EIMissue13

APRIL / MAY 2011

ISSN 2043-0140

SUPPORTED BY:

VEHICLES AND TRANSPORT NORMAN BAKER MP RICHARD BENYON MP TRADA CONSERVATION TRACY WORCESTER

INTRODUCTION FROM THE EDITOR Welcome to issue thirteen of Environment Industry Magazine. Personally I am surprised to be here writing this - you would not believe how hard it is running a publishing company and a small baby. However, both are incredibly rewarding, nothing compares to a smile from my little girl to make it all worthwhile (see below) but managing, in this financial climate, to still be able to put together one of the best environmental magazines in the country is an amazing achievement and I am very proud of all my team and thankful to all the contributors to the magazine, long may it continue.

I was going to complain about how tough this year has been so far but the terrible events in Japan this month really puts my petty problems into perspective and our thoughts are with the people of Japan at this time.

It is hard to comprehend the scale of the devastation caused by the earthquake and ensuing tsunami which struck Japan on Friday 11th March. It is sobering to see how one of the richest nations in the world was so badly affected, especially one which was probably more prepared for earthquakes than anyone else. What was most striking about this event was the unprecedented video footage and press coverage, I don’t believe we have ever had such microscopic visual scrutiny of any natural disaster before. It seems the modern day reaction in the developed world to an impending threat to your life is to stop and film it with your smart phone.

To see the immense destructive power of the earthquake and tsunami in such detail shows how insignificant our human endeavours are. However, out of this destruction a real positive can be gleaned, in the survival of the nuclear reactors at Fukushima, particularly considering we are talking about 40 year old technology which only started to fail when the power was lost to the reactors.

Steve Grant’s column this issue echoes my opinions on this matter. The arguments against nuclear power which have sprung up during the crisis in Japan are ridiculous.

It is evident that renewables cannot fulfil all of our energy requirements and to be dependent on other countries for fossil fuels would be fool hardy especially considering the turmoil in the Middle East at the moment and the unpredictable nature of the countries that we rely upon to supply our natural gas. Although nuclear is the best of a bunch of bad options it must be a part of our future energy mix. The risks associated with modern nuclear are minimal, not considering nuclear power based on events in Fukushima is like stopping driving based on the crash test results of a Morris Marina, things have moved on.

In reality without massive investment in our universities and research facilities we cannot expect to find solutions to our energy problems. It is obvious based on the advances in technology in the last 20 years that we have the innovation to develop new and viable energy sources but we don’t have the encouragement or the investment and maybe even the foresight to expand our narrow band

of energy options. In the meantime it is naive to eliminate modern nuclear from our energy choices.

This issue of the magazine we are introducing two new industry sections. Firstly, by demand from our readers we have a conservation section which means that conservation and invasive species editorials will no longer reside in the Miscellany section and also means we will need more editorial contributions to fill it every issue. We have also launched vehicles and transport in this issue as the cover focus and we intend to run it in every issue from now on. We have set the bar high on this one and have some incredible editorials to get us started, Julia King author of the King Review – the government white paper on sustainable transport is looking at how we have progressed since her review was published in 2008, Norman Baker MP is discussing the government white paper on sustainable local transport and Catherine Hutt head of green transport at SMMT is discussing the future of green transport......and that is just the transport section.

Finally, we would like to encourage our readers to have more input in the magazine and would like to invite suggestions of what you would like to see in the magazine as well as ideas for editorials and comments and questions about the environment and Environment Industry Magazine and we are offering a free subscription to anyone who takes the time to get in touch.

I look forward to hearing from you

Alex Stacey Managing Editor Tabitha

CONTENTS NEWS: PAGE 4 - 37

FOCUS: PAGE 38 - 51 TRANSPORT

Page 4-37 - News Page 36

Page 38-40 - The King Review - Julia King, Vice Chancellor , Aston University

- Steve Grant Column

Page 42-44 - Progress in the Uk Electric Vehicle Industry - Catherine Hutt, Business Dev Manager, Electric Vehicles Society of Motor Maufacturers and Traders Ltd

LABS AND TESTING: PAGE 52-59 Page 54 - 55 - Environmental Monitoring: Making MCERTain With Accreditation Jon Murthy, UKAS Marketing Manager

Page 56 - 57 - Measuring Your Footprint Maria Varbeva-Daley, Sector Content Manager, BSI

Page 45 - 46 - Sustainable Transport Norman Baker, Minister of Transport Page 48 - 50 - The Commercial Vehicle Show 2011 Preview

Page 58 - 59 - MCERTS 2011 Preview

LAND MANAGEMENT: PAGE 70 - 79

WATER: PAGE 60 - 69 Page 62 - 64 - Balancing Carbon and Ecology Graham Pollard, Project Manager, Severn Trent Water Page 66 - 69 - Balancing the Ballast Water Challenge Tom Vance & Tim Fileman PML Applications Ltd

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

Page 72 - 76 -

Page 78 - 79 -

Stabilisation and Solidification of Contaminated Soil and Waste Part 1: Introduction to S/S Technology - Dr Colin Hills, Director, Centre for Contaminated Land Remediation, University of Greenwich Permit to Innovate Granted: Andrew Barton, Business Development Manager, QDS Environmental Limited

Alex Stacey Tel: 0161 3410158 Fax: 0161 7668997 Email: alex@enviromedia.ltd.uk

Environment Industry Magazine is proud to be the official media partner for the UK Sustainable Development Association.

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 EnviroMedia Ltd. Environment Industry Magazine welcomes contributions for publication. Submissions are accepted on the basis of full assignment of copyright to EnviroMedia Ltd unless otherwise agreed in advance and in writing. We reserve the right to edit items for reasons of space, clarity or legality. |2| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

STNETNOC CONTENTS

WASTE MANAGEMENT: PAGE 80-87

Page 81 - 82 - A New Perspective On Asbestos Phil Hellier, Project Director, CHEMTEST. Page 83 - 85 -

UK Waste Management in a Global Recession - David Savory, Director, Environmental & External Affairs, Biffa

Page 86 - 87 - How Do We Optimise Resource Use? Angus Macpherson,

Managing Director

of The Environment Exchange

ENERGY: PAGE 88-106 Page 90 - 94 - Squaring the Triangle – Do the EMR Proposals Resolve the Trilemma? Dr Paul Golby, CEO, EON Page 96 - 98 - Governments Proposals for Electricity Market Reform - Volker Beckers, CEO, RWE Npower Page 100 - 102 - Smart Meters: A New Frontier For the Energy Industry - Mark Daeche, CEO of First Utility Page 104 - 105 - All-Energy 2011 Preview

GREEN BUILDING: PAGE 106 - 119

Page 108 -111 - Policy Update - Hard Cash and Lots of Change. - Nick Jones, Inbuilt Page 112-114 - Sustainable Retrofit of Buildings Robert Peto, President RICS

Page 116-118 - Save Energy and Money

by Installing Insulation Neil Marshall, Chief Executive,

National Insulation Association

TIMBER: PAGE 120 - 127 Page 124-127- A Vision for Timber - Mike Cook, Chair, TRADA

CONSERVATION: PAGE 128 - 133 Page 129 - Invasive Species Non-Native Species Richard Benyon,

Environment Minister Page 130-132 - Conservation Spring Eco-Opportunities Not to be Missed - James B. Lloyd, Managing Director, The Herpetosure

MISCELLANY: PAGE 134 - 160 Page 135 - Environment Prosecutions Page 136 - 137 - “Putting The Theory Into Practice” - Terry Nash, Director, UK Sustainable Development Association “ Page 140 - Ideas In Transit Page 142-144 - Sustainability Live 2011 Page 145 - 146 - Mapping - Making Airborne Mapping Work - Dr Kyle Brown, Geomatics Group Page 148 - New skills for a new future! - Joan Randle, CAT Page 150 - 157 - Case Studies Page 158 - 160 - Famous Last Words - Pig Business - Tracy Worcester

ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE |3|

The World’s First Green Wall Centre Watermatic are hosting nine different types of Green Wall at their premises near Radlett. They are providing computerised irrigation and nutrients specific to each wall.

The system is monitored by the CityGal control system (which can be accessed remotely via the web to observe and make adjustments. A series of webcams will allow remote viewing of the walls’ condition and progress.

Green Walls have become increasingly popular with Specifiers, Designers, Users and Property Owners alike for their numerous visual, environmental and functional benefits. They are being used in an amazingly imaginative range of applications from internal and external architectural features to Vertical Edible Gardens and everything in between.

Aside from their intrinsic beauty, Green Walls can have beneficial effects on air quality, sound and dust suppression, biodiversity, thermal gain and urban psychology.

The Creative and design abilities of green wall enthusiasts have produced a wide range of Green Wall types to fit different circumstances and budgets. The growing wave of interest has seen a rapid increase of installations around the UK. And the creation of this centre will promote an even greater interest and encourage new applications for Green Walls in the Green Decade The Green Wall Centre is the brainchild of Zac Ribak, MD of Watermatic Ltd – Zac said “I wanted to create a ‘state of the art’ focal point for displaying these wonderful walls, and also to monitor them providing feedback and some real running data which will also help with research, testing and development”.

CENSUS FINDS SURPRISINGLY FEW WHITE SHARKS OFF CALIFORNIA In the first census of its kind, research led by UC Davis and Stanford University found that there are far fewer white sharks off central California than biologists had thought.

The study, published today in the journal Biology Letters, is the first rigorous scientific estimate of white shark numbers in the northeast Pacific Ocean. It is also the best estimate among the world's three known white shark populations (the others are in Australia/New Zealand and South Africa).

The researchers went out into the Pacific Ocean in small boats to places where white sharks congregate. They lured the sharks into photo range using a seal-shaped decoy on a fishing line. From 321 photographs of the uniquely jagged edges of white sharks' dorsal fins, they identified 131 individual sharks.

From these data they used statistical methods to estimate that there are 219 adult and sub-adult white sharks in the region. (White sharks are classed as subadults when they reach about 8-9 feet in length and their dietary focus shifts from eating fish to mostly marine mammals. They are adults when they reach sexual maturity -- for males, that is about 13 feet long; for females, it is about 15 feet.)

"This low number was a real surprise," said UC Davis doctoral student Taylor Chapple, the study's lead author.

"It's lower than we expected, and also substantially smaller than populations of other large marine predators, such as killer whales and polar bears.

However, this estimate only represents a single point in time; further research will tell us if this number represents a healthy, viable population, or one critically in danger of collapse, or something in between."

"We've found that these white sharks return to the same regions of the coast year after year," said study co-author Barbara Block, a Stanford University marine biologist and a leading expert on sharks, tunas and billfishes. "It is this fact that makes it possible to estimate their numbers. Our goal is to keep track of our ocean predators."

Satellite tagging studies have demonstrated that white sharks in the northeast Pacific make annual migrations from coastal areas in Central California and Guadalupe Island, Mexico, out to the Hawaiian Islands or to the "White Shark Cafe," a region of the open ocean between the Baja Peninsula and Hawaii where white sharks have been found to congregate -- and then they return to the coastal areas.

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£860m government scheme expected to increase green capital investment by £4.5 billion up to 2020, stimulating a new market in renewable heat; Incentive to increase number of industrial, commercial and public sector installations by seven times to 2020 A full system of RHI payments will be available to households from October 2012; In the interim, more than a quarter of the first year’s budget to be guaranteed for up to 25,000 household installations through a “RHI Premium Payment” to encourage take-up; 150,000 existing manufacturing, supply chain and installer jobs to be supported The world’s first financial incentive of its kind to revolutionise the way heat is generated and used in buildings has been launched by Energy Secretary Chris Huhne.

“This incentive is the first of its kind in the world. It’ll help the UK shift away from fossil fuel, reducing carbon emissions and encouraging innovation, jobs and growth in new advanced technologies.”

RHI tariff scheme: industry, commercial and public sector This is a new market for the UK. The RHI tariff scheme, which we will shortly be asking Parliament to approve, will stand alongside the Renewables Obligation and Feed in Tariff scheme to send a strong signal of support to the renewables sector.

By 2020 we estimate that the renewable heat sector will have grown to include around: • 13,000 installations in industry; • 110,000 installations in the commercial and public sector, supplying 25% of the heat demand in these sectors; • This is seven times the number of anticipated installations in 2014.

•

The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) will support emerging technologies and businesses in the UK, strengthening security of supply by reducing dependence on fossil fuel heating and emissions.

Anything from a pub to a public library, a school to a power plant will be eligible under the RHI to install technologies like biomass boilers, heat pumps and solar thermal. Community projects will also be eligible, provided a single installation is providing heat to more than one house.

Currently around half of the UK’s carbon emissions come from the energy used to produce heat – more than from generating electricity. The RHI will reduce emissions by 44 million tonnes of carbon to 2020, equivalent to the annual carbon emitted by 20 typical new gas power stations (Assumed to be 800MWe).

The tariffs will be paid for 20 years to eligible technologies that have installed since 15th July 2009 with payments being made for each kWh of renewable heat which is produced.

Over 95% of heat in the UK is currently produced by burning fossil fuel but with North Sea supplies now in decline leading to an increase in imports, low carbon alternatives are needed.

Once in the scheme the level of support an installation will receive is fixed and adjusted annually with inflation.

However, as with feed in tariffs, we expect the levels of support available for new entrants to the RHI scheme will decrease over time as the costs of the equipment and installation reduce through economies of scale.

The new financial incentive will encourage installation of equipment like renewable heat pumps, biomass boilers and solar thermal panels to reduce emissions and support the existing 150,000 jobs in the heating industry.

Chris Huhne said: “Renewable heat is a largely untapped resource and an important new green industry of the future.

WORLD’S FIRST RENEWABLE HEAT INCENTIVE LAUNCHED TO REDUCE EMISSIONS |8| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

RHI premium payment: households RHI tariff payments will start for homes alongside the Green Deal from 2012 to allow a more whole-house approach to heat production and energy saving.

In the meantime, up to 25,000 installations from July will be supported by a “RHI Premium Payment” to help people cover the purchase price of green heating systems. Those taking up the Premium will then be eligible for a RHI tariff from October next year when the Green Deal begins, as will anyone else who has had eligible equipment installed from July 2009.

For new build homes, an RHI tariff will be considered for the 2012 phase.

The “RHI Premium Payment” will be worth around £15m and will ensure there is a fair spread of technologies across all regions of Great Britain. The installed technologies will be monitored to enable government, manufacturers, installers and consumers to better understand how to make sure householders get the most out of them.

There will be clear eligibility criteria in order to qualify for a Premium payment, including: • a well insulated home based on its energy performance certificate; • agreeing to give feedback on how the equipment performs A key focus of this initial phase will be on people living off the gas grid, where fossil fuels like heating oil are both more expensive and have a higher carbon content.

We plan to publish details of the “RHI Premium Payment” and how this will apply in May this year. We will consult on the RHI tariffs that will apply from October 2012 later in the year.

Notes to editors: Further detail of the scheme can be found at www.decc.gov.uk/rhi Table of Tariffs (RHI for industry, business and large organisations) Levels of Support Tariff name

Eligible technology

Eligible sizes

Tariff rate (pence/

Tariff duration (Years)

Support calculation

20

Metering.

kWh) Small biomass

Solid biomass;

Less than 200 kWth

Municipal Solid Waste Medium biomass

(incl. CHP)

Tier 1: 7.6 Tier 2: 1.9

Tier 1 applies

200 kWth and above;

Tier 1: 4.7

annually up to the

less than 1000 kWth

Tier 2: 1.9

Tier Break, Tier 2 above the Tier Break.

The Tier Break is: installed capacity x 1,314 peak load hours, i.e.: kWth x 1,314

Large biomass

1000 kWth and above

2.6

Small ground source

Ground-source heat

Less than 100 kWth

4.3

Large ground source

pumps; Water-source

100 kWth and above

3

Metering 20

Metering

heat pumps; deep geothermal Solar thermal

Solar thermal

Less than 200 kWth

8.5

20

Metering

Biomethane

Biomethane

Biomethane all

6.5

20

Metering

injection and biogas

scales, biogas

combustion, except

combustion less than

from landfill gas

200 kWth

Table highlighting likely levels of support for RHI Premium Payments: Solar Thermal - £300/unit Air Source Heat Pumps - £850/unit Biomass boilers - £950/unit Ground Source Heat Pumps - £1250/unit ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE |9|

Steve Grant looked at the plight of our fish stocks in his last column and urged us all to join the high profile Fish Fight Campaign (www.fishfight. net) led by Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall of River Cottage fame. It's having an effect, because Princes, the UK's largest supplier of tinned tuna, have committed to cease reliance on the damaging purse seine method by 2014, and source from only pole and line or adapted nets which minimise damage to other species.

Sainsbury's, Marks and Spencer, Asda and Tesco have already made similar commitments, which isolates two major names: John West and surprisingly, Morrisons. The latter, who have received praise from the Marine Conservation Society for their overall approach to fish sourcing, say they are "assessing the impact on the limited fisheries to ensure that the change in method has a beneficial effect".

"Pole & line drastically reduces the bycatch of a range of species including sharks, dolphins and turtles. What’s to assess?" said Grant. Watch this space.

CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme Conference The usual 'flog my stuff' style of corporate presentation was eschewed by Enersol Flomar CEO Richard Flinn at the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme Conference held in London on March 16th. Addressing an audience overwhelmingly consisting of public sector professionals with direct responsibility and influence on policy and implementation, Flinn instead threw down three gauntlets.

He asked why, when the technologies, methods and expertise needed to meet Kyoto exist, is government and the public sector not leading the way with social housing and public building? Raising the spectres of acceptance, permissions and red tape, he asked the audience as individuals to think about what they could do to move things forward. "What is it YOU can do to open things up", challenged Flinn.

His second gauntlet was on the industrial front. He cited a company in Leicestershire with factories that use around 70% of all the gas consumed in the county. In comparison to individual insulation grants to tens of thousands of homes, merely making things easier for one organisation through initiatives such as deferred interest loans or even sharing in savings, phenomenal savings in resources and emissions could be achieved in one fell swoop. "Why doesn't it happen", asked Flinn.

In conclusion, he returned to his original premise and mentioned Enersol Flomar's boiler controls as an example of a 'quick win' – cost effective with He then turned to water, pointing out that it is a fast immediate savings and a short ROL - almost in diminishing resource that we not only take for granted, passing. He also touched on behavioural change and but waste with jaw-dropping alacrity. Again, he described how straightforward it is to get staff and personnel on recycling and heat capturing technologies that have been with side with initiatives such as Cardigan Days. us for years and pointed out that we extract, clean, supply and heat water at ever increasing cost and then simply send It was a thought-provoking presentation and, whilst it down the drain, carrying its precious energy with it. The there were no immediate answers to his challenges, energy and usage figures he was quoting drew some audible one had the feeling that his refreshingly direct Anglo Saxon from the audience. approach may have had some effect. |10| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

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UPS EXPANDS UK GREEN FLEET AHEAD OF LONDON 2012 GAMES UPS More Than Trebles Number of Electric Vehicles Deployed In London; Fleet To Serve Key London 2012 Games Venues UPS has announced the deployment of 14 purpose-built, electric vehicles, increasing the size of its UK green fleet to 20.

Operating out of UPS’s Camden and Barking facilities, the all-electric vehicles will form a key part of the UPS fleet that will serve many of the host venues before, during and after the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The new vehicles already sport the London 2012 logo which can be seen on UPS’s entire 3,600-strong UK fleet.

Twelve join UPS’s existing fleet of electric vehicles, which have been operating out of the Camden facility since 2009, while the remaining two vehicles extend the reach of the green fleet, becoming the first to operate out of UPS’s facility in Barking.

“With the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games only eighteen months away, we are very focused on reducing the carbon footprint of our delivery network in the capital. Over the past few years, we have invested in technological improvements allowing us to expand our electric fleet, such as installing extra charging units at our London facilities,” commented Cindy Miller, Managing Director UPS UK, Ireland & Nordics. “This is an important step in our continued commitment to making our operations more sustainable.”

Developed by British manufacturer Modec, this electric vehicle is one of the first of its kind to effectively harness the power of modern, high energy batteries in order to

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meet the medium range, high performance requirements of hard working, urban delivery vehicles. Each vehicle can undertake around 60 miles on a 6 hour charge.

Globally, UPS has been utilising alternative fuel vehicles for more than 70 years. Most recently, the company announced the purchase of 130 next generation hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) in September 2010, adding to its growing alternative-fuel vehicle fleet in the US. UPS already operates one of the largest private alternative-fuel fleets in the package delivery industry - 1,949 in total. The fleet is deployed in eight countries besides the US. and has travelled more than 185 million miles since 2000.

UPS pursues a wide range of socially responsible and sustainable business practices designed to reduce its impact on the environment and improve communities around the world. Learn more about UPS's responsible business practices at www.ups.com/responsibility.

Spirax Sarco steam system expertise helps GTM get biosolids treatment going for Anglian Water Steam and hot water systems from Spirax Sarco are helping Anglian Water treat sewage sludge at two new biosolids treatment works in Kings Lynn and Great Billing. The projects are two of four ground breaking schemes planned by the utility company to reduce biosolids volumes, increase quality and generate energy in the process. This innovative process will not only make the centres selfsufficient in electricity but any surplus will be exported on to the national grid.

Spirax Sarco expertise was brought in to provide consultancy on the specification, design and installation of the steam systems for both sites. A number of Spirax Sarco specialists in condensate recovery, steam trapping and water treatment worked in partnership with the projects contractors to design an easily maintainable system with minimal downtime.

“We didn’t have a great deal of experience with steam systems,” says Imtech Process Engineer Adrian Jaques. “So we contacted Spirax Sarco and designed the scheme together with them. They were knowledgeable, good to work with and very helpful throughout the projects. In fact I can’t praise them enough.”

Spirax Sarco supplied boiler feed tanks and all the steam equipment associated with the standby, dual fuelled steam boilers at both Kings Lynn and Great Billing. These boilers are used during start-up and also during very cold weather when they are sometimes needed to supplement the steam from the CHP plants’ waste heat boilers.

The company also supplied steam-to-hot-water EasiHeat systems to provide standby hot water for both sites. The Spirax Sarco systems are predominantly used during start-up, providing steam and hot water to drive the treatment processes.

Both projects have been built by Imtech as part of the Galliford Try Imtech Process (GTM) consortium. The Kings Lynn plant has now been operating for almost 3 years, processing sludge equivalent to around 19,000 tonnes a year of dry solids. The Great Billing plant will treat 38,700 tonnes of solids a year and was commissioned in late 2009 early 2010.

Although they vary in size, both sites operate similar processes to treat the sewage sludge or biosolids, which are a byproduct of waste water treatment. First, the sludge is heated by hot water to 42oC and hydrolysed to break up some of the bigger molecules.

It is then steam heated to 55oC to pasteurise it and destroy any pathogens. Microorganisms continue to break down the pasteurised sludge even further in an anaerobic digestor, where they convert a substantial proportion of it into biogas. This biogas fuels an onsite combined heat and power (CHP) plant, which generates electricity, steam and hot water.

The result is a 40% reduction in the volume of sludge. It is also free from pathogens such as Salmonella and E. coli and can therefore be used safely by farmers as a fertilizer substitute. |14| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

The launch of CompareMySolar.co.uk provides clarity about buying solar panels CompareMySolar.co.uk is a new and innovative website that helps customers learn about the potential of solar panels for their own roof without going through a lengthy process of getting custom quotes. The website offers a quick and simple overview of system prices and the experience of local installers and details about return on investment (ROI) for the selected roof.

The comparison is based on the unique roof selected by the customer, and local installers show price, ROI, their experience, warranties and system specifications. When interested, the customer can request a detailed quote of site visit from up to three chosen solar installers.

Currently over 40 installers are using this service to get into contact with highly interested customers. These installers save a lot of time and money in their quotation process by focusing on well informed customers that specifically request a site visit or detailed quote from their company, and have instant access to all roof details from the customer.

For more information visit: www.CompareMySolar.co.uk

G4S Cash Solutions launches world’s first fully electric cash in transit vehicle The pilot vehicle, which will operate in the Greater London area, is projected to save 4974kg of carbon emissions per year based on Mercedes Benz published figures and is the latest step in G4S’ ongoing commitment to reducing its environmental impact. The groundbreaking vehicle, developed in partnership with Allied Electric, combines the latest in battery technology and electronic management software together with a tried and tested production vehicle converted into a highly specialised cash in transit protected vehicle encompassing state-of-the-art security features.

Ken Niven, Divisional CEO, G4S Cash Solutions, commented: “I believe that this prototype may lead G4S into deploying more of these vehicles in city centres, harnessing the benefits of zero pollution and noise, while providing clear economic operating benefits.”

enough sustainable energy to power the vehicle’s ancillary electrical energy usage. These panels were first introduced to the UK fleet in 2010 after a lengthy trial.

Dave Armitage, Vehicle Design Manager, G4S Cash Solutions (UK), said: “This ground-breaking trial is the latest stage in our ongoing efforts to minimise our environmental impact. G4S has one of the largest vehicle fleets in the UK and we are determined to lead the way in making widespread use of low carbon technology a reality in fleet management in the UK and further afield. Electric power is up to seven times cheaper than the equivalent diesel vehicle and there are further cost benefits with road tax and congestion charge exemption in the capital, so in the longer term these vehicles may be able to cut costs as well as our carbon footprint.”

G4S is also carrying out assessments on alternative fuels, has introduced photovoltaic panels on 71 vehicles in 2010 and will add another 63 during the course of 2011 in order to further reduce its carbon footprint.

Powered entirely by Lithium-Ion batteries, propelling the vehicle produces no carbon, particulate or pollutants.

The vehicle has a range of around 100 miles, significantly further than the longest route length it will be required to travel for G4S in between re-charging the batteries.

The vehicle also has a solar panel fitted in order to constantly provide a source of sustainable energy back to the battery while the vehicle is on the road. The photovoltaic module is incorporated into a panel on the roof of the cash delivery vehicle and will produce

Solar companies to unite under re-launched Solar Trade Association The two Trade Bodies representing solar energy in the UK are in the process of merging their memberships to form a 400 strong Association to champion the industry. Some detail of the arrangements are still being worked out, but the plans will result in the re-launching of the Solar Trade Association, as a trade body affiliated to the REA. It will operate from the same offices as the Renewable Energy Association, which will provide its administrative functions and policy expertise.

The move will bring together the thirty three year old STA and members of the REA’s Solar Power Group, into a new revamped STA fully representing both the solar thermal and PV industry.

This will make the STA the largest solar trade body in the UK with over 400 industry members, at a time when solar is one of the fastest growing sectors in the UK. This will give the solar industry a stronger voice and better representation, and the resources to fully engage in standards and certification work as well as far more targeted promotional campaigning. Training and education will also become increasingly important as the industry matures.

The affiliation adds strengths to both parties, and sharing an office in Central London will mean that the two teams will work on issues that impact on all renewable sectors, with more cohesion than ever before. The roll out of the new association will be happening over the coming months, with a member get together and Q&A session at Ecobuild.

Howard Johns, Chairman of the Solar Trade Association said; “With the growth in the solar industry in the UK this move to bring the industry together more fully could not have come at a better time. We really need good representation for solar in the UK and I believe this new revamped STA will provide it.”

Gaynor Hartnell, Chief Executive of the REA said “Having won the feed in tariffs, which fired the starting gun for PV in the UK, we’re keen to catch up with our European neighbours. With the solar tariffs now under review, and the continued delay to the heat incentive we need unity more than ever before.”

Existing members have welcomed the move, as they will benefit from not having to join multiple associations.

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SLR CONSULTING HELPS GAIN PLANNING PERMISSION FOR FIRST GEOTHERMAL ELECTRICITY GENERATING STATION IN IRELAND SLR Consulting has successfully obtained planning permission for the development and operation of the first geothermal electricity generation plant in Ireland.

Working on behalf of Newcastle Energy Ltd, SLR scoped, prepared and submitted the planning application along with the environmental impact statement. Planning permission was granted by South Dublin County Council within just four months with no third party appeals against the decision.

SLR Ireland Managing Director Tim Paul said: “The comprehensive scoping and pre-planning consultation carried out in conjunction with Newcastle Energy Ltd, together with the high quality of the application documentation combined to ensure a successful planning decision in a very short time frame.

Based at Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole, County Dublin in Ireland the development will consist of the initial drilling of two deep wells to an approximate depth of 4000 metres.

The wells will be used for the extraction and re-injection of natural hot geothermal water. The heat from the water will then be used to operate a geothermal electricity generation plant that will generate up to 4.5 megawatts of electricity which will be fed into the National Grid.

Newcastle Energy Ltd.’s Managing Director Padraig Hanly said: “SLR’s expertise made sure the planning process was seamless and that permission for the development was granted in a short time period.”

Starbucks bottom of ethical rating despite going Fairtrade Ethical Consumer magazine buyers' guide to coffee shop chains reveals that despite being the biggest buyer of Fairtrade coffee in the world Starbucks scores worst when rated across 19 ethical categories from workers’ rights to anti-social finance.

Walk down your local high street and you’re quite likely to be presented with a choice between the big three UK coffee shop chains: Starbucks; Costa or Caffè Nero of these only Starbucks sells Fairtrade coffee, so is Starbucks the high street choice for the ethical consumer? Not according to co-editor of Ethical Consumer magazine and report author Dan Welch:

campaign, to trying to block Ethiopia’s attempts to improve the livelihoods of coffee growers and “I would always reach for a bag of Fairtrade coffee from the shop petitioning a US Federal Judge to allow in evidence shelf over anything else. But if the choice on the high street was the past sexual history of a 16 year old former between a Fairtrade espresso from union-busting, Guantanamo employee when she took a case of work-place Bay supplying, trademark colonialists Starbucks, or a Rainforest sexual harassment to court.” “Fairtrade is still the Alliance espresso from Costa I know which side of the street I’d gold standard,” explains Welch: “Our Best Buy is AMT Coffee, the first UK coffee shop to go 100% choose.”

Fairtrade with its coffee and offer 100% organic Since the end of 2009 Starbucks has gone Fairtrade in the UK and milk. Ethical consumers will of course want to Ireland. Since last year all Costa Coffee in the UK is Rainforest support coffee producers with Fairtrade, but they Alliance certified. might spare a thought for the poverty wages and right to organise of the coffee shop worker too.”

“We’ve uncovered a record of unethical behaviour that runs completely counter to Starbucks image as an environmentallyfriendly, bohemian Seattle coffee shop,” says Welch. “It covers everything from serving up genetically engineered growth hormone in milk in the US and a relentless union-busting |16| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

Costa Coffee rated second best after AMT Coffee.

To see a copy of the coffee shops buyers' guide go to www.ethicalconsumer.org/coffeeshops_report.pdf

Steel business’ focus on recycling worth £250,000 in 10 months

She added: “The icing on the cake for us is that it is an improved service, but the fixed weekly costs are actually 46 per cent lower than our previous supplier.”

SFIL’s five-year contract with Biffa’s IWM Sheffield Forgemasters saves money in landfill tax and earns rebates. An division began in April 2010 and three internationally renowned steel business has made a combined savings and full-time Biffa staff are now permanently income total of £250,000 in just ten months after starting work with waste based at the 64-acre site, including a qualified chemist who tests potentially management company Biffa. hazardous waste materials on-site to ensure they are disposed of properly.

Sheffield Forgemasters International Limited (SFIL) has increased its recycling rate to 90 per cent, meaning on a monthly basis it is now diverting an average of 815 tonnes of waste from landfill and saving tens of Biffa’s Head of IWM, Ed Pigg, said: “Forgemasters can be very proud of its thousands of pounds in taxes. achievements to date. Heavy industry is not something people might associate For the first time the business is also making a profit from sellingwith recycling but this goes to show what on waste products for re-use. The sale of scale from furnaces, paper, you can achieve. Sheffield Forgemasters cardboard and plastic has earned SFIL £50,000 in rebates since April. is setting an example to all industries.

The changes are a result of introducing Biffa’s Integrated Waste Management (IWM) system on site. In addition, the fixed cost of Biffa’s service is also almost half that of SFIL’s previous supplier.

“In less than a year of working together we have not only reduced costs to the business but introduced a new source of SFIL Group Environment Manager Victoria Hinchcliffe said: “Diverting revenue. And that is our aim across all waste from landfill is very important to us as part of our efforts to reduce industries – to ensure waste is not a cost, our impact on the environment as much as possible. We have made but an asset. significant improvements since starting work with Biffa last year.

“With landfill taxes due to rise to £72 per “The fact that Biffa has identified ways for us to get value from our waste in tonne by April 2013 finding alternatives is not just important in the environmental terms of rebate is an added bonus. We are really pleased with the results sense, but financially as well. we have achieved in a relatively short space of time.”

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ECODAN® HITS COP 3.0 OVER THE WORST WINTER FOR DECADES A live trial of an Ecodan® air source heat pump in Hertfordshire has demonstrated that the system was still achieving over 300 per cent efficiency levels (a COP of 3.0 - Coefficient of Performance) throughout the whole of last December, when the country faced long periods of sub-zero temperatures not seen for decades.

The trial has not only shown that air source heat pumps will work effectively in British homes under such harsh conditions, it also highlights the importance of sizing and selecting the radiators and heat emitters properly and ensuring that the homeowners know how to get the best out of the system.

The 1950's, 4-bedroomed house in Berkhamsted, is the home of a family of four with two children aged 15 and 12.

The homeowner had new high-tech Jaga radiators fitted when the Ecodan system was installed in the autumn of 2010 and the whole system has since been closely monitored by Mitsubishi Electric.

During December, while the whole of the country felt the full force of the harshest winter weather for years, the family enjoyed an average indoor temperature of around 20°C, keeping them warm and comfortable throughout the entire Christmas period.

"The key to these high efficiency levels is keeping the flow temperature around the system low," explains Jason Tinsley, Technical Manager for Ecodan. "During the icy month of December, the average flow temperature was only 33°C, yet the family remained perfectly warm."

Another important element in the success of this system was the choice of Jaga's Strada DBE radiators, with their Dynamic Boost Effect allowing the homeowner to increase a room's temperature quickly if necessary, with the radiators providing maximum heat emission for around 15 minutes to help unheated rooms reach the desired temperature.

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Modern radiators, such as the Strada DBE offer maximum efficiency at low water temperatures and also contain around 15 per cent of the water normally held in a traditional radiator. This means that there is less water in the entire system that needs to be heated before the effects are felt within the room and allows the Strada DBE to deliver the heat needed more quickly.

