Issue 19

INTRODUCTION FROM THE EDITOR Did you know that each issue of Environment Industry Magazine is not only printed but also published on our website as a virtual magazine; this is then attached to our weekly newsletter and sent to 217,000 opt-in email addresses. Email addresses which have been accumulated over the last three years from events and clients and good old data collection. This means that over 200,000 people have 4 opportunities to see each issue of Environment Industry Magazine – this does not include the regular visitors to the website or the people who are posed the magazine. It is only now after 3 years/19 issues that the level of responsibility has dawned on me. I am allowed to say what I want on this page, free of scrutiny and control. There is nothing to stop me from saying exactly what I want when I write this introduction… I have advisors and proof readers who suggest that I should curb the use of bad language and should be more upbeat and chirpy but they have no say in what actually goes in the magazine.

Obviously there are legal constraints controlling the limits of what can be published but they can only be acted upon retrospectively as a consequence to my actions not in advance of them.

The problem is that no matter what punishment is levied following a publishing transgression or the fairness and prominence of any rebuttal, it is the original story that is remembered. I have been watching the Leveson Inquiry with interest, waiting to see if any kind of control (voluntary or otherwise) will be placed on the media. It will be a brave government which implements any controls and we have already seen what happens when a politician stands up to the media with Ivan Lewis’s move from shadow media secretary.

spouting their opinions across the world. Modern media has allowed anyone/everyone to have their thoughts heard.

The professionals can be corrupted and misguided by fame or money, or even by the belief that they are doing a good thing but in the end, they can be controlled. Even the great Piers Morgan got found out and lost his editorship and credibility. Who is scrutinising the voices in the ether?

With the introduction of smartphone technology people are permanently attached to a global audience and almost as soon as something is thought about, it can be out there spinning in infinity for anyone to consume. The greatest era of freedom of speech and accessibility is upon us. Most of us choose to squander this amazing opportunity on discussing the trivialities of life; where we’ve been and what we had for tea. Some of us try to impart some knowledge and information; however others have shaped an outlet for their opinions. Do we have no way to prevent these from pervading our lives?

Think before you tweet. You don’t know who is listening.

Alex Stacey Managing Editor

PS. Check out the Environment Industry Magazine staff profiles on our contact us page!

On the whole, what I say is controlled not just by the legal consequences of my actions, but also by the sensitivities of our readers and the support of our advertisers. Although I am driven and passionate about what I am doing, I am also controlled by my moral compass and the respect for the authority given to me as the editor of Environment Industry Magazine. My concern is that although I can put my niche publication in front of a quarter of a million potential readers and use it as my soap box, there are no such controls on the millions of voices

ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE |1|

CONTENTS

NEWS: PAGE 4 - 39 Page 4-39 News Page 38 Steve Grant Column Page 39 Jason Drew Column

WASTE MANAGEMENT: PAGE 40-53 Page 42 - 45 Glass Recycling, Rebecca Cocking, Head of Container Affairs, BGMC Page 46 - 49 End of Life Vehicles, Ian Hetherington, Director, British Metals Recycling Association Page 50 - 51 Textile Recycling, Helen Walker, Director, Bag It Up Ltd Page 52 - 53 Britains Waste Problem, Colin Drummond, Chief Executive, Viridor

TRANSPORT: PAGE 54-64 Page 56 - 58 CV Show Preview Page 59 - 60 Driving Efficiency and Training, Jon Hannah, Product Manager, Isotrak Page 62 - 64 Logistics, Rachel Dillon, Freight Transport Association

FOOD, AGRICULTURE & PACKAGING: PAGE 65 - 67 Page 66 - 67 Food, Lindsay Boswell, Chief Executive, FareShare

WATER: PAGE 68 - 83 Page 70 - 74 Dealing with Drought, Ajay Nair, Product Line Leader, MWH Page 76 - 79 IFAT Show Preview Page 80 - 82 Smart Meters, Rodger Smith, Senior Vice President, Oracle

CONSERVATION: PAGE 84 - 93 Page 86 - 87 Japanese Knotweed, Mike Clough, Director, JKSL Page 88 - 92 Invasive Plant Species, Manda Sansom, Technical Manager, Monsanto Page 93 Buglife

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

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.

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Page 95 - 100 Greenbuild Expo 2012 Page 102 - 104 AIMC4 Update, Stewert Dalgarno, Director of Product Development, Stewart Milne Group Page 106 - 108 Refurbishment, Gavin Summerson, Head of Domestic Refurb, BREEAM

TIMBER: PAGE 110 - 115 Page 112 - 115 2013 EU Timber Directive, John White, Head of Timber Trade Federation

CONTENTS

GREEN BUILDING: PAGE 94 - 109

ENERGY: PAGE 116-129 Page 118 - 122 All Energy Show Preview Page 124 - 125 Environmental Challenges, Patrick Sheehan, Partner, Environmental Technologies Fund Page 126 - 127 Green Deal, Bob Shire, Director, Heatkeeper Page 128 - 129 Policy Clarity for Microgeneration, David Sowden, Chair, Microgeneration Council

LAND MANAGEMENT: PAGE 130 - 135 Page 132 - 133 Page 133 - 134

Defra’s Revised Part 2a Statutory Guidance, Simon Firth, Director, Firth Consultants Auditing Scheme for Land Condition, Phil Crowcroft, Chairman, SILC

MISCELLANY: PAGE 136 - 137 Page 137 Environment Prosecutions Page 138 - 139 Wayne Terry, Head of International Developement at NQA Page 140 - 142 Accredited Certification is a Valuble Business Tool, John Murthy, UKAS Page 144 - 146 Sustainability Live Show Preview Page 147 - 154 Case Studies Page 155 - 156 Famous Last Words, Hillary Davey

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Ducklings signal hope for world’s rarest bird

The Madagascar pochard - arguably the world’s rarest bird - has bred successfully in captivity building hope that it can be saved from extinction. Eighteen precious pochard ducklings are being reared at a specially built centre in Antsohihy, Madagascar, opened last year by Dr Lee Durrell. The birth of the ducklings is a key milestone in the conservation of the species, including an emergency expedition two years ago to take eggs into captivity. It is the ducks from those eggs that have now bred for the first time.

The pochard breeding programme is part of a joint project to save the bird by Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT), the Peregrine Fund, Asity Madagascar and the Government of Madagascar.

The pochard was believed to be extinct until its rediscovery in 2006 on a single small lake, Lake Matsaborimena (or Red Lake), in northern Madagascar. Numbering just 22 birds, the ducks remain extremely vulnerable to extinction from a single event such as pollution or a disease outbreak.

In order to restore the species to suitable wetlands within its former range across the high plateau region of Madagascar, scientists are studying the remaining wild population to understand the reasons behind the species’ decline and to determine the right conditions for releasing birds. Particularly worrying is that the wild birds appear to have very low breeding success. Some lakes where the physical conditions are potentially right for the pochard have been identified, but success will depend on support of the local community. |4| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

Grants for Small Businesses Employing Their First Apprentice – Now Available!

Employers across England are being encouraged to take advantage of a new funding initiative to help them recruit their first young apprentices.

The National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) is offering up to 40,000 Apprenticeship Grants to small and medium sized businesses (employing less than 250 employees), to the value of £1,500, that recruit their first apprentice aged 16 to 24 years old. Last year, despite difficult labour market conditions, over 270,000 16-24 year olds started an Apprenticeship, but the Government is keen that many more young people are given the opportunity to benefit and take their first steps on the career ladder.

Skills Minister John Hayes said: “By reviving apprenticeships, this Government is helping thousands of young people discover the purposeful pride that builds successful careers, thriving firms and strong communities. In the past smaller firms have been deterred from hiring an apprentice due to perceived logistical, training and administrative costs but the new incentives of £1,500 are encouraging SMEs to give thousands of young people a great start to their working life.”

Small and medium sized businesses, across all sectors that have not employed an apprentice in the last three years may be eligible for the grant, which is called AGE 16 to 24. The £1,500 grant is in addition to the training costs of the chosen Apprenticeship framework, which are met in full for 16-18 year olds and 50% for those aged 19-24. Employers will be required to commit to employing an apprentice for a minimum of 12 months, or the time it takes for the apprentice to complete their programme.

Small or medium sized businesses interested in employing their first apprentice can contact one of the quality assured training providers or colleges approved to deliver Apprenticeship training direct by clicking here.

Alternatively, they can visit www.apprenticeships. org.uk for more information, or if they are ready to recruit, can call 08000 150 600 to speak to a NAS Apprenticeship Adviser.

England needs more than twice normal summer rainfall to replenish water supplies as Southern England needs twice n tha r me much rainfall over the sum ls, leve climate normal to get back to expected earchers at the scientists have calculated. Res affected region needed University of Reading said the r t seen during the 2007 summe rainfall equivalent to the amoun floods to get back to normal. said: “Over the last University’s Walker Institute, Dr Ben Lloyd-Hughes, from the l rainfall, and crucially s with normal or below norma nth mo 22 n see ve we’ rs yea two r the last year than in . “We’ve seen less rainfall ove row a in ters win dry two n we’ve see such a severe and have to go back to 1921 to see we t eas th sou the for and t need over the 1976 drough last year means that we would the r ove fall rain of k lac The . ld prolonged lack of rainfall more than twice what we wou mal levels by August – that’s nor to k bac us get ore to bef ts rain of oun 400mm se sorts of rainfall am July period. We have seen tho g threatened the normally get over the April to summer of 2007 when floodin the ber em rem o wh you of se though. For tho the normal amount of rainfall tion, we saw more than double Tewksbury electricity sub-sta in May, June and July.” of some relief, with casts hinted at the possibility He added that Met Office fore land, but t few weeks in the south of Eng showers predicted over the nex into casts, which look 2-4 months the Met Office experimental fore even drier than normal the future, suggest normal or r the next few conditions are most likely ove months.

Smart partnership delivers sustainable transport first for Manchester

An innovative partnership between Brompton Dock Ltd and Virgin Trains in collaboration with CHH CoNeX and Eurocraft Enclosures will see residents and visitors in Manchester benefit from a new “smart” transport scheme aimed at drastically reducing the city's carbon emissions by providing them with a sustainable, end-to-end transport solution.

Brompton Dock, which is a fully-automated, secure cycle hire service, will make it possible to hire the iconic British hand-made Brompton folding bike via their mobile phone and use it as part of their everyday routine on either a short or long-term hire basis. Owing to its compact and lightweight design, the Brompton bike can be used on trains, buses and trams across the city without any restrictions, thereby providing environmentally conscious public transport users with a seamless, easy-to-use alternative to their cars.

Norman Baker, Local Transport Minister, who unveiled the Brompton Dock, said: “I use a folding bike to get around London, especially when I need to get across to the House of Parliament quickly, so I know first-hand the benefits they bring. This innovation really showcases what can be achieved when transport providers come together to establish onward journey solutions for travellers. Courtesy of this initiative, commuters and visitors to Manchester can now benefit from all the health benefits associated with cycling, with a product founded on the very best of British manufacturing and design expertise.”

To use the service, you simply register online and then choose your preferred tariff. Once registered, the user will be sent a personal four-digit pin number. To take out a Brompton bike, the user simply needs to send a text with the dock number and their pin to 07800 008 078. The user then gets a reply by text with the bay number and access code. Users are also able to hire the bike for as long as they want, whether an hour, a week or even a year." |6| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

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GOVERNMENT PLAN TO SLASH EMISSIONS FROM HEATING The Government has set out its vision of how it can cut emissions from heating homes, businesses and industry in the decades ahead. The Heat Strategy sets out the long term challenges and opportunities on the pathway to decarbonisation and asks specific questions, including seeking views about future policy options, which the Government may need to consider.

• This decade - Government’s focus for both buildings and industry will be on energy efficiency and preparing the market by driving early take up of renewable heat, building the supply chain and supporting innovation • The 2020s and 2030s - Uptake of low carbon heat technologies will need to be widespread in homes and businesses. Government’s focus will be on creating the right frameworks to support the market and minimise costs to consumers and industry.

The scale of the challenge is huge: • Almost half of the energy consumed in the UK is used to generate heat for buildings and water, in cooking food and manufacturing goods or to keep offices and homes cool in hot weather

• The long term - The Government will increasingly focus on helping consumers and businesses tackle more challenging areas of low carbon heat where more innovation may be needed. By 2050, heat for buildings will need to be entirely carbon-free, • The vast majority of the UK’s heat is produced by burning fossil which means a range of renewable options like heat pumps in buildings as well as a bigger role for low fuels – currently around a third of the UK’s carbon emissions carbon heat networks in cities. come from the energy used to produce heat, more than from generating electricity Heat map goes live Government is interested in understanding more Energy and Climate Change Secretary Edward Davey said: “Cutting emissions from the way we generate heat is essential if about the potential of low carbon heat networks, which pipe heat directly into homes instead of we are to meet our climate change and renewables targets. requiring the home owner to burn gas or oil in their “Many towns, cities and communities across the UK are already own boiler. switching from fossil fuels to low carbon forms of heating like biomass, heat pumps and solar thermal.

“I want to give the opportunity to others to follow the pioneers so that, in time, our buildings are no longer dependent on burning fossil fuels for heat but using affordable and reliable alternatives to help create a flourishing, competitive low carbon manufacturing industry.

“I welcome views on this plan to ensure government and industry can work together towards a sustainable, affordable and low carbon energy future.”

The strategy includes a range of different low carbon heat case studies, including one in Nottingham which is home to one of the largest district heating networks in the UK. The 65km network now serves more than 4,600 homes and over 100 businesses and public sector properties – roughly 3.5% of the city’s entire heat consumption.

The Heat Strategy builds on the Government’s Carbon Plan which was published last December. It looks at heat use across the different sectors in the economy, provides supporting evidence and real-life case studies and asks specific questions on future policy options.

Achieving this transition to low carbon heat will mean changes across the UK’s economy over the coming decades, with different solutions required in different areas.

As the Carbon Plan set out, the strategy is split into three different stages:

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Heat networks can play an increasingly important role in the move to low carbon heating, but there are many practical hurdles to be overcome first, including knowing where the best locations to site these systems are.

That’s why DECC has launched the new interactive National Heat Map, an online website aimed at helping planners to identify potential areas for district heating networks.

The new map, developed for DECC by the Centre for Sustainable Energy, will allow planners to visualise the potential for heat networks in their area. This lays the foundation for further feasibility studies to initiate large scale projects where they are most effective. The map uses cutting edge data modelling techniques and DECC’s comprehensive national datasets, making it the most advanced map of its kind.

Government support for low carbon heat The Government has already taken great strides to cut carbon in heat with the introduction of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) for industrial and commercial customers up and running from November last year. A RHI for householders will be consulted on in September with a launch likely in Summer next year. A second phase of the Premium Payment scheme will offer money off renewable kit for householders in the meantime.

Exotic beetle pest of trees found in Kent An outbreak of the Asian longhorn beetle (ALB), an exotic beetle pest which could have severe consequences for British trees, has been found in Kent, the Food & Environment Research Agency (Fera) confirmed today.

This is the first time an outbreak of this pest has been found in the UK, and it is being treated extremely seriously. Fera and the Forestry Commission are taking urgent steps to try to eradicate the outbreak before it has the chance to spread further afield.

Several larvae of the beetle were found inside a poplar tree during a routine survey by the Forestry Commission at a site in the Paddock Wood area. Scientists from the Commission’s Forest Research agency had been monitoring an area around the site where an adult beetle had been found in 2009, and this is the first evidence of tree infestation. It is thought the beetles originated from wood packaging used to import stone from China at an adjacent industrial site.

The beetle is not native to the UK, and poses a serious threat to a wide range of broadleaved trees and shrubs such as maple (including sycamore), elm, horse chestnut, willow, poplar, birch and some fruit trees. Adult beetles are large (about 20 - 40 mm long) and shiny black with variable white markings. Their antennae are particularly distinctive, being much longer than their bodies (up to twice the body length) and are black with white or light blue bands. The larvae of the beetle feed undetected on the inside of the plant, and can kill it or leave it weakened and susceptible to further pest and disease damage.

Anyone who suspects they have seen an Asian longhorn beetle, or evidence of its presence, should contact the Fera Plant Health Helpline on 0844 248 0071 or email planthealth.info@fera.gsi.gov.uk.

If possible, the beetle should be caught and placed in a secure container so that an inspector can collect it. The beetles are not harmful to humans, although they should be handled with caution because they can nip the skin.

BUSINESSES GIVEN SUPPORT TO MAKE THE MOST OF GREEN DEAL Tens of thousands of businesses are being helped to make the most of the Government’s new Green Deal scheme.

Green Deal Manager – www.greendealmanager.co.uk - will enable general contractors, plumbers, heating engineers, door and window installers, electricians and renewable energy installers to comply with a vast array of requirements needed to take part in the scheme and help them become ‘PAS2030 accredited’.

The Green Deal will allow homeowners and businesses to take out long term loans in order to implement energy efficiency measures.

The installations will be funded by a charge on energy bills with the guarantee – the so- called ‘Golden Rule’ – that the savings on those bills will be greater than the loan repayments.

According to industry experts, Green Deal installers are expected to increase their turnover by as much as 20 per cent.

The Government says the Green Deal will help to insulate 14 million homes by 2020 with 65,000 jobs being created as a result of the drive to make homes and businesses more energy efficient.

The Green Deal Manager website has been developed by Eco-Architect Graham Jack in conjunction with Green Deal industry expert Phyllis Boardman.

Graham has previously developed an online management site for Code for Sustainable Homes developments, which allows clients to see precisely what evidence is required for a Code assessment. The site – www.codewizard.co.uk was developed with the support of the computer department at Liverpool John Moores University.

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Environment and Energy Awards 2012 - finalists announced Celebrating excellence and innovation, these prestigious awards have established themselves as one of the highest levels of attainment within the environmental sector, and are fiercely contested by businesses and organisations of all sizes.

