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

We are all familiar with the risks from surface water flooding but however below our feet and sometimes above our heads lies a more sinister source of flooding, that can strike any time, at almost any place and worst of all often without warning – sewers and sewer pipes.

I can personally testify that sewer flooding is one of the most horrific events that any householder or business owner can face. About 10-years ago my business was a victim, in spite of being just a few feet from the top of a hill.

One summer evening following a cloudburst our basement storeroom and machine shop was successfully filled with an estimated 20,000 gallon cocktail of sewage and rainwater. It trashed valuable stock, equipment, the company archives and made the stores a no-go zone for many weeks, in total many tens of thousands of pounds of damage!

Now imagine if we had been a major food producer, hospital, school or transport hub, the damage, inconvenience and cost could have been many times greater.

So what causes sewer flooding and who is responsible? Immediately, fingers point to Water Companies, but are they totally to blame

and should we as a modern society be doing our bit to reduce the risk?

First and foremost, let us identify some of the most common causes of sewer flooding.

Blockages, partial blockages and restrictions are by far the most common cause. Often caused by the accumulation of FOG, entangled unflushables, tree roots, discontinuities, collapsed pipes, fractures, etc. either in isolation or in combination. In dry weather the build up of sewage behind these obstructions can be quite slow and there often is sufficient remaining flow around the obstruction for the issue to go unnoticed. Sometimes if complaints about odour or toilets not flushing properly are received then an early alarm can be raised. However, when it rains the build up in level can be rapid and even a partial restriction can be enough to trigger instant sewer flooding.

Moving on, another common cause of sewer flooding is hydraulic overload. This usually occurs during wet weather and can be caused by the sheer volume of water entering the sewerage system exceeding the hydraulic capacity of the sewer. During a storm the hydraulic forces can soon take over, lifting manhole covers and

Web: www.radio-data-networks.com

backing up gully pots and U bends of toilets into properties and in particular basements.

The next cause is surface flooding. As we saw during the recent floods a number of properties in spite of having flood barriers, sandbags and gates were flooded when a water/sewage combination was pushed back through toilets bowls and sink traps into properties by the floodwater as it entered the sewer network.

Poor hydraulic planning and network maintenance is the final major cause. Each year there are numerous reported cases where even modern “foul only” systems have flooded properties. This can be due again to any of the aforementioned items but also can be caused by having over or under rated pumps, failed pumps, inadequate pump control and failing to respond to alarms.

Unfortunately there is no one single solution or Holy Grail to sewer flooding. Both the Water Industry and the public have their parts to play as do politicians who indirectly constrain spending through the industry regulators.

Here are my top ten commandments: 1. Thou shall not flush “un-flushables” into the sewer networks.

2. Thou shall not dispose of FOG in sewers.

3. Thou shall exclude rainwater from the sewer networks by encouraging SuDS and rainwater harvesting.

4. Thou shall encourage industrial sites that cannot accommodate SuDS to fit flow attenuator valves / hydro brakes to reduce peak flow. Many have drains that can be modified easily to create surface water stores.

5. Thou should construct a database of known trouble spots which should be inspected on a regular basis.

6. Thou should monitor pump loading to detect blockages, degradation and wear.

+ More Information

7. Thou should interlock pumps to ensure that capacity is optimised and that working pumps cannot feed blocked or failed pumps, etc.

Radio Data Networks: www.radio-data-networks.com

8. Thou should strategically install non-return valves in known sewer flooding hotspots.

British Water Networks: www.britishwater.co.uk/Focus_Group_Activities

9. Thou should install level sensors, real-time monitoring and alarms within the network to identify blockages early.

10. Thou should ensure that the network is properly maintained.

As you can see from the list above, we all have our part to play, so let’s get on with it! ■ environmentmagazine.co.uk | 107 |

Food & Packaging

Joe Franses/ Sustai nable Pack ag i ng / Co ca- Cola Enter p r i ses

Recycle for the Future

When it Comes to Recycling, Whose Responsibility is it?

Joe Franses

Director, Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability, Coca-Cola Enterprises

We all have a role to play in recycling. It’s arguably one of the easier ways to contribute towards protecting the environment. We know we should be doing it, and we say we want to be doing it. Yet, there is a mismatch between our good intentions and actions. As part of the pioneering Recycle for the Future campaign, Joe Franses, Director of Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability at Coca-Cola Enterprises, explores the opportunities for the FMCG industry to better understand recycling behaviours, and increase at-home recycling rates. | 108 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

Web: www.cokecce.co.uk

Everyone’s The Simple Answer:

Three-quarters of British and French consumers (76% and 75%, respectively) claim to always recycle plastic bottles at home. However, we know that around half of all plastic bottles are not yet collected for recycling and current recovery rates in both Great Britain and France remain below the European average.

Our Recycle for the Future campaign aims to better understand this mismatch, and increase at-home recycling rates.

As part of the campaign, we’ve just concluded a ground breaking six-month observational study with the University of Exeter, designed to understand why recycling rates remain low, despite people expressing strong environmental intentions.

Among other findings the research revealed that active decision-making plays only a small role in a household’s recycling activities. People do not always make conscious decisions about recycling – the way in which people behave is essentially an instinctive process built into their daily lives. Put simply, people just ‘do what they do’ unconsciously and often out of habit.

So what has the psychology of recycling at home got to do with businesses? Why should they care, and what’s more, what can they do to help? Importantly, it helps us understand dynamics behind household recycling, and ensure more bottles are returned, avoiding landfill and therefore helping us to increase the proportion of recycled material in our bottles.

As a manufacturer and producer of 12 billion bottles and cans every year, we recognise the importance of better understanding recycling behaviours at home to help close the recycling loop. We’ve invested €12.5m in two recycling joint ventures in Great Britain and France in recent years, to significantly increase the amount of PET plastic which can be reprocessed locally, and increase the availability and use of recycled PET. It’s our iconic Coca-Cola bottle that is recognised by customers across the globe, but what people might not know is the transformation it has undergone in recent years. Today our most sustainable bottle weighs 19.9g, compared to 36g in 1994, it uses 25% recycled plastic and another 22.5% comes from plant-based materials. However,

Coca-Cola Enterprises produces 12 billion bottles and cans every year in Europe, but their research estimates that only half of all plastic bottles in the UK are collected for recycling, which is why they are launching a groundbreaking study with the University of Exeter to help improve low at-home recycling rates. such efforts only go so far.

FMCG businesses, such as our own, can and should leverage experience and expertise to help educate and inspire householders to recycle more often. However, at Coca-Cola Enterprises, we don’t have all the answers. This is why collaboration is key to good environmental practice. While industry relies on consumers to participate in the recycling process, the consumer relies on industry to innovate.

Industry has an important role to play in developing new thinking and ideas to help break existing habits and shape new habits, and

ultimately improve recycling rates at home. Our research indicates that there are optimum times for encouraging consumers to form these new habits, and for industry to intervene at moments when householders are most open to change.

For example, when moving house, people are far more likely to change their recycling habits and behaviours. This presents an opportunity for collaboration and partnership between householders, brand owners, manufacturers and designers, with a focus on positively influencing recycling behaviour.

Another finding of the research was that the ►

environmentmagazine.co.uk | 109 |

Food & Packaging

Joe Franses/ Sustai nable Pack ag i ng / Co ca- Cola Enter p r i ses

According to YouGov research commissioned by Coca-Cola Enterprises, 54% of 18-24 year olds always recycle plastic bottles, compared to almost 90% over 55s. (February 2013) space, systems and technologies that surround households determine how they manage waste.

Consumers argued that additional physical space is often needed to make recycling a more viable activity, but many aren’t prepared to compromise the aesthetics of their home to make room for a recycling bin. Through better co-designed living space recycling could for example be re-branded as a household norm, one that is incorporated in the same way as other adopted household activities, such as cooking or cleaning.

Perhaps the most obvious way businesses can influence recycling behaviours is through education. One of the barriers to recycling, also identified by the research, is that people are confused about what happens to waste when it leaves their homes and as a result are less likely to value recycling. There is an important opportunity for manufacturers, businesses and local authorities to do more to educate people about what happens to materials once they have been collected for recycling, and what these materials become. This can play a key role in helping people to understand the recycling process and gives people a better connection to the materials they consume and then discard.

Tapping into consumer insight and working together to co-create positive consumer

| 110 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

messaging on recycling could help provide a fully transparent view on what happens during the recycling process.

It is a journey, and there’s always more to learn, but now that we better understand recycling behaviours at home the next step in our Recycle for the Future campaign is seeking ways to actually impact habits to increase recycling rates.

In partnership with the open innovation platform, OpenIDEO.com, we’re inviting ideas on “how to establish better recycling habits at home”. The 11-week online challenge has just launched and draws on the platform’s 60,000 members to initially share their stories and insights, building up context around the challenge and then to submit ideas and collaborate to develop and refine solutions that help improve at-home recycling habits.

Once the challenge closes on June 17th 2014 and having been evaluated both by the community and an external advisory panel, who will also provide advice throughout the challenge, the ideas with the most potential for impact will be revealed.

The Expert Advisory Panel will include representatives from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, P&G, Forum for the Future, WRAP, FostPlus and Casino who will be looking for

ideas which showcase original thinking, practical sense, and real applicability.

Solving big societal and environmental challenges takes commitment and action from everyone. Businesses across the FMCG industry, recycling organisations and NGOs need to collaborate to unearth examples of best practice from different industries and geographies around the world. For us, it’s about understanding how as a company we can play our part in making it easier for consumers to recycle, so we can use more recycled materials and protect the future resources of our planet.

This isn’t a simple undertaking, but by working together organisations can help households to form new recycling habits, and change behaviours for the greater good ■

+ More Information I encourage anyone with an idea, however big or small, or even just a passing thought, to contribute to the online challenge at www.openideo.com You can also follow the hashtag #recyclechallenge for updates on Twitter.

Food & Packaging

R ob er t R aw / Co mpo stable Pac k ag i ng / BA S F

Raising the Diversion Rate for Organic Waste

- with organic waste bags made of ecovio

By Robert Raw

Sales and Market Development Manager, Biodegradable Polymers, BASF plc

How can the organic waste diversion rate of household waste be increased? This is a question faced by all EU states, which are looking to fulfill the EU Landfill Directive, and the answers are varied. In the UK for example, the Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme passed in 2003 has made disposal of household waste continually more expensive, and the 1996 landfill tax has risen as well. While disposal of a tonne of waste in 2002 cost GBP 48, in 2013 the price was GBP 72. Thus organic waste diversion became not only an environmentally sound choice but also an economically appealing alternative, supported by legislative initiatives such as the Household Waste Recycling Act of 2003. The law stipulates that municipalities must provide at least two different recycling systems. It also lays out objectives for the recycling rates to be achieved for the different types of waste. By 2015 the UK aims to valorize 45% of its bio- and green waste.

The disposal of household waste in the UK | 112 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

sank from around 22 million tonnes in 2000/01 to approximately 8.5 million tonnes in 2012/13. At the same time recycling rates rose. While in 2000 far under a million tonnes of bio- and green waste were collected, in 2012 the figure was more than 5 million tonnes, which was processed into compost. And yet roughly the same amount still lands unsorted in household waste. That applies especially to food waste, of which considerably less is sorted and collected than organic waste from the yard (grass cuttings, etc). Why is that?

Organic waste bags made of ecovio certified according to EN 13432

For one thing, only some councils offer separate collection of organic waste. Moreover, unpleasant odours or even bug infestations of the kitchen caddy prevent many people from collecting the leftovers from plates, pots and pans. So a clean solution for the separate collection of food waste is required. One

Web: www.ecovio.com

Hygienic, Odourless, Clean. option are stable, water-tight and compostable organic waste bags in which food waste and kitchen waste can be deposited before they are placed in the organic waste container.

The leading option in terms of quality are organic waste bags made of the compostable plastic ecovioÂŽ from BASF. Introduced in 2006, this plastic is biodegradable in the customary commercial composting processes according to DIN standard EN 13432. Only organic waste bags that conform to this standard properly degrade into CO2, water and biomass when processed with the organic waste in composting facilities. Moreover, ecovio is partially comprised of renewable raw materials such as plant-based PLA (polylactic acid).

Organic waste bags made of ecovio have other advantages too: liquids from food waste cannot escape from the bag. Testing has shown that ecovio waste bags filled with organic waste

can be stored for at least two weeks without liquid seeping through. Thus the container used for the waste bag in the kitchen will not be soiled and does not smell. Also, the bags do not freeze to the waste containers when stored outdoors in sub-zero temperatures, which previously complicated the work of waste removal personnel. Because ecovio is impermeable to water but not to oxygen, the collected waste also does not go mouldy so quickly.

Trial run in Kent

BASF has tested and confirmed the success of using such organic waste bags in numerous organic waste projects around the world. In 2012, BASF conducted a successful practical test of compostable organic food waste liners made of ecovio in cooperation with Medway Council in Kent and the waste management company Countrystyle. The objective of the

project was to show that ecovio food waste liners can contribute to increased organic waste collection rates for UK Councils and successfully biodegrades in a typical composting site in the UK (see www.ecovio.com).

In November 2012, over 4,000 selected households in Medway received a free ecovio test package. The residents were also given a questionnaire to determine their experiences with ecovio organic waste bags. Participants disposed of the ecovio liners filled with organic waste as usual in the standard organic waste bin.

The waste was then collected and processed in the usual intervals by the waste management company Countrystyle.

Collection increases with the right bags

Results showed that the ecovio bags biodegraded successfully in Countrystyle’s ► environmentmagazine.co.uk | 113 |

Food & Packaging

R ob er t R aw / Co mpo stable Pac k ag i ng / BA S F

composting facility. The survey revealed that over 87% of respondents were satisfied with the compostable organic waste bags and that 83% wished to continue collecting their organic waste in the bags following the end of the project. The council also regarded the trial as a success. “The results demonstrated a 23% increase in tonnage collected from the trial rounds with ecovio waste bags when compared with the same collection rounds the previous year – meaning additional valuable tons of organic waste were diverted from landfill.

Apart from the obvious benefits of composting food waste, the financial savings gained from disposing of it in this way are significant”, said Steve Baker, Waste Development Manager for Medway Council.

Further trials in Germany, the United States, Canada, Australia and Asia have yielded similar results: where the use of compostable organic waste bags made of ecovio made it cleaner and easier to collect organic waste, the collection rate for organic waste rose significantly.

Economically and environmentally sensible: compost or biogas from organic waste

Trial Running Organic Waste Bags with Medway Council Distribution of ecovio®-testkits with ecovio® liners, a small kitchen caddie bin and instruction leaflet to the residents of Medway.

The trial run with organic waste collected in ecovio® liners in Medway (Kent) showed that the amount of organic waste collected on a single collection increased by 23 per cent when compared to the previous year. The ecovio bags biodegraded successfully in Countrystyle’s composting facility. | 114 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

For local governments it makes economic sense to decrease the share of organic waste in residual waste bins. Organic waste tends to be significantly more moist than other household waste, has a lower calorific value and thus results in additional waste incineration costs for the municipalities. If organic waste reaches the landfill with other waste, the result is not just higher landfill taxes: the anaerobic degradation of organic material also produces methane, a greenhouse gas that is about twenty times more potent than CO2.

In composting, by contrast, the material becomes compost, which contains valuable nutrients and is used as a natural fertilizer in farming. Of special importance here is phosphorus, of which there are no significant deposits in Europe. Recycling organic waste in biogas facilities is also possible – but then the facility should have a downstream composting phase so that the ecovio bags have sufficient time to biodegrade. Such facilities are common in Germany, but not yet in the UK. Cooked food waste has a high proportion of fats, amino acids and sugar, giving it a

Web: www.ecovio.com

Bio- and greenwaste becomes compost, which contains valuable nutrients and is used as a natural fertilizer in farming. Of special importance here is phosphorus, of which there are no significant deposits in Europe. disproportionately high gas yield in the biogas generation process. For each tonne of organic waste, between 80 and 140 m3 of biogas can be produced (methane content 50 to 65%).

Another option is processing the biogas to natural gas quality and feeding it into the natural gas grid. In trials in Germany (EnnepeRuhr-Kreis) and Switzerland (Volketswil), it was shown that organic waste bags made of ecovio are suitable for fermentation in dry plug flow biogas plants and completely biodegrade in downstream composting.

Dual use for shopping bags

Biodegradable bags made of ecovio are offered by “The Co-operative Food” in their shops. They have a dual function: first, customers can use them to carry home their groceries, and then they can use them to collect their organic waste.

BASF supports the “The Green Carrier Scheme” (www.greencarrierscheme.org) to promote improved collection of food waste. The problem is that food waste collected nowadays is often contaminated with fragments of plastic which makes it worthless. The tolerance level for plastic in food waste has recently been reduced to 0.5%, so this is becoming a serious problem for many local authorities. Contaminated

batches generally have to be sent to landfill (at the council’s expense) and the council can also face a hefty fine from the composting company.

The Green Carrier Scheme (GCS) aims to provide an additional level of protection against plastic contamination of food waste. To achieve this the GCS is promoting the use of dual purpose carrier-liners which offer better caddy-liner features and work well as a shopping bag too.

But ecovio can be used for more than just bags. In 2013, BASF presented two new ecovio types for thermoforming and injection moulding of trays and cups for yoghurt, muesli and snacks. Thermoformed trays and cups can now be made with ecovio T2308. This plastic exhibits similar mechanical properties to those of amorphous PET frequently used here, but is compostable. Like all ecovio grades, it also complies with the stipulations for products that come into contact with food.

The second novelty in the ecovio product line is the injection-moulding grade ecovio IS1335.

This variant lends itself for thin-walled, complex and high-quality compostable packaging manufactured by injection moulding. With an eye towards differentiating the product on the market, the packaging can also be decorated using in-mould labelling. In cooperation with

independent institutes, BASF has conducted experiments on the compostability of injectionmoulded test specimens. Results show that, depending on the application, injectionmoulded products made of ecovio IS1335 having wall thicknesses of as much as 1.1 mm degrade in accordance with the EN 13432 standard for compostable packaging.

The large supermarkets in the UK such as Sainsbury’s, Co-op, Marks & Spencer have offered waste bags and food packaging made of compostable polymers for some years. The majority of the just under 370 composting facilities currently operating in the UK accept these bags and compost them. The prerequisites for collecting more organic waste are thus in place. However, to date for example fewer than 7 million households in England (roughly a quarter of the population) have access to local collection of biowaste or mixed bio- and green waste. Intensified efforts will be required to achieve the government’s recycling goals ■

+ More Information www.ecovio.com

environmentmagazine.co.uk | 115 |

Food & Packaging

Inter pac k / Show Prev i ew / 8 -1 4 May 2 0 1 4

Huge Exhibitor Demand for Interpack 2014 Once again in 2014 Interpack is emphasising its role as the world’s most important trade fair for the packaging sector and related processing industries. At the official deadline for registration at the end of February 2013 all the available spaces in the Dßsseldorf exhibition centre with its 19 halls were already booked out, so that not all exhibitor wishes could be met. As in previous editions, from 8 to 14 May 2014 about 2,700 exhibitors are expected from industries ranging from food and beverages, confectionary and baked goods to pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, nonfood consumer goods, industrial goods and related services. At the last event in 2011 there were 2,703 exhibitors and 165,000 visitors, of whom 84% indicated that they were involved in decision-making processes in their companies.

| 116 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

Web: www.interpack.com

8-14 May 2014 Düsseldorf | Germany

New parallel event: “components for processing and packaging”

Interpack is reinforcing its leading role by offering visitors innovative special topics alongside the extensive range of offerings provided by exhibitors. “Components for processing and packaging” is an event being staged for the first time in 2014 as an additional exhibition for suppliers to the packaging industry. Companies who are engaged in drive, control and sensor technology, products for industrial image processing, handling technology, industrial software and communication, and complete automation systems for packaging machinery, are invited to exhibit in the Düsseldorf

“Stadthalle” in Congress Center South (CCD Süd).

Manufacturers of machine parts, components, accessories and peripherals as well as those who manufacture components and auxiliaries for packaging means are also invited to grasp the opportunity to present their products directly alongside interpack during the first three days from 8 to 10 May. interpack visitors and exhibitors have direct access to “Components for processing and packaging”. And of course the same applies vice versa.

Food industry focuses on better packaging and smarter process technology for less spoilage Innovative packages are the key in the

fight against food loss and wastage. More effective barrier layers, germicidal films and freshness indicators are intended to help products to keep for longer and halt consumers’ throwaway mentality. However, despite all these improvements, companies have to keep a constant eye on process efficiency and on costs.

In the developing countries one child in six is undernourished, which amounts to an absolute figure of 100 million. The United Nations (UN) estimates that undernourishment causes the deaths of 2.6 million children under five years old per year. This means that hunger is still one of the biggest scourges of humanity. ► environmentmagazine.co.uk | 117 |

Food & Packaging

Inter pac k / Show Prev i ew / 8 -1 4 May 2 0 1 4

Bosch Packaging mounted packaging machines developed especially for local conditions on trucks in order to demonstrate the advantages of packaged foods to farmers and representatives of local authorities in India.

Yet no one should have to go hungry. Every year some 1.3 billion tonnes of food worldwide ends up in the bin – a conclusion of the current report “Food Wastage Footprint: Impacts on Natural Resources” of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO). If food losses were reduced by using food more prudently, famines could be curbed.

54% of wasted food, says the report, is lost during production, post-harvest treatment and storage. Particularly badly affected are the poorer countries of Africa and Asia where shortcomings during harvesting and logistics destroy 6 to 11kg of food per capita each year.

Exposed to heat, fruit and milk spoil, and meat is rendered inedible by contamination with dangerous germs. On the other hand, wastage during processing, transport and consumption is more a problem of the industrialised nations. In Europe and North America some 100kg of food is thrown away per person per year although it is still fit for consumption. Demands for a change of attitude are therefore coming from the highest authorities. At his general audience | 118 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

Bosch Packaging Technology

during World Environment Day last June, Pope Francis called for an end to consumerism and the wastage of food.

Central theme of interpack 2014

Industry has already got the message. According to a current study by the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia, suitable packages are capable of reducing food loss considerably. Developers are therefore working hard on new concepts for packaging machines, the related process technology and “smart” packages. A total of 100 companies from the entire food value chain, from production, retailing and packaging through to logistics, are now participating in the SAVE FOOD Initiative, a joint project of the FAO, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Messe Düsseldorf GmbH. Its goal is to foster dialogue between industry, research, the political sphere and civil society on the subject of food loss.

Reducing spoilage will also be the central theme at the Innovationparc Packaging at interpack 2014 in Düsseldorf. Exhibitors at this

Web: www.interpack.com

Messe Duesseldorf

special show will be presenting their ideas on how food can be protected better from 7 to 14 May 2014. Furthermore, during the SAVE FOOD Conference at Messe Düsseldorf’s Congress Center South on 7 and 8 May, experts from politics, industry and society will be exchanging views on food loss and wastage.

The sector has a lot of work ahead of it. Farmers in Africa first have to be convinced that it is better to package their produce at source than to send it off unprotected. It is not high tech that is called for here but education locally. Representatives of companies like Bosch, for example, therefore toured emerging and developing countries with mobile packaging machines some years back in order to demonstrate to farmers the advantages of packaged foods.

The throwaway mentality of the Western world on the other hand is even more difficult to combat. According to a survey by Berndt + Partner management consultants, 20 to 25% of food in Europe is binned even though it is still fit for consumption. One contributory factor is the “best before date” that has to be printed

on all food packages. Once it is reached, food is often thrown away. However, “best before” does not mean that food is no longer edible after this date, but merely that its colour and consistency may change. The currently still widespread big packs exacerbate the problem.

The best before date is often reached before the package contents have been consumed.

Smaller customised packages should help to solve the problem. “In our view, portioned packages for one-person households, for example, can help to stem food wastage”, says Christian Traumann, Managing Director of Bavaria packaging specialist MULTIVAC Sepp Haggenmüller.

METAL PACKAGING PLAZA 2014

interpack 2014 will again feature the METAL PACKAGING PLAZA in Hall 11. This special theme also premiered at interpack 2011 where its metal-inspired stand concept created a new meeting point for the international metal packaging community and its supplier industry.

The proven concept of this special exhibition will

be continued at interpack 2014 by the organisers VMV (the German Metal Packaging Association) and Empac (the European Metal Packaging association). For the first time, exhibitors here will include packaging steel manufacturers such as ThyssenKrupp Rasselstein and ArcelorMittal under the umbrella of APEAL, the Association of European Producers of Steel for Packaging.

In addition to the showings of the roughly 40 exhibitors, the METAL PACKAGING PLAZA 2014 offers an information platform with a forum, bar-lounge and meeting points.

Creative package solutions

Reporting continuously on a product’s state of freshness, time/temperature indicators are another approach in the battle against spoilage and waste. The useful thing about them is that they render visible any breaks in the cooling chain for instance. BASF and the Swiss Freshpoint company are already producing labels containing a special pigment which are printed straight onto the package. The colour changes when the contents spoil. ► environmentmagazine.co.uk | 119 |

Food & Packaging

Inter pac k / Show Prev i ew / 8 -1 4 May 2 0 1 4

Messe Duesseldorf

Research is also being conducted on active packages that interact with their contents. PET bottles are treated with oxygen absorbers like iron so that oxygen sensitive beverages such as beer and fruit juice keep for longer. Then there are films enriched with preservatives like sorbic acid that combat germ proliferation on foods.

Critics claim that the additional chemicals on active packages impair the products’ natural quality. In their search for a remedy, scientists of the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging (IVV) in Freising, Bavaria, are developing antimicrobial materials based on plant extracts, e.g. from rosemary. “This way, food manufacturers can go further towards meeting the consumer’s wish for natural, health-promoting products”, says IVV materials developer Sven Sängerlaub.

The downside of many food-saving packages, however, is that they are relatively expensive to produce. If, for example, a “stronger” package calls for more material it uses up more resources. The sector is therefore trying to offset the expenditure on “smarter” packages by economising elsewhere along the food value chain. The manufacturers of packaging machines therefore endeavour to boost the efficiency of their lines by increasing | 120 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

the degree of automation and optimising their processes.

MULTIVAC, for example, offers its customers innovative technologies that ensure among other things that as little film waste is generated during production as possible, Marketing Manager Valeska Haux explains. This is achieved with the aid of advanced machine tools, she continues, citing cutting tools as examples.

The integration of handling modules in the packaging line as well ensures package-bypackage quality control for maximum consumer protection, says Haux.

“We boost the efficiency and hygiene of our production lines and prevent waste arising during production”, explains Mathias Dülfer, Managing Director of Weber Maschinenbau.

This company specialising in high-performance cutting machines is constantly refining its range of lines. In the latest machines innovative blade technologies, intuitive operating concepts and an open design ensure ease of operation, good accessibility and inspectability, and simple cleaning. “All this helps to make production even more efficient, more reliable and hence more sustainable”, says Dülfer.

Packaging foods more securely and with higher throughput – this is also the aim

Web: www.interpack.com

Everything under control: high speeds are essential for efficient production.

MULTIVAC has a variety of automation solutions for food packaging available.

of Spanish machine manufacturer ULMA Packaging. The company covers all packaging technologies from tubular bag packages to deep-drawing machines. At interpack 2014 the Spanish company will be showing new deepdrawing systems for skin packages, among other things. The main function of this kind of packaging is to extend shelf life while also preventing liquid loss due to evaporation. This retards germ growth.

ULMA has also developed a new control for all machine models with user-friendly software.