"Intelligent radiators like these use microprocessors to monitor the surrounding conditions in ways that traditional ones simply can't and they will react to outdoor temperatures much more quickly, reducing the heat output if necessary or raising or lowering the flow temperature as required," adds Tinsley. "This gives the homeowner much better control of the overall energy use.

"Although none of us enjoyed the prolonged icy weather in December, we are delighted that it gave us the chance to clearly demonstrate how well Ecodan can perform," he added.

The 8.5kW Ecodan unit, which is installed in the alleyway of the house, has been monitored over the last six months and provides all the heating and hot water that the family of four required. In addition to domestic hot water it feeds nine Jaga Strada DBE radiators throughout the home.

With some manufacturers now claiming COPs of 4.0 or even 5.0 (5kW of heating from every 1kW of electrical energy consumed by the heat pump) Tinsley is urging anyone considering a heat pump to remember that these COPs will typically have been measured in laboratory conditions at an outdoor temperature of 7°C (or higher) with the unit supplying a water flow at a temperature of 35°C, or even lower.

"What we recommend looking at instead is the 'Seasonal Performance' of a heat pump, to get a full understanding of how the system will work in a complete range of temperatures and operating conditions across the year.

All credible manufacturers should be able to supply this information," he ends.

‘Smoke’ from factory chimneys proves to be valuable water source It appears that so much high-grade water can be recovered from flue gases of certain factory chimneys, as a result of strongly improved membrane technology, that industrial plants in arid areas can make a valuable contribution to the worlds water shortage. Field tests and ten years of preliminary research have shown that these plants can change from water consumers to water producers. The captured water can be used for both industrial and consumptive use. Besides this, with these results, these plants can save a lot of energy – and thus costs – in several industrial processes. These possibilities present themselves in industries that require much water e.g. for cooling applications, generating steam or for drying processes, as in the food, paper, cement, energy and petrochemical sectors. Commissioned by the European Union and led by energy services firm KEMA, thirteen partners from Europe, the Middle East and Africa are working together on a follow-up to this research.

From ten years preliminary research to large-scale tests Ten years research and testing under the leadership of the energy services firm KEMA, in collaboration with the European Membrane Institute at the University of Twente and a number of Dutch utilities, have resulted in significantly improved gas separation membranes with which water vapor should be captured on a large scale.

As a follow-up, KEMA, under contract to the European Union, together with thirteen partners from Europe, the Middle East and Africa, has started with the development of a number of large-scale tests at power stations in Spain and Israel, a geo-thermal well in Tunisia and paper factories in the Netherlands and South Africa. These tests ought to clear the way for industrial production and large-scale implementation of this new technology.

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From water consumer to water producer Tests in industrial plants in the Netherlands and Germany have demonstrated that at least 40% of the water in the flue gases can be recovered with the new membrane technology. Beforehand, researchers counted on a recovery of 20%. This means that an average power plant of 400 megawatts can supply twice as much water as it needs for steam generation. The power plant thus changes from water consumer to water producer.

The amount of water saved, corresponds to the yearly consumption of about 3,500 Western households or about 9,500 African households The quality of the recovered water is so high that it can be employed not only for deminarilized water use for industry but also for consumption purposes. For this reason there are three African partners in the consortium and two from the Middle East. Initial calculations moreover show that hundreds of millions of euros can be saved annually with this new technology. The new project bears the name CapWa, ‘Capture of evaporated Water with novel membranes’.

Pier Nabuurs, chairman of KEMA Board of Directors: “We are delighted that these fourteen partners are able to expand on the work done during the last ten years. The consequences of this new technology are far-reaching.

Not only in the field of the environment and cost savings, but certainly also in the field of the drinking water issue in arid areas, as in some African countries.”

Swansea researchers win grant to track the birth of icebergs An interdisciplinary group including researchers from Swansea University’s Glaciology Group and Institute of Advanced Telecommunications (IAT) in the College of Engineering have been awarded a grant of £881,354 by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) to create a state-of-the-art wireless network of sensors that will reveal the flow of glaciers at the edge of the Greenland Ice Sheet.

The project, which is led by a multidisciplinary research team at Swansea University in collaboration with the School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences at Newcastle University and commercial partner Thales Research & Technology (UK), brings together unrivalled expertise in glaciology, GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) technology and processing, wireless networks and the commercial know-how of leading electronics and ICT providers.

The aim of the project is to improve understanding of how the outlet glaciers at the edge of the Greenland Ice Sheet, thought to be particularly sensitive to changes in air and ocean temperatures, react to climate change. The processes leading to iceberg formation or ‘calving’ are particularly important, because they control mass loss from the ice sheet, but are poorly understood.

Professor Tavi Murray, Professor of Glaciology, said: “This NERC Grant will enable us to address the urgent question of the processes controlling glacier calving.

Since half of the mass lost from the ice sheet is calved as icebergs these processes are vital to include in glacier models. To discover more about calving at the margins of tidewater glaciers, we need to know what the primary mechanisms are. Only then can the relevant processes be represented in computer models of the ice sheet and its outlet glaciers, allowing us to improve our predictions of how they will respond to climate change and the ice sheet’s contribution to sealevel rise.”

heavily-crevassed ice surface and because sensors would be lost during iceberg calving. To combat this problem, researchers at Swansea and Newcastle Universities have joined forces to create a network of expendable GNSS receivers.

The sensor network consisting of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers and wireless relaying nodes will be installed on Helheim Glacier, an important calving glacier in south-east Greenland, and will measure changes in the distribution of glacier motion and geometry.

Dr Stuart Edwards from Newcastle University’s Geomatics Group and a graduate of Swansea University said: “Software we have developed in Newcastle will allow the GNSS receivers to provide measurements accurate to a few centimetres.”

Professor Tim O’Farrell from Swansea University’s College of Engineering added: “These sensors will be connected to each other and to a base station via a network of expendable, low-power wireless transceivers and deployed on the Helheim Glacier. A proportion of the network’s nodes are expected to be lost during each calving event. However, the novel ‘self-organising” design of the network ensures that data can still be collected from the nodes that remain operational.”

The innovative nature of the network and its components make it economically and logistically possible to deploy a large number of sensors by helicopter in the heavily crevassed calving region of the glacier. In addition, the use of wireless networks in an extreme environment will assist in the development of the next generation of wireless networks such as mobile phone networks.

The research project will be undertaken during two summer field seasons in 2012 and 2013.

Detailed observations of iceberg calving events have until now proved elusive due to the difficulty of positioning instrumentation on the ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE |21|

Land & Waters latest addition gets off to a floating start Amphibious Excavator – Goes where others fear to tread Simply remarkable on Land or Water Land & Water Plant are well known for developing innovative new plant that operates in sensitive environments. Their latest addition of an amphibious excavator exemplifies their innovative approach and has recently completed a number of hires that could not have been practically done without significantly greater expense, risk and environmental impact.

Land & Water have operated a larger Hitachi MA 125 amphibious excavator for 5 years and during that time, they discovered it offered solutions to otherwise very awkward or near impossible jobs. The drawback of the original machine was because it was so large, it had to be assembled by a crane on each site which made it expensive to move. Land & Water sourced a supplier to build a retractable amphibious undercarriage to their specifications to suit a 10m long reach Hitachi ZX 70 excavator. This machines bucket is only 30% smaller than the first MA125 and it has 2m less reach, but being retractable, it can fit through a 12’ gate and is relatively straightforward to move at just 3.5m wide retracted (4.5m when working). The retractable undercarriage allows the

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machine to be shipped all over the UK for the same cost as a standard 30 tonne excavator.

With the ability to wade in 1.2m of water before it begins to float, this machine (as all Land & Waters fleet) is filled with Bio degradable hydraulic oil. The excavator is fitted with low and high flow additional circuits so can be used with an array of attachments from dredging pumps, to tree shears, mulching flails, reed harvesters etc.

Fiona Moore Contracts Manager for Land & Water Services comments “We undertake a great deal of specialist dredging and vegetation management contracts for the Environment Agency. This machine is so efficient, versatile and competitively priced it is changing the way we approach these specialist works and allowing us to pass savings on to our customers. It costs around 20% more to rent than a 20m long reach excavator but can travel virtually anywhere. It removes the slow and risky process associated with working on soft ground conditions with timber mats and can cross rivers and marshy terrain with ease.”

With the ability to work effortlessly on soft terrain this machine is developing its own variety of new applications such as 1 The dredging of silt and settlement lagoons in water treatment works and quarries.

2 Support and excavation duties for sea outfalls and pipelines on mud flats and the dredging of shallow or small berths at low tide.

3 For site investigation - towing a site investigation rig, digging trial holes in very soft terrain.

4 Inland dredging of lakes and rivers.

5 In wetland habitats for managing vegetation, clearing ditches, dredging etc.

InterfaceFLOR Pioneers Ground-Breaking Recycling Process for Carpets Technological breakthrough, with capacity to divert more than 2,700 tonnes of valuable oil-intensive material from landfill or incineration annually, turns old products into new InterfaceFLOR, a worldwide leader in the design and manufacture of carpet tiles, has achieved a technical breakthrough in the European carpet industry, with the introduction of ReEntry 2.0. This latest innovation is the evolution of a process pioneered by Interface in the United States four years ago. It enables significant and scalable like-for-like recycling of carpet tiles, representing an important step closer to closed-loop manufacturing in Europe.

ReEntry 2.0 uses a highly efficient technology that separates yarn and backing from used carpet tiles, so that they can be recycled into yarn and backing for new carpet tiles. The process ensures that each component of the carpet tile retains its material value, allowing it to be re-used as new raw material for new products. This is especially important for recycling nylon yarn – the most carbon intensive part of carpet.

ReEntry 2.0 can process the most widely used carpet tiles in the European market today and is set to divert around 2,700 tonnes of oil-intensive material annually from disposal, equivalent to more than 600,000 m2 of carpet tiles. Life cycle assessment (LCA) shows that materials recycled through ReEntry 2.0 require four times less energy to process than equivalent virgin materials for carpets. This decreases to twenty times less energy for backing, when you take into account the use of 100% renewable electricity at InterfaceFLOR’s facility in Scherpenzeel, The Netherlands, where the process is based.

Ton van Keken, Senior Vice President of Operations, InterfaceFLOR EMEAI says, “For many years the carpet industry has struggled to develop recycling methods that are economically and technically viable. In Europe alone, it is estimated that nearly 30 million m2 of carpet tiles could be sent to landfill or incinerated in 2011. This is a waste of valuable resources and has an unacceptable impact on the environment. With capacity diminishing rapidly and landfill tax rising annually, it is clear that this option is both environmentally and financially unsustainable.

Re-Entry 2.0 is a significant step forward for InterfaceFLOR in Europe - and for our industry. It moves like-for-like recycling to the next level, bringing us closer to our ambition to close the loop in manufacturing.”

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Members of an independent panel of experts that will make recommendations on forestry policy for England have been announced by Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman.

The panel, to be chaired by the Right Reverend James Jones, Bishop of Liverpool, brings together a wide range of interests and expertise covering the environmental, social and economic aspects of forestry. They will advise government on a new approach to forestry policy in England, including looking at how woodland cover can be increased and at options for enhancing public benefits from all woodlands and forests.

Announcing the panel members, Caroline Spelman said: “Our forests are a great part of our heritage and essential for our way of life, providing clean air and water, homes for wildlife and a natural way of countering the effects of climate change. But they also offer economic benefits through tourism, recreation and providing timber for fuel and buildings. This independent panel of experts will advise us on what we need to do to give forests the right protection so they continue to be a place that people can enjoy for hundreds of years to come. I would like to thank Bishop James for agreeing to lead this important piece of work and all the panel members for giving their time and expertise to advise us on the future direction of forestry policy in England. I look forward to seeing their recommendations.”

The panel chair and its members will be looking at the complete picture of forestry in England and will have the freedom to decide how best to gather evidence to make its recommendations. Although the panel members are not representing their organisations in an official capacity, they bring with them a wealth of experience and expertise in a range of areas that are important to consider in the future direction of forestry policy.

The Right Reverend James Jones, Bishop of Liverpool, said: “I am honoured to accept the Secretary of State’s invitation to chair the panel and I am confident that the independent panel will be able to provide her with sound advice about the future direction of forestry policy. It’s clear that the public care passionately about our forests and woodlands, and one of the panel’s very first tasks will be to meet with the grassroots campaigners who recently showed how much they valued their local woodlands. The panel will approach its task with professionalism and thoroughness, and the public can have confidence that we will be robustly independent. We have a wide range |24| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

of expertise on the panel and we will also look to bring in experts from other areas to help achieve the maximum benefits from our forests including public access, wildlife, conservation and sustainability.”

The panel will make its recommendations to the Secretary of State in the Autumn.

The full membership of the panel is as follows: Right Reverend James Jones, Bishop of Liverpool (Chair); Shireen Chambers (Institute of Chartered Foresters Executive Director); Mike Clarke (RSPB Chief Executive); Tom Franklin (Ramblers Association Chief Executive); Stuart Goodall (ConFor Chief Executive); Stephanie Hilborne (Wildlife Trusts Chief Executive); Sue Holden (Woodland Trust Chief Executive); Alan Knight (Founder, Single Planet living ltd); Dame Fiona Reynolds (National Trust Director General); Sir Harry Studholme (Forestry Commissioner); John Varley (Estates Director, Clinton Devon Estates); William Worsley (Country Land and Business Association President).

Uk marine policy statement published The UK Marine Policy Statement has been jointly published by all UK Administrations as part of a new system of marine planning being introduced across UK seas.

Adopted by the UK Government, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Northern Ireland Executive, the Marine Policy Statement will help achieve the shared UK vision for “clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas”.

The Marine Policy Statement will enable an appropriate and consistent approach to marine planning across UK waters, and ensure the sustainable use of marine resources and strategic management of marine activities from renewable energy to nature conservation, fishing, recreation and tourism.

Richard Benyon, Minister for Natural Environment and Fisheries, said: “The UK is leading the way worldwide in efforts to plan, protect and sustainably manage our marine environment and resources now and for future generations. We should plan and protect our seas as a valuable national asset as we do with our countryside. The Marine Policy

Statement, jointly developed and adopted by all the UK Administrations, is a major milestone in ensuring an appropriate and consistent, UK-wide approach to managing our marine resources.The marine planning systems will allow us to strategically, and holistically manage our seas; integrating economic, social and environmental considerations, and engaging with communities to determine and shape the future.”

Scotland's Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Richard Lochhead said: “This Policy Statement takes forward and embodies the positive co-operative approach to marine planning and management which is a hallmark of recent Scottish and UK marine legislation. We recognise the need for consistency where necessary in the dynamic marine environment. This Statement now forms the basis for joint working to develop a national marine plan for all of Scottish waters out to 200 nautical miles which will be relevant to all activity, including reserved activity.”

Welsh Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing Jane Davidson, said: “I am delighted that all four UK Administrations have worked so positively together to agree and adopt this UK wide Statement. We in Wales are now looking forward to preparing our first national marine plans over the next two years. These plans will build on the framework provided by the Marine Policy Statement to reflect the specific needs and interests of Wales”.

Northern Ireland’s Environment Minister, Edwin Poots said: “Our seas are a precious resource; they are a way of life for many people. They provide important shipping lanes, unprecedented opportunities for the development of renewable energy and can accommodate the growth of leisure and recreational activities. All those elements can help to bolster our economy. They provide a livelihood for fishing communities and are home to rare and important marine life.

“This Marine Policy Statement paves the way for a completely new and strategic system of planning for our seas. Marine planning will help us to be proactive about the way in which we use and protect our marine resources.”

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AkzoNobel’s operational Eco-Efficiency programme turns rainwater into paint Ingenious engineers at AkzoNobel’s factory in Prudhoe are harvesting rainwater for paint production as part of the company’s operational Eco-Efficiency programme.

The project enables AkzoNobel to harvest up to 1.7 million litres of rainwater per year, potentially cutting the factory’s annual water usage in half. The biggest improvement that the operational EcoEfficiency programme has delivered comes from supplying the water to the production line over 20 times faster than previously. Water can now be supplied at a rate of up to 500L/min due to higher water pressure and on-site storage and this generates Batch Cycle Time savings of 50 per cent on some Cuprinol production lines.

The rainwater harvesting project costs will have been paid back in just one year through a £10,000 saving on the factory’s water bill.

Steve Hawes, the engineer who masterminded the project said: “We took the opportunity to look at harvesting rainwater while reviewing the best ways of increasing efficiency in our production process. We are delighted with the results of the programme, we have significantly reduced our production footprint and the initiative will pay for itself in just one year.”

How it works: Two on-site holding tanks collect rainwater from sump pump units situated at the bottom of four key downpipes from the main factory roof The tank levels are maintained by a domestic water-fed safety stock, which can be used in dry periods to ensure consistent water availability for production When any water outlet is operated, the pumping station senses the drop in system pressure and starts the pump The harvested rainwater is pumped through a 5 micron filter and an ultra-violet sterilization unit so that the water used has zero ‘bugs’ AkzoNobel could roll out the rainwater harvesting scheme to additional locations if rainwater capture points can be identified and achievable water volumes are viable.

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SECOND SERIOUS TREE DISEASE FOUND IN COUNTRY PARK IN SCOTLAND Phytophthora ramorum has been found in a tree in the same country park in Scotland where Phytophthora lateralis was confirmed in Lawson's cypress trees late in 2010.

It was the first time that P. lateralis had ever been identified in Britain, and now Forestry Commission plant pathologists have also confirmed the presence of its close relative, Phytophthora ramorum, in a Lawson's cypress tree and rhododendron at the same site.

The site is Balloch Castle Country Park on Loch Lomondside in West Dunbartonshire, and P. ramorum has also been confirmed in rhododendron at the park.

The park is only the second site in Scotland where P. ramorum has been found in trees, although it has previously been found in other plants in Scotland.

However, P. ramorum infection has been the cause of the emergency felling of more than 2 million Japanese larch trees in South-West England, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as some in the Republic of Ireland, in an effort to prevent the pathogen from spreading further afield.

The Commission's Forest Research agency was first alerted late in 2010 when about 80 Lawson's cypress trees and 27 common yew trees at the park showed signs of decline and 'dieback' and appeared to be dying. Their investigations confirmed that P. lateralis was involved in at least some of the cypress trees' condition.

BRE ANNOUNCES REVOLUTIONARY NEW SUSTAINABLE PANEL PRODUCT COULD MEET SERVICE LIFE DEMANDS OF 60 YEARS Dr Ed Suttie, Director of the Timber Division at BRE (Building Research Establishment), has announced the BRE test and evaluation results which conclude that Medite Tricoya®, a ground-breaking new composite panel product from Accsys Technologies and Coillte Panel Products, could meet demands for a desired service life of 60 years when used in exterior applications. BRE tests confirm Medite Tricoya® as a homogenous, dimensionally stable, biologically durable and easy-to-machine composite wood product which, through long service life and extended maintenance, could present a significant sustainability advantage over existing materials.

Dr Suttie said, “Medite Tricoya® presents a unique proposition…

In my view, this is an extremely exciting and significant development for the industry and one that presents a new class of material which has great opportunity to capture new markets, and regain old, from non-wood based competitors as well as substitution of old products.”

Dr Suttie, highly experienced in the field of wood modification technologies, has worked for many years on acetic anhydride modification of solid wood. He highlighted that one of the chief challenges for the industry has been to create a uniform product for both manufacturers and end-users. Medite Tricoya® achieves on both accounts and delivers a uniform and reliable substrate with a “new degree of reliability in exterior and wet interior applications with excellent design freedom opportunities.”

Medite Tricoya® marks one of the first true innovations in the wood composites industry in more than 30 years.

GREEN KING AWARD FOR CLOSED LOOP RECYCLING Plastic Recycling Guru Honoured in Management Today Cisco Awards Chris Dow, Managing Director, Closed Loop Recycling, was named as the winner of the Green King category in the inaugural Business Heroes Awards celebrating shining examples of the UK’s most enterprising small businesses.

The contest to find the UK’s most resilient businesses, in association with Management Today, saw Cisco award the title of ‘Business Heroes’ to six firms from across the UK and in a variety of sectors including recruitment, sustainability, technology and manufacturing.

Six other companies were also named as highly commended in each category.

“This is a fantastic vindication of both the dedication of the Closed Loop Recycling team and to the vision of our partners and investors,” comments Chris Dow. “I am thankful to all involved.”

Closed Loop Recycling’s facility in Dagenham is the World’s first food grade mixed plastic bottle recycling plant. State-of-the-art sorting and reprocessing technology enables it to sort, granulate, wash and super-clean 35,000 tonnes of recovered plastic bottles, including milk and soft drink bottles which are typically from local authority collections, and turn them back into recycled raw material for new food and drink packaging. The plant diverts a significant amount of waste from both landfill and export and saves up to 52,500 tonnes of CO2 per annum.

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Wildlife laws for a modern Scotland - Legislation brought into the 21st Century Scotland's countryside will be governed by laws responsive to the needs of a modern society now that Parliament has given it's backing to the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill.

The Bill modernises laws, some of which are almost 200 years old, and will help bring to account those who persecute wildlife. The main measures include: * A new criminal vicarious liability offence to ensure that those who direct or turn a blind eye to bird persecution can be held to account * Improvements that will enable Scotland to lead the way in adopting the internationally recognised approach to dealing with invasive non-native species * Changes to deer management and provision for competence amongst deer stalkers Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham said: "This is a significant moment for one of our nation's greatest assets. Rural Scotland covers 95 percent of our land area and contributes so much to our daily lives. It is our responsibility to look after this land in a sustainable

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manner. Some of the laws being updated by this Bill are almost 200 hundred years old and this legislation will take us into the future with a legal framework that is fit for purpose and tackles some of the most pressing issues facing our countryside today. We have taken a huge step forward in the prevention of wildlife crime by introducing a criminal vicarious liability offence. This will provide a deterrent for those who think they can get away with allowing the deliberate poisoning of some of our most iconic birds of prey, a practice that has been a blight on our nation for too long. The Bill also puts measures in place to protect against invasive non-native species which threaten our natural environment and cost the Scottish economy ÂŁ245M every year. It will tighten the laws to prevent non-native animals and plants being released into the wider environment and will provide control powers to deal with problem species. The deer management system will be improved without imposing unnecessary burdens on those responsible.

Measures will be put in place to make sure that this is done sustainably delivering both private and public benefits. One of the most difficult aspects of developing this legislation was balancing the often conflicting demands that we put on our countryside. I'm delighted that MSPs have backed the measures in this Bill and I'm confident that we have guaranteed that our wildlife and natural environment will continue to be a huge source of pride for Scotland in years to come."

The Bill covers a wide range of areas, including: * Reform of ancient game laws including the abolition of outdated game licences * New close seasons for hares * Compulsory training for snare operators * Snares must be tagged so they can be linked to the person who set them * Updated species licensing regulations * New invasive non-native species laws including powers to take action to stop the spread of invasive non-natives * Improved intervention powers for SNH where deer are not being managed and causing damage to the environment * Provision for licensing of muirburn out of season, changes to the muirburn season to protect ground nesting birds and simplified notification procedures

visiting students about the wildlife that is LAFARGE QUARRY WINS enthusing encouraged on site. The final total for educational visits was 447 –truly impressive for a small working quarry.

We offer our congratulations to all those involved in the WILDLIFE AWARD site’s management, they are making a major contribution INTERACTIVE school visits and a dedicated education centre have helped Lafarge’s Dry Rigg Quarry earn a top honour in a major wildlife competition.

The site, near Settle, North Yorkshire, picked up the Community Award for the Dry Quarry class (less than 5ha of water) in the British Trust for Ornithology EDF Energy Business Bird Challenge 2010.

Run on a biennial basis, the challenge seeks to recognise the best business sites for birds, conservation and people in the UK.

to conservation in the UK and thoroughly deserve this award.”

Mick Lambert, Quarry Manager at Dry Rigg said: “It’s fantastic news for everyone connected with the quarry that we’ve won this award. It’s the culmination of several years work really, as we’ve had steadily increasing amounts of visitors from all over the country and now we have the redeveloped education centre hopefully this year we’ll see even more.”

Awards are given to areas where birds thrive and initiatives are undertaken to protect, enhance and promote biodiversity.

For the second consecutive challenge Dry Rigg, operated

by Lafarge Aggregates & Concrete UK, was applauded with the judges saying the site ‘excelled’ in community work.

Activities which particularly caught the judges’ attention were the refurbishment of old quarry buildings to create an Education Centre and the link-up with nearby Settle Middle School to help design floating Tern nesting platforms.

The quarry narrowly missed out on the Conservation Award – the honour won in the last challenge for its work in encouraging lapwing breeding habitat.

Kate Aldridge, Challenge Organiser said: “Many industrial sites in this country are havens for birds and the BTO – EDF Energy Business Bird Challenge is a wonderful opportunity for the British Trust for Ornithology to showcase what industry is doing to enhance biodiversity.

Lafarge’s Dry Rigg Quarry did some fantastic work

Apollo becomes Planet Positive certified Integrated property services provider, the Apollo Group has become a Planet Positive certified company, demonstrating its commitment to measuring and reducing its carbon emissions. Planet Positive is an international environmental mark that recognises organisations that have committed to reducing their carbon footprint by at least 5% per year and that have a sound reduction programme in place to achieve these targets.

Apollo has committed to reduce its carbon emissions by 50% by 2020; to achieving zero waste to landfill; and to reaching Gold Status under the Mayor of London’s Green Procurement Code.

Apollo’s Sustainability Manager, Andy Merrin said: "Working with Planet Positive will provide Apollo with a real focus as we move forward with our environmental strategy. It will also help us raise awareness of sustainability with all of our stakeholders.”

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Major new renewables contract for A&P Group A&P Group has announced this week that it has won a multi-million pound contract for the renewable industry with work being carried out at their shipyard in Falmouth.

The contract not only secures A&P Group’s growing reputation in the marine renewable energy sector, but dozens of highly-skilled jobs at the dockyard.

It will see A&P Falmouth constructing100 tonne blade racks for two self-propelled jack-up vessels owned by Seajacks International. The state-of-the-art vessels are purpose built for installing and maintaining offshore wind turbines, and are being converted for use on a huge wind farm off Liverpool.

Peter Child, Managing Director of A&P Falmouth, said: “This is a very significant new contract for us and we are delighted to be working at the forefront of the marine renewables sector. We won the contract in stiff competition with many of the UK’s other major yards”.

Both purpose-built vessels – the Seajacks Leviathan and Seajacks Kraken – will arrive in Falmouth over the coming months to have the blade racks installed.

The racks carry massive wind turbine blades to offshore wind farms. Once on site the four legs are lowered to the seabed and the vessel jacked up out of the water to provide a stable platform for installing the wind turbines.

Mr Child said: “The distinctive vessels will be quite a spectacle when they come into the docks as they are quite different from the ships people usually see on blocks. They will jack up on their legs, which makes them look like an oil rig.”

Work has already begun on the planning and materials stage of the contract and it is hoped the blade racks will be built by the beginning of April. The Seajacks vessels are due in Falmouth during May. While they are in the docks, A&P will also undertake a full maintenance work package on the vessels.

A spokesman for Seajacks said: “‘Seajacks are please to be working with A&P Falmouth to deliver the mobilisation of Seajacks Kraken and Seajacks Leviathan for the Walney 2 offshore wind farm project.

“This mobilisation work includes fabrication of significant structures which need to be installed on the vessel in a short period of time. Seajacks are confident that the proactive approach adopted by A&P Falmouth will allow the works to be facilitated in the timescales required.”

Last year was a year of rapid growth for A&P Group in the marine renewable energy sector, thanks to the company’s focus on meeting the needs of offshore wind developers.

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UK energy groups combine to bring ‘green gas’ certainty New certification scheme to bring confidence to consumers Some of the UK’s leading energy providers have supported the launch of a scheme that will bring certainty to consumers that the gas they buy is totally ‘green.’

The Green Gas Certification Scheme (GGCS) tracks biomethane, or ‘green gas’, through the supply chain to provide certainty for those that buy it and has been established by the Renewable Energy Association working with Bio Group, British Gas, E.ON, National Grid, Milton Keynes Council, Thames Water and CNG Services Ltd. “The Green Gas Certification Scheme is a simple and reliable way to eliminate double-counting of registered green gas” said Steve Sharratt OBE, Chief Executive of Bio Group who designed, constructed and operate the Adnams Bio Energy plant in Southwold, Suffolk. “By tracking the commercial transactions of biomethane through the supply chain it provides certainty for consumers who buy the gas, confidence in the green gas sector and an incentive for gas producers to inject green gas into the grid.”

The ground-breaking scheme is also being backed

by British Gas. Mark Bugler, Head of Renewable Gas commented: “As partners in the UK’s first two Biomethane to Grid pilot projects British Gas are pleased to be one of the founding members of the Green Gas Certification Scheme. This scheme is key in allowing us to track ‘green gas’ from injection into the grid through to our customers. Our early investments in biomethane projects demonstrate once again British Gas’ leadership in renewable energy.”

John Pettigrew, National Grid's Chief Operating Officer for Gas Distribution, added: “The Green Gas Certification Scheme is a great step forward for renewable gas, stimulating demand from consumers who want to reduce their carbon footprint.”

Michael Woodhead, Managing Director of E.ON’s Sustainable Energy business, said: “Customers need the reassurance that the greener products they seek actually ‘do what they say on the tin’. We believe that biomethane has a significant role to play in the future energy mix for the UK and this certification scheme is a major step forward to making it a reality.”

Biomethane, or ‘green gas’ is a form of renewable energy.

It can be made from biogas from anaerobic digestion, landfill gas or syngas from synthetic gas production.

If injected into the grid it displaces the same amount of conventional gas. The GGCS tracks any contractual trading of the injected gas through to its sale to end-use consumers who receive a certificate notifying them of the individual identifiers associated with it. The platform through which the gas is tracked and authenticated has been created by web development agency SAV. “There is huge interest in renewable gas. I’m delighted that we’ve now got two sites up and running. More are set to follow once the Renewable Heat Incentive starts later in the year.” said Gaynor Hartnell, Chief Executive of the Renewable Energy Association which, via its subsidiary Renewable Energy Assurance Ltd, is running the new certification system.

The new certification system is open to a wide range of participants across the UK including green gas producers, suppliers and other traders.

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LAFARGE GRANITE GIVES TRAGIC AIRMEN LASTING MEMORIAL THE GENEROSITY of a Leicestershire building materials firm will ensure the sacrifice of a county airman killed in WWII will forever be remembered.

Lafarge Aggregates & Concrete UK has donated a granite boulder from its Mountsorrel quarry, near Loughborough, to be erected as a memorial to second air gunner, Sgt Billy Stephenson and his comrades, who died during a training mission.

All seven airmen perished when their Lancaster bomber crashed in the Nottinghamshire village of Halam in the early hours of Saturday April 10 1943.

Crew of Lancaster Bomber which crashed at Halam

Villagers in Halam had long felt the sacrifice of the crew should be honoured and embarked on a mission to erect a memorial and trace relatives of the lost airmen.

Angus Shedden, operations manager for Lafarge’s Mountsorrel Quarry, said:

Now thanks to Lafarge and Nottinghamshire County Council the memorial will be unveiled during a special ceremony on the 68th anniversary of the crash.

“We are delighted that one of our armour stones is being used for such a worthy cause and will help keep alive the memory of these brave airmen.”

Andrew Paris, part of the Halam team responsible for organising the memorial, said:

Appeals through local newspapers and radio have ensured relatives of almost all of the seven will be at the event on Sunday April 10.

“The loss of the lives of these seven brave young men was a sad wartime event for the village.

“When they left their homes and families they were really no more than boys. We wanted to do something to honour the sacrifice of these seven brave young men and now a vague idea over a pint in the village pub has become a wonderful reality.”

Those expected to attend include Sgt Stephenson’s two nephews and a niece, seven or eight nieces and nephews of the pilot Len Lean, coming from Australia; the son and grandson of navigator Ted Lambert, from Fleetwood, near Blackpool; and a nephew of Canadian air gunner, Raymond ‘Tony’ Lewis travelling from Bangkok.

Mountsorrel armour stone donated for the Halam Lancaster bomber memorial ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE |33|

The Climate Week Awards celebrate the UK’s most innovative, effective, and ambitious organisations, communities and individuals and their outstanding efforts to combat climate change.

The awards were judged by a star panel including Lord Nicholas Stern (author of the Stern Report), Mary Robinson (the former President of Ireland), best-selling author Ian McEwan, environmental campaigner Tony Juniper, eco adventurer David de Rothschild, Eden Project founder Tim Smit, Met Office Chief Scientist Julia Slingo, and Terry Tamminen, advisor on climate change to Arnold Schwarzenegger, Climate Week CEO Kevin Steele, Lucy Neville-Rolfe, Executive Director, Tesco, and Martin Lawrence, Managing Director, EDF Energy.

THE CLIMATE WEEK WINNERS Best Initiative by a Governmental or Statutory Body (in association with Tesco) Department for International Development - Scuba Rice Flood-resistant “scuba” rice, that can survive for two weeks underwater, is protecting the lives of millions at risk from climate change. Rising sea levels and storms are forecast to cause a 15% drop in rice production in developing countries. That could spell disaster for the one-fifth of the world’s population dependant on rice.

The International Research Rice Institute, funded by the Department for International Development, isolated a gene for flood resistance and transferred it into rice. In a trial in Bangladesh, 95% of scuba plants recovered after flooding compared to just 12% for a traditional variety.

Local farmer Mohammad Shahidul Islam said it was, “like magic”. http://tinyurl.com/65jpd88 Best New Product (in association with Tesco) Vegware - Compostable Packaging Vegware is the only UK company to supply cafés and shops with disposable cups, cutlery and packaging made of compostable vegetable material. While they look like their plastic counterparts and cost the same, there is a huge difference in environmental impact. Plastic is difficult to recycle when contaminated with food, so most goes to landfill. Vegware can just be binned with all other food waste and composted into fertiliser and biogas fuel.

In 2010, Vegware’s customers saved 110 tonnes of carbon and 99 tonnes of virgin materials by using its products.

The company runs a network to help its customers compost all their organic waste. http://www.vegware. com/ Best Artistic Response (in association with Tesco) Red Redemption - Fate of the World The computer game Fate of the World requires you to manage the earth’s food, water, energy and forests, while dealing with a growing population and threats from floods and extreme weather. Red Redemption raised £1 million for this follow-up to their BBC Climate Challenge. |34| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

Their team has producers, writers and composers whose previous credits include James Bond and Dr Who. Released in February 2011, the game’s scenario spans the next two centuries and puts all of our futures in your hands. It uses the latest scientific data and the team included Oxford University climate scientist Myles Allen.