The high standard of entries, including a number of firsttime entrants, reflects an interesting trend – that even in times of austerity, companies are continuing to increase their commitment to sustainable practices – with a particular focus on investment in new technology and trained personnel.

All winners will be announced on the evening of Tuesday 22nd May, at a special black tie dinner held at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham. Hosted by comedian Dominic Holland, the evening promises to be an exciting combination of networking, celebration and entertainment.

The 2012 Environment and Energy Awards finalists are: ESTA Energy Manager of the Year sponsored by ESTA David Atkinson, Boots Contract Manufacturing Richard Tarboton, BT Matt Hastings, Eden Project Gareth Williams, Northern Rail Jaz Rabadia, Sainsbury's

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Renewables Innovation Award B&Q Co-operative Group East Midlands Airport Intelligent Energy Solutions (IES) Onyx Solar Energy Tesco Stores & Fleetsolve Yorkshire Water Services

Energy Product/Service Award sponsored by The Energy Institute ECO Innovate Ltd EnerNOC GSH Group plc Miele Professional Phlorum

SME Award for Energy Efficiency Latcham Direct PIL Membranes Ltd Premiere Kitchens The Alumet Group

Energy-Efficient Refurbishment Award Alliance Boots British Gas Ingleton Wood Land Securities NCS Energy Wessex Water

Energy Supplier Customer Service Award sponsored by Utility Week British Gas Business - Cardiff CNG Ltd Phoenix Supply Ltd Haven Power

Environmental Leadership Award for Cultural Change Amey Environment Agency – SW Highcross Leicester Molson Coors Brewing Company Northern Rail Tesco

Outstanding Achievement Award The winner of this award, introduced in 2012, will be announced on the night. This new category aims to reward the individual who has made the greatest impact in either the environment or energy sector to boost business performance and quality over the last five years.

The annual awards run alongside Sustainabilitylive! 2012, the UK’s leading event for the environment, water, land, energy and sustainable business sectors, taking place in halls 3 and 3a at the NEC, Birmingham from May 22 – 24.

Environmental/Sustainability Manager of the Year Brian Amos, British Gas Ceridwen John, Bromsgrove & Redditch Councils Rich Chandler, Solutia Robert Tolley, Debut Services Sean Hill, GENeco Steven Judd, Tube Lines

Innovation Award for Environmental Technology Advanced Plasma Power Andel Ltd Gloucestershire County Council and Atkins Nampak Plastics Europe Limited Qualcomm Halo Veolia Water Central

Environment Product/Service Award sponsored by edie.net Supplier Directory Best Foot Forward Debut Services Kwik-Klik Hoardings Limited Plastic Surgeon Unipart Technology Logistics / Sky URS

Sustainable Business of the Year Award sponsored by NQA East Midlands Airport Sark Island Hotels Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd The Green House Willmott Dixon Wellcome Trust Genome Campus Sustainability Communications Campaign Award Anglian Water BAM Nuttall Footprint Communications Lafarge UK Schneider Electric The Co-operative Group ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE |13|

CRC SIMPLIFIED TO SAVE BUSINESSES MILLIONS Millions of pounds will be saved for businesses through ambitious new proposals to simplify the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme, (CRC).

Participants will see their administrative costs cut by almost two-thirds, equating to around £330 million of savings up to 2030.

The CRC is a mandatory UK-wide trading scheme covering large business and public sector organisation, which produce 12% of UK carbon emissions.

It requires businesses to report on and pay a tax on energy used, and ranks businesses in a performance league table which provides a further reputational incentive to improve their energy efficiency.

The CRC is expected to deliver carbon savings of 21 MtCO2 by 2027.

Businesses support the simplification of the scheme, and will now have the opportunity to comment on Government’s proposals.

The package proposed is aimed at retaining the energy-saving and reputational benefits of the CRC, whilst reducing the bureaucracy of taking part.

Secretary of State Edward Davey said: “We have listened to businesses’ concerns about the CRC and have set out proposals to radically cut down on ‘red tape’ to save businesses money. The benefits of the scheme are clear though. It will deliver substantial carbon savings helping us to meet carbon budgets, and it encourages businesses to take action to improve their energy efficiency.”

The simplification package will include: • A shortening of the CRC qualification process.

• Reducing the number of fuels covered by CRC from 29 to 4.

• Reducing the amount of reporting required by businesses.

• Reducing the length of time participants will have to keep records.

• Removing the requirement on facilities covered by Climate Change Agreement or EU Emissions Trading System installations to purchase CRC allowances.

• Adopting new emissions factors for the CRC which will align it with Greenhouse Gas reporting processes.

• Removing the detailed metrics of the Performance League Table from legislation and placing them in government guidance.

New report published by Waste Watch on the commercialisation of childhood Waste Watch has published a report on how the commercialisation of childhood appears to be damaging children and the environment.

The report examines how in the UK young people are increasingly influenced to use material possessions to help form their identity.

Tim Burns, Head of Waste Watch, said: “Increasingly through our work we are seeing how materialism is affecting our society and young people. It is arguable that our exposure to the marketing and advertising of products and services (from food to clothes or gadgets) is playing a significant role in influencing cultural values and identity. In the UK we live in a society where children from a young age use material possessions to help form their identity. These values are associated with reduced well-being, especially for families and children on lower incomes. It has also been found that these more materialistic values also appear to lead to higher consumptive habits and less concern about social and environmental issues” Most organisations and campaigns that have attempted to address the problems of marketing to children have concentrated on unhealthy food and sexualisation of children. However, recent evidence suggests that there may be a more fundamental risk associated with the commercialisation of childhood. Unfortunately, at present this discussion is currently missing from the agendas of many organisations working to address these interconnected challenges.”

In October 2011 WWF-UK and the Public Interest Research Centre published a report under the Common Cause banner called Think Of Me As Evil? Opening the ethical debates in advertising. The report concluded that the potential impacts of advertising should be a pressing concern for any organisation working on social and environmental challenges.

The Waste Watch report “Addressing the social and cultural impact of marketing on children and young people” has sought to follow on from the work done by WWF-UK and the Public Interest Research Centre and has examined marketing and advertising of food to young people from a social and environmental position. |14| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

Fishing for sand eels, herring, and other “forage fish” in general should be cut in half globally to account for their critical role as food for larger species, recommends an expert group of marine scientists. The Lenfest Forage Fish Task Force conducted the most comprehensive worldwide analysis of the science and management of forage fish populations to date. Its report, “Little Fish, Big Impact: Managing a crucial link in ocean food webs,” concluded that in most ecosystems at least twice as many of these species should be left in the ocean as conventional practice.

A thriving marine ecosystem relies on plenty of forage fish, such as sardines and anchovies. These small schooling fish are a crucial link in ocean food webs because they eat tiny plants and animals, called plankton, and are preyed upon by animals such as penguins, whales, seals, puffins, and dolphins. They are primary food sources for many commercially and recreationally valuable fish found around Europe, such as tuna and cod. The task force estimated that, globally, these species are twice as valuable in the water as in a net—contributing US$11.3 billion (€8.5 billion) by serving as food for other commercially important fish. This is more than double the US$5.6 billion (€4.2 billion) they generate as direct catch.

“We have been managing fisheries for forage species in a manner that cannot sustain the food webs, or some of the industries, they support,” says Dr. Ellen K. Pikitch of the Institute for Ocean Conservation Science at Stony Brook University in the United States, who convened and led the Lenfest Forage Fish Task Force. “As three quarters of marine ecosystems in our study have predators highly dependent on forage fish, it is economically and biologically imperative that we develop smarter management for these small but significant species.”

Forage fish are also a source of healthy omega-3 oils in the diets of people, and some fish oil is used in nutritional supplements for humans. Relatively small amounts, however, are used for direct human consumption. Their demand in recent decades has greatly increased for use as fish meal and fish oil to feed farmed fish, pigs, and chickens. Many common forage fish species in Europe, such as blue whiting, capelin, and sand eels, are used almost exclusively for fish meal.

“Our analysis found that the best way generally to ensure there’s enough food for dependent predators is to reduce fishing for their prey,” said Dr. Ian L. Boyd, professor and director of the NERC Sea Mammal Research Unit and the Scottish Oceans Institute at the University of St. Andrews, and task force member. “We need to start to It’s understand that leaving some types of fish in the water in greater numbers is not just good for ecosystems, but it is good economics, too.”

Alien

vs Predator as overfishing increases parasite damage

Salford’s Dr Stefano Mariani and colleagues from University College Dublin and the University of East Anglia inspected stocks of striped sea bream in the Mediterranean and found that those caught near a Spanish area protected from fishing were much less impacted by the infection Ceratothoa italica than those from heavily fished areas in Italy.

Almost half (47%) of the fish from the non-protected area were infected with the parasite, compared with 30% from waters close to areas where fishing is banned. More importantly, the researchers found that while the parasite infection significantly stunted growth and condition in the Italian fish, it had no detectable effects on the physiology of the Spanish ones.

Affectionately named ‘Betty’ by the team’s PhD graduate Maria Sala-Bozano, Ceratothoa italica breeds by swimming between fish as a juvenile and entering the mouth through the gills. A female parasite will then take up position on the tongue, virtually replacing it, and feeding on blood as it grows to adulthood.

Though the parasite poses no risk to humans, it does reduce size and life-expectancy in the fish.

The researchers came to their conclusions after establishing that the fish in the two Mediterranean areas were subject to very similar environmental conditions and the populations of both fish and parasites were very closely related genetically.

However, with the Spanish area better protected from overfishing than the Italian, the report suggests this is a major factor in the spread of virulence of the parasite. Dr Stefano Mariani from the School of Environment & Life Sciences said: “This is further evidence that human over-exploitation of fish stocks has adverse and far-reaching effects. Areas with poor regulation have smaller, younger fish and, as we’ve now demonstrated, higher and more harmful parasite infestations.

“Betty is quite gruesome and does remind you of the Alien films, but it’s a highly adapted and specialised animal which is very successful. Unfortunately, over-fishing upsets the balance of parasite and host and interferes with the whole eco-system. “It makes a lot of sense for protected areas to be established so we can safeguard both the quantity and the quality of the fish we eat |16| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

MARSHFIELD - TRAILBLAZING ENERGY PROJECT The Parish of Marshfield in South Gloucestershire is normally known for its great Bakery and organic Ice Cream. But a new project may change all that.

Marshfield is one of number of communities who have taken advantage of funding from the government’s “Local Energy Assessment Fund” to - among other things - assess and quantify their energy use and wastage. What’s different about Marshfield is that they have chosen to survey using the latest technology in thermal imaging.

The village was surveyed across a period of two nights, and has received massive support from the community. Of around 640 houses in the village, only 3 chose not to participate.

Karen Wilkinson, a member of the Parish Planning group which applied for the funding, says “Marshfield is a vibrant country Parish with a very active community which has shown an interest in energy issues for some time. Using thermal images provides an arresting visual snapshot of each house’s energy loss and an easy way for people to engage in what can be a complex issue.”

This is the first time that such a comprehensive survey of a village has been done across a wide range of buildings - old and new, large and small. The information gathered by the innovative survey will surely prove a benchmark for new surveys across the country.

The thermal imaging has been undertaken by IRT Surveys, Mike Edwards of IRT Surveys says “Marshfield’s trailblazing energy project will reap the community dividends. When we heat our homes, lots of heat is lost through walls, windows, roofs and so on. This is all wasted energy – and so wasted money. By taking a thermal image of your house, we can give you a picture of where the heat is being lost.”

The Marshfield survey has been funded via the Deprtment of Energy & Climate Change’s LEAF fund, which aims to support communities across England and Wales to play an active role in the development of a low carbon society where energy supply is both secure and affordable. The fund will help communities understand their potential for increased energy efficiency and use of renewables.

Recycled computers have therapeutic value to autistic Matthew Waste King, the environmentally-friendly specialist collections, clearance and recycling company, has found an unusual outlet for it to recycle old computers.

It has given a number of old computers – discarded by its customers – to Matthew, a young man who has severe autism and a complete fascination with computers.

Matthew will take these computers apart and re-build them - purely for therapeutic purposes - because doing this helps him to cope with his condition.

Waste King became aware of Matthew and the way that he copes with his condition when Waste King’s managing director, Glenn Currie, met Paul Morris, a Community Support Worker, working with the South East Oxfordshire Community Mental Health Trust.

Currie commented: “When Paul told us about Matthew and how the discarded computers that we collect can help him cope with his autism, Waste King was delighted to help. |18| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

For one thing, Waste King guarantees to recycle at least 85 per cent of all the waste it collects – and giving the computers to Matthew goes towards the company continuing to live up to its extremely demanding environmentally-friendly targets.

For another, children and young people with autism need to be encouraged to enjoy learning experiences tailored to their very specific requirements.

According to the National Autistic Society, there are over 500,000 people with autism in the UK - that is one in 100,” he added. “Together with their families, that is over two million people whose lives are touched by autism every single day.

If Waste King can do something – however small – to help these people get more out of life, it’s delighted to do so.”

ZERO WASTE PLAN TAKES FLIGHT FOR BIRDS EYE Frozen food manufacturer Birds Eye has reduced the amount of waste sent to landfill by 21% in the last 12 months thanks to a unique partnership with waste management and recycling specialist Biffa.

It forms part of a waste improvement plan which aims to see the company send no waste to landfill by 2014.

Commenting on the project Matt Partridge at Birds Eye said: “We are committed to reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill, and Biffa is instrumental in helping us to achieve that. It’s important to us, and it’s important to our customers.”

Biffa is providing Birds Eye with a complete ‘Integrated Waste Management’ (IWM) package. This includes Biffa staff working from its site in Lowestoft and the appointment of ‘waste champions’ to find new opportunities for further recycling.

Biffa IWM general manager Edward Pigg said: “Birds Eye is dedicated to reducing waste and it’s their enthusiasm and dedication which have ensured recycling rates have increased over the last 12 months whilst general waste volumes have dropped. We’re confident that Birds Eye can meet its zero waste to landfill ambitions well before its 2014 target.

Biffa is working with Birds Eye to find markets for recycled materials whilst reducing spend on waste disposal. It is a good example of how food manufacturers can improve environmental performance and reduce longterm costs by putting waste management at the centre of their day to day operations.”

Following an extensive audit of the site, Biffa worked with Birds Eye to put procedures in place to drive up recycling rates whilst finding new ways to recycle. For example, the company now composts any waste potato and vegetables not fit for animal feed. This year also sees the introduction of a waste cooking oil collection service. The oil will be processed into biodiesel to power 40 of Biffa’s collection vehicles.

NEW BRISTOL BIOMASS PLANT TO BENEFIT LOCAL COMMUNITY Permission was granted today for a new 150MW dedicated biomass power station at Royal Portbury Dock in the Port of Bristol, North Somerset.

The consent allows E.ON Climate and Renewables to construct a plant which could provide enough electricity to power up to 160,000 homes.

The new plant will create up to 325 temporary jobs during construction, 35 full-time jobs during operation and a further 20 contract personnel during routine and annual maintenance.

The plant will be fuelled mainly by imported virgin wood, dedicated energy crops and locally sourced waste wood.

E.ON will also set up a Community Investment Fund, which will contribute £50,000 per annum for every year that the plant is operating, to support charitable and/or educational community projects. £75,000 will also be allocated to trial green buses and improve cycle routes in the local area.

Biffa has also visited Birds Eye sites in Europe to offer expertise and advice on cutting waste and costs.

Birds Eye’s food waste, including animal by product waste, is sent to Biffa’s flagship anaerobic digestion (AD) facility in Cannock, Staffordshire. Opened in June 2011, it can process up to 120,000 tonnes of food waste each year – enough to generate power for up to 10,000 homes.

The partnership received special praise during Birds Eye’s recent ISO 14001 audit. With further ambitious targets ahead, both Biffa and Birds Eye are determined to keep driving the site forward towards their waste reduction goals.

ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE |19|

UK IT charity, Computer Aid International, today announces that it has shipped 200,000 PCs and laptops to schools, hospitals and charities in developing countries since it was established in 1998. Each PC has been donated by an individual or organisation in the UK. The PCs are now being used by not-forprofit organisations to improve education, health and agricultural production in very poor and rural communities across 112 countries.

How donated PCs are being used The 200,000 donated PCs have provided over one billion usable ICT hours to notfor-profit organisations in Africa and Latin America. They are being used to support the Millennium Development Goals of eradicating poverty, enriching education and improving health and medical care in the developing world: •

•

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UK organisations and individuals provide 200,000 reusable PCs to not-for-profit organisations in Africa and Latin America

Education - The majority of PCs are used in education, enabling children and adults to gain the IT skills necessary to enter further education and obtain higher paid employment.

Health – With ICT, rural doctors and nurses can connect to specialists in city centres and participate in e-learning courses, helping them access the support and training they need to provide life-saving medical care to rural populations.

Agriculture - Access to ICT allows farmers to find and share information with other communities and keep up to date with weather forecasts, helping them to increase crop growth. Once harvested, the internet can also help farmers gain entry to new markets.

Tom Butcher, External Relations Manager, at The Met Office explains “donated PCs to Computer Aid have helped National Meteorological Services in Kenya, Uganda and Zambia to digitise weather observations which are used to help rural communities make better weather dependant decisions. This type of weather information helps farmers to decide when to plant their crops and which varieties, or combinations of crops, to plant to secure the best yields possible. Poor crop yields can have a devastating and long term impact on a farmer’s livelihood as well as food security for an entire community. The digitised observations are also vital to improve weather forecasts and severe weather warnings over Africa.”

Thank you to our donors!

Computer Aid relies on donations of PCs to continue its work. Anja ffrench, Director of Communications, at Computer Aid says “Shipping 200,000 PCs is a massive achievement for Computer Aid and we want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has donated their computers and helped us to meet this target.”