The newly developed control promises “a huge boost to productivity on all systems”, the company claims. The innovations from the manufacturers demonstrate that a whole battery of packaging strategies for preventing food loss is already available. And that they can be realised on the industrial scale at acceptable cost thanks to on-going improvements in the efficiency of the production technology. At interpack from 8 to 14 May food manufacturers will have the chance to see them for themselves.

Online services covering every aspect of a trade fair visit

The interpack website, www.interpack.com, has been completely reorganised and given a facelift.

At this site visitors can find useful tools to help them plan their trade fair agenda efficiently.

Examples include the exhibitor database where they can generate a personalised hall floorplan, a matchmaking function for establishing contact with exhibitors, and information on all new developments being presented by the participating companies. The interpack services can also be accessed by mobile via: mobile.interpack.com Visitors will appreciate the downloadable iPhone and Android apps. These offer daily updated exhibitor and event databases, graphically optimised hall maps and exhibitor data, including contact details, product information, forms for arranging meetings and a possibility to compose notes on individual exhibitors. Visitors can also use the app to synchronise their trade fair planning between a desktop computer and their handheld device. All individual editing, such as personalised display of favourites in the hall floorplan or notes made about companies, will then be available on both platforms no matter where it was originally done. The interpack home page additionally offers the possibility to arrange hotel bookings as well as providing tips on cultural attractions in Düsseldorf to plan one’s stay in the city ■

MULTIVAC

+ More Information Interpack will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from 8 to 14 May 2014. Tickets will be on sale from mid December 2013 onwards.

Via online presales at: www.interpack.com A one-day admission ticket costs €49 (€60 at the gate). Schoolchildren, students and apprentices/ trainees pay a reduced rate of €13 at the gate. A three-day ticket can be purchased via online presales for €99 (€120 at the gate). Visitors can print out all eTickets they purchase online from their own computer.

All admission tickets and exhibitor passes to interpack 2014 entitle the bearer to free travel to the trade fair and back on the buses, trains and trams of the regional public transport network VRR (Verkehrsverbund RheinRuhr) which also serves towns in a large radius around Messe Düsseldorf Title Photo: Messe Duesseldorf

environmentmagazine.co.uk | 121 |

Land Management

Joanne Kwan / A sb esto s i n so i l / CI R I A

Asbestos:

the hidden hazard on brownfield sites?

Joanne Kwan

Joanne Kwan, CIRIA, Paula Whittell, Berrymans Lace Mawer and Paul Nathanail, University of Nottingham and Land Quality Management Ltd discuss the issues of asbestos in relation to brownfield sites.

CIRIA

Asbestos – the facts

Asbestos has long been known to cause serious illnesses such as lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis. Short periods of even low levels of exposure have been linked with terminal illnesses between 10 and 40 years later.

‘Asbestos’ commonly describes three minerals: the Serpentine chrysotile (also known as white asbestos), and two Amphiboles amosite (Brown asbestos) and crocidolite (blue asbestos). Once thought to be a safe, durable, fire proof and cost-effective material asbestos was widely used throughout the UK for many decades. Asbestos containing materials (ACM) may have been buried on brownfield sites intact, broken up or mixed with other demolition wastes and soil.

Understanding of asbestos in soil is limited and based on only a few laboratory and field studies. Currently, and for the foreseeable future, there is neither a standard method for determining the amount of asbestos present in soil or even an agreed minimal risk level or generic assessment criterion for asbestos in soil. ►

| 122 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

1906 First case report of death related to “asbestos disease” in UK 1924 First medical paper in UK on fibrosis of the lungs due to the inhalation of asbestos, Cooke (1924) 1930 Publication of first comprehensive health survey of effects of asbestos dust on the lungs and dust suppression in the asbestos industry in UK, Merewether and Price (1930) 1931 Asbestos industry regulations requiring dust suppression measures in dustiest parts of asbestos factories 1955 Dolls in 1950 published a paper linking asbestosis with lung cancer (including comment that the risk was largely eliminated with the asbestos industry regulations) 1960 Paper linking crocidolite with mesothelioma in SA, Wagner, Sleggs et al (1960) 1969 Amended asbestos regulations banning use of crocidolite in UK 1983 Asbestos licensing regulations requiring workers with Asbestos containing material (ACM) to be checked for health every two years 1987 Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 extended the requirements for medical examinations 1990 ICRCL (1990) Asbestos on contaminated sites 1999 Asbestos (Prohibitions) (Amendment) Regulations 2003 banning new use of asbestos in UK 2003 House of Lords case of Fairchild v Glenhaven Funeral Services relaxing rules on causation for mesothelioma claimants 2006 Updated Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 combining previous controls and aimed at workplaces UK 2006 Compensation Act to enforce Fairchild decision above 2012 Revised Control of Asbestos Regulations for UK to comply with implementation of European Directive 2003/18/EC

Land Management

Joanne Kwan / A sb esto s i n so i l / CI R I A

Asbestos in the ground

Asbestos in soil, made ground and demolition debris (Figure 1) is a current concern for the construction and redevelopment industry as there are many legal pitfalls for the unwary landowner, consultant, contractor/developer, regulator, or even resident. Also, in relation specifically to asbestos, there are concurrent legal liabilities in civil law in the Torts of negligence and nuisance that have come to the fore in recent court judgements, and in criminal law under statutory and regulatory liabilities relating to the management of contamination and management of asbestos. This has obvious implications for the reclamation sector of the construction industry.

Who will be liable?

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 provide an overarching legal framework and specify a limit for worker exposure to all types of asbestos of 100,000 fibres per m3 averaged over 4 hours. Asbestos is also a concern under the Construction Design and Management

Regulations (CDM) 2007 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 both during ground investigation and ground engineering activities.

Under common law there is a duty of care so as not to cause foreseeable injury or loss by any act or omission made. Breach of the duty of care will be assessed by comparing exposure (source, fibre levels, environment and exposure time) with the state of knowledge of the defendant at the time of the exposure.

Determination of land as contaminated under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 can be evidence of a breach of duty or be evidence of damage, but non-determination does not remove the potential for civil litigation.

A claimant has 6 years (3 for personal injury) from the date of damage or loss to claim damages in Tort or breach of contract.

In Tort “good contemporaneous established practice” is a defence if supported by objective scientific evidence. The test is not a counsel of perfection. But the greater the specialisation of the defendant, the greater will be his duty of care.

With the collective efforts of CIRIA and others, coupled with associated training and dissemination events, practice in dealing with the UK’s biggest industrial killer will improve.

CIRIA leading the way

In December 2011 CIRIA took the lead to solve the problem and in March 2013 published C733 Asbestos in soil and made ground: a guide to understanding and managing risks.

This publication gives an overview of the first UK guidance on assessment and management of asbestos in soil and made ground for over two decades. It also provides guidance on how to comply with the Asbestos Regulations 2012 and to deal with asbestos on site in a more cost effective and safe manner ■

Title Photo: Dr. Stefan Pierdzig

+ More Information

For more information about the new guidance go to: www.ciria.org/c733

Figure 1: Examples of asbestos and ACMs in soils and made ground (courtesy VSD Avenue, a consortium comprising VolkerStevin Ltd, Sita Remediation NV and DEME Environmental Contractors BV)

| 124 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

Land Management

L uc y Yel l land / R ad i oacti ve L and / South A f r i ca

Living at Risk

South Africa’s radioactive mine dumps

By Lucy Yelland

| 126 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

Freelance Journalist

Web: www.fse.org.za

environmentmagazine.co.uk | 127 |

Land Management

L uc y Yel l land / R ad i oacti ve L and / South A f r i ca

An unpleasant smell of sulphur fills the air, and what was once healthy water is now bright red sulphuric acid, a lethal refreshment for any living being.

In the Gauteng province of South Africa lies a huge space of land that is haunted by its mining history. Land which was once healthy and natural now looks as if it could belong to another planet: radioactive metals seep from the ground and contaminated water gushes freely, causing havoc to all that it touches.

This alien-like land is part of the Witswatersrand and is home to around 1.6 million people, most of whom are unaware of the dangers of living in such a place. Mining began here after the discovery of gold in 1886 and it stands as the world’s largest gold and uranium mining basin, with 43,500 tons of gold mined in one century and 73,000 tons of uranium between 1953 and 1995. Mining companies came and left with wealth, but the future generations that would call the mine dumps home would be trapped in a living nightmare.

Johannesburg is a vibrant city which exists because of its mining business and possibilities of extracting gold have been exploited without consideration of the consequences. Gold was mined at excessive depths and water was pumped to the surface, inevitably carrying uranium and other heavy metals with it to the biosphere. This brutal operation continued until the 1990s when underground mining was deserted and the water was left to flood, leaving 6,000km2 of soil significantly impacted. Acid battery water flows freely, holes gape in the ground, old pipelines leak and radioactive dust pollutes the air, leaving helpless communities to suffer in the wreckage.

I was taken on a tour of all the affected areas in the Witswatersrand by Mariette Liefferink, an environmental activist and CEO of the Federation for a Sustainable Environment. What I saw was undeniably shocking, bright tailings possess vast areas of land, about 4,000m2 of it - an unpleasant smell of sulphur fills the air, and what was once healthy water

| 128 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

is now bright red sulphuric acid, a lethal refreshment for any living being.

I saw cancerous growths forming on what should be healthy plants and discarded litter sat with its exterior eaten away by the toxic surroundings.

The only visible warning I was given of this no-mans land was a minuscule sign that hung from a tree. With no other short-cuts people living here have no choice but to cross these areas every day.

One area I visited was Tudor Shaft In settlement where 1,800 feeble tin shacks shelter families and where children have radioactive soil as their playground. These people are living on uraniferous tailings and open shafts, having been moved there in 1994 as a proposed temporary location until their new houses were completed. Twenty years later nothing has changed – this is one of many communities in the Witswatersrand that has been neglected by the government.

Experts who visit the area show there is a mixture of cobalt, zinc, arsenic, cadmium and uranium in the soil. They stress the risks of living amongst these metals and leading international epidemiologist Professor Dr. Chris Busby went to Tudor Dam in November 2010 when he made measurements of gamma and beta radiation levels. Dr Busby said: “In the Tudor Dam area where the reeds were, the measurement was 2,900nSv/h. This is a significant excess external dose, about 15 times, and in my opinion these areas should be fenced off from the public and remediated by having a sealing layer of neutral soil sufficiently deep to sustain vegetation cover which would prevent wind-blown radionuclides contaminating local properties and people.

I have recommended in my report to you that this issue of contamination needs some independent scrutiny and urgent attention.”

This disturbing reality is all too real for those living there. The people I spoke to all experience skin deformities, nose bleeds and breathing ►

Web: www.fse.org.za

The toxic and radioactive tailings from a distance.

The only sign in this particular area which warns of the dangers

The new location, still within 500 metres of tailings.

environmentmagazine.co.uk | 129 |

Land Management

L uc y Yel l land / R ad i oacti ve L and / South A f r i ca

This woman was one of the families moved by the government to the new location that is still just 500 metres from tailings.

Mariette showed me this plant that grows in the most radioactive area, she told me these growths are cancerous.

problems. Unbelievably, one man called Jeffrey had white lumps on his ears which had formed since moving there. These people have truly been abandoned by their government and the problems they’re encountering now are nothing compared to what the radioactivity will do to their internal organs. Tests on Gulf War veterans and laboratory animals found that uranium attacks the brain, affects foetal development, compromises the immune system and damages DNA (Vahrenholz et al., 1997, Zaire et al., 1997, McDiarmid et al., 2002, IRSN 2005, Raymond-Wish et al., 2007, Henner 2008).

Uranium can be passed through water, soil and air. I came across two boys playing with the contaminated soil; this is one way of uranium being ingested unintentionally by hand-to-mouth activities. Pregnant women are known to eat the soil in a bid to get mineral supplements and tailing paste is used as an intentional treatment for acne and sun protection. The wide-spread use of polluted stream water is used by the communities for fishing, swimming, bathing and playing. Their plants, crops and land are infested by the airborne tailings which are insoluble particles that may reside in the lungs for years, causing chronic radiotoxicity in the alveoli.

It is the most needy who are exposed to this epidemic with numerous findings from scientific experts who provide solid evidence of high levels of radioactivity and apart from moving thirty five families to a new site, still within 500 metres of tailings dams, the South African government is yet to do anything. It is Mareitte Liefferink who is fighting for change.

| 130 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

She works hard to educate the communities on the risks and hazards of living on radioactive and toxic tailings and she relentlessly works towards re-locating the communities and having the contaminated areas rehabilitated.

“Notwithstanding the fact that we have a Democratic Government, it is still the poor black communities that are placed downwind and downstream of mining pollution. It is an inequitable and immoral situation which causes within me feelings of frustration, anger and despair – however, I am an optimist and shall therefore continue to labour and exert myself on behalf of the voiceless, the disempowered, the disadvantaged, and a mute environment.”

Thousands of families at Tudor shaft are forced to share two taps and two toilets, many of them have HIV infections and malnutrition is rife with food being scarce. With this common knowledge these communities still receive no medical care; they are the extremely vulnerable and are by no means equipped to tolerate the toxic stress under which they live.

Patience, 49, is a lady who has lived at Tudor Shaft since 1994. She shares a tiny shack with nine other family members. Surviving in these conditions has caused her to have asthma and she is living with HIV, both of which receive improper treatment. She said to me: “This place is dirty, our children are getting sick, we are getting sick and so are our grandchildren who must grow up here. I would be very glad if I can move somewhere else… anywhere, if government would help me to move but they don’t want to help us, they just take the money, put

Web: www.fse.org.za

A bottle which shows the effects of the radioactivity.

it in their pockets, they don’t care about us.”

The serious question that needs to be asked is why has the government not yet fulfilled its responsibilities and provided any assistance. Mariette told me: “The government focuses on job creation and economic development but fails to realise that there can be no economic growth on a deteriorating environmental base. They have failed to put proactive management measures in place in order to prevent pollution on to mitigation and remedy the impacts of pollution.”

It is a basic human right for people to live somewhere which isn’t directly affecting their health, let alone their genetics. Whether it is the mining companies or the government who should be held responsible for this disaster it can no longer be ignored and immediate action should be taken.

Patience with two of her grandchildren.

+ More Information

With the elections nearing in South Africa there is hope that the newly-appointed president will give full attention to the uncared-for communities and take the appropriate steps to move them, tackle the contaminated areas, enforce necessary regulations to prevent future housing being built on mine areas and have an overall vision of preventing future pollution. In the meantime every single person living in this mine dump has to suffer and wait patiently for their voices to be hear ■

www.fse.org.za This production has been made possible by the journalistic training programme Beyond Your World / One World Media.

environmentmagazine.co.uk | 131 |

Sustainable Build

G reenbui ld E X P O / Show Prev i ew / 7 -8 May 2 0 1 4

Reducing our buildings’ impact on the environment is at the heart of Greenbuild Expo, a free conference and exhibition taking place in Manchester on 7th and 8th May. As well as guidance on creating low-energy buildings, visitors to the event will also have access to expert advice on renewable energy, energy efficiency, green retrofit and much more.

On top of the free seminar programme of over 100 free sessions there will also be an exhibition featuring some of the industry’s latest green innovations and energy-saving solutions.

DECC will be holding its RHI roadshow at Greenbuild Expo and will also be presenting on how the domestic RHI and the Green Deal will work together to ensure that all participants will be able to benefit from having a smarter warmer home.

A popular feature returning to Greenbuild Expo for 2014 is Ignition, the UK’s only woodfuel event. With a dedicated seminar programme and exhibition area, Ignition14 will include advice on heat meters and using biomass for district heating schemes.

Greenbuild Challenge

This year’s Greenbuild Expo will also feature the Greenbuild Challenge, a new sustainability campaign. Supported by the UK Green Building Council and the Energy Saving Trust, the campaign aims to engage, educate and inspire professionals in the building and sustainability | 132 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

sectors to create a truly sustainable built environment. Professionals responsible for the design, function and performance of volume housing and non-domestic properties such as schools and hospitals have a huge role to play when it comes to creating a sustainable built environment.

To get involved with the campaign visit www. greenbuildchallenge.co.uk where you can find out more about placing sustainability at the heart of the built environment. You will also be able to make a pledge to take more action to improve a building – and see the pledges and real-life improvements others have already made.

Some of the pledges you can make include: • Switching to LED Lighting – using 40 LED bulbs in a house for an average of 2.7 hours a day – the Energy Saving Trust’s typical use figure for a bulb in a kitchen or living room – running costs would be £23 annually compared with £287 for sticking with halogens • Installing a bike rack - encourage staff at your office to ditch their cars – meaning healthier employees and a reduced carbon

footprint • Reducing artificial light - daylight has a better impact on performance. Good daylight in schools leads to a 10% increase in overall pupil performance: 20% faster progression in mathematics and 26% faster reading progression

Focal points of the campaign include: sustainable retrofitting, behavioural change, building materials and methods, and smart cities.

A spokesperson from Greenbuild said: “We want building owners and occupants to pledge to change their buildings and their behaviour – whether that’s in an office, a block of flats, sheltered housing or a hotel – and then make it happen. It needn’t be a top-to-toe green retrofit – even simple and low cost changes can make a big difference.

“Working with partners such as UK GBC and EST, the Greenbuild Challenge aims to raise the debate around sustainability in the built environment. We will continue the debate at this year’s Greenbuild Expo with a great seminar programme – all free to attend.”

Web: www.greenbuildexpo.co.uk

7-8 May 2014 Manchester Central | Manchester

Conference highlights With an extensive conference programme featuring over 100 free seminars and workshops, Greenbuild Expo covers every aspect of a sustainable built environment. Here’s a selection of the highlights:

Energy Efficiency in Social Housing

Louise Marix-Evans – Quantum Strategy & Technology Wednesday 7th May 10.15am Purple Seminar Room

This practical session will look at lessons from delivering energy efficiency in housing: • An overview of what technologies worked best in social housing retrofit • The importance of resident engagement • Upping your savings through behaviour change support programmes • Fabric First – what next? Tackling electricity consumption?

The Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)

The Performance Gap – What is the solution?

Rob Pannell - Zero Carbon Hub, Ben Brakes - Whitbread Group PLC Thursday 8th May 12.45 Yellow Seminar Room

There is a persuasive and growing evidence of a gap between the as-designed and as-built energy and carbon performance of new buildings. In response the Zero Carbon Hub is leading a cross-industry project assessing the extent of the issue within the domestic sector, while UK Green Building Council members are grappling with the issue in commercial buildings. But what is the performance gap and why does it matter? What recommendations have emerged from the research undertaken so far and what does the construction industry need to do to ensure we close the performance gap?

Why aren’t heating controls in every home?

Colin Timmins – TACMA

Graham Temple – Mitsubishi

Thursday 8th May 11.15 Foyer Room

Wednesday 7th May 10.30am CPD Seminar Room

New research by TACMA, the heating controls group within BEAMA, shows that conventional and readily available controls have the technical potential to reduce home energy bills by 40%. At the same time we know that householders use their heating systems in a variety of sub-optimal ways in order to maintain comfortable conditions and manage their ►

The Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive is a financial support scheme targeted at households and paid to the owner of the heating system. It pays for renewable heat delivered to a home when using technologies such as air source heat pumps.

environmentmagazine.co.uk | 133 |

Sustainable Build

G reenbui ld E X P O / Show Prev i ew / 7 -8 May 2 0 1 4

heating costs. This presentation will cover the latest technical and behavioural research on this issue and propose ways to ensure that every home has a good set of heating controls to ensure both comfort and efficiency.

Hard-to-treat properties and ECO Mark Weaver - Weber

Thursday 8th May 11.00 CPD Seminar Room

ECO aims to insulate the hard-to-treat properties, but what are they? How many dwellings could potentially need this kind of treatment and what are the options available?

Fabric first & timber

Stewart Dalgarno - Stewart Milne Group Thursday 8th May 12.45 Yellow Seminar Room

Sustainability is moving up the agenda after the UK and Scottish Governments last year announced renewed energy efficiency targets.

Following this, Stewart Dalgarno will discuss how using a fabric first approach, in combination with the right material, it is possible to “future proof” projects against further increases in performance standards.

Understand buildings

new

educational

Jose Hernandez - Pick Everard Wednesday 7th May 11.45am Yellow Seminar Room

2014 is seeing significant changes to the design and energy performance requirements of new educational buildings: new Building Regulations Part L, BREEAM 2014 and a wider implementation of Education Funding Agency PSBP design standards, especially for energy use, thermal comfort, ventilation and daylight.

Pick Everard looks at how these can be achieved.

Hope for High Rise: Case studies of using energy efficiency to regenerate communities

Will Ray, External Affairs and Strategy Manager – Rockwool Wednesday 7th May 11.45am Blue Seminar Room

This talk will explore real case studies of energy efficiency retrofit programmes, including the Edward Woods Estate in London. It will outline the potential for catalysing regeneration in neglected estates by providing jobs, improving community relations and civic pride as well as generating investment for the local economy.

Avoiding future floods and droughts Terry Nash Association

-

UK

Rainwater

Harvesting

Wednesday 7th May 15.00am Purple Seminar Room

| 134 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

Recent months have added weight to the Environment Agency’s predictions that the climate of the British Isles is changing in ways that will include the prevalence of floods in winter and severe droughts in summer. This presentation will look at what this will mean in practical terms and what needs to be done about it.

BREEAM UK Non-Domestic Refurbishment and Fit-Out 2014 Gavin Summerson – BRE

Thursday 8th May 14.45 Purple Seminar Room

This presentation will introduce the new BREEAM Non-Domestic Refurbishment and FitOut 2014 scheme due to be launched later this

year. This new version of BREEAM is dedicated to the refurbishment and fit-out of offices, retail and other buildings, and has been developed following a piloting process including a range of building refurbishments around the UK. The presentation will also highlight the key changes in the 2014 version of BREEAM New Construction ■

+ More Information To register visit www.greenbuildexpo.co.uk and follow @greenbuildexpo on Twitter for show updates.

Sustainable Build

Dr Do n Mc lean/ Smar t Bui ld i ngs / I E S

The Future of the Eco-City:

Delivering Measurable Results

Dr Don Mclean

MD & Founder, Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES)

| 136 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

The design of “eco-cities” – cities with sustainable smart buildings that integrate with each other and the grid itself to conserve resources – is becoming increasingly important.

The world’s population is projected to keep rising for at least the next century. By 2050, 70% of the world’s population will live in cities, so addressing efficiency is essential. Controlling our use of energy, water and other resources will no longer be an option but a necessity.

The IES Research & Development vision is based on smart eco-cities which utilise information and communication technology (ITC) to incorporate real-time dynamic control. Performance analysis and predictive interrogation of data will play a key part in this.

Our emerging vision is that each building would be designed or refurbished using state of the art 3D simulation to quantify, optimise and verify its performance. The building simulation model would then be used to commission and subsequently control the building. However, in order for it to be a true eco-city it would not be enough for each building to be independently

efficient. There would need to be a master system that can optimise city wide energy and water consumption in coordination with the relevant utilities.

The company invests over ¼ of its turnover into research & development, and is actively involved in a number of Scottish, UK and European funded projects across all areas of such an eco-city lifecycle. We are also actively involved in key sustainable building/community test sites considered to be at the forefront of global research. Across these projects IES is both providing the underlying technology and acting as a ‘hub’ to connect many different organisations and stakeholders into the eco-city lifecycle. Our concept maps the entire process from masterplanning through to simulationbased control of eco-communities and links with smart grids.

IES played a part in the recent successful 24mil Smart City grant won by Glasgow – which saw off competition from London, Peterborough, Bristol and 30 other UK cities. IES contributed on the aspect of using the communications hub

Web: www.iesve.com

to inform buildings on how to improve energy efficiency.

The company also recently signed an agreement with Masdar Institute of Science and Technology to form a working partnership that will promote the creation of smart eco-cities.

The agreement includes the provision of free academic licenses of the IES Virtual Environment (IESVE) and a number of six-week internships to students studying at the institute. Masdar Institute has educational and research and development interests in Masterplanning, Smart Cities and Smart Building Control particularly as related to Abu Dhabi and Masdar City in the United Arab Emirates. The agreement will allow students to use IES software on research and development for the Masdar Institute and IES will benefit from the feedback from this work, incorporating it into its own R&D programme.

One of the major barriers is the discontinuity between actual utilities consumption and design/simulated data. Buildings rarely perform as predicted, and Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) only monitor and report in a

descriptive, ad-hoc way. Vast amounts of data are collected but not fully utilised to inform decisions. These conventional management methods are laborious and make it difficult to maintain optimal control. Post-design, BEMS monitor only the individual building and rely on facility managers to interpret the data and act accordingly. This creates a lot of “data” but not viable “smart buildings”.

Until now, the technology to simulate and test optimisation hypotheses based on real operational data simply didn’t exist. There was a reliance on design simulation technology that could point out flaws and optimise performance virtually before the building was constructed, and BEMS systems which monitor usage after the fact. However, with new software and computer modelling capabilities, creating smarter more efficient buildings is easier than it has ever been. Performance analysis is in our opinion the technology that can truly drive ecocommunities, -districts and -cities.

Building design using 3D models is already the norm and can deliver a model suitable for

operational activities. Connecting the dots by incorporating real operational data into the model is the next step, and one which IES has already taken successfully through its Scottish Enterprise funded SCAN research project.

The application of 3D building performance simulation on new-build, refurbishment and operation optimisation projects facilitates a greatly improved integrated and sustainable design process. It paves the way for smart interaction between buildings in a community or city to optimise efficiency at the next level.

Through virtual testing and performance analysis the industry is able to cut through greenwash and deliver measurable results.

These results are what will drive eco-cities ■

+ More Information Dr Don McLean has 35 years’ experience in the use and development of building simulation analysis tools, including involvement in many landmark building simulation projects across the UK and Europe.

Contact: don.mclean@iesve.com Web: www.iesve.com environmentmagazine.co.uk | 137 |

Sustainable Build

A nd rew Car penter /Ti mb er Frame Bui ld i ngs / STA

Sustainability in Construction As environmental targets increase and the construction industry reports an upturn, Andrew Carpenter, Chief Executive of the Structural Timber Association (formerly UKTFA) explains why there has never been a better time for timber.

Andrew Carpenter

Chief Executive, Structural Timber Association

| 138 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

Web: www.structuraltimber.co.uk

After the longest recession in living memory the demand for construction has finally started to rise. As house buying and building picks up, housebuilders are facing the challenge of meeting these current needs quickly, while also creating a recovery which is sustainable and longlasting. Plus, as the Government has finally introduced the long-awaited changes to Part L of the Building Regulations, energy efficiency and sustainable construction has pushed its way back towards the top of the building agenda. Building in structural timer can help with building quickly and sustainably, and as a result it is fast becoming the go-to product for those needing a truly modern method of construction.

The Scottish housing market has already embraced timber and the benefits it brings in terms of on-going running costs, environmental performance and ease of construction. As a result 72% of all new build homes north of the border use timber, compared to only 18% in the rest of the UK. However, as the benefits of the material have become clearer, an increasing number of housebuilders are turning to timber as a means of meeting both consumer demand and increasingly stringent government regulations.

Sustainable by Design

It is a widely recognised fact that timber is the most sustainable form of construction as it benefits from the lowest embodied C02 of any building materials, as well as being organic, non-toxic and naturally renewable.

In terms of carbon footprint, research has shown that even imported timber has a lower carbon footprint than other methods of construction.

The carbon sequestrated during each tree’s growth more than offsets the total emissions from harvesting, process and transport combined.

The manufacturing of timber is also less carbon intensive than other methods of construction, thereby reducing the carbon footprint of the material even further.