The New York Times said, “While ‘Fate of the World’ arms you with environmental data and renewable energy policies rather than grenades and rocket launchers, the result is still compelling”.

Most Inspirational Leader (in association with Tesco) Garry Charnock Garry Charnock was the driving force behind the social experiment to mobilise the Cheshire village of Ashton Hayes to become the UK’s first carbon-neutral community. In the first year, its carbon footprint was cut by 20%. Garry went on to secure £750,000 of funding, including £100,000 to power the primary school and part of the village using solar energy and combined heat and power. He made a film about the project and represented the UK at the Live Earth concert, which broadcast Ashton Hayes’ successes around the world. He also spoke about it to 120 communities across the UK. More recently, he co-founded the charity Carbon Leapfrog. http://www. goingcarbonneutral.co.uk/ Best Technological Breakthrough (in association with Tesco) Xeros - The Virtually Waterless Cleaning System Yorkshire Company Xeros has developed a new way to clean clothes using hardly any water – a “gamechanging” technology. Their prototype washing machine uses polymer beads which absorb dirt into their molecular structure and work for hundreds of washes.

It requires 90% less water than conventional machines, and saves energy because there is less water to heat and the clothes are easier to dry. The independent Hohenstein Institute confirmed that it cleans as well as normal washers and environmental consultancy URS found its carbon footprint to be 20% lower. The company has raised £5 million to put a machine for the commercial laundry industry onto the market in 2011, with a domestic machine planned for 2013. http://tinyurl.com/64r7ogw Best Initiative by a Small or Medium-Sized Business (in association with RBS) Continental Clothing Company - EarthPositive Apparel Continental Clothing, a supplier of blank cotton T-shirts and sweatshirts for fashion brands and corporate use, has established a blueprint for low carbon fashion. The maker of this year’s official Climate Week T-shirt has spent two years developing its EarthPositive range which has a carbon footprint 90% lower than conventionallyproduced clothing. Continental analysed and improved every stage of its production process. The clothing uses organic cotton and is made using electricity generated solely from wind power. It is transported without using air freight, with 100% biodegradeable and recycled packaging. Continental’s factory in India treats waste

water to ensure a low water footprint, and minimises or recycles other waste. http://tinyurl.com/5rcg9uh Best Community Initiative (in association with Aviva) Settle Hydro The small North Yorkshire town of Settle now has its own source of renewable energy - a 165,000 kW turbine in the river Ribble. Amazingly, the project was conceived and run by two volunteers in their spare time. “One day”, says Ann Harding, “we looked at the river and thought we must be able to make energy”. They raised £410,000 from grants, loans and investors (including Take That’s Jason Orange) and went live in December 2009. The electricity is sold to the National Grid, with profits divided between shareholders and community projects. The scheme will save 3,200 tonnes of carbon and has now advised 300 other communities about similar projects. http://www. settlehydro.org.uk/ Best Campaign (in association with Tesco) Forum for the Future - Farming Futures Farming Futures generates awareness and action on climate change amongst farmers, working in partnership with leading bodies in the agricultural sector such as the National Farmers’ Union. It uses peer-to-peer communications to encourage farmers to see sustainable farming as normal and has 40 real-life online case histories covering issues such as soil management, heat pumps and energy crops. It has 47% brand recognition amongst farmers and was voted by Farmers’ Weekly as the number one website for information on agriculture and climate change. Last year over 1,500 farmers attended its events and the website has 1,800 users per month. http://www.farmingfutures.org.uk/ Best Local Initiative (in association with Kellogg’s) London Borough of Lewisham - Low Carbon Lewisham Central Low Carbon Lewisham Central aims to cut the footprint of an inner city London neighbourhood, principally through retrofitting loft and wall insulation. Launched in January 2010, its first year has seen 5,000 energy efficiency measures installed in an amazing two-thirds of the 1,000 properties in the area. Open to all residents, the programme included free insulation, free energy surveys and free boiler assements. It has also offered free advice to local businesses, engaged staff at the local hospital and used participatory budgeting to give residents a say in how money was spent. One outcome was highly recognisable black and white cow-print recycling bins promoted with the slogan “feed the cows”. http://tinyurl. com/6zzg8rn Best Educational Initiative (in association with EDF Energy) Climate Change Schools Project The Durham-based Climate Change Schools Project aims to turn young people across the North-East into “everyday experts” on climate change, so they can lead positive action in their communities. Backed by the

Environment Agency, the Association of North-East Councils and others, a network of 100 schools are putting climate change at the heart of the curriculum. Pupils from 5 to 18 not only learn about climate change but also team up with businesses, community groups, councils and meteorologists to take action ranging from energy audits to flood risk assessments, tree planting and theatre performances. Since the project started in 2008 there have been 18,000 hours of pupil-led activities.

Best Event (in association with Tesco) Cape Farewell - SHIFT Festival at the Southbank Centre SHIFT was a week-long climate-focused festival of live music, comedy, theatre and art at the Southbank Centre, London in January 2010. It involved artists who had been taken by scientists on Cape Farewell expeditions to the Arctic, to see the effects of climate change. All events were free and aimed to use artistic expression to stimulate new visions of a viable future. Performers included comedian Marcus Brigstocke, impressionist Alistair McGowan and singer KT Tunstall. Leading architects, scientists, politicians and fashion designers also took part and there was a special youth day. The debates were screened online by the Open University and panel discussions were continued over the web.

Best Initiative by a Public or Uniformed Service (in association with Tesco) University Hospital of South Manchester University Hospital of South Manchester is proving there are financial and social benefits to cutting carbon. Cutting CO2 emissions by 26% in 2010 meant the hospital could plough £120,000 from its energy budget back into patient care. Savings have been underpinned by the installation of two biomass boilers, one of which allows its Cardiac Centre to be self-sufficient in energy. Other measures include a ground source heat pump and more efficient lighting, insulation and building controls. The hospital has also engaged staff and the wider community with a regular farmers’ market, a staff allotment and a car share scheme.

Best Initiative by a Large Business in association with Tesco Whitbread Hotels & Restaurants and Veolia Environmental Services - Landfill Diversion Initiative Whitbread, the UK’s largest hospitality company, has partnered with environmental services company Veolia to prevent thousands of tonnes of waste from hotels and restaurants going to landfill. Whitbread’s landfill diversion from its 590 Premier Inns increased dramatically from 49% to 66% between November 2009 and January 2011. By diverting waste - for example to anaerobic digestion - the hotels slashed direct CO2 emissions by 820,000 tonnes. Their diversion of food waste on a national scale is a first for the UK hospitality industry. The two companies report that a further 4.5 million tonnes of potential future CO2 emissions were avoided by recycling paper, plastic and metal, and by using the hotel waste to generate electricity.

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FORESIGHT & HINDSIGHT Watching the world's most technologically advanced nation desperately trying to cool fuel rods by dropping water from helicopters is a sobering sight, and one that can't help but make you stop and think. It throws the dangers of nuclear power right back into the limelight and provides a clear and present focus for anti-nuclear power campaigners.

Germany is going to close seven of its 17 plants, China has put plans for its next 110 plants on hold, the US are having a 'rethink' after popular support for its a nuclear power programme plummeted as images from Fukushima were beamed into millions of homes, although President Obama and Energy Secretary Steven Chu have both stated that their support continues since the earthquake. Here in the UK we have taken the decisive measure of commissioning another report.

One nation stands apart from the fresh reticence – India has considerable nuclear ambitions and has said it is continuing unabated. It plans to generate over 60gW from nuclear power by 2030, compared to the 4.8gW it generates today.

My view is that Fukishima changes little. It seems to me that we might remind ourselves of the fact that the reactor didn't fail and the plant didn't crash and crumble as a result of a terrible earthquake and tsunami. It stood, intact. It support system failed in that the cooling water pumps had no power. Fukishima is over 30 years old. The reactors on the drawing boards today have emergency cooling systems on top of the containment units which require only gravity to operate.

It really is a matter of finding a perspective. There is no doubt whatsoever that nuclear power carries inherent and potentially catastrophic dangers. However I can't escape the conclusion that whilst the nuclear option carries with it the possibility of disaster, burning fossil fuel comes with the certainty.

Since the age of nuclear power dawned, there have been 19 'accidents' at nuclear power plants, causing 64 deaths with 53 of these from Chernobyl. These include comparatively minor events such as closure due to a faulty valves or corrosion. The fact is that in terms of loss of life and damage to the environment since 1961, the nuclear power option has proved remarkably benign.

Today, the Chernobyl site has been reclaimed by Mother Nature and is almost a wildlife reserve. In terms of the |36| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

release of CO2, nuclear power has a carbon footprint approaching zero.

Coal-fired plants produce almost 10 billion tonnes of CO2 each year That equates to approximately 114,155 tonnes per hour or 1,900 tonnes per minute. In real terms, the damage done to the global environment by coal-fired burning during the time you have spent reading this article exceeds that of nuclear power since 1961. Yes – this is a fag-packet calculation and yes – of course there are a great many other things to be taken into account, but I think the point is made.

If we were to adopt sustainable means and real renewable energy methods such as CHP; if we would pay something more than lip service to energy conservation and efficiency, we could conceivably reach the stage where there is no necessity for these damned things. I know that a great many people are convinced of these arguments.

I remain unconvinced, and leave you with the conclusion drawn by James Lovelock in his famous and prophetic article of 2004, the year after the European heatwave.

" Opposition to nuclear energy is based on irrational fear fed by Hollywood-style fiction, the Green lobbies and the media. These fears are unjustified, and nuclear energy from its start in 1952 has proved to be the safest of all energy sources. We must stop fretting over the minute statistical risks of cancer from chemicals or radiation.

Nearly one third of us will die of cancer anyway, mainly because we breathe air laden with that all pervasive carcinogen, oxygen. If we fail to concentrate our minds on the real danger, which is global warming, we may die even sooner, as did more than 20,000 unfortunates from overheating in Europe last summer.

Even if they were right about its dangers, and they are not, its worldwide use as our main source of energy would pose an insignificant threat compared with the dangers of intolerable and lethal heat waves and sea levels rising to drown every coastal city of the world.

We have no time to experiment with visionary energy sources; civilisation is in imminent danger and has to use nuclear - the one safe, available, energy source - now or suffer the pain soon to be inflicted by our outraged planet." steve@stephenmgrant.com

Progress Since the King Review Professor Julia King, Vice Chancellor of Aston University and former Director of Advanced Engineering at Rolls-Royce plc

The ongoing political unrest affecting a number of North African oil producers, and the resulting high oil price, is another reminder of the dangers of dependence on a single, dominant technology. Almost a billion vehicles in the world today burn around 53% of oil production in internal combustion engines. By 2030 there could be two billion vehicles, by 2050, perhaps three billion. There are many pressing reasons why we need change: fuel security; increased access to mobility to drive global economic growth; and clean air. And then there is the really urgent and really critical challenge of addressing climate change – leaving a habitable world for future generations.

The Committee on Climate Change (CCC), of which I am a member, has recently submitted its recommendations for the fourth carbon budget to the Government – as it is required to do by the Climate Change Act of 2008.

The fourth budget sets a CO2e (Kyoto greenhouse gas emissions, stated as an equivalent level of CO2 emissions) emissions target for the UK for the 5 year period from 2023 to 2027, at a level to ensure we are reducing emissions along a cost effective path to our 80% reduction commitment by 2050 (compared to a 1990 baseline.) The 2050 target was set, and accepted

by Parliament, on the basis that it represents (i) the best scientific understanding of the emissions reduction required to ensure a low probability (less than 1%) of an average global temperature rise of around 4O, and a likely increase of not much above 2O, and (ii) a fair approach - ‘equal shares’ - ie every one of the world’s 9 billion people in 2050 being entitled to use an equal amount of the ‘allowable’ emissions. (Each person would have 2 to 2.5 tonnes of CO2 per year, in total, in 2050, this roughly equates to the annual emissions of an average car in the UK today.) |38| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

In proposing the fourth carbon budget for 2023-2027, we started our analysis by developing a picture of what the UK needs to look like, in terms of low carbon developments, in 2030. The analysis takes into account issues such as the replacement rates for our existing infrastructure and major capital items such as vehicles, investment requirements, technology maturity and learning rates, predicted carbon prices, and technology and economic risks. The purpose is to illustrate cost effective emission reduction paths to 2030, whilst leaving a challenging but achievable – in investment, technology and infrastructure terms – path for the next 20 years from 2030 to 2050. The results are reported in detail in ‘The Fourth Carbon Budget: reducing emissions through the 2020s’ published in December 2010. This can be found at www.theccc.org.uk.

I think it is well worth highlighting the headline challenges for the next 20 years associated with meeting our emissions reduction requirements.

• We need to deliver a 46% reduction in emissions by 2030, followed by a further 62% reduction from 2030 to 2050, to achieve the 2050 target • Some major sectors are unlikely to be able to achieve this, including aviation, agriculture, and some industrial processes • Those sectors with greater potential to reduce

emissions will have to make larger cuts: power generation, land transport and buildings (primarily heat) will need to achieve a reduction of around 67% by 2030 • Power generation has to be essentially decarbonised

•

•

by 2030, through some combination of nuclear plants, renewable generation and carbon capture and storage on gas and coal fired plants This low carbon electricity will enable

decarbonisation of transport and heat, through electric vehicles and heat pumps The overall cost of the change is assessed to be less than 1% of GDP in 2030, but the capital investment in new energy infrastructure needs to rise from today’s level of around £2bn per annum to £10bn per annum.

There is an urgent need for a step change in our rate of progress in reducing emissions, in particular in three critical areas: electricity generation, transport and heat.

Rapid progress in decarbonising our electricity system is fundamental to the UK achieving its carbon budgets in 2020 and beyond. Reducing the carbon intensity of electricity generation from the current level of around 450g CO2 per kWhr to below 90g/kWhr is both technically achievable and feasible in terms of the rate at which we need to replace ageing infrastructure. It would also improve the UK’s energy security by decreasing our reliance on imported coal and gas.

Low carbon transport is the second critical priority – ‘green’ vehicles and transport have a major role to play on the path to 2050. The CCC’s fourth budget report indicates the level of change that will be needed by 2030 to deliver 67% reduction in emissions. The indicative scenario for cars indicates that, by 2030, internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles will be approaching their efficiency limits, delivering new vehicle emissions of around 80g/km (down from 145g/km today) and electric vehicles (EVs) of various types (full battery electric, plugin hybrids and potentially some fuel cell electric) will need to make up at least 60% of new car sales.

This proportion of new technology vehicles in new car sales in 2030 looks challenging, just as the first EVs are starting to roll out across the UK this year, and Nissan begins a £420m transformation of its Sunderland plant to produce the Leaf and a facility to deliver 60,000 Li-ion battery packs annually. But the need is real – if we are to meet the 2050 targets, conventional ICE cars will have to be phased out before 2050, and with a vehicle life of 12 to 13 years, we must be well on the way by 2030. The importance of early action in this area is emphasised by the costs of inaction – the significant CO2 abatement contribution from a high penetration of electric vehicles in the 2040s delivers a potential saving of around £5 billion compared to the cost of purchasing carbon credits at the DECC forecast price in the 2040s of £135 – 200/ tCO2e.

Vans and heavy goods vehicles will need to play their role as well. An increasing focus is needed on how significant reductions can be made in these sectors – so it is particularly disappointing to see the European Union reducing the 2020 van emissions target from 135g/km to 147g/km at this critical time. |40| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

There have been a number of ‘false dawns’ for electric and other ultra low emissions vehicles. This time it has to be the real thing. The primary driver now is not local air quality or fuel security, despite their importance, but preventing a level of global warming which is likely to be highly damaging to life on the planet.

In order to deliver change at this rate, Governments around the world must take on the leadership. We cannot deliver this rate of change if we just wait for fuel prices or the carbon price to make expensive new technologies as cheap, for the consumer, as the tried, tested, and cost reduced ICE vehicles we are accustomed to today.

Coherent packages of measures are needed, carrots and sticks, to encourage manufacturers and consumers to make and to buy low emissions vehicles – whether that is choosing the lowest emitting conventional vehicle in the class or becoming an early adopter of new EV technology.

The UK has made a good start, with Vehicle Excise Duty set at zero for cars with emissions below 130g/km; funding of £300m identified for the £5,000 new car grant for ultra low emissions vehicles; the Technology Strategy Board Ultra Low Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator project with some 340 vehicles currently being tested around England and Wales; the £30m for ‘Plugged in Places’ to provide public charging infrastructure for EVs. But more is needed – the CCC has recommended a target of 1.7 million EVs in the UK by 2020 if the path to 2030 and beyond is to be achievable.

We now need a coherent and funded plan to get to 2020 and beyond – the CCC indicated a likely need for £800m in support for new cars, other measures could include a steeper rise in VED on higher emitting vehicles; more widespread uptake of innovative measures like the ‘salary sacrifice’ scheme by which low emitting cars can be leased out of salary before tax and National Insurance; limited term measures to encourage take up such as use of priority lanes, free and/or convenient parking, zero congestion charge; if there is to be a fuel duty ‘optimiser’ to stop fuel from getting too expensive, it must also stop its price going down; strong EU wide targets for new car emissions in 2020, 2015 and 2030; support for research and development, as well as for inward investment, to build the supply chain (and create high value manufacturing jobs in the UK.) I strongly encourage the Government to accept the CCC’s fourth budget recommendations and to take the opportunity, in its Carbon Plan, in June this year, to show that it will lead this change in the UK. The benefits of success are many – reduced emissions, cleaner streets and skies, quieter cities, new green manufacturing jobs in the near term, and lower costs to the economy in the future.

We can deliver the challenge of decarbonising road transport, but it needs strong action now.

PROGRESS IN THE UK ELECTRIC VEHICLE INDUSTRY

incentives to kick start the low carbon vehicle market, means the crucial element of ‘demand’ is in place.

Catherine Hutt, Business Development Manager – Electric Vehicles Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Ltd

In addition to these three factors, which could be true of any country, the UK has a unique advantage – it is a small country. This means it is less expensive to install a national infrastructure network and that the distances travelled are relatively short, which reduces the issue of range. What’s more, the UK has an extremely high proportion of niche vehicles (sports cars, bespoke vehicles, kit cars etc) and so the UK public is familiar with different looking vehicles. Although often overlooked, these elements set the UK apart and have a considerable role to play in the uptake and growth of the electric vehicle market.

The UK is in a very strong position with regard to the Electric Vehicle market: home-grown technical expertise is being applied to an area of the industry which is receiving significant government support and producing vehicles for an emerging market.

Despite a number of false dawns, the UK automotive industry is now operating with a set of unprecedented conditions. Government support, industry supply and consumer demand are three elements required for any new market to succeed. In the past the UK has boasted one or two of these elements, but now has all three at once: 1. Government understanding of the market, recognition of its potential to contribute to the UK economy and willingness to support the emerging market are greater than ever. This is true of national and local government, which creates an extremely powerful force.

2. Industry is in a position to supply low carbon solutions as the technology is now ready for development.

3. Consumer awareness and acceptance of low carbon and high tech products is at an all time high and growing, which, coupled with high oil prices and

The combination of these three elements, government support, supply and demand, is exceptional and is the reason why UK industry believes low carbon vehicles now have a viable future.

Consumer perception of electric vehicles in the UK, however, hasn’t always been positive and still requires some improvement. Thanks to milk floats and early electric vehicles, which had low performance and design specifications, the UK public will need some convincing before seriously considering buying an electric car.

SMMT produced the Electric Car Guide in 2010 to answer a number of frequently asked questions and vehicle manufacturers are striving to educate car owners about the alternative technology. Government’s announcement of the Plug-In Car Grant has also improved the perception and a Glass’s Guide survey revealed the percentage of people who would consider owning a hybrid or pure-electric vehicle rose from 9% in July 2010 to 53% in January 2011.

In truth, it is only the experience of electric vehicles which will sell them. Until consumers drive alternative fuelled vehicles they will remain sceptical. Fortunately, a number of events are being planned so that the general public can test drive alternatively fuelled vehicles. This will reassure consumers that alternatively fuelled vehicles are ‘real’ and could be their future choice of vehicle.

Numerous articles and reports herald 2011 as ‘the year of the Electric Vehicle’. However, this should come with a health warning to manage expectations. It would be unrealistic to expect electric vehicles to match, let alone exceed, the number of traditional vehicles

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on the road within a year, if ever. The introduction of the Plug-In Car Grant and roll-out of infrastructure by the Plugged-In Places programme will significantly boost the electric vehicle market in the UK and pave the way for growth in years to come. However, the number of vehicles involved will be in the hundreds or possibly thousands, not in the millions. In EV terms this is fantastic because the market is at a very early stage and must grow in a sustainable manner. Anyone who compares a market which is 100 years old, to one which is a couple of years old should recognise this difference and adjust expectations accordingly. As the industry evolves and other technologies are introduced we will see the same pattern emerge again.

The New Automotive Innovation and Growth Team (NAIGT) technology roadmap clearly illustrates how the automotive industry will include many different technologies in years to come. The internal combustion engine will continue to form the bedrock of the industry and many alternative technologies, including electric, hybrid and fuel cell vehicles, are emerging and will develop so that the auto industry will no longer be reliant on one solution.

The NAIGT roadmap was presented to the UK government to help inform policy making and support for the auto industry in the future. This report and the formation of the Automotive Council, an unprecedented link between government and the automotive industry, will support the ongoing development of low carbon vehicles. In the shortterm, the importance to government of the emerging electric vehicle industry has been made clear by the large investment to support the market, like the £43 million for the Plug-In Car Grant incentive and £30 million for the Plugged-In Places infrastructure programme.

The automotive industry is a vital part of the UK economy with £40 billion turnover and £8.5 billion value added.

With over 700,000 jobs dependent on the industry, it accounts for 9% of total UK exports and invests £1 billion each year in R&D.

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In the last 10 years, huge strides have been made to reduce the environmental impact of its products throughout the life cycle. Average new car tailpipe CO2 emissions have also been slashed and are down 17% compared to 2000 levels. More recently, UK government has recognised the importance of the electric vehicle industry and has paved the way for significant support for it. Despite a change of government, support for this part of the industry has been maintained, a strong signal of its importance.

The next challenge for the emerging industry will be to establish a robust, sustainable and scalable supply chain.

Many vehicle manufacturers are targeting the UK as their primary sales market in Europe thanks to the reasons mentioned above. However, these manufacturers are also looking for ways to source components from the same market. The UK sourcing roadmap (Growing the UK Automotive Supply Chain: the Road Forward) is a report which analyses the level of components sourced in the UK by UK manufacturing plants. Improving the ability of manufacturers to source locally is an important topic for the Automotive Council and will form a significant part of the industry’s work in the years to come.

Fortunately, the rapidly expanding low carbon automotive industry presents significant investment opportunities, both for UK and overseas investors. With new products, new components, new business models and new areas of the value chain, the emerging industry has the potential to contribute significantly to the UK economy and remain at the forefront of the global market.

While the efforts of the industry focussed on market preparation up to and throughout 2010, the focus is now on growing the market sustainably. The UK is in a strong position and has the opportunity to lead the alternative fuel industry, thanks to a convergence of unprecedented conditions which will pave the way for a viable industry.

Sustainable Transport

By Norman Baker, Minister of Transport This Coalition Government is fully focused on building a modern transport system: one that connects our communities and supports our businesses, generates economic growth and helps job creation, cuts carbon and contributes towards a cleaner, greener environment. If our transport networks are to achieve all these ends then they have to be sustainable.

In the longer-term, our efforts to ensure sustainability are focused on key measures in areas such as road and rail travel. For example, through our “Plug-In Car Grant,” and “Plugged-In-Places” infrastructure programme, we are positioning Britain to be a global leader in the demonstration, design, manufacture and use of low and ultra-low emission vehicles. We are also committed to the development of a truly national high speed rail network. This radical railways’ modernisation will transform the way Britain works and competes in the 21st century. But it also has the potential to encourage an eco-friendly modal shift of people and goods from air transport in particular.

Two thirds of all the journeys we make are less than five miles – many of which can be taken by walking, cycling or taking public transport. So, in the more immediate term, addressing shorter, local trips offers significant potential benefits. It is estimated that traffic congestion alone costs the economy around £11 billion a year while the problems of physical inactivity, air quality and noise cost society up to £25 billion annually. And perhaps surprisingly, research shows that people who walk, cycle or use the bus to the shops also spend between 5% and 15% more

– increasing turnover in the local high street. In other words, encouraging and supporting people to make more sustainable, smarter local transport choices today makes sound economic sense. But it can also play a crucial part in cutting pollution, improving our individual health and enhancing our collective quality of life. That’s a genuine transport win-win.

A major milestone on our journey to a more sustainable transport future was taken in January, when I launched the £560 million Local Sustainable Transport Fund and the associated White Paper, “Creating Growth, Cutting Carbon.’” The White Paper provides practical guidance to local authorities on ways they can develop more sustainable transport schemes to help them achieve objectives in their Local Transport Plans.

We are very keen to receive bids for the new Fund from local authorities which are in partnership with the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector, with the support of local businesses. In this way, we can capture the most innovative ideas to meet local transport needs. By providing local authorities with a real opportunity to make the smarter travel choice the viable travel choice, the potential of the Sustainability Fund to make a positive difference is enormous.

The Fund forms part of a wider picture of Government measures to devolve power to local communities, ending the era of top down decision making which ignored the specific needs and behaviour patterns of local people. In short, it is the practical embodiment of our belief in localism. Ultimately, the local level is the best place in which to devise local solutions to local challenges.

For example, we have announced the Regional Growth Fund and Local Enterprise Partnerships to help stimulate local economies and place ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE |45|

power back at the local level, and we have radically simplified transport funding for local authorities from twenty-six streams to four. This will give authorities greater flexibility in how they spend their funding, which is crucial if they are to deliver efficient and effective transport for their communities at a time of limited resources.

At the same time, central Government will no longer intervene in the way that councils review progress on local transport. Authorities will be required to publish accessible data on their transport activities to allow their communities and stakeholders to compare their performance against others and hold elected representatives to account.

Alongside these locally-driven initiatives, there are a few schemes that will benefit from a single national approach. One of these is the £11 million we are providing for Bikeability cycle training next year. This funding will give 275,000 ten and eleven year olds “on road” training.

Then there’s the work we are doing with operators and public sector bodies to deliver the infrastructure to enable most local public transport journeys to be undertaken using smart ticketing by December 2014. And we are improving end to end journeys by encouraging transport operators – and those involved in promoting cycling and car clubs – to work together to integrate tickets and timetables, and provide better information for travellers.

We have earmarked over £400 million to promote the uptake of ultra low carbon vehicle technologies, and the Green Bus Fund will pay for about 500 new hybrid and electric buses, playing a vital role in unlocking potential and stimulating a growing market.

Moreover, as the first Transport Minister to have specific responsibility for promoting Alternatives to Travel, I am encouraging businesses, the public sector and individuals to consider their travel choices – and to establish when the use of ICT and new communications technologies might replace the need for journeys. We are working on an agenda for change and will be engaging with business, representative groups and the public sector to identify the potential for reducing business travel and commuting.

All these initiatives will help us deliver the “green growth” that is at the heart of this Government’s economic agenda. Sustainable transport and, in particular, sustainable local transport will play a crucial role in helping us achieve our objectives during the Parliament and into the future - a strong economy, a fair society and an environment that’s respected and protected.

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Go green, save fuel, save cash, save the planet Going green is a recurring theme at the CV Show and one that all the industries represented there take very seriously.

Cutting emissions, particularly for the road transport business is all about using less fuel, so the ‘save fuel, save cash and save the planet’ approach works at every level.

Vans and trucks are by far the most efficient way to move goods in the UK. For instance, the nation’s half million strong truck fleet moves five times as much freight now as it did 50 years ago, but there are no more trucks on the road now than there were then.

Today’s half million trucks work much more intensively, carrying more freight and using less fuel for each tonne carried.

That performance is an enormous testimony to the growing efficiency of road transport and its operators and a great contribution to environmental protection. Efficiency is also a constant theme throughout this year’s CV Show.

Well over 350 exhibitors have already signed up for this year's event and the organisers say it is on course for success at Birmingham’s NEC from 12-14 April 2011.

For three days the CV Show will be the focus of the industry, with exhibitors using it as the main platform to launch lots of new products and services and visitors looking for ways to do their jobs more efficiently, saving cash, fuel and the planet. |48| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

To help visitors find the fuel-cutting, planet-saver deals the CV Show’s organisers have arranged green, fuel-pump logos and will use these in the CV Show Guide to highlight those green deals. Look and you’ll find them used to help promote an enormous range of vehicles and their supporting products and services.

The Show has attracted truck makers like DAF, Hino, MAN, Mercedes-Benz and Iveco dealer Guest Trucks, as well as van makers Ashworths, Citroën, Fiat, Ford, Hyundai, Isuzu, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, Supertrucks, Tata and Volkswagen among a huge line-up of firms offering supporting products and services.

Every one of those vehicle makers will show systems to cut fuel use and emissions. Ideas include hybrid power, battery-electric or gas power at one end of the spectrum through to lightweight and very high cubic capacity bodywork. This for instance may mean one trip instead of two.

Aerodynamic aids, tyre pressure monitoring kit, on-board axle weighing systems, telematics monitoring can all help make fuel go further. For instance, on-board axle weighing systems can show that a van or truck is overloaded or under-loaded.

Overloaded, your van or truck probably breaks the law and almost certainly uses more fuel. But under-loading can be just as expensive a fault. It wastes capacity and ultimately uses more fuel to do the job, as Axtec on stand 5J64 will tell you.

Say fuel monitoring and most operators think of computer-controlled fuel flow meters on a vehicle. Often with a telematic link back to base, these mean a transport manager can monitor each driver’s performance and encourage those who use most fuel to do things differently. Sophisticated, computer-controlled stuff like this can pay for itself refreshingly quickly.

But what about the bunkered fuel stocks, who monitors those?

Cameron Forecourt, on stand 4B70 sells a kit to do just that. The firm says it is often amazed how little operators know about their fuel stocks. Poor monitoring can hide short deliveries, long-term leaking tanks and unauthorised fuel use. Once again, the right technology can quickly pay for itself.

Workshop 2011 will run alongside the CV Show. This is the only national shop window for the all-important UK car and commercial vehicle maintenance and repair business in 2011. Too few people associate workshops with green ideas, but virtually all the exhibitors can help cut fuel use, either directly or indirectly.

New products at the CV Show will include EyeDrive’s collision avoidance systems, Zenloc’s award-winning locking solutions for commercial vehicles. Allen Developments will launch a system that enables drivers to couple and uncouple artics from ground level.

Bevan Group will launch its bodywork aftercare service and Imexpart will launch a new extension to its CaptiveX range of truck parts. Another exhibitor, Zenloc, will show its portable alarm and Carnation will use its stand to launch its genisys system, a fully customisable, easy-tointegrate solution for control of auxiliary electronics and related power management in virtually any vehicle.

Confirmed exhibitors for Workshop already include Gemco, Jubilee, Maha, NGK Texa, Unipart GES, V-Tech and Würth. Joining them at Workshop for the first time will be Draper, Maha, Somers, SPX, Stertil and Valeo.

These are global firms selling successfully on world markets.

Major tyre makers and tyre service firms will be also at the Show, with ATS Euromaster, Bridgestone, Direct Tyre Management and Michelin featuring a wide range of their tyres for fork lift trucks through to road-going tyres for the biggest commercial vehicles, as well as tyre management solutions.

So as you tour the CV Show and Workshop, remember that ‘Go green, save fuel, save cash, save the planet’ mantra. You’ll find virtually every one of those 350 or more exhibitors will have ideas that can help increase efficiency. The tricky bit is selecting the best ideas for your business. And there will be hundreds to choose from.

And that’s where the CV Show Guide and its ‘green deal’ markers come in. The CV Show organisers asked each exhibitor to tell them about their green exhibits and will highlight them in the Show catalogue with that green fuel pump logo. There will be a free copy with the 30 March issue of Commercial Motor and with the 4 April issue of Motor Transport and more copies on the door at the NEC. The Show’s website - www.cvshow.com - carries all information about the Show, its exhibitors with their stand numbers and how to get to the NEC, as well as all the latest news. The CV Show at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, will be open from 08:30 to 17:30 on Tuesday 12 to Thursday 14 April inclusive. |50| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

For the first time, in another environmental protection inspired move, the organisers won’t send Show passes in advance. They invite you to register on-line and the system will arrange a Fast Track entry ticket to the CV Show and Workshop 2011 for you.

Simply go to either of the two Show websites, www. cvshow.com or www.workshopshow.co.uk and follow the Visitor link. The system will give you a reference number and a barcode. Bring that with you, scan it at the entrance and the system will print your free entry ticket.

That move will also get you £2.00 off an Early Bird Breakfast at participating restaurants at the NEC. So you can enjoy breakfast at the show while you look through your Guide for those green deal markers and plan your route around the Show. With well over 350 exhibitors, it will pay to plan your way around the Show as carefully as the best delivery firms plan their runs. Don’t waste the opportunity to save energy around the Show. Or shoe leather.

The CV Show and Workshop 2011 are open 08:30 to 17:30 Tuesday to Thursday, 12-14 April and, as always, entry is free.

The CV Show is owned by the CV Show LLP, which comprises the Road Haulage Association, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and IRTE Services Ltd, the trading company of the Society of Operations Engineers.

LABS AND TESTING Page 54 - 55 - Environmental Monitoring: Making MCERTain With Accreditation - Jon Murthy, UKAS Marketing Manager

Page 56 - 57 - Measuring Your Footprint - Maria Varbeva-Daley, Sector Content Manager, BSI Page 58 - 59 - MCERTS 2011 Preview

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Environmental Monitoring: Making MCERTain with Accreditation

By Jon Murthy, UKAS Marketing Manager Prior to the recent economic downturn, it appeared that environmental issues had been pushed towards the top of the corporate agenda. This, allied with a tremendous growth in consumer interest in green matters, meant that the environment become a vital day to day issue for most companies. When the recession hit, it understandably raised fears long term environmental and sustainability programmes would be abandoned in favour of short term cost savings. However, in practice environmental impact management has remained a priority for the vast majority of companies, across all industries. In addition to the growth in the number of environmental schemes available to businesses, the already established schemes have expanded to cover a wider remit.