Over the past 14 years, Computer Aid has developed a professional, CESG approved decommissioning

|20| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

service, ensuring that donating PCs to the charity not only has significant social benefits but has strong business benefits for donor organisations as well.

Sainsbury’s is Computer Aid’s largest PC donor to date, in terms of volumes of PCs and has donated over 11,000 items of equipment over the past three years. Neil Morgan, Team Lead – IT Warehouse & Logistics, explains why he donated to Computer Aid, “It was a win/win solution for both of us, as Computer Aid made donating the computers extremely straight forward by carrying out secure data-wiping of the hard drives, taking full legal liability and allowing us to deliver large volumes of equipment.”

Computer Aid needs 50,000 PCs this year Computer Aid is appealing for donations of 50,000 PCs and laptops this year which will be used to improve health, education and employment opportunities in Africa and Latin America through practical ICT solutions.

Anja ffrench says “While we are delighted to have reached this milestone, this is just a drop in the ocean when you consider that in Sub-Saharan Africa there are still only 25 PCs per 1,000 people. Here in the UK we dispose of several million working and good quality PCs each year.

Instead of recycling them, there is a huge opportunity for people to use these computers to help reduce poverty in developing countries.”

To find out more about donating PCs to Computer Aid and the charity’s free professional decommissioning services please contact the organisation directly on 020 8361 5540, email enquiries@computeraid.org, or visit www. computeraid.org.

Waste will be repatriated from Indonesia, while Environment Agency takes Brazil waste exports case to the Old Bailey The Environment Agency is investigating after almost 90 containers of alleged illegal waste from the UK were intercepted.

The Indonesian authorities raised concerns that the around 1800-tonne cargo - described as scrap metal - was heavily contaminated with liquid and mixed waste, and requested repatriation of the containers to the UK. Under the terms of the international laws which govern global waste exports, Indonesia may accept scrap metal for recycling. However contaminated waste cannot be exported.

The Environment Agency, which has environmental crime teams to track and prosecute organised criminal gangs

who dump waste illegally, is taking action to ensure the safe return of the containers.

The Environment Agency has started its own investigation and is liaising with the Indonesian authorities. The containers are due to be released for repatriation by Indonesian authorities at the end of March. The shipment will then take about a month to reach the UK. Andy Higham, who heads up the Environment Agency’s National Environmental Crime Team said: “We are working closely with the Indonesian authorities to establish the facts of this case. Illegal waste exports risk harm to human health and the environment in the country of export, it also undermines law-abiding recycling businesses back home. There is a legitimate export market for recyclable material. However, we will take vigorous action where there is evidence of waste being exported illegally.”

The Environment Agency will oversee the arrival of the containers before undertaking an inspection of their contents. The inspection is expected to be lengthy and a fumigation process may have to take place first to make it safe for officers to document the consignment.

Meanwhile, the Environment Agency is bringing a high profile case against four men and two companies for the alleged illegal export of 89 containers of prohibited waste to Brazil between November 2008 and July 2009.

The defendants appeared before the City of London Magistrates Court and were informed that their case will be heard at the Old Bailey.

Andy Higham added: “The prosecutor for the Environment Agency requested that the case should be heard at the Crown Court due to the scale and complexity of the case. This significant decision reflects the seriousness of the charges.”

The prosecution follows an extensive two-year investigation by the Environment Agency.

The six defendants are: Julio Cesar Rando da Costa, of Swindon; Julio Valderama da Costa, of Swindon; Simon Edwards, of Loughton, Essex; John Coombe, of Romford; Edwards Waste Paper Limited and Edwards Recycling Limited The Environment Agency withdrew charges against Worldwide Biorecyclables Ltd, because the company has gone into liquidation. Another person originally arrested in connection with this matter failed to attend his last bail hearing and is still at large.

The Environment Agency continues its work to stop illegal waste crime. Anyone with information about illegal exports or large scale dumping in the UK can help by contacting the Environment Agency, 0800 80 70 60 or Crime Stoppers 0800 555 111.

ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE |21|

OFFSHORE WIND COORDINATION COULD SAVE UP TO £3.5BN Energy regulator Ofgem and the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) have published a report showing how more co-ordination in the development of offshore links and infrastructure can be achieved. In tandem, Ofgem has launched a consultation on potential changes to the regulatory regime for offshore transmission assets to take some of this work forward.

The Government’s Renewable Energy Roadmap suggests that by 2020, between 11 and 18GW of wind farm capacity could be built off Britain’s coast, compared to 1.6GW now. Future wind farms will be substantially larger and further offshore than existing projects. Instead of building individual connections for each development, they could be interlinked to lower the overall construction and operating costs. This would mean the offshore network could grow incrementally and efficiently.

This coordinated approach could reduce the cost of offshore connections by 8-15% (£0.5-3.5 billion). This would help meet the Government’s target of reducing the cost of offshore wind to £100 per megawatt hour (MWh) by 2020. It could also pave the way for an offshore network in the North Sea linking wind farms off Britain’s coast to other European countries.

RETRO EXPO ACQUIRES INSTALLERLIVE Retro Expo Limited has announced that it has purchased InstallerLive and the InstallerLive Awards for an undisclosed sum.

InstallerLive is the only national show dedicated to plumbing, heating and renewable installers working in the domestic and commercial sector. In 2011 InstallerLive proved to be a huge success, attracting a total of 4,284 visitors which represented a 28% growth in attendance on the 2010 event. In 2012 InstallerLive will sit alongside Retro Expo, a new retrofit and refurbishment show.

Retro Expo will feature a major new conference called The Green Deal Summit, a Green Deal Buyer’s Programme and an exhibition of refurbishment technologies. Exhibition zones will include Building Fabric, Lighting, Skills, Building Information Modeling (BIM), which will complement InstallerLive’s heating, plumbing and renewables core. This broader show will be marketed to the refurbishment supply chain, including clients, contractors, specifiers and energy assessors as well as a broad variety of professional trades. Retro Expo is targeting another significant uplift in visitor numbers as a result.

The new format has won significant support from within the industry. The BRE and the Department for Energy and Climate Change are lead partners for the event. The Construction Products Association and Birmingham City Council are also official supporters. The focus on refurbishment is positioning the show in the sweet-spot of the construction industry and interest in the event is already exceeding expectation.

“We are delighted to acquire the InstallerLive events and build on their current success,” says Retro Expo’s Business Development Director, David Pierpoint. “The installer has never been more important than today, but their jobs and skills are changing rapidly as demand for renewables and energy efficiency increase. The Feed in Tariff, Renewable Heat Incentive and, especially, The Green Deal require highly skilled, accredited installers to step up to the plate. For installers, it is important that their flagship show reflects this massive business opportunity”.

The InstallerLive Awards which bring together more than 700 industry notables to celebrate industry best practice and excellence will also take place alongside InstallerLive and Retro Expo. |22| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

FM Conway helps Westminster City Council get ‘Smart’ with lighting

FM Conway is turning Westminster green in its latest project to install energy saving lights which should save the City Council millions of pounds. The £3 million scheme will upgrade the City of Westminster’s 14,000 existing street lights. The ‘Smart Lights’ initiative will deliver an average energy saving of around 20%. It also enables streetlights to be automatically dimmed or brightened using state of the art wireless technology and a computerised central management system (CMS). The lamps will be monitored by the council and the CMS enables an operator to remotely control the light intensity of the lamps on a street-by-street basis. Lights can be dimmed by up to 75% when streets are not in use, ensuring that energy is not wasted on lighting empty streets.

The scheme will also negate the necessity for foot patrols, which are presently required to check whether lights are operational. With the new technology, the CMS will allow staff to instantly see the status and power usage of any of the Smart Lights and arrange reactive maintenance when appropriate. The project is due for completion in 2014 and will save an estimated £8 million over the 20 year lifespan of the lighting infrastructure, through cuts to energy costs and reductions in routine and reactive maintenance.

Recycling Specialist Goes For Case A trio of machines from Case Construction Equipment is helping to increase productivity and reduce fuel costs for one of the UK’s leading wood processing and recycling specialists.

Barnsley-based Case dealer Warwick Ward has supplied two new Case 821 F XR Waste Spec Wheel Loaders and a TX130-45 Waste Spec Telehandler to R Plevin & Sons for use in their Elkesley processing plant in Nottinghamshire.

The three machines are used to handle wood waste coming into the plant as well as processed fibre stockpiled at the site. Working 2 shifts per day up to 6 days per week in dry, dusty environments, the machines were chosen primarily for their durability, productivity and fuel efficiency.

“The two 821F XR loading shovels are working two shifts from 6 o’clock in the morning to 10 o’clock at night over five days and sometimes six” says Dean Ashton, Group Engineering Director with Plevins. “I look at having the least machines as possible and having them work as long as they can” To find the right machines, Plevins undertook an exhaustive selection process which eventually led to the company abandoning its previous policy of running a Volvo-only fleet. “We looked at every factor and came to the conclusion that Case was our best option for fuel returns, loading capability, manoeuvrability and durability. Another deciding factor for Plevins was the rear-mounted engine on the Case machines. “This meant the weight distribution was better and they don’t have to carry a big counterbalance weight. Furthermore, with the cooling system positioned behind the cab, there is also less risk of the engines overheating in the very dusty environment in which the machines work. “The cooling elements remain clear and the operators don’t have to keep stopping work to clean the radiators as they did with the traditional machines. The telehandler is ideal for our bulk low-density material. We put a large 4m3 bucket on it to deal with chipping operations and we can use it for loading highsided vehicles if ever one of the loading shovels were unavailable” says Mr Ashton.

Since taking delivery of the three vehicles late last year, Plevins has noticed a dramatic drop in fuel consumption at the site, says Mr Ashton: “We’re using far less fuel with the new Case products than we traditionally have.” Lower fuel consumption not only saves money but also saves time. Capable of working longer on a single tankful, the Case machines need fewer interruptions for refuelling on a daily basis. |24| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

National Express in the fast lane to sustainability National Express has launched an industry leading sustainability partnership with powerPerfector. The partnership will see the installation of a range of energy conservation measures across National Express sites in the UK and abroad. The first phase saw 35 National Express sites evaluated for suitability for the roll out of green technologies. Voltage Power Optimisation (VPO)® was implemented in nine National Express bus garages, reducing electricity consumption by an average of 16 per cent. At Coventry Bus Station, VPO achieved savings of 22 per cent, whilst radiant heating, air-source heat pumps, a metering control system and LED lighting are now under consideration. If successful, these measures will be rolled out into other National Express sites.

Phase one is currently saving National Express almost £70,000 in energy spend a year, whilst cutting group carbon emissions by 550 tonnes – equivalent to the average emissions of 114 houses.

Phase two will see eight further VPO installations take place in the UK, whilst National Express sites in Spain and the USA are also being analysed for suitability.

Jamie Buchanan, powerPerfector Group Managing Director, said: “National Express has wholeheartedly embraced the sustainability challenge. The savings it has achieved are excellent and the phase one VPO installations will pay back in less than two years.”

All of the savings achieved are independently verified by EEVS Insight, meaning the company has full visibility of the effectiveness of the measures implemented.

APSU ENVIRONMENTAL SET TO CHANGE THE FACE OF SURFACE WATER FILTRATION WITH NEW ADVANCED TREATMENT STATION (ATS) Apsu Environmental Limited has teamed up with the University of Edinburgh to design and develop pioneering surface water filtration systems which offer large reductions in the land needed for a traditional Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS) installation by up to 80% and achieves pond reduction by 70%.

The technology – Advanced Treatment Station (ATS-SUDS) - was developed for use in sustainable urban drainage, but also addresses the significant challenge faced by road engineers and highways departments in handling road gully and road sweepings wet waste, through a proprietary technology ATS-TARP – a means of recycling road gully & sweepings waste in a Treatment and Recycling Plant (TARP).

This allows the recycled water to wash and refill the gully trucks preventing the use of previously used drinking standard water. The dewatered solids mainly Inorganic matter – sand, for example - can be passed through a grit recovery system for reuse as a road fill material whilst smaller organic materials such as leaf mould and twigs, can be composted. The remainder 2% consisting of plastics etc is the only element landfilled.

The results are impressive, with removal of up to 76% of total suspended solids, 99% of hydrocarbons from oils/fuels and approximately 80% of dissolved and heavy metals.

Apsu’s ATS-SUDS can handle can water flow rates from 1 – 1000 lps, with the high performance ATS-SUDS system unit providing both capital and whole of life savings against conventional ‘above ground’ treatment and attenuation processes. |26| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

PREMIER INN CAPTURES THE SUN’S ENERGY TO POWER HOTELS Whitbread, Premier Inn’s parent company, is to become more sustainable by using the sun’s energy to help power a number of its hotels and restaurants. The initiative is part of Whitbread’s strategy of achieving a 26% reduction in its carbon emissions by 2020.

Ten Premier Inn hotels across southern England have been fitted with photovoltaic panels that are expected to generate over 84 kilowatts (per year) of electricity and save more than 42 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.

Whitbread has commissioned energy efficiency supplier Anesco to install the solar photovoltaic panels. The energy generated will be supplied back to the ten hotels and restaurants to lower their energy consumption, or made available to the national grid when energy demand from the hotels is low.

The ten Premier Inn hotels with new solar photovoltaic panels installed include Liskeard, Fraddon (near Newquay), St Austell, Helston, Truro, Tring, Bodmin, Barnstable and Lockyers Quay and Sutton Harbour in Plymouth.

WORLD-LEADING ENERGY FIRM INVESTS IN UK

12 EU-States still using illegal battery cages for laying hens Hundreds of thousands of laying hens still suffer in cages

Since 1st of January 2012 conventional battery cages for laying hens have been banned in all EU member states. However, according to research conducted by the international animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS, farms in 12 member states are still using illegal battery cages. Countries that do not comply with the EU Directive on minimum standards for the protection of laying hens are: Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Spain. FOUR PAWS appreciates that several EU-countries have intensified their efforts to shut down conventional battery cages. On January 26th 2012 the European Commission began infringement proceedings against (at that time) 14 non complying Member States. The Commission requested that the concerned Member States respond to a letter of formal notice under EU infringement procedures. If they fail to react satisfactorily the Commission will send a “reasoned opinion” requesting concerned Member States take the necessary measures to comply with the Directive within two months after having received the “reasoned opinion”.

The farms had 12 years to change their production methods. FOUR PAWS’ research shows that many farmers started very late with conversion procedures. Now they are in a hurry and do not change in a proper way. At the end of February FOUR PAWS announced that the UK and Romania had solved all their illegal cage egg problems.

ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE |27|

Environment: Commission proposes

tighter laws on ship recycling

The European Commission has proposed new rules to ensure that European ships are only recycled in facilities that are safe for workers and environmentally sound. More than 1000 large old commercial ships, such as tankers and container vessels, are recycled for their scrap metal every year, but many European ships end up in substandard facilities on the tidal beaches of South Asia. These facilities mostly lack the environmental protection and safety measures needed to manage the hazardous materials contained in end-of-life ships. These include asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), tributyl tin and oil sludge.

This leads to high accident rates and health risks for workers and extensive environmental pollution.

The new rules, which will take the form of a Regulation, propose a system of survey, certification and authorisation for large commercial seagoing vessels that fly the flag of an EU Member State, covering their whole life cycle from construction to operation and recycling. This system builds upon the Hong Kong Convention for the safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships, which was adopted in 2009. The proposal aims to implement the Convention quickly, without waiting for its ratification and entry into force, a process which will take several years. To speed up the formal entry into force of the Hong Kong Convention, the Commission also presented today a draft decision requiring Member States to ratify the Convention.

Under the new system, European ships will have to draw up an inventory of the hazardous materials present on board, and apply for an inventory certificate. The amount of hazardous waste on board (including in cargo residues, fuel oil, etc.) must be reduced before the ship is delivered to a recycling facility.

Ship recycling facilities will have to meet a set of environmental and safety requirements in order to be included on a list of authorised facilities worldwide. European ships will be allowed to be recycled only in facilities on the list. Some of the requirements to be met by the ship recycling facilities are stricter than those foreseen by the Hong Kong Convention.

This will ensure better traceability for European ships, and will guarantee that the waste resulting from dismantling (and any hazardous materials it contains) is managed in an environmentally sound way.

To ensure compliance, the proposal requires ship owners to report to national authorities when they intend to send a ship for recycling. By comparing the list of ships for which they have issued an inventory certificate with the list of ships which have been recycled in authorized facilities, authorities will be able to spot illegal recycling more easily. The sanctions proposed in the Regulation will also be more specific and precise.

DFT announce funding which will see 70 additional hybrid buses on London’s streets

The Department for Transport has announced funding for investment in cleaner buses across England. Transport for London has been awarded £5 million to add an additional 70 hybrid buses to its fleet. The funding from DFT’s Green Bus Fund means that at least 400 cleaner hybrid buses are expected to be operating on London’s streets by the end of March 2013.

There are currently over 260 hybrid buses operating in London.

The Department for Transport’s Green Bus Fund was set up to support bus companies and local authorities, such as TfL, to introduce low carbon vehicles which will have a positive effect on the environment. TfL was awarded £5m in 2009, £8m in 2010 and £5m in 2011 by the Fund. Hybrid buses are part of a wider package of measures to improve the capital’s air quality. This includes the New Bus for London which uses the latest hybrid technology, and funding secured late last year to equip up to 1000 buses with NOx abatement equipment. |28| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

£1,000 subsidy to help environmental business employ ‘green undergraduates’ A new funding initiative providing environmental businesses with £1,000 towards the temporary recruitment of an undergraduate has been launched by the UWE Bristol and the Environmental Technologies iNet. The ‘UWE Green Undergraduate Internship Scheme’ is particularly focused on assisting companies and entrepreneurs in the low carbon goods and services sector and builds upon UWE’s commitment to provide all students with an opportunity to contribute to sustainability whilst undertaking a programme of study at the university.