These environmental benefits continue throughout the lifetime of the property, as timber is the best material with which to create modern energy efficient homes. Many STA members are currently researching and developing products which focus on creating an efficient external envelope with the aim of creating an airtight and highly insulated exterior.

This ‘Fabric First’ approach is the best way to achieve the highest environmental standards, negating the need for bolt-on technologies such as solar panels and ground source heat pumps. Not only are these additional pieces of kit extremely expensive, the majority of home-owners don’t have the knowledge required to operate them properly. Attaching these technologies to poor leaky building fabric is not a sustainable solution and does nothing to reduce the building’s carbon footprint, storing up long-term maintenance issues. It is far more efficient to prevent the heat from leaking out in the first place by building an airtight home.

If this approach is taken then the whole building heats up more quickly without any cold areas. Better insulation, along with detailed draughtproofing, means a smaller boiler, lower heating bills, and an overall cosier, more comfortable building. This approach has proven to deliver up to a 33% reduction in energy consumption for a large detached house built in timber, and a 20% reduction for apartments, thereby reducing the squeeze on ever tighter household budgets.

In recent years the ‘Fabric First’ approach is one which has been embraced by the public sector, as social housing is built with a view not only to the initial outlay of the building but also with a view to its on-going operational costs. This is not an approach which the private sector has taken on board, so a change in culture is needed to ensure the entire construction industry is building houses which perform to the best of their ability.

Ease of Construction

Despite the economic upturn, developers are still finding it difficult to access capital funding, but the speed with which a timber structure can be turned around is increasing the material’s desirability. Structural timber guarantees a faster construction time, requiring around 20% fewer onsite labour days and a shorter construction period overall. By planning and executing the use of structural timber at its optimum there are significant cash-flow benefits to be had.

The prefabrication inherent in the production of off-site panels offers higher levels of quality control which in turn have significant financial ► environmentmagazine.co.uk | 139 |

Sustainable Build

A nd rew Car penter /Ti mb er Frame Bui ld i ngs / STA

benefits. Reduced site prelims, less material and labour waste, lower site and office overheads, improved productivity and reduced labour and supervision on-site all save time and money. As a development of around ten timber based homes can be delivered as much as five weeks earlier than the same number built using other materials, this can be a considerable saving indeed, along with reduced disruption to local communities. Furthermore, reduced on-site waste and less cluttered sites improve health and safety standards, while improved build quality means fewer call backs resulting in reduced snagging costs and higher customer satisfaction levels.

Right on Target

Since April the changes to Part L of the Building Regulations have been finally coming into place. Timber-based structures are well positioned to meet local and national regulations both now and in the future.

The new Part L revisions are designed to improve the energy performance of buildings whilst using the planning process to cut carbon emissions, tackle climate change and ensure the Government remains on track to deliver on its commitment for zero carbon homes by 2016.

The new targets stipulate that new domestic dwellings must be 6% more efficient, with a new fabric efficiency target also introduced. As noted earlier, timber is well placed to meet both of these revisions due to the material’s impressive carbon footprint and the ‘Fabric First’ approach which STA members take when it comes to the external envelope. | 140 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

An ideal example of this approach is Prince Charles House, a social housing development in St Austell, Cornwall. STA member Ocean Housing built the property to provide affordable housing for those aged 50+ and people assessed as having support needs.

Built using timber frame construction, the 31 self-contained apartments were built to the highest BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) Outstanding sustainability ratings, and were designed in accordance with Lifetime Homes and HAPPI (Housing The Aging Population: Panel for Innovation) Standards.

The features of the building have enabled the scheme to produce 55% less in carbon emissions than a notional building being built to current building regulations. Not only does the building have excellent sustainability ratings but it has also been constructed using locally sourced materials, with 86% of the sub-contractors and 73% of the materials sourced from the south west of England.

The building was fitted with an integrated management system which provides monitoring for each property’s individual heating and water bills to further promote residents’ awareness of their carbon footprint and bills. The building’s performance will be intensively monitored over the next three years, alongside resident research to identify how it impacts upon the health and wellbeing of the occupants, as well as how it performs in addressing fuel poverty. The full benefits of Prince Charles House will then be used to enhance the design and functionality of future developments. ►

This

says

the f uture

Ask for SFI

you c are a bout of our forest s.

Wood from responsibly managed forests is an excellent choice for any new construction or renovation. Builders and architects are turning to products certified to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative速 (SFI速) Standard, endorsed by PEFC, to meet green building requirements.

By asking for SFI, you are promoting sustainable forestry, helping to improve forestry practices and encouraging responsible purchasing of forest products.

Look and ask for wood certified to the SFI Standard for all your projects.

Visit sfidatabase.org for a list of SFI and PEFC products.

Learn more at sfiprogram.org/green-building.

Internationally endorsed by

PEFC/29-1-1

Sustainable Build

A nd rew Car penter /Ti mb er Frame Bui ld i ngs / STA

STA Membership

As well as new builds, the revised Part L regulations will also be of benefit to existing housing stock, as they will allow for the retrofitting of existing homes – an attractive option for many housing associations which have properties in need of upgrading. With an estimated 920,000 homes lying empty across the UK, retrofitting in timber could provide a financially attractive and environmentally friendly solution to dealing with the housing shortage in both the public and private sectors whilst still achieving energy efficiency targets.

In recent years STA members have had to adapt to the harsh realities of today’s housebuilding market, as well as engaging with increasingly stringent environmental considerations. This evolution has seen the emergence of a new generation of hybrid timber products, including Glulam, SIPs and CLT, which are both aesthetically pleasing and meet all the functional requirements necessary.

The structural timber industry can play an important part in meeting the current economic, social and environmental challenges which our country faces, with a well organised supply chain delivering a high quality product. For those looking to go green now is the time for timber â–

+ More Information www.structuraltimber.co.uk

| 142 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

The Structural Timber Association (STA) represents the vast majority of the structural timber industry, including suppliers, manufacturers, erectors and designers, as well as associate members which include contractors, architects and house builders. Formerly known as the UK Timber Frame Association, the body leads the industry in terms of quality, health & safety, education, technical knowledge and customer service, through activities including seminars, factory tours, research, networking, advocacy and debate.

The STA is recognised as the authoritative voice of the structural timber industry - which includes timber frame, SIPS, CLT and Glulam - providing definitive technical information plus news and views from across the sector, with a view to boosting the visibility of the Association, its members and other stakeholders. Being a part of the Association puts members in touch with many and varied stakeholders who are looking to develop timber based projects along with support in the form of lobbying, PR, marketing, training and research & development.

Initiatives such as the Quality Assurance standards and Site Safe have the integrity that satisfies the need to protect its broad membership whilst ensuring that the highest service standards are represented throughout the entire UK structural timber industry. The Association also aims to ensure that members have access to the very latest in health and safety training. This all ensures that the STA logo is not just a badge but a tangible reassurance to the construction industry and consumers that members are delivering the highest standards of technical excellence and site safety.

Transport

| 144 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

The C V Show / 2 9 A p r i l - 1 May 2 0 1 4

Web: www.cvshow.com

29 April-1 May 2014 NEC | Birmingham

Show Preview More than 450 exhibitors are expected at this year’s leading UK road transport and logistics event, the Commercial Vehicle Show, to be held at the NEC Birmingham, 29 April-1 May 2014 The CV Show is the leading meeting place for suppliers and operators and many new products are expected to be introduced to the market over the three days of the Show. These new products will ensure that business visitors have the opportunity to see, first hand, every option to help them operate and maintain a safe, efficient and effective fleet. Unrivalled in size, product range and visitor attendance, the CV Show now attracts over 18,000 high quality visitors, many with serious buying power.

Every aspect of the UK road freight sector will be covered at this year’s Show: trucks, including those that are sector-specific such as refrigerated vehicles, curtainsiders, tankers and tippers. The van market also continues to grow and this year it really is a case of ‘all the colours, all the sizes’. Visitors to the Show will also see an extensive range of ancilliary suppliers to the industry including products such as handling equipment, insurers, tyres, telematics, training providers, fuels and lubricant suppliers and a whole lot more.

Without doubt, one of the major issues under discussion at this year’s show will be Euro 6 the most comprehensive EU standard aimed at reducing HGV emissions. Compared to Euro 5, particulate matter and nitrogen oxide emissions are considerably reduced. The new standard will also further tighten up the acceptable amounts of nitrogen oxides that vehicles of different classes can emit. However, these lower emission levels will necessitate a tougher test method to replicate real life performance.

Investing in a Euro 6 vehicle is a definite contribution towards the sustainable transportation of goods and services and will also contribute to “good operator” credentials, and customers must be prepared to recognise this when considering tenders for contracts.

Euro 6 vehicles will cost more than those at Euro 5 and there will be a greater need for operators to take a manufacturer’s repair and maintenance contract. Of course, some maintenance can still be done in-house but the reality is that diagnostics for Euro 6 are so

sophisticated that training in-house technicians, possibly across a range of vehicles, will be both impractical and expensive.

The vehicle manufacturers exhibiting include Citroën, Fiat Professional, Ford Motor Company, Isuzu, Isuzu Truck, Iveco, MAN, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Renault Trucks, Renault UK, Toyota GB and Vauxhall Commercial Vehicles. Most are planning new additions to their ranges and the CV Show will be a chance for visitors to see them for the first time.

Representing the light commercial sector, Steve Bryant, Vauxhall’s Commercial Vehicle Brand Manager said: “As Britain’s biggest van manufacturer, Vauxhall is delighted to be back at the UK’s largest Commercial Vehicle Show.

Vauxhall has always been a big supporter of the CV Show and is very much looking forward to returning to Birmingham in 2014.”

In addition to vehicle manufacturers, many bodywork and trailer builders will also be using the CV Show as their shop window. These include Al-Ko Kober, Cartwright, GM Coachwork, Lawrence David, Magyar, Maisonneuve, MaxiLow, Montracon, Road Tankers Northern, SDC Trailers, SOMI Trailers, Strongs Plastic Products and Whale Tankers.

Paul Jones, Al-Ko Kober’s Marketing Manager, said: “The Commercial Vehicle Show has become a major fixture in the AL-KO Kober calendar. As far as we are concerned it ticks all the boxes. It provides us with an exceptionally good shop window; it attracts a wide range of visitors and customers and creates a perfect networking opportunity.”

The CV Show also includes the Cool Pavilion, offering visitors a wide variety of refrigerated products and services. Gray and Adams, Paneltex, Quinn Vehicles and Solomon Commercials have booked stands, as well as specialist refrigeration equipment suppliers Frigoblock and Thermo King.

Key among the many issues affecting the commercial vehicle industry is operating costs.

Fuel, maintenance, driver safety, communications all mean money and, for today’s commercial ►

environmentmagazine.co.uk | 145 |

Transport

vehicle operator, telematics can go a long way towards making every penny count.

Once the realm of the big fleet operator, telematics systems are now accessible to everyone and, by their very nature, can be tailored to any company, large or small. Whether it’s vehicle tracking, tachograph analysis, fuel economy or a fully integrated package that you’re after that covers every area of operation, exhibitors at the CV Show will have something to suit every buyer.

Paul Wilson, Trakm8 Sales Director commented: “Trakm8 is delighted that thanks to our ecoN technology many company fleets are becoming incredibly fuel efficient. The CV Show 2014 will give us the perfect chance to demonstrate that ecoN is easy to install, discreet and exceptional in performance. Working in conjunction with our most technically-advanced telematics equipment and unique online interface, ecoN can transform any business in a positive way whilst also reducing costs.”

These are just two of the wide range of companies in the telematics sector that recognise the importance of exhibiting at the 2014 Commercial Vehicle Show. More companies can be found in the product locator | 146 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

The C V Show / 2 9 A p r i l - 1 May 2 0 1 4

on the CV Show website.

The CV Show again includes Workshop2014, where everything from OE will be on display.

Companies will offer advice to operators so that they can keep the industry’s wheels turning at maximum efficiency. It is the only national forum for the passenger car, commercial vehicle maintenance and repair industry sector.

It therefore attracts business from the widest possible audience including prime decision makers from franchised dealers, independent garages, fleet workshops, body repair shops and wholesalers.

Workshop2014 really is a one-stop shop for those responsible for the maintenance of car fleets, vans and trucks, the opportunity to visit the latest providers of goods and services, including components and replacement parts to garage and workshop equipment. The chance of having such a wide range of expertise under one roof has proved to be of great benefit to companies such as Centrica, BT and the RAC, all of which operate many hundreds of vehicles and have substantial budgets for replacement parts and garage equipment.

Bradbury Equipment’s Divisional Manager, Keith McLaren commented: “We see Workshop

2014 as the only Exhibition where potential customers can see garage equipment ‘in the flesh’, and in many cases actually working. We at Bradbury appreciate that the purchase of garage equipment is a major decision for any business and should not be taken lightly. We fully understand this and will install equipment that is innovative, reliable and which meets both current European legislation and the needs of the modern day motor vehicle, which together with an exceptional after-sales service which is paramount to the continual growth of any business. We look forward to meeting both existing and potential new customers to offer them both professional and experienced advice about their specific requirements.”

Choosing the right tyre is key to the success of any transport operation, because of the critical role tyres play in fleet safety and performance, so operators should consider their company tyre policy carefully. The 2014 Commercial Vehicle Show will provide operators with the perfect opportunity to compare tyre suppliers and decide which is best suited to their needs.

That’s why this year’s Show will feature 14 different suppliers to this essential sector of the road transport industry including Aeolus

Web: www.cvshow.com

Tyres, ATS Euromaster, Bandvulc, Bridgestone, Continental, GITI Tire, Goodyear, Hankook, Kirkby Tyres and Wheels, KwikFit Fleet, Michelin, RH Claydon, TD Tyres and TIA Wheels.

An illegal or defective commercial vehicle tyre could mean a roadside prohibition, a court appearance and a hefty fine. A driver caught behind the wheel of a vehicle with illegal tyres faces three penalty points and a fine of up to £2,500 per tyre – regardless of whether or not they own the vehicle.

For fleet operators or owner drivers, tyre choice and maintenance cost dictates profit.

Every transport operation is different.

Guy Heywood, Commercial Director of Michelin’s truck division, says: “We spend more on research and development than any tyre manufacturer in the world, so it’s only fitting that as new Michelin truck and trailer tyres are launched, we display them at the industry’s largest trade event.

“For this year’s CV Show we’ve got the strongest product line-up in our history; it will be a major opportunity to reinforce that when customers think about their tyre policy they should be focused on buying value.”

Exhibitor numbers are up almost 30% on 2013; however, actual space occupied is 20% greater, reflecting the return of many SMEs to the Show for the first time since business declined in late 2008. This is another positive indication that the CV Show really will have something for everyone ■

+ More Information The 2014 Commercial Vehicle Show will run from 29 April to 1 May 2014 in Halls 3a, 4 and 5 of the NEC in Birmingham. Opening hours are 08:30 to 17:30 each day. For further information, visit: www.cvshow.com

environmentmagazine.co.uk | 147 |

Transport

L i nda G o mersal l / L P G / Au to ga s

Future Vision Needs to be Clear for LPG Autogas in the UK Linda Gomersall, General Manager of Autogas Ltd, the leading UK supplier of LPG autogas, discusses how a partnership approach can drive take-up in alternative fuels helping to reduce UK emissions.

The recent smog which descended on London and the South East was a very tangible demonstration of why it is crucially important for the UK to address its emissions output. Too often the cause and effect of pollution is difficult to truly conceptualise - particularly for the public at large who may not be aware of the impact on their everyday lives. For example, how many people are aware that the European Commission has launched legal proceedings against the UK Government over its failure to deal with air pollution?

However, the smog, which was covered extensively almost endlessly by the media, was a very visible example which brought home why pollution is an issue that needs urgently addressing and cannot be ignored as tomorrow’s problem.

Like the polluting cloud itself, the precise origins of the recent problems are less than clear. Some blamed naturally occurring weather patterns or pollution in mainland Europe while elsewhere dust from the Sahara was believed to be the culprit. Others more vociferously stated that the smog was caused by a failure to tackle other major pollution contributors

| 148 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

such as cars and in particular diesel powered vehicles.

The most likely scenario is that all of the above factors contributed to a perfect storm of events.

However, what is beyond doubt is that vehicles are a recurring and major source of pollution in the UK and more needs to be done to mitigate their impact.

Recent research from The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showed that as the UK begins to emerge from the constraints caused by the economic crisis confidence is returning in the shape of increased car sales.

According to the SMMT figures, March 2014 saw the largest number of new cars purchased in the UK for a decade with 464,824 vehicles bought - a rise of 17.7% on the previous year. Importantly this was also the biggest-ever month for alternatively-fuelled vehicles as volumes reached 8,713 units, a growth of 63.8% on 2013.

Indications are encouraging that appetite and confidence is returning to the UK consumer and fleet driver market. The headline macro-economic perspective is good news but at the same time the figures around alternative-fuelled vehicles are also

Web: www.autogas.ltd.uk

important and further consideration needs to be given on how to dilute the duopoly currently enjoyed by petrol and diesel in order to make progress on reducing emissions.

Clear direction needs to be given on how to further promote and grow the alternative fuels market. This includes LPG autogas which in our opinion has the strongest credentials to make an immediate and significant impact.

So how could it work? LPG autogas has been widely available for use in vehicles in the UK since 2000 and in that time hundreds of thousands of motorists, individuals, families and businesses have benefited from the financial and environmental savings that the fuel provides from the 1400 re-fuelling sites around the UK. Yet despite these savings, over the past few years whilst other European and international nations have seen the use of LPG autogas grow significantly the UK has declined with now only 160,000 drivers benefiting.

Answering why the UK has not matched our international counterparts is not a straightforward question with a simple solution. It would be easy to suggest that the UK Government’s support for electric vehicles coupled with the lack of consumer awareness and availability of ready to drive LPG autogas vehicles are in isolation the reasons for falling behind our European and international

neighbours. However, upon closer examination it can be seen that a combination of all of these factors is to blame.

The emergence and support for the electric vehicle market illustrates that there is both political and public appetite for breaking the duopoly of the two traditional road fuels.

This support for electric vehicles shows that consumers are looking for a cleaner, greener and cheaper form of transport and whilst it would be wholly misleading to dismiss the potential of electric vehicles there remains a considerable amount of work to be done to make electric vehicles mainstream and to provide the nationwide infrastructure required.

If we are serious about reducing the impact that vehicular emissions and fuel costs have on our environment and, crucially, stretched household budgets throughout the UK, it is essential that the industry and government work together to produce a long term road fuels strategy that provides consumers with a range of options, which allow the UK to meet its environmental obligations many of which loom ominously on the horizon.

An integrated road fuels strategy that incorporates traditional, non-traditional alternative fuels and future fuels must include a clear role for LPG autogas, with a strategy and roadmap agreed in partnership between â–ş

environmentmagazine.co.uk | 149 |

Transport

the Government, the LPG autogas industry and vehicle manufacturers. The current ‘wait and see’ silo approach has left the UK behind the rest of the world which has damaged confidence in the industry, reduced transport’s ability to play its role in emissions reductions and cut off options for UK consumers that would significantly save money on their fuel bills.

Previously the argument supporting LPG autogas has been based first and foremost on the environmental benefits; however in an age where the cost of living has never been more important, the savings to the consumer are equally compelling. Around 40% can be saved on an annual basis when a UK car engine is converted.

To date political and industry focus has been understandably on the individual consumer. This misses two demographics that will be crucial to the success of any alternative fuel – businesses and the public sector.

Throughout the world governments have put in place measures to support conversion to LPG autogas through the issuing of grants and financial incentives, a policy tool absent from the UK, an absence that hinders not only its growth but of the conversion market too.

One clear distinction that separates us from our European neighbours is the role of the motor

| 150 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

L i nda G o mersal l / L P G / Au to ga s

companies themselves. There are currently no vehicle manufacturers manufacturing LPG autogas ready vehicles for sale in the UK, making conversion the main option in the UK. Previously vehicle manufacturers have stated a lack of UK Government support for LPG autogas as a reason for their reluctance to invest in the UK market. However, following the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s introduction of a 10 year duty trajectory there is now a guarantee that LPG autogas remains significantly more cost effective to consumers and small businesses when compared to petrol and diesel.

This is a clear indication of the support that the Government has offered to this industry, yet this commitment has not yet seen vehicle manufacturers announce plans to produce LPG autogas ready vehicles in the UK. Four years ago Germany introduced a 10 year guarantee similar to the UK and has quickly grown its market to 500,000 vehicles. The same model of success can also be achieved in the UK. For that, and more to be achieved, there needs to be a partnership between the Government, the LPG autogas industry and vehicle manufacturers which will allow the UK market to grow, thrive and to play its much needed role in meeting the challenges of rising fuel prices, reducing air quality and emission targets.

So what are we calling for? We want a summit between government agencies at all levels, the automotive industry and the LPG autogas industry to discuss how the impediments to the growth of the market can be reduced. This will then produce a clear accountable road-map for the next decade which can fully exploit what’s already in place.

Of course LPG autogas is not the only option or solution to breaking the duopoly of petrol and diesel or the only solution to reducing our emissions, but it is part of a wider mix of fuels that can achieve this. Most crucially of all it is a part that is available now and can pass on environmental and financial savings now. LPG autogas in the UK is at a tipping point moment in its history and a partnership approach can help it match the achievements enjoyed by our European neighbours ■

Title Photo: Olaf Eckhardt

+ More Information www.autogas.ltd.uk

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Waste

A ngela De Vo rc h i k / Paper R ec yc li ng / A r jow igg i ns G raph i c

The Roadmap to a

Sustainable Business Research by Arjowiggins Graphic, the leader in the development of environmental paper solutions, found that nearly 40% of UK companies think that the environment is currently the biggest challenge facing their business. Thus the sustainable business agenda has never been more relevant. Angela De Vorchik discusses how to overcome these challenges and, more importantly, how a business can communicate that they are doing so.

The challenging economic climate of the past few years has led to widespread speculation that businesses would focus less on sustainability.

The reality is that companies have not only maintained – but often increased – their investment in their sustainability endeavours. The reason for this is because now, more than ever, operating sustainably has a trickling impact for several areas in a business and ultimately a business’s bottom line.

Greater consumer awareness of global climate change and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) mean that it is increasingly important for businesses to robustly demonstrate their environmental credentials.

With consumers now more savvy, and strict targets being enforced on businesses to reduce carbon emissions, it is important to demonstrate that the business is actively addressing these concerns – businesses failing to do so may find themselves falling behind competitors.

However, we know that to do this well requires time, resources and finances that are not always readily available, leaving organisations with a sense that this is a difficult challenge to overcome. The 40% of companies who told us they don’t know what to do next when it comes to operating sustainably is a testament to this.

The Arjowiggings Graphic-commissioned research, conducted with over 100 printers and designers, also indicates that despite the economy remaining the main issue impacting UK businesses (67%), over a third (37%) found that understanding what they can do next on sustainability is the biggest environmental challenge they face.

One fundamental issue that can be addressed, however, isn’t nearly as resource or budget demanding as a company might think – an organisation’s choice of paper. Choosing recycled paper is a simple action which can have significant environmental benefits. | 152 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

Global ecological issues which highlight the paper industry can be a key agent for change. This is why using recycled paper should be a major part of a business’s environmental policy, since it can reduce the company’s carbon emissions, water usage, energy usage and waste to landfill.

Not only does paper provide the link between business and the outside world when mailers, newsletters and annual reports are used to communicate with customers, but recycled paper is also a material that offers a sustainable, greener option. Therefore, if using it to communicate why not use it to communicate beyond the written word? Our research found that more than two-thirds (76%) of companies stated that using recycled paper was either very important or important to their organisation, with over half stating they currently use recycled paper.

Choosing to print on recycled paper can help to communicate brand values. We found that 25% of businesses find it a challenge to appropriately communicate their environmental practices, but it only takes a simple change such as changing to recycled paper to make this known. Furthermore, the quality and variety of options available means that there are suitable stocks for multiple purposes, allowing companies to use recycled paper without sacrificing either print quality or environmental commitments. The quality of recycled paper has increased dramatically and innovations in the process of recycling have enabled paper to reach new heights of sustainability and quality.

Now corporates can opt for recycled paper that’s whiter than white – and often they do, for their annual reports or direct mail. For companies seeking to wear their green credentials on their sleeve, ‘natural’ shades still prove popular. Of course, it’s great that the more sustainable option can now match the best ‘virgin’ papers when it comes to quality.

Web: www.arjowigginscreativepapers.com

Using recycled paper or adopting other sustainable tactics as part of your corporate social responsibility strategy is one thing but, understandably, most companies want to be seen to be doing the right thing too.

The use of environmentally friendly papers sends a strong message that a business is aware of its responsibilities and, by selecting the right paper, a company can use materials such as corporate brochures and annual reports to make positive statements about its environmental commitment. The key is to be transparent about your CSR actions, as consumers will appreciate honesty. This is where environmental accreditations come in: trusted experts can work out how well you’re doing and map out your next steps to ensure your business operations are sustainable. Environmental accreditations are essential for companies to be able to make informed decisions when selecting products.

The WWF Environmental Paper Company Index (EPCI), the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) for example, all enable businesses to see which paper companies have proven to be the most sustainable.

There are also various tools available that showcase business’s efforts of using recycled paper to their customers. For example, Arjowiggins Graphic’s Environmental Calculator finds out how much landfill, greenhouse gases, litres of water, energy and wood are saved by using recycled paper compared to non-recycled paper, tailored to specific print runs. This is then displayed in an Environmental Benefit Statement (EBS) – in a clear visual manner – which illustrates the tangible positive effects of using post-consumer recycled paper rather than non-recycled. These savings can then be communicated to customers and stakeholders by printing the details on each set of materials – brochures, direct mail, report and accounts etc. For more information see: www.recycled-papers.co.uk/environmental-benefit-statement It’s now more common than ever for consumers to be provided with a wealth of information on companies’ sustainability strategies. Getting sustainability wrong can impact not only a company’s reputation, but also the bottom line: switching to recycled paper can be a simple step to enhancing both ■

The Arjowiggins Graphic's EBS figures on Poverty Magazine.

Calverts

+ More Information www.arjowigginscreativepapers.com

environmentmagazine.co.uk | 153 |

Waste

Ian L ew i s / Pay A s You Th row / M O BA UK

Arguments for the Increased Adoption of PAYT are Starting to Weigh Up For the last two decades, the UK has been steadfastly resistant to introducing a variablebased waste disposal method, despite the fact that in many other countries it has proved to be an effective way of reducing waste volumes. Nevertheless, according to MOBA, Europe’s leading provider of bin weighing and identification technology, there are now encouraging signs that a ‘pay as you throw’ model is now gaining significant appeal in both the public and private sector.

Ian Lewis, General Manager of MOBA UK, commented: “Waste contractors and Local Councils are now looking for more transparency about the waste they collect. PAYT not only delivers more meaningful management data but it also directly incentivises businesses and individuals to reduce the amount of waste they produce and, in turn, also encourages them to recycle more”.

| 154 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

Web: www.moba.de/en

Ian Lewis

General Manager, MOBA UK

Pay as you throw, or PAYT, has become a practical reality in an increasing number of countries in Europe, North America and Asia in both the residential and commercial sectors. In Europe, for example, municipalities Germany, Spain the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Austria and Finland have all adopted a variable payment method. Indeed, MOBA, headquartered in Limburg with over 450 employees, has deployed more than 200 projects throughout Europe, with over 7 million waste bins identified and managed with its MAWIS identification system.