Emissions Monitoring Any industrial process operator with a permit from the Environment Agency will be aware that it is required to ensure that the continual monitoring of process emissions is performed correctly to check that emissions stay within the legally permitted limits.

Many process operators choose to use the services of a third party organisation to carry out this monitoring.

Procurers of environmental sampling and analysis services need assurances that the organisation they employ is technically competent and will deliver accurate results. Traditionally, many procurers have relied upon ISO 9001 certification as a demonstration of competence. However, ISO 9001 is not a technical standard, and only relates to the management systems employed by the company.

Since its publication in 1999 the international standard ISO/IEC 17025 has been recognised as the standard for assessing technical competence in this area. ISO/IEC 17025 is necessarily flexible to allow its application over a wide variety of fields, so the standard recognises the need for sectorspecific interpretations to be used with it. |54| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

One such sector-specific interpretation has been adopted by the Environment Agency (EA) when it introduced its Monitoring Certification Scheme (MCERTS) as the framework for businesses to meet the EA’s quality requirements. The MCERTS standards contain specific requirements about how sampling and analysis must be reported, the expected minimum precision and accuracy of data, qualification requirements for staff and rules on the content of quotations and contracts. All of these areas provide additional confidence in the consistency of data produced. In certain circumstances the use of an organisation with the relevant accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 for MCERTS is mandatory.

MCERTS Accreditation Starting with stack emissions monitoring, MCERTS accreditation now covers a greater number of areas, making MCERTS both more comprehensive and a more robust way of assessing environmental emissions.

Despite adding water and soil to list of areas that can be accredited, there is still room to expand the scheme even further.

The accreditation of MCERTS activity falls into two disciplines: sampling and analysis. From 1st June 2010 both the sampling and analysis of water can be accredited under MCERTS. However, as the scheme currently stands, it is only the sampling of stack emissions and the analysis of soil that fall under MCERTS accreditation. Efforts to address this potential shortfall are well underway.

The Source Testing Association is working in conjunction with the Environment Agency, UKAS and representatives of accredited testing laboratories to ensure that greater emphasis is placed on the quality of the analysis samples taken during stack monitoring campaigns. Work is also being undertaken by other organisations in relation to the collection of soil samples. BS 10175 is a new code of practice that relates to the investigation of contaminated land and soil sampling. In addition to containing several references to MCERTS and UKAS, there is support from the Environmental Industry Commission and the Society of Chemical Industry for soil sampling to be covered by accreditation. Similarly, the Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists also encourages its members to provide high quality, appropriate, reliable and independent testing services by supporting external accreditation to ISO 17025.

The growth in the number of accreditation-based schemes has reached the point where accreditation is fast becoming the preferred method of quality assurance in environmental management. So what is accreditation?

How does it work? What environmental results is it achieving for the industry?

environmental programmes is usually the cost of implementation. Whilst some might argue that this should not be a factor, it is evident that the more costeffective a method is, the more likely it is to be adopted and to succeed. In addition to highlighting areas where the business may be able to improve process efficiency and avoid repetition, accreditation has a wider cost-saving dimension as it reduces the need for an organisation to retain its own experts.

Reliability is a key driver in any analysis and measurement activity. Users of sampling and analysis services need to know that the data that they receive is reliable and accurate. Enlisting a UKAS-accredited organisation to carry out these services provides that assurance. Where the results will be used in research or to demonstrate compliance with legislation it is important that results obtained can be shown to be accurate.

Further, it must be demonstrated that the organisations that procure the monitoring services have themselves employed best practice and exercised due diligence.

There are also clear market drivers for using accredited certification, as it acts as a guarantee of competence and demonstration of best practice.

Summary Accreditation looks set to become the de facto standard for quality assurance in environmental management.

By engaging the services of an organisation that is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 for MCERTS procurers can ensure they will receive a service that is fit for purpose and operating in line with best practice. Using accredited suppliers of sampling and analysis services can help to meet regulatory targets and acts as an assurance that the results obtained will be reliable and accurate. For more information on UKAS or accreditation, visit www. ukas.com Full details of the MCERTS schemes can be found at www.mcerts.net

How accreditation works Under EU legislation, every country has a single National Accreditation Body (NAB) whose role is to carry out the independent third-party assessment of organisations that offer testing, calibration, inspection and certification services. In other words, accreditation is there to ‘monitor the monitors.’ The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) has been the sole accreditation body recognised by government since its formation in 1995 and was made the official NAB for the UK in 2010.

There are many benefits to be had by undergoing the accreditation process, but perhaps the most easily identifiable are reductions in costs and guarantees of reliability.

One of the main problems faced when dealing with ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE |55|

MEASURING YOUR FOOTPRINT Maria Varbeva-Daley, Sector Content Manager Sustainability Operations, BSI

Businesses of all kinds are finding it increasingly important to be able to measure and provide reliable information about the “carbon footprint” of their goods and services. Maria Varbeva-Daley of the British Standards Institution (BSI) looks at what is driving these requirements, how PAS 2050* helps businesses to address them, and the benefits that go hand in hand with carbon footprint assessments.

The term carbon footprint is used rather loosely in the media and in general conversation, so it’s important to start with a definition. For the purposes of this article and the PAS 2050 standard, carbon footprint is the total of the life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions associated with a product. The term “product” covers both goods and services, and in PAS 2050 the emissions are assessed from an assumed life of 100 years.

Note that a product’s carbon footprint isn’t limited to emissions produced by or resulting directly from that product – the footprint must also take into account many other factors, such as the emissions associated with the transport of raw materials to the manufacturing plant, the energy used by computers, heating and lighting in the course of supplying the product, as well as the emissions associated with end-of-life disposal. *PAS 2050:2008 - Specification for the assessment of the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of goods and services

Even from this short overview, it’s easy to see that measuring the carbon footprint of a product is no trivial matter. It involves both effort and cost, so are businesses and other organisations really interested in carbon footprint measurement and, if so, why?

Back in 2008, the desire of business and the wider community for a consistent method for assessing the GHG emissions of goods and services was channelled through Defra and the Carbon Trust, who sponsored the first document. The ongoing revision of the PAS (two years after publication), carried out with the backing of Defra, BIS and DECC, aims to address the same industry need for a reliable and consistent method for product carbon footprinting and will incorporate advances in knowledge and understanding that have emerged since PAS 2050 was first published.

But why are businesses interested in spending time and money on determining carbon footprints? The overarching answer is concern for the environment increasingly built into many businesses’ strategic planning and every-day operations. Almost all major businesses now recognise that they have a duty to protect the environment, and have committed themselves to fulfilling this duty while also aiming to realise financial, public |56| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

relations, marketing, etc. benefits. Even if a business decided that it would prefer to ignore environmental issues, however, it would find it very hard to do so, since today’s customers, whether they are corporate bodies or individuals, are increasingly deciding that they prefer to buy from suppliers with impeccable environmental credentials.

In fact, a commitment to measuring carbon footprints and making the results readily available in one form or another, can give an organisation a valuable competitive advantage.

And there are other benefits. Calculating carbon footprints involves examining an organisation’s own processes in detail and, to an extent, examining the processes of its suppliers and customers.

These examinations invariably reveal areas where improvements can be made to increase efficiency, reduce wastage, cut energy usage or possibly all of these. The improvements not only decrease environmental impact, they also deliver on-going savings that, over a period of time, would often outweigh the cost involved in making the carbon footprint assessments.

So measuring carbon footprint is a good thing and it delivers a wide range of benefits, but how does an organisation go about making the measurements? This is where PAS 2050, which was briefly mentioned earlier, comes in. Developed by BSI, the UK’s National Standards Body, this is a Publicly Available Specification (PAS), which can be seen as stage one on the route towards a full British Standard. A PAS contains useful and practical information of the same high quality as would be expected in a full standard, but can be produced much more quickly and is thus better able to respond to fast evolving conditions.

PAS 2050 provides organisations with a detailed methodology for determining the carbon footprints of their products and, by doing so, it also lays the groundwork for consistency in these determinations.

This means that an organisation can compare its own measurements over a period of time to gauge the improvements that it has achieved. An important point is that PAS 2050 has no geographical constraints, so valid comparisons can be made along complex supply chains.

calculation related to three classes of product. These are a business-to-consumer product in the form of a croissant, a business-to-business product in the form of bulk flour, and a service in the form of hotel accommodation.

PAS 2050 itself and its accompanying guide can be downloaded free of charge from BSI’s website, which can be found at www.bsigroup.com/pas2050.

It’s worth mentioning that PASs are subject to regular review and revision, and PAS 2050 is currently in the final stages of this process, with the new version expected to be available in April 2011. The proposed changes are at the time of writing out for public comment and are, in most cases, clarifications to the existing version.

What is noteworthy, however, is the level of interest revealed by the PAS 2050 and Guidance downloads, as well as by the ongoing revision process. Since its publication in 2008, PAS 2050 has been downloaded more than 30,000 times from across over 80 counties.

Furthermore, following the mailing of a questionnaire to companies that had downloaded the original version at the beginning of the review process, more than 1,000 companies in over 90 countries responded with specific information. Both show very clearly that PAS 2050 is being received with great interest worldwide.

Gone are the days when organisations or individuals could be content to remain in ignorance of the environmental impact of their actions. Today, we all need to make sustained efforts to protect our fragile planet but, if our efforts are to be successful, we need the right tools for the job. PAS 2050, the world’s first standard for carbon footprint assessment, is one of those tools.

For further information please contact: Maria Varbeva-Daley at BSI on T: +44 (0)20 8996 7045

The methodology detailed in PAS 2050 is not inherently difficult to apply but it undoubtedly involves areas with which some users will have had no previous experience. As a further aid to its use, BSI has also produced a comprehensive Guide to PAS 2050, which provides clear explanations of all the requirements and processes included in the PAS itself, a step-by-step guide to their implementation and invaluable examples of carbon footprint ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE |57|

MCERTS 2011 has moved to the Telford International Centre and will take place on 30th and 31st March. The new location will accommodate growth in demand for the latest information on the regulations, techniques, standards and technologies that relate to emissions monitoring and gas detection. The event's visitors will be provided with help and advice across a broad range of subjects including the implications of the new Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) which was published in January.

The Environment Agency's monitoring certification scheme, MCERTS, is critical to the success of operator self-monitoring (OSM) and speakers from the EA will explain how OSM, OMA and MCERTS combine to improve the quality of emissions monitoring.

The latest in a series of events that began in 2003, MCERTS 2011 will follow the same format as previous occasions, including a major Conference, over 60 walkin/walk-out training Workshops on applications and methods, and an Exhibition featuring almost all of the world's leading suppliers of monitoring equipment and services.

Six workshop rooms are spread around the exhibition area offering a selection of over sixty subjects. It is not necessary to book places at the workshops; registered visitors will simply come and go as they please.

Conference The main conference at MCERTS 2011, which is organised by the Source Testing Association (STA) and the Environment Agency, will focus on forthcoming regulations including the new IED, Operator Monitoring Assessments (OMA) and the MCERTS monitoring certification scheme.

Recent advances in EN14181 (Quality Assurance of Automatic Measuring Systems) will be addressed including UKAS accreditation and functional test requirements from the perspective of the regulators.

The conference will also address the practical considerations of the application of EN15259 (Measurement of stationary source emissions Requirements for measurement sections and sites and for the measurement objective, plan and report) which has been one of the most influential standards to be published in this area. |58| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

The Conference presentations will be repeated on both days of the event, providing visitors with an opportunity to also attend workshops and visit the exhibition.

Workshops

The workshops will provide practical guidance on the measurement of almost all measurands of interest, including flow, particulates, odour, VOCs, mercury, dioxins and furans. A range of measurement technologies will be discussed and case studies will be provided to help visitors find new ways to address their monitoring needs.

The workshop titles cover specialist subjects such as: sampling techniques; CEMS maintenance and service; calibration; data logging; management software and reporting. In addition, the implications of relevant standards will be addressed including EN 14181, EN 15267 and EN 15259.

Exhibition Including around seventy of the sector's leading organisations, the exhibition will provide visitors with an opportunity to view and discuss those products and services that are of interest or that catch their attention during a workshop or whilst browsing the exhibition.

The MCERTS events are the most important in the calendar of anyone involved with gas or particulate

monitoring and many of the exhibitors will therefore utilise MCERTS 2011 to launch new products and services. These will include: the new Evolution series of ambient gas analysers from Casella; the new LANCOM 4 portable gas analyser from LAND Instruments; the WET STACK 181 measurement system and the new Bag Pulse Display Unit for particulate and filter leak monitors from PCME and amidst great anticipation, the new improved Horiba PG 250 SRM (Standard Reference Methods) portable multiparameter MCERTS and TÜV approved analyser (NOx, SO2, CO2, CO and O2) from Quantitech.

MCERTS 2011 will be a truly unique event, providing visitors with an opportunity to meet with the entire emissions monitoring industry in one place – including the EA, the Source Testing Association (STA), SIRA, NPL, UKAS, test houses, consultants, equipment manufacturers, service providers, researchers and industrial process operators.

Siemens Industry Automation and Drive Technologies (IA&DT) will exhibit at an MCERTS event for the first time.

The company's stand will focus on systems integration from ‘probe to report’ and integrated networking capability to operate with control systems and reporting packages.

Other new products to be unveiled at MCERTS 2011 include a new hydrogen fuel gas cylinder changeover system for CEMS installations and an innovative purge block system for use with HCl – both from CryoService.

"I think there are a number of reasons for this success.

Firstly, MCERTS has become an established red letter date in the diaries of everyone involved in air monitoring because it provides an opportunity to catch up on the latest regulatory information; secondly visitors are able to view all of the latest monitoring technologies; thirdly, process operators can network with people that are facing the same challenges in their working lives and finally, the more recent emphasis on operator selfmonitoring means that process operators have to have a greater understanding of the monitoring requirements.”

Ashtead Technology will launch a new range of commercial packages that have been created to both expand the availability of high-tech instruments and reduce costs. These new plans include the ‘Perpetual Rental Program’ and the ‘Rent To Own’ plan.

Entry to MCERTS 2011 will cost £55 for a one day pass or £100 for a two day pass. This will entitle visitors to attend the exhibition and all conference and workshop sessions.

Onsite parking is also included and free lunches and refreshments are provided.

The event will also feature a gala dinner during which Malcolm Lythgo, Head of Monitoring and Analytical Services at the Environment Agency, will present the latest MCERTS certificates to monitoring staff, laboratories and equipment manufacturers.

To register visit www.mcerts.uk.com

Looking forward to MCERTS 2011 organiser Dave Curtis from the STA says, "2011 promises to be another great event, building on the success of previous years.

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WATER Page 62 - 64 - Balancing Carbon and Ecology - Graham Pollard, Project Manager, Severn Trent Water Page 66 - 69 - Balancing the Ballast Water Challenge -Tom Vance & Tim Fileman, PML Applications Ltd

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Balancing Carbon and Ecology.

By Graham Pollard, Balancing Carbon and Ecology project manager, Severn Trent Water Over the past 20 years, effective regulation of sewage treatment has resulted in the rehabilitation of many Midlands rivers. Watercourses that were once so polluted that even sewage fungus which couldn’t survive in their waters now have substantial fish populations. However, “you get nought for nought”, and the cost of intensifying sewage treatment processes to meet water quality standards has been an increase in power usage, leading to higher carbon dioxide emissions to atmosphere and higher bills for consumers.

Faced with the threat of global warming, sewage companies and the regulator are working together to re-think the difficult balance between carbon emissions, river water quality and cost to consumers.

For many thousands of years, human by-products were dumped on to land or into our rivers, with no particular consideration of the consequences to the

Credit: © Environment Agency Caption: Sewage outfall at Minworth, Birmingham

environment. However, in the UK, increasing population, industrialisation and rapid increases in urbanisation meant that by the mid 1800s the problems created by un-treated waste could no longer be ignored. Filthy urban living conditions, which frequently saw sewage flowing down the street and through the living quarters of the poor, resulted in the spread of fatal diseases such as cholera and typhus - but it was the stink that finally prompted action to deal with the problem.

The Public Health Act of 1875 brought together legislation covering sewerage and drains, water supply, housing and disease. Amongst other measures, it placed an obligation on local authorities to cover sewers, keep them in good condition and supply fresh water to their citizens. They were given power to purchase their local water company, but the lack of standards in both charges and

Working in Partnership We’ve made significant progress in water quality over the last 20 years. The Environment Agency, working with partners, is committed to driving further improvements as part of the Water Framework Directive. Further improvements to water industry discharges will play a significant role in achieving this goal. We’re also keen to take account of other factors, such as climate change and ensure the way we regulate promotes innovation and partnership.

We want to better understand the wider environmental implications of improving water quality. We’ve been working in partnership with Severn Trent Water on our Balancing Carbon and Ecology programme.

The project has already identified opportunities to reduce carbon while improving water quality. Our valuable work with Severn Trent Water will feed into a wider national Environment Agency and water industry project with a broader focus. This includes looking at how controlling pollutants at source could reduce the energy and carbon emissions needed for sewage treatment.

We’re looking forward to continued partnership with Severn Trent Water and others to make a difference for people and the environment.

Mark Sitton-Kent Midlands Director, Environment Agency

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equipment (many companies still employed stone or even wooden pipes) continued to cause inefficiencies.

By the 1970’s there were 29 river authorities, 160 water supply undertakings and more than 1,300 sewage treatment authorities covering England and Wales, with serious under-investment in the distribution infrastructure. In an attempt to create economies of scale, the Water Act of 1973 brought together this plethora of water and sewerage undertakings into ten water authorities, each responsible for water supply, sewage treatment and river protection within its area, but these were still dependent on public funding and under-investment remained a problem. So in 1989 the ten water authorities were sold as Water Service Companies and passed into private ownership, bringing private sector investment (through loans and the issue of private shares) and private sector efficiency into the industry.

One of the Water Service Companies was Severn Trent, based in Birmingham and responsible for water management and supply, and waste water treatment and disposal, in the catchment areas of two of Britain's greatest rivers - the Severn and the Trent.

At the same time, the government created two regulatory bodies to ensure that the interests of the public were maintained: –

–

the Office of Water Services (OFWAT) had primary responsibility for setting limits on the prices charged for water and sewerage services, taking into account proposed capital investment schemes (such as building new wastewater treatment works) and expected operational efficiency gains, and; the National Rivers Authority (NRA) had responsibility for managing water resources, investigating and regulating pollution, flood controls and land drainage. In 1996 its responsibilities were passed to the Environment Agency.

The Environment Agency was created to implement the Environment Act 1995, with a brief “to protect or enhance the environment, taken as a whole", so as to promote "the objective of achieving sustainable development". The vision of the Environment Agency is of "a rich, healthy and diverse environment for present and future generations".

“This is a great initiative which was born out of our desire for continuous improvement in the way Severn Trent works and to ensure we meet future challenges using sustainable approaches.

One of the key future challenges we face is meeting the requirements of the Water Framework Directive – effectively treating wastewater before returning it to our region’s rivers - at the least possible cost to our customers and the wider environment. Taking innovative, flexible approaches which allow us to minimise our carbon impact is key to this.

It’s a challenge the Environment Agency shares and working with our regulator towards this common goal is vital to success. What has emerged from our Balancing Carbon and Ecology project is a great example of true partnership working: aligning our interests whilst respecting the distinct duties and responsibilities of each organisation.”

“It is showing us that all of us with a stake in the water industry can work together to deliver the best possible outcomes for our customers, investors and the environment” Tony Wray, CEO, Severn Trent Water

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Balancing the Ballast Water Challenge

By Tom Vance & Tim Fileman PML Applications Ltd

Eiocheir sinensis (Mitten Crab) - These crabs are known for burrowing into river banks and dykes causing erosion and siltation. They also prey on native fish and invertebrate species, causing local extinctions. Credit: Shaoweiwei/Dreamstime

Ballast water is carried to help maintain stability and is discharged from ships during on-loading of cargo.

The biological organisms that live in ballast water are causing headaches in the world of shipping because of regulations controlling their concentration. There is little doubt that ballast water has the potential to cause widespread environmental and economic damage as a result of the introduction of the invasive species that reside in it. What is less clear is the most effective route to practically reduce the invasion threat while being fair to all sectors of the shipping industry.

One example of marine invasive species is the accidental introduction of the North American Comb Jelly (Mnemiopsis leidyi) to Eastern Europe. This species, native to the Eastern Seaboard of the Americas, was introduced to the Black, Azov and Caspian Seas via ballast water discharges from ships. Comb Jellies are thought to have contributed significantly to the collapse The North American Comb Jelly (Mnemiopsis leidyi) which was introduced to the Black, Azov and Caspian Seas as a result of ballast water discharges from commercial ships. It feeds excessively on zooplankton causing massive economic and social damage through the collapse of fisheries. Credit: Wollworth/Dreamstime

of the Black and Asov Sea fisheries in the 1990s, with massive economic and social impacts; they now threaten similar impacts in the Caspian Sea. Making ballast water safe is not only an environmental aspiration, but, once ratified, the IMO Ballast Water Convention will require ship owners to comply with legislation. The Convention introduces different standards, D-1 and D-2, in a sequential implementation: • The D-1 Ballast Water Exchange Standard - requires ships to exchange a minimum of 95% ballast water volume; • The D-2 Ballast Water Performance Standard - requires that the discharged ballast waters have organism concentrations below specified limits.

These are <10 viable organisms of >50 micrometres in minimum dimension per m3, and <10 viable organisms of <50 micrometres in maximum dimension and >10 micrometers in minimum dimension per millilitre. Dicator microbe concentrations shall not exceed: i. Toxicogenic vibrio cholerae one colony forming unit (CFU) per 100 millilitre or one CFU per gram of zooplankton samples; ii. Escherichia coli 250 CFU per 100 millilitres; iii. Intestinal Enterococci 100 CFU per 100 millilitres.

Eventually all ships will be required to meet the D-2 Standard.

On board treatment One obvious method to make ballast water safe is to use a purpose designed Ballast Water Treatment System (BWTS). These on-board systems treat ballast water using a variety of mechanisms such as filtration, chlorination, UV, cavitation, hypoxia and hypercapnia to reduce the levels of marine life (zooplankton,

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phytoplankton and bacteria) to below the IMO ballast water discharge limits, outlined in the conventionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s D2 standard.

At first glance, the use of a BWTS on-board a ship is a straightforward route for ship owners to take which enables them to meet pending legislation and ensure environmental damage resulting from shipping is reduced. However, there are many sides to the BWTS story, and ballast water treatment is fast becoming a hotly debated topic in the global shipping industry. PML Applications Ltd (trading subsidiary of Plymouth Marine Laboratory) has worked with BWTS manufacturers and this combined with attendance at recent ballast water industry meetings and workshops has given us a unique, independent and impartial snapshot of some of the concerns from different sections of the industry.

The Ship Owner The ship owner is the unwitting headline act in the ballast water treatment saga. They will soon be under a legal obligation to meet the IMO legislation. This obligation comes with a considerable price tag, as the estimated costs of equipping a VLCC with an effective type approved BWTS can run to several million pounds for no net gain in ship performance. In fact, a retro-fitted BWTS will require considerable additional power, space, and installation time, all of which are in short supply on most ships and will eat into operational costs and hence profit margins.

The ship owner is also a target for the BWTS manufacturer and distributors. With an estimated potential market in BWTS in the region of 36 billion pounds, competition is fierce, and sales pitches are imaginative and abundant.

Escherichia coli (E.coli) - A microbial disease causing bacteria known for its ability to survive in ballast water. Credit: Eraxion/Dreamstime

Choosing a BWTS, that will meet the regulations, is theoretically made less risky as a result of the IMO type approval system. Type Approval involves independent testing of a BWTS system at a licensed validation centre under a variety of environmental conditions. Type Approval, which will be a legal requirement, should ensure that an approved system is fit for purpose.

However, this process has already been questioned after an approved system failed during operation in extreme environmental conditions. It also fails to provide reassurance that the BWTS will continue to meet IMO ballast water discharge standards after prolonged operation in service.

It seems that, in general, ship and fleet owners are keen to reduce the environmental impacts of shipping as part of their corporate and social responsibility activities. The potential environmental threat of ballast water discharge is also generally accepted. It is difficult to ignore this issue given the vast volumes of water discharged globally (approximately 3-5 billion tones per year) and the spread and speed at which shipping routes routinely cover the global ocean waters.

Ship owners will need to make an informed decision about which BWTS to invest in. However, the information required to make such a decision is currently only available from the manufactures themselves, who can be reasonably accused of having a vested interest. or through the issue of a type approval certificate which, for some systems, has been subject to scepticism. All of this leaves the ship owner in an unenviable position of being forced through regulation to make a large investment in essentially unwanted technology, without the independent and impartial advice required to make an informed decision.

The Device Developer It is easy to have little concern for BWTS developers, as they compete in the race towards a slice of what is potentially a huge pie. However, it seems from our research that there is a danger that an un-equal playing field developing.

It has been argued that BWTS developers that pushed their technology to market early, before the type approval process has been fully debated in the community, may have an unfair advantage. Their technology, it seems, may not meet the requirements of all flag states.

There is some debate in the ballast water community about what data is required to prove the environmental safety of

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some types of systems. However, this could be gently disregarded as one of the many advantages of horizon scanning and early anticipation of market requirements.

The device developer is also fighting to bring technology to market through a series of regulatory steps which vary in duration depending on the mechanisms the different technologies use to kill marine life. The consequences to the BWTS developer of whether a BWTS is classed as using active substances (G9) or not (G8) is crucial as the use of active substances require additional steps of testing before the system can be validated. Any delays in the route to market are vital as it is widely recognised that the timing of the BWM convention means that by far the greatest sales opportunity for BWTS will be in the next two years.

It seems that some BWTS developers will become victims of a young industry that is still finding its feet in terms of robust and fair pre-market safety checks. These, if properly implemented, are considered a valuable step to ensure that these new technologies are not detrimental to the very environment the systems are designed to protect. Contrastingly, those developers that make it through the pre-market evaluation and are positioned with validated systems capable of serving the VLCC market are set for substantial rewards as there are very few systems that will suit this niche.

Conclusion Ballast water management of some kind is a requirement if the threat from marine invasive species altering the ecological status of the environment is to be reduced.

BWTS provide one solution to this problem, although in a new and emerging industry, lessons are still being learned which are affecting diverse sections of the shipping industry.

It is clear that as in any situation, clear and impartial information on technology performance makes for informed decisions and reduces financial risk. It is also clear that in order for the environment to benefit in full effect from the Ballast Water Convention, rapid technology development is required to ensure that the convention can be effectively policed and enforced.

It is hoped that as the industry matures, steps can be taken to make life easier for the many faces involved in ballast water treatment, which will ultimately ensure that we all use and enjoy healthy seas.

Typical scenario of thousands of tonnes of ballast water being discharged from a bulk carrier during loading of cargo. Credit:Bjeayes/Dreamstime

The Regulator Regulation of the Ballast Water Convention falls to the Port State Authorities of each nation which is the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) in the case of the U.K. This makes sense in that the convention serves to protect the home waters of the Port State. The regulator’s problems centre on the lack of practical methods and tools with which to enforce the Convention.

There are considerable challenges associated with sampling ballast water tanks in a fashion that ensures that a valid sample is taken for analysis that actually represents the tank as whole. The regulator’s problems don’t stop there. Actually detecting the low numbers of bacteria required by the ballast water convention regulation is also not trivial, and currently there are no in-situ tests that analyse all the fractions of marine life that are regulated by the Ballast Water Convention.

There are, however, complex and time-consuming analyses that suit the regulations but which require specialised laboratories.

It is probably fair to say that efficiently enforcing the Ballast Water Convention in an accurate and replicable way is currently not possible, making the regulator’s job very difficult. To protect the marine environment, the Ballast Water Convention policing technology needs to keep pace with this rapidly moving industry to ensure that compliance is upheld and that the BWTS, that ship owners have invested in, are operated correctly.

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LAND MANAGEMENT Page 72 - 76 -

Page 78 - 79 -

Stabilisation and Solidification of Contaminated Soil and Waste Part 1: Introduction to S/S Technology - Dr Colin Hills, Director, Centre for Contaminated Land Remediation, University of Greenwich Permit to Innovate Granted: -Andrew Barton,Business Development Manager, QDS Environmental Limited

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Stabilisation and Solidification of Contaminated Soil and Waste Part 1: Introduction to S/S Technology

By Dr Colin Hills, Director, Centre for Contaminated Land Remediation, University of Greenwich

consider long-term performance of stabilised/solidified waste forms.

This first article, investigates the background behind s/s technology and its current status, and draws on two key events by way of reference –the Sydney Tar Ponds remedial operation in Canada in 2010 and the publication of Environment Agency Guidance in 2004.

Introduction The use of cement as a means of turning soil and waste into ‘rock’ is not new, but what has changed in recent years is that the technology can be used within a riskbased framework. Contaminated material can be diverted from landfill, negating the need to import clean soil or geotechnical fill. The risks of using the soils at site can be demonstrably managed, at relatively low cost, and using commonly available binders (4).

Figure 2: In-situ-bucket mixing of cement-slag mix into tarcontaminated soils at the Sydney Tar Ponds

The remediation of the Sydney Tar Ponds in Nova Scotia has been a hugely political and controversial project which has taken years to agree and implement. Before s/s was approved, a comprehensive consultation process involved both Federal and Provincial authorities and the First Nation. New legislation was required and the Sydney Tar Ponds Agency (1) was formed to manage the remedial operation costing $400M. In 2010, remediation work commenced with cement being applied to stabilise and solidify the Tar Ponds in Nova Scotia, to manage the risks associated with residues resulting from nearly a century of steel production.

Sydney Steel was used for the construction of liberty ships, railways and much besides, and its contaminated legacy includes 700,000 tonnes of contaminated sediments found in tar ponds adjacent to Muggan Creek and Sydney Harbour (2).

By 2014 the Sydney Tar Ponds project will have been completed and the contaminated materials will have been solidified with a mixture of Portland cement and steel slag, creating new land for recreational and light industrial use (3). Sydney will be transformed and revitalised.

Scope In this occasional series of articles, Dr Colin Hills, Director of the Centre for Contaminated Land Remediation at the University of Greenwich, will introduce stabilisation/solidification (s/s) as a risk management strategy. He will explore the binder materials that can be used to treat inorganic and organic contaminants and |72| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

It can be argued that s/s technology extends back some 50 years, having been developed for nuclear waste treatment. Its first application in the UK was in the 1970’s at bespoke facilities treating mixed metal/organic waste streams. However, in the 1980’s a bund collapse at a treatment plant in the English Midlands released inadequately solidified materials. The failure of treated waste to harden was attributed to inadequate process control (particularly in the later years of the plant’s operation) and this emphasised the lack of guidance (at that time) on, for example: waste characterisation, bench and field scale, and compliance and batch testing of new waste streams. The result was that cement-based s/s lost credibility in the UK, and this put back its use by many years. Not so in North America however, where during the 1980’s and 1990’s, approximately 25% of US Superfund remedial actions utilised cement-based s/s.

Today s/s remains a Best Available Technology of choice in North America, as illustrated by its recent adoption in Sydney.

In 2004 the Environment Agency published guidance on s/s for treating contaminated soil (5). This was a significant moment for s/s technology in England and Wales as the guidance is built around a risk-based framework and was accompanied by a comprehensive (300-page) science review (6). This enabled decisionmaking that was directly underpinned by the science base. Consequently, from 2004 the use of s/s increased in the UK, albeit partially encouraged by the rising landfill tax escalator. There are now a considerable number of sites treated by s/s in the UK. Technology basis Stabilisation/solidification technology utilises separate but complementary processes that can be used for both the in-situ or ex-situ treatment of contaminated soils and industrial waste streams. Both processes rely on the reaction between a binder and the soil (or waste) to reduce the mobility of contaminants:

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Stabilisation involves the addition of reagents to a contaminated material (e.g. soil or sludge) to produce more chemically stable constituents; and Solidification involves the addition of reagents to a contaminated material to impart physical/dimensional stability to contain contaminants in a solid product and reduce access by external agents (e.g. air, rainfall).

Available Binders and Products A range of binder systems are available that include cement, lime and a variety of mineral additives. Binders may both solidify and stabilise, depending upon their selection. Cement or lime-based binders are popular and utilise hydraulic reactions to immobilise contaminants.

These binders typically result in a treated material that has a pH in the range 10-12 units, causing many metallic pollutants to precipitate as insoluble salts. Cementsolidified waste forms can be engineered to have low permeability (typically 10-6 m/s to 10-9 m/s) and the strength of weak rock (7).

The main hydration product from the use of cement is calcium silicate hydrate gel (known as C-S-H). This phase binds a waste form into a solidified monolithic mass or a granular material with a soil-like consistency, depending on design objectives. The C-S-H gel has a significant sorptivity for many inorganic and organic pollutants and can ‘lock’ contaminants into its chemical structure. It is also primarily responsible for modifying the s/s products’ pore structure, resulting in reduced porosity and permeability, and the immobilisation of contaminants, breaking the source-pathway-receptor linkage.

long-term monitoring requirements.

Following the effective design and implementation of s/s, the pollutant linkage is broken. However, the release of contaminants will eventually occur over extended timescales and the durability of a risk management strategy that includes s/s will need to be effectively demonstrated. Key issues that may need to be addressed include the structural integrity of the treated material, the buffering capacity of the system against ingress of acidic groundwater, and the rate and time scale of contaminant release.

The efficacy of s/s The effectiveness of s/s to manage risk is critical and will be dependent upon a good knowledge base. EA Guidance recognises this and requires that expert knowledge is used and that the materials to be treated are fully characterised. Nevertheless, key factors for consideration include: • Selection of the most appropriate binder formulation.

• Effective contact between the contaminants and

binder reagents (i.e. thorough mixing, using plant that is fit for purpose).

• A high degree of chemical and physical consistency of the feedstock.

• Control over external factors such as temperature, humidity, which may affect setting, strength development and the durability of the product.

• The absence (or control) of substances that inhibit s/s processes and can affect the product properties.

• Good engineering design of the site as a whole,

including the boundaries of the treated material.