It forms part of a wider initiative by the University’s Careers service to help businesses across all industry sectors employ talented, ambitious individuals without experiencing some of the common risks associated with permanent recruitment solutions.

The programme represents fantastic value and in the current economic climate, with many businesses struggling to find affordable methods for the recruitment of new staff, this timely opportunity is likely to prove popular.

Lasting for eight weeks full-time and part-time options available, internships arranged through the scheme can relate to vacancies across various disciplines from marketing, graphic design and computing, to environmental management, engineering and the sciences.

By facilitating the temporary recruitment of a high-calibre UWE undergraduate, the programme provides a risk free method for securing capable individuals to work on short-term projects. It will also contribute to longer-term staffing strategies, enabling employers to build relationships with potential future employees.

Participation can help achieve corporate social responsibility targets and ensures businesses play a part in inspiring the next crop of professionals in their field.

Full-time internships can run anytime between 25 May – 14 September 2012, there is more flexibility for the part-time option. The recruitment process for both options can begin immediately.

FLAT-PACK OFFICES?

Recycled paper honeycomb manufacturer Dufaylite, has partnered with Leeds-based Duke Studios to create ten unique studio offices using its revolutionary Ultra Board - a substrate that is 100 per cent sustainable and recyclable.

Duke Studios is an office space that is breathing life back into an iconic derelict building in the centre of Leeds. This ambitious regeneration project covers 7000sq ft. and is currently being transformed into an open plan, design-led haven for creative collaboration.

Laura Wellington, co-founder of Duke Studios said: “Duke Studios is a multi-disciplinary office space with creativity at its heart, so it’s massively important to have a space that inspires, encourages and supports the companies within it.

Ultra Board was the perfect material to use in the scheme, as our studio spaces needed to be flexible, interesting and sustainable to accommodate growth and encourage businesses to thrive in the environment.”

Tony Moscrop, Dufaylite’s Chief Executive, added: “Although Ultra Board has traditionally been used in point of sale and signage, it is now being utilised by designers in creative applications. These studio offices are a new and completely innovative way to showcase our product, highlight Ultra Board’s flexibility and versatility. The Duke Studios space is a fantastic opportunity to showcase Ultra Board, so we were delighted to design and build these unique studio offices. These creative workspaces are perfect for Duke Studios’ future residents and offer plenty of scope to expand as the businesses grow.”

ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE |29|

Mapping your solar potential...

Bristol City Council have now gone ‘live’ and published an online map highlighting potential untapped revenue across the region. The map, freely available on the council’s website, shows the expected solar power generation if PV panels were fitted to building rooftops throughout Bristol. Produced in part by leading aerial survey specialist Blom, a map on this scale is the first of its kind in the UK, and was funded as part of a government grant.

Nearly a quarter of a million buildings have been assessed, with a surprising third of these understood to be suitable to take advantage of the Government’s Feed-in Tariff scheme. It is hoped that it will encourage residents and businesses to invest into solar energy and further boost Bristol’s credentials as a leading ‘Green City’.

Council Leader Barbara Janke said: ’This is another example of Bristol leading the way on the green agenda. We are the first local authority to produce a solar map, the first to be building our own wind turbines and the first local authority outside London to be setting up our own energy services company.

The work we’ve done on the solar map pulls together a full picture of the city’s solar potential. Anyone who lives in Bristol who is thinking about the possibility of installing solar electric or hot water panels can use this map quickly and easily to find out whether it’s going to be viable for them.’

PV CYCLE’s WEEE-compliance roadmap in full swing - Industry scheme presents pillars of its 2012 strategy PV CYCLE, Europe’s only fully operational, collective takeback and recycling service for end-of-life PV modules, has presented its WEEE-compliance roadmap at its 2012 Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Launched in 2007 as a voluntary initiative by producers of PV modules, PV CYCLE has collected a significant amount of PV module waste across Europe through its comprehensive infrastructure for collection and recycling in all EU27 and EFTA countries. PV CYCLE is currently working on becoming a fully WEEE-compliant scheme and has already been successfully executing the main principles of the recast WEEE Directive, soon to include the regulation of PV modules. In light of this, the organization unveiled a dedicated information campaign which aims to educate the industry’s stakeholders about the capabilities of the PV CYCLE scheme and the importance of an industry-managed take-back and recycling service.

“Our WEEE-compliance roadmap is in full swing. We are in intensive discussions with national stakeholders |30| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

and focus our energy on the development of practicable requirements,” explained Jan Clyncke, Managing Director at PV CYCLE, on the main pillars of the organization’s 2012 strategy. “We are convinced that a harmonized WEEE-regulation across Europe will increase overall collection and recycling rates and will help to keep the European PV market viable.”

PV CYCLE intends to represent the entire operational process of reporting, collecting and recycling its members’ end-of-life PV modules, including the related financing. “Together with our members, PV CYCLE is currently working on establishing a long-term financial model,” said Holger Hoppe, Treasurer of PV CYCLE, at the AGM in Brussels. “PV CYCLE has a strong financial foundation and offers a program that is designed to maximize cost-effectiveness.” By offering a dedicated collection and recycling service, PV CYCLE can avoid potential surcharges through unnecessary sorting, contamination with other materials or inefficient recycling technologies.

Archbishop Tutu leads the way for a fairer future for food and farming South Africa’s Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, revered around the world for his life-long fight against the oppression of people, became the first world leader today to embrace our planet and all its inhabitants in a new vision for the future.

Tutu signed Compassion in World Farming’s Vision for Fair Food and Farming, leading the way towards a new era of sustainable, humane, and environmentally-responsible farming methods.

Other notable signatories include actress, Joanna Lumley OBE, musician Peter Gabriel, anthropologist Dr Jane Goodall DBE, environmentalist Jonathon Porritt CBE, and Islamic leader Dr Manazir Ahsan MBE and actress Penelope Keith, among others.

In its Vision for Fair Food and Farming, Compassion calls for the global adoption of food and agricultural policies, including incentives, which deliver all the following elements: • Good health by ensuring universal access to sufficient and nutritious food • Sustainable farming methods which support rural livelihoods and relieve poverty • Protection for the planet and its precious resources: soil, water; forest and biodiversity • Reduced emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants from agriculture • Humane farming methods which promote the health and natural behaviour of sentient animals and avoid causing them pain and suffering • Reduced consumption of animal products in high-consuming populations to meet environmental, health and sustainability goals Archbishop Tutu says: “I support this Vision for Fair Food and Farming, being so aware as I am of the cruelty that we mete out to animals, whether to fatten them just in order to slaughter them, or whether we pile up chickens and not care really for their suffering - in order to increase our profits. I hope we will learn that we are related to the animals and to nature and if we destroy the balance, we are ultimately going to suffer and pay the price. I hope we can make many of our people support this initiative by Compassion in World Farming.”

Joyce D’Silva, Compassion in World Farming Ambassador, says: "The Vision signposts the way forward for global policy on food and farming. It sets out six principles which we hope will truly influence the future and create a world where every person has sufficient good food, the earth and its precious resources are protected and animals are treated with respect. We are thrilled that Archbishop Tutu has signed our Vision and hope he will be just the first of many leaders from the world's faiths to endorse it."

For further information about The Vision and its signatories please go to www.visionforfairfood.org ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE |31|

The PEA Awards 2012 in association with The Co-operative winners The PEA Awards 2012 in association with The Co-operative were presented by Michaela Strachan at the Bankside Vaults in London on 21st March “We are not going to achieve a greener society only by passing laws and setting standards. We will also need a lot of imagination, passion, commitment and inspiration, and that is what these awards are all about. They are there to recognise and celebrate the really good things that are going on, the people behind them and to inspire everyone to see the huge opportunities that are there for the taking,” says Tony Juniper, chair of the judging panel.

PEA Award Winners: Arts, Fashion & Music: Gavin Lawson, Founder/Director of THTC (The Hemp Trading Company) This award honours an individual or team who has used any form of the arts to raise awareness about environmental issues. It is also for those who have adopted sustainable or ethical practices in producing their art.

Best Earth Saving Idea (for organic/chemical-free initiatives) Sponsored by Simply: Jason Drew, Chairman of Agriprotein We live in a world where pesticides destroy ecosystems and rivers, seas are awash with toxic chemicals and landfills are piled high with non-biodegradable waste. This award honours those whose products and initiatives put the health of the planet first.

Best Energy Saving Idea Sponsored by Good Energy: Katy Duke, Owner of The Thermal Blinds Company This category rewards the individual who has come up with the best carbon-saving idea, regardless of whether this idea has already been put into practice or is still in the pipeline.

Business Person of the Year Sponsored by Gigaset: Karen Lynch, CEO of Belu This category rewards the steps taken by individuals in the business world to deliver goods or services in a sustainability-orientated way, demonstrating that financial profit can go hand in hand with respect for people and the planet.

Campaigner of the Year: Polly Higgins This category rewards the campaigner who has made a serious impact in putting green issues on the national or international agenda.

Community Award: Northumbria Students’ Union Encompassing everything from allotment societies to clothes swapping events and lending schemes, this category recognises individuals who actively promote more sustainable activities in their communities.

Community Interest Company: Paul Nixon, Discovery Centre Manager at the Seabird Centre This award recognises an individual or team from within a Community Interest Company for environmentally conscious activity in their sector.

Entrepreneur of the Year: Sven Segal, Founder and CEO of Po-Zu This category honours an individual who has come up with the best new enterprise, venture or business idea that is based around greener thinking.

Public Sector Award Sponsored by Kyocera: Our Greener Borough, Wandsworth Council This award is for an individual from a local or national public sector organisation whose work has helped advance more sustainable living. |32| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

Responsible Travel: Car-free Walks This category rewards those who have promoted green travel in all its forms, whether they started a green travel business, or have gone the extra mile to make their own travels more sustainable.

Schools Sponsored by The Co-operative: The Sustrans Bike It Officers at Sustrans The true paradigm shift in socially and environmentally responsible trade and living will be played out by the next two generations. There can therefore be few more important jobs today for parents, mentors and teachers than equipping children for a more environmentally responsible future. This award is to recognise and celebrate individuals and organisations doing genuinely great work in this area.

Sustainability in Sport Sponsored by Green Magazine: Gordon Foat, Founder and CEO of Green MotorSport An award to honour those in the sports world who have helped make their clubs more sustainable or have used their sporting skills to promote ethical practice.

Chris Shearlock, Sustainable Development Manager for The Co-operative, commented, “We are proud to partner with the PEA Awards as part of our strategy to raise awareness of environmental issues across the retail and business sectors. It’s fantastic to see so many worthy candidates being recognised for their outstanding achievements and inspirational efforts towards improving sustainability and environmental awareness in the UK.”

Evance installs 1,000th small wind turbine Evance Wind Turbines, a world leading manufacturer of small wind turbines, has today announced the installation of its 1,000th small wind turbine.

The turbine has been installed at a residential home in Derbyshire, where the renewable energy generated will provide electricity for the owner’s home and for holidaymakers who come to the adjoining caravan park.

Anthony Barratt of Tansley near Matlock, owner of the 1,000th Evance turbine, said: “I’ve always been interested in turbines and keen to invest in green energy to support our home and business, so we are pleased that the financial benefits will support our efforts. Also the holidaymakers that come here to appreciate the Derbyshire countryside will now be able to enjoy using green energy during their stay. We choose the Evance R9000 machine as it has a reputation for reliability and performance, and it is unobtrusive, so there is minimal impact on our surroundings,” Anthony Barratt’s home uses approx.

10,000kWh of electricity per year, and the 5 caravan hook-ups can require a further 6,000kWh. Based on the estimated wind speed for the location, the R9000 should generate around 13,000kWh annually - covering a substantial part of the Barratt’s electricity requirement.

Currently Evance small wind turbines installed in the UK, and across Europe and North America, can collectively generate around 11,000MWh of electricity annually so saving over 4,700 tonnes of CO2 emissions - equivalent to taking around 2,100 cars off the road.

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ELSTER SHIPS ONE MILLIONTH POLYMER BODIED WATER METER —Anglian Water is recipient of the award winning measuring device— Elster has shipped its one millionth polymer bodied water meter for the European utility market. The recipient of the milestone device is Anglian Water, who is one of the leading operators of water services in the UK, supplying more than six million domestic and business customers in the east of England with water and wastewater services.

Elster’s design and manufacturing facility in Luton, UK, is the birthplace of polymer bodied water meter technology. Elster shipped its first V200/V210 volumetric polymer bodied unit from the facility in 2009. These meters offer long-life and high accuracy over a wide operating range with very low environmental impact and are approved to the latest European Directive (2004/22/EC) and associated European and international standards.

The V200/V210 polymer water meter can also be equipped with a wireless automated meter reading (AMR) system to support water utilities to manage their water resources more efficiently, provide greater control over water leakage and provide accurate usage data in real time, making advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) a reality for water providers.

“Anglian Water is impressed with the innovative V210 polymer volumetric water meter and we look forward to our continued relationship with Elster which has been developed over many years of outstanding customer service,” said Paul Glass, project manager for Anglian Water.

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TALES FROM THE Chief David Walkem Elected to SFI Board David Walkem, Chief of Cooks Ferry Band and President of Stuwix Resources Joint Venture, has been elected to the independent Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc.® (SFI®) Board of Directors.

Stuwix Resources is the only First Nations company in the British Columbia Interior to hold a replaceable forest licence, and the 112,000 hectares/277,000 acres it manages are independently certified to the SFI 2010-2014 Standard. Walkem was the first status Indian in British Columbia to become a Registered Professional Forester.

"SFI certification addresses much that is important to First Nation communities - from recognizing indigenous people's rights and traditional knowledge to environmental values such as wildlife habitat to social and economic values such as stable jobs and markets," Walkem said today. "I welcome the chance to help shape the SFI program to make this link even stronger."

Over two million hectares/five million acres of lands held by or managed for indigenous communities are certified to the SFI forest management standard - more than any other third-party certification standard in North America.

FIRA’s Environmental Consultant becomes FIEC Chairman FIRA International is pleased to announce that its Environmental Consultant, James Bell, has become the Chairman of the Furniture Industry Environment Committee (FIEC).

Speaking on his role, James said, “It is an honour to have been appointed as Chair of FIEC. Undoubtedly, one of the greatest challenges facing the furniture industry today is reconciling and integrating strong economic growth with effective environmental action. I am really looking forward to working with the Committee in order to achieve sustainable development for the long term.

The Planet Earth Institute welcomes new trustees The Planet Earth Institute announced the appointment of two new Trustees, on the 12th March at the Dorchester Hotel in London; Lord Paul Boateng, former Cabinet Minister and British High Commissioner to South Africa, and Prof. Sir Christopher Edwards, former Principal of the Imperial College School of Medicine and Chairman of Chelsea & Westminster NHS Foundation Trust. The new trustees, who will begin their duties immediately, join current Chairman, Mr. Álvaro Sobrinho and Prof.

Paul Younger, Chairman of the PEI Global Scientific Committee, and will bring with them considerable experience and expertise. The newly formulated Board is responsible for defining and overseeing the Institute's strategy. |36| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

The REA welcomes Tim Yeo and Martin Wright as its new President and Chairman respectively Tim Yeo is to be the first ever President of the REA. He has held Government posts in trade and industry, transport, the environment and agriculture, and is currently Chair of the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee. Martin Wright, meanwhile, takes over from Andrew MacLellan as Chair of the Board of Directors [2]. Martin’s career began with the Royal Navy and has subsequently spanned a number of roles in finance before founding Marine Current Turbines Ltd. He is currently involved in both marine renewables and energy storage.

STA announces Alan Aldridge as new Chairman Alan joined the Board of the STA two years ago and has taken an active role in several STA projects. He is an accountant by qualification and is currently Managing Director of Riomay Ltd, a renewable energy installer focused on both solar thermal and PV. Alan spent 10 years with the management consultancy PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) where he was advising large businesses on how to improve financial performance. This was followed by 13 years successfully leading businesses in Managing Director roles.

WATERCOOLER....

G24 Innovations inventor awarded prestigious Albert Einstein World Award of Science Cardiff, Wales – Professor Michael Grätzel, Director of the Laboratory of Photonics and Interfaces at Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and the pioneer of global technology leader G24 Innovations’ ground breaking technology, has been selected as the winner of the Albert Einstein World Award of Science 2012. In 1988 Prof. Grätzel created the revolutionary Grätzel Cell, a dye-sensitised nano-structured solar cell, which now forms the basis of G24i’s energy harvesting technology. The Albert Einstein World Award is a highly prestigious acknowledgement, given by the Interdisciplinary Committee of the World Cultural Council - outstanding personalities of the scientific community from five continents, including 25 Nobel Laureates.

The prize has been awarded to Professor Grätzel in recognition of his outstanding accomplishments to the welfare of mankind and the health of the planet, solving arguably one of the most important technical problems relating to energy and sustainability faced today.

The 29th Award Ceremony will took place on Wednesday, April18th at Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.

CIWEM ANNOUNCES NEW EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENT JOURNAL The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental management (CIWEM) welcomes Dr. John Bridgeman as the new Editor-in-Chief of the Water and Environment Journal, as Prof. David Butler steps down after a successful 6-year term at the helm.

Dr. John Bridgeman has been in post at the University of Birmingham since 2005, following a 15 year career in the water industry. Since then he has developed an international profile for his contributions to research in water management and, in particular, the areas of potable water treatment and supply, and strategic asset management.