The results, demonstrated in numerous cases, have shown that the source separation of materials can rise by over 100% after the introduction of PAYT, even when the respective collection systems for source-separated waste were already in place. Furthermore, the amount of waste presented for collection dropped significantly, with a range of a 30-50% reduction. Moreover, evidence from Holland, Ireland and Germany suggests that PAYT should not increase bills and that, indeed, it may offer an opportunity to reduce them.

For example, in the Bavarian county of Mühldorf, waste management company Heinz equipped its waste trucks with MOBA’s bin weighing and identification systems in order to implement a PAYT scheme on behalf of the public municipality for its 100,000 inhabitants.

The results so far have been extremely impressive. Since the scheme was introduced in 2000, the population has benefited from a cumulative reduction in fees of 21%.

So, with more than a decade’s worth of data and demonstrable success, why hasn’t the UK also taken up the baton? PAYT was actually introduced in Labour’s 2008 Climate Change Act, and would have allowed local authorities to charge households who generated more

than a certain amount of waste. However, the scheme came under fierce attack from certain sections of the media, dubbing it a ‘bin tax’ and claiming it would lead to more fly-tipping.

Regrettably, earlier trials conducted in 2005 using first generation technology encountered a raft of electrical, mechanical, hydraulic and data faults forcing bin men to carry out running repairs or override the system in order to carry on with their rounds. Also, the bin needed to be lifted several times to ensure weighing accuracy which inevitably meant that the round took much longer and consequently significantly reduced productivity.

In 2010 new trials using updated technology were conducted in 60,000 homes in the borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and were far more successful, resulting in an increase in recycling by 30%. Nevertheless, plans to roll out PAYT in the UK were scrapped in June 2010, following a decision by the coalition Government not to approve any further pilots to trial the measure.

Instead, they favoured rewards-based schemes, as employed in the Windsor trial whereby points are awarded for the amount of recyclates, which can be, for example, redeemed at shops, restaurants and leisure centres, or donated to schools.

Whilst recycling rates are gradually increasing – the figure currently stands at around 43.3% – the latest figures from DEFRA indicate that momentum is stagnating with a miserly 0.1% increase in the 12 months to June 2013 for local authority managed household wastes in England. This more than ever suggests that the waste collection current schemes are not having the necessary impact to drive up recycling rates.

A report published in February 2014 titled ‘Investigating the Impact of Recycling Incentive Schemes’, commissioned by government ► environmentmagazine.co.uk | 155 |

Waste

Ian L ew i s / Pay A s You Th row / M O BA UK

Data collected by bin weighing can highlight customers and companies who regularly overfill their bins, and those who behave more responsibly. services provider Serco, explored the effect of incentives and reward schemes on recycling rates in over 30 boroughs across the UK. The report revealed that those Local authorities with recycling incentives schemes in place recorded an average 8% increase in recycling.

The report also noted that if the trend to less frequent collections continues – indeed some councils are already considering providing only monthly collections – then private sector providers may step in to offer top-up residual waste collections, thus creating a PAYT system outside the public sector.

Crucial, however, to the implementation of any PAYT scheme is the deployment of reliable and accurate bin weighing and identification technology. Whilst, given the past performance of older systems, there is still a certain amount of scepticism in the market place, there is also now a much greater appreciation that the technology has now vastly improved.

Leading the charge is MOBA, who has been a recognised expert in the field of identification | 156 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

and weighing technologies for the waste disposal sector for more than 40 years and is currently the leading player in PAYT systems within Europe. And with three production sites in Germany, eight subsidiaries, including the UK, the USA, China and India, and a growing dealer network, MOBA are uniquely positioned and with an unparalleled footprint across the globe.

Core to the company’s success in the waste sector is its MAWIS (MOBA Automatic Waste Bin Identification System) technology and the multiple benefits it brings both to the waste management company (its customer) and the waste producer. To begin with the sophisticated vibrating-wire technology delivers extremely accurate weighing measurements with complete immunity from interference and electronic signal processing. This is far superior to a conventional strain gauge load cells as it not only delivers improved weighing accuracy but, significantly, also means the bin lifter no longer needs to be operated at slow speeds in order to achieve a stable weighing signal, one of

the biggest drawbacks faced by earlier systems.

Once lifted MAWIS automatically reads the transponder fitted into the bin and the weight is then calculated. The data is displayed on the onboard computer of the vehicle and then saved for subsequent further processing. Thanks to the data transmission via telematics, data can be exchanged between office and vehicle at all times. The waste disposal software, MAWIS EM, offers additional tools for managing and further processing of the data back in the office.

This not only enables more accurate invoicing, but also enables the waste contractor to collate more relevant management data which they can then, if relevant, share with their customers.

The example in Barcelona demonstrates perfectly how the power that this additional data can help waste management companies.

In 2009 the city’s four main waste contractors equipped their entire fleet, around 800 vehicles in total, with MOBA on-board equipment for container management and route planning. As well as much better route planning, thanks to

Web: www.moba.de/en

Trials using updated bin weighing technology in 2010, conducted in 60,000 homes in the borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, resulted in an increase in recycling by 30% the on-board GPS tracking, the Municipality has complete transparency on the amount of waste being lifted (which has also decreased). More importantly, the MOBA system has also enabled the city to directly invoice its commercial customers which has been extremely successful and has already become self-funding.

The possibilities that this technology can bring is now at long last exciting the waste management industry in the UK. One of the key factors that is driving the adoption of bin weighing and identification technology in the UK is the greater transparency it brings to collections and the rich management data that will help waste producers reduce and segregate their waste streams better. But there are a number of companies who are already thinking beyond simply better data to a point where they could be automatically billed depending on the weight of the bin. For example those customers with multiple sites, such as retailers or pub chains, where an average weight could be levied across all bins collected, but the transparency will bring into sharp focus those sites which are creating excessive amounts of waste or not doing enough to segregate that which can be recycled.

A number of visionary waste management companies are also excited about being able to introduce a step-shift in the way it levies fees.

One such company is Fortress Recycling and Resource Management, which has begun fitting MOBA’s technology to its fleet of trucks knowing that a more variable approach to pricing will encourage customers to rethink their business model. In fact, many of its customers have adopted PAYT as they see the huge advantages and cost savings it brings.

David Pass, Fortress’ Managing Director, asserted: “There is now a growing groundswell

of support amongst our customer base for the move to a pay-as-you-throw charging method, as they can see that this will not only help them reduce their waste costs over time but will also greatly increase their recycling rates.”

Fortress also believes that PAYT will be crucial to the success of the waste management industry. The management data it provides brings into sharp focus those customers who regularly overfill their bins, and who are likely to be far less profitable than those who behave more responsibly.

“What we need to do is put in place the right vehicles, technology and back-office systems to enable this, which is why we have chosen to partner with companies such as MOBA whose products we trust in, even in the most rigorous situations and with great reliability”, added David Pass.

The likelihood is that PAYT will become an increasingly powerful topic of conversation during the course of this year as businesses and municipalities face the joint tasks of cutting costs and reducing waste. As more waste producers come round to the idea there will then need to be a huge investment in equipment to make PAYT a reality. Ian Lewis, MOBA UK’s General Manager commented: “Waste contractors have now begun to experience how bin identification and weighing technology can actually help increase their overall profitability. Consequently the demand we are seeing means our order book is now fivefold over that of last year, leading me to believe that 2014 really will be the year that PAYT takes off.” ■

+ More Information www.moba.de/en www.fortressrecycling.com environmentmagazine.co.uk | 157 |

Waste

| 158 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

Ian Wakeli n / R D F / Bi f fa

Web: www.biffa.co.uk

Waste as a Fuel The world of waste is ever-changing. As we continuously strive to find the best way to deal with materials that have reached the end of their useful life the focus eventually reaches the waste that no-one wants. Non-recyclable, often contaminated, materials are of no use to the reprocessing industry, and landfill is increasingly a no-no. The solution that is gaining popularity in the waste and energy sectors is to prepare this material as a fuel, and use it to generate (partially) renewable electricity and heat.

While some might argue that the best solution is to avoid creating the waste in the first place (I couldn’t agree more) there will always be some residual element that needs disposing.

These days we are fortunate to have many opportunities to move materials away from being considered “waste” and keep them in the material economy through recycling. Yet our society will continue to generate waste – that is, materials that are past their usefulness and whether for practical or affordability issues cannot be recycled.

What we do with this significant amount of waste is one of the biggest environmental questions of our time. Historically banishing rubbish to landfill, as a society we have become almost addicted to this linear resource-use pattern – produce it, use it, throw it “away”.

Thanks to legislation driven by the European Commission we have been forced to clean up our act, and start finding more sustainable alternatives to landfill.

As it stands, the options for dealing with non-recyclable waste are limited. We can’t make new products from it, and we can’t make it disappear. That means the only two realistic options are to either bury it, or burn it.

A lot of energy is used to make the everyday items that we take for granted and that energy is bound up in the materials we throw away. By recovering that energy as efficiently as possible we can: • help reduce our reliance on fossil fuels

Ian Wakelin CEO, Biffa

• become more energy self-sufficient • diversify our potential sources of energy

An estimated 25 million tonnes of waste is currently landfilled in the UK that could be used to provide a sustainable fuel for energy generation.

Partly because of our past dependence on landfill we haven’t really got used to the idea of burning rubbish as a fuel in Britain. In other parts of Europe, and indeed the world, this material is considered a useful and completely acceptable fuel for generating hot water and electricity. Take Denmark for example, where the geology prevented landfill from ever being an available disposal option. There people have been burning waste as a fuel for over 100 years and community-scale incinerators are commonplace.

Of course technology has moved on tremendously and our ability to control air pollution from incinerators (again driven by European legislation in the form of the Waste Incineration Directive) has meant it is now as benign a practice as any power station using solid fuel. One could argue that due to the availability of waste-derived fuel, and its low and stable market value, it actually has the potential to solve much of our energy crisis if used it in the right way.

Critical to our position on using waste as a fuel is the fact that around a fifth of power stations operating in the UK are likely to close by 2020. New modern infrastructure and a sustainable fuel source are needed to provide affordable energy security. Key to the government’s investment in new infrastructure is the country’s ability to deliver secure lowcarbon energy to consumers, taxpayers and the economy as a whole.

Across Europe existing power stations are being converted to be able to use waste as a fuel instead of coal. Indeed, demand for this low-cost fuel is so strong that two distinct products are ► environmentmagazine.co.uk | 159 |

Waste

Ian Wakeli n / R D F / Bi f fa

Waste arrives at a sorting facility and the anything non-recyclable is shredded, dried, baled and exported. now available on the market – Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) and Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF).

The differences between the two may seem academic to some, but the distinction is important to those who are using the fuel to generate heat and power.

RDF is the output of a simple process – waste arrives at a sorting facility, the recyclable materials are extracted and sold on, and the remainder is shredded, dried, baled and exported to facilities such as incinerators and gasification plants.

SRF is produced via a more detailed process which can provide the end-user with a fuel that has more specific characteristics, such as a certain calorific value. This is useful for facilities like cement kilns that require the fuel to reach higher temperatures, and as such SRF achieves a higher price on the market.

| 160 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

So what is it about waste that makes it such a good fuel?

• It is plentiful – all of those bits of rubbish that can’t be recycled, such as polystyrene trays, packaging that has plastic attached to thin metal, used paper towels, even nappies.

All of these materials make perfectly good fuel when processed in the right way, and the only alternative for these waste streams is landfill.

• It is renewable – not in the sense that we can use the same material time and time again, but rather anything that is “organic” (such as paper, wood and many textiles) can be grown again in our lifetime, and so to use it to generate power once at the end of its useful life is a good option.

• It is cheap – waste-derived fuels only exist because no-one has worked out a better way to deal with this large amount of material. It has very little value compared to source-separated recyclable materials, and householders and industry are generating

it every day up and down the country. This “rubbish” needs to be collected daily, so its availability as a cheap fuel is a promising attribute. At these times of energy insecurity and fuel poverty using waste as a fuel seems to be a very sensible option.

• It is indigenous – rather than having to buy in fuel from other countries, and pay for the transport to bring it to our shores, we are generating significant amounts of a domestic fuel source. It makes sense to use it! At the moment because of a lack of incineration capacity in the UK we are actually exporting RDF and SRF to facilities in mainland Europe. The British public are slowly beginning to accept the prospect of using waste as a fuel, but we clearly still have a long way to go in terms of public perception.

In the meantime at Biffa we are continuing to expand our RDF-generating capacity. We see it as an excellent solution to diverting waste from landfill, recovering what value it contains and

Web: www.biffa.co.uk

generating much-needed low-cost energy in the process. We treat waste from households, businesses and industry throughout the UK and help our customers avoid the significant financial burden of Landfill Tax in the process.

Importantly our customers like it. Many of them share our vision of sending zero waste to landfill and achieving zero waste management costs by accessing the right markets for different materials. Our customers rely on Biffa’s ability to do the most sustainable thing with their unavoidable and non-recyclable waste, and that is to turn it into a fuel. We have even arranged the industry’s first 360-degree energy deal, in which one of our customers has its energy bills paid by the revenue generated from using its waste as a fuel. It seems like a sensible model for the future and at Biffa we hope that having pioneered the approach others will follow.

So what of the future for RDF and SRF? The

European Commission is working on developing quality standards for these fuels which will give the end market greater assurances about its characteristics and suitability as a fuel in different types of facilities. As the prices of fossil fuels continue to rise the price of waste is thankfully stable, which means its role in our energy mix is likely to grow.

We would like to see more treatment capacity in the UK so that we can avoid the transport impacts of exporting this material.

That means a sea-change in the success of planning applications for incinerators and other thermal treatment facilities such as gasification.

It’s been great to see the Energy Technologies Institute encouraging greater efficiency in these plants and we are confident that with time using waste as a fuel will become an increasingly sustainable practice.

To conclude, waste-derived fuels are a useful tool for the wasteful and energy-hungry society we live in. Its use is a good solution for unavoidable non-recyclable waste and is extremely promising as a complement to our existing energy sources. The Department for Energy and Climate Change recently announced: “Now is the right time to invest in the UK’s ageing energy infrastructure and to replace it with a diverse low carbon, efficient, energy mix.”

As far as we’re concerned the sooner the better ■

+ More Information www.biffa.co.uk

environmentmagazine.co.uk | 161 |

Waste

R t Ho n Caroli ne Sp elman / Ci rcular Eco no my

Remanufacturing: Towards a resource efficient economy Rt Hon Caroline Spelman

MP for Meriden and former Secretary of State for the Environment The renaissance of British manufacturing has created an outstanding opportunity for remanufacturing, whereby equipment is rebuilt, improved and recycled. The UK is not realising the full economic and environmental potential of improved remanufacturing and government must act quickly to ensure we are not left behind in the global remanufacturing race.

I have recently chaired a report by the All-Party Parliamentary Sustainable Resource Group (APSRG) that outlines clearly the case for improved remanufacturing standards and practices in the UK. The report, entitled ‘Remanufacturing: Towards a resource efficient economy’ focuses on three key areas – the economic and environmental benefits of remanufacturing, the challenges that the UK still faces regarding the uptake of remanufacturing and the ways in which these can be overcome.

The potential economic benefits are significant. Current estimates suggest that the UK’s remanufacturing sector is already valued at £2.4bn, with the potential to increase to £5.6bn. This will simultaneously create thousands of skilled jobs in the sector. This is an opportunity that the UK cannot afford to miss.

The UK is lagging behind in the global race that is remanufacturing.

The United States is the largest remanufacturer in the world with a remanufacturing sector valued at $43bn and employing 180,000 people. The opportunity is clearly there for the UK to make more of its remanufacturing sector and become a global leader in this field.

So what does the UK need to do to make the most of these opportunities? Manufacturing was outlined in this year’s Budget, where Chancellor George Osborne made reference to America, which will see the creation of 5 million manufacturing jobs by the end of this decade. He noted that Britain’s manufacturing sector is growing and jobs are being created but raised concerns that Britain has 20 years of catching up to do in this sector. To help to encourage this, promises were made to back businesses who invest and export and to support manufacturers and back all regions of our country. Remanufacturing needs to be recognised as one of the key enablers of achieving these manufacturing targets and needs this same support. | 162 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

There is a strong economic case for businesses too and suggestions have been made that it can be twice as profitable as remanufacturing.

End-users also receive benefits of having remanufactured products.

Think of a situation where a customer returns a product at the end of its life and under the same guarantee immediately receives an identical product which is as good as new with the same guarantee as that of a new product. These are the benefits of remanufacturing to the customer.

It clearly makes business sense to do this.

Alongside the economic opportunity is a strong environmental one.

Evidence outlined in the APSRG’s report states that remanufacturing uses 85% less energy than manufacturing, equating to a saving of over 10 million barrels of crude oil. With climate change increasingly on the political agenda, remanufacturing has the potential to save 800,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, roughly equivalent to 1% of the total annual emissions from cars. The UK has challenging climate change targets and remanufacturing should be seen as part of the solution to meeting them.

However, considerable market and regulatory barriers need to be overcome in order for remanufacturing to be taken up successfully.

Firstly, products need to be designed with the circular economy in mind. Design is often quoted as the most important factor for enabling remanufacturing and there should be greater collaboration between those who give design briefs and the designers themselves. The United States has recognised that the freedom of information legislation is a key way that the design process can become more transparent and have amended it to ensure remanufacturers can have access to design specifications. The UK needs to follow this lead as currently remanufacturers must reverse engineer all products before any remanufacture process can begin. This significantly adds to the time and investment cost of remanufacturing.

Also of importance is the regulation surrounding the legal definition of waste. As it stands the ‘Current Guidance on the Legal Definition of Waste’ does not mention remanufactured products and as such

Web: www.policyconnect.org.uk/apsrg

Read the Orangebox case study here: http://goo.gl/k2Q7M3

The route to a closed loop system.

they are not exempt from those products classified as waste. This is especially dangerous to the uptake of remanufacturing as there is no globally accepted legal definition of remanufacturing. Market dynamics, consumer concepts and international trade are all severely affected by this. If consumers are not aware of what a remanufactured product is – that it is at least as good as a new product and comes with the same guarantee as that of a new product – it is easy for them not to trust it.

This same lack of trust exists on an international scale when it comes to trade. Amending the current Guidance on the Legal Definition of Waste so products that are due to be remanufactured are exempt from those products that are considered waste is one way in which these difficulties could be overcome. A certified mark for remanufacturing to demonstrate that products have been fully tested and meet the standards of a new product would also improve consumer confidence in remanufactured products. This adoption of a certified mark has already been proven to work in many areas, for example the Forest Stewardship Council’s “tick tree” logo which allows consumers of timber to purchase and use timber and forest products from well-managed forests. There is potential for remanufactured products to be considered the ‘norm’ but to achieve this Government needs to drive the initial push that will ensure remanufactured products are described correctly and are not confused with waste, recycled or reused products.

There is opportunity to address these issues through the creation of one or more Centre of Excellences for those sectors where remanufacturing can have the largest impact. It is accepted that remanufacturing is not a one-size fits all approach and is sometimes not the best solution either environmentally or economically. However, for those product types that fit the criteria for remanufacturing, education is key to its successful uptake and a Centre of Excellence, linked to a key University, will provide a unique opportunity to share best practice.

Remanufacturing is an area which cuts across several Government departments, and needs to be addressed as such. A cross-departmental Committee needs to be established, led by BIS but supported by Defra,

to ensure cross-party collaboration and policy alignment.

Despite the barriers, some businesses have recognised the potential for remanufacturing. Across the board, from large multinational corporations such as Caterpillar to SMEs such as Orangebox, the opportunity that remanufacturing represents has already been incorporated into existing business models. Caterpillar for example is now in a position where it remanufactures all types of military tanks as well as Land Rover Snatch models. Alongside Caterpillar’s traditional products, this has resulted in increased profit margins whilst still maintaining the highest quality products. The environmental benefits to Caterpillar are also extensive and the company has estimated that remanufacturing a cylinder leads to 61% less greenhouse gases, a 93% reduction in water use and an 86% reduction in energy consumption.

Orangebox too has recognised the business case for remanufacturing.

Although an SME employing only around 200 members of staff, it has recognised that through remanufacturing market share can grow and a better product can be developed. Both Caterpillar and Orangebox prove that remanufacturing can make business sense and every effort should be made to encourage other manufacturers to incorporate remanufacturing into their business models.

The value that remanufacturing has to the UK’s economy and environment needs to be recognised. It can provide jobs, increase resource efficiency and result in less waste produced, as well as driving the development of a circular economy. Only if the barriers outlined in this report are tackled can the UK make the most out of remanufacturing going forward.

Rt Hon Caroline Spelman is MP for Meriden and a former Environment Secretary. For more information on the APSRG’s remanufacturing project, please visit the website at: www.policyconnect.org.uk/apsrg

+ More Information www.policyconnect.org.uk/apsrg environmentmagazine.co.uk | 163 |

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Ian Hether i ng to n / ELV / BM R A

End of Life Vehicles - Legislative update

For the first time in nearly half a century the legislation governing metals recycling in England and Wales has been replaced and modernised with the implementation of the Scrap Metal Dealers’ Act 2013.

Ian Hetherington

Director General, British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA)

The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders (LASPO) Act of 2012 banned cash payments which caused the volume of scrap metal available for purchase by the legitimate trade to fall by 5% to 10% across the country. However, motor vehicle salvage operators and certain itinerant collectors were exempted which created an uneven playing field as these operators were able to continue to pay cash for scrap. Material was clearly being syphoned off by exempted operators as well as criminal traders paying cash for scrap.

Fortunately the Scrap Metal Dealers’ Act was introduced on 1 October and extended the ban on cash payments to all dealers as well as increasing penalties for breaking the law. The new Act has replaced the outdated 1964 legislation and sees local authorities implement a new licensing system for scrap metal dealers. All dealers must apply for a site or collector’s licence from their local council and their criminal records and suitability will be assessed before a licence is granted. | 164 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

Scrap metal dealers must verify and record the identity of anyone from whom they receive scrap metal which will further improve the traceability of transactions. It is hoped this will act as a deterrent to criminals seeking to sell stolen metal and will also expose unscrupulous dealers to the scrutiny of local authorities and the police.

Lacklustre licensing

However, a survey of over 600 BMRA member sites indicated that only 60% had received licences by mid-March, six months after new legislation was implemented in England and Wales. A considerable number of scrap metal dealers are therefore without a licence despite submitting their applications before the 15 October deadline. This is causing a loss of business for legitimate traders as some major sellers of scrap metal such as utility companies and automotive manufacturers require evidence of a current licence as part of their tender process.

Web: www.recyclemetals.org

It is imperative that councils struggling with applications for scrap metal dealer licences are given the adequate support to process them as quickly as possible. If not, legitimate traders may be put out of business.

Most importantly, this delay is also affecting the ability of the authorities to enforce the new regime on top of declining budgets and resources. However, the licences are self-financing so sufficient resources must be allocated because each council has set an application fee for licence applications. Otherwise the new system only increases the administrative burden for law-abiding dealers while illegal operators go unpunished and undermine the industry.

It was extremely concerning to hear that funding for the National Metal Theft Taskforce has been withdrawn and it will be disbanded due to a decreasing focus on metal theft. Home Offices figures which show a decline in metal theft offences across England and Wales in 2012/13 prove that coordinated enforcement is effective in reducing metal related crime. If the new Scrap Metal Dealers’ Act is not enforced properly then metal theft will increase in the long term and the police will be overwhelmed.

More life from end of life vehicles

85% of end of life vehicles (ELVs) must be reused, recycled or used to recover energy under the European Union’s ELV Directive including metals, plastics, rubber and glass. UK metals recyclers can currently reach this target but it is set to increase to 95% in 2015. Fortunately in 2012 it was announced that material from car recycling was allowed to be recovered as energy which will help the industry meet the EU’s increasing recovery targets.

The Environment Agency and Defra confirmed that material left over from the shredding of end of life vehicles, known as auto shredder residue

(ASR), can be thermally processed in order to recover energy. Previously, around 800,000 tonnes of this material went to landfill because it can’t be recycled. It is difficult to mix ASR with municipal waste in existing energyfrom-waste facilities because of its very high chlorine content. Bespoke infrastructure is needed to generate energy from ASR but, while the energy recovered from this material didn’t count towards ELV recovery targets, investors held off.

Since 2010 the BMRA had been calling for the Government to be decisive and choose the best outlet for the material. Finally in 2012 metals recyclers were given the regulatory framework needed to put in place the necessary infrastructure to recover energy from ASR. This gave the sector the green light for the significant investment needed to achieve the EU’s 95% recovery and recycling target in 2015. It was just one more step that has allowed the metals recycling industry in the UK to take a lead in the advanced recycling of end-of-life consumer goods in Europe whilst creating green jobs and growth in the sector.

Defra opened an informal consultation on plans to simplify guidance for the waste management sector at the end of last year which includes ELVs as part of Defra’s Smarter Environment Regulation Review.

CARS 2014

The BMRA is supporting the Complete Auto Recycling and Secondary Materials (CARS) trade show which is taking place from 5 to 6 June, 2014 at Motorhog in Doncaster. CARS 2014 is Europe’s largest yard-based trade show, developed by auto recycling industry experts and tailored specifically for ELV recyclers.

Manufacturers will be able to demonstrate their kit by taking an ELV from start to finish including depollution, hulk separation and major component removal, hulk shredding, engine crushing, eddy current non- ► environmentmagazine.co.uk | 165 |

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ferrous separation, granulation of copper looms, granulation of plastics bumpers, CAT shearing and baling.

The conference programme will address highly topical issues, such as green parts, future vehicles and the impact their design will have on auto recyclers. On Friday 6 June, I will be chairing a session on what ELV recyclers need to do to reach the 95% target in 2015 and what will happen if they don’t meet this. I will also be taking part in a session about the implementation of the Scrap Metal Dealers’ Act together with the new licensing and regime enforcement. The Skills Lab offers visitors practical sessions on the best practices for processing vehicles.

Advanced technology

The industry has continued to invest in innovative materials recycling and recovery processes. Investing in technology will help the sector achieve the UK’s increasing recycling targets set by the EU and consolidate its position as a leading exporter of recycled metal.

An independent report commissioned by BMRA in 2012 confirmed that metal fragmentisers (more commonly known as shredders) are vital to increasing the UK’s recovery rates and share of the global market for recycled metals. In fact shredders are the most efficient technology for extracting both ferrous and non-ferrous metals from a wide range of waste streams.

The BMRA commissioned this research ahead of shredding operations coming under the Industrial Emissions Directive in 2015 and it was found that shredders pose a very low risk to the environment and human health.

However, it highlighted a number of further improvements that operators will be expected to implement over the next few years. The study of over half of the UK’s 45 shredding facilities said that the fragmentising sector is also developing increasingly sophisticated separation and recovery techniques. Also, new techniques will increase the sector’s ability to maximise recovery and recycling of metallic waste and help producers meet WEEE and ELV obligations.

Ian Hether i ng to n / ELV / BM R A

Challenging times ahead

The greatest long term challenge facing the industry is finding a way for recyclers to successfully coexist with their surrounding communities. The industry is recovering more and more material from complex consumer goods, driven by regulations and new technologies. Processing additional residual waste streams requires more space for equipment and facilities which increases the pressure on land surrounding existing sites. Against the backdrop of urban sprawl, this creates potential conflicts with local residents and developers competing for land as well as exacerbating the issue of nuisance. However, you can’t increase recycling rates without making adequate provisions and allocating more land.