Determining the viability of s/s Although contaminants are not removed or destroyed by s/s, the technology can have a number of advantages over alternative risk management options, including: • S/s can be used to meet the requirements of the

Landfill Directive • Treatment can be completed in a relatively short time period • Diverse and recalcitrant contaminants, such as heavy metals and dioxins can be treated • S/s can be performed in-situ or ex-situ and occupy a relatively small footprint on-site • Different mix designs can be used across a

site to target material or contaminant type(s) and concentration(s) • The geotechnical properties of a soil may be

significantly enhanced enabling re-use as an engineering material

A key inclusion in the EA Guidance is the use of treatability trials in the field to demonstrate the effectiveness of the remedial design chosen.

The eventual cost of remediation will be strongly influenced by the choice of binder materials, the throughput of treated materials, the nature and concentration of contaminants and the physical properties of the material to be treated. Other costs that may apply include the maintenance of measures to protect the treated material, such as capping and (any)

Treatment of Waste There are two routes for the treatment of waste streams by s/s, either as part of the waste-generating process, dealing with a specific waste stream, such as ash generated by incineration plants; or through a centralised facility, such as the former processing plant at Thurrock, Essex (10). At Villeparisis, near Paris, approximately 1M

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As previously mentioned, the use of s/s has been far greater in the USA, where the technology is considered an effective remedial treatment for contaminated land and wastes and is recommended by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) as a best demonstrated available technology (BDAT). A large amount of work on the application of s/s to contaminated soil has been undertaken by the USEPA and binders used in Superfund projects include cement, phosphate, lime, proprietary additives, polymers, iron salts, silicates and clays (8).

A number of large sites in Europe have employed s/s as a remedial option, including treatment of oil sludge pits in Brest, France, and a number of tar pits in Belgium (9).

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tonnes of hazardous ash, has been treated at a dedicated plant. Figure 1 shows the monolith being formed at the site of a former gypsum mine (note the truck which can be used for scale).

Although disposal is normally to landfill, s/s treated wastes may be suitable for re-use. Applications could include general fill or road capping. An example of this is the treatment of contaminated dredgings by s/s where large volumes of material were treated and used as fill during construction of the Jersey Gardens Mall, near New York (11).

The main issues to consider relating to the viable application of s/s to waste, involves, Landfill Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC), the suitability for treatment by s/s and whether the treated product can meet end of waste criteria, designed on a risk acceptance basis.

There are a large number of proprietary s/s waste treatment processes currently available, which have been patented in the USA and elsewhere. Most involve combinations of cement, lime and pozzolanic bindermaterials, with the remainder utilising organic or silicate polymers. However, it should be noted that many s/s processes are ‘blackbox’ solutions because the formulations remain unclear or unknown.

Summary Stabilisation/solidification has been widely used around the world, particularly in the United States, as a risk management process for contaminated soils and wastes.

In comparison with a much slower uptake in the UK, this acceptance of the technology has been largely driven Figure 1: 1M tonne monolith of treated hazardous waste near Paris, France

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by Environment Agency Guidance and the increasing cost of landfill as a disposal option. As such, s/s is now being routinely used to manage the risks associated with contaminated land and to enable former brownfield sites to be regenerated. To the author’s knowledge, the remedial operation at Sydney, Nova Scotia, is the largest currently being undertaken in the world and will result in long-term benefits to the community extending from risk reduction and economic regeneration.

References 1 Sydney Tar Ponds Agency (2011). http://www.www.tarpondscleanup.ca. Accessed 24.03.2011.

2 Public Works and Government Services Canada (2005). Remediation Of Sydney Tar Ponds and Coke Ovens Sites Draft Scoping Document. http://www. pwgsc.gc.ca.

3 Treasury Board of Canadian Secretariat (2011).

Sydney Tar Ponds. http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/fcer- cfre/rfc-cfr/studies-etudes/stp-mgs-eng.asp.

Accessed 24.03.2011.

4 Batchelor, B. (2006). Overview of waste stabilization with cement. Waste Management, 26, 7, 689-698.

5 UK Environment Agency. (2004). Guidance on the use of Stabilisation/Solidification for the Treatment of Contaminated Soil. Science Report SC980003/SR2. http:// publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/ pdf/ SCHO0904BIFO-e-e.pdf. Accessed 24.03.2011.

6 UK Environment Agency. (2004). Review of Scientific Literature on the use of Stabilisation/ solidification for the Treatment of contaminated soil, solid waste and sludges. Science Report SC980003/ SR2.http://publications.environment-agency.gov. uk/pdf/SCHO0904BIFP-e-e.pdf?lang=_e/pdf.

Accessed 24.03.11 7 Antemir, A., Hills, C.D., Carey, P.J., Gardner, K.H., Bates, E.R. & Crumbie, A.K. (2010).

Long-term performance of aged waste forms treated by stabilization/ solidification. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 181, 15, 65-73.

8 US Environmental Protection Agency Superfund. http://www.epa.gov/superfund. Accessed 24.03.2011.

9 Pensaert, S., De Puydt, S. and Janssens, T. Remediation of the acid tar lagoons in the port of Ghent.2010 International Solidification/Stabilisation Technology Forum. Editors Craig B. Lake and Colin D. Hills. Dalhousie University. ISBN 978-7703-0026-5 10 Conner, J.R. (1990). Chemical Fixation and Solidification of Hazardous Wastes. Van Nostrand Reinhold. New York ISBN 0-442-20511-2 11 Centre for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation. (2003). Dredge Material Evaluation and Utilization Plan for New Jersey: Final Report. http:// cait.rutgers.edu/files/SROA-RU3971_0.pdf.

Accessed 24.03.2011.

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Permit to Innovate Granted: Remediation contractors unite to meet increasingly stringent sewer discharge consents

Andrew Barton Business Development Manager, QDS Environmental Limited Industry-leading experts at QDS have recently installed a temporary wastewater treatment scheme at a remediation site in North West England, which, they believe, signals the dawning of an era which will demand a more innovative approach to how more challenging sewer discharge targets are addressed on future sites.

My colleagues have seen a steady stepwise evolution in wastewater treatment specifications over the last decade.

However, a flurry of recent enquiries have highlighted to us that the increasing regulatory demands are certainly testing the creativity of the principal contractors to deal with nonroutine substances or increasingly challenging discharge consent limits for waters they encounter during their site activities. It is not just the treatment technologies we have installed on this particular site that are more sophisticated but, going forward, the whole approach to how wastewater treatment is managed and planned needs an overhaul if stakeholders are to retain confidence when planning and budgeting future remediation projects. The flexibility and sophistication within our designs are now catching up with what is de rigour in permanent water treatment industry.

The days of standard spec water treatment are over.

Traditional requirements for water treatment plant Photo: Installed wastewater treatment equipment (adjacent to principal water storage area, far right almost out of shot)

operations at former industrial sites across England and Wales comprised little more than standard components to permit sediment settlement prior to oil-water separation, removal of suspended solids via filtration and a method to facilitate removal of dissolved and immiscible hydrocarbons and other volatile organic compounds from wastewater generated during remediation activities. This made for standardised specifications, from which water treatment service suppliers and principal contractors alike could budget and programme project schedules accurately with confidence. So, the key variable of concern was that the treatment plant components should be capable of treating contaminated water at rates, typically between 2 l/s and 10 l/s, which ensures the programme was adhered to.

The necessary equipment was supplied and, due to its relative simplicity and the principal contractor’s familiarity with it, was operated with adequate safety and proficiency by them, with the supplier input limited to maintenance of plant as and when requested. Operation was straightforward.

Without permission of the appropriate UK Sewerage Undertaker (a limited company appointed by the Secretary of State to provide, maintain and improve systems of sewers and sewerage treatment works) the discharge of wastewater would not be lawful under the provisions of the Water Industry Act 1991. With the improvement of environmental competence within the remediation fraternity, and with more environmental management systems becoming aligned with requirements of internationally recognised standards, such as ISO 14001, an increasing number of applications for temporary permits are being made to the UK Sewerage Undertakers.

The sewerage undertaker stipulates the conditions within a permit and they can be more stringent for temporary discharges of wastewater, as opposed to trade effluent entering the sewerage system under a trade effluent consent to discharge, because of the additional capacity burden it may place on particular sewers and wastewater treatment works and the increased environmental risk it may place on local sensitive water courses.

Paul Tipper (Trade Effluent and Waste Regulation Manager – United Utilities) explained, “Limits in the permit are set to protect the health and safety of the general public and the sewerage undertaker’s staff. Also, they protect the fabric of the assets, manage the risk of flooding and protect the receiving environment.”

An important point of law to note is that The Competition Act 1998 prohibits the sewerage undertaker from recommending how the applicant could eliminate or limit the levels of contaminants prior to discharge. So, the situation equates to a significant challenge and responsibility facing the permit holder, which in this case is the principal contractor, to be ready to address an ever growing list of potential contaminants of concern.

The Water Industry Act 1991 specifies the need to control petroleum spirit or calcium carbide and The Trade Effluents (Prescribed Processes and Substances) Regulations 1989, alone, specifies 24 dangerous

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substances and chemical groups that must be controlled in discharges to public sewers.

Paul Tipper added, “These Prescribed Processes and Substances Regulations do not allow the sewerage undertaker alone to set limits and the Environment Agency have to be consulted too. If these substances are present, issuing the permit may be delayed due to the additional consultation required. Gaining a temporary permit can take time as the risks need to be carefully assessed, so engaging with the sewerage undertaker at an early stage, like BAM Nuttall did, will prevent unnecessary delays or pressures to the project schedule.”

In a proactive demonstration of their environmental responsibility, BAM Nuttall, the principal contractor for the site QDS are currently operating on, undertake monitoring of wastewaters derived from their remediation activities across their sites prior to discharging them to sewer.

On the current site, BAM Nuttall had made adequate capacity available in an existing gasholder base to store site wastewater should elevated concentrations of certain substances be encountered in water arisings that cannot adequately be addressed by the standard water treatment plant. This allowed other site activities to continue undisturbed whilst allowing feasible options to be sought to clean up the waters. This approach was applauded by United Utilities, the sewerage undertaker managing BAM Nuttall’s permit.

BAM Nuttall along with experienced environmental consultants Entec, turned towards specialist service provider QDS, who have a proven track record of designing award winning groundwater treatment schemes, to propose a solution. The project clock was ticking so both cost and timeframe were key factors under scrutiny.

Not being beholden to any particular remediation technology has given QDS the flexibility to successfully address a broad range of complex contaminated water scenarios.

Remediation designs are tailored to individual sites and are based on client requirements, remediation targets and the performance criteria of the proposed technology. Traditional techniques along with innovative water treatment solutions, which have been pioneered and driven from the laboratory bench to full scale application by QDS, are considered and often combined to address a problem. Drawing on this inhouse technical and engineering expertise, headed by Dr Joe Teer (Operations Director), QDS set about finding the most appropriate solution for this particular situation. In addition, it was recognised that this was an opportunity to examine how wastewater treatment systems are designed to give fit for purpose confidence to the permit holder and at the same time as to not be so elaborate that they weren’t financially viable.

in-house laboratory to clarify the details of the proposed treatment train. Not only did we focus on achieving the correct stoichiometry for any chemical reactions taking place but we also had to make sure that non-target substances did not compete with key contaminants during treatment.”

QDS believe that you can’t plan for a standardised system because of the ever expanding list of substances of concern.

QDS envisage having a short series of regenerative reactive exchange pods to tackle families of inorganic and organic contaminants. The onus will also be on the operator to manage the units to deal with spikes of irregular or rogue substances and high concentrations from waters derived from different activities on site, and to keep a balance between cost and environmental effectiveness.

BAM Nuttall confirmed, “The proposal submitted by QDS was sympathetic to both budget and programme, whilst satisfying all the demands of the permit. A collective volume of 1,000 m3 will take 10 working days of operation to treat, which fits well with the time we have left on site and doesn’t slow us down elsewhere on site. The alternative option of removing the wastewater, untreated, by tankers doesn’t fit with our environmental commitments. In future, a more prudent approach will be to look for their support during the planning stages of remediation projects.”

As the imposing of ever more stringent criteria impact more directly on site activities, causing problems with deliverability, there is a genuine need for contractors to engage with water treatment specialists, such as QDS, and develop a team to address the effects of the ever imposing regulations. Dewatered arisings being discharged to sewer will continue to be commonplace at many remediation sites. However, should too much reliance be put upon traditional systems when faced with challenging discharge permit criteria, tight schedules and financial plans could be severely jeopardised.

As principal contractors, such as BAM Nuttall, and specialists, such as QDS, look to maintain high environmental standards, they realise that the status quo with respect to wastewater treatment on remediation sites is no longer adequate to meet the demands of the increasingly stringent requirements. To keep pace with ever changing regulations, a fresh flexible innovative approach is needed.

Photo: During wastewater treatment activities. Water volume has clearly decreased.

Dr Teer remarked, “We were confident that, in this particular case, our approach of combining photocatalytic oxidation and ion exchange steps with some of the original wastewater equipment would give the necessary outcome. Our confidence was based on the work done prior to mobilisation to site.

Soon after the enquiry came to us we recovered site water samples and undertook trials in the QDS ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE |79|

WASTE MANAGEMENT Page 81 - 82 - A New Perspective On Asbestos -Phil Hellier, Project Director, CHEMTEST. Page 83 - 85 - UK Waste Management in a Global Recession - David Savory, Director, Environmental & External Affairs, Biffa Page 86 - 87 - How Do We Optimise Resource Use? - Angus Macpherson, Managing Director of The Environment Exchange

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As a result of an instruction from UKAS published last April as UKASATB001 the testing of soils for asbestos has become the most regulated testing that laboratories provide to the contaminated land sector. All asbestos reports must be accredited and laboratories have invested significantly in training and the validation of soil methods.

Any other analysis originally scheduled continues, where possible, on an as received (wet) sample basis. Please note that a sample as received may be reported as Not Suitable for some tests, while for other tests proceeding on an as received basis may be beyond the scope of the appropriate accreditation and results will therefore appear on the report as non-accredited.

A number of techniques are employed to generate both qualitative and quantitative data for reporting which have with them associated terminology, references and abbreviations that need to be appreciated. Of note is that although quantification of asbestos in Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM) is no longer permissible, in soils it is required for hazardous waste on human health risk assessment. As with many procedures the terms used may be laboratory or client specific so an overview is presented here.

This method may also be employed when a soil asbestos screen is scheduled and then the whole sample is examined and not just the material that is trayed out for drying. When this data is reported the test must be accredited.

ASBESTOS CONTAINING MATERIALS SCREEN IN SOILS Sample Preparation Technicians are trained to be vigilant for the presence of Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM), e.g. Asbestos Insulation Board (AIB) or other asbestos containing construction materials, in all soil samples arriving at the laboratory. This is in order to prevent fibre release from asbestos in samples being dried and ground in preparation for other tests.

If suspected ACM is found at this stage, or where a clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s initial study indicated the possibility of ACM on a site and asbestos screening was requested, visual assessment of the entire sample is conducted by a trained Technician using the soil screen for ACM method.

Any probable ACM is removed from the sample for further investigation and the client is contacted with the following options as to how to proceed with their sample/s: 1. Leave the report showing the initial findings 2. Report ACM as Suspected or Not Found 3. Report Suspected or Not Found and conduct a bulk asbestos identification on the suspected ACM

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ASBESTOS FIBRE IN SOILS This method isolates and identifies asbestos fibres in the soil matrix, rather than distinct pieces of ACM. A representative sub-sample is obtained from a soil sample which must be between 200g and 1kg, by coning and quartering. Any fibres found are removed and mounted for Polarised Light Microscopy (PLM) according to the guidance in HSG248 Asbestos: The analysts guide for sampling, analysis and clearance procedures, HSE, 2005.

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However if a laboratory is accredited for ACM or fibre quantification they can assign a limit of detection or quantification to the previous procedures if no material or fibres were detected.

ASBESTOS IDENTIFICATION IN BULK SAMPLES The suspected bulk ACM is examined under a stereomicroscope, in a dust control cabinet, by a qualified Asbestos Analyst. Any fibres found are removed and mounted for Polarised Light Microscopy (PLM) according to the guidance in HSG248 Asbestos: The analysts guide for sampling, analysis and clearance procedures, HSE, 2005.

Asbestos is reported as Not Detected, Trace (if only one or two fibres are found) or Detected and the asbestos type/s present are reported in a format complying with the HSE guidance.

SEMI- QUANTITATIVE % OF ACM IN SOIL This method allows for the percentage on a dry weight basis of the amount of asbestos in ACM recovered from a soil sample to be reported after identification for assessment against regulations for the disposal of hazardous/special wastes.

The method has a limit of detection of <0.1% for sample weights of typically between 200g and 1kg, and samples will be reported as either <0.1% (ie not detected) or >0.1%. It is now however becoming a requirement that if no ACM is found a fibre screen must be undertaken to ensure that the trigger level of 0.1% is not exceeded by gross fibre contamination.

FIBRE QUANTIFICATION If quantification of asbestos fibres in the soil is required this is currently only available at a few laboratories. This method is often referenced as HSE REPORT No. 83/1996 Method 5. If a screened sample contains fibres a sub-sample is suspended in water and aliquots are removed and filtered. the filter is examined under phase contrast microscope and the fibres are counted and sized. The mass is estimated based upon the density of the material.

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The limit of quantification is typically 0.001% with reported limit of detections of 0.0001% With an appreciation of the services available pricing work and scheduling testing should be quite straightforward. However the possibility of tiered options with dependent options do not necessarily assist in this.

Expectations vary enormously, many projects are priced on rates and there is no regulated guidance on soil guideline values that would define the tests in a way that could be universally accepted. As an industry it must be acknowledged that the level of skill and time required in looking for lumps of ACM, compared to quantifying fibres to <0.001%, is significant and this impacts upon cost and turnaround.

Going forward consistent specifications of the testing requirements will enable laboratories to plan and develop the services required. However that will not tackle the old nut of what is the risk and how do you sample for it?

A number of groups are currently working to assign soil guidance values and good working practice for soils containing asbestos. However it should be recognised that there is already a range of expectations and published information. Therefore any further recommendations should add clarity so as to ensure that all involved will have risk derived limits and robust accredited data with which to make decisions.

UK waste management in a global recession

By David Savory, Director, Environmental & External Affairs , Biffa

The past few weeks have demonstrated the economic uncertainty that world events can create. The twin natural disasters on the east coast of Japan caused an involuntary reflex in the economies of the West, but the events unfolding in the African sub-continent, with long-suppressed people now clamouring justifiably for democracy and regime change, is having a more sustained impact, particularly on the cost of energy.

Under normal circumstances these events would have been critical but, hot on the heels of the deepest recession in living memory, they create an environment full of challenges, to put it mildly!

On 22nd March 2011, the Chancellor announced the 2011 Budget against a backdrop of world events almost too complex to comprehend and an all too painful budget deficit. Even with this backdrop there is a strong case for the creation of growth and employment via the environmental sector. Whilst there are some encouraging signs, it is too early to tell if this yet adds up to a “green technology revolution” that will enable the UK to fully capitalise on the opportunities appearing.

Unsurprisingly the key, most important and successful driver of Government waste policy, Landfill Tax, will continue to escalate at £8.00 per annum, having reached £56 per tonne by the time this editorial is published.

Landfill tax was designed to create a tipping point but in reality it has created several, and not all were predictable. Making recycling cheaper than disposal is perhaps the more obvious outcome; albeit this change is today more to do with commodity prices acting to “pull” raw material back into the chain of utility. The challenge is demand driven price volatility which, in global markets currently in recession, can lead to a great deal of pain.

The new “must have” of an increasing number of corporate organisations, driven by strong CSR agendas and the negative connotations of landfill, is “zero waste”, which most translate to “zero waste to landfill”. Many have either reached this goal or are tantalisingly close but delivery is increasingly via export markets rather than local solutions. There have been increases in UK waste treatment capacity – material recycling, anaerobic digestion, and other energy from waste processes but it is a truism that the process to deliver more of this infrastructure is too often fraught with difficulty.

Others writing in this space have commented on the all too obvious potential conflicts between localism and nimbyism, and Government policy and political campaigning. It remains the case that “there are no votes in waste” (also true of nuclear power, motorways, wind farms, HS2, airport extensions etc - so don’t get too depressed!) but a given that we still need to build more waste recycling and recovery infrastructure to replace landfill.

The Coalition Government has acknowledged that there is a process problem and has outlined a new approach to land-use planning. This includes a presumption in ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE |83|

favour of sustainable development, streamlined planning applications and determinations including a 12 month guarantee (including appeals), and processing major applications through a major infrastructure planning system. Potential conflicts with localism remain a concern however, and the interface with environmental permits needs to be simplified and made consistent but, whilst the “devil is in the detail”, this represents a potentially very positive direction of travel. What will be fundamental to finally unravelling this Gordian Knot, however, is the proportion of waste infrastructure developments that will fail to be determined as “major infrastructure”. Under the previous administration’s approach we estimated that over 90% of all developments would remain within the current planning system, with a small number of energy from waste and hazardous waste facilities (the latter being particularly poorly scoped) being determined by the late Infrastructure Planning Commission. A repeat of these categories would not address the “process problem” in this sector.

Another consequence of the shortage of recovery capacity in the UK, worsened by the earlier unsurprising withdrawal of PFI credits, is growth in the export of waste- derived fuels. Many European neighbours, 10 to 15 years ahead of the UK in the development of their waste management systems, are now finding that “domestic” waste minimisation, re-use and increased recycling is reducing the feedstock available for their |84| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

existing energy from waste facilities. Coupled with the increased costs of energy (especially for those with no natural resources of their own, CHP schemes that cannot easily be replaced) lower gate prices (and possibly some marginal pricing) has made the export of waste-derived fuel from the UK an increasingly commercially attractive option. Exports of waste-derived fuels can be expected to grow over the coming months and years but clearly it would be preferable for these materials to be used to offset some of the UK’s dependency on foreign energy imports; 10 to 17% of UK electricity could be derived from waste by 2020 according to the Institute of Mechanical Engineers. The well publicised energy gap that the UK will face in 2012 to 2015 may have been pushed back by the recession but I don’t expect that many exploiting “localism” will call for change, at least not until the lights go out!

This emerging trend with waste-derived fuels has of course been witnessed previously with recyclable materials; exports from the UK have more than doubled since 2002 and this helps us meet more challenging recycling and landfill diversion targets. However, it is also the case that processing these materials generates inward investment, increases employment, drives technology and innovation and therefore creates value; but currently too little of it in the UK. The reality is that this growing drawdown on the UK’s resources has to be arrested and reversed.

During March we formally opened our mixed plastics recycling plant in Redcar, Middlesborough. The plant is designed to process up to 20,000 tonnes per annum of mixed plastic packaging from both households and businesses, predominantly from co-mingled collections..

The plastics are sorted by polymer type and colour, and processed to produce product that replaces virgin plastic.

The plant, the first of its kind in the UK, demonstrates our ability to innovate and develop market leading technologies. We have also invested heavily in advanced materials recovery facilities in East London, Aldridge and Manchester, which together provide over 850,000 tonnes per annum of processing capacity but, with the exception of supplying our Redcar facility, a significant proportion of the output material is exported.

The previous and current administrations recognise that more needs to be done to tackle waste food and food waste, and this work continues. Separating food waste from other waste streams makes re-use and recycling of these uncontaminated materials simpler and more efficient, creating a virtuous circle, but the management of food waste requires new collection and treatment infrastructure and systems; the waste is wet, heavy, and smelly, and can contain pathogens. Treating food waste by anaerobic digestion, the preferred solution, is a highly complex process, in part due to the waste being heterogeneous, and it is contaminated with plastic, glass/grit and metals etc. Small-scale local facilities

might be politically desirable but we are unlikely to see the wide-scale uptake hoped for because of the process engineering and small-scale challenges. As a national operator, we have developed a nationwide service for the collection of food waste in bespoke containers, addressing the problems above, and construction of our 120,000 tonne per annum anaerobic digestion plant in Cannock, Staffordshire, is nearing completion and will shortly be commissioned.

Investment in yet more infrastructure will enable us to manage more of these resources within our borders and we need to make this transition quickly. Addressing the fractures in the land use planning system is critically important but without access to borrowing, a recovery reinforced through a green revolution will slip through our fingers. The scale of investment needed to fuel this revolution is considerable, and whilst the increase in funding to the Green Investment Bank to ÂŁ3bn, announced in the budget is welcomed, it is simply not enough. The huge investment needed in resource management and renewable energy will only come from a bank with full borrowing powers and delaying this until 2015-16 is a mistake and needs to be reversed.

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How do we optimise resource use?

Use the power of the marketplace

By Angus Macpherson, Managing Director of The Environment Exchange

Policy Developments According to the Scottish Government the waste industry is no longer a waste industry, it is a resource industry.

This statement may startle some and the Zero Waste slogan seems a little ambitious. However the theme that is being picked up in Scotland (and Wales) is based on a European strategy focused on (secondary) raw materials and, although possibly differently expressed, it must be anticipated that this theme will be broadly replicated in England once the waste review is published. The ambition is clear-it remains to move everything up the waste hierarchy. Landfill is still the option of final resort, and to achieve this, source segregation and separate collection are the tunes to which everyone is anticipated to be dancing.

Landfill bans are a possibility although concerns remain whether they can be effectively policed. Uncertainty also exists as to how source segregation and separate collection might be defined and therefore policed. The desire is still that to retain flexibility these definitions should be provided in guidance rather than legislation.

A potential clash also exists between targets – which are viewed by politicians as aspirational and therefore potentially unachievable – and the legislative imperative that businesses have to achieve them, regardless of how unachievable they may be. As these aspirational targets fluctuate, many in mid-tender are finding themselves trying to strike a moving target.

As a result of this shift in perception and the increased costs in landfill, it is hoped that a greater volume of resource – secondary raw material – will be created and that this resource will have a greater value enabling collection systems to be self-financing. Is this an ambition too far or a realistic opportunity? In any economic model increased supply is frequently associated with reduced prices. |86| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

©Lars Lachmann-photoexpress

Quality Many in the reprocessing industry are suggesting that more is less in that as the collection volumes increase the quality of the material is deteriorating. It therefore requires more segregating post-delivery and/or is harder wear on processing machinery. So the material is not only less valuable but also less utilisable. This view is reinforced not only by high profile prosecutions by regulatory bodies but also despite the rather onerous bureaucracy of the Trans-Frontier Shipment of Waste regulations, China and Indonesia – and quite possibly a precedent which will be followed by other major importers of secondary raw materials – now operate quality control agencies at the points of departure as well as at the point of arrival.

Collectors/suppliers feel that standards have remained the same but that now there are increased volumes there is a greater choice and there is a greater opportunity for buyers to be more discerning. Buyers argue that collection volumes as well as quality are going down.

While there are always two sides to an argument it is rare that there is smoke without fire! However until there is a benchmark quality standard, for example the emerging EN643 for recovered paper, there is no method to identify, measure or verify/validate these quality disputes nor is there an arbitration mechanism.

Transparency Price is the ultimate arbiter of quality but without price and market transparency it is very difficult to determine what is or is not a ‘good’ price for either the buyer or the seller. Price is determined by so many factors of which quality is just one. Availability, packing type, payment terms and logistics are some of the other factors. Unless these factors are enclosed within a standard contract, price transparency does not exist. An index is unlikely to be compiled taking all these factors into account. So how else may price and market transparency – information so vital in justifying the investments of new and old participations alike – come about? A marketplace.

not only takes the hassle out of trading but also increases its security and allows the process to be both monitored and audited. Such facilities have been adding value to many primary, agricultural and non-ferrous metals for centuries, facilitating their expansion and becoming more sophisticated as they develop. However at a most basic level, delivering a service to those involved in the industry remains the core to the success of these marketplaces.

The Environment Exchange The Environment Exchange (t2e) is a marketplace provider. It is an integrated internet-based regulated marketplace operator providing both settlement and dispute resolution services. It currently provides the United Kingdom’s marketplace for Packaging Recovery Notes (PRNs) and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Evidence Notes (WENs), which is the evidence of compliance needed by businesses with a legal obligation under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations. PRNs expressed in tonnes represent packaging that has been reprocessed either within the United Kingdom or overseas. In 2010 for the second year in a row over 1 million tonnes of PRNs were traded through t2e, and of these almost 50% were Paper Packaging PRNs. In a two year project funded through the Government’s Knowledge Transfer and Innovate programmes, t2e has just launched a marketplace for collected contracts (exworks) for recovered paper within the United Kingdom.

If you wish to learn more about how to take advantage of the opportunities that this will present, please contact Andy Hanke (ah@t2e.co.uk) or Yaya Cao (yc@t2e.co.uk) at t2e on 0131 473 2337.

Use the power of the marketplace. It is smart, simple, safe trading.

So how might a marketplace help resolve these issues?

To join a marketplace, participants need to meet the participation criteria. These will include both quality and financial checks. To meet these criteria is prestigious.

Participants will also need to agree to abide by the code of conduct that provides the regulatory framework for trading, settlement and dispute resolution. To be suspended as a result of failing to abide by the code of conduct undermines a business’s credibility. A marketplace trades standardised contracts factoring in quality, payment terms and logistics as a consequence providing easy to interpret transaction price information.

Additionally it aggregates buyers and sellers providing both parties with volume information and confidence on the availability of both buyers for prospective sellers or sellers for prospective buyers, while the rules of participation provide dispute resolution and quality control mechanisms. An integrated settlement service ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE |87|

ENERGY Page 90 - 94 - Squaring the Triangle â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Do the EMR Proposals Resolve the Trilemma? Dr Paul Golby, CEO, EON Page 96 - 98 - Governments Proposals for Electricity Market Reform - Volker Beckers, CEO, RWE Npower Page 100 - 102 - Smart Meters: A New Frontier For the Energy Industry - Mark Daeche, CEO of First Utility Page 104 - 105 - All-Energy 2011 Preview

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Squaring the triangle – do the EMR proposals resolve the trilemma?

Dr Paul Golby, CEO, EON

“May you live in interesting times” goes the old (allegedly) Chinese curse. And for those of us who are involved in the electricity industry, these are certainly some of the most interesting we have had to live through probably since privatisation 20 years ago.

The Electricity Market Review (EMR) proposals, published last year, set out a potential framework which will shape the future of the industry for at least the next 20 years and recognise the importance of ensuring that the future market framework will be fit for the challenges that the industry – and the country – face in investing in low carbon generation to decarbonise electricity production.

But, in looking at the impact of those proposals, whilst we can clearly point at the elements designed to secure decarbonisation, or to ensure security of supply, it is critical that none of us overlook the customer, who needs to be placed at the heart of all these reforms, not least because, whether in the guise of taxpayer or consumer of electricity, and whether domestic, commercial, or industrial, it will be the customer who ultimately will have to pay for delivering the targets Government has signed up to. How can we deliver the best result for customers?

The first question to be clear on is why do we need market reform? It is plain for all to see that the existing framework will not deliver sufficient large scale investment in new low carbon generation on either a size or timetable that will allow us to meet the legally binding Government targets. The simple truth is that if we are to largely decarbonise electricity generation by 2030 then |90| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

we need a market framework that not only rewards those willing to invest but also provides opportunities for energy companies like E.ON to engage customers so that they can play their part in achieving this country’s aims.

Whilst there is no silver bullet, we have a chance as an industry (and as a country) to work together to establish a structure that provides a stable and consistent market which will reward low carbon investment. Only by recognising the extra costs connected with this type of investment and the necessary role that all fuel types and technologies have to play can we confidently begin to make the right investment decisions that will provide for the country and our customers.

Throughout this process there have been many voices and many opinions – some contradictory – about what we as a country need. But I believe it is now pretty much accepted that we must deliver a targeted mechanism to encourage low carbon generation investment if we are to meet the challenge of the trilemma – providing reliable, affordable and low carbon power for decades to come.

The Government’s preferred solution is for a Contract for Differences (CfD) and, having worked through the options in the consultation document, we also believe that a CfD is likely to be more effective than a premium FIT (PFIT) in reducing the market risks associated with new low carbon investment, particularly for new nuclear power or CCS-fitted plant. By providing greater certainty for investors with consistent, predetermined payments we can push forward large scale projects while providing a

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market base that will allow new partners - and possibly new players - to enter the arena. This will help to ensure there is sufficient momentum in the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s development portfolio to meet the challenges of the 2030 targets.

It will provide the base for the right investments that, coupled with appropriate measures to drive energy efficiency in homes and businesses, will stand us in good stead to meet the challenges that lie ahead.

Looking at EMR through the prism of the trilemma, and in particular the lens of affordability, causes you to question carefully whether every aspect of the reforms proposed is essential or if there are those which might be viewed as superfluous, and as adding cost unnecessarily.

For example, the package includes proposals to introduce carbon price support, through adding to the existing Climate Change Levy. This is not an incentive but rather another layer of taxation that will inevitably be paid for by the customer. Any increase in the carbon price through this mechanism will be passed through to the electricity wholesale price, meaning that bills will rise and people will be driven towards gas at precisely the point in time when we want to encourage more electrification and a windfall for existing nuclear will be created. Carbon price support will not cut global emissions, as emissions will largely be simply displaced and arise elsewhere under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. However, UK competitiveness is likely to suffer as against the rest of

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Europe, as UK industry bears a charge not borne by its EU competitors. Put simply, this is bad for customers, bad for business, bad for an electric economy and bad for our aspirations for a low carbon future.

Similarly, an Emissions Performance Standard (EPS) is unnecessary. It substantially increases the risks associated with new investments against the background of a power station consenting policy that already prohibits unabated new coal-fired power stations. An EPS requires investors to assess whether the market will fund the investment through the price of carbon (or if not, whether some other policy mechanism will fund the investment required), whether the technology exists or is likely to exist commercially to deliver the EPS, and whether the EPS might subsequently be tightened further. We have always emphasised that an EPS should only be introduced if provision is made alongside it to fund the required investment. We believe that policy should incentivise new low carbon investment rather than act as a constraint on investment.

The consultation also proposes interventions in relation to capacity, with the favoured option being some form of targeted mechanism. We believe that, where possible, energy only markets should be allowed to function and capacity mechanisms should be considered only if there is clear evidence that security of supply is at risk. The consultation does not make that case convincingly.

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The EMR proposals are, of course, only half of the customer story anyway. While we cannot afford to ignore the ‘big energy world’ of new power stations, it is clear that the ‘small energy world’ of micro-generation and energy efficiency in people’s homes and businesses is also becoming ever more important. For example, for domestic customers, we launched “Energy Fit”, encouraging customers to use less, rather than more, energy. For the first time, every homeowner in this country, whether an E.ON customer or not, can complete a simple online survey to receive bespoke, effective and affordable advice on how to insulate their home, moderate their energy use and even generate their own electricity. Tens of thousands of families have already taken part and this just shows there is a real appetite from many of us, domestic customers, to want to change, to want to control their bills and to want to play their own part in saving energy.