Superglass Holdings PLC Appointment of Chairman Designate The Board of Superglass is pleased to announce the appointment of John Colley as a non-executive Director with immediate effect. John will succeed Tim Ross as Chairman of the Company John has worked for over 20 years in the building materials industry and has worked at executive director level for 8 years. His board experience has included the roles of Group Managing Director of BPB plc, with responsibility for Northern and Eastern Europe; and as Executive Managing Director of St Gobain (following its acquisition of BPB) with responsibility for the Gypsum and Insulation Northern and Eastern Europe Division, a business with €1.8bn of annual sales. John is currently a non-executive director of two private equity businesses, Jablite Ltd and Styropack Ltd, and sits on the management committee of the parent group Synbra bv. He is also a past President of the Construction Products Association the industry trade body representing the construction industry.

Paul Davidson appointed as Aurora’s technical trainer and sales development manager His brief is to enhance customers’ own professional development through a formal CPD programme. He is also expanding the technical knowledge of Aurora employees through a series of training presentations. Paul continues to develop the Aurora portfolio in the commercial lighting sector.

With over 25 years’ experience in the lighting industry, he holds the CIBSE Lighting Diploma and is a member of the Society of Light & Lighting.

Specialist contractor Alumet picked up the prize for Building Envelope at the recent Construction News Specialists Awards, held at the Hilton Hotel, London. This marks the third year in a row that the Warwickshire based business has received the accolade which covers cladding, windows and building facades.

Comedian Simon Evans presented Director Dean Walton with the trophy in front of 600 industry leaders. Dean commented “We were thrilled to receive this award for the third year running. We aim to provide the very highest standards to our clients and the award is a testament to our commitment.”

The judges commented that Alumet stood head and shoulders above the competition with a significantly investment in areas including technology, the environment, and staff development. The hat trick comes at a good time for Alumet as 2012 marks their 20th Anniversary.

Alumet are continuing to demonstrate a commitment to the latest technology as their headquarters will shortly be the first building in the UK to feature Schuco's new retrofit eco-cladding system known as ERC 50.

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THE HOLOCENE EVENT When we think of endangered species and extinction, images of panda bears, Indian tigers, Blue Whales and African Orchids come immediately to mind, and more recently perhaps images of polar bears on perilously small ice floes. Those of us more tuned-in to the environmental zeitgeist may, for example, also be concerned about our pollinating insects and the decline of the butterflies and bees that until very recently, we enjoyed in abundance in our English country gardens or suburban municipal parks.

I would count myself amongst the latter – you know, a green(ish), environmentally aware, openly concerned, fairtrade veggie Ecotricity customer etc., but I was shaken to the core when I took a look at the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species*

the conservative figure of 10 million, it would mean that we are losing anywhere between 2.7 and 270 species each and every day.

One can play with numbers endlessly, but these figures relate unique ‘miracles’ of evolution – life forms that take millions of years to evolve. Leaving aside the 1,000,000 to 1 shot of natural extinction, the other causes have been cataclysmic events. The fossil record and our existing knowledge tells us there have been five great extinction events which wiped out anything from 50 and 95 per cent of the life of the time: the Ordovician about 434 million years ago (mya), the Late Devonian (354mya), the Permian (251mya), the Triassic (205 mya) and the Cretacous (65 mya) which famously saw off the dinosaurs.

It doesn’t make for a pleasant read.

It’s screen after screen of plant, animal and insect species that have been classified into seven classes from ‘least concern’ through to ‘extinct’. The IUCN receives information from over 10,000 scientists throughout the world, and they have classified well over 40,000 species.

That’s a fraction of the 1.5million species known to us and the suspected total number (which some estimates say could be 100 million), but it is by any definition a decent and varied sample.

The conclusions arising from this work are nothing less than terrifying. One of every four mammal species is in danger of extinction. Let’s just be clear about that – we’re not talking ‘in decline’ or ‘endangered’, but on the edge of disappearing from the Earth forever. One in four.

It gets worse. Much worse. Half of all reptile species catalogued. 52% of all insects. One in three amphibians, one in three conifer species. Three out of four flowering plants.

We know of course that species have come and gone since the primordial soup, and there is indeed a constant and natural process of extinction called ‘background extinction’ which is balanced naturally by evolution and the emergence of new species. This natural process seems to take place at one or two species per million per year. That’s how we came about (although at this rate, it may not be how we end).

According to a great many biologists, including the preeminent and twice Pulitzer Prize winning Edward O. Wilson, the current rate of extinction is something in the order of between 1,000 and perhaps as high as 10,000 times the natural rate. We don’t actually know how many species there are on Earth, but there is general agreement that it is between 10 and 100 million. Taking |38| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

Whilst the causes for all events are not clear, the effects are not in doubt. The events all led to rapid changes in the climate and specifically levels of CO2; changes which were too fast for species to adapt.** The consensus amongst biologists is that following such an event, it takes the planet about 10 million years to re-stock with replacement life forms.

Once more, the planet is undergoing a period of rapid climate change. However this time, the world’s flora and fauna also have something else to deal with: mankind.

We are directly responsible for the degradation and destruction of habitats, we over-exploit every resource we can get our hands or machines on, we turn vast, countrysized areas into bland, destructive monocultures, we transport species to entirely inappropriate places where they wreak havoc, we consume at increasingly voracious rates never before seen in the history of the planet and we take more and more of the planets surface for ourselves, pushing other species into ever smaller regions and isolating them from future diversity.

Many are saying that we are living in the midst of the sixth great extinction event – the Holocene. The bit we don’t seem to have grasped is that it poses what a recent report from the American Museum of Natural History described as “colossal threat to human existence, a more serious environmental problem than even its contributor, global warming; and that the dangers of mass extinction are woefully underestimated by almost everyone outside science.”

Steve@stephenmgrant.com * www.iucnredlist.org ** http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2008CorRe..27..459V

England, Enron And The Business Of Water.

By Jason Drew, Author of The Protein Crunch – Civilization on the brink www.theproteincrunch.com

Few of us think about and understand the precarious relationship between water, population and economic development. We have been managing our water supply like Enron ran its accounting systems and the consequences may be dire. Let me explain.

At the beginning of the industrial revolution in 1801 there were just 10 million people in England, by 1900 there were over 30 million and today we are more than 60 million. Our population is immeasurably wealthier today than 200 years ago and using huge amounts more water per person. Yet there is no more water now than then.

Our rainfall patterns fluctuate and always have done – what has really changed is us.

The water we use in our homes for personal use is relatively small. Everything we make and consume, however, is in fact condensed water. It takes some 30,000 litres of water to make your mobile phone, 10,000 litres of water to make a pair of jeans and over 20,000 litres of water to make a kilo of beef. Whilst much of this ‘virtual water’ is imported – our sheer numbers combined with our domestic manufacturing and agricultural growth mean that we have placed huge strains on the natural water systems of our country.

Mother nature stores rain water in our mountains, streams, farmland soils, lakes, and aquifers. Mankind has added its own storage systems such as dams - but these pale into insignificance compared to those of our ecosystems.

farmers there take more water from the aquifer each year than has fallen in rain on the prairies above it since the time of Christ. It too will in time empty.

The water in our English aquifers is similarly pumped onto our land for irrigation or delivered to our cities and industries. A wet summer or a rainy winter will not rapidly replenish these immense sponges – this is the unsustainable use of a fixed and finite natural resource.

The need to replenish these aquifers can lead to the seemingly paradoxical – a hosepipe ban whilst it is raining.

What we are in fact doing in using nature’s capital – its stored water. In reality we have to draw on this hidden capital because our current use of water exceeds our current supply (rainfall). The last organisation to confuse balance sheet and income items was Enron. They ended up in trouble. We are in danger of doing the same.

We need to get busy making some hard choices. We need to treat and manage water as the scarce resource it really is – not only in agriculture but also in industry and our personal and particularly our virtual consumption.

Without water we cannot grow our economies – let alone maintain our industries and businesses. Without growth we risk unhappiness and civil unrest.

If we do not make better choices in the 21st century than we have in our past, we risk nothing less than the collapse of civilisation.

Our underground aquifers are an important element of our natural water storage systems. They feed our streams and wells all year round as well as clean the water. The south and east of England have massive chalk aquifers from which many rivers are fed.

Lets get busy repairing the future.

We now, however, extract water from these aquifers at a faster rate than they are replenished by rainfall. We are doing this all over the world. The aquifer that feeds Sana’a the capital of the Yemen has run dry which will in time lead to the closing of that city. The world’s largest aquifer is the Ogallala in the American mid west. The

Twitter @proteincrunch Facebook theproteincrunch

Author of The Protein Crunch – Civilization on the brink To be published in June 2012: The Story Of The Fly And How It Could Save The World.

ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE |39|

WASTE MANAGEMENT Page 42 - 45 Glass Recycling, Rebecca Cocking, Head of Container Affairs, BGMC Page 46 - 49 End of Life Vehicles, Ian Hetherington, Director, British Metals Recycling Association Page 50 - 51 Textile Recycling, Helen Walker, Director, Bag It Up Ltd Page 52 - 53 Britains Waste Problem, Colin Drummond, Chief Executive, Viridor

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By Rebecca Cocking, Head of Container Affairs, British Glass Manufacturers Confederation Forget new packaging gimmicks - when it comes to sustainability, glass is the real deal!

Think of new sustainable packaging ideas and there’s a good chance that glass bottles and jars won’t be the first images that come to mind. But glass, seen by some as the Cinderella of the packaging industry in recent years, doesn’t need a Fairy Godmother to give it a green make-over. It already has sustainability built into its DNA. What makes glass special is that while some other materials are busy scrambling to be greener, glass just gets on with simply being what it is: 100% recyclable, inert, made from natural materials, taste-free and endlessly recyclable. Many say that it’s the perfect material for a new cradle to cradle world, as it takes just 30 days for a bottle or jar to make its return journey back onto the shelf.

Lightening the load This doesn’t mean that as a packaging material it can’t be improved. In fact, the UK glass industry has taken on the serious challenge of cutting carbon emissions and maximising resource efficiency by constantly innovating and adopting new processes. One of the most dramatic achievements has been the significant reductions in weight, with the average bottle now up to 40% lighter

than ever before. In October 2011, Allied Glass announced the first 1 litre round spirit bottle to break under the 400g barrier, weighing in at just 398g or 11% lighter than its previous standard bottle. Elsewhere, a new process has been developed that enables glass bottles and jars to be both stronger and lighter. Emhart Glass, in collaboration with Vetropack, has created a world’s first by developing a technology that enables glass packaging to have the properties of tempered flat glass, the process most commonly used in safety glass. This new patented tempered glass technology was developed in-house at the Emhart Glass Research Centre in the USA. Tempered glass containers are break-resistant, weigh significantly less, have the same filling capacity and can be recycled in the normal way as traditional glass bottles and jars.

In other areas, CO2 reductions and lower levels of raw material extraction have also been achieved by increasing the recycled content in all UK manufactured glass (typically 75% in green glass). A study by the European Container Glass Federation FEVE found that every tonne of recycled glass saves 670kg of CO2 (EU average). Also, when glass is recycled, fewer virgin raw materials are required, therefore eliminating the need to extract, process or transport them or expend the associated fuel.

Recycled glass means less energy is required for the melting process. On average, a 10% increase in cullet (recycled glass pieces) in the furnace decreases its energy use by 3% and CO2 emissions by 5%.

Food for thought

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On the waste hierarchy, reduce comes top of the tree, so it’s good to know that glass has a role to play here too.

Avoidable food waste figures in the UK are running at a staggering 7.2m tonnes a year according to recent research

by WRAP. Even if there wasn’t an economic downturn putting a squeeze on the household budget, it’s an eye-watering amount of food to throw away. Unlike other materials, glass is inert and needs no added chemicals to protect its contents. It’s therefore able to keep food and drinks fresher for longer and plays an important role in helping us all make the most of what we buy. It’s the reason why glass jars are the natural choice for preserves such as jams and chutneys (and incidentally why it is unlikely you will ever see perfume in a plastic bottle; perfume needs the purity of glass to keep its scent intact). Despite some recent quirky packaging ideas such as the paper and aluminium Green Bottle, it’s well documented that over time, wine keeps its original properties best in glass too. Research carried out by the Institute of Vine and Wine Sciences

(ISVV) in Bordeaux, found that the flavour and chemical composition of white wine changed within six months of being packed in single- and multi-layer PET bottles and bag-in-box.

Glass even keeps wine fresh when it has been submerged for years at the bottom of the ocean. The story last year of a 1780 bottle of Champagne recovered by divers from a wreck 60 metres under the Baltic sea is perhaps one of the more exotic examples of glass’ amazing ability to preserve its contents intact. The divers reported that when they popped the cork to sample their 200 year-old find, the bubbly ‘tasted fantastic’.

From waste to resource While glass can be celebrated for all the above reasons, there are two pressing challenges that need to be met to allow glass packaging to fully meet its potential: how to increase the quality of glass collected for recycling and how to shift glass from being classified as waste to a valuable resource material. As highlighted by the recent Defra consultation on packaging recycling targets, too much glass is still being sent to landfill or made into aggregates or roadstone, rather than ending up back on the shelf. A recent article in The Sunday Times suggested that as much as 30% of glass that is being put out for recycling, is actually ending up as aggregates due to the poor quality of the cullet (glass fragments).

The Chancellor announced in his March Budget changes to the UK Packaging Regulations which will set new Government targets for recycled materials. This will see glass recycling split into sub-categories in an effort to boost the amount of glass that is sent to re-melt.

In a bid to highlight the quality issue, a new study by the Association of Cities and Regions for Recycling and |44| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

sustainable Resource management (ACR+) in partnership with FEVE, aimed to identify good practices in selective collection and closed-loop recycling of glass packaging waste from Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) across European regional and local authorities. The findings proposed a series of recommendations that included calling for European member states to support separate waste collection schemes for glass and to use resources more sparingly by recycling more and increasing material quality levels.

In addition, British Glass believes that progress will be made more quickly and more effectively if key players in the industry also work more collaboratively. This will marshal resources and focus effort on initiatives that directly address what actions are needed where, to bring about real change. Modelled on a Courtauld-style agreement (the voluntary agreement pioneered by WRAP for reducing packaging and food waste in the grocery trade), glass industry stakeholders such as manufacturers, retailers, local authorities, and cullet suppliers would be able to contribute appropriate resources and knowledge to the greatest effect, while working towards collectively agreed targets. The exact nature of the activities might range from providing straightforward funding to actual implementation of new infrastructure or local community-focused tactical campaigns.

(1 tonne cullet used replaces 1.2 tonne virgin raw materials). Of course, cullet has also to be transported, but ,on average, the transport distance for cullet is much smaller than the transport distance of raw materials.

(*InSites 2010)

British Glass The British Glass Manufacturers’ Confederation represents the interests of all sectors of the glass industry in the UK. Its main activity is in representing the industry at European, national and local level on a wide range of topical legislative issues. It also conducts independent research into all aspects of glass production and technology. www.britglass.co.uk

Friends of Glass Friends of Glass is a consumer group created by the European Glass Container Federation (FEVE). It supports and promotes the right for consumers to be able to choose food and drink products in glass packaging. It unites all those who believe glass is the clear choice for themselves, their families and for the environment. www.friendsofglass.co.uk

With this collective action and real progress firmly in sight, glass clearly doesn’t belong in any fairy wstory but for those looking for a truly sustainable packaging solution, it does offer a happy ending.

Glass Facts: - In 2011 over 900,000 tonnes of glass collected in the UK was recycled back into bottles and jars in the UK and Europe.

- A government-backed programme has encouraged the ‘lightweighting’ of wine bottles, which helped cut packaging related CO2 emissions by 20% (WRAP GlassRite project).

- The GlassRite Wine project achieved glass savings of more than 37,828 tonnes per year in the UK. - 84% of consumers across Europe want the right to keep choosing glass packaging* - Green glass bottles manufactured in the UK typically contain 75% recycled material.

- Virgin raw materials can be replaced by recycled glass (or cullet) in the batch which is fed into the furnace. By doing so, a substantial reduction of CO2 takes place for different reasons: • Less energy is required to melt recycled glass than to melt raw materials and transform them into glass.

Approximately 30% less energy is required to melt cullet in the furnace compared to virgin raw materials.

• Raw materials contain carbonates which decompose in the furnace to form CO2.

• The energy and CO2 emissions resulting from the extraction and transport of raw materials are saved ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE |45|

METAL FORGES PATH FOR RECYCLING INDUSTRY

By Ian Hetherington, Director, BMRA With challenging times ahead for the metals recycling industry, Ian Hetherington, director general of the British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA) looks at how Government can support the industry to maximise recycling rates.

The UK metals recycling industry has been under immense pressure in recent months to curb outlets for stolen metal, an issue which is having damaging consequences on the industry’s reputation. But it is important not to forget the valuable contribution metals recyclers in the UK are making in terms of supporting Government’s green agenda. They are driving up

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recycling rates, creating green jobs and dramatically reducing emissions.

UK metals recyclers recover around 13 million tonnes of metal every year from millions of End of Life vehicles (ELVs), food and drink cans, automotive batteries, and white goods such as cookers and fridges, which traditionally would have gone to landfill. Around 60% of the UK’s recycled metal is exported because we are now recovering considerably more than is required by domestic metal producers. Any moves to restrict the export of high grade secondary metal would have a potentially detrimental effect on UK metals recycling

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and on the UK economy and so should be resisted, whilst mechanisms such as end-of-waste should be extended to more materials.

Green technology The industry’s strategy of high-risk investment and continuous process innovation has increased recycling rates year-on-year and continues to drive rates higher each year. They are leading the way in terms of green technologies to extract as much value as possible from scrap. It is diverting it from landfill into a useful resource.

For example, metals recyclers have achieved the 85% recycling and recovery target for ELVs by recovering materials other than metal such as rubber and plastic.

Metals recyclers are now poised to take the next step to ensure the EU’s target of 95% by 2015 is met by the UK by investing in the technologies needed to maximise recycling rates and recover energy from those materials that cannot be recovered.