In addition to the challenges of establishing and expanding metal recycling facilities, the exporting of recycled materials is negatively perceived. The Associate Parliamentary Sustainable Resource Group report on exporting valuable secondary raw materials derived from waste identifies the vital role exports play in helping the UK extract greater value from its waste. Exports are vital to the UK’s £5.6bn metals recycling industry because far more metal is recovered than the domestic metal producers can consume. In fact 60% of the recycled metal processed in the UK is exported due to the decline of the UK’s metal production industry so it’s important to find overseas markets for the surplus.

The British metals recycling industry is a success story and contributes to the economy but it also creates potential conflicts. Many people want to live near river estuaries or on the outskirts of towns and cities but this is where scrap yards have been located for generations. Often they are perceived as noisy nuisances instead of successful metals recycling sites.

Recycling is widely supported but unfortunately few people want to live alongside it. This challenge needs to be resolved by the industry, political leaders and society in general, and soon ■

+ More Information www.recyclemetals.org

| 166 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

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C A R S / Show Prev i ew / 5 -6 June 2 0 1 4

5-6 June 2014, Motorhog Doncaster, UK www.cars-expo.com Organised by: Environment Media Group Headline sponsors: Fab Recycling, JCB, JMC Recycling Solutions The Complete Auto Recycling and Secondary Materials (CARS) trade show has established itself as the leading event for End of Life Vehicles (ELVs), metals recyclers and other related material reprocessors in Europe.

| 168 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

Web: www.cars-expo.com

Launched in 2012, CARS was a huge success – welcoming over 76 exhibitors and more than 800 attendees from countries including the USA, India, Japan and Germany. CARS 2014 is already shaping up to be a similarly global event, with visitors from 18 countries already registered to attend.

CARS 2014 will take place on 5-6 June at the working vehicle salvage yard of Motorhog in Doncaster, one of the UK's leading dismantling and salvage specialists. The show offers a packed two days - including a conference programme, practical training, indoor and outdoor exhibitions, big machine demonstrations and tours of Motorhog.

Andy Latham, Managing Director of Salvage Wire and member of the Steering Committee for this year’s show, explained: “The Steering Committee wanted to build on the success of the first show held at Hills in 2012. We feel that the UK auto recycling industry has been long neglected, and this is an exciting opportunity to pull all sectors of the industry together – including processors of metals, non-metallics, remanufactures and those that move the products around the country.

“Based around concepts that many of the Steering Committee have seen in the USA, the show combines static and working displays, seminars and teaching, in addition to many opportunities to network with colleagues over food and drink and meet customers and suppliers.

We want visitors to be able to learn about new ideas, machinery and techniques that can all help to prepare businesses for the future. Where else would you get the opportunity to compare products before making a decision to purchase, see these products operating in a working yard, or take part in a discussion about green recycled parts?”

Nigel Dove, CEO of Vortex Depollution and fellow member of the steering committee, is another driving force behind the show: “Without the opportunity for manufacturers to show what their products do it is very easy for ATFs and vehicle dismantlers to miss the latest technical developments that can significantly save them money or increase their profitability”, Nigel explained. “You can read articles and see adverts but from a manufacturer’s perspective nothing comes close to actually showing your customers what you can do for them.”

A key feature of CARS 2014 is the Duesmann and Hensel Conference Theatre – with each session hosting a panel of expert speakers discussing key topics facing the sector. On the first day of the show conference sessions have been developed with the bodyshop and related industries in mind. Sessions include the Green parts forum – which will explore how the industry must pull together to increase the use of green parts within the UK. Plus, in light of ground-breaking new technology predicted to emerge in the next few years and Volvo’s recent ambitious claim that “by 2020, no one will be killed in a new Volvo”, Future vehicles and the impact on auto recyclers will explore the impact of new vehicle design and its effect on automotive repair and recycling businesses.

The second day’s conference programme is geared towards those who work in the metals recycling sector. Meeting 2015 ELV targets will look at what ELV recyclers need to do to reach this target and what it means if they don't; whilst Making business sense of the 2013 Scrap Metal Dealers Act, chaired by letsrecycle.com’s Editor Steve Eminton and featuring speakers Mariel Irvine from MI Solicitors, Chas Ambrose, CEO ► environmentmagazine.co.uk | 169 |

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of Motor Vehicle Dismantlers Association (MVDA) and Ian Hetherington, Chair of British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA), will explore the uncertainties surrounding the meaning of the new legislation and its implementation.

In addition to the conference programme there will be business seminars including Sales training: motivating your staff – which will offer visitors practical advice on how to improve day-to-day business management. The session will be hosted by D.J. Harrington, President and CEO of Phone Logic, an international training company based in Atlanta, USA. Mr Harrington serves as a consultant and trainer to over 1,000 privately owned businesses throughout the country, and is a recipient of the coveted Certified Speaking Professional award – a level achieved by fewer than 3% of all US national speakers.

CARS is not a standard trade show – visitors are encouraged to brush up on their skills and even test their knowledge against the experts, with practical training in the Skills Lab on subjects including Depolluting air conditioning units and Grading mechanical parts: working to a standard.

Furthermore, there will be outside demonstrations of the JMC work line throughout both days of the show, featuring the de-pollution and dismantling of ELVs and downstream processing of valuable materials.

See the latest machines designed to turn ELVs into cash including CAT recycling, engine cracking, wiring loom granulation, wheel ripping and car baling. Exhibitors including Hammel, Overton Dismantlers and Solmec will also be showcasing their machinery in action in the Big Machine Demo Area – not standard procedure at an average trade show!

As well as companies including Crow Environmental, Combilift, JCB and Blue Fuchs plus others showcasing their machinery in the additional Outdoor Demo Area, CARS still holds the hallmarks of a traditional trade | 170 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

C A R S / Show Prev i ew / 5 -6 June 2 0 1 4

show, with a large indoor exhibition. Visitors can catch up with suppliers, see what's new on the market and make new contacts – with companies including Reco Auto, Premier Components and Wickens Engineering plus many more industry-leaders in attendance.

The show is being held on the 25 acre working site of Motorhog, one of the UK's leading dismantling and salvage specialists. Motorhog employs over 100 full-time staff and turns over several million pounds per year whilst still remaining independent and privately owned. Throughout the two days of the show there will be tours of the working site – what better way to see how one of the grand masters of our industry does it?

Socialising with friends, colleagues and clients will play an integral role in the show. On the Thursday evening the Sims Metal Networking Pavilion will play host to an Oktoberfest-style beer hall extravaganza – where visitors will be treated to music, local beers and a traditional pie and mash dinner. There will be a charity auction in aid of local charity Firefly, which offers a free shuttle transport service for patients undergoing cancer treatments at regional cancer centres; and Rett UK, the only charity that provides professional support to people living with Rett syndrome across the UK. CARS is a truly international event and supported by a host of leading trade associations from across the UK, USA, Europe, Canada and Japan – including Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA), British Metals Recyclers Association (BMRA), British Vehicle Salvage Federation (BVSF) and European Group of Automotive Recycling Associations (EGARA).

Ken Mackenzie, Membership Support Officer at BMRA, said: “CARS provides an opportunity to stay up to speed with the latest equipment for our industry, and to hear about legal, commercial and technical issues for scrap metal dealers and vehicle dismantlers.” ►

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Value for money

Unlike most trade shows where the cost of food, refreshments and entertainment is usually a hefty additional cost, CARS has simplified this.

A ticket to the show includes all the following: • Entry to the two-day show including indoor and outdoor exhibitions • Practical training in the Skills Lab • Hard-hitting conference programme in the Duesmann and Hensel Conference Theatre • Three outside equipment demo areas • Ice cream hut, sponsored by Reco Auto • Motorhog yard tours • Lunch on both days of the show • Unlimited tea and coffee on both days of the show • Free bar from 1pm daily on both days of the show, sponsored by 1st Choice Spares • Thursday evening entertainment including: - charity auction - comedian - industry awards ceremony

For full information about the show and to book your ticket, visit www. cars-expo.com. What’s more, you can save £20 by pre-registering for the event online.

Environment Industry Magazine is a proud supporter of the show and will be exhibiting in the Media Lounge – we look forward to seeing you there!

+ More Information www.cars-expo.com

| 172 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

C A R S / Show Prev i ew / 5 -6 June 2 0 1 4

Supplying resources by recycling scrap metal.

We are a crucial link in a circular, resource-efficient economy

As world leading metal recyclers, we transform waste metals into valuable raw materials. Our scale, processing strengths and logistical capabilities enable us to deliver efficient use of resources on a global scale.

Our strength and belief in innovative recycling

Our expertise and investment in world leading technologies mean that we can deal with the most complex post consumer wastes, including end of life vehicles and waste electrical and electronic equipment, going beyond recycling and recovery targets.

We don’t want anything to go to waste, so by maximising recycling rates and recovering energy from the complex residues that remain, we make the most efficient use of resources possible.

Metal recycling makes sense

Not only are the environmental benefits of metal recycling unquestionable, but it delivers real bottom line results too – something which our customers have benefited from for many years.

Rely on our service

With decades of experience, a national network of over seventy five UK depots, and unrivalled logistical capabilities to move metals by road, rail and sea, you can rely on EMR to provide the service you need.

To find out more, contact us at:

+44 (0)1925 715400

ukinfo@emrgroup.com

uk.emrgroup.com

European Metal Recycling Ltd, Sirius House, Delta Crescent, Warrington, WA5 7NS

Water

To ny Wy nes / Aquaerati o n / Aquar i u s M G

The Best Way to Clean up

Flooded Lakes and Reservoirs?

Agricultural run-off, sewage discharge and, more recently, floodwater are all compromising water quality in lakes, rivers, reservoirs and coastal waters. High concentrations of manganese, iron, aluminium and phosphates, which contribute to algal bloom and noxious gases are affecting our aquatic animals and flora. Unhealthy, polluted water limits leisure activities and expensive chemical treatments are required to treat reservoir water – neither scenario is desirable, or even necessary. Tony Wynes, Managing Director of Aquarius Marine Group and developer of the Aquaerator, discusses the various options available today.

| 174 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

Web: www.aeration.uk.com

By Tony Wynes

Managing Director, Aquarius Marine Group Ltd Floodwater has been running off the land into rivers and lakes, carrying with it all sorts of waste, including raw sewage. Tests from Reading University recently showed floodwater contained 60-70 times the amount of bacteria recommended by the World Health Organisation.

But this is only compounding a growing problem.

A lack of both management and investment, together with an increase in agricultural chemicals, has seen a steady decline in the health and ecology of many lakes and reservoirs.

One of the causes is thermal stratification, a common condition affecting bodies of water with little or no flow in the summer months - the result of heating by the sun. The result is layers of unmixed water at different temperatures with extremely poor levels of dissolved oxygen in the deeper water and a consequent disruption to the normal water ecology. This anoxic layer is bad for fish and the other organisms, which normally breakdown organics deposited in the lake. Studies also show that low levels of dissolved oxygen in deeper waters is linked to the development of toxic blue green algal blooms and increased concentrations of manganese and iron.

The Environment Agency is trying to improve lake water with the 2015 Water Framework Directive, which will make county councils responsible for improving the ecological status of ‘water bodies’ and ‘protected areas’ within each of the UK’s River Basin Districts. Achieving this, however, could be challenging, given financial constraints and the additional complications of recent flooding.

Proven low cost solutions requiring little energy or maintenance are urgently needed.

Current Aeration Solutions for Water Improvements

Aeration has long been the solution of choice to maintain good water quality. Implemented effectively, it will solve all these problems. It enables oxygen exchange at the surface and releases noxious gasses such as carbon dioxide, methane and hydrogen sulphide from the various layers of water. Reservoir aeration has the added benefit of naturally improving water quality and reducing the necessity of expensive chemical interventions at the treatment works.

However, choosing the right solution can be problematic, partly as there are a raft of products all claiming to offer similar health benefits. Nor is it a matter of simply installing your chosen device and sitting back. As a first step you really need to

understand what is going on in the water, and use accurate sampling and analysis before any solution is deployed.

Surface Aeration

The use of fountains to aerate the surface waters is a traditional method to improve conditions and these can also be attractive, an important consideration for urban lakes and water bodies.

But, as they only pull the first 0.3 - 0.6 metres of water up to oxygenate it, they cannot handle large areas and require constant amounts of energy.

Floating surface aerators, which disrupt the first 0.6 metres of water are also powered by on-shore electricity and are limited to adding oxygen to not much more than a 3-metre diameter area, often leaving the bed water unaffected. Paddles work in a similar fashion, agitating the water to add oxygen, but again they use lots of energy, there are moving parts to maintain, and above all they cannot aerate an entire water column. None of these resolves the low dissolved oxygen depletion problem at depth - which is the underlying issue.

Subsurface Aeration

Subsurface aeration devices seek to release bubbles at the bottom of the water body. Diffuser aeration systems use multiple diffuser discs to produce fine bubbles. These are generally used to maximise oxygen discharge in tanks and small ponds.

Many of these devices, however, due to their design, are only able to affect a relatively small cubic volume of water, so large numbers of them must be deployed to aerate a lake adequately. Initial capital costs to cover purchase and installation are therefore high, and ongoing energy costs can be significant. Also the size of the air bubbles rising to the surface is critical and often quite large and less effective, depending on the depth.

A Low Carbon Solution

A new low energy solution, scientifically proven to mix and aerate bed water with powerful plumes spreading out to 9 metres surface diameter (depending on the water depth) is generating significant interest in Scotland and China. This “Aquaerator” mixes air and near-bed water together to form a buoyant plume which has enough vertical momentum to expand and rotate while bubbles rise to maximise the rate of entrainment of nearbed water immediately above the device. The device differs from others on the market as its 40 small air jets release tiny bubbles at high pressure, ► environmentmagazine.co.uk | 175 |

Water

To ny Wy nes / Aquaerati o n / Aquar i u s M G

Before Summer Aeration

Level 1 - Surface Layer - Sun enters, reducing water density allowing plants and algae to grow.

Level 2 - Middle Layer - Prevents surface and bottom layers from mixing.

Level 3 - Bed Water - Has little dissolved oxygen, is very dense and cannot support fish.

Level 4 - Silt.

After Summer Aeration

An Aquaerator sends minute air bubbles in a powerful, circulating plume which constantly takes up more water. All layers are mixed with a uniform temperature and dissolved oxygen throughout to support plants and aquatic life.

Aquarius MG

engulfing we believe the largest amount of water, while requiring less power than other sub-surface solutions.

The ability to mix and aerate a large volume of water from a single device, namely 4.5 tonnes per second from 10m depth and increasing to 13.4 tonnes per second from 20m, offers advantages over solutions that mix the water column just above the device.

Benefits to the environment

With any subsurface solution it is also very important that the silt bed, which normally traps | 176 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

unwanted heavy metals, remains undisturbed.

A solution, which takes the water horizontally from near the bottom, thus without disturbing the silt, ensures the ecology of the lake or reservoir bed is not disturbed and that silt is not drawn up into the water column.

with no moving parts, which is easy to maintain and has no stainless steel manifold to attract the build-up of heavy metals such as manganese and which can entrain large volumes of mixed air and water to reduce bed water density, will be more economical than surface solutions â–

Reducing costs for the water industry

Cost of course is a fundamental issue.

Understanding the capital cost as well as the ongoing energy consumption and likely maintenance issues is another aspect that will need to be considered. A sub-surface solution

+ More Information www.aeration.uk.com Title Photo: Simon Harrod

Successful Aeration and Mixing Destratifies ‘Lakeside’ Doncaster and Blagdon Reservoir

Doncaster ‘Lakeside’ showing the AQUAERATION System in use.

Bed water is a higher density than surface water, thus successful aeration and mixing require a device on the bottom. Our cutting edge, patented AQUAERATOR is the crescendo of 42 years Innovation, developed with an EU Grant €880,000 and scientifically proved to successfully aerate, mix and destratify Blagdon Reservoir, Barrow Reservoirs 1 & 2 and Doncaster ‘Lakeside’ including manganese and algal reduction.

The AQUAERATION System achieves a smaller carbon footprint than our competitors and compliance with the Water Framework Directive.

Our Environmental Management Plans include water, bed silt testing and algal identification, for Craighead Installation.

The new Fishery AQUAERATOR is oxygenating bedwater at Cross Drove, Avalon and Bristol Water Trout Fisheries.

Blagdon Reservoir Bubble Plume above AQUAERATOR

‘Aquaeration’ improves water quality AMG’s Innovation Strategy improves Environmental and Water Ecology, thus AMG became a founder member of the Environmental Industries Commission at the House of Lords in 1995. We assist Water Companies with Underwater Structures, Aeration and Mixing Systems.

The scientifically proved patented ‘Aquaerator’ destratifies Reservoirs which were oxygen deficient and returns metals and manganese in suspension to the bed silt. Our technology mixes air and near-bed water forming a rotating turbulent buoyant plume to maximise the rate of entrainment. It breaks thermoclines and haloclines in fresh, brackish, saline waters and reduces phytoplankton.

“LAKESIDE”, DONCASTER Lakeside is a man made aquifer fed lake of 22 Ha without water flow, thus unmixed and heavily stratified, resulting in low Dissolved Oxygen (DO) and a large temperature differential. Lakeside had large algal blooms cutting off sunlight to bottom waters, removing plant’s ability to photosynthesise, thus decreasing the oxygen levels and killing aquatic life.

AMG’s May monitoring of temperature, DO, pH, chlorophyll A proved stratification. After installation and operating 4 AQUAERATORS, monitoring proved destratification and bed DO up from 9% to 56%.

October monitoring showed uniform temperature, DO and pH proving that AQUAERATION destratifies lakes, improves bed water and reduces algal blooms. The 2m high AQUAERATOR design ensures no disruption of Recreational Facilities.

BLAGDON RESERVOIR Blagdon is a man made 217 hectares reservoir fed by various streams.

Our progressive aeration systems culminating with 5 Aquaerators have successfully destratified the Reservoir.

Outflow water Manganese peaked at 320μg/l in May 2008, averaging 70μg/l for a month and upto 100μg/l mid June. Another Aquaerator,

requiring AMG’s Diving Team to airlift 30cu m of silt, was bolted to the Victorian granite apron and activated on 23 June 2008.

The Mn concentrations reduced dramatically below EU Standard to 25μg/l through July to September. The outflow water temperature steadied at 18°C and DO rose to 100% by 5 Aug. No need to treat the raw water for manganese removal.

FISH-FARMING Fish-farming produces 50% of fish consumed. Our Project showed normally lethargic salmon leaping into the air when the AQUAERATORS activated at Lochleven. Successful tests by the largest Norwegian Salmon Farmer, resulted in the Norwegian Technical Institute in Stavanger’s Aquaerator Project. This will scientifically prove Aquaeration stops salmon being lethargic, ensuring faster growth without algal problems, summer seawater temperature reduced and ice melted in winter.

FISHERIES Project 2009 improved Fisheries water quality. We installed smaller Aquaerators at Cross Drove Fishery, Thetford and Avalon Fishery, Glastonbury. Fish suffer when DO falls below 4mg/l and must surface to breathe. Aquaerator Systems are based on size, wind direction, shape and water body monitoring without disturbing the ecology.

Cross Drove’s 4.5Ha have elongated islands. Monitoring showed temperature 21.6°C and 54% bed DO, close to the 4mg/l threshold.

Six Aquaerators were installed in positions maximising prevailing wind currents to enhance aeration. After installation monitoring showed water temperature 18.8°C with DO 111% subsurface to 65% above the bed, compared to 54% previously. This improved bed DO showed the Aquaerator’s successfully maintaining flow and DO levels in carp, tench and bream Fisheries.

AQUARIUS MARINE GROUP LTD

The Beckery, Glastonbury, Somerset, BA6 9NT, UK Tel/Fax: 01458 834 734 tonywynes@AOL.com www.aeration.uk.com

Web: www.ifat.de

5-9 May 2014

Messe München | Munich | Germany

IFAT on its Way to Setting Records The starting signal for IFAT 2014 was given at the end of 2012, and since then the response among exhibitors has been immense. After the registration deadline at the end of April 2013, it was already clear that the trade fair for environmental technologies, which takes place from May 5 to 9, will once again fill all 16 halls of the Messe München trade fair center as well as an even larger portion of the outdoor exhibition site. This year’s event will be even bigger than before, covering 230,000m2 of exhibition space – that’s 15,000m2 more than in 2012. In terms of exhibitor numbers new heights are being reached: a new record is expected, with around 3,000 companies from 50 countries coming to exhibit here.

In addition to that a total of 56 joint stands from 13 countries will also be taking part. Silvia Fritscher, Exhibition Director of IFAT, is optimistic, predicting that: "In this context the proportion of international exhibitors as compared to the previous events will expand still further. The response from the exhibitors, including in particular from international exhibitors, is tremendous." At IFAT 2012 the proportion of exhibitors from outside Germany was 39%.

GreenTec Awards

Besides that, IFAT will also feature several premieres. For example, the GreenTec Awards and Messe München

International are entering into a partnership. For the first time ever the GreenTec Awards will be presented at IFAT in 2014. The award ceremony is being held at the Internationales Congress Center (ICM) on Sunday, May 4, 2014, i.e. the evening before the fair begins. Both partners see this collaboration as an enhancement that adds value for everyone involved.

Marco Voigt, Initiator of the GreenTec Awards: “Messe München International and the trade fair IFAT in particular are the perfect framework for our event.

The show gives us a suitable context with regard to content and allows us to reach the right target group – one that is interested in and committed to innovative environmental technology.”

Eugen Egetenmeir, Managing Director of Messe München, has a very positive opinion about this collaboration: “We are pleased to be hosting the GreenTec Awards as part of IFAT in Munich. The awards link the topics of environmental technology, sustainability and resource conservation to a positive image. Due to their social and political focus they also help to further develop and strengthen the IFAT brand.” Dr. Johannes F. Kirchhoff, Chairman of the IFAT Advisory Board, is certain that “Given their unique combination of technical know-how and entertainment, the GreenTec Awards are the perfect way to open IFAT. They bring together protagonists

►

environmentmagazine.co.uk | 179 |

Water

from the widest variety of sectors, i.e. from industry, politics, society and the media. It is a platform with a unique network and one where exhibitors and customers can communicate.”

New partners and new live-demonstrations

Furthermore, IFAT is adding another special display to its program – on the subject of recycling motor vehicles. The display is being organised by a new partner of IFAT, the steel recycling association BDSV (Bundesvereinigung Deutscher Stahlrecyclingund Entsorgungsunternehmen).

As part of this partnership, the BDSV will have its own booth at the show for the first time; this will be a gathering place for the sector and also a source of compact information on current themes in the industry.

During IFAT the association will be putting on a number of events looking at topical issues.

Heiner Gröger, President of the BDSV, is well aware of the importance of the world’s leading environmental technology showcase: "For a long time we have seen that many highly regarded members of our association have been exhibiting at IFAT. And now it’s time for | 180 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

I FAT 2 0 1 4 / Show Prev i ew / 5 - 9 May 2 0 1 4

the association itself to take a booth here and provide an information offering at this show."

On a dedicated space on the open-air site, the organisers are planning to stage various practical demonstrations on how to dismantle motor vehicles, e.g. how to drain the liquids from them, remove hazardous substances, how to crush them, etc. all on a conveyorbelt system. The correct way to handle old vehicles is set out in the "End-of-life Vehicle Regulations". Spectators at the show will get the chance to see these processes in action.

The second new live demonstration is being organised by the industry organisation VDBUM (Verband der Baubranche, Umweltund Maschinentechnik) and covers the recovery of raw materials from building waste.

Raw materials are a limited resource. For years a range of different techniques has been developed for recovering raw materials.

One example of the careful management of resources is in the recycling of building materials. Here, the job involves not only recovering valuable materials, but also removing extraneous matter and any harmful substances that may be present. Once this is completed, the recycled building materials

can then be made available once more to the building sector.

The type of demolition waste being processed includes concrete, brick and masonry, asphalt and road-surfacing materials as well as steel girders and profiles. For each of these materials the stages in the recovery process will be demonstrated using a range of machine types and techniques. All of this takes place on a roughly 8,000m2 action and demonstration space located on the open-air site.

The live demonstrations will be presented by an expert from the field – two such demonstrations are planned for each day, when visitors will be able to experience first hand just what is involved in the job of crushing, sieving and sorting building materials. Via headsets the visitors will be given a detailed explanation of what is happening at each stage. But throughout each day of the trade fair visitors will be able to inspect the individual machines and processing stations, and have a demonstration of them.

And last but not least, the German Association for Water, Wastewater and Waste (DWA) organises the special event “Think

►

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Water

| 182 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

I FAT 2 0 1 4 / Show Prev i ew / 5 - 9 May 2 0 1 4

Web: www.ifat.de

Green — Think Future” in hall B0. Here, exhibitors can present their companies and talk to interested candidates – young professionals as well as experienced. Topics there are research, education and human resources.

Events Program

Bigger than ever, halls fully booked: IFAT definitely is set to put in a record-beating performance.

And a winning combination is also what’s on offer again in the events program at the world’s most important environmental technology show. During the entire show there will be a wealth of panel discussions, seminars, exhibitors’ presentations as well as Country and Theme Specials. All this will be happening in the forums in Halls A5 and B1.

For many years the "Country Specials" have been a firm feature in the events program at IFAT. This is an opportunity to take a close look at what is happening in selected markets around the world, a chance to review the challenges faced there and weigh up the solutions offered. Up-and-coming markets are presented, as well as established ones.

This year India, China and Mexico/Central America will be in the spotlight in three Country Specials organised by Messe München in cooperation with the Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection (StMUV). The StMUV is also actively involved in another Country Special, on the future of water and energy management in Canada, in cooperation with the Canadian government and the governments of Québec, Ontario, Alberta and British Colombia, and with the support of the Bavarian Research Alliance. A Country Special on Turkey, organised by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) in cooperation with the German Water Partnership (GWP), will be focusing on the specifics of the Turkish market.

GWP is also organising another Country Special, on India. And, for the first time at IFAT, there will be a dedicated Austrian presentation (in cooperation with Advantage Austria) in the forum program.

Alongside the focus on individual countries, a range of themes of social and political importance will be considered in depth in dedicated lecture blocks. The StMUV is also taking part here, organising a Theme Special on recycling phosphorus, featuring short talks given

by Dr. Marcel Huber, the Bavarian Minister of the Environment and Consumer Protection, and Professor Dr. Klaus Töpfer, Executive Director of the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS, Potsdam). The Federation of the German Waste, Water and Raw Materials Management

Industry (BDE) is putting on panel discussions on waste disposal logistics, waste management and aircraft recycling. The panel discussion on "Conservation of resources by means of closed cycle waste management" is being organised by the BDE in cooperation with the BMUB, the German Association of Local Utilities (VKU) and the Federal Association for Secondary Raw Materials and Waste Management (bvse). And in the two Theme Specials organised by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the topics are "Sustainable water management" and "Best practices from BMBF research funding on raw materials technology". In its Theme Special the VDMA Association for Waste Treatment and Recycling Technology explores the question "High recovery rates – too dearly paid for?" The UN, too, is getting involved in the Theme Specials, putting on for the first time in the events program at IFAT the "UN Water Seminar on Water and Energy".

With its "intelligent urbanisation" concept, Messe München is leveraging the various competences in environmental technology, infrastructure, logistics and ICT from its international events and gathering them together in a dedicated platform. This platform covers the entire spectrum of urbanisation, in depth and breadth, and highlights synergies between the different interest groups. In the events program at IFAT this year the subject of intelligent urbanisation is being explored in three theme blocks, looking at the opportunities, challenges and solutions in water, waste and secondary raw materials management as well as at best practices. Among the organisations behind the talks in this forum are the StMUV, the BMUB, GWP, Tongji University in Shanghai, the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) and the Arab Countries Water Utilities Association (ACWUA) ■

+ More Information Attendance at the symposia events and the forums is free of charge to IFAT ticket holders. Simultaneous interpreting (German/English) will be offered at the lectures.