And, as well as helping individuals change how they use energy, we’re also helping the councils and authorities that manage our towns and cities change the way they use energy to make the UK a truly sustainable country.

For example, in the last few months alone we’ve unveiled ground breaking partnerships with some of the UK’s most forward thinking cities. In Stoke-on-Trent, the agreement between E.ON and the city council will see millions of pounds of investments made to improve the energy efficiency of homes and renewable power used to

help drive down residents’ fuel bills, while also combating climate change.

The first stage of those agreements saw us provide solar panels to council properties within weeks of the deal being signed – this is the first time any of the council’s 19,000-strong housing stock will be part powered by renewable technology. Further elements of the first phase involve 1,000 council and privately-owned houses across the city benefiting from a range of measures, after undergoing individual property surveys, so that each home receives a bespoke solution. The measures include items that will help insulate, moderate and generate, such as external wall insulation, energy efficient boilers, solar panels, air source heat pumps and district heating schemes.

By helping customers to help themselves we can make a real difference to both emissions and energy costs.

In addition, the new build sector offers much opportunity to make sure we avoid the mistakes of the past and that we embed sustainable energy solutions into communities from the word go. In Dalston Square, right in the heart of East London, over 500 homes and a public library have been developed by Barratt and E.ON not only to be top performing in terms of their energy efficiency but also part of a community heating scheme which could reduce carbon emissions by 25% and cut heating and hot water bills by up to 23%.

Decentralising energy is an important step forward and through schemes such as this, or through smaller local or individual micro-generation projects, we can begin to make our energy supply more diverse and, just as importantly, to lower carbon emissions, to ensure we can secure our energy future.The next few months are crucial not just for the energy sector but for the whole country. As discussions surrounding EMR continue and conclude we must also be clear that the nuclear events in Japan must result in careful consideration of the facts and respond accordingly. Just as the moves to a stronger market framework must be measured our responses to the nuclear accident and the lessons that must be learned must be well-judged and appropriate.

EMR is an opportunity to set in place a framework that will mean we optimise our country’s existing energy assets whilst setting a course for the future we must deliver. If we are clear about what we want and what it means it will also help customers. Customers need to understand where we are going and also what it will mean for them – not just aspirations around a distant policy goal. Through working with councils, businesses, the Government and individuals we can transform the way we approach energy in the UK and provide a future that benefits us all economically and environmentally.

But in doing that we need always to keep customers at the heart of our thinking and, if we are to deliver and retain the necessary support of our customers, we must make sure that we listen as much as we talk.

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Volker Beckers looks at the governments proposals for electricity market reform

By Volker Beckers, CEO, RWE Npower “The Government should be applauded for the pace of change they have maintained since coming into office last year, but their proposals to reform the electricity market risk trying to fix everything at once – increasing uncertainty for long-term investments rather than minimising it during this critical time.

The Government want to pull a lot of levers all at the same time. I would say pull only one at a time. That way, you remain in control.

I believe that the overriding concern must be to create the right investment conditions to support the delivery of large scale low carbon generation, such as round three offshore wind farms and the first wave of new nuclear power. This is what the UK will need to meet its energy challenges.

Britain pioneered the original revolution in energy markets, and though at times this has been a painful journey, Britain is rightly regarded globally as a leader in organising an efficient and effective energy market.

Now Britain again stands on the precipice of another energy revolution, but evolution not revolution is the most effective way forward.

As more power stations than ever before come to the end of their planned lives, the need for the UK to tackle climate change and maintain security of supply during a time of immense technological change becomes increasingly urgent. The current energy market – designed for fossil fuelled generation – must change.

However, it is essential that change does not come at a price that is unacceptable to customers.

For every £1 of profit we have received in the UK over the past few years, RWE companies have invested £3 back into new energy infrastructure that will serve this country for many years to come: over £1 Billion in each of the last three years. |96| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

However, estimates of the investment challenge that face the energy industry make these impressive sums pale into insignificance. One thing is certain: the energy industry cannot face this challenge alone. We will need investment from third parties not used to investing in energy projects, and it is what they make of the Government’s proposals that will really matter.

The contractual incentive arrangements for large-scale, low carbon generation proposed by the Government, either as a ‘Contract for Difference’ (CfD) or a ‘Premium Feed-in Tariff‘ (PFiT) should therefore be the principal focus of the EMR. Other concerns should not interfere with this focus and risk delay in implementation.

In summary, the Government’s EMR proposals consist of four main pillars: 1. Low Carbon Generation Incentives: Any low carbon support mechanism should be targeted at getting round three wind, first wave nuclear and CCS retrofit to demonstration projects delivered.

A contractual revenue support mechanism is best suited to satisfying the requirement of investors to have stable predictable and transparent returns commensurate with project risk, independent of the exact mechanism (CfD or PFiT) chosen. Both a CfD and a contractual PFiT could be designed to deliver investment in large-scale low carbon generation.

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The continued delivery of renewable projects is also highly important, and we believe it is therefore critical that government provides early clarity about transitional arrangements, in particular the provision for grandfathering and the future operation of the Renewables Obligation (RO).

2. Capacity mechanisms: RWE npower does not believe that the case for considering a capacity mechanism as part of the EMR has been made.

The introduction of a capacity mechanism now will undermine the capability of the market to deliver an efficient combination of generation capacity and demand response at the lowest cost to consumers.

Experience around the world suggests that capacity mechanisms have a number of undesirable effects on the economic and efficient operation of electricity markets, i.e. they undermine the efficient development of demand-side response, storage, interconnection and energy efficiency.

3. Carbon price support: Support through this mechanism will not provide the necessary certainty to drive investment in new large scale low carbon generation. The mechanism will in effect end up as a tax to raise revenue. RWE continues to support the EU ETS as the principal mechanism for setting a carbon price.

The timing of its introduction will also send a critical signal to external investors, particularly if its introduction is not coordinated with the incentive mechanisms for low carbon projects, and will simply produce a windfall for those companies with legacy plant that gain from it.

4. Emission performance standard (EPS): I believe the proposal for an EPS duplicates existing Government policy for new coal plant and is unlikely to provide any additional certainty or incentive for investors in low carbon generation. It could potentially also discourage investment in flexible gas-fired generation needed to maintain security of supply and provide flexible back-up generation to enable further investment in renewables.â&#x20AC;?

Firas Jemai - Photoexpress |98| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

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Smart meters: a new frontier for the energy industry

By Mark Daeche, CEO of First Utility We are currently entering a real period of reform in the energy market. Government bodies such as DECC and Ofgem are investigating the possibility of significant change across a variety of energy industry issues, the key aim being to better meet consumer demands and changing environmental and economic factors.

As the leading independent energy supplier (the largest number of customers after the ‘Big Six’ energy suppliers), First Utility has played a key part in contributing to these various consultations. This includes DECC’s Electricity Market Reform proposals and how the UK’s energy market may need to be revised to encourage greater liquidity, and ultimately greater competition in the energy marketplace.

One of the other areas of the reform in which the company has played a pioneering role is the modernisation and updating of the UK’s energy metering infrastructure, through the implementation of the first national roll-out of smart meters in the UK.

As Chris Huhne, Energy and Climate Change Secretary, said recently: “The era of cheap, abundant energy is over. We must find smart ways of making energy go further, and value it for the costly resource it is, not take it for granted." Let’s not forget, being able to measure what you’re using in the first place is a key part of any subsequent control or reduction efforts.

However, despite the generally lethargic attitude of the UK’s larger energy suppliers, challenger energy firm First Utility identified what it considered a significant opportunity in smart metering. Launching in 2008 initially offering a regional approach to its smart meter roll-out, it commenced a national implementation of the technology in 2010, offering free gas and electricity smart meters throughout the UK against a backdrop of growing consumer interest in the technology and the benefits it offers.

Smart meters identify consumption in far more A smart meter is a modern metering device which replaces the detail than a conventional meter and communicate outdated ‘dumb meters’ that most UK households still use to this information via a mobile network back to the measure energy usage. The key difference with smart meters is relevant energy firm for monitoring and billing that they measure energy usage in a far more detailed manner purposes. In the case of First Utility’s smart than traditional ‘dumb meters’, with the capability to remotely meters, the meter can take half-hourly readings for and automatically read energy consumption, sending the electricity and daily for gas. These readings are then information back to the energy supplier. sent daily to our head office using SMS which means regular accurate readings. The result is a range of Smart meters have been around for over a decade in some benefits for the consumer.

European countries. Sweden, Spain, France and Italy have all embarked on national smart meter installations and smart The primary benefits of smart meters include meters are also commonplace in America. The UK however, has providing the customer with 100% accurate usage until recently, remained woefully behind the rest of the world information therefore guaranteeing that customers when it comes to smart metering. Italy, which undertook the only ever pay for what they actually use. As a result, world’s largest smart meter deployment almost a decade ago, customers pay for the actual energy they have used when Enel SpA, the dominant utility company in Italy with 27 that month as opposed to building up large over or million customers, deployed smart meters to its entire customer under payments as a result of a rigid monthly direct base. This example is almost twenty years ahead of the UK debit to their supplier. The detailed consumption plans which currently state a mandatory smart meter roll out information that the smart meter provides can also will not take place until around 2017 – 2020 despite the Coalition be used to present the customer with a very detailed Government focusing considerable efforts on energy in the last picture of their energy usage. This information can few months. be accessed through First Utility’s online portal, enabling the customer to clearly see when they are |100| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

using the most energy and how they might be able to shift some of their usage to different, cheaper times of day. Most importantly, this information is invaluable in helping people to make long-term behavioural changes to reduce their energy consumption, something which we are all under increasing pressure to do. Ultimately, it is impossible to reduce something that is not being measured in the first place.

First Utility recently commissioned research from YouGov to highlight the day-to-day issues that consumers face when it comes to their energy usage. We know from our own customer feedback that smart meters are really enabling people to make a difference to their energy bills – 56% of our customers surveyed believed that their smart meter and access to energy usage information had led to a positive change in their behaviour when it comes to energy.

First Utility has also partnered with Google PowerMeter, the first of its kind in the UK, and is just one example of our commitment to being an innovative energy company.

By working with Google we can help consumers to see a near-real-time display of their energy usage through their iGoogle account on their computer or mobile phone.

There are options that allow consumers to look at their energy usage over various periods of time from hour to hour, day to day and week to week. As well as being able to customise the account by setting goals and tracking progress.

Many businesses may be familiar with smart meters following their previous contribution as an ‘Early Action Metric’ in the Carbon Reduction Commitment scheme, offering matrix points to encourage uptake. Not only has this allowed businesses to reduce their carbon emissions but also manage their energy consumption and spending. Alongside this there are a range of government initiatives in place that encourage solutions to targets such as zero-carbon new build homes, through which the government hopes to meet the target of cutting CO2 emissions by at least 60% by 2050. Smart meters also contribute towards environmental obligations and targets such as the Code for Sustainable Homes. The Code for Sustainable Homes is an environmental impact rating system for housing in England and Wales, setting new standards for energy efficiency and sustainability which are not mandatory under current building regulations but represent important developments towards limiting the environmental impact of housing. Not forgetting smart meters are a great selling point when the homes are sold – demonstrating to potential buyers just how innovative and environmentally-focused a development is.

First Utility has been working with developers to install smart meters into both private and public sector properties. A recent example would be our work with Fairview Homes, a property developer and house building contractor. As a property developer with multiple sites across the UK, energy provision can be fraught with issues. One of the key issues is the reconciliation of |102| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

the energy bills from plot to sale and the administrative headache that they can be on head office staff. This can be compounded when it is difficult to get any kind of energy usage visibility. Overcoming this issue increases the efficiencies across the business.

In my experience, education is key and will greatly improve the success of smart metering. It is therefore vital that all parties – government, industry, the media, regulators – play their role in helping to educate the wider public. As demand for energy awareness increases, technology continues to develop to meet this demand.

With smart meters set to become mandatory within the next decade, forward thinking businesses and households are adopting this technology now, ahead of the curve and are reaping the real benefits as a result.

ALL-ENERGY 2011

--- BIGGER AND MORE RELEVANT THAN EVER As the renewable energy crescendo builds, with announcements on a daily basis on fresh investment, new initiatives and new contracts in the industry’s rapidly expanding sectors, All-Energy, the UK’s largest renewable energy exhibition and conference builds to keep pace with the industry’s growth. It is held in association with RenewableUK, Scottish Renewables, Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group and UK Trade and Industry, with the Society for Underwater Technology as its learned society patron, and endorsed by over 30 government departments, trade associations, professional bodies, and RDAs The eleventh event in the annual series, All-Energy 2011, is being held at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre on Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 May, and the exhibition will be bigger than ever. The tenth AllEnergy, held last May, broke all previous records with more than 7000 attending from 55 countries; over 450 exhibiting companies from 16 countries; and more than 270 speakers taking part in over 50 conference sessions dealing with every source of renewable energy and the opportunities and challenges facing the industry.

At over 5000m2, the 2010 exhibition was 25% larger than the previous show – and that growth is set to continue this year, with exhibitors from 19 countries taking up

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more than 6000m2. The All-Energy website features an ever-growing ‘what we’re showing’ preview enabling visitors to plan their route around the show in advance.

The ‘All-Energy mix’ will be very similar to the 2010 show, with a major exhibition with up to 500 exhibiting companies and a thought-provoking 270+ speaker conference; and opportunities in plenty for networking.

It’s no wonder that the event has been referred to as “the AGM of the renewable industry”.

Associated events will once again run on the day before All-Energy opens, with one of equal relevance to the renewables and oil and gas industries confirmed by the EG&S KTN (Energy Generation and Supply Knowledge Transfer Network), and others in the planning. The thought behind this session is that oil and gas companies demand reliable sources of clean offshore power, whilst renewables companies demand a range of engineering expertise. Demand=Opportunity. Supply chain companies in either sector are invited to come and meet larger companies who could use their services. The format will be a series of targeted 1-1 meetings in which those present select who they want to meet from the companies attending.

As is traditional, All-Energy 2011 will once again feature its Giant Networking Evening on 18 May, starting with a reception hosted by Aberdeen City Council and moving seamlessly into an evening designed to do ‘just what it says on the tin’ – help people to network. Over a thousand attended last year’s successful evening. There will also be a combined Careers Fair and Jobs Zone on 19 May alongside the Education Day planned for careers advisors and specialist teachers.

Then on the Friday, after the show has closed, there will be a small number of Technical Tours – one to the Met Office in Aberdeen has been confirmed and others will follow. Details of all arrangements for All-Energy 2011 are on the show’s website at www.all-energy.co.uk What makes All-Energy different from so many industry events is that both the exhibition and seven-stream conference are free to attend for all with a business or professional interest in renewable energy. This means that the event appeals to those who work in, or serve, the industry on a day-to-day basis, and those who are considering renewable energy for their land, their farm, their organisation’s headquarters, their community, their housing association, their Council’s housing stock or to recommend to home-owners; and, of course, to those who are considering investing in the industry, or who are interested in making a career change and joining one of the sectors … the list is long.

The All-Energy Conference The planning of the annual All-Energy conference is always left as late as possible to ensure that it is as topical as it can be – always a challenge in the fast moving world of renewable energy.

Speakers in the opening plenary session on 18 March, chaired by Andrew Jamieson of ScottishPower Renewables (and Chairman of RenewableUK), include The Lord Provost of the City of Aberdeen; Charles Hendry MP, UK Minister of State for Energy; Rainer Bomba, Permanent State Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development (BMVBS), Germany; Sir Ian Wood, Chairman of the Wood Group; and Niall Stuart, Chief Executive of Scottish Renewables.

With the Holyrood Elections taking place on 5 May, less than a fortnight before the show, a warm welcome will await a Scottish Government Minister - recent years have seen both Richard Lochhead MSP and Jim Mather MSP speaking in the opening session

This year’s programme is far ranging with sessions/ streams devoted to all the renewable energy sources – onshore and offshore wind; wave and tidal; bioenergy (biomass, biogas and biofuel); hydropower; and hydrogen and fuel cells (particularly in power storage and sustainable transport). There will also be sessions on carbon capture and storage and on nuclear power.

The introduction last year of Feed In Tariffs (FITs) makes the microgeneration (solar PV and thermal; ‘small wind’, micro CHP and district heating) session ever-more relevant – and with the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme just announced, this will come under the conference spotlight too (with Austria explaining detailing their experiences); as will district heating in a session run by the Combined Heat and Power Association.

Other sessions will deal with Energy Market Reform; the grid (in all its guises including smart grids, interconnectors and the latest initiatives and consultations); finance and funding, including a session organised by the Scottish European Green Energy Centre on ‘Bankable Projects: Regs, Risks and Returns’; the ever-growing challenge of finding the right people and skills sets; and sessions on renewables for communities; renewables for farms/farmers; and academic initiatives (with EPSRC introducing a session on SuperGen).

More information, including details of which session will take place when, is available on the All-Energy website at www.all-energy.co.uk where online registration is open; and there is also the opportunity to register for All-Energy’s useful fortnightly free e-zine, News@All-Energy.

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Green Building Page 108 -111 - Policy Update - Hard Cash and Lots of Change. - Nick Jones, Inbuilt Page 112-114 - Sustainable Retrofit of Buildings -Robert Peto, President RICS

Page 116-118 - Save Energy and Money by Installing Insulation - Neil Marshall, Chief Executive,

National Insulation Association

Šlimpertsacadamy.com |106| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

Policy update - Hard cash and lots of change.

Nick Jones, Inbuilt

Figure 2 - PV is likely to be part of the solution for most zero carbon buildings from 2019. Copyright Pascal Rodriguez.

As we marked our ballot papers last May we knew there would be change but few of us could have estimated the scale and speed of it. Whilst the previous government could have been accused of over consulting on everything, Eric Pickles, the new Community Secretary was making sweeping changes within days. So what are the key changes that affect the built environment and is there any financial support in these cash strapped times?

First to be affected in June were the house builders with the scrapping of centrally applied targets for new homes contained in the Regional Spatial Strategies. This does beg the question of how will we know if we are building enough if we do not have considered targets.

The problem with such changes is that the impacts last for years so the 9% drop in new homes permissions in quarter 4 is worrying. Clearly not all the drop is down to the policy change (there was a 22% drop over the whole year) but if it is not addressed soon we will end up with a shortage of sites once the market picks up. There will be a new National Planning Policy Framework but this is not due out until April 2012 and we need to address the issue before then. The New Homes Bonus due later this year may help and could even result in local authorities courting developers to get the cash. However localism means there still needs to be buy-in of local communities who could see it as a bribe to councils. |108| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

When the construction does pickup it is also unclear as to the sustainability standards that these buildings will need to conform with. The government has rightly noticed the plethora of planning requirements that vary from authority to authority. Where these use BREEAM, the Code for Sustainable Homes or Passivhaus they can work well but they often have additional constraints or requirements applied that can lead to contradictions.

A poorly considered mix of standards can complicate the whole design and construction process, add costs and actually hinder delivery of sustainable buildings.

Government has promised that developers and councils will work together to develop a “simple and transparent menu of costed standards”. A blend of well considered and consistent standards sounds great but it is a ‘Big Ask’ and arguably somewhat pointless when there are already workable BREEAM and Code standards that could be applied at different levels.

To further complicate the situation the Government has recently started a root and branch review of the Code – not just on whether it should be modified but whether it should exist at all. BREEAM on the other hand is not Government owned so cannot be modified by them, although a Code for Sustainable Buildings is planned for 2013.

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One thing that is clear is that there will not be any centralised difference in the standards required for private and social housing - Grant Shapps, the Housing Minister, has made this very clear. Consequently the Homes and Communities Agency’s (HCA) core standards will not be upgraded as previously planned but the current standards will continue for the time being. It is not clear however if these sustainability standards will be gradually reduced or the requirements of private builders will gradually increase – let’s hope it is the latter but don’t hold your breath. Lowering the standards for social housing will increase the number that can be built but this is where there needs to be a balance between a given number of high standard homes and a greater number of lower quality homes – which is preferable? In addition to providing more sustainable homes the HCA standards

2019 for non-domestic buildings. Initially the new government unpicked some of the progress made to date on the zero carbon definition but it is now moving forward to consider the difficult subject of ‘allowable solutions’. Although the current definition only applies to homes the commercial sector should keep a close eye on its impact as the basic trinity of energy efficiency, onsite renewables, and off site allowances is likely to apply to all sectors. It should of course be noted that zero carbon applies from these dates and so schemes approved beforehand will not need to meet the standard.

The UK is being watched closely by our European cousins as the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive will require all member states to develop their own

Figure 1 - Uttlesford District Council relaxed their renewables requirement to allow the Passivhaus standard to be used but not all councils are so forward thinking. Image courtesy of Parsons and Whittley Architects.

also encourage innovation in that they provide the opportunity for innovative or high performance products to gain a foothold ahead of the main market.

There will also be a question about what is meant by ‘affordable housing’. With housing associations now being required to charge close to the market rent they need to be able to assist their tenants in another way – low fuel bills is about the only remaining option and several housing associations are now pushing this agenda. Interestingly they see Passivhaus, the German low energy standard, as the best way of delivering this and not the Code for Sustainable Homes.

Looking ahead to standards of the future the ‘zero carbon’ agenda is still on – from 2016 for homes and |110| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

definition in line with principles yet to be decided by the Commission.

On site renewable energy is bound to form part of any ‘zero’ definition but those who think the Feed in Tariff will offset some of the costs need to remember that the rates will have degressed or ‘ramped down’ considerably by 2019 when such buildings are being constructed. This means that it is important to accelerate any proposals for applicable technologies to maximise the FiT payments.

It is also important not to despair about the news that Government is bringing forward a review of FiTs starting with the current fast track review of large scale photovoltaics and anaerobic digestion. The real target for the review appears to be the plans for ‘speculative solar farms’ set up as commercial operations by private investors. The renewable energy industry is lobbying to ensure that PV systems associated with buildings will not be affected by the review even where over 50kWp in size.

There is more good news following the release of the Renewable Heat Incentive in March- the equivalent of FiTs but for heat. This scheme will provide a guaranteed incentive scheme for wood fuelled boilers, solar water heating and other renewable heating technologies, making long-term commercial investments in buildingintegrated renewable heat energy viable. Although there have been some casualties since the consultation – air source heat pumps are not included, and proposals for more complex solutions using large scale combined heat and power are still under development, this will accelerate the use of the main technologies.

opportunities for retailers, installers and constructors as well as reducing the cost of carbon reduction measures for building owners. Many organisations are too focussed on the core of their business for them to be aware of all the detail changes that are happening all around them and can easily get caught out by new legislation or miss out on financial incentives that are available. For this they need additional support from specialists in this whole area of energy and carbon management whether they are a housing developer planning their next sites, a manufacturer wanting to reduce costs, or a commercial landlord looking to improve the letting potential of their property.

Nick Jones is an Associate Director of Inbuilt with a long standing expertise in all aspects of sustainable buildings.

Inbuilt is a market leader in delivering carbon reduction, renewable energy, and energy efficient solutions in buildings by providing carbon related expertise at project and boardroom level to bring business efficiencies.

More information on Inbuilt can be found at: www.inbuilt.co.uk

There are more changes and initiatives in the pipeline – most notably the Green Deal. Although this is still under development it has the potential to open up business

Figure 3 The new Renewable Heat Incentive will provide much need support to biomass and other installations. Image courtesy of Wood Energy

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Sustainable Retrofit of Buildings

By Robert Peto, President RICS

Retrofitting buildings sustainably is the key challenge for the property and built environment industry in the UK today. The question is, are they ready? The answer is sadly, probably not. The recession and consequent downturn in the property markets has taken the focus off sustainability and focussed it very firmly on the bottom line, whether it is for households or commercial property.

That is not to say that it is completely off the agenda.

Some of the largest property companies are reviewing their portfolios to ensure that they are sustainable, partly to meet their corporate social responsibility commitments and also because there is a growing belief that sustainable properties will retain or possibly even improve their value in the longer term and that greener buildings get a better quality of tenant, leading to longer rental periods and potentially less voids. Although this is still to be â&#x20AC;&#x153;clinically provenâ&#x20AC;?, as it were, forward thinking investors can see the writing on the wall in terms of climate change, shifting social attitudes and changing regulation and as such and this is impacting upon their appraisals of investment worth. Where this is happening, it is my personal belief that in the short to medium term this will translate into market value. The only sad thing is that not all purchasers (especially domestic owner occupiers) make rational pricing decisions based on sound research and experience.

As I said though, for the time being this is only a theory for the UK market, although there is some evidence in research carried out by RICS on the US and Dutch markets that this may be the case. These research |112| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

reports can be found at: www.rics.org/sustainabilitypractice . Unfortunately at the moment data that might help to prove or disprove these assumptions in England, on the energy efficiency part of sustainability, is locked away in the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s database of energy performance certificates.

It is in the area of energy efficiency that the UK government has set its policy to make improvements, following cues from the UN and the European Parliament on CO2. It has done this through setting extremely tough and binding CO2 reduction targets in the Climate Change Act which came into force in December 2008. Its aim of achieving a 34% reduction in CO2 overall by 2020 was challenging when it was first published. However in the light of the recent recession it seems an impossibility, let alone the 80% reduction required by 2050 in the Act. This is particularly the case as around 47% of emissions are estimated to come from property, and largely from heating and hot water in the domestic sector.

With 26 million existing properties, 6 million of which are considered hard to treat because they are solid wall pre1919 buildings, and currently a historically low numbers of new build, means that it is the buildings standing today that will make up the majority of the total (somewhere around 70% even in 2050). This places the challenge of improving our CO2 profile firmly on the existing property stock.

There is no doubt that the government has its part to play and it is certainly not all about property. Notably, around 80% of the current energy supply still comes from

fossil fuels such as coal and gas, with 17% from Nuclear and a mere 3% from renewables. So decarbonising the electricity grid with its built in inefficiencies of about 66% of production must be a key part of being a more sustainable country.

For property, the government is taking a multi pronged approach. For large commercial energy consumers the Carbon Reduction Commitment was designed to encourage commercial property owners and occupiers to make energy efficiency improvements, but the change of the scheme to a tax in the 2010 budget unsurprisingly hardened the industry’s attitudes to the scheme, which they had reluctantly embraced.

At the recent Ecobuild conference I took the opportunity of being on the same platform as Greg Barker, the Minister of State at the Department of Energy and Climate Change, to make some strong points about the Government’s approach to improving the sustainability of the existing stock. In particular I highlighted the lack of incentives in the CRC scheme and the lack of mechanisms to increase competition between companies. This combined with the lack of clarity for the industry on the approach to charging appears to be acting as a barrier to effectively implement a transformation of the existing stock.

The Minister agreed on the need for more clarity and acknowledged imperfections in the CRC scheme; he however highlighted some studies revealing that the main driver for people to transform their home was not financial benefits but having a nicer home.

So the government is using the recent revisions to the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, which introduced the requirement to have an energy performance certificate showing the notional energy level of a property for use as a comparator at sale or rental. The revisions allow for improved advice through more tailored recommendations for energy efficiency improvements to the property.

From the platform of an EPC, DECC are building the Green Deal for residential and SME commercial properties. The Green Deal is a funding mechanism for leveraging energy efficiency improvements into property.

The principle, known in government parlance as ‘the Golden Rule’, is that the savings on the energy bill will be greater than the cost of making the improvements when funded over a number of years, through an attachment to the utility bill.

The deal will use the EPC as a starting point, but will also look at actual energy usage, including appliances such as fridges and cookers (not covered by the EPC), to give a flavour of how a property is being used which would enable advice to be given on behaviours. There is little point in have a sustainable property if the occupiers use it in a non sustainable way. |114| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

My feeling is that the Green Deal will dominate the retrofitting market for a good number of years, probably to the detriment to the wider sustainability in property sector. Some quick calculations suggest that one property needs to be retrofitted every minute between now and 2050 to meet the targets, and that is if properties are given a whole house makeover. Most would agree this is highly unlikely in the current market. What seems more likely is that property owners will make improvements over a number of upgrades, as fuel costs increase and further funding is available. Currently the cost of upgrading any property type to a very high standard, an EPC of A or B, even those built to the most recent regulations would probably be too expensive to meet the Golden Rule.

So many are now questioning whether government will have to offer more incentives or even use some legislative stick to ensure that progress is made towards the Climate change targets. The danger with legislative sticks, however is the chance of unintended consequences that undermine the economic recovery, or to harm the competitiveness of the UK economy. Only time will tell what needs to be done as the deal will not be in place until, at the earliest, October 2012.

Turning to broader developments in sustainable retrofitting, BREEAM and the Code for Sustainable Homes will continue to set the levels to be achieved for new build sustainable properties, but there is a lack of usable measures for retrofitting.

In November 2009, RICS launched our own sustainability tool, initially for the office fit-out industry. Known as the Ska Rating it is designed to fit the project by allowing the project team to look at what is achievable by selecting from around 100 measures covering items as diverse as re-using carpets and sustainable resourcing of timber to reducing site water and waste. Projects are awarded a gold, silver or bronze rating depending upon the number of measures it incorporates into the fit-out project. More details can be found at www.rics.org/ska In conclusion, rising fuel costs, the need to reduce energy use and the need for improved security of supply will drive the government to continue to concentrate on energy efficiency over anything else. However my concern is that the sheer scale of retrofitting required in order to meet the CO2 targets in the Climate Change Act will be hard to meet without a dramatic change in legislation.

There will continue to be the more enlightened individuals and firms that see the potential future benefits of having more sustainable properties, but this is unlikely to be a major part of the market unless the government changes its focus to match the rhetoric of being the ‘greenest government ever’, by providing similar types of incentives to the Green Deal or legislative sticks to change the market focus to a more truly sustainable future.

Save Energy and Money by Installing Insulation

By Neil Marshall, Chief Executive, National Insulation Association With homes producing over a quarter of the UK’s carbon emissions, the onus on reducing their carbon footprint has never been greater for householders.

The way a building is constructed, insulated, ventilated and the type of fuel used, all contribute to its carbon emissions. A worrying fact is that, for over half of all homes in the UK, a significant proportion of the money spent on energy is literally being thrown out of the window as a result of inadequate levels of insulation, with around 50% of the heat being lost through the roof and walls.

The National Insulation Association (NIA) is a not for profit organisation representing over 90% of the home insulation industry in the UK. As a membership organisation, it actively supports the Government’s accelerated programme for insulation that aims to raise awareness not only of the amount of heat lost through inadequate insulation, but also the amount of money that householders can save.

At the NIA’s annual conference in December 2010, the Minister for Climate Change, Gregory Barker MP, stated that homes and businesses combined currently waste up to £6 billion in unnecessary energy costs each year and that to transform the energy efficiency right across the country, insulation is key.

The Government has set out plans to meet both the overall 2020 carbon goal, and interim commitment to ensure that by 2015, every household will have installed loft and cavity wall insulation where practical.

The NIA states that there are currently around10 million cavity walls and 13 million lofts that require insulation. Research carried out by the NIA also shows that over half of the people in the UK do not realise just how much heat is lost through uninsulated cavity walls and roofs.

Neil Marshall, NIA Chief Executive, commented: “Meeting the Government’s targets may be challenging but they are |116| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

achievable. What is needed is a co-ordinated delivery plan, adequate levels of funding, a dedicated insulation programme and a major government-backed awareness campaign.” Marshall added: “The cost of insulating the loft and cavity walls is relatively modest at around £500 including a subsidy under the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) programme and will save the average home around £265 per year in

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energy costs making a pay back period of just two years!”

Cavity Wall Insulation (CWI) CWI is an inexpensive, easy-to-install process that takes around half a day and isn’t disruptive or damaging to a house. It is installed by drilling a series of small holes no bigger than a ten pence piece in the mortar between the bricks of a house, before blowing insulation through the holes until the gap or ‘cavity’ between the external and internal wall is completely filled. The hole will then be filled. There are a number of different insulating materials, but they all work in the same way to cut heat loss.

Also CWI work is carried out according to guidance laid down by the Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency (CIGA) and workmanship and materials are covered by the independent 25 year CIGA Guarantee, to provide homeowners with reassurance and peace of mind. See www.ciga.co.uk for details.

Tax allowances of up to £1,500 are available until 2015 for Landlords through the Landlords Energy Saving Allowance. This allowance can be used on each of the properties a landlord owns, enabling landlords to claim the costs for CWI and other insulation solutions.

If every UK household suitable for CWI installed it, 4 million tonnes of CO2 could be saved every year.

Loft Insulation With as much as a third of heating costs escaping through the roof, loft insulation is a very effective way of reducing heating bills.

While most UK homes already have some degree of loft insulation installed, for the majority this is inadequate and should be topped up

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to today’s standards of 270mm, about the height of piece of A4 paper.

The NIA recommends to avoid technical risks installing loft insulation should be carried out by professionally trained experienced NIA members. For example, a high standard can only be achieved by insulating across the top of the ceiling joists as well as between them and including the loft hatch. Pipes and tanks also need to be insulated to avoid freezing and other key considerations include ventilation to avoid condensation and safety aspects of electrical wiring and fittings.

If everyone in the UK installed 270mm loft insulation, we could save around £520 million and nearly three million tonnes of CO2 every year.

The Next Step: A large proportion of householders are unsure if they have insulation measures already installed in their home or whether it reaches the recommended standards.

NIA approved installers provide free home surveys and are experienced to recommend the most suitable and practical insulation options for each individual property.

They also have access to information regarding grants and subsidies to help make the cost of insulating homes even more affordable. The NIA recommends contacting one of its installer members as they are trained to the highest standards and also governed by a strict Code of Professional Practice.

For more information about the NIA, including a list of members throughout the UK, visit the website at www. nationalinsulationassociation.org. uk

TIMBER Page 124-127- A Vision for Timber - Mike Cook, Chair, TRADA

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We are passionate about timber and its role in helping to create a sustainable future.’ This statement is at the heart of TRADA’s vision for the future. We cannot stress enough the pivotal role timber and wood products can play in reducing our carbon footprint.