Excellent progress is already being made with some processers taking recycling levels above 85%. However, around one million tonnes of shredder residue is

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currently left at the end of the process which cannot be separated into discrete materials streams. The only solution is to dispose of it in landfill, incinerate it, or recover the energy from it. It has an exceptionally high calorific value and so the option of generating heat or power from this material is an attractive proposition.

The industry is confident it has identified the processes capable of extracting the value from a large proportion of this shredder residue and is keen to invest in developing and building the necessary technologies. However, plans are currently on hold awaiting the green light from Government to clear some of the regulatory obstacles currently standing in the way.

Recovery not disposal Government must confirm that the recovery of energy from shredder residue can be classified as ‘recovery’ rather than ‘disposal’ so that recycling and recovery targets can be met. Without this, investment will not be made and the UK will not meet its increased targets.

Dedicated facilities are needed to process this shredder residue as it cannot be mixed in with current energy

from waste (EfW) facilities taking household streams. EfW plants designed to handle municipal waste cannot cope with shredder residue because its material characteristics do not lend itself to co-incineration. Government financial incentives are also geared towards household waste and so it is not economic for commercial and industrial waste.

These facilities are essential and a decision from Government is now urgent to allow the UK to meet increased recycling targets, reduce pressure on landfill and reduce the need for virgin raw materials. It would help the Government to achieve its zero waste vision, and position the UK as a world leader in end-stage recycling.

Planning support It is important that local waste plans also support new facilities of this kind. Often the best place for thermal recovery operations would be next to, or close to, existing metals recycling sites to ensure carbon emissions associated with unnecessary transport are reduced and businesses can run more efficiently.

Currently many local waste plans do not provide adequate consideration to metals recycling facilities which is

a concern for UK metals recyclers. Not including sufficient provision for metals recycling could lead to previously ‘exempt’ sites being refused planning consent for changes to existing facilities simply because local waste plans do not consider them necessary. If the UK is to continue to increase recycling rates and divert waste from landfill, the planning system needs to accommodate existing and new metals recycling facilities.

With the right legislation and support from Government, the metals recycling industry can continue to lead the way in developing recycling and recovery. Metals recycling in the UK is providing a template for other materials recycling and clearly demonstrates how the efficient use of resources can create jobs, save valuable and finite raw materials and dramatically reduce emissions. The UK metals recycling industry is leading the green agenda and can lead the world in sustainable and green technologies too.

Curbing outlets for stolen metal Hundreds of unlicensed and un-permitted sites across the UK do untold damage to our environment and threaten the reputation and competitiveness of the compliant and regulated majority while providing a market for stolen materials.

Ineffective enforcement of current regulations has exacerbated this problem while the number of illegal sites continues to rise. BMRA is calling for a reform of the existing law covering the trading of metal for recycling and improved enforcement aimed at closing down and punishing illegal operators.

BMRA is pleased that the Government says it is establishing a national intelligence-led approach to tackling metal theft and that it has put some shortterm funding into a police task force and a separate Environment Agency task force. It is concerning, however, that these different initiatives do not appear joined-up and are essentially very short-term, when what is needed is a national and long-term commitment which is both consistent and sustainable.

BMRA continues to work with Government to ensure that any new regulations provide a level playing field, and that the move towards a cashless trading environment is achieved with minimal damage to legitimate and compliant metal recyclers whilst having maximum effect on reducing theft of metal.

A cashless trading model will not curb outlets for stolen metal alone. Whilst illegal sites are allowed to continue trading it will have the effect of bolstering the black market. It is essential that the cashless trading model is implemented alongside other proposed amends to the Scrap Metal Dealers Act, to have the desired effect.

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Textile recycling boasts numerous environmental benefits: it reduces the amount of waste going to landfill, it reduces pressure on virgin resources, and it results in less pollution.

However, textile recycling also plays an important role on a social and economic level; it provides an affordable source of clothing to disadvantaged people in the developing world and delivers much-needed funding for smaller charities and the communities they operate in.

Helen Walker, director at Bag It Up Ltd, one of the UK’s leading textile recycling companies, has seen firsthand the difference textile recycling can make. The company has, since its inception 6 years ago, generated over £3.4m for its partner charities, all of which are local and include air ambulances, children’s hospices and sporting academies.

She highlights that, while many larger charitable organisations receive sizeable donations and government funding, accessing funds is a huge challenge for local and regional charities. In addition, she says that smaller charities do not have a national network of charity shops – instead they rely on the generosity and support from the public and businesses in their localised areas.

One way for local charities to raise funds and awareness is by working in collaboration with a commercial partner such as Bag It Up. Mrs Walker explains: “Charities have much to gain from entering into commercial partnerships. It provides them with an opportunity to raise money and promote their key messages and, harnessed in the right way, it can add impact and weight to their cause. At Bag It Up we operate at zero cost to our partner charities, we get involved with events and sponsorships, and we offer our expertise to the sector – none of our partner charities had their own textile recycling scheme before working with us.”

Bag It Up focuses specifically on working with local charities, throughout the UK, that do not have charity shops or textile recycling provisions in place. The company places strategically positioned recycling banks in a wide variety of locations, including supermarket car parks, household waste recycling sites, shopping centres, community centres, sports clubs and property developments, in order to generate donations and raise money for its partner charities.

Good quality donated items that can be re-used are sold to second-hand clothing traders in the UK and worldwide, while 'end of life' garments are recycled into industrial wipers and cloths, mattress fillings, insulation and new fibres.

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Funds from sales then go to the regional partner charity where the donated items came from.

She explains: “We work with local and regional charities up and down the country to help them collect discarded household clothing items. For many of them it has become a major source of income generation. All funds raised are for the benefit of the general public in the UK, from life-saving missions to community projects, and hospices for the terminally ill.”

One charity that is benefitting from the work Bag It Up is doing is Francis House Children’s Hospice in Manchester.

Francis House provides care for children and young adults with life threatening conditions and, as a growing charity, it relies on the public and business community for support – less than 15% of its income comes from government funding.

Francis House and Bag It Up make use of jointly branded textile banks in areas where the charity provides its services – there are almost 60 recycling banks around Greater Manchester – and during the first year of the partnership £12,000 was raised. Donations of clothing, shoes and textiles from the community are then sold to second-hand markets in the UK and overseas, raising

funds for Francis House. Interestingly, four full clothing banks fund the full operating cost of Francis House for 1 hour.

The benefits of this partnership have been far reaching for Francis House; not only has the recycling scheme resulted in a regular and sustainable stream of revenue for Francis House, but it has also raised awareness of the charity in the local area. In addition, it has helped Francis House build relationships with local businesses and the community as it provides people with a way to contribute to a local charity without having to hand over any money.

Head of fundraising at Francis House, Peter Forster says: "Our partnership with Bag It Up has proven to be a popular and successful fundraising scheme and we look forward to our relationship evolving over the coming years."

Also benefitting from Bag It Up’s efforts is the Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance (TVACAA), an independent charitable trust providing a lifesaving service. Bag It Up has been working with the TVACAA to help raise awareness and to establish a sustainable fundraising scheme (it receives no direct government funding).

As with Francis House, the TVACAA and Bag It Up have 150 jointly branded textile banks around Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire to help raise funds and awareness. Since July 2009, almost £200,000 has been raised and, in January of this year alone, the recycling scheme funded 6 lifesaving missions in the region.

Pat Conafray, head of fundraising for the TVACAA says: "Our partnership with Bag It Up has proven to be an invaluable scheme for our supporters as it enables them to reduce their impact on the environment by recycling their unwanted garments whilst helping us to save lives across the region."

Mrs Walker concluded: “Recycling as an income stream helps and affects so many people, and it is important for individuals and businesses wanting to make a difference to explore opportunities within their own communities. We are encouraging people to keep donating their unwanted textiles, clothing and shoes to help us raise even more funds for our partner charities. All funds raised are used to support local charities, meaning that the community in which that charity operates will be directly benefiting from the donations made.”

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By Colin Dummond, Chief Executive, Viridor In today’s ‘throwaway’ society, it is understandable that we should sometimes feel pessimistic about our lifestyle, not least the amount of resources we are using up. We live in a world where each new product launch leads to another addition to our ‘wish’ list while we tend to forget about the fads that we ‘couldn’t live without’ last year.

The result of our often disposable way of life is a growing pressure on natural resources – waste. And yet, it is precisely what we are throwing away that could hold part of the key to a more sustainable future, not to mention a source of considerable savings for both the private and public sector, argues Colin Drummond, chief executive of Viridor.

Almost everybody knows that they should recycle.

Responsible individuals, councils and businesses are all doing their bit to help to bridge the gap between the UK and our European counterparts, and create the green and sustainable country that our Government wants. And our efforts are being rewarded. Local authority recycling, composting and reuse rates have increased over 29% to 41.2% in the ten years to 2011 and UK businesses are now recycling over 50% of their waste, but this still leaves over 20 million tonnes of waste every year that is not or cannot be recycled.

Businesses’ and the waste and recycling industry need to continue to work together to ensure that everything is being done to help make recycling systems cost effective and convenient, and to make the most out of recyclable waste. We also need to be recovering as much value as possible from what can’t be recycled. The continent is well ahead of us on this and as a result countries such as Germany, Sweden and Denmark are benefitting from the cheaper electricity prices that energy from waste can bring. The amount of UK waste sent

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abroad to be used to generate electricity for other countries has quadrupled in the past five months. At the same time in this country we continue to see, and complain about, rising energy prices. Building essential Energy from Waste infrastructure would also bring with it significant investment and much needed employment opportunities.

Energy from Waste: A European Success Story The experience of other EU countries demonstrates that energy generation is a vital part of sustainable waste management. Too often, recycling and energy from waste are perceived to be in conflict in the UK, but this is not borne out by the evidence; Germany, Sweden, Holland and several other EU countries have the highest levels of recycling and also much higher proportions of Energy from Waste than here in the UK. Technology options for residual waste treatment are at very different stages of maturity and deployment. Landfill and sewage gas generation and utilisation and controlled combustion of residual waste are well established, whilst ‘advanced’ conversion technologies, such as gasification, are emerging. The UK’s over-reliance on landfill has, at least, resulted in a successfully managed landfill gas sector. There are 334 landfill gas power generating sites in the UK, which contribute nearly 20 per cent of total renewable power production . The output of this sector is, however, declining as waste is increasingly diverted away from landfill.

In the UK, Energy from Waste makes only a small contribution to the total waste management solution. In 2009/10, 13.6 per cent of local authority collected waste was used for energy recovery whilst 46.9 per cent was landfilled . This can be compared to Germany’s figures for 2010, which show that 48 per cent of waste was recycled/ composted, 35 per cent used for energy recovery and 1 per cent sent to landfill.

Phase I of the Runcorn CHP plant is scheduled to be operational in 2013 with Phase II to come on stream by 2014/2015, by which time such energy from waste facilities will be cost competitive against landfill as landfill tax rises to £80 per tonne.

The project has employed a daily average of 325 people on site, rising to 700 at its peak, during the construction period, and many more through the supply chain. Viridor, the operating company, is currently recruiting up to 56 positions for highly skilled operatives for Phase I, rising to 70 once Phase II comes online. This is an incredibly positive consequence for the local community.

UK Policy and Planning

In the UK at present, producing energy from waste via all technologies, including landfill gas and Energy from Waste, amounts to 1.5 per cent of UK electricity. This is similar to that provided by wind energy but there is the potential to drastically increase energy from waste capability in the near future, and Viridor believes that we should be aiming for the industry to reach 6% in the next five years.

Modern energy from waste plants using controlled combustion are achieving good levels of efficiency in terms of waste to energy conversion and emissions control. Overall efficiency can be improved further if plants can achieve a good balance of combined heat and power utilisation.

Case Study: Runcorn CHP Runcorn EfW CHP plant, currently under construction in the North West, will be one of the largest and most efficient in Europe with a total capacity of 70MW of electricity and 51MW of heat, treating up to 750,000 tonnes of solid recovered fuel from residual waste p.a.

The plant will use solid recovered fuel to provide heat and power to major chemicals producer INEOS Chlor’s neighbouring chlorine manufacturing site, significantly reducing its reliance on fossil fuels. The INEOS Chlor plant currently consumes the same amount of electricity as a city the size of Liverpool, with the fully operational CHP plant scheduled to contribute around 20 per cent of the site’s total energy needs once fully operational. The fuel, derived from both household and commercial waste, will feed the CHP facility which will produce electricity and steam to replace energy currently generated from non-renewable sources.

The UK’s policy framework for energy from mixed wastes in recent years has been challenging and uncertain.

Thermal waste plants have been difficult to take through planning and permitting. Uncertainty with the current support mechanisms for the generation of renewable power has not helped investors take on the added risk of a plant, particularly in the case of emerging technologies. Waste facilities can only receive even limited support for power generation when combined with heat recovery; however this requires the plant to be built near to an area that can utilise the heat, as is the case with Runcorn and INEOS Chlor.

The radical shake up of planning laws announced within the 2012 budget paves the way for a more simplified planning process, by removing red tape. This is something that the waste industry had been pushing for a long time and that had previously limited the ability to secure investment. It is anticipated that the new planning framework, which the government claims will include a “powerful presumption in favour of sustainable development”, will encourage investment in UK waste treatment facilities, particularly energy from waste by making them more deliverable.

Summary Energy from Waste represents a significant opportunity to increase our resource efficiency and contribute to resource security in the UK. Our sector, and companies like Viridor, are already operating such plants alongside recycling services and stand ready to invest more in the coming years. Such investment allows us to continue providing an essential service to local authorities and commercial waste producers and will help the UK to become a little less wasteful in the process.

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TRANSPORT Page 56 - 58 CV Show Preview Page 59 - 60 Driving Efficiency and Training, Jon Hannah, Product Manager, Isotrak Page 62 - 64 Logistics, Rachel Dillon, Freight Transport Association

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The 2012 Commercial Vehicle Show will have more than 400 exhibitors when it opens at the NEC Birmingham from 24-26 April, with more stand space booked than 2011.

A significant number of vehicle and product launches are promised, giving the whole industry a welcome boost and ensuring that business visitors are offered every option for effective fleet operation and maintenance.

“The commercial vehicle industry has bounced back from recession with vigour, a fact spelled out by the enthusiasm for the 2012 Show,” said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive. “The number of exhibitors signed-up demonstrates the sector’s commitment to drive through economic uncertainty, delivering even more efficient and capable vehicles, products and services to the UK’s CV buyers.”

Major vehicle manufacturers have committed to the CV Show with Citroën, Fiat Professional, Ford, Isuzu Truck, MAN, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault and Vauxhall just some of the big names set to wow the crowds with the latest metal.

Iveco will be represented by its dealers - Guest Truck and Van and Sherwood Truck and Van. Ashwoods Automotive, Ingimex and Tevo form part of the broad range of bodybuilder and storage solution companies that will exhibit.

Steve Clary, Commercial Vehicles Director, Ford of Britain, said, “2012 is a very important year for Ford’s commercial vehicle operations. The UK LCV market is extremely important to us and gives us the perfect platform to get closer to existing and potential customers”.

Representing the truck world, Sam Whittaker, Truck Sales and Marketing Director of Mercedes-Benz UK, said, “The CV Show provides us with the ideal platform from which to present the exciting New Actros, International Truck of the Year 2012”.

On its return to the CV Show this year, leading commercial vehicle manufacturer Isuzu Truck UK is launching a brand-new service for the UK market. ‘I-Vision’ is a newly created division within Isuzu Truck’s UK business organisation that will offer UK operators the full range of vehicle telematics included within Isuzu Motors Japan’s proven online Mimamori system. Also on display will be a selection of vehicles from Isuzu Truck’s 2012 product line-up with vehicles in a range of weights and in municipal, temperature controlled and dry freight specifications.

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vehicle Type Approval rules that come into force this year.

Particularly relevant to bodybuilders, SMMT will host two seminars that introduce Type Approval, what to be aware of and how to get approval simply, easily and quickly.

As part of the Commercial Vehicle Show, aftermarketfocused ‘Workshop 2012’ in Hall 2 is aimed directly at the fleet engineer and passenger car garage operator and will be home to suppliers of products from handheld diagnostics to pillar lifts capable of raising a 44 tonne artic off the deck.

The Workshop area also boasts big names and innovative products with companies like Blitz Rotary, Bradbury Equipment, Cobra UK, Gemco Equipment, Liftmaster Garage Equipment, Ring Automotive, Somers Totalkare, Stertil UK and TRW Proequip among exhibitors showing their latest equipment.

With attention firmly fixed on fuel efficiency, companies like Eclipse Diagnostics, Launch Tech UK, SPX Service Solutions and Texa UK can ensure that engines operate at peak efficiency 24/7 and they will be at the Show to demonstrate their capabilities.

Recognising the broad spectrum of visitors to this essential meeting place for workshop operators, Maha has separate stands for car and commercial equipment, while Unipart Automotive’s Garage Equipment Services showcases products from international and home suppliers.

OSS Group provides a nationwide collection service for waste mineral oil as well as other workshop hazardous waste. At the CV Show it will offer a range of workshop waste collection deals and new workshop products, and is also introducing a new parts washer. This unique micro refinery allows solvent to be 100% clean and dirty residue is drained into a tank so that cleansed solvent can be reused many times.

From 3 January 2012 commercial vehicles that do not comply with the LEZ III and LEZ IV TfL standard have to pay a daily charge of £200 or risk a penalty of £1,000 for non-compliance. This year’s CV Show will see a number of exhibitors - including Eminox, Hug Engineering, HJS Emission Technology and Senior Flexonics - with products and advice to help companies to comply with the new standards.

designed to help clients prepare for disruption during the London Olympic and Paralympic Games, automatically identifying delivery points that may be affected and understanding where the likely areas of congestion will be due to specific road-based events.