The events program held in the forums in Halls A5 and B1 will be supplemented by many special events in Hall B0 – in the "Think Green – Think Future" Session Areas, in the Internationales Congress Center München – ICM and in the conference rooms. And, for the first time, there will be five live demonstrations on the open-air site. For full details about the events program, go to: www.ifat.de/en/Program environmentmagazine.co.uk | 183 |

Water

Si mo n Hake / Water Management / Ward el l A r m st ro ng

New garden city developments

- could water be the secret ingredient?

Simon Hake

Property and Development Director, Wardell Armstrong

There’s an obvious connection between the Chancellor’s recently announced plans for a new garden city in Ebbsfleet and the development of Barking-Riverside. The connection is water - close as they both are to the River Thames. More specifically, as well as the opportunity of creating attractive well managed new environments they’re connected by the pressing need to control the water that surrounds them. The recent floods (and no doubt in due course the threat of droughts) make the management of the water environment even more essential, particularly if the effects of climate change become more severe. As we look forward to the government’s promised prospectus on garden cities it’s to be hoped that the issue of water management is taken seriously and put close to, if not at the heart of, their proposals.

In Ebbsfleet in Kent, a part of south east England where pressure on housing is particularly high, the planned new garden city will consist of an initial 15,000 homes and a regeneration of the area – taking advantage of available land and good existing infrastructure including a stop on the high-speed rail line to the Channel Tunnel. In Barking-Riverside, east London, government plans could unlock the construction of up to 11,000 new homes as well as seeing the likely extension of the Gospel Oak line. | 184 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

Critics will of course argue that these plans are not exactly new.

Attempts have been made to build new homes at Ebbsfleet, for example, since 1996. Planning permission was granted for about 6,000 new homes at Eastern Quarry near Ebbsfleet station in 2007, and Wardell Armstrong reviewed past options for this scheme, but the plans have stalled. Wardell Armstrong was also involved in a proposal for Barking and Dagenham some ten years ago to carry out landfill mining – recovering and recycling waste material to create refuse-derived fuel, solve a large constraint to development, win more mineral that had otherwise been sterilised and to store water in the void as a means of attenuating the flow of water into the Thames and helping to relieve the risk of flooding. It was also a potential way of creating greater value by introducing added premium waterfront development opportunities. But putting aside the understandable frustration at the length of time it can take for desirable developments to come to fruition, let’s consider the vital and wide-ranging role that water management can and should play in such waterfront projects.

As we’ve seen only too clearly during the recent winter floods – including in many locations along the Thames such as Staines and Windsor – the risks of poor water management are very real. Introducing

Web: www.wardell-armstrong.com

large areas of roads, hard standings and buildings onto flood plains in low-lying areas relative to a river significantly increase the likelihood of water run-off being shed faster into drains and into the river, rather than soaking away naturally into the land. This may not cause a problem for most of the year but it will make its effects only too visible during long periods of heavy rain when the risk of water backing up increases dramatically – potentially causing the devastation and misery of the flooding we witnessed this past winter. The clear lesson for new developments is to compensate adequately for the change of land use, and to build in well thought through design measures for sustainable effective drainage with positive water management facilities that also encapsulate green energy production.

Let’s learn the lesson from the River Severn and its effects on Worcester, the Somerset Levels and elsewhere. As it flows from the Welsh mountains down through the Ironbridge Gorge towards Bristol it collects ever more water from the Malverns and the Cotswolds. But the high tidal reach of the Severn Estuary overpowers the water coming downstream and creates a wave that travels back upriver and back towards the north.

A far cry from the River Thames? Maybe but let’s not forget tidal surges coincident with heavy rainfall have before now flooded Canvey Island just ten miles or so to the east of Ebbsfleet. The current Thames Barrier won’t last forever. And with sea levels rising and forecast to rise still further over the coming decades any new developments on the Thames – including the Ebbsfleet garden city and Barking-Riverside – need to be very much alive to the risks of higher water run-off, tidal surges and flooding.

Huge opportunities

But let’s not get too depressed. Dealing with the risks is arguably only the starting point. There are also huge opportunities to do much more in a wide variety of imaginative ways to control, harness and use water intelligently to our advantage, as a critical part of an integrated approach to environmental management around garden cities and elsewhere.

Imagine a scenario, for example, where viable minerals are first

The clear lesson for new developments is to compensate adequately for the change of land use, and to build in well thought through design measures for sustainable effective drainage with positive water management facilities that also encapsulate green energy production. extracted rather than being sterilised. This certainly applies to large areas around the Thames where mineral resources such as sand and gravel could be won and used close to where they’re found – enhancing sustainability, changing the economics of development by making building more affordable and creating wider development opportunities.

The holes dug in the ground could then be used to store and manage water in the long term, along with sustainable urban drainage systems to supplement protection from flooding and control the movement of water. A similar scheme in which Wardell Armstrong had a significant involvement included the Maidenhead Flood Alleviation Scheme some years ago.

The energy of the river system could be harnessed to generate renewable hydropower – a resource that’s sadly under-utilised in the UK. Just compare its current contribution here to Norway, where hydropower accounts for up to 99% of the country’s electricity supply, or to Canada which produces 11% of all the hydroelectricity generated in the world.

We could easily apply small scale hydro turbine technology to the pump storage scheme to generate renewable energy from five metre drops, controlling water levels on certain river stretches as simply as we do the locks on canals. There should be many places in the higher reaches of the Thames towards Oxford where this would be more than practicable.

There could be larger scale hydropower initiatives too - such as the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon where a generation of 240MW of electricity is ► environmentmagazine.co.uk | 185 |

Water

Si mo n Hake / Water Management / Ward el l A r m st ro ng

projected - and other similar projects around the UK. Could we one day see such a tidal lagoon in the Thames Estuary?

By their very nature areas of well managed water attract people who want to live and play next to them. They act as a magnet for creating appealing high value new environments for housing. They increase biodiversity. They provide a way for local archaeological heritage to be preserved, translocated and included as an integral part of the development. With this kind of sensitive approach we can even think about building on previously sacrosanct green belt. Not every new development or garden city can become a little Venice. However with the right creative thinking water could well be the secret ingredient in developing environments where people can live safely, sustainability and with a real sense of pride.

So what would be needed to plan and put in place an integrated approach like this with water management at its heart? It has to be said that it’s not a small undertaking and would need a long term political vision that could be sustained over generations. It may not be well suited to an electoral system that favours quick wins and popular headlines. To put it bluntly we’re far too profligate with water in the UK at the moment.

We don’t treat it as a precious resource, manage it at all well and allow too much development on flood plains without making nearly enough allowance for its effects. We need to get much smarter at recognising and predicting the chances of flooding, and managing its effects positively in the first place, especially as climate change advances and sea levels rise.

Controlling powerful natural processes on a large scale takes master planning. Whole river catchments - not just small isolated areas - need to be considered in their entirety by putting long term water management at the heart of national and regional planning policy. Careful calculations are needed of how much water will be generated during periods of extreme weather and how these can best be managed. Strategic environmental impact assessments need to be made over wide areas that take in regions controlled by different local authorities, devolved parliaments, and possibly even (if Scotland votes for independence) a separate country.

But the prize could be huge – not just the reassurance of protection against flooding but green and pleasant areas for living and leisure enhanced by the attractions of well designed stored water features and cost-effective renewable energy generation. That’s the kind of creativity and imagination that would be very welcome in the government’s new and waterfront development schemes – especially as they work on the garden city prospectus promised in the Chancellor’s budget speech ■

+ More Information www.wardell-armstrong.com

| 186 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

Water

Peter K night / Water R esources / Co ntex t G rou p

Turning the Tide on the

Global Water Crisis With demand for water set to outstrip supply by 40% by 2030, sustainability communications strategist Peter Knight explores how businesses can manage their water use effectively and avoid disaster.

| 188 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

Web: www.contexteurope.com

The world is set to experience more extreme weather events. Whether climate change is to blame or not, the one undisputed fact is that clean water will get increasingly scarce, creating big problems for business.

Every day the average person consumes 2,000-5,000 litres of ‘virtual’ or hidden water, embedded in the food they eat. For instance, it takes 200 litres of water to produce a single glass of milk, from raising cattle, bottling and processing, while a pair of jeans requires 50,000 litres.

Much of this virtual water is used in the supply chain, drawn from water-scarce regions or managed ineffectively. For example, farming uses two thirds of the world’s precious freshwater supplies, yet 40% is wasted through inefficient practices. Meanwhile, some 1.2 billion people already face the daily reality of water scarcity, and the UN forecasts that by 2030 nearly half the world’s population will be living in areas of high water stress.

As the population continues to swell and emerging markets develop apace the rapidly expanding affluent middle classes will create an increasing demand for more products. At the same time the disruptive effects of climate change continue to be felt worldwide – from severe droughts to unprecedented flooding.

Physical risks aside, companies must also respond to evolving water regulations and protect their reputations.

Businesses must take steps to manage their water use effectively and shrink the water footprint of their products, before it’s too late.

Navigating water risk

The Chemetall Foote Lithium Operation in Clayton Valley, a dry lake bed in Esmeralda County, Nevada, just east of Silver Peak, a tiny town that has been host to various kinds of mining for about 150 years. The two other dry lakes are south of Tonopah.

Photo: Doc Searls

For two years running the World Economic Forum has ranked water supply as a top five risk to global stability. Investors too are growing increasingly nervous about the potential cost of corporate water risk. Some 530 investors now back the Carbon Disclosure Project’s Water Disclosure Programme. As with carbon disclosure, the CDP asks companies in waterintensive sectors such as food and drink, mining, utilities and pharmaceuticals to be transparent about their business risks if their water supplies are threatened.

Businesses are already experiencing problems caused by diminishing water supplies, including disruption to manufacturing and interruptions to power supplies. On the current business-as-usual trajectory, analysts estimate that US$63trillion could be at risk by 2050. And with demand for water expected to outstrip supply by 40% by 2030, there’s not a moment to lose. But it’s really not that simple. While 70% of companies have identified water as a substantial business risk, few have fully established how to tackle it. There is a good deal of confusion

surrounding how businesses should prepare for the impending crisis, especially among those sectors that are not heavy users of water. ►

Establishing the right approach

There’s definitely a silver lining to the gathering dustcloud. Leading businesses are already demonstrating the gains to be made through a smarter approach to water and the pace of development in water-efficient technologies (from leak-plugging to water recycling) is quite astounding. Although increasing efficiency and developing smarter products will require investment, the gains to be made are substantial, in terms of cost savings, operational efficiency and enhanced reputation.

Measuring how much water you use is fundamental. Although it’s a complex and challenging task, companies committed to reducing water risk are focusing a good deal of energy on establishing an accurate wateruse baseline. This helps to create a clear picture of both risks and opportunities. Key questions should include how much ‘blue’ (freshwater) and ‘grey’ (treated and recycled) water is used, and measurement should ideally extend to encompass suppliers’ operations in order to capture the true extent of water used from the beginning of a product’s life. With this information in hand companies are far better equipped to take action and request changes among their own sites and their suppliers’ sites, prioritising risk ‘hotspots’.

Nestlé, for example, has combined global geospatial data with its own water resources review programme to identify vulnerable plants and set action plans in motion. By following this approach the company’s global use of water in operations has reduced by 32% in ten years, while its production is up 73%.

Sharing knowledge

Collaboration is important. Many companies are already sharing best practice via global industry networks. The UN Global Compact’s CEO Water Mandate provides corporate guidelines on water disclosure, and its ‘Water Action Hub’ is helping to pair companies with partners who may be able to develop solutions. SAB Miller, the global brewer, worked with the WWF and the German development agency GIZ to map its water footprint in Peru, Ukraine, Tanzania, and South Africa, and is now collaborating with farmers and governments to improve efficiency in stressed watersheds.

Understanding the measurement tools available

water

There are a number of tools that leading companies are using to help them measure and manage their water use: ► environmentmagazine.co.uk | 189 |

Water

•

Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas

•

WBCSD Global Water Tool

Developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI), Aqueduct is an online global water risk mapping tool that measures water risk against 12 physical and regulatory indicators.

This was the first global water tool to be launched (in 2007) and helps companies to map their water use and assess risks in their global operations and supply chains. It was developed collaboratively by 20 members of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

Gemi Water Tool

•

This tool helps companies to assess impacts related to water use, risks and opportunities at specific sites. It’s designed to work with the WBCSD tool and an oil and gas industryspecific version is also available.

Water Risk Filter

Developed by WWF and DEG, a German investment corporation, the Water Risk Filter is an online tool that provides water risk scores for a company’s operations and supply chain.

| 190 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

Peter K night / Water R esources / Co ntex t G rou p

•

Ceres Aqua Gauge

This enables companies to gauge, improve and communicate their water management approach and performance. The tool is geared towards helping investors understand how companies are managing water-related risks and opportunities.

Communicating your water story

Generally speaking, corporate reporting and communications on water use, impact and risks have yet to catch up with the level and quality of information produced on carbon emissions.

But with 64% of businesses indicating that the majority of water risks could impact their operations within the next five years many are now grappling with the challenge of communicating their progress effectively to stakeholders.

The companies leading the field in this complex area are taking a structured and pragmatic approach. Understanding and measuring the risks is all important, followed by

developing and implementing a comprehensive water strategy. Leading companies are then taking this a step further to disclose their performance and communicate their water story to their stakeholders. They are then bringing this full circle by engaging with stakeholders and learning from their feedback, and using this feedback to inform their understanding and strategy.

Taking the plunge

At Context we have prepared a free pocket guide entitled ‘The WH2OLE Story: How to Avoid the Coming Crisis’, which is designed to help businesses understand the extent of the challenges and recommends seven steps to avoid disaster. We explore the tools available to help companies measure their water use and take inspiration from leading companies, including IKEA, PepsiCo and Unilever ■

Misc

L i sa Sto nestreet / O w nersh i p Day / UK S I F

Active Share Ownership:

adding environmental and business value Recently investors across the UK celebrated Ownership Day, an initiative dedicated to encouraging investors to be ‘active owners’ of the companies they invest in.

Lisa Stonestreet

Programme Director, UK Sustainable Investment & Finance Association (UKSIF)

Active ownership is a win:win for investors.

There is clear evidence that it encourages more long-term sustainable behaviour by companies, and that this in turn leads to better value and improved long-term returns for investors.

Long-term strategic sustainable issues facing companies are now being recognised in the investment community as they look beyond the purely financial. There is a growing realisation that environmental, social and governance issues (“ESG”) are central strategic concerns as the world faces wide-ranging threats linked to climate and the environmental limits and associated social change. Increased emphasis on active share ownership with its focus on the long-term and non-financial factors are now supporting and encouraging companies to tackle these strategic sustainability issues.

What is ‘active ownership’?

Active ownership, or stewardship, commonly refers to engagement and the use of shareholder rights to improve the long-term sustainable | 192 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

value of a company. For all investors - from individuals with ISAs and savings to global institutional investors and pension funds - it is about understanding that the shares they hold make them part-owners of those companies and as such they should consider encouraging those who manage their money to engage on their behalf with investee companies to protect and increase value. That can involve using both AGM votes and direct engagement to support effective and well-executed business strategies, and also to challenge poor risk management, ineffective delivery or a disproportionate focus on short-term issues at the expense of longterm value.

Ownership Day 2014

This year the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association (UKSIF) held the second annual ‘Ownership Day’ campaign on the 25th of March. The campaign is a national initiative to raise awareness of the financial benefits of active ownership and encourage all investors to

Web: www.ownershipday.co.uk

value high quality active ownership strategies.

Highlights of the day included a breakfast launch of the report ‘Attitudes to Ownership 2014′ sponsored by Aviva Investors and produced in partnership with the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF). UKSIF also published an ‘easy guide’ to active ownership for busy pension fund trustees, sponsored by Vigeo Ratings. A parliamentary reception hosted by Paul Uppal MP, member of the No. 10 Policy Board and Parliamentary Private Secretary to Business, Innovation and Skills Minister David Willetts MP, attracted a high level of interest from policymakers and the finance industry.

YouGov research commissioned by UKSIF as part of Ownership Day found that among British adults 39% believe that environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues and other financial considerations can affect the longterm value of investments and 48% believe institutional investors should have stewardship responsibilities in the companies they invest in.

These results reinforce findings by the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) in their Engagement Survey 2013, which found that among its pension fund members there was a near consensus (96%) that pension funds have stewardship responsibilities in the companies that they invest in. The NAPF also found 81% of its members believed that ESG issues could affect the long-term value of investments.

Ownership in action

Today more than ever investors are looking closely at a company’s sustainability performance as part of assessing the future value of that company. For example, over 1,000 investors managing assets of some US$30 1

trillion have signalled their intention to use ESG factors in their investment decisions by signing the UN-backed Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). The PRI is an international network of investors working together to put the six Principles for Responsible Investment into practice. Its goal is to understand the implications of sustainability for investors and support signatories to incorporate these issues into their investment decision making and ownership practices.

The failure of some pension funds, retail investors and other investors to demand high quality active ownership from their managers is particularly surprising given the growing body of evidence showing that active ownership can result in strong returns.

For example, the research that garnered 2012’s Moskowitz Prize for Sustainable Investing analysed shareholder activism with US companies over ten years to 2009 and found that share prices rose by an average of 4.4% in the year after engagements were concluded.

Pensions like the Environment Agency Pension Fund (EAPF) tell a similar story. In a typical year EAPF's investment managers and external service providers cast over 35,000 votes on their behalf and undertake more than 800 engagements with companies on issues such as their quality of corporate governance. They argue that this active ownership has been a factor in the fund returning more than 16% since 2009 and posting a total return of 5.1% in 2012, almost double the average 2.6% of the UK's other Local Government Pension Schemes1.

One of the world’s most high-profile active owners is CalPERS (California Public Employees’ Retirement system), the largest pension fund ►

www.engagedinvestor.co.uk/case-study-the-environment-agency/1469310.article

environmentmagazine.co.uk | 193 |

Misc

L i sa Sto nestreet / O w nersh i p Day / UK S I F

2

Barber, Brad. “Monitoring the Monitor: Evaluating CalPERS’ Activism” (Working Paper, UC Davis, 2006). http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers. cfm?abstract_id=890321

3

http://www.avivainvestors.com/mediacentre/2013-archive/XML_030219.html

81%

of NAPF pension fund members agree that extrafinancial, or ESG, factors can have a material impact on investments in the longterm.

4

https://www.frc.org.uk/Our-Work/ Codes-Standards/Corporate-governance/ UK-Stewardship-Code/UK-StewardshipCode-statements.aspx

*NAPF Engagement Survey 2013

in the US. Each year CalPERS engages with a selection of companies (known as their focus list) judged to be performing poorly in areas such as corporate governance. Over a period from 1992-2005, CalPERS calculated that their focus list activism helped create shareholder value of over $3bn2.

The benefits of active ownership extend to wider society too. For example, in 2001 a group of investors in Gap submitted a resolution at the company’s AGM asking the company to address poor labour practices within its supply chain in order to avoid its brand becoming at risk from a consumer boycott. This active ownership triggered several years of work that has resulted in steady improvements and now 99% of Gap factories are being closely monitored for poor labour standards.

Since 2010 Aviva Investors has engaged with mining firm Vedanta Resources to raise concerns regarding the company’s performance on a range of business relevant environmental and human rights issues, especially in India.

Aviva argue that since the beginning of 2010 Vedanta’s share price has underperformed its peers by 29% and that this can be partly attributed to a lack of focus on such issues3.

Recently a group of investors joined together to form Carbon Action, an investor-led initiative that engages with companies to make year-on-year emissions reductions, implement | 194 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

carbon reduction emissions and set targets.

This targeted engagement has led to more than half of 256 targeted companies setting tougher targets for emissions. Companies with targets have been shown to achieve year-overyear absolute reductions in CO2e of more than double the rate of companies without targets, as-well as being 10% more profitable than those without targets.

The UK Stewardship Code

The UK Stewardship Code, first published in 2010 and revised in September 2012, aims to enhance the quality of engagement between asset managers and companies to help improve long-term risk-adjusted returns to shareholders.

The Code also describes steps asset owners can take to protect and enhance the value that accrues to the ultimate beneficiary. The Code sets out a number of areas of good practice to which the Financial Reporting Council believes institutional investors should aspire and operates on a 'comply or explain' basis.

The Financial Conduct Authority requires UK authorised asset managers to report on whether or not they apply the Code.

Currently just under 300 organisations have signed up to the Stewardship Code and published a statement of commitment to the Code4 but much more still needs to be done. Only 21 out of 100 individual Local

Authority Pension Funds have signed up to the Stewardship Code and there is no reason why all public funds should not sign up or incorporate the Code’s expectations within their Statement of Investment Principles.

Although UKSIF strongly support the Code and believe it is a vital step in encouraging and promoting high quality stewardship, we do feel that it could more explicitly highlight the risks that ESG factors can pose to businesses and the importance of monitoring these factors as a key part of good stewardship. We believe that there are additional opportunities and challenges for responsible owners resulting from climate change, resource management and social sustainability drivers and that there is a clear business case for long-term responsible investment approaches.

In a time of environmental uncertainly and widespread concern around the sustainability of the UK economy, active ownership may not be a cure-all but it can play a vital part in constructing more sustainable capital markets and ensuring that the finance sector successfully and effectively integrate ESG issues into their decision making process ■

+ More Information For more information about Ownership Day visit www.ownershipday.co.uk

Misc

| 196 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

Ti m Balco n / Ed ucati o n / I E M A

Web: www.iema.net

Qualifications:

the Hallmark of a Knowledgeable Practitioner

Tim Balcon CEO of IEMA

Aside from a decent salary and good working conditions it’s safe to say that job satisfaction fares pretty high on the list of what the average worker aims to get from their career. A role that’s rewarding on all levels, which makes best use of our knowledge, natural enthusiasm and qualifications, is possibly what makes the difference between what we consider a job that pays the bills and an actual vocation. Add a sense of making a difference to the world and you get a career of choice.

For people working in Environment & Sustainability roles their work encompasses these key elements and it’s a formula which really does equate to wide-ranging job satisfaction. According to the latest research from the Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment (IEMA) over two thirds - 70.1% to be exact - of the Environment & Sustainability professionals it surveyed at the start of 2014 said they are either satisfied or very satisfied in their roles. This figure has remained stable for the past three years, despite the additional pressures of working during the financial crisis which undoubtedly affected every single organisation in the world in some way.

These positive findings correlate with research recently carried out by the Cabinet Office on the relationship between occupation and satisfaction. With members of the clergy scoring top and publicans at the very bottom of the satisfaction scale, the BBC reported that Environment & Sustainability professionals scored an average satisfaction score 7.5 out of 10. That means that 75% said they are pleased to be in their role which indicates a profession-wide level of high-scoring satisfaction.

Respondents to the IEMA survey said the reasons they are so happy in their roles is due to the fact that they find their work challenging, varied and interesting. But ultimately they feel like they are making a positive difference to their organisation and the world around them.

Further to a sense of having a positive impact, employment levels in this area are also encouraging. Remaining buoyant in line with the recovering economy 96.7% of survey respondents are in work, either as an employee or working in a self-employed capacity. That’s an increase of 0.6% on the previous year’s results

(the proportion of self-employed practitioners has also risen for the third consecutive year, up to 9.3% over the last 12 months).

Those in work also report a decent level of stability and good prospects in their roles, with 64.6% remaining in the same position as the previous year and a further fifth (19.2%) moving into a more senior role.

Upward trends in pay certainly aren’t harming the positive feelings about work in this profession. Further results reveal that almost six in ten (58.9%) respondents experienced a pay rise during 2013, a figure which has increased by 2% from the previous year. For those who received a pay rise – in a profession where the average annual pay for a practitioner working in business and industry is £43,025 - the median increase in earnings stands at 3%. This exceeds average rise – where workers have been fortunate enough to receive one – across the economy which is reported by the Office for National Statistics to be a shade over 2%.

In terms of what pay an Environment & Sustainability Professional can expect in 2014 the outlook is very optimistic.

Employers are recognising and rewarding the unique contributions that professionals can make in what they pay them. The total average annual pay for a Graduate practitioner, someone at the very start of their career, currently stands at a healthy £26,860. That increases to around £43,369 for someone of Associate professional status (qualified, able to apply their knowledge in practice and with some level of experience). People at the very top of their game in leadership positions, those who not only have significant career-long experience of working in environment and sustainability roles but who influence their ► environmentmagazine.co.uk | 197 |

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Ti m Balco n / Ed ucati o n / I E M A

Nick Harrison, University of Salford

business’s strategy, can command an impressive average salary of £84,476 per year.

Naturally several factors affect variances in salaries across the profession. The level of experience someone can demonstrate is an obvious aspect, yet the sector they work in is even more influential. IEMA’s survey found that in many cases environmental roles typically earn significantly more than other roles in that industry. For instance, the average salary for someone working in an environmental role in the private mining and quarrying sector is £67,691. This is a stark contrast to what people working in that sector in general are earning, which, according to the UK Government’s ASHE (Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings) report, stands at £39,523. Similarly those working in | 198 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

“green” roles in manufacturing earn an average of £47,125, heading towards double the wider sector average of £27,433. Even salaries at the lower end of the scale are healthy when compared to the average UK annual salary of £24,908; Environment & Sustainability professionals working in a public sector borough or district council position can expect to outperform the national average and earn around £33,300 a year. And that is even after a two-year government imposed blanket pay freeze applied to the public sector.

Where Environment & Sustainability professionals are enjoying above-average salaries the profession itself is benefiting from their high levels of experience, capability, education and qualification. Almost two thirds

(62.3%) of respondents are employed in senior officer, project/middle manager or senior officer positions. A similar number report having managerial responsibilities as part of their role, which demonstrates the authority that many working in this area now have in their organisations. Further to this, over 97% of those surveyed hold some kind of academic qualification. Findings also show that half of those (49.8%) have at least a Masters degree as their highest academic qualification; 5.5% of that figure have achieved a PhD. With so many highly qualified people already working in environmental roles it is clearly incredibly important to get the right professional credentials in place to get into and then progress in this profession. With several

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Siemens AG

industry surveys forecasting expansion in the consultancy, infrastructure and renewable energy sectors this year alone, organisations will be seeking only the best candidates, so being able to demonstrate what you know to current and potential employers is absolutely crucial now more than ever.

Essentially qualifications are the hallmark of a knowledgeable practitioner. When coupled with any amount of experience and learning through CPD it makes for a valuable combination. The bachelors and masters route to getting qualified is clearly popular and important in this profession, justified by the scale of respondents who say they have these credentials. The broad nature of degree-level study certainly prepares those who are either at the very start of their career, or perhaps getting qualified in order to change careers (as 42% of IEMA respondents say they are), for a future in Environment & Sustainability. However it is not the only path to the profession. 7% got their highest qualification from a Higher National Diploma (HND) or Certificate (HNC) and many take Associate-level courses and examinations

to certificate the knowledge they have gained either through study or experience.

Environmental qualifications aren’t only valuable to those who are building a green career. As organisations worldwide are waking up to the potential benefits that environmental skills achieved through thorough training can bring to business (i.e. efficiencies, cost savings, improved resilience to environmental constraints to name but a few), there is now a realisation that basic awareness training across the rest of the business is no longer enough. New training programmes like the All Jobs Greener suite have introduced a new perspective to environmental qualifications.