Wood has been used by man for an enormous variety of purposes since prehistoric times. Through photosynthesis, trees trap large amounts of carbon dioxide, store it as wood and release oxygen. Every cubic metre of timber used instead of other typical building materials can therefore reduce CO2 emissions.

the Weald and Downland Museum and the Savill gridshell roof on the visitor centre for Windsor Great Park, eyeopeners perhaps for those who associate timber with log cabins and new build housing.

The Savill gridshell in particular demonstrates clearly how modern technology and engineering expertise - Richard Harris led the Buro Happold team - can be combined with traditional craft skills. The three-domed double curved structure, 90 x 25 metres on plan, is the largest gridshell roof in the UK.

The ever-increasing importance of environmental issues, across the construction sector, makes this the prime time for TRADA and the timber sector to seize the initiative. Taking care of the planet is central to doing business and as the world’s only truly renewable construction material – supported by international forest management and chain of custody certification - timber has a unique place in the built environment of the future.

Over and above its many green qualities, however, timber for me is a joyous material. As new products come to the fore, it increasingly allows designers to push out the boundaries of what is possible in structural engineering and to fire the imagination, combining traditional values with cuttingedge design.

TRADA Chairman, Mike Cook of Buro Happold

A vision for timber

However breathtaking, gridshell roofs are by no means the only aspect of the current timber renaissance on which TRADA seeks to build. Structurally, timber can now compete with steel and concrete frame, assisted significantly by the transition to the Eurocodes.

This has meant a change in mindset for designers: firstly, every European country now uses the same design codes, and secondly, all structural materials will use the same design basis. No longer will some materials use limit state design and some permissible stress design, and no longer will different codes use different load factors for different load combinations. In these respects, life for the structural engineer has been simplified, removing for many the barriers to using timber with confidence. And timber can now more easily be used in conjunction with other materials, which is important to acknowledge.

By Buro Happold’s Michael Cook FREng, MA (Cantab), PhD, CEng, FCIOB, FIStructE is Chairman of TRADA, the Timber Research and Development Association, and lecturer on creativity at Imperial College.

Our challenge as TRADA is

My passion for wood began at the age of 18, in what nowadays would be called a gap year, on an internship with Ove Arup, working on the Mannheim timber gridshell. I knew then, too, that structural engineering was where I belonged. This also, coincidentally, led to my first visit to TRADA, to look at some tests on creep and joint slip for the gridshell members. It was good to soak up even a little of the wealth of knowledge TRADA consultants had to offer. It is a privilege, as chairman, to put something back and to help to ensure that TRADA remains as relevant to architects, engineers and other end users today as it was to me then.

to engage more closely with architects and engineers to encourage them to work increasingly with timber and to carry our enthusiasm for this flexible, inspiring material across the wider construction sector. Our strategy for achieving it is to reinforce and develop connections between suppliers on the one hand, and specifiers, producers and users on the other. We have to reach to the top of the food chain, especially in the contractor sector, which plays such a pivotal role in building material selection.

The next major influence in my career was joining Buro Happold, a company which has always had a definite timber culture - and no fear of the unknown. Some of the well known timber projects Buro Happold has worked on include the Sheffield Winter Gardens, the gridshell roof of

Equally important, TRADA will be exerting even greater influence on government to shape policy, regulation and standards, while working hard to ‘catch them young’ and encourage specifiers and end users to embed timber in their thinking from the outset. The new generation is an

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essential target. For young people the green agenda is ever present and timber’s environmental credentials will surely appeal to them as much as its design potential.

TRADA is already moving ahead on this front, with online resources for university lecturers in architecture and engineering, and has appointed a Universities Engagement Manager to make regular contact with them.

As far as the timber sector itself is concerned, TRADA’s vision is to develop concepts and product solutions which shape the market, change specifiers’ perceptions of timber and take it into new areas of application, at home and overseas. That ranges from understanding and communicating how timber can meet the performance needs of a particular product, to developing product solutions to meet or pre-empt new technical, environmental or legislative requirements. In this we will need greater cross-industry collaboration and TRADA can be instrumental in arbitrating this co-operation.

We wish to see many more new buildings designed using timber. TRADA’s goal is for timber to be the natural first choice material for construction and for TRADA to be at the centre of this development.

The John Hope Gateway The John Hope Gateway Biodiversity Centre at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh, is a threshold to one of the world’s most important botanical institutions and was created as an outstanding example of green construction and sustainability. Designed by Edward Cullinan Architects, working with Buro Happold as structural engineers, led by Ian Hargreaves, the Gateway is a showcase for some of the new materials which are giving timber an increasing edge.

Most visitors enter the botanic gardens through the double-height entrance foyer, a dramatic space supported by a diagrid of tapering glulam beams and framing a view of the garden beyond. The foyer leads into a large exhibition space with a fully glazed east wall, 60 metres long, which forms a gentle curve to frame views of the new biodiversity garden. In contrast, the service elements of the building are enclosed in solid external walls of broken-edged, stacked Caithness slate slabs.

Appropriately, timber was chosen as the material to unify and bind the building together. It is used in the roof, floors and staircase as structure, as cladding to parts of the external walls and as furniture. Wherever possible, the use of Scottish, then British, then European materials was specified to minimise transport distances to site.

As the building is designed for long life, it was important to use durable and stable materials. In brief, three types of engineered timber along with solid timber were used in the building’s construction: • Glulam, used for the primary and secondary beams to the first floor and roof, is European whitewood from Sweden, formed into glulam beams in France by using 45mm thick laminations.

John Hope Gateway Biodiversity Centre

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•

•

•

•

•

First floor and roof decks are of cross-laminated

spruce panels manufactured in Austria. Exposed partitions are also made of these panels.

Douglas fir structural veneered lumber (SVL) from Germany was used for the mullions and transoms of the timber-framed glazing system. To maintain a consistent palette of materials, SVL was also used to construct the helical staircase and major items of furniture such as the reception desk and bar. SVL is made of thin veneers of timber (approx 2mm wide), glued together to form large sheets.

Vertically lapped, untreated Scottish larch boards

fixed on battens act as a rainscreen cladding system designed in consultation with TRADA Technology to ensure minimal maintenance and easy replacement of the boards.

The helical staircase continues the horizontally

layered emphasis of the building’s design. It is constructed from SVL sheet, cut and bonded together to form solid treads and curved balustrade, and reinforced with vertical steel bars.

Tables in the restaurant were cut from seasoned logs felled in the garden itself. They join together to form large ‘composite’ tables in the evenings.

TRADA vision at a glance TRADA’s aims include: • To facilitate connections between suppliers and

specifiers, producers and users to encourage better use of timber throughout the supply chain • To help develop timber’s position as the pre-eminent material for sustainable construction • To become known worldwide as the best source

of knowledge on timber and its application in construction

A sustainable, low-energy, minimum-waste approach to the building’s design was part of the message the garden wished to convey to its visitors. The Gateway has many demonstrable environmental solutions, including the extensive use of timber. They include a biomass boiler, a green roof, rainwater harvesting, a wind turbine, photovoltaics, solar collectors for hot water, natural ventilation and passive night-time cooling. The sedum roof reduces heat gain to the building in summer, slows down rainwater run-off and provides an extra blanket of insulation. The design of all these elements is explained in the permanent exhibition on the ground floor of the Gateway - this engagement with the public is an important contribution to the project.

Project information Client:

Architect(s): Main Contractor: Contractor(s) Structural Engineer(s): Timber Sub-contractor(s):

Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh Edward Cullinan Architects Max Fordham Xircon, Elmwood, Ben Dawson Buro Happold Donaldson & McConnell

TRADA’s vision is to develop concepts and product solutions which shape the market

[Extract from a case study at www.trada.co.uk].

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CONSERVATION Page 129 - Invasive Species - Non-Native Species -Richard Benyon, Environment Minister Page 130-132 - Conservation - Spring Eco-Opportunities Not to be Missed - James B. Lloyd, Managing Director, The Herpetosure

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NONNATIVE SPECIES Richard Benyon, Environment Minister We often read about the problems caused by ‘alien’ species, with frequent stories in the news about the likes of the grey squirrel and its impact on the native red population. Non-native species are those that have been taken from their natural habitat and introduced to our country by the activity of humans. Most of these are not harmful and have contributed positively to the natural history and economy of Great Britain - without food such as tomatoes and potatoes our diet would be more boring, and our gardens would be duller without the sweet peas and sunflowers that add colour.

However some non-native species can have a devastating impact, affecting native animals and plants and causing £1.7 billion worth of economic damage every year to the British economy.

Japanese Knotweed is a well-known pest to many industries in Britain. A vigorous weed that can grow through tarmac, erode riverbanks and clog waterways, every year it drains about £150 million from the UK’s economy - costing tens of millions of pounds to clear from the Olympic site alone.

Over £2.5 million is spent each year on limiting the damage caused by American signal crayfish to UK waterways. This invasive species poses a threat to the survival of the native white-clawed crayfish through competition, predation and the spread of crayfish plague.

Signal crayfish also frustrate angling activity by stealing bait from lines and damaging our river banks with their burrowing activity.

The Government’s approach to invasive non-native species is set out in the Invasive Non-native Species Framework Strategy for Great Britain. We are working with a broad spectrum of organisations from government, industry and the conservation sector to take forward this ambitious programme of work. Since the publication of the Strategy in 2008 much progress has been made such as: the development of risk assessments for nonnative species; the development of a monitoring and alert mechanism; provision of guidance and information for the public; and the management and research into of a range of non-native species.

This week Defra’s launched its Stop the Spread campaign, targeting recreational water users such as anglers and canoeists who have a vested interest in the protection of the natural environment. These groups can unwittingly assist the spread of harmful species from one water body to another by inadvertently carrying organisms, eggs and plant fragments on their equipment, shoes and clothing. Water users can help stop the spread of these species by following some simple biosecurity practices – checking, cleaning, drying such items when leaving the water.

Such measures will be crucial in the fight against the spread of Dikerogammarus villosus – more commonly known as the “killer shrimp”. This organism is renowned for its voracious appetite and kills on a massive scale whenever it invades a new territory only to leave its prey uneaten. This puts native species such as damselflies, water boatmen and even small fish at risk of becoming extinct, with potential for massive disruption to the ecology of habitats.

The shrimp can lay up to 200 eggs at a time and can live for up to half a month outside the water in damp conditions. Water users such as anglers and canoeists can unwittingly assist the spread of these species from one water body to another by inadvertently carrying individuals, eggs, larvae and viable plant fragments on their equipment, shoes, clothing and other damp places.

Defra hopes to check this by raising awareness about the threat and working with the public to tackle the problem now before it becomes any more widespread.

At the same time Defra is working in partnership with the aquaculture industry and the Scottish and Welsh governments to promote the Be Plant Wise campaign – an initiative to raise awareness among gardeners, pond owners and retailers of the damage caused by invasive aquatic plants and to encourage the public to use and dispose of these plants correctly.

We continue to take measures to protect globally endangered species which are put at risk by nonEuropean wildlife. A quarter of the world’s population of White-Headed Ducks resides in Spain where they are at risk from the interbreeding activity of the Ruddy Duck which originates from the United States. In order to ensure their survival as a distinct species, the UK is working alongside other partner countries to eradicate the European Ruddy Duck population by 2015.

In Europe only about 15% of non-native species harm our natural world and a similar amount cause economic damage. So a balanced approach is needed. Nevertheless it is important that government, industry, wildlife groups and the public work together to help stop the spread of invasive non-native species and understand the dangers of their release into the wild, and the Government remains committed to this.

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Spring Eco-Opportunities Not to be Missed

James B. Lloyd, Managing Director, The Herpetosure Group The spring season is packed with key dates and ecoopportunities for developers to get ahead, yet year on year many in the industry fail to take the initiative and suffer expensive consequences.

Most developers are aware that finding protected species on-site comes with costs and obligations, but the majority have little knowledge of the set-in-stone timetable to which they must adhere in order to ensure their scheme’s progress.

Ecologists start getting noisy at this time of year, impressing on project teams the importance of commissioning ecological surveys before the spring window closes – they are touting of course, but they’re right! Survey data is a crucial part of the planning application process; in most instances, no survey data means, no planning application - a long and often frustrating wait follows.

There are many protected animal species which we are obliged to consider, but particularly at this time of year developer’s attention should be drawn to European Protected species’ the Great Crested Newt (GCN)!

It’s a given fact that through the course of the year there will be projects delayed by GCN; after all, despite recent declines of this species, England is thought to support a significant number of newt breeding sites on a European scale, and therefore their appearance on Green and Brownfield developments is extremely frequent.

Some developers are surprised to be told that they need a newt survey on their seemingly concrete-covered and inhospitable site; but what is often not realised is that if ponds capable of supporting GCN are found nearby (within 500 metres) a survey may be necessary before planning approval can be given. With ecology, often what surrounds the site is as important as what is on it!

Recent advice from Natural England has opened the door for survey areas to be reduced but this is very dependent on the type and nature of the proposed development.

This is something a good ecological consultant will advise on.

The big questions are - where do I start and how do I know what surveys I have to do?

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features in and around your site. This information gives developers their first insight as to what protected species could affect their project and prescribe which further ‘species specific’ surveys are going to be required before moving forward. A Phase One survey usually asks more questions than it answers and in 99.9% of cases will not be sufficient to support a planning application.

If this survey indicates a potential GCN population you will need a GCN survey. If this is you then make a start now; GCN surveys can only be carried out between MidMarch and Mid-June (with a number of visits having to be carried out before Mid-May) and missing this window will mean a 12 month wait before you can get planning.

The GCN survey is fairly intensive and involves a minimum of four visits to each water body. If GCN are found then an additional two visits will be necessary. If all six visits are not completed, within the prescribed survey window, it is unlikely that Natural England will grant a European Protected Species (EPS) licence and your project could be delayed by at least 12 months.

The major issue is that protection extends to GCN habitat as well as the newt itself; this means that if GCN use or access your site as terrestrial habitat you will not be able to carry out any works without an EPS licence. You should also know that EPS licences are not issued without planning approval and this is where developers often go round in circles.

The simple message is this; if you don’t have a Phase One Habitat Survey, you need one; if you have one, and potential newt habitats have been identified you need to get your GCN survey completed before the survey window closes, so don’t delay.

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Protected species surveys are required for other species including Reptiles, Water Voles, Badgers, Bats, Otters, breeding birds and more. Very often sites with wide ranging habitat types will demand multi-species surveys all of which are time-critical.

Surprisingly, these surveys also have a shelf life and simply become out of date; if you are intending to make a planning application later this year it is worth checking that your data is still current and robust enough to satisfy your application. Ideally survey data should be no more than two years old.

In addition to protected species habitats, Phase One’s also spot the presence of invasive weeds like Japanese Knotweed, Himalayan Balsam and Giant Hogweed.

There is a raft of invasive species developers need to know about but without question the most high profile and best known on the list is Japanese Knotweed.

Japanese Knotweed is known for being infamously difficult to kill and expensive to deal with – this said the most cost effective knotweed treatment programmes kick off in spring!

Japanese Knotweed, like most plants, raises its head at this time of year; often appearing in late April as small, red asparagus-like shoots which rocket up to form stands of up to three metres in height – this is the time to strike!

By far the cheapest way of eradicating Japanese Knotweed (JK) is via herbicidal means, and spring, as plants display aggressive growth and healthy leaf cover, is the best time to get herbicide into growing Knotweed stands.

Many companies claim to be able to eradicate Japanese Knotweed in one growing season using herbicide – whilst this is not a false claim, it can only be achieved if the treatment starts in spring. If this is something your development programme demands, start involving a reputable eradication company now; delaying treatment to later in the year could be a costly move that sees you forced into using expensive excavation-oriented solutions in order to meet your build programme.

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Spring is not only a key time for protected species surveys and Knotweed killing; it is also a very important time to carry out ecological translocation works.

Certain ecological implementation works need to be carried within restricted time windows and in particular GCN and reptile translocation. This is the process of trapping, collecting and relocating animals to a new habitat.

Those who have not yet been required to carryout a newt or reptile translocation on their schemes should take note; these can be both time consuming and expensive.

As mentioned previously, an EPS licence is required before GCN translocations can take place; just processing the licence application through Natural England takes around Six weeks or longer if an application is rejected first time.

Once a licence is granted the newt translocation can get underway; this involves installing newt fencing and pitfall traps around the site, followed by the trapping or translocation period.

The larger the surveyed population of newts the longer the translocation period needs to be; for small populations the minimum is 30 days, for medium populations a minimum of 60 days, and for high populations a minimum of 90 days. Translocation programmes can only cease once 5 clear days have been achieved where no newts are found, which can see translocations extend past the 30, 60 or 90 day minimums.

In short, these works take longer than many in the industry are aware; the earlier in the season you can get a translocation under way the lower your risk of extended delays. Many who delay until late in the season fail to complete translocations before the cold weather starts in late autumn, at which time newts cannot be trapped and the translocation is put on hold until the following spring.

It is vital that developers and main contractors understand the ecological calendar; the right ecological action at this time of year will pay dividends and can make or break project programmes – use spring wisely!

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MISCELLANY Page 135 - Environment Prosecutions Page 136 - 137 - “Putting The Theory Into Practice” - Terry Nash, Director, UK Sustainable Development Association “ Page 140 - Ideas In Transit Page 142-144 - Sustainability Live 2011 Page 145 - 146 - Mapping - Making Airborne Mapping Work - Dr Kyle Brown, Geomatics Group Page 148 - New skills for a new future! - Joan Randle, CAT Page 150 - 157 - Case Studies Page 158 - 160 - Pig Business - Tracy Worcester

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROSECUTIONS Boater who flouted registration law fined Surrey doughnut company creamed in court A renowned doughnut company was today (Friday 11 March) ordered to pay more than £12,000 for failing to comply with the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2005 and 2007.

Woking Magistrates’ Court fined Krispy Kreme UK Ltd £8,000 and ordered it to pay compensation of £3,096

A boater caught using his launch on the River Thames without a valid registration has been convicted by magistrates and ordered to pay a total of 327 GBP in fines and costs.

Gavin Harwood, 34, of Gosling Road, Whitton, Middlesex, was fined £80, ordered to pay compensation of £172.26, £60 costs and a £15 victim surcharge, a total of £327.26. He pleaded guilty by post before the hearing at Richmond Magistrates’ Court. The offence is contrary to the Environment Agency (Inland Waterways) Order 2010

Renewables business fined for pollution More than seven kilometres of a stream were polluted by brown organic waste from a new renewable energy business King’s Lynn Magistrates’ Court heard yesterday.

The company responsible, CH4 Power Ltd was fined a total of £5,000 and ordered to pay full Environment Agency costs of £7,284.

The pollution happened while CH4 Power was in the process of setting up an anaerobic digestion plant at Moat Road Farm in Terrington St Clement for the recycling of organic waste to generate electricity, the court heard.

Thames Water ordered to pay £345,000 after serious sewage spill A water company which allowed thousands of litres of raw sewage to discharge into gardens, allotments, homes and streams over a tenweek period has been fined £204,000 for 15 environmental offences by Bromley Magistrates’ Court.

In addition Thames Water Utilities Ltd was ordered to pay the Environment Agency’s costs of £139,689.98 and compensation totalling £2,250 to two badly affected local residents

Hampshire company ordered to pay £14,500 for waste permit breaches

Poultry farm fined over 'plague' of flies

A Hampshire company which failed to obtain the necessary permits for its waste and recycling operation has been ordered to pay a total of £14,515 by magistrates.

The operator of a Devon poultry unit has been ordered to pay more than £8,000 in fines and costs after it caused an 'explosion' in the local fly population.

Hutchings & Carter Ltd (H&C) was fined £4,000, ordered to pay £10,500 costs and a £15 victim surcharge at Aldershot Magistrates’ Court. It admitted two charges under the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2007 and 2010.

The case was brought by the Environment Agency.

On June 29, 2009 two Agency officers visited Worden Farm, Milton Damerel to discuss complaints about flies. They were accompanied by officers from the Environmental Health department of Torridge District Council. The farm is run by W J Watkins & Son Ltd and consists of five buildings housing some 390,000 chickens.

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“PUTTING THE THEORY INTO PRACTICE”

By Terry Nash, Director, UK Sustainable Development Association The working premise of the UK-SDA is that we need to reduce our consumption of finite fossil fuels by economising on energy usage and by substituting energy from renewable sources wherever possible; either way, however, management actions and investment decisions need to be properly informed by as much firm practical data as possible.

It is in this context that the Sustain Lincolnshire Energy Efficiency & Renewable Technology Demonstration Project is to be particularly welcomed, as in a structured way a number of technologies are to be monitored over a full 12 month period to assess the contribution that they make to delivering energy-savings in four serviced office blocks. … Sustain Lincolnshire …

The Sustain Lincolnshire initiative is a programme of activities led by Lincolnshire County Council, aimed at helping the County’s businesses to become more competitive whilst at the same time reducing their carbon footprint and safeguarding the environment.

This programme is being part-funded through the European Regional Development Fund and is managed in the region by the East Midlands Development Agency and Lincolnshire County Council through County Council and European Union single programme funding. … technology demonstration …

This cocktail of funding and management resources has enabled four of the County Council’s managed business centres to be assessed to determine how best to improve their energy efficiency by using the most appropriate energy reduction and renewable technology solutions available.

The project will demonstrate how to drive down consumption, with the lessons learned being disseminated to a wider audience via a web-portal, publication of outcomes, and participation in local, regional and national workshops and conferences. The evaluations will run for a 12 month period commencing 1st April 2011, and a final report produced in May next year.

During the project, the general energy-saving approach that will be adopted will include for each of the four “test-bed” buildings: •Appointment of an “energy champion” •Setting and meeting targets through agreed energy-saving strategies •Installation of additional energy-saving technologies •Substantially upgrading the energy and water consumption information available to managers … renewable technologies …

An important feature of the project will be to document the inservice performance and cost-effectiveness of a range of renewable technologies over a full year of operations. The technologies monitored will include those already installed at some of the buildings, such as rainwater harvesting, wind-source power and air-source heat, together with a complementary mix of other technologies that can be compared and contrasted.

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One of the oldest centres, Oak House in Lincoln, for example, will be fitted with a mini combined heat and power unit, whilst both Minerva House, Holbeach and Mercury House, Gainsborough, will have installed 3.96kWp solar PV arrays – the latter being sun-tracker mounted to provide additional comparative data. Minerva House will also benefit from an additional extracted air-source heating system, whilst lowenergy lighting and light-level sensors will be installed at Eventus, Market Deeping. All buildings will also be equipped with PC power-down devices. … measuring to manage …

One of the keys to the success of the project will be the installation of vastly improved energy and water measuring and management equipment, which will provide managers with detailed information on what resources are being used, where and when. The monitoring and management system involves metering consumption to a much more detailed level than is generally required for utility billing purposes.

This means that instances when energy or water are being used wastefully can be speedily identified and corrective actions taken; similar metering and monitoring of heat and power generation, and rainwater harvesting, will enable renewables technologies to be kept under review – or automatic alerts activated – to ensure system malfunctions are quickly spotted and rectified. It also means that in shared space, such as serviced offices, tenants can take ownership of their own consumption.

The data being captured will be transferred automatically to a password protected internet website where it will be stored and processed.

Authorised managers and other users will then be able to access the data on their PCs or mobile devices anywhere in the world at any time. The website is also designed to present the data in user-friendly ways that help to support the decision-making processes. … energy-saving strategies ..

The energy-saving strategies to be employed in the buildings will reflect the physical characteristics of the four structures, the renewable technologies they employ, and local usage factors. They will, however, share in common the need to avoid wasting energy, making best use of existing Building Management Systems, and substituting renewable energy and water for mains supplies wherever possible. It is also hoped that the monitoring system will give a representative indication of how newer and older buildings compare in energy usage terms.

People, their comfort and personal behaviour in relation to power-usage will also play a key role in the project and the implementation of the energy saving strategies, with the aim being to identify everyday measures that we can all take to reduce workplace carbon footprints. The results and conclusions of the project will therefore be widely disseminated so that as many can benefit as possible. … working in association …

Another feature of this particular project was the need to meet public sector procurement requirements, whilst also adhering to very tight funding-imposed timescales; this meant that multiple quotes for multiple technologies were required from suitable suppliers, a task made much easier by the supplyside resources directory provided by the UK Sustainable Development Association website (see www.uk-sda.org).

This facility is free to use, with listings also free on application to service and product suppliers.

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Thanks for the makeover!

EMERGE is proud to announce a re-launch of its pioneering recycling and waste management services for businesses in Greater Manchester. Having reviewed their services and undertaken market research to clarify client requirements, the East Manchester based social enterprise can confidently offer a suitably wide menu of competitively priced options to meet the needs of the majority – from big to small, simple or complex. EMERGE can also provide collections of residual (general) or food waste as well as offering a wide range of bins to suit any customer.

“Added value” help to meeting Corporate Social Responsibility objectives is also available through EMERGE’s latest educational initiative: Zero Waste Champions. The aim is to recruit visionary individuals from all walks of life, including businesses, who seek to lead sustainable lifestyles and help others do the same.

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Climate Week with an EMERGE Group exhibition showcasing all their work and shining the spotlight on the need to save our resources.

Examples of EMERGE’s re-branded vehicles were unveiled on Albert Square by Councillor. Jim Battle, Deputy Leader, Manchester City Council, John Walker, Chairman, Federation of Small Businesses, (FSB) and Peter Davys, National Councillor for the FSB North West who is also MD of Orrest Business Solutions. It was all thanks to Peter that the EMERGE fleet was transformed, due to his connections with HMG Paints. Stephen Crossman and Paddy Dyson represented HMG. Currently celebrating 80 years of manufacturing in Manchester, HMG Paints has highlighted its strong local ties by donating paint for the fleet of EMERGE vehicles that provide conurbation-wide waste collections. In keeping with the environmental ethos of EMERGE, HMG is supplying 100 litres of its eco-friendly, low emission,

transport coatings free of charge. The Manchester paint maker, which has a strong environmental track record regarding the application of its coatings and the management of its production site, is also in discussions about future potential recycling initiatives with EMERGE. The link between the surface coatings’ producer and the recycling enterprise was provided by Peter Davys of Orrest Business Solutions, who did his apprenticeship with HMG Paints 30 years ago and is now a trustee at EMERGE. A well respected figure in the coatings industry, Peter has contributed significantly towards the training of technical people through his involvement with Pro Skills and the British Coatings Federation, for which HMG Managing Director, John Falder, chairs the Vehicle Refinish Group.

For refinishing the nine EMERGE vehicles, HMG used a low VOC, acrylic compliant coating, teamed with a polyurethane anti-corrosive primer, which together produce the ultimate gloss finish. The topcoat is in EMERGE’s characteristic green, with the colour specially mixed by hand to reduce the carbon output. The resulting finish will afford excellent protection against harsh weather conditions, atmospheric pollution, road dirt and

grime, harsh cleaning agents and mechanical brush washes, maintaining the vehicles appearance for many years to come, despite arduous waste collection duties.

As a gesture of thanks, the HMG Paints logo is to be incorporated into the laminated, wraparound promotional livery.

“As a paint manufacturer, we take sustainable production, waste disposal, material recycling and anti-pollution measures very seriously and have gained awards for our environmental initiatives,” says HMG Paints MD, John Falder. “We are delighted to support EMERGE in this practical manner and will be proud to have our name on their vehicles. We’ve always said our paints cover everything, now that includes rubbish!”

EMERGE is very grateful to the companies who sponsored the rebranding of the fleet: HMG Paints, Enviromedia, Valpak, Orrest, the FSB and ELAS.

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GeoVation moves towards climax On 11 February, the GeoVation Challenge, ‘How Can We Improve Transport In Britain’ closed to new entries, with the deadline undoubtedly seeing many an entrant scurrying to finalise their submission. And with a share of £150,000 on offer, thanks largely to Ideas in Transit and Technology Strategy Board, there was every reason to take it seriously.

GeoVation is Ordnance Survey innovation network, which aims to support sustainable business ideas that use geography for social, economic or environmental benefit.

Over the course of the current transport challenge, a total of 155 ideas were submitted, including ones from online cycling route planner, CycleStreets and MySociety the organisation that builds websites that promote democratic transparency. The ideas themselves range from the proposal to build powerful web mapping tools to empower cycling campaigners; to the notion of building a sat nav for train drivers.

The full range of ideas are available to view on the GeoVation website at www. geovation.org.uk/geovationchallenge.

Once again we’ve been delighted at the quality and scope of the ideas submitted and the level of passion in evidence from the entrants.

The idea of using geography to improve transport clearly struck a chord, and with the increasingly availability of open data from local government and central

government, including our own OS OpenData, it seems people have been itching to bring their expertise to bear.

There is a real chance for someone to use geography to help make the world a slightly better place to live in.

Despite the overall quality of the entries, only a select few were able to make it to the next stage and be invited to the GeoVation Camp at the new Ordnance Survey new head office at the end of March. At the camp those entrants will be given expert advice of taking their idea forward to a fully fledged venture plan that focuses on how their idea will solve a specific problem.

Among the ideas going forward are a real time parcel tracking service and the idea of building a game that encourages more sustainable transport behaviour.

Again, you can read more about the ideas invited to the GeoVation Camp on the website.

The best of those GeoCampers will then be invited to pitch for the cash at the grand showcase event on 4 May where everyone is welcome to attend. You can book your seat for May’s GeoVation Showcase now – it promises to be an unmissable day.

Book your place at geovationshowcase2011.eventbrite. com

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Facing the water deficit - International Water and Effluent Exhibition (IWEX) As one of the largest accredited forums in the country for water organisations and utilities companies, IWEX already has more than 70 companies signed up for the 2011 exhibition.

Visitors to IWEX will have the opportunity to speak to representatives from companies such as Schneider Electric, Technolog Ltd, Utilitec Services Ltd, WEG Electric Motors, and SEBA KMT UK. The busy seminar programme at this year’s event will discuss key issues including the latest legislation, SUDS and flood management, FOG (fat oil and grease) solutions, waste water management and smart metering.

IWEX highlights will also include the 23rd Institute of Water National Drilling and Tapping Championship. This is traditionally a hotly contested event where the best practitioners from the water companies test their skills in drilling and tapping a high pressure water main, each hoping to be crowned champion.

Sustainabilitylive! – the UK’s leading event for the environment, water, land, energy and sustainable business sectors One of the outstanding environmental events of the year, Sustainabilitylive!, is returning to the NEC in Birmingham from 24th to 26th May 2011.

Attracting more than 400 exhibitors, Sustainabilitylive! is made up of five premier shows across the water, energy, land, environment and sustainability sectors.

The event (which is free to visitors) provides an outstanding platform for companies and other organisations to share sustainable, cutting-edge technologies and industry innovations. Alongside the exhibition, is a three-day conference and seminar programme where key business leaders and practitioners will be able to explore current industry issues, best practise and pioneering applications.

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And following its success last year, IWEX again presents its University Challenge which highlights the best research carried out in the water sector. Entries will be judged on innovation, technical content and commercial potential.

Last year’s winners were The University of Sheffield with their research project on Data Driven Leak Detection. The presentations will be held and judged on Thursday 26th May in the Water Theatre.

Celebrating 20 years - Environmental Technology Exhibition (ET) Confirming its place as the UK’s foremost industry event within the environmental sector, ET will bring together around 60 companies specialising in areas including air pollution control, transport carbon reduction and commercial waste minimisation.

Visitors will be spoilt for choice with a raft of high-profile companies and institutions already signed up including Environmental Innovations Ltd, NLS, Simplifi Solutions Ltd, Birmingham City University, metnet (Marches Environmental Technology Network), Retsch UK Ltd, and Birmingham Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

In a packed programme of seminars, speaker topics include commercial and industrial waste management, waste procurement, recycling and licensing standards, waste to energy, CAD, environmental legislation, air pollution,

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managing firewater spillage as well as green transport.

A focus on carbon reduction at the National Energy Management Exhibition (NEMEX) With carbon reduction high on the agenda of governments across the world, businesses are under increasing pressure to review and reduce their energy usage. This year, NEMEX will feature some of the biggest names in the energy sector including British Gas Business, Powerstar, Business Stream, powerPerfector, Monodraught Ltd, and Siemens Metering Services.

The seminar programme will address a wide range of issues including government policy, skills and training, carbon reduction strategies, and energy standards.

Delegates can also attend sessions on grants and financing, procurement and energy supply, energy efficiency services and behavioural changes required for implementing energy efficiency measures.

Visitors to NEMEX can also take advantage of the colocated exhibition HEVAR, the essential event in the UK for buyers and specifiers in the heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration industry which includes seminars on energy management in a range of environments, as well as renewable technologies. In addition, there will be sessions run by the Heat Pump Association and BRE on Wednesday 25th May 2011.

The first word in brownfield regeneration - Brownfield Expo (BEX) The premier national event for remediation and contaminated land solutions, BEX is the UK’s only exhibition for brownfield regeneration. The expo provides a forum for specifiers and providers of contaminated land solutions and will give visitors access to industry stalwarts like Cornelsen, Ground Remediation Systems, Adventus Europe GmbH, Derwentside Environmental Testing Services, Regenesis Ltd, RPS, and PA Geotechnical Ltd. Seminar speakers will address regeneration legislation, liability and risk assessment, environmental forensics and new remediation technologies, spill control, asbestos clean-up as well as soil stabilisation, ground gas and invasive species management.

Exploring corporate sustainability at Sustainable Business - The Event Sustainable Business - The Event is a platform for businesses to embrace effective corporate sustainable strategies and brings into focus key sustainability drivers.

It attracts high calibre exhibitors, visitors, and environmental decision-makers across the full spectrum of private and public sector organisations. Exhibitors already signed up include NQA, BSI, Envac UK Ltd, Environmental Sustainability KTN, and Toshiba TEC UK Imaging Systems. This year’s lead event sponsor is Siemens plc, with Parsons Brinckerhoff, powerPerfector and BSI now confirmed as co-sponsors. |144| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

The conference programme will explore topics such as the coalition government’s plans for a low-carbon economy, retrofitting and future-proofing the built environment and sustainable transport.

Recognising excellence and innovation – the Environment and Energy Awards The Environment and Energy Awards recognise excellence and innovation in sustainable business practices across the environment, land, energy and sustainable business sectors, and has attracted a record number of entries for 2011.

This year, the awards will have 13 categories including two new awards: Best Energy-Efficient Refurbishment Award and Best Energy Supplier Customer Service Award. Results will be announced at a gala dinner at the National Motorcycle Museum on Tuesday, 24 May 2011.

In summary…Sustainabilitylive! is a must-attend event for individuals and companies seeking to gain the tools and knowledge needed to compete in an economy increasingly driven by sustainability.