The tyre business is well represented by manufacturers, stockists and tyre management companies such as ATS Euromaster, Bridgestone, R H Claydon, Direct Tyre Management, Hankook and Kirby Tyres. Westlake, a new exhibitor for 2012, will make a splash with a 100m2 stand in Hall 2.

Bandvulc also offers an environmentally sustainable tyre solution, encompassing all aspects of commercial tyre requirements for today’s fleet operators. Among its range of tyres on display at this year’s Show will be the ever popular Wastemaster MKIII for use on waste vehicles. These tyres have been developed and improved over the last 20 years in liaison with its customers, and is used extensively by cost-conscious councils in the UK, Germany and Holland.

Continental Automotive, under the VDO brand, has developed a wide range of tachograph data management products to capture, analyse and archive driver and tachograph data from owner drivers to fleets of all sizes across the world. It will launch a new marketing initiative at the Show to keep the transport industry aware of the latest developments in legislation and what VDO equipment is available to meet their requirements and ensure they are compliant.

Telematics, safety and security supplier Cobra UK will be showcasing Global Live, its ground breaking mobile CCTV monitoring security system with unique live image streaming at this year’s CV Show.

Global Live offers HGV and van operators a unique solution to combat the ever increasing incidence of load interception and theft, while protecting drivers and

Paragon Software Systems will launch a major upgrade of its routing and scheduling optimisation software at this year’s CV Show. Mapping developments in this version include special map edits, filters and congestion profiles ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE |57|

passengers. The system can also offer bus and coach operators peace of mind, affording extra security for VIPs in transit and protecting assets from vandalism on late night bus routes.

close to manufacturers for which it already supplies cab heating systems as well as many of the conversion companies that already use its equipment, including Alphatec, the van conversion specialist.

Axtec (Axle Weight Technology) is an independent British company providing a range of products which combat vehicle overloading. It claims to be the only British manufacturer specialising exclusively in axle weighing and has built a reputation for innovative and effective solutions to overloading problems.

Brigade Electronics’ demonstration truck will be on display at the CV Show with its latest vehicle safety products, including a new wireless camera monitor system.

Among exhibitors offering solutions for efficient fleet management - keeping environmental awareness high on operators’ priorities - are Air1 AdBlue, Blue Tree Systems, Bluecat AdBlue, Carnation Designs, CMS Supatrak, EcoDrive Systems, Eminox, Greenchem, Grenox AdBlue Hatcher Components, Isotrak, MiX Telematics, TomTom Business Solutions and Triscan Systems.

There are several first-time exhibitors at this year’s CV Show including Clean Sweep UK with its sweepers and scrubber dryers for transport and warehouse companies, County Pumps, the Oxfordshire-based fuel-pump and fuel management specialist, and Grote Industries, a leading worldwide manufacturer and supplier of lighting products and safety systems for commercial, military and specialised vehicle With a number of exhibitors planning new vehicle and product launches at the event, CV Show 2012 promises to offer its business visitors every option for effective fleet operation and maintenance.

Webasto, the vehicle heating and air-conditioning specialist, will launch a new parking heater at this year’s Show. Visitors will find Webasto’s stand

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VBG Group will show its New Ringfeder ball coupling for the first time. This has been designed specifically for the car transporter industry.

The websites www.cvshow.com and www.workshopshow. co.uk feature links to the ticket application process and by clicking on the ‘free tickets’ panel on the home page, prospective visitors can register their application. The process is entirely online this year and visitors should simply print their ticket and bring it to the Show, where it will be scanned at the entrance.

By adopting this ‘green ticket’ process, the CV Show will considerably reduce its carbon footprint, in line with the road transport industry’s objectives. For the very few visitors without online access, there’s a hotline telephone number to help - 0844 557 2788.

The Show websites also list more than 120 categories where visitors can check exhibitors’ products, helping to plan visits and make best use of their time.

The CV Show at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, will be open from 08:30 to 17:30 on Tuesday 24 to Thursday 26 April inclusive.

The Commercial Vehicle Show is owned by the CV Show LLP, comprising the Road Haulage Association, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, and IRTE Services Ltd, the trading company of the SOE (Society of Operations Engineers).

“I come from an age when computers were beige…”

By Jon Hannah, Product Manager, Isotrak

I had my own lesson in the benefits of new technology a couple of years ago when, during an attic clearance that could be delayed no longer, my two teenage children happened upon my vinyl record collection.

It was to them, in a word, hilarious. Even more so given my protestations that vinyl (and latterly around a thousand space-age and space-consuming CDs and DVDs) would always fulfil my musical needs, so there.

Then of course the offspring made the whole thing worse by buying me an MP3 player. It sat, unopened, on the kitchen table for three months. I worked around it when I was making the dinner.

However, as the junk mail and pizza menus inevitably piled up on top of it, I begrudgingly came to realise that the attitude I was harbouring over the benefits of my trailer-sized media collection was strangely at odds with the job I have had for 12 years – helping our customers innovate and move forward with technology.

It’s something I’m genuinely enthusiastic about.

I snapped. The kids, I conceded, could be right. They should be right. It was only fair to give them a chance.

Sure enough, opening my new present (well, not so new any more) somehow reminded me of the benefits I had been spouting in project meetings, presentations and developments in my time at Isotrak…

“Can’t see it? Can’t fix it….”

Early in my time at Isotrak, convincing people that telematics was not some late-era Cold War spy, but could in fact be of considerable help, was the battle. Solving

this problem is the first hurdle to any adoption of new technology.

I recall one transport manager telling me that, prior to the installation of tracking equipment and transport software, he used to “send drivers out and pray they would return his precious fleet undamaged”. There was literally no visibility of what happened once the gatehouse was breached; I could picture him standing, like the captain of an aircraft carrier at dusk, binoculars poised nervously, waiting for them to return.

These days though, vehicle telematics has been around in decent usable form for around 15 years, and installation of GPS tracking and engine telemetry equipment to measure fuel and driver behaviour has changed the culture completely. Most of the customers we work with measure driver performance in vehicles; now the captain debriefs them as soon as they return against tangible, money-saving targets set by their business – fuel usage, harsh braking and acceleration, engine idling and cruise control usage, tachograph monitoring.

The evidence is all laid out before them on the Dashboard software. Measurable saving against cost outlay has been enormous, and, more crucially, provable, with fuel costs slashed and expensive leased assets having their life extended. I’m pleased to see that the most enlightened have passed on this benefit to their drivers by tying the software measurements to incentives and bonus payments.

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Where the initial big money-saving has convinced the paymasters that telematics is no pie-in-the-sky venture, the model has been extended. Empty miles, always a problem for the industry, are now being tracked; vehicles that were once seen as independent units for work are now seen passing each other going to and from the same place on the motorways. Planning failures can now be monitored, the plan remedied, and gaps in the network filled, resulting in less waiting around and road miles covered.

Critically, integrating telematics data with pre-existing customer systems has also allowed customers to see the domino effect of problems in their own supply chain.

If you’ve got the arrival time against plan for every visit you’ve done to every store that month, it becomes much easier to detect patterns and problems. Anyone for wading through a spread sheet of 120,000 deliveries and totting it up by hand? I thought not…

“Geeks write software, but they don’t have to use it…”

All of the benefits I’ve mentioned so far are real, but rely on a lot of data to be made practical. Now, let me tell you about developers (I’m generalising but I was one, so I’d like to think I was talking from a position of at least some knowledge). First, they get scared if they have to go and see transport operations (too noisy, bit cold, scary people, you can keep it thanks). Second, they think that the more data they show on the screen, the better the solution they have created.

I have two standard counter-punches to this – first, data is not information, it’s just data, sometimes largely incomprehensible data at that. Second, the people who are trying to get information from their systems and get the benefits for which they are accountable are just that – people.

Road Transport companies generally have shareholders and need to show a profit at the end of the year. However, stop and take a look at any of their advertising and you’ll see they are trying to be seen as having good levels of corporate responsibility. A media-saturated and sometimes cynical public may no longer even notice the slogans, but most of our customers have taken serious steps to use their telematics systems to meet their corporate commitments and protect their own workforce.

Some 12 years ago, the telematics systems I worked on were all about data. These days, the installation of software and tracking of vehicles has become commonplace, and if you choose the right telematics provider, there’s more than mere software at hand. Our more seasoned customers are now forming themselves into user-groups to tell the developers what they want and how they want it, not the other way round, and we’re all moving away from monolithic desktop computers to use tablet PCs and phones. This is leading to massive benefit – the people who need the information can get it without constant disruption to their day jobs.

Naturally, most of the big companies are far from invisible, and have to share the road network, cities, towns and streets with their customers. They use tracking software to avoid routing mistakes, such as banning certain turns from depots into prohibited areas, and making every effort to keep vehicles to the major motorways and trunk roads. They use geofencing and GPS to report immediately any vehicles entering restricted places (low-bridge areas, congestion and lowemission zones being obvious examples). Also through careful real-time monitoring, they are reducing speed, and saving fuel and emissions. I’m currently working on at least three projects designed to save paper around the customer and supplier network that will come into active service this year and next.

I always chuckle at my colleagues who believe someone sits hunched over the Isotrak system all day long. Well they don’t; they’ve got a host of other work to do. So the systems show them exceptions only, with real-time dashboards giving them an instant view of performance.

Crucially with the steady improvement of the World Wide Web in the last 12 years this can happen anywhere at any time. Interfaces have become simpler yet more meaningful and available as technology and telematics have matured together, blending ever closer with consumer devices and avoiding the need for expensive specialist computing power. This is echoed in Isotrak’s own technology environment where racks of servers are making way for virtual machines, and cloud computing is a big-ticket discussion point.

While the major retailers vie for customers on price competitiveness, the distribution side of the business is keen to play its own part in making corporate visibility and responsibility a real and believable story. It’s notable that a number of enquiring customers and emergency services have been able to benefit from the facts, rather than hearsay, about what vehicles and their drivers have been doing by getting the evidence from the telematics systems, which are constantly and factually recording – they never sleep.

All of which brings us back to the lesson of the MP3 player. Once I’d opened it, I became its biggest evangelist; cue much eye-rolling from the kids. It’s amazing! All my CDs and films in one place! I can even get my mail on it!

Look kids, I can sync it with my laptop in real time! It’s so simple I can work it with one hand! Look! See?

“Which came first? The village green or the Distribution Centre?”

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Enough said, we all get set in our ways and maintain certain beliefs about technology and innovation – sometimes it’s hard to see the benefits until you have tried them for yourself – and why should it be any different with telematics?

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The challenge for the logistics industry to reduce carbon emissions

By Rachael Dillon, Climate Change Policy Manager, Freight Transport Association The Logistics Carbon Reduction Scheme, managed

by FTA, is the only freight-sector based initiative that records, reports and helps reduce carbon emissions from logistics.

2011 saw the challenge of climate change emerge as a potential solution to create green growth and employment by UK government. A major publication known as the Carbon Plan was launched in December by the Department of Energy and Climate Change, effectively drawing together all governmental policies, from transport to agriculture, in one strategy. The opportunity to encourage efficiencies and create new low carbon industries is at the forefront of the Carbon Plan. But it is not just government that has the monopoly on good ideas on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. To date, 63 freight operators ranging from 3PLs and retailers to small hauliers, waste companies and local authorities have committed to record, report and reduce their carbon emissions from road freight transport and collectively reduce the carbon intensity of their freight operations by eight per cent by 2015 based on 2010 levels. The freight industry provides a critical role in serving the needs of the economy from keeping supermarket shelves stacked to ensuring hospitals receive medicine. If we want the economy to move and to recover, there will always be some emissions, but FTA believes that there is strong |62| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

will from operators to reduce their carbon footprint and to contribute to national greenhouse gas reduction targets. When it comes to carbon reduction, the freight industry is best placed to voluntarily report emissions and adopt decarbonisation measures that make commercial sense. Freight and logistics movements are responsible for around 30 per cent of transport’s carbon emissions, meanwhile cars make up more than 50 per cent. The government can all too easily influence the carbon footprint of operators by using fuel tax or regulation. The LCRS was developed over two years ago by 12 leading FTA members who recognised the importance of making the industry more carbon efficient, and since then others have also committed. Members include Asda, DHL, Howard Tenens, John Lewis Partnership, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Wincanton. Through a voluntary scheme, the industry is making reductions off its own back and therefore does not need regulation or taxation. Fuel costs represent nearly 40 per cent of operators’ costs and every pound that the government takes in tax is a pound that can’t be spent on new vehicles or innovative technology to reduce emissions.

The recently published LCRS second annual report shows that given the opportunity to take action voluntarily, industry can and is making reductions in carbon emission levels. And government agrees - in April 2011, Mike

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FTA has also developed a framework to monitor the uptake of carbon emission reduction interventions from logistics. This is designed to support the datasets and provide core examples of how operators are cutting their emissions by measures such as eco-driver training, reducing engine idling and making greater use of double deck vehicles. In the second annual report, the results of the 2010 low carbon intervention survey are published, revealing the measures that LCRS participants are using to cut emissions and what the most popular carbon saving interventions are being trialled. Interventions aimed at reducing vehicle activity since 2010 amongst operators of the scheme have resulted in a saving of 77 million vehicle miles. The focus for this work has been on reducing empty running (which has accounted for 25 per cent of the saving) and use of on-board vehicle telematics to optimise delivery schedules and provide real-time visibility of vehicle activity (accounting for 20 per cent of the saving).

Penning, Transport Minister, endorsed the scheme as a key initiative for industry to significantly reduce carbon emissions. At this time, there were just over 40,000 commercial vehicles covered by the scheme; by the publication of the second annual report, this number had grown to over 58,000. Between 2009 and 2010, there was a 2.6 per cent reduction in emissions intensity when measuring carbon against vehicle kilometres.

The beauty of the scheme is that participants have flexibility over reporting - they provide what data they have. Some operators are just starting on the carbon journey, others are more advanced. Operators are asked to supply simple data like the number of litres of diesel used by the company, number of vehicle kilometres, turnover and full time equivalents. This is on a strictly confidential basis. The main requirement is that operators are consistent in their reporting.

FTA also visits each operator at least once to discuss the company’s data submission in more depth to ensure that the data is robust and credible. This doesn’t mean sifting through fuel invoices, but discussing about how the data provided to the LCRS is relied on within the rest of the business. The initial start-up data review was a key factor in securing the Minister’s endorsement for the scheme last year as there was confidence that the aggregated figures published each year are accurate and credible. |64| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

Meanwhile, FTA has been in dialogue with government and the rail and water freight industries regarding what can be done to improve awareness across industry of what other modes can offer as a complement to road.

Whilst major retailers and other shippers are already making use of rail and water, some smaller shippers, hauliers and forwarders may not yet be making full use of the potential benefits. FTA has launched the Mode Shift Centre, a free service to potential users of rail and water freight offering information, advice and support in exploring options to make full use of the possibilities of the UK supply chain. Alongside this service, FTA has produced ‘On track’ – a report which documents the successful use retailers are making of rail freight today and includes case studies from Tesco, Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s. A second publication aimed at water freight services will be published later this year. For more information visit the Centre at www.modeshiftcentre.org.

The LCRS and the Mode Shift Centre prove that the issue of carbon is being taken seriously by operators and that reductions in emissions are happening. The scheme to date has succeeded in avoiding government taking regulatory action to make cuts in freight emissions.

But there is still much to be done in growing the LCRS to an even bigger critical mass. The Department for Transport is committed to undertaking a Freight Review in summer 2012 to assess the contribution that industry is making to national greenhouse gas reduction targets.

LCRS will form part of the evidence to decide whether government needs to relook at regulation. Our voice will be much more influential, the more operators join the scheme. The opportunity for freight operators to play a role in preventing regulation for curbing greenhouse gas emissions from freight transport is now not later. The scheme is free of charge, open to all commercial vehicle operators (not just FTA members) to join, however large or small. For more information, visit www.fta.co.uk/ carbonreduction

FOCUS: FOOD, AGRICULTURE & PACKAGING Page 66 - 67 Food, Lindsay Boswell, Chief Executive, FareShare

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Food waste

By Lindsay Boswell, Chief Executive of FareShare - Food Food waste is a contentious issue that’s getting a lot of media attention. Households are told they waste too much and given loads of advice on how to better use their leftovers. Businesses are developing new packaging to minimise this waste and looking to divert whatever food waste they have away from landfill.

Progress is being made, but is it enough?

3 million tonnes of food is being wasted every year by the food industry, with 2.6 million tonnes from the manufacturing sector alone. At the same time, in the UK, millions of people in the UK are living in poverty finding it hard to put food on the table.

As businesses and consumers are forced to tighten their belts the three million tonnes of food WRAP estimates is wasted in the supply chain seems even more outrageous as hardship and hunger continue to bite.

FareShare is an award-winning charity that rescues good food that would otherwise go to waste and deliver it to local charities, providing a critical link between food companies and people in need.

At FareShare food waste is our bread and butter - surplus food that is. Although there are no official figures for the amount of good edible food being wasted rather than consumed, it is a fact that too much good food is not put to use in the manner it was intended, meaning that the value put into its production is lost, and there are high costs incurred for disposing of it on top of that.

In terms of efficient waste management, waste prevention sits at the top of the waste hierarchy and hence must be considered in the resource management process.

In doing so, it is important to recognise the difference between ‘waste’ and ‘surplus’ food from the industry, as this distinction is too easy to confuse: quality ‘fit for purpose’ surplus food is all too often labelled as waste as it has no commercial value to the company; but it is still in life, perfectly edible, fit for human consumption and has the potential to be redistributed to people who need it.

Food poverty And there are people who need it. In this country alone, 5.8 million people are living in deep poverty, meaning that they find it hard to afford everyday essentials such as food.