These courses train and certificate the entire workforce in core environmental principles, getting all staff – not just the skilled and qualified Environment & Sustainability professionals – engaged in achieving the organisation’s environmental targets. When all staff from the shop floor to the boardroom understand how they can have a direct impact on reductions in energy consumption, waste and resource use, they are equipped to make good decisions

about how they work. Smarter working across the organisation led by skilled and qualified specialists really does benefit the bottom line.

With the work of the profession proving to be both interesting and fulfilling, coupled with strong salaries and a robust and stable employment market, it is of little surprise that the Environment & Sustainability profession is fast emerging as an attractive choice. But what really makes this growing profession unique and truly rewarding isn’t the pay or even the prospects – it’s the desire to spend their working lives making a difference. How many other professions can say that? ■

Title Photo: Siemens AG

+ More Information www.iema.net

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Eliot W h i tti ng to n / Pr i nce o f Wales's Co r po rate L ead ers G rou p

A Wake Up Call For Us All

Eliot Whittington

UK Director, The Prince of Wales’s Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change

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Resource scarcity and climate change consistently feature in the list of top global trends set to transform business. It’s for this reason that the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), detailing the likely impacts of average temperature increases of 2°C or more, is of great significance to the members of the Prince of Wales’s Corporate Leaders Group (CLG) of which I am the UK Director.

The IPCC report contains grave warnings about the impact of climate change on food security, biodiversity, marine ecosystems, sea levels, extreme weather, and economic growth. It details how climate change is already negatively impacting food supplies and livelihoods and warns that the effects will be felt "on all continents and across the oceans" with the poorest countries and people hit hardest.

Compiled by over 850 authors and experts and based on an unprecedented volume of

literature the IPCC report represents the latest scientific evidence and should therefore be taken seriously. The message is clear: climate change is not something that will happen in the future. It is happening now and without urgent action things will only get worse. This warning should guide public and private investment decisions and policy-making.

Enlightened businesses know this and want support from their governments to prepare for the inevitable impacts of climate change and to help minimise future disruption and damage.

The companies who come together in the CLG are ready and willing to act, but they need support from their governments in the form of regulatory certainty and consistent policy frameworks to do so.

The new normal

Our members, who include some of the UK and Europe’s biggest companies from all different

Web: www.cpsl.cam.ac.uk

sectors, realise that the information contained in the IPCC report will directly affect what they are trying to deliver. One senior executive said to me recently that the IPCC report findings and their implications should be discussed at board meetings around the country. Climate change is becoming increasingly relevant to core business decisions. It is helping determine ‘the new normal’.

The real meat of the report - for a business reader interested in predicting the effect on their bottom line - is in the breakdown of the impacts on specific industries, businesses, and geographies. There are obvious implications for businesses that own coastal infrastructure or operate in the agricultural space, but there is also useful analysis for all companies who need to consider the supply chain effects that will inevitably filter through.

Indeed, for some sectors, climate change impacts outside of the UK are potentially more

important than what’s likely to be directly experienced at home. The UK’s dependency on food and energy imports should be of concern for businesses, consumers and policy makers alike, while extreme weather and other climatechange related events in foreign countries have the potential to influence the value and stability of the UK’s trade and investments.

The consultancy firm PwC recently warned that with the UK’s FTSE 350 companies holding £10trillion of assets abroad, physical damage or financial devaluation of even a very small proportion of these could have a significant impact.

As PwC says in its recent analysis of the IPCC report: “The real challenge for companies, regardless of size and location, is in understanding how to incorporate climate risks into capital investment or supply chain decisions. Good business leaders continually make decisions under uncertainty, and when

new information becomes available they revisit their decisions and adapt accordingly. So this IPCC report should help business leaders consider how and where they are exposed to the climate risks identified.”

Mitigation matters

We must be careful not to focus simply on adaptation and risk management. Without action to reduce emissions and invest in new low-carbon technology the world is on track for warming of 4°C or above. This is both an entirely possible and an entirely unacceptable outcome. At this level of warming many adaptation measures will be ineffective: we will be experiencing a level of climate change that will be catastrophic for many ecosystems and associated with new extremes of risk.

It’s for this reason that the Corporate Leaders Group recently drafted the Trillion Tonne Communiqué, which calls on governments ►

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Eliot W h i tti ng to n / Pr i nce o f Wales's Co r po rate L ead ers G rou p

to put policies in place that prevent the cumulative emission of more than a trillion tonnes of carbon from CO2 into the atmosphere.

This is the threshold the IPCC says we need to stay below if we are to limit warming to 2°C – a level that means we avoid worst impacts of climate change.

Cumulative manmade CO2 emissions already exceed 1.5 trillion tones, and at the current annual rate we are on track to pass the trillion tonne mark in less than 30 years. Only a rapid and focused response can avoid this.

The signatories to the Communiqué (already over 90 companies from 5 continents) are calling on governments to agree a policy response that is driven by national actions, enhanced through international cooperation, and ideally captured in the form of an ambitious, robust and equitable global deal.

The Communiqué makes three explicit recommendations. Firstly, it calls on governments to

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set a timeline for achieving net zero emissions. Such a focused global commitment does not yet exist in spite of evidence showing that emissions need to peak and begin to decline as soon as possible.

Secondly, governments need a credible strategy to transform the energy system. This will involve much greater energy and resource efficiency and needs to incorporate all relevant sectors. Policies are needed that shift investment and stimulate innovation into lowcarbon energy infrastructure; they must incorporate a robust carbon price.

Finally, the Communiqué urges policy makers to create a plan to manage and reduce reliance for fossil fuels, especially coal. Achieving net zero emissions will require substantial changes to our energy supply and the scale of demand for fossil fuels means we will only be able to continue to use them if the emissions can be captured and stored. This is particularly true of coal

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Kārlis Dambrāns

which, although abundant and cheap, is also the energy source associated with the most carbon emissions.

These global recommendations have clear implications for current policy making in the EU and UK. For example, CLG companies, many of whom signed the Trillion Tonne Communiqué, recently wrote to the British Prime Minister urging him to signal the government’s commitment to a low-carbon economy by reaffirming its intention to stick to the Fourth Carbon Budget as advised by the Committee on Climate Change.

The Fourth Carbon Budget, which was set in 2011 and covers the period from 2023-27, requires emissions reductions of 50% on 1990 levels by 2025. It is part of a wider commitment for the UK to cut emissions by at least 80% by 2050. The government needs to confirm its intention to stick to the budget as soon as possible. The current uncertainty and delay in clarifying the situation is unwarranted.

As Kingfisher Group Chief Executive, Sir Ian Cheshire said at the time the letter was sent: “No matter what business you are in, if you are looking forward you recognise there is no alternative but to transition to a low carbon economy. The Fourth Carbon Budget sets out

the trajectory the UK’s transition will take. It's important that the Government reaffirms this so that businesses have the certainty they need to make investment decisions.”

Many of the signatories to the Communiqué are also calling on the European Commission to show leadership by agreeing a robust 2030 climate and energy package that sets appropriate targets for greenhouse gas emissions and builds a climate for growth.

According to these companies such a package should be structured around at least a 40% domestic greenhouse gas emissions reduction target and supported by clear policies for renewables and energy efficiency, as well as a transition plan for energy intensive sectors.

A robust 2030 package, incorporating a reformed ETS and clear funding mechanisms for renewable energy and other low carbon technologies such as Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), would strengthen Europe’s competitiveness, job creation, and energy security.

Policy making like this by the UK and EU would set the tone for an ambitious global deal at the upcoming UN climate change talks in Paris in 2015. This Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate

Change will be a critical test of governments’ commitment to action on climate, and is the major opportunity to put the right policies in place for both adaptation and mitigation, including setting a net zero emissions goal.

Unless governments at the Paris meeting significantly raise their level of ambition to reduce emissions the adaptation challenge they face in the future will inevitably be much bigger, given the high likelihood of 3 or 4 degrees of warming.

The IPCC has done its job – an important, valuable and commendable one – in setting out both the latest science and the likely impacts of climate change. A third IPCC report, due out shortly after the time of writing, will outline the recommended mitigation activities. I sincerely hope that governments and business will take the IPCC findings seriously and act on them. It is in their – and all of our – interests to do so ■

+ More Information The Prince of Wales’s Corporate Leaders Group: www.cpsl.cam.ac.uk/Business-Platforms/ The-Prince-of-Wales-Corporate-Leaders-Group

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Prosecutions Waste Disposal

Illegal Wood Burning Caught on Camera

Two skip companies repeatedly supplied wood to an illegal wood burning site. The Environment Agency had the site in Upminster, Essex under surveillance for several days in January 2012. The man responsible for burning the waste, landowner Kevin Harding was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay a contribution towards costs of £1000, both based on his means, after pleading guilty to operating the illegal waste site. Modern Skips Ltd was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £4,600 costs for taking waste to an illegal site. Excel Skip Hire Ltd was fined £5,000 plus £2,300 costs for a similar offence. Both companies pleaded guilty. The site had no environmental permit to take waste or no relevant exemption for sorting wood that was taken there.

Environment Agency Suspends Environmental Permit at Waste Recycling Plant in Worksop

Environmental Prosecutions

The Environment Agency has suspended the Environmental Permit at the waste recycling plant on Shireoaks Road, Worksop, which is operated

by Nottinghamshire Recycling Ltd. The Environment Agency had previously notified Nottinghamshire Recycling Ltd of its concerns about the risk of fire on the Shireoaks Road site. Nottinghamshire Recycling Ltd was given until 17 March to comply with the notice. However, following the latest fire on 9 March the continued operation of this facility presents an ongoing risk of serious pollution.

The permit has been suspended with immediate effect due to the ongoing risk of serious pollution caused by fires on the site. While the suspension is in force no waste can be legally accepted or processed on the site.

Health & Safety

Contractor in court after shopper felled by falling hoardings

A building contractor has been fined after a woman suffered lifechanging head injuries when she was hit by a section of fencing that collapsed in a gust of wind.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigated and prosecuted Thomas Vale Construction after identifying a series of safety failings.

Thomas Vale Construction plc of Worcester Road, Stourport, pleaded guilty to a breach of Regulation 28(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 and was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay costs of £10,250.

Contractor Fined After Worker is Crushed by Falling Steelwork

A plant hire and dismantling company has been sentenced for safety failings after a worker suffered life changing injuries when steelwork he was dismantling collapsed on top of him. The 39-year-old from Barnsley sustained serious crush injuries including a fractured sternum and vertebrae in the incident at a former block works in Shawell, Lutterworth, Leicestershire.

His employer, HCL Equipment Contracts Limited, was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after an investigation identified serious flaws with the dismantling and removal of steelwork which had supported a large aggregate mixer. HCL Equipment Contracts Limited of Cotes Park Industrial Estate, Somercotes, Derbyshire, was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £491 in costs after pleading guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

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Poaching

Poaching

Anglers Fined Following Rod License Blitz

License Dodging Fishermen Land Hefty Fines

More than a dozen license-dodging anglers have been ordered to pay a total of £4,104 in fines and costs after being caught illegally fishing on lakes and rivers in Somerset.

The highest fines of £300 were imposed on Andrew Templeman of Highbridge and Dean Louden of Bridgwater. They were also ordered to pay £127 costs each.

Matthew and Keith Potter from Taunton were each fined £200 and ordered to pay £127, and Shaun Timmons from Weston-Super-Mare was fined £175 with £127 costs.

The following were fined £120 and ordered to pay £127 costs– Paul Smith of Shepton Mallet, Jacob Marks and Alex Fleming of Taunton, and Paul Haggett, of Bridgwater.

David Watts from Taunton was fined £150 with £127 costs, and Paul Watts, of Williton, £130 with £127 costs.

Robert Fisher of Bridgwater and Thomas Jones of Birmingham were each fined £55 with £60 costs.

Danny Hughes of Kingston St Mary, John Templeton of Highbridge and Shaun Pearson, of Wick St Lawrence were ordered to pay £180, £120, and £115 respectively in fines and costs.

Each defendant was also ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge.

Elver Fisherman Tagged for Illegal Fishing

A Bridgwater man has become the first person in the south west to be tagged for illegally fishing for elvers on the River Tone, Somerset. Colin Biddiscombe was made the subject of a two month night time curfew order when he appeared before Taunton magistrates in a case brought by the Environment Agency. In addition to a curfew, Biddiscombe, of Gloucester Road, Bridgwater was ordered to pay £300 costs and a £60 victim surcharge. His net and equipment were forfeited and he was banned from elver fishing for two years. He will have to wear a security tag and will not be allowed to leave his home between the hours of 7.00pm – 5.00am.

Kayaker caught poaching on Devon river

A Barnstaple man caught more than 20 fish during an illegal fishing spree on the River Taw in North Devon. Beverley Nicholls concealed bass and trout in his kayak after netting them early one evening last summer.

The total number of fish recovered included three bass, five rainbow trout, a brown trout, a sea trout and 12 mullet. The sea trout (3lb) alone was worth approximately £30.

Appearing before Barnstaple magistrates, Beverley Nicholls was given a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £200 costs after pleading guilty to illegally fishing for bass and sea trout at Runsam Bridge on the River Taw. His net was confiscated.

4 people caught fishing without a license in Norfolk

Over 2 days, 2 officers checked 49 people and issued 11 offence report forms (ORF) to individuals that were unable to produce a license on the day (a 22% evasion rate).

Lesley Robertson, Environment Agency Environmental Crime Team leader said: ‘These people were all fishing in places where it is legal to fish in the close season and the fact that most had a license with them shows their commitment to staying within the law.

‘People issued with a form will be hearing from us soon about whether further action will be taken and they may end up with a court summons and a fine up to £2,500.’

Seven anglers have been ordered to pay a total of £6,269 in fines and costs after they were caught fishing without rod licenses at a series of Somerset lakes.

David Atwell from Bristol was fined £600 by Weston-Super-Mare magistrates for fishing without a valid rod license. He was also fined £600 for failing to give his name and address and ordered to pay £127 costs.

Mark Barrett also from Bristol was ordered to pay similar fines and costs (£1,327) after he was also caught fishing without a license and failing to provide his name and address.

The following anglers were each fined £600 and ordered to pay £127 costs for license dodging: Jason and Alan Parsons and Lee Withey from Bristol, and Tamanie Ingledew-Hartveldt of Gloucester.

Clare Taylor of Gloucester was fined £200 and ordered to pay £127 costs plus a £20 victim surcharge after pleading guilty to fishing without a license. All six of the remaining defendants were found guilty in their absence. In addition to fines and costs they were each ordered to pay a £60 victim surcharge.

Destruction Order for Net Used in Illegal Elver Net Fishing

Graham Stokes of Gloucester pleaded guilty at Gloucester Magistrates’ Court to one charge of unauthorised elver net fishing. The 49-year-old was fined £250, ordered to pay £350 in costs, along with a £25 victim surcharge.

The court issued a destruction order of Mr Stokes’ elver net and banned him from applying for any authorisation for two years. The charge was brought by the Environment Agency under Section 27B (1) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 75.

Pollution

Custodial Sentence for Arcwood Director

Arcwood Recycling Ltd and its Director Luke Barker of Derbyshire were sentenced at Derby Crown Court to charges relating to the pollution of the Erewash Canal in October 2013. Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service prosecuted at the same time for offences under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

They pleaded guilty at Derby Crown Court. Arcwood Recycling Ltd was fined £8000 and ordered to pay £7500 in costs for the offence prosecuted by the Environment Agency. Luke Barker (36) was given an immediate 10 month custodial sentence and disqualified from being a director for 8 years.

Farmer to Pay £12,000 for Pollution

Farmer Kenneth William Proctor pleaded guilty after Ammonia polluted 6.5km of stream at Shipdham when slurry leaked from a farm lagoon. He was fined £8,000 and ordered to pay £4,000 costs for causing the pollution in June last year that killed fish and damaged invertebrate species.

Orwell oil polluter to pay £36,689

Oil from a waste treatment plant in Ipswich polluted four miles of the River Orwell and contaminated 12 swans, one of which died. The company responsible had failed to manage and operate its waste oil treatment site under the terms of its permit. Eco Oil Ltd. was fined a total of £30,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £6,569 as well as a victim surcharge of £120.

The pollution in July 2012 cost the company’s insurers £169,000 to clean up. environmentmagazine.co.uk | 205 |

Case study Cost effective recycling 1,000,000+ refrigerators In 2007 H.J. Hansen A/S, one of the largest recycling companies in Denmark, planned the construction of a new plant with the capacity to recycle approximately 200,000 household refrigeration units, constituting a large part of Denmark’s annual yield.

The units were to be recycled in single-shift operation, according to material type and in an environmentally friendly and cost-effective manner. From the start H.J. Hansen had the goal of processing at least 100 units per hour – nearly twice as many as was usual in the recycling industry.

Its favourable experience in the crushing and disaggregation of mixed electrical waste led H.J. Hansen to order a BHS Rotorshredder of type RS 3218. This machine was the largest Rotorshredder built thus far and was the �irst for crushing refrigeration units.

With a diameter of 3,200mm and a height of 1,800mm, the working chamber can handle refrigeration units measuring up to 1,000 x 1,200 x 2,000mm (W x D x H) and weighing up to 100 kg. This means that even large refrigerator-freezer units are crushed in one step without the need for pre-crushing.

Once the components made of glass or wood, plastic �ilms, electric cables, condensers, mercury switches, and compressors have been manually removed, a conveyor belt feeds the refrigeration units into the working chamber of the Rotorshredder. The chamber contains rotating hammers fastened to a high-speed vertical shaft. The Rotorshredder crushes the units through impact, punching and shear forces.

The solids are automatically sorted into ferromagnetic and nonferromagnetic parts (predominantly aluminum and copper), plastics and polyurethane foam. The blowing agents released during crushing as well as the separated PU foam are disposed of entirely in accordance with the pertinent regulations.

Positive results The plant has been in continuous single-shift operation since 2008 and has worked more than 8,000 hours to date. It still meets all the requirements de�ined at the start of the project, and does even more: it currently processes around 140 units – or approximately 6.8 tonnes – per hour.

This corresponds to an average crushing time of 25 seconds per unit. The authors know of no other plant which achieves a higher throughput rate.

A test of 1,000 units carried out by a Swedish supplier of scrap refrigeration units in 2013 con�irmed the plant's performance, both in terms of compliance with permitted CFC emissions as well as the quality of the accurately separated �inal products. | 206 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

Case study (cont) Cost effective recycling 1,000,000+ refrigerators Low costs The excellent crushing performance and short processing time result in a very high degree of energy ef�iciency and therefore low energy costs.

The average electrical power requirement is only 120 kW. This results in a speci�ic energy consumption of only 18.5 kWh per tonne.

The wear-related costs are also extremely low in comparison to other crushing machines: they are less than three euro per tonne. Moreover, maintenance costs are low. As they do not cut but rather function by force of impact, the rotating hammers do not need to be adjusted or sharpened.

Only a daily visual inspection is necessary.

Outlook The Rotorshredder of type RS 3218 can crush up to 150 refrigeration units per hour. In three-shift operation it could thus achieve a much higher performance of approximately 3,250 refrigeration units per day, and more than 800,000 units per year.

With an expanded sorting facility it is also possible to process electrical and electronic waste (WEEE) in the same plant as the refrigeration units.

The IC process For the treatment of gases in the refrigeration units BHS has recently developed the IC process, a new technology for treating refrigeration units containing CFCs or hydrocarbons.

The central machine in this process is once again the BHS Rotorshredder.

The refrigerants and blowing agents that are recaptured during the process undergo thermal-catalytic conversion and are completely transformed into harmless substances such as water vapor, carbon dioxide and dilute acids or saline solutions. Beyond this the process allows for major cost savings.

The IC process also has major advantages in terms of ef�icient energy use: pentane, which is used increasingly in modern refrigeration units, has a substantial energy content and can thus assist the thermal treatment of the gases, up to the point of thermally self-suf�icient operation. Compared to conventional plants, the process achieves remarkably large cost savings.

Contact For more information: www.bhs-sonthofen.de/en

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Case study Industrial scale Bio-Thermic digester technology Advetec, a leading UK specialist in the use of advanced environmental technologies for the treatment of ef�luent and waste, has launched an industrial scale BioThermic Digester (BTD), designed to rapidly process and signi�icantly reduce high volumes of organic waste, particularly in waste water.

The new solution is set to dramatically change how water companies deal with the growing and costly issue of ef�luent, providing a cost effective solution to land�ill which currently accounts for some millions of tonnes per year.

How to deal responsibly with vast amount of solid sludge is now a major issue. High water content makes it very expensive to transport and it is both costly and inef�icient to incinerate. Increasing levels of contaminants such as heavy metals and antibiotics limit its use as a soil conditioner, and the net result is that utilities have no choice but to send it to land�ill.

The result of eight years development and manufactured in the UK, the Advetec Bio-Thermic Digester is a containerised solution capable of converting 33 tonnes of organic waste material over a 48 to 72 hour period, reducing the volume by over 96%. The resulting discharge is clean water and a small quantity of sterile waste material.

Advetec’s Bio-Thermic Digester (BTD) technology has been trialled and tested in small applications over a period of 4 years in the UK, the US and the Middle East. Unique to the company’s approach is its understanding of aerobic bacteria, the bio-stimulant technology used to invigorate and speed up the digestion process, combined with advanced engineering and continuous remote monitoring to ensure an optimal processing environment.

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Case study (cont) Industrial scale Bio-Thermic digester technology Advetec Managing Director Craig Shaw explains: “With our new industrial sized Bio-Thermic Digester we can truly make zero organic waste to land�ill a reality. After passing through our machines the volume reduces by 96% and only costs around £1.99 per ton to process on site – so the savings on vehicle movements alone will be very signi�icant.”

Shaw continued: “We are already seeing signi�icant interest across the wastewater industry and other sectors where organic waste is an issue.

What’s more, the technology is completely scalable. Banks of digesters can be linked to handle ever increasing volumes of sludge, or moved from site to site.”

The BTD is container sized and part of a complete system consisting of hoppers, shredders, augers, storage tanks and piping, designed and tailored to match each customer’s differing needs. For water companies the BTD can be simply integrated into existing processing lines, with no additional operator requirements.

Contact For more information: www.advetec.net

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Case study Cutting noise and carbon footprint GI Energy helps new islington landmark to cut noise and carbon footprint. Heating and cooling with Ground Source Heat Pump system saves energy and requires no roof-top air conditioning units

The developer of the new Lexicon building in Islington has chosen to heat and cool the 307 apartments with a highly energy-ef�icient Ground Source Heat Pump system. Mount Anvil appointed GI Energy, the pioneer of this type of renewable energy in the UK, to install the Ground Source Heat Pump system to provide all of the cooling and a signi�icant amount of heating to the building. The scheme, which forms a key part of the City Road Basin Masterplan aiming to create a highly visible positive landmark for Islington, comprises 307 apartments, 200 for private sale and 107 affordable housing units. In addition the development includes 785m2 of mixed-use commercial space, 52 car parking spaces as well as a private residents’ spa and lounge.

It is the �irst time that Mount Anvil has used Ground Source Heat Pumps and the decision was taken in order to meet a requirement that 20% of the energy used to run the building should come from renewable sources.

This stipulation was set by the local planning authority Islington Borough Council, which also limited the amount of roof top noise permitted from the cooling plant. Tony Amis, Business Development Director of Coventry-based GI Energy, said: “Chillers and air conditioning units on top of buildings can be very noisy, especially for residential buildings, and local authorities are placing restrictions on the levels of noise in key areas of London. Using Ground Source Heat Pump systems to cool buildings is the answer to that problem – these systems are less noisy, take up less space and don’t need to be put on the roof and can provide simultaneous heating with the same unites when required. Ultimately they are far more energy ef�icient than conventional air conditioning or central heating because Ground Source Heat Pumps extract heat stored naturally underground in the earth – a truly renewable form of energy. GI Energy has developed sophisticated control units that continuously monitor Ground Source Heat Pump systems that enables remote monitoring and �ine-tuning of their operations so that they deliver the results required.”

As the Lexicon lies in a heavily built up area GI Energy recently completed installing 82 boreholes under the building that are each 150m deep to take the pipes, called earth loops, that are an essential part of the Ground Source Heat Pump system. GI Energy is the market leader in the UK and has built up an enviable expertise in designing and sizing Ground Source Heat Pump systems for many diverse buildings in a variety of challenging settings including high-rise buildings on congested city sites, such as One New Change in the shadow of St Paul’s Cathedral. GI Energy offers a complete turnkey solution, from initial geological and hydrogeological surveys, sizing and designing a system, through to installation, commissioning, control, monitoring, repair and maintenance. The Coventry-based company recently launched a �inance package to mitigate the up-front costs of an installation.

Sainsbury’s supermarket was the �irst customer to utilise this opportunity which comes with a long-term repair and maintenance agreement.

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Contact For more information: www.gienergy.net

Case study Breathing new life into a Victorian Warehouse Accoya has been used by a leading UK supplier to create an innovative window solution for a Victorian warehouse project.

London Box Sash Windows was approached by Ben Adams Architects to design long-lasting, low maintenance, high performing timber sash windows for the renovation of the Bryant Building in London’s Shoreditch.

London Box Sash Windows selected their unique Accoya product, ‘50 Year Sash Windows’, and produced 45 windows comprising 24mm 4/16/4 double glazed low E glass units. The frames were �inished with Teknos ‘Graphite Black’ low maintenance microporous paint.

Jack Ellis, director of London Box Sash Windows said: “The windows provided the ideal solution for Ben Adams Architect as they are covered

by Accoya’s 50 year guarantee against rot and decay. The stability and durability of Accoya combined with the low maintenance paint from Teknos means there is very little up keep required. In addition the paint should last for up to two to three times longer on the Accoya frames than ordinary timbers frames.

He added: “Shoreditch’s new-found status as London’s creative hub made this a particularly exciting project for London Box Sash Windows to showcase our Accoya product offer. Moreover the architects, Ben Adams, worked to exacting standards including exposing some magni�icent original brickwork, cast iron columns and the requirements for the windows were the same. We are delighted to have met and exceeded their expectations with our “50 Year Sash Windows” made solely from Accoya.”

Manufactured using Accsys Technologies’ proprietary acetylation process, Accoya is one of the most advanced modi�ied wood products on the market delivering outstanding levels of performance, stability and class 1 durability.

Exceeding the high-quality and aesthetic attributes of tropical hardwoods it also boasts excellent environmental credentials by using wood sourced from FSC certi�ied and sustainable forests as well as being Cradle to Cradle Gold certi�ied. More recently an independent report has proved that Accoya wood is carbon negative when used as a window frame, setting a high gold standard for sustainability.

Bryan Crennell, director of sales and marketing at Accsys Technologies said: “Accoya is proven as a sustainable, durable, and stable material, which is guaranteed against rot and decay for 50 years for exterior use above ground and 25 years in ground - making it perfect for a demanding outdoor application such as this. By selecting Accoya for the windows of the Bryant Building the architects have invested in the future of this warehouse for many years to come.”

Contact For more information: www.accoya.com

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Case study Re-creating the iconic Louis Vuitton Design Louis Vuitton designers have selected Accoya for the brand’s second store in Latin America.

The prestigious clothing and accessories store, located in Santiago, Chile, was designed by Louis Vuitton architect, Jose-Carlos Valdivia de Los Ríos and Gustavo Carmona, a Mexican architect who led the MateriaArquitectónica study.