For up–to-date exhibitor news, seminar programmes, information on how to exhibit or how to register for free attendance visit www.sustainabilitylive.com or call +44 (0)20 8651 7120.

In 2011, Sustainabilitylive! is partnering with The Prince’s Mayday Network (www.maydaynetwork.com), the UK’s biggest business led movement of businesses and organisations taking action on climate change and resource depletion. Mayday businesses work together and with partners to seek out and promote the best solutions to the major environmental challenges we face.

All visitors are being asked if they wish to mitigate the impact of their travel to Sustainabilitylive! with a £1 donation to OxTreeGen, who aim to plant 1,000 trees in the Heart of England Forest, near the NEC. For more information, visit www.sustainabiliytlive.com/sustainable

Making airborne mapping work

Dr Kyle Brown (Senior Geomatics Analyst, Environment Agency Geomatics Group) Remote sensing in the UK has a chequered history, with both notable successes and failures to deliver claimed outcomes. The remote sensing industry has been guilty of failing to engage with end users, delivering technology lead products, rather than working towards solutions based on user requirements. In recent years this has changed, partially due to end users becoming more knowledgeable of the limitations and advantages of remote sensing and partially due to greater engagement and interaction of the remote sensing community with those end users. This has enabled projects and their outputs to be driven by user requirements, rather than technological advances or specific research interests of those analysing the remotely sensed data.

Successful projects tend to have interaction between the stakeholders at all stages, rather than just at the beginning and end of the project. This enables user input to define variables and conditions, tweaks to be applied to products and ensures that outputs meet user needs, rather than analystsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; perception of user needs.

elevation data required for accurate flood modelling.

Even now the majority of LIDAR data are acquired for this purpose. Due to this flood modelling requirement, today there is an extensive baseline of detailed elevation data within the UK, particularly of the coastal zone and flood plains. These baseline data are now being used for a variety of purposes that were not anticipated when the data were acquired, such as coastal morphology change mapping, vegetation mapping, insolation studies, illegal waste mapping, flood defence assessment, electricity line assessment and mapping archaeology.

Environment Agency Geomatics Group has strong links with Natural England, one of the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s advisors on the natural environment. One area of interest to them is morphological change at environmentally sensitive coastal sites around England. Traditionally, coastal zone monitoring over large areas has been carried out using ground based surveys along lines or transects.

The limitation of this approach is that between the survey lines there are no data, providing very limited and possibly unrepresentative information on morphological changes. As there are LIDAR data for more than 95% of the coast of England and Wales, in many cases there is an accurate baseline that may be used for mapping change.

Elevation change maps are relatively easy to produce and these may be used to provide outputs such as sediment volume change estimates. They can also be used to map changes in position of the coast and development of morphological features such as gravel bars, sand dunes and shingle ridges. Providing complete, continuous coastal morphological change data to Natural England means they are able to make more informed decisions about management of sites and can use these data to educate the public about coastal processes.

Image - Frontal sand dune & intertidal elevation change (2000-2009), red & pink = erosion, blue = accretion, North east coast

At the same time as greater interaction, technological developments in remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have also increased mapping possibilities. This has allowed the development of products ideally targeted at end user requirements. One of the major technologies that have made the use of remote sensing a more operational option is LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging).

Environment Agency Geomatics Group had the first UK based LIDAR system and started acquiring LIDAR data in 1996. Since that time LIDAR has moved from a niche product, viewed with some suspicion, to the work horse of UK remote sensing.

LIDAR data were first acquired in the UK to provide the fine resolution, high precision ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE |145|

Environmental Crime teams in the Environment Agency are interested in making assessments of illegal waste sites. They approached the team at Geomatics Group about developing techniques for making assessments using remotely sensed data. To do this, archive LIDAR are used to provide the ‘before’ status of a site. More recent LIDAR data, sometimes specifically acquired for the purpose (along with aerial photography), are used to provide the current conditions. Using these data, Geomatics Group can provide those involved in a prosecution with information on volumes of waste being dumped. Additionally, ‘before’ and ‘after’ images can be produced as a visual aid to understand the impacts of dumping. Without LIDAR, accurate volume information about illegal waste often isn’t available prior to the waste’s removal. As fines and compensation are generally set before waste removal, LIDAR provides a way of accurately setting compensation, as well as being used to provide information for the prosecution itself.

data acquired on a single mission. This was a great example of how large numbers of high quality products could be produced when highly accurate data were combined in the right project environment.

Another area where technology has provided a push is the increasing ability to acquire data from multiple instruments simultaneously. These data may be combined to provide products with increased accuracy, or completely new products that could not be generated from a single type of data. This is particularly true of airborne data, as it is relatively easy to mount multiple instruments on a plane. In this way simultaneous topographical elevation data, standard aerial photography, false-colour aerial photography, multispectral imagery and thermal data can be acquired.

Not only can each of the datasets be used for multiple purposes individually, but when combined a whole new range of products may be derived. Though the popular perception of remote sensing is that it is expensive, remotely sensed data can work out significantly cheaper than other sources of data, if the value per-map or output is taken into account.

Remote sensing cannot provide all of the answers, but by targeting its use to areas where there is the possibility of multiple outputs, by being smart in the acquisition of data and by ensuring that users are involved in product development and production, remote sensing has a strong future in UK mapping.

Due to the multi-purpose outputs that may be derived from the data, there is now the realisation that the acquisition of remotely sensed data for a single area is of interest to government and businesses, as well as local interest groups. In an environment where multiple organisations fund data acquisition, costs per partner are reduced. The knowledge base used to generate the outputs is also shared, thus increasing the usefulness of the derived operational products. When this is the case, the interaction between those commissioning the data acquisition and those producing the data products is at the heart of the project and is the key to its success.

A recent project carried out by Geomatics Group, funded by many organisations, including Dartmoor National Park Authority, Natural England and South West Water, looked at the provision of various map outputs of Dartmoor National Park using airborne remote sensing.

Archaeology, ecological variables, hydrology, erosion and grazing land quality were some of the map outputs produced from the LIDAR, multispectral and photography |146| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

An area where remote sensing has a distinct advantage over other forms of monitoring is in terms of legacy potential. Data acquired from the ground tend to have single or limited use, for example a habitat map. We have seen from the LIDAR examples above that there are a great number of potential uses of remotely sensed data acquired at a single time. These uses are not necessarily considered at the time of data acquisition. This means that, in some instances, baselines for variables may be acquired, even though the variable may not have been considered. Once the data have been acquired, they may be re-worked to provide multiple map outputs a long time after acquisition, as changes in monitoring requirements dictate.

Image - Environment Agency Geomatics Group's Cessna survey aircraft

Image below - DTM derived from Airborne LIDAR, revealing iron age fort, Sherfield on Loddon, near Basingstoke, Hampshire

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New skills for a new future!

By Joan Randle, CAT

The Centre for Alternative Technology in Mid Wales, Europe’s leading Eco Centre, has been running courses in sustainability for over 35 years. These range from taster days to a Professional Doctorate degree, all taught in the award winning Wales Institute for Sustainable Education (WISE) which opened in June 2010.

The Wales Institute for Sustainable Education is a unique venue. WISE is the most beautiful combination of environmentally conscious design and cutting-edge sustainable building techniques. The venue is sensitively constructed out of low embodied energy materials such as hemp and lime, rammed earth and sustainably sourced timber. The supply of on-site renewable energy sources, including biomass and solar power, means that WISE is a truly sustainable venue.

By providing inspiration, information and skills, courses at the Centre for Alternative Technology help enable participants to live and work in a more sustainable way.

Sustainability is at the core of everything taught.

Living and working with sustainable systems allows CAT’s teaching staff to be hands on practitioners as well as theoretical experts.

The Eco Cabins were built over 20 years ago, for the use of school and youth groups and are excellent examples of ‘living the technology’. The cabins were designed using the Segal timber frame method. A simple series of frames resting on concrete pads forms the structure. The interior is boarded and the exterior timber clad with a turf roof. They are of course very well insulated. Electricity comes from wind, hydro and solar. Roof mounted solar water heaters provide hot water and locally available timber provides a back up for heating. Wastewater and sewage is treated naturally in reed beds and water saving compost toilets are also available.

By monitoring electrical inputs and outputs, weighing wood before burning, monitoring water use and experiencing water heated by the sun, schoolchildren in their thousands over the years have really begun to appreciate their impact on the earths resources. They can also begin to understand that living in a sustainable way is not just about recycling.

The Graduate School for the Environment was established in 2007 and currently has over 700 students.

Post graduate degrees are accredited by the University of East London, the University of Wales Institute Cardiff and the Architects Registration Board, and include: |148| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

- MSc Architecture: Advanced Environmental and Energy Studies (distance learning also available).

- Professional Diploma Architecture: Advanced Environmental and Energy Studies.

- MSc Renewable Energy and the Built Environment.

- MSc Environmental Change and Practice: Buildings - Professional Doctorate: Ecological Building Services.

One of the educational aims of CAT has always been to teach people to think and to question. One recent graduate said; “ I would like to thank all the staff who have inspired and opened many doors in my mind over the last year and a half.”

Course delivery is in intensive 5-day modules. Students are able to remove themselves from their every day lives, wake up in a sustainable, breathing building, eat a healthy vegetarian breakfast and engage in stimulating discourse until collapsing into bed many hours later.

Another recent graduate commented; ‘I have thoroughly enjoyed studying at CAT as well as learning a huge amount about Renewable Energy. I am indebted to all the staff and students for cultivating such a unique and exhilarating learning environment.”

CAT also offers over 80 short courses lasting from half-day to 6 days. They cover renewable technologies, sustainable building, eco refurbishment, sustainable water and sewage management, organic gardening and more. Some courses are tailored specifically to train installers of photovoltaic, solar thermal, biomass, heat pumps and rainwater harvesting systems.

Courses are accredited by City and Guilds, BPEC, Logic and the Energy Institute and are open to people of all ages and abilities. Participants value the hands on approach in a location where systems are real and not virtual.

Recent events in Japan have shown us just how fragile our modern urban high-tech existence is. A city with 35 million people with scarce food, power supplies and transport. Residents are advised to stay indoors or leave.

Where can 35 million people go?

Sustainable systems will not protect us from natural disasters but they may prevent man made ones and allow a more speedy recovery.

CASE STUDY When the parishioners of one of the UK’s finest Anglo Saxon churches were looking at how to make their place of worship more environmentally friendly, they took inspiration from a BBC’s Songs of Praise feature on St Denys Church in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, which had fitted solar Photovoltaic (PV) power generating panels.

Now, after a £50,000 investment, the congregation at All Saints Church, Wing with Grove in Buckinghamshire has not only reduced the building’s carbon footprint significantly but also found a way of generating an income for decades to come.

The PV Array from Mitsubishi Electric was installed by Freewatt Ltd which is the leading solar PV installer in Lincolnshire and the surrounding counties. Freewatt, which also installed the system at St Denys Church, specialises in designing and installing solar PV systems for domestic, commercial, schools, churches and investment projects.

The company has developed a unique method of attaching PV Arrays to church roofs, which helps comply with planning permission. In the

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

CHURCH TAPS INTO

POWER

FROM ABOVE - Mitsubishi Electric

case of All Saints, the 54 PV panels were installed on the nave and south aisle roofs and are cleverly hidden from view behind the church’s parapet.

“We wanted to support the Church of England’s national environmental campaign called Shrinking the Footprint,” explained former church warden Martin Findlay, who led the project. “In light of the current global climate change crisis, we felt that, in addition to praying at services for Christians to look after God’s creation, the Church should take action to reduce its carbon footprint.”

The PCC began a feasibility study into the scheme and then began to raise funds, get a ‘faculty’ (special permission from the Diocese to carry out the work), and planning permission from Aylesbury Vale District Council.

Findlay visited St Denys Church in Sleaford to find out more after realising that all churches face east and are therefore likely to have south-facing roofs, which are ideal for solar installations. He then contacted Freewatt directly.

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“Martin was impressed with the work we had carried out at St Denys and asked if we could see how feasible it would be for All Saints,” said Julian Patrick, Managing Director of Freewatt. “We have worked extensively on sensitive historic buildings which is why we developed our unique clamping system so I knew we could help as soon as we saw the Church.”

Now, with the installation by Freewatt, the Church will benefit from an annual income of around £3,000 under the government’s Feed-In Tariff (FIT). This sees energy suppliers making regular payments to householders and communities who generate their own electricity from renewable or low carbon sources. All Saints will be able to sell the energy it produces to the National Grid.

In addition to significantly reducing their carbon footprint and generating a guaranteed long-term income, the congregation at All Saints can also bank on the reliability of Mitsubishi Electric PV panels which offer some of the longest performance warranties available.

To find out more about Freewatt, telephone 01427 787297 or visit www.freewatt.co.uk.

For further information on Mitsubishi Electric photovoltaics, email pv@meuk.mee.com or visit the website: www.mitsubishielectric.co.uk/pv

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CASE STUDY

LAFARGE CONCRETE HELPS PROVIDE NEW HOME FOR DARWIN PLANTS

PLANT specimens collected by Darwin during his voyage on the Beagle have found a new home in a landmark building constructed with Lafarge concrete.

The pressed and dried samples, part of a bank of more than a million, are being housed at the Sainsbury Laboratory, Cambridge University’s new state-of-the-art plant research centre.

Aptly located in a corner of the university’s 40 acre Botanical Garden – set out in 1831 by John Henslow, tutor and mentor of Darwin - the £80m centre is a two-storey angular structure formed from virtually seamless concrete slabs intercut with limestone columns and huge glazed windows.

Some of the world’s top botanical scientists will use the space, designed with lab rooms, support areas, meeting spaces, a seminar room and a publicly accessible ground floor café.

A third of the building is underground forming the environmentally controlled University Herbarium, the location for Darwin’s specimens. These specimens are considered a key resource in our understanding of plant evolution and biodiversity.

The project, now completed and due for an official opening later this year, presented a raft of challenges to realise the vision of architects Stanton Williams.

Designed in consultation with Bob McGhee, a leading American laboratory designer responsible for more than 50 laboratories for the Howard Hughes Foundation in the US, the building required solidity and strength combined with space and light.

The aim was to create a landmark collegial building, sensitive to the historic garden which forms both the setting and the inspiration for the innovative research to take place within its confines. To provide this sense of permanence coupled with permeability, Stanton Williams decided on concrete as the primary construction material.

A fundamental element of this was Lafarge’s decorative concrete Artevia, 2,100m3 of which, tinted with 20 tonnes of white pigment, was used for the wall facings. Perfecting the tint itself posed a particular problem. But tenacity paid off. Simon Morgan, Sector Manager for Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire, Lafarge Aggregates, said: “We went through 18 months of trials with various mixtures until we had a colour the architect was satisfied with. The idea was to have a building full of light and space and the walls needed to be bright and to reflect the natural daylight streaming through roof lights and windows. I think what went in our favour, apart from our product obviously, was our ability to offer consistency, our level of control and our determination to succeed.”

A total of 4,800m3 structural concrete and 3,500m3 of waterproof concrete was used alongside the 2,100m3 of Artevia to help create the U-shaped 11,000m² building.

Concrete sub-contractors Whelan and Grant |152| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

employed innovative pouring techniques, casting in-situ, to ensure surfaces were virtually seamless – again part of the architect’s vision for space and clean lines – linked to the central concept of integration between building and surroundings.

Enclosing a courtyard that is open to the botanic garden on its fourth side, the laboratory building is experienced as a series of landscaped spaces connected by a continuous route. The route, a ‘thinking path’ forming a modern day cloister on the ground floor and becoming an elevated concrete walkway on the first floor, connects the publicly accessible café, informal working spaces, social areas, labs and extends out into the botanic garden itself and its network of pathways, merging the building and landscape.

Floor to ceiling glazing, roof lights and the bright, white concrete walls attract and reflect light giving a feeling of openness.

Simon said: “A key priority for Lafarge is to ensure the business fulfils its responsibility in delivering ‘One Planet Living’ and environmental sustainability so it was a great honour to be part of this building project, providing a new focus for biodiversity research.

I had never been to a site as intricate as this was. It is amazing what has been done with our material. The final result is really quite an amazing building. We are delighted to have been involved in its construction and to have helped make it so extraordinary.”

The project meets Cambridge City Council’s planning requirement for 10% renewable on-site energy generation through use of photovoltaic panels and has been designed to achieve a BREEAM ‘Excellent’.

The centre will eventually house 120 scientists supported by more than 30 additional staff, studying plant growth and development.

Funding for the new laboratory has come from The Gatsby Charitable Foundation, one of the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts.

CASE STUDY

IKO PLC has provided an aesthetic green roof on Riverbank House, a prestigious 10 storey building constructed for Pace Investments / The City of London Corporation comprising 29,000m2 of high quality office space which overlooks the River Thames in the heart of EC4 in the city of London.

National envelope contractor, Prater Ltd, installed an IKOgreen extensive green roof system as the finished surface and an IKO PermaTEC Anti-Root Monolithic Hot Melt waterproofing system completed the impressive 3500m2 roofing project.

Prater worked with IKO to refine the original specification with a fully bonded waterproofing system which was then proposed to main contractor, Sir Robert McAlpine Limited. This solution provided extra waterproofing security under the green roof system, and was approved by David Walker Associates, and EPR Architects Ltd.

Speaking about the project, Sean Neary, Associate Director at Prater, said: “When specifying a roofing supplier for the project, we looked for a product which was commercially viable, aesthetically pleasing and sustainable.

IKO ticked all of those boxes as well as being cost effective. This resulted in the project being specified with a quality product and with cost savings to the final build.”

PermaTEC, developed by IKO PLC, is a highly advanced and innovative hot melt waterproofing system, which provides environmental benefits The structure comprised of a Kingspan Envirodeck Composite as well as market leading performance.

Panel, mechanically fixed to steel support purlins to provide a Providing zero wrapper waste, lower application suitable substrate to receive the PermaTEC / IKOgreen system. temperatures and anti-root protection, the The PermaTEC Anti-Root waterproofing system included 6mm of polyester reinforced rubberised bitumen and a reinforced protection product provides many operational advantages.

It is also manufactured in the UK, with a cap sheet fully bonded to the substrate. This was then followed dramatically lower carbon footprint than

by IKOgreen Plasfeed 5+1, a drainage/reservoir board providing imported systems. IKO’s green roof offers the a lightweight drainage layer and water reservoir to sustain plant end user improved air quality and aesthetic growth, and IKOgreen Extensive Growing Substrate. Finally an appearance, better thermal and acoustic IKOgreen Sedum Blanket, which was carefully chosen to provide performance and increased roof life expectancy. colour and interest throughout the year and offer an ‘instant greening’ of the roof finish, was used to complete the roof.

Issued courtesy of Pace Investments; for further information, visit www.ikoroofing.co.uk

SKY’S THE LIMIT FOR NEW LONDON GREEN ROOF

By IKO PLC

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CASE STUDY

Jones Bros and Balfour Beatty Undertaking New Porthmadog Bypass A long-awaited £35m bypass scheme to ease traffic congestion around a popular north Wales tourist town is making in-roads as engineers rise to the challenge of a series of environmental issues.

The 5.3km route runs parallel to the Cambrian coast mainline railway, crosses the Glaslyn estuary and skirts a working quarry, presenting structural as well as the environmental challenges for the engineers.

The discovery of Roman artefacts, a highly-invasive species of Japanese knotweed and a rare bat colony have all so far featured in the construction of the Porthmadog bypass scheme in north Wales.

“With any scheme of this size you would anticipate various environmental hurdles but some of the issues here have been particularly interesting,” explained Wyn Daniels, partnership project manager.

“With large areas of Japanese Knotweed growing wild along the bypass route, we needed to deal with it ecologically, financially and environmentally.

Despite the challenges, those involved are confident that a section of the new road will be open by the middle of this year with the whole of the bypass open to the public by early 2012.

Solutions to the traffic problems on the trunk road through Porthmadog, Minffordd and Tremadog have been sought for more than 15 years.

Early in 2010 a major scheme to ease congestion by constructing a bypass was started by joint venture partnership Balfour Beatty and Jones Bros (Civil Engineering). |154| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

“Recognised options for eradicating knotweed are burial, spraying with herbicide or excavating and removing to an accredited landfill site.”

Working closely with the Environment Agency in line with its code of practice and with specialist contractors Groundcover dbm, Wyn and his team constructed a containment cell within a landscaped area along the bypass route.

“The volume of knotweed was calculated and the cell size determined in accordance with that,” added Wyn. “The site was also tested to ensure the cell’s creation would not increase the risk of flooding in the locality.”

Wyn explained that the cell was shaped and lined with a root barrier membrane specifically designed for the burial of Japanese Knotweed. A base is formed and welded together. Once the base liner is in place, excavation of knotweed-infested soil can begin. It was hauled in dumper trucks and buried in the cell. The material was placed in layers and tracked in place.

Once it had all been removed, under the guidance of site ecologist Mike Head, the containment cell was sealed and capped.

“This is a tried and tested method which is safe to the environment and has no long-term effects on the surrounding area,” added Wyn Site ecologist Mike Head has also been dealing with the discovery of a lesser horseshoe bat maternity roost found close to the bypass scheme at Minffordd.

Measures to mitigate the loss of this environmentally sensitive bat habitat include the purchase of land next to the scheme to create a new habitat.

“This has involved transforming an old landfill of minimal nature conservation value into a bat foraging habitat,” he said. “It has included the creation of new hedgelines, mounds and deadwood habitats.

Species-rich grassland has been translocated to the site and wildflower seed has been spread across it.

The new site also offers valuable habitat for reptiles, invertebrates and badgers.”

At the same time archaeologists unearthed evidence of Roman-era occupation along part of the route.

Gwynedd Archaeological Trust discovered evidence of a stone kiln and pieces of roofing tiles dating back centuries.

Archaeologists identified three distinctive areas of activity including a deposit of roofing slate, a former stone-built kiln and patches of burning. The team chose to investigate the site further after earlier archaeological work a short distance away resulted in the discovery of a former Roman bathhouse.

A visitors’ centre has been set up in Porthmadog to enable people to view the archaeological finds as well as details of environmental conservation work and information about the construction project.

Visitors to the centre can also watch an informative video presentation running on a loop, as well as a Powerpoint presentation about the archaeological work.

At its peak, some 250 construction workers will be on site during the project.

ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE |155|

CASE STUDY

Hidden Green Valley

by Duncan Copley

An ‘inside- out’ environment designed to inspire our children and nurture in them a wish to learn from and care for their world and its precious future.

This outdoor space is phase 2 of an extensive school refurbishment. It follows phase 1, an earlier project known as ‘A Pathway to Learning’. The main feature of this first project was to introduce the visitor to Leven Valley C. E. Primary School via a woodland path, through a sheep fold ( a gathering space) following fence, gates and stile to be welcomed at the entrance by a carved wooden reception desk echoing smooth water worn rocks.

Hidden Green Valley ( phase 2) has created an outdoor learning space set within the central Quad, the architectural heart of the school. A living green roof frames the space with a highly bio- diverse planting scheme.

It has an amazing visual impact with mossy tree stumps, sunflowers, gorse, bilberry, ox eye daisy and thyme. Butterflies, birds and bees love it too.

A crooked bridge, copper lamp post and old stone water trough, stepping stones, sand and board walk, water spouts, rusty chain, tipi tent and earth den all play their part in a garden space that is rich in extended play and storytelling potential. A twisted tree of paper thin bark provides the central upright.

Staff and children love it; a little hidden gem. |156| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

Head teacher, Ian Nicol had already established his school as an eco school for recycling, gaining a gold award, and this project gave him the opportunity to take this aspect of school a step further. “By understanding and harnessing the principles of a green, sustainable development of our existing building we have created a living model environment and also demonstrated how our educational buildings themselves can play a vital part in getting the sustainability message across.”

From the initial concept and successful funding bid the project took an organic form, developing a common language between Artist/ Designer, Builder and Educationalist.

A difficult and challenging path for all.

Work began during Autumn/ Winter 2009 whilst Cumbria’s great floods raged past, followed by the highest snow falls for a decade. Roads were closed, bridges knocked out, impacting on communities county wide. Are these Global changes that we will have to come to accept, or a freak once in a lifetime occurance?

During this difficult time builders, teachers, children and parents looked on, asking those questions.

Bit by bit, Hidden Green Valley emerged in the late Spring of 2010, with fresh planting of a new living roof over the school and a new approach! A wet

Summer has established the plants beyond expectations with almost 100% cover rate. Now, with snow on the distant hills and iced over ponds, the plants have retreated back into their roots to await another Springtime.

Leven Valley C of E school was built in 1929/30 as a local Secondary school, later to become a Primary when small primaries were amalgamated. The building is of a timber frame construction on slate foundations, slate roof and an outside mesh render finish. Internally the timber frame is clad with painted tongue and groove panelling, creating a pleasing, timeless interior. Built around a central circulation space, once open to the elements but closed-in in the 1960â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s/ 70â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, little has been invested into the building since then. The new works allowed the school to upgrade this circulation area, embracing a modern, green building approach.

The Design A new walkway roof was installed over the top of the existing felted timber roof. This enabled the school to still function whilst the work was being carried out.

Thermafleece insulation packed the roof void with an additional 60mm of glass tissue coated polyurethane board above the 25mm thick spruce roof deck. A single ply membrane, EPDM Rubber by Hertalan formed the waterproof layer. It was made in 5 large pieces in the factory and welded together on site. A Hertalan moisture mat, drainage layer, geo textile build up with 100mm of substrate then supported a diverse planting scheme. A mulch of local slate in varying sizes (40mm100mm) was used around the edges. The kerb was capped with Western Red Cedar.

Internally the stud walls of the main frame had to be beefed up to take the extra loadings and all the structural posts of the window wall had to be replaced with a more substantial head beam. All the windows looking into the Quad were replaced. Aluminium / timber composite windows with high tech double glazed units have made the walkways warm and cosy.

Extensions into the Quad at opposite internal corners have created useful outdoor resources for storage and gatherings. Internally this gathering area creates a welcoming and lofty reception hall. The new paint colours throughout the interior section of the job have given the school a light, contemporary feel.

All materials used throughout the project have been chosen for their green credentials and have been sourced locally where possible-rubber pond liners, lambs wool insulation, cedar clad, clay paint, stone and iron, birch ply, local larch and peeled oak coppice.

High quality materials and attention to detail have transformed the school into a modern, inspirational centre for learning.

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FAMOUS LAST WORDS

PIG BUSINESS

By Tracy Worcester www.pigbusiness.co.uk As reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy will be debated in the European Parliament this summer, three MEPs Jose Bové, Dan Jørgensen and Janusz Wojciechowski invited me to screen my documentary Pig Business to inform their colleagues in the EU Parliament and Commission that ‘cheap’ meat would be very expensive if the factory farms were forced to pay the true costs of their production on animals, the environment, human health and rural livelihoods.

surprise the room was packed full with MEPs, European Council and Commission officials, environmental, health and animal welfare NGOs, and international press.

The event followed a ‘winter of discontent’ for pig farmers facing low supermarket prices for pork, high feed costs, a health scandal caused by animal feed contaminated with dioxin, and the recent discovery that flies are spreading antibiotic resistant bacteria from intensive farms to neighbouring urban areas.

MEPs, Dan Jørgensen, Janusz Wojciechowski, Jose Bové, moderator Marek Kryda, and director Pig Business the film, Tracy Worcester, ,at the EU Parliament screening and event, February 9th 2011

Factory pig farm sheds with open lagoon in America

Following the screening and presentations from, a panel of experts, there was a heated discussion that reinforced the film’s findings.

Andrea Gavinelli, Head of the Animal Welfare Unit of the European Commission, said after the event

Delegates question panelists after the Pig Business film screening

Jose Bové, once a farmer himself, has for many years opposed industrial agriculture and, after being arrested for dismantling a McDonalds hamburger outlet that threatened to destroy his local town economy, is now a member of the European Parliament.

As co-host of the European Parliament event in Brussels, Bové insisted we screen the full length version of Pig Business. I was sceptical that busy MEPs and officials would hardly bother to watch an hour long polemic revealing the true costs of factory farming, but to my |158| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

“The screening was a moment of transparency and reflection. It brought a clear message about what is really happening that people don’t know.”

A recent survey found that 50% of consumers across the EU believe that pigs are ‘fairly well treated’ and have no idea of the horrendous conditions suffered by pigs in factory farms.

In a factory farm, pregnant sows live in a crate thier entire life

I believe that pork should be labelled with the production method. As eggs must be labelled if they are from caged hens, why does the same rule not apply to pigs which are raised in concentrated pens? Consumers who have watched Pig Business say they will never buy factory pork again.

Not least due to the threat to human health as Coilin Nunan, advisor to the UK Soil Association, warned at the parliament event “Human health is at risk because the routine preventative use of antibiotics in factory farms is causing an increasing number of diseases such as campylobacter and salmonella to become resistant to antibiotics.”

A month later a screening and panel discussion on Capitol Hill, Washington, sponsored by Congressman Dennis Kucinich and attended by two further Members of Congress, was packed with congressional staffers, NGO leaders and journalists.

Congressman Dennis Kucinich, sponsor and speaker at US screening on Capitol Hill, Washington

In his introduction Dennis Kucinich said, “We are here because of our awareness of the damage to our planet done by the uncaring interests who come together to produce these CAFOs. This film by Tracy Worcester and the participation of Robert Kennedy, Water keepers and all the environmental and farm activists here tonight, is going to help to create a broader environmental consciousness in this country which will produce the kind of action necessary to bring about the reforms that are critically needed to repair our relationship with nature, animals and the planet itself.”

Tracy Worcester at the Pig Business screening on Capitol Hill, Washington DC

On the same day as the screening, Congresswoman Louise Slaughter announced the re-introduction of her bill to limit the use of antibiotics to when pigs are actually ill rather than as a growth promoter or preventative medication. Although adding antibiotics to pig feed to promote growth has been banned in the EU since 2003, it is still allowed in the US where 80% of all antibiotics are given to mostly healthy, factory farmed animals. Doctors and scientists are concerned that this practice is leading to new antibiotic resistant diseases which, like MRSA ST398, passes from pigs to humans and which a pilot study in Iowa has found in 45% of the workers and 49% of the pigs.

Co-hosted by Bobby Kennedy Jr, nephew of John Kennedy the late President, the Capitol Hill screening came at a time when the Environmental Protection Agency is under attack from a pro-corporate Republicancontrolled House of Representatives and threatened with drastic funding cuts and reduction of its ability to regulate polluting industries.

Smithfield and other factory producers across the world store the waste in stinking lagoons and spray it on fields, a system which pollutes the rivers and coastline causing massive fish kills, and sickens neighbouring residents.

Smithfield open lagoon with dead piglet at Zabin pig factory in Poland

Bobby Kennedy, Jr, speaker at Capitol Hill event, founder of Water keepers Alliance, and environmental lawyer

Robert Kennedy Jr an environmental lawyer and founder of Water keeper Alliance which monitors pollution from factory farms across the US and Canada, is in the film and spoke at the Washington Event. Many of his words were removed from the film as Smithfield Foods used the UK’s corporate friendly libel laws to silence the truth, but much was reiterated at the event,

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“This industry is a criminal enterprise, it cannot produce a pound of bacon cheaper or more efficiently than a traditional farmer in a free economy without breaking the law.”

Both concerned MEPS and EU NGOs and their counterparts in the US, agree that subsidies and loan guarantees to factory farms should be scrapped and that small family farmers should be paid for the benefits they provide to rural communities and the environment.

Though the ban on sow stalls during pregnancy is to be partially banned in the EU in 2013, the US still allows them to be confined in steel cages so narrow that they cannot turn around. Some years ago Smithfield promised to ban sow stalls after a 10 year ‘adjustment’ period, but they have now reneged on this saying it would reduce their profit margin.

After the US screening I am now back in Brussels working on Janusz Wojciechowski’s suggestion that we invite a few sympathetic MEPs and many NGOs to join us in compiling a declaration on the need for The Common Agricultural Policy to stop financing industrial farming, spend more on supporting traditional small and medium scale mixed crop and livestock farming along with laws to introduce method-of-production labelling.

that corporate meat producers will use any methods they can to advance their business, in this case trying to use Britain’s outmoded libel laws to suppress public debate by preventing criticism of factory farming and subverting the planning process.

Largely I am against giving powers to the EU Parliament and Commission to dictate rules on member nations.

However, following the American model of allowing family farmers to be bankrupted by unfairly subsidised competition, when our DEFRA Minister, Caroline Spelman, argues that, Common Agricultural Policy support for farmers should be phased out, I am relieved that her free trade agenda will be over-ruled by the European Commissioner for Agriculture, Dacian Ciolos.

His proposals are to limit subsidies to industrial size farms and increase payments to smaller scale farmers.

The latter’s competitiveness is reduced by their obligation to adhere to higher EU hygiene standards that have been introduced to curb the inevitable problems on large scale intensive farms. These payments would also reimburse them for providing public benefits such as conservation of landscapes and biodiversity, which are not remunerated by the market.

Tracy Worcester with pigs at Hilary Chester-Master‘s Abbey Farm, Cirencester

Smithfield’s exploitation of cheap labour and lax environmental standards in Poland gave it the competitive edge so many EU farmers must either get big and externalise their costs on to the broader community or get out of pig farming.

North Carolina, USA

In an extraordinary move, lawyers for a factory pig producer in the UK threatened to sue the organic certifying organisation, The Soil Association, for libel unless they withdrew their objections that a planned 2,500-sow factory farm would pose a risk to neighbours’ health because antibiotic resistant bacteria would escape from the barns and lorries transporting the pigs.

Sick pig in Smithfield Foods factory farm in Wieckowice, Poland

There are numerous scientific reports which support the Soil Association’s concerns. In many people’s minds, the libel threat confirmed |160| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

However, I prefer an option supported by 350 groups across the EU in a coalition called FoodSovCAP. I believe that food and agricultural goods should be exempted from World Trade Organisation (WTO) global trade rules so that all nations and regions have the right to protect themselves from low cost, low welfare imports. Or that the WTO recognises that food imported to a region below the cost of production is ‘dumping’ and so must have punitive tariffs.

Farmers could then be protected from the vagaries of the global economy and produce food for local markets.

The giants should be taxed to remunerate society for the true costs of their production and Governments should be allowed to procure high welfare and sustainably produced meat from local farmers for public services like schools and hospitals.