Figures released by FareShare recently showed a sharp rise in demand for food on charities as people all over Britain struggle to put dinner on the table. 42% of charities surveyed reported an increase in demand for food in the past year as food prices soar and the recession |66| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

bites, putting additional strain on families and people on low incomes. An additional 1 in 3 of the charities surveyed were facing government funding cuts, with 65% of these charities slashing food budgets in an effort to stay afloat.

Research also showed that 2 out of 3 of people using the services of charities across the country admitted to having gone without a square meal for a week or more in the last year and that 41% of respondents were unable to buy food on a regular basis, meaning that they were more reliant on charities for help.

FareShare At FareShare, surplus food from across the supply chain arrives at the doors of the charity’s 17 depots for their volunteers to sort, pick and deliver to a network of 700 local charities and community organisations who use it to feed hungry people in our communities.

The food is in-date and good to eat, but has become surplus for simple reasons such as overproduction, labelling errors and short shelf life.

Last year, the food industry redirected 3,600 tonnes of surplus food to FareShare enabling the charity to provide 8.6 million meals for vulnerable people. The food is distributed to community organisations providing not only food, but other essential support services. FareShare distributes daily to organisations such as homeless hostels, day centres, breakfast clubs, and women’s refuges.

One organisation receiving food from FareShare is the Fresh Start Community Association in Brighton, who runs several community initiatives working with marginalised groups, such as a day centre, drop in service and out of school club. Machelle Joseph, Project Manager, says: “When families are struggling to cover bills and mortgage repayments, food is last on their agenda. We help and we have become the main safety net for many families and individuals.”

The food redistributed by FareShare benefits 35,500 people a day, saving the charities over £8 million a year. For many organisations, food is only one part of the service they provide. By receiving FareShare food, 81.5% are able to reinvest saved funds into other support services for the clients, such as personal development and employability training. Furthermore, 92% of the clients surveyed agreed that the food helps them improve their health, so there are clear benefits.

By ensuring that food is identified as surplus and redirected to people who need it, food redistribution schemes such as FareShare are contributing with a practical solution that is beneficial not only to the environment, but also to the community.

Lindsay Boswell, Chief Executive of FareShare says: “At a time of unprecedented demand we want the food industry and the general public to increase their support.”

Boswell continues: “More people are getting in touch with FareShare asking for help to access food. We’re committed to working with grassroots charities to make a significant difference to the diets of people in communities all over the UK, but we need more food to meet this increased demand. We’re asking anyone who works in the food industry in any capacity to look at what is happening to their surplus food and to ask themselves a simple question, ‘Could this food stop someone going hungry?”

For more information, visit

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WATER Page 70 - 74 Dealing with Drought, Ajay Nair, Product Line Leader, MWH Page 76 - 79 IFAT Show Preview Page 80 - 82 Smart Meters, Rodger Smith, Senior Vice President, Oracle

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Dealing with drought down under: a balanced approach to supply resilience

By Ajay Nair, MWH EA Design, Product Line Leader, Water & Wastewater Australia can be considered to be a bit of a paradox. It is a vast, dry and arid country and, except for particular periods in its short history, regularly encounters widespread drought. However, as with the UK, its population has particular expectations with regards to water supply availability, making it the third highest per capita consumer of water globally.

However, the extended drought in the mid to late 2000s brought to bear the reality of the situation and, with increasing population and the uncertainty of climate change impacts on future water supplies, it became necessary to redress the balance. Indeed, one can reflect that the UK now sits rather uncomfortably in the same place that our Antipodean cousins were only a decade ago.

What can we learn by exploring the journey that Australia has taken so that we can exploit the learning and avoid the pitfalls? Is the answer to drought making more resources available, bigger reservoirs and desalination of brackish or seawaters, or should we take a smarter more integrated approach?

A quick fix to meet short-term needs Over 85% of Australia’s population was exposed to the effects of drought between 2005 and 2007, with all major cities on heavy water use restrictions and Sydney’s major water supply reservoir (Warragamba Dam) dropping to as low as 34% capacity. In particular, South East Queensland suffered the worst drought in millennia, affecting over 2.2 million people and water storage levels dropping to 17%.

total planned capacity for desalinated water will reach nearly 1000 Ml/d, with the majority supplying the major coastal cities. However, the blanket construction of desalination was considered to be a quick fix to meet short-term needs and, with the relatively low efficiencies, high operating costs and carbon footprints, and difficulty in applying desalination to inland and rural areas, another approach was necessary.

Going beyond resource augmentation Traditionally in Australia, different components of the water cycle were managed independently and in a piecemeal fashion, with little in the way of integrating planning of water supply, wastewater disposal and stormwater management. This was compounded by a very traditional and linear approach to the water cycle based upon a one time use only system. With such high domestic demands and agricultural and industrial requirements, increasing population and unreliable rainfall, the strain on natural water shortages was inevitable. As the drought bit harder, the need to manage the overall water cycle as a whole was recognised.

The NSW Department of Energy, Utilities and Sustainability issued Integrated Water Cycle Management (IWCM) guidelines for urban water utilities in 2004*. The IWCM planning process is based on:

The make-up of Australia’s major city water supply is typically from surface waters, with the exception of Perth where 60% comes from groundwater sources.

The reliance on rainfall is therefore fundamental in the delivery of water supplies and, given the country’s rainfall unreliability, places Australia in an unenviable position, a position currently reflected across Southern regions of the UK.

• Better understanding of the drivers of demand; • Better understanding of the outcomes of different types of actions: • Water conservation; • Source substitution (water recycling, stormwater

harvesting and rainwater use) • System leakage management • Water pricing changes • Wastewater management • Water sensitive urban design (WSUD) • Integration of supply security and water quality

outcomes; • Stakeholder engagement on the planning process • Triple bottom line assessment outcomes.

To prevent total supply blackouts and to protect traditional surface and ground water sources, the Australian authorities decided to increase water supply through the use of seawater desalination. By 2013, the

It provides a framework where multiple stakeholders can examine the trade-offs inherent in environmental, social and financial outcomes of different water futures, taking a more holistic approach to demand and supply

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management. Indeed, in all areas of Australia it has now become routine practice to examine the impact of demand management and source substitution measures in water resources planning.

By following the process through its logical steps, a much more balanced outcome is achieved that serves the longterms needs of the community, reducing the likelihood of knee jerk reactions to water crisis scenarios.

such as end use savings, changes in household sizes, discretionary use demand reduction and environmental benefits, such as greenhouse gas emissions.

The relative sophistication of demand analysis is apparent when comparing the Australian analysis approaches to that of our own and is reflective of the importance placed upon reducing consumption and excess.

With the ICWM providing a new lens to view the potential

For IWCM to be successful it was also necessary to provide the tools required to conduct the assessments.

These include modelling tools for climate correction, rainwater tank simulation, econometric cross-sectional regression and end use models. Subsequently, provision of relevant policies and guidelines on the potential IWCM outcomes would also be necessary to effect implementation to the right levels.

The development of the Demand Side Management Decision Support System (DSM DSS) aided the analysis and delivery of the final outcomes accounting for aspects |72| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

of alternative water sources and the potential increase of recycled water, the Environment Protection and Heritage Council, the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council and the National Health and Medical Research Council have developed guidelines covering the key areas of storm water harvesting and reuse, augmenting drinking water with recycled water, managed aquifer recharge and respective health and safety aspects of each. The availability of these guidance documents greatly increases effective application of IWCM outcomes, creating a robust water future for Australia.

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While the sometimes controversial construction of desalination has occurred through Australia, the IWCM process provided a much more stable platform for securing Australia’s water future, taking at least a 30 year horizon into consideration. Examples of non-traditional approaches are becoming more commonplace, such as improved water conservation and sewer mining schemes (the extraction of wastewater locally, treatment and use as an alternative to potable water). For example, Kogarah Council has become the first council in Sydney to pilot sewer mining; up to 125 million litres of recycled water will be produced each year to irrigate parks, playing fields and the Beverley Park Golf Course.

Plus, increasing collaboration between regional councils and better balancing of resources across wider regions has also yielded benefits. For example, MWH has worked with the Central New South Wales Organisation of Councils (CENTROC), comprising of 16 local government areas, to collaborate on IWCM – bringing benefits including inter-connected water supply infrastructure and managed aquifer recharge, which has resulted in a strategy to protect water supplies for the next 50 years.

Stormwater harvesting is another excellent example of alternatives to bulk supply increases, with benefits being delivered across the wider urban cycle. The Australian government actively promotes stormwater projects, through funding and grants, recognising its ability to alleviate stress on current potable supplies. This goes someway to provide the step change needed to establish stormwater as a valuable source and not a waste.

Kalkallo Case Study Yarra Valley Water adopted a multiple criteria assessment for a new greenfield development some 28 Km north of Melbourne. The study found that by bringing together all relevant stakeholders, from government bodies, land developers, a health regulator and a water company, significant benefits could be achieved.

The scheme involves the harvesting of stormwater (of approximately 365 Ml/year) and treating to potable standards using advanced treatment. The project demonstrates how this approach reduces potable water substitution by 90%, decreases urban runoff and pollutant load by 45% and 25% respectively above best practice, uses 75% less energy than desalination and can recover upfront capital and on-going operating costs over a 25 year period.

A balanced approach Australia has built a framework for a more balanced approach – recognising that reactive rather than proactive crisis management inevitably leads to poor decisions and ultimately lower value for water consumers.

Through adequate long-term planning and the cultural change towards water, Australia can continue to assure the long-term survival of its domestic, agricultural and |74| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

industrial water users without resorting to the default position of increasing supplies.

Having completed more than 20 IWCM studies and developed a number of the demand management tools used, MWH is well-placed to apply the knowledge and skills gained in Australia to projects here. As the UK faces almost identical and regular occurrences of drought regionally or across the country, we should look to our much younger commonwealth partner and the significant strides they have made in providing resilience to water resources. * More recently, South East Queensland produced Total Water Cycle Planning Guidelines in response to the need for TWCM to be conducted as part of the Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 2009, outlining methods of practice to achieve robust water cycle planning.

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IFAT ENTSORGA

IFAT ENTSORGA fully booked Months before the next IFAT ENTSORGA, the world’s premier trade show for innovations and services in water, sewage, waste and raw materials management had already been fully booked. This year’s show, which takes place from May 7 to 11 in Munich, will be covering a total of 215,000 square meters of exhibition space (180,000 m2 indoors and 35,000 m2 outdoors), and that will set a new record for the show. In terms of exhibitors, the number will exceed the 2,730 that took part last time.

The most important platform for the industry IFAT ENTSORGA is the world’s largest and most important exhibition for the environmental industry and the international meeting place for key players and decision makers. This event showcases the industry’s entire range of products and a broad range of service providers. It revolves around state-of-the-art knowhow - just one of the reasons IFAT ENTSORGA is so popular among visitors. As a result, this show offers a number of opportunities to network at an international level. Whether it comes to comparing specific interests, discovering new contacts or establishing promising business ties, this is the place to discuss everything with everyone. Furthermore, IFAT ENTSORGA reflects not only the latest market developments but also sets new trends.

Due to the current development – high market demand accompanied by scarcity of raw materials – the show has experienced considerable growth in the sector for raw materials management. The same strong demand applies to the new product category geothermal energy.

Another strong sector at this year’s IFAT ENTSORGA is street cleaning and winter road services, which will be taking up a noteworthy 20,000 square meters of exhibition space. This means that once again the sector turnout for the next event in Munich will be nearly across-the-board.

Events Programme A high-calibre events program is again flanking the range of products and services showcased at IFAT ENTSORGA 2012. On all five days of the fair, the forums in Halls A5 |76| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

and C1 will be featuring country and theme specials, panel discussions and presentations by exhibitors.

Thanks to experienced professionals, key domestic and international trade associations, government agencies and ministries, IFAT ENTSORGA will be an international industry event again in 2012.

Country Specials In line with the international character of IFAT ENTSORGA a number of Country Specials are being put in the programme. The Africa-Maghreb Region, Russia and Turkey will feature in three Country Specials being organised by Messe München in cooperation with the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, and the German Water Partnership. Together with the Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Public Health, the company is hosting an event to explore in greater depth the developments in Canada and India. The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) is also a co-organiser of the latter. The Country Special on the Arab Regions is being carried out in cooperation with the Arab Countries Water Utilities Association (ACWUA).

Theme Specials In addition the partners of IFAT ENTSORGA will be turning the spotlight on a range of special themes. For example, the Federation of the German Waste, Water and Raw Materials Management Industry (BDE – Bundesverband der Deutschen Entsorgungs-, Wasser- und Rohstoffwirtschaft e.V.) is organising panel discussions on EU regulations, the law on product recycling and waste management, recovery and recycling, and biowaste and how to use it. The German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, the German Water Partnership and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research are putting on a panel discussion on the subject of capacity development in international markets, looking in particular at the involvement of German industry in education and training in water management. The UmweltCluster Bayern is also active at IFAT ENTSORGA and organising a panel

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discussion on “Waste to Energy” in cooperation with the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Infrastructure, Transport and Technology.

16th International Symposium The “16th International Symposium Water, Wastewater, Solid Waste, Energy” is being held within the framework of IFAT ENTSORGA 2012. This is a joint initiative, organised by the German Association for Water, Wastewater and Waste (DWA – Deutsche Vereinigung für Wasserwirtschaft, Abwasser und Abfall) in cooperation with the European Water Association (EWA), the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) and the Department of Waste Management and City Cleaning VKS (Verband Abfallwirtschaft und Stadtreinigung im VKU). The event, taking place from May 7 to 10 in the ICM – Internationales Congress Center München, offers a diverse trade program on themes in sustainable water and waste management.

Mega Cities – Mega Chances In addition, a special event on “Mega Cities – Mega Chances” is on the program the very first day of the fair. In four theme blocks experts will be exploring the problems of global urbanization and examining solutions.

The experts include, for example, Dr. Michael Denkel, a partner at Albert Speer & Partner GmbH, and Professor Dr.-Ing. Xiaohu Dai, Director of the National Engineering Research Center for Urban Pollution Control at Tongji University in Shanghai.

Attendance at the symposia and the forums is free of charge. Simultaneous interpreting (German/English) is provided at all the lectures.

GeoBioEnergy Conference Another highlight is the premiere of the GeoBioEnergy Conference, which takes place on 9 and 10 May, also in the ICM. On the first day operators will be reporting on their experiences with geothermal power stations.

There will also be a review of how geothermal heat can be made usable. On the second day the focus switches to the production of biogas from biogenic waste, and the efficient use of waste wood for energy.

IFAT ENTSORGA collects old mobile phones for charity In German households alone, it is estimated that there are around 60 million old mobile phones lying unused in cupboards and drawers. As well as plastics, these devices also contain a range of metals that are gradually becoming ever scarcer. Quite an opportunity for another premiere: at this year’s IFAT ENTSORGA, exhibitors and visitors will have the chance to deposit their old mobile phones in a collection box at the East or West Entrance.

Anyone taking part in the fair can simply deposit their old phone, or phones (as many as they want), together with their business card, in the collection boxes. The names then go forward to take part in a prize draw to win one of two iPhones being given out each day to the lucky winners. The competition runs on all days of the fair. This initiative is being organised in cooperation with REMONDIS, who will be recycling the mobile phones and paying Messe München the financial equivalent of the raw materials recovered. The proceeds will then be donated to a charity.

Treasure Trove Cell Phone A special exhibition called “Treasure Trove Cell Phone” (Booth B1.324) gives a detailed breakdown of which raw materials and rare metals are contained in a mobile phone. On over 100 m2, this display – organised by Messe München in cooperation with the Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Public Health – examines the mobile phone, the raw materials contained within it, and the processes involved in recovering these resources.

IFAT ENTSORGA is like no other event of its kind because it opens up new perspectives and points of view that are groundbreaking for trade-fair participants and market leaders alike.

Further information: www.ifat.de

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Smart meters deliver improved water sustainability

By Roger Smith, Senior Vice President, Oracle Utilities Global Business Unit The UK Government has enforced a hosepipe ban due to the threat of a prolonged drought which has been one of the most topical issues in the country’s media this year. The combined effect of a severe lack of rainfall and an ageing water infrastructure, that is leaking 3.3 billion litres of water every day , is causing a shortage in supplies and putting strain on water providers. Some argue that irresponsible consumption from consumers is having an equally damaging effect. For example one in four UK water customers admit to leaving the taps running when brushing their teeth, accounting for around 120 billion litres of water wasted each year .

If these trends continue, the Government may have to place increased restrictions on household water use by demanding that customers cut back even further. If this happens, water utilities will have an important part to play in communicating the Government’s message to their customers. Even more importantly, utilities must focus on enabling their customers to track their water use more closely and help improve usage habits, as well as becoming faster at locating and repairing burst or leaking pipes in their own water network.

This is where smart water meters come in. Smart meters are able to identify and resolve inefficiencies in water use through enabling utilities to analyse water flows in near-real time and help conserve water by providing customers the right tools to monitor usage and detect leaks. Consumers who see evidence of excess consumption, for example by comparing area averages, will be more motivated to seek advice for conservation techniques. Furthermore, smart meters allow more than just real-time visibility into water flows. They also allow utilities to analyse and correlate accurate data from many

different sources including acoustic, and pressure, which in turn helps identify pattern changes in water usage and minimal flows.

Once smart meters are installed within homes, customers will be able to monitor for water leaks themselves. This in turn will help deliver a number of opportunities for utility companies such as the ability to offer customers leak insurance, thereby expanding the utility-customer relationship beyond its traditional boundaries. As water issues escalate and consumer concern around water conservation grows, technologies such as this will become widely adopted.

Nevertheless, some European countries are lagging behind in their adoption of smart meters particularly in respect to water, due to challenges concerning limited bandwidth for wireless communication, lack of consumer understanding around the benefits, data security and no worldwide technology standard being implemented. A report by Sentec shows that the UK is currently falling behind its European neighbours in implementing smart meters. It maintains that smart meter deployment in