Accoya has been selected for the façade of the building and has been designed to recreate Louis Vuitton’s famous quatrefoil branding which adorns many of the company’s luxury products.

Recreating this design in wood would be a challenge for most products.

However Accoya’s unique modi�ication process made this challenging remit achievable. The façade also had to meet the high standard of quality associated with the brand and be delivered to the highest levels of aesthetic �inish. The geographical location of the store also posed further obstacles for the team, with Santiago prone to humid conditions within the summer months.

Accoya’s modi�ication process allows the product to deliver outstanding levels of performance including stability, sustainability and durability. Its superior qualities allow Accoya to outperform other wood species making it ideal for external use. The modi�ication process also provides Accoya with an insect barrier protecting against attack from termites and leaves the wood UV resistant.

Bryan Crennell, director of sales and marketing at Accsys Technologies said: “At Accsys we pride ourselves on providing our customers with a superior wood product which will meet a variety of needs. We are delighted that the quality, �inish and attributes of Accoya are regarded as an ideal match for such a well-respected luxury brand like Louis Vuitton.

“The �inished building is impressive and the Accoya façade is covered with our guarantee against rot and decay for 50 years for exterior use above ground, making it perfect for a demanding outdoor application and location such as this.”

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Contact For more information: www.accoya.com

Case study Runcorn energy recovery plant switches on Viridor con�irms that it has started using refuse derived fuel (RDF) for full commissioning at its energy recovery facility on Picow Farm Road in Runcorn.

Runcorn will be one of the largest and most ef�icient energy from waste plants in Europe and once fully operational will be capable of generating up to 70MW of electricity and up to 51 MW of heat. The facility will supply the neighbouring INEOS facility with up to 20% of its total energy needs, signi�icantly cutting the annual energy bill at its Runcorn site and improving energy security by reducing its reliance on fossil fuels. A lower energy bill will put INEOS in a much better position to secure and maintain the direct employment of more than 1500 people at their plant.

The facility will offer north-west businesses and councils a viable local alternative to sending non-recyclable waste to land�ill or exporting it for treatment in Europe. It will operate in conjunction with concerted efforts to ensure that customers are able to recycle as much as possible. Prior to use as fuel at the Runcorn EfW plant, waste will be passed through a pretreatment process to remove materials for recycling either at a Viridor or authorised third party site to create RDF. The total project represents a £452m investment in Runcorn, creating around eighty permanent jobs within the facility as well as having employed over 1100 people during construction.

Commissioning of Phase 1 of the Runcorn EfW began in January and the �irst ‘burn’ signals the end of construction and �inal stages of testing and commissioning before the site becomes fully operational. Commissioning activities including the recent ‘steam blows’ have been communicated to the local community through the site liaison forum via a newsletter delivered to 1400 households and on the site’s website. Updates will continue to keep the interested local community fully informed about activities on site.

The remaining commissioning activities prior to full operation will include �inal steam blowing and synchronisation of the turbine to allow the facility to produce renewable electricity and heat for the INEOS facility. Much of the RDF for Runcorn will arrive by rail and the railhead delivery points have also been successfully tested.

Runcorn Phase 2 is scheduled to accept RDF later this year with takeover of the entire facility expected in late 2014. Viridor Operations Director, Mark Burrows-Smith, commented: “This marks an important milestone in the commissioning process at Runcorn and in Viridor’s wider energy recovery investment programme.

“The development also comes hot on the heels of the lifting of the road inputs restriction at Runcorn, which will enable a sensible mix of transport methods to serve the site - allowing businesses and local authorities within the region to access the land�ill diversion potential of the plant.”

Contact For more information: www.viridor.co.uk

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Case study Reducing Residents’ Energy Costs Thermal Earth has worked in conjunction with Wales & West Housing to successfully increase energy ef�iciency and reduce running costs for tenants in a large domestic housing refurbishment in Mid Wales.

Residents at Llwynbrain Close in Howey, near Llandrindod Wells, have had their conventional heating systems replaced with Thermal Earth’s MasterTherm air source heat pumps in a bid to reduce the energy usage and carbon output of the estate. Wales & West Housing, which manages over 9,500 high quality affordable homes in 12 local authority areas across Wales, chose Thermal Earth as the suppliers, designers and installers to refurbish the heating systems in Llwynbrain Close. The project has proved such a success that Thermal Earth has secured a second contract with Wales & West Housing for a larger 26-property development, Mill View Close, also in Howey, Powys.

Thermal Earth was tasked with replacing the old, inef�icient night storage heaters with MasterTherm air to water heat pumps, which also entailed the changing of hot water cylinders and the installation of oversized radiators to account for the lower �low temperatures the heat pumps run on. The new heat pump system can heat the home as well as provide hot water and signi�icantly reduces the domestic carbon emissions and lowers fuel bills simultaneously. It is anticipated that residents may be able to save up to 70% on running costs when compared to the old electric night storage heater, a �igure of up to £1,386.80 for a three bed house, and up to 50% in comparison to an LPG heating system.

The air source heat pump works by extracting the ambient temperature from the outside air and using the heat energy to boil the circulating heat transfer �luid into gas which in turn is compressed to increase its temperature up to 70°C to then pass through the heat exchanger. The heat pump does require a small amount of electricity to run but due to the low �low temperature it requires to be at its most ef�icient the tenants are guaranteed to make savings when compared to their conventional electric and oil systems.

To aid the simplicity of the new heating system MasterTherm heat pumps bene�it from full online real time diagnostics. This feature gives MasterTherm and the client the ability to not only monitor the heat pump performance in real time but also the ability to make adjustments and reset the equipment remotely using any internet enabled device. Any system adjustments or investigations can be made without visiting the premises, drastically reducing unnecessary callouts for user error. The user is able to adjust heating and hot water temperatures on a screen that directly mimics the user controls in the property while installers are able to set output curves, view alarm lists and see a history of temperatures. The | 214 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

Case study (cont) Reducing Residents’ Energy Costs manufacturer and distributor bene�it from the ability to alter the control algorithms, adjust the expansion valve settings and the compressor output on the inverter drive. Social Housing projects gain extensively from this feature in terms of negating the requirement for engineers or support of�icers to attend sites.

In addition to the MasterTherm heat pumps, solar thermal panels were also installed on the roofs of the houses to maximise the hot water supplies. By using the two systems together a regular supply of hot water is maintained and the �low temperature of the heat pump does not have to be increased, therefore not reducing the energy ef�iciency of the new system.

The second project at Mill View Close is due for completion at the end of April 2014 and will see 26 properties having the same air to water heat pumps installed with supporting solar thermal panels. Thermal Earth offers a range of air, water and ground source heat pumps for both domestic and commercial applications, supplying, �itting and maintaining all systems.

Contact For more information: www.thermalearth.co.uk

environmentmagazine.co.uk | 215 |

Case study Heating system for rural off-gas house When Andrew Fish was looking to build a new house in an off-gas area in rural Wiltshire he needed a heating system that would �it with a strict overall budget and protect the home against rising fuel bills into the future.

Mr Fish also needed a system that could be installed in a �lexible way that could work around the build programme and called in Tetbury-based JMR Services which specialises in all aspects of plumbing, heating and renewable energies, throughout Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and North Somerset. The original brief at the design stage for the 5-bedroomed home in Purton near Swindon was to include a heating system that minimised the material impact on the property as much as possible. In addition to low running costs, Andrew Fish was looking for a renewable heating system that was simple to operate, offered full functionality and �lexibility of control and lessened the environmental footprint of the property.

“As this was a complete new build Mr Fish could have gone for almost any form of heating but was eager to look at a sustainable solution to provide a whole house heating system”, explained Jason Rogan, Director of JMR Services who installed the heating.

“We advised our client to go with an Ecodan system because of its ef�icient running costs, ease of installation and user-friendly controls”, added Jason.

Manufactured by Mitsubishi Electric, Ecodan is the market-leader in air source heat pump systems and is also endorsed with the Noise Abatement Society’s prestigious ‘Quiet Mark’.

Both oil and LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas) heating options were considered but discounted because, even at today’s prices, the overall running costs would have been signi�icantly higher than an air source heat pump.

Natural gas was also looked at but installation costs to join the network were simply too high and running costs were also slightly more expensive than an Ecodan.

JMR Services initially conducted extensive calculations on the property and its energy requirements and recommended a 14kW Ecodan heat pump linked to a Giacomini under�loor heating system and a Kingspan 300 litre indirect Aerocyl cylinder. The Ecodan unit heats the home through under�loor heating on the ground �loor and radiators in all �irst �loor rooms

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Case study (cont) Heating system for rural off-gas house and provides all the hot water the house needs. The home also needed a system that had the �lexibility to cope with the on-going build process and an installer that was able to work around the other building professionals on site and meet the strict timescales involved.

“I couldn't really ask any more of the installation or from the person who installed it”, explained homeowner Andrew Fish. “Jason is still monitoring progress and is in touch ensuring the system is running as best it can.”

Ecodan is recognised as renewable technology by both the EU and UK Governments because it harvests free energy from the outdoor air to maximise the heat it provides for every kW of electricity consumed – even in the depths of winter.

The choice of Ecodan offers Andrew Fish a comfortable sustainable heating system at low running costs for both now and the future.

“We are installing more and more Ecodans as customers, like Andrew Fish, hear how reliable and cost-effective they can be”, ended Jason Rogan.

Contact For more details on the full range of services operated by Jason Rogan and his team, visit the company’s website: www.jmrservicesph.co.uk.

Further details on the comprehensive range of Ecodan heat pumps are available at the company’s website: www.heating.mitsubishielectric.co.uk.

environmentmagazine.co.uk | 217 |

Case study Siemens secures services for Anglian Water Siemens has introduced two unique new solarpowered perimeter protection solutions to meet the challenge of safeguarding extensive perimeters and numerous network assets and services.

It is not only dif�icult and expensive to secure full protection of large perimeter and fence lines, but the requirement for costly duct networks together with the associated power supplies and cabling infrastructure places signi�icant demands on available resources. Anglian Water is the �irst water authority to bene�it from the new solar-powered electronic security technology, Si-IRand Si-Fence, in response to their need to secure large perimeters in a cost-effective manner. Both technologies operate on a light source and not just sunlight, remaining powered for up to three months – even in total darkness. In addition to safeguarding assets they are designed to improve green credentials and assist with carbon reduction programmes.

Si-IR: a wireless networked solar-powered active infra red beam detection system. A secure high-performance beam con�iguration that forms a series of interconnected beams immune to interference and with built-in redundancy. It provides higher sensitivity and reduced false activations as the parallel beam sets are multiplexed to eliminate unwanted alarms.

Si-Fence: a solar-powered fence mounted perimeter intrusion detection system. An automatic ‘self learning’ calibration feature which detects all attempts to cut, climb or remove the fence and ignores fence disturbance caused by weather or vehicle movement – ability to detect intruders up to a distance of 3m! It delivers protection by reducing false alarm activations as detection algorithms are distributed along the complete fence line with an automatic ‘self learning’ calibration feature.

Anglian Water has entered into a framework with Siemens to deliver their Security & Emergency Measure Directive (SEMD) programme requirements. The SEMD delivery programme covers the securing of assets ranging from water and waste water treatment works, raw water intakes and abstraction points, pumping stations and water storage facilities.

Siemens project scope includes the design, delivery and testing of CCTV solutions, intruder detection, perimeter detection, various IPS systems, IT infrastructure, communications infrastructure, electrical power supply and UPS design and civil engineering.

Major savings are guaranteed by signi�icantly reducing the cost of installing power and communication cables and undertaking extensive civil engineering work. Siemens has the award winning specialist integration skills to ensure that lifecycle expenditure and system running costs are kept to a minimum. Water authorities are required to make provision for maintaining water supplies and sewerage services at all times. They need maximum protection for their people, premises and processes to ensure security of supply and to meet these challenging requirements Siemens has developed a specialist water sector team.

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Contact For more information: www.siemens.com

Product Guide Juniper’s Archer 2 rugged handheld marks breakthrough for outdoor computing Juniper Systems has announced Archer 2, the latest generation rugged handheld with several key technological advancements.

The device incorporates a custom 4.3 inch ultra-bright display and advanced battery technology that allows use for up to 20 hours on one charge: the industry’s longest lasting battery. Archer 2 also includes a glove-friendly numeric keypad, has a top IP68 rating for dust and water, and has enhanced GPS capabilities.

The Archer 2 is the first Juniper Systems handheld to feature a capacitive touchscreen for improved response. The special Illumiview high-visibility screen designed for outdoor use has been well received by reviewers. Juniper's field computers are designed for use by mobile workers in areas such as surveying, water testing, field service and maintenance.

Archer 2’s battery uses ‘Overtime Technology’ that provides longer runtime in cold temperatures using technology adapted from hybrid car batteries. The battery can last 20 hours while still powering additional functions and connected accessories and holds a full charge much longer than traditional batteries. It also has superior quick-charge capability, which can be provided via a vehicle charger, allowing the battery to charge up to 70% capacity in as little as 45 minutes. Like other Juniper Systems handhelds, the Archer 2 is built to very strict standards at its ISO 9001:2008-certified facility, having been tested to MIL-STD-810G and given a top IP68 rating for dust and water.

•

For more information please visit www.junipersys.com/archer2

YASKAWA brings the full range of The Switch advanced drive trains to Japan

Compact fast-acting failsafe actuator calls for innovative solution

Siemens UK launch SiNVR - an advanced security management control platform

YASKAWA Electric Corporation the global manufacturer of servomotors, controllers, inverters, and industrial robots, has announced that it will be the sole supplier of The Switch megawatt-class permanent magnet generator (PMG) and full-power converter advanced drive train packages for wind power and other renewable energy applications to the Japanese market. The Switch products are now available to customers who want to stay at the forefront with the most modern wind turbine drive train technology for profitable energy generation.

The Switch product portfolio ideally complements the range of medium voltage technology products that YASKAWA already has available for wind turbine manufacturers. The Switch PMGs cover all wind power applications from 1MW to 8MW and higher, including direct-drive, medium-speed and high-speed PMGs. • For more information please visit www.theswitch.com

Rotork-Hiller’s reputation is built on the provision of actuators for critical applications and challenging environments. A recent enquiry to build a fast-acting failsafe stop valve actuator for a plant firefighting system called for a very compact pneumatically operated actuator, with no springs for the failsafe function, necessitating the provision of a stored energy accumulator. Rotork-Hiller engineers conceived a radical new design that incorporated the accumulator within the pneumatic actuator. this not only eliminated the size problem but also freed-up additional space for mounting the controls to the actuator. These controls include filters, regulators, solenoid valves and pressure switches, contained within overall actuator dimensions of 470 x 584 x 680 mm (The controls reduce the customer’s supply pressure of 45 Barg (652 psig) to 31 Barg (450 psig) • For more information please visit www.rotork.com

Leading security and safety solutions provider Siemens Building Technologies is launching SiNVR, an intelligent security management control platform that will integrate and manage multiple security subsystems offering full protection of assets to create a safe and automated working environment.

The new platform has been developed to integrate and control CCTV, intruder detection, access control and perimeter protection devices, managing every incident through to conclusion.

This improves efficiency and enhances operations and security while reducing risks and costs.

Operators are automatically prompted to take the correct action and the software will automatically set in motion a sequence of pre-agreed activities to ensure the right procedures are adhered to, as well as distributing essential information across multi agencies. This integration of multiple disciplines provides centralised situational awareness, enhancing overall safety and security as it allows cross functional capabilities.

• For more information please visit www.siemens.com

Product Guide | 220 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

For more news, editorials, and product reviews, visit www.environmentmagazine.co.uk

DTE Raises The Bar In Health And Safety Truss manufacturer Donaldson Timber Engineering Ltd (DTE) has launched SafeStep, a new scaffold system designed to minimise risk when fixing ridge bracing on these components.

Developed in conjunction with TRAD safety systems, SafeStep is a reusable metal cross bar which provides a safe method for installing roof ridge stability bracing on trusses over 2.5m in height. The cross bar provides the base for a safe working platform to be fitted while also allowing the longitudinal web bracing of the truss to act as a handrail.

This enables carpenters to reach the truss apex and nail the stability bracing safely, eliminating the need to overstretch • For more information please visit www.donaldsontimberengineering.co.uk

Eaton’s LowTemperature Hydraulic Hose Serves in Extreme Cold Environments Power management company Eaton today introduced the ICE CHAMPION™ EC810 hose for extreme low temperature applications. This spiral wire reinforced hydraulic hose withstands temperatures as low as -57°C (-70°F) and pressures as high as 420 bar (6,100 psi) to ensure a long operating life in demanding applications, this makes it particularly well-suited for use in high pressure hydraulic circuits operating in polar climates.

• For more information please visit www.eaton.com/hydraulics

New Led Emergency Lighting Brochure Published

Radar Complements Ultrasonic Flow Measurements

Luxonic Lighting has released a new brochure on its range of LED Emergency lighting.

The 12 page brochure covers the full Luxonic product range of surface and ceiling mounted emergency luminaires and exit signs, all with LEDs. Luxonic’s addressable EM-TEST LED emergency lighting test system is explained in detail, and there is essential information too on current documentation and regulations relating to emergency lighting design.

Good quality emergency lighting in buildings is paramount, can be the difference between life and death.Through its LED based lighting solutions, Luxonic makes it significantly easier for building consultants and facilities managers to comply with UK legislation.

The new OFR radar-based velocity measurement system from NIVUS shows its strengths in combination with ultrasonic measurement.

Supplementing Doppler, transit time or the cross correlation method patented

by NIVUS the system provides added reliability of flow measurement covering the entire measurement range. OFR is well suited as an individual system for flow measurements in aggressive or abrasive media and can be used for measuring in areas difficult to assess.

For flow calculation the OFR system determines surface velocity as well as the level of the medium. NIVUS’ latest hydraulic calculation algorithms ensure reliable flow metering even under very difficult conditions. The System consists of an impulse-radar for surface velocity detection and an ultrasonic level measurement. Due to its versatility OFR is a good choice even for exposed measurement situations such as irrigation channels, mountain streams and problematic media.

NIVUS exhibits at IFAT: Hall A5, Stand 235/334

• For more information please visit www.luxonic.co.uk

Toshiba introduces Black Pear Toshiba Air Conditioning has introduced a new control and monitoring system called Black Pear, which it believes is one of the most powerful and versatile on the market.

Black Pear connects directly to the HVAC control bus, providing instant connectivity to Building Management Systems, and overcoming the need for a central controller and separate interface. It is compatible with all the major communications systems, such as Automated Logic, Modbus, BACnet and Trend, enabling virtually universal application for Toshiba air conditioning equipment with all types of Building Management Systems.

A single Black Pear module can connect up to 64 indoor units, meaning it can cater for large applications without having to be doubled up or multiplexed.

• For more information please visit www.toshiba-aircon.co.uk

• For more information please visit www.nivus.com

environmentmagazine.co.uk | 221 |

Famous Last Words

| 222 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

Gar r y Mo o re / Prop ela i r

Web: www.propelair.com

New toilet cuts water consumption by 84 percent Sustainability pioneer Garry Moore sniffed the tide and had an idea. Now his revolutionary Propelair© toilet is set to shake up the construction world.

Garry Moore

Inventor of Propelair Sustainability pioneer Garry Moore sniffed the tide and had an idea. Now his revolutionary Propelair© toilet is set to shake up the construction world.

When serial entrepreneur Gary Moore was running a thrill-boat ride on the Thames in the 1990s he was struck by the sometimes poor quality of the water. The young entrepreneur had always been an environmentalist at heart and the occasional noisome odour rising from the waters east of central London got him thinking.

In a lightbulb moment he reflected that toilets use a huge amount of clean water, an increasingly valuable commodity in Britain and elsewhere, and the energy needed to produce it only adds to the burden on Britain’s depleting fossil fuel reserves and balance of payments.

A natural inventor, Garry had qualified as an engineer following an apprenticeship with BT and was always tinkering in his workshop developing projects. He was also a hard-headed pragmatist who had set up and run successful domestic cleaning, classic-car restoration and marine fabrication businesses.

Britain and many other parts of the world have been using the same type of toilet for more than a century, with a handful of relatively small technical improvements – it was and largely remains a matter of storing water and letting gravity remove waste with a pump or a single flush.

Of course saving water is not just a business opportunity – it’s a crucial world problem. According to The UN’s 2014 World Water Day Development Report, published in March: “Global water demand ... is projected to increase by some 55% by 2050, mainly because of growing demands from manufacturing (400%), thermal electricity generation (140%) and domestic use (130%). As a result freshwater availability will be increasingly strained over this time period, and more than 40% of the global population is projected to be living in areas of severe water stress through 2050. There is clear evidence that groundwater supplies are diminishing with an estimated 20% of the world’s aquifers being over-exploited, some critically so. Deterioration of wetlands worldwide is reducing the capacity of ecosystems to purify water.”

Garry hit on his idea of combining displaced air with a small amount of water to create a loo that would save water, energy and money in the workplace and potentially at home, while improving hygiene standards.

It would do all this and still give a powerful flush without requiring any additional equipment, so would be capable of being installed virtually anywhere.

He wrote a business plan, undertook a first funding round among friends and family, and set up a company.

The ‘Eureka moment’ as Garry describes it, came as he operated the first flush of the newly built prototype at his parents’ home workshop in Ilford, Essex and saw that it worked. “We knew we had a powerful product when we flushed four test-sausages in the garden, and they shot out with two landing in the flower beds, one went over the fence and we lost one, later finding it up a tree” said Garry.

Propelair secured its first £114,000 equity investment in 2001 and, recruited a designer and began developing the product for commercial use with the University of East London in Docklands. Realising the potential of such a disruptive technology he knew it was crucial to get the product right. So Garry embarked on what became five years’ intensive development work alongside prestigious institutions such as Imperial College London, Exeter University and the Water Research Centre.

Patents were applied for and secured and all went according to plan until the 2007 when the world financial collapse prompted one big investor to withdraw, leaving Garry with substantial unpaid legal bills.

Spurred by his faith that this was the right product and the encouragement of those he worked with, Garry stuck with the plan.

“Achieving 80% water and energy savings, we knew this was a great business opportunity. I couldn’t live with someone else claiming credit for my idea and I wanted a legacy that would benefit the environment, not just in the UK but internationally.”

New Investors kept faith too, backing Propelair’s move to its own premises in Basildon, Essex in 2010 so the business was ready to fulfil its first commercial orders. With the template design in place Garry was keen to build the loo in Britain. So, he set up a manufacturing facility in Portsmouth.

“It was a challenge but we wanted quality and consistency and that's what you need when you're working with ceramic products. There's still a lot of skill in the UK and we draw on that base deeply.”

Now with its own board of directors the company has decided to target the B2B market as offering the best opportunity for meaningful growth. The company has 12 full-time employees apart from the extra manufacturing jobs sustained among its UK contractors. The potential of the domestic market, however, is plain to see.

Propelair uses patented displaced air POWA™ technology to produce a powerful, high-performance flush while reducing average water usages by 84%. As well as saving water and money, Propelair is more hygienic environmentmagazine.co.uk | 223 |

Famous Last Words

Gar r y Mo o re / Prop ela i r Like all great inventions Propelair is essentially simple. Before flushing, the lid is closed to form a seal. To encourage putting seat and lid down, the flush button is positioned behind the raised lid.

Pushing the button sends 0.5 litres of water through three patented nozzles into the pan to wash it, followed by air from the unique patented pump. The trapped air pushes out the entire contents of the pan to give a powerful, reliable flush. The remaining one litre of water refills the water trap.

The flush is completed in three seconds with the toilet ready to be re-flushed in around 20 seconds (subject to water supply pressure).

Propelair has a two section cistern – one side a water reservoir and the other an air pump requiring a power supply provided by either battery or the mains. The energy used per flush is negligible, with 1,000 flushes costing around 8p.

While Propelair remains focused on its growing B2B customer base, the potential for the domestic market is clear, not least due to increasingly demanding environmental standards.

Developers struggle to meet Part G of the UK Building Regulations, which allocates 125 litres of water per person daily in a new home. Their compromise – fitting low-power showers and dual-flush toilets – is not a hit with consumers.

Some 30% of domestic water is used for flushing, so Propelair’s 84% reduction in water usage would enable new-home developers to keep popular power showers in their plans.

Said Garry: “We’re different, so other toilet makers aren’t really our top competitors.

Instead they’re those offering an environmental solution, such as water recycling systems, anyone pitching for sustainability ratings or planning approval based on environmental performance, such as suppliers of aerated taps, low-flow showers or dual-flush loos.

and enables a toilet to be fitted virtually anywhere, as it doesn’t rely on gravity drains and sloping waste pipes, as conventional toilets do.

Propelair’s performance speaks for itself. Using 1.5 litres of water per flush instead of the average 9 litres it cuts the toilet’s carbon footprint by an average 80%. The unit reduces aerosol contamination and associated risks by 95% and removes 99.9% of contaminants, making it the cleanest toilet on the market.

Garry said: “Design of the modern toilet has gone largely unchanged since its conception. Propelair has the potential to revolutionise the way we all use water, saving money along the way both in domestic and commercial buildings. When you consider that toilet flushing accounts for up to 90% of water usage in commercial buildings the savings are more than significant.”

News of the innovative toilet has spread fast around the facilities management world and following last year’s low-key launch demand has been growing among local authorities, universities, London theatres, restaurant chains, even an insurance giant.

The system is revolutionary so most orders have been relatively small and made on a trial basis, consistent with the cautious nature of the property and construction industries. But Propelair is announcing the first order from a ‘named’ customer shortly.

Installing Propelair is a way to save water and energy – and therefore money – and, as several institutions have found, advance their own sustainability targets.

Another factor in its popularity among specifiers is the volume of approval heaped on Propelair by independent assessors. The high-tech loo is approved by the Water Regulations Advisory Scheme, the water efficiency group Waterwise; it has a ‘highest-performance’ rating by BREEAM, the international design and assessment method for sustainable buildings. Propelair exceeds environmental standards in Part G of the UK Building Regulations and Code for Sustainable Homes, is CE-marked for EU sales, has the AS 9100 and AS9100 manufacturing standards.

It’s also on the ECA Water Technology List, making installers eligible for enhanced capital allowances of 100% instead of 25% in year of purchase. | 224 | environmentmagazine.co.uk

Architects like Propelair because it gives them design freedom by fitting easily into existing drainage systems with minimal disruption during simple, low-cost installation. Air-assisted flush means even smallbore, flexible drains can be run under-floor, with no gradient. These factors matter greatly as rising property prices make efficient use of space ever more important.

The cistern can be placed far away from the toilet pan – in another room. The loo can be installed virtually anywhere, in any space, large or small. Installation is simple with two push hoses connecting the cistern – one each for air and water.

While Propelair is setting up an approved installer programme through the National Skills Academy any competent plumber will have no difficulty in installing the system. The toilet is designed to be maintenance free, with simple annual checks recommended.

“We knew this was a breakthrough product that would shake up the sometimes conservative construction and FM sectors so we spent a lot of time and money verifying its performance and ironing out any problems”, said Garry Moore.

For the aesthetes among us it also helps that Propelair looks great ■

ELV handling requirements are well within reach

See us at CARS 2014

5th and 6th June

With JCB’s specially modified Wastemaster range, demanding ELV handling requirements are literally within reach. The JCB Wastemaster range includes the unique Teletruk – the world’s only telescopic reach forklift – perfect for loading, stacking, and handling ELV’s. Then there’s our range of telescopic handlers, rough terrain forklifts, wheeled loaders and material handlers.

So reach for more information at JCB.com or visit us at CARS 5th-6th June.

www.jcb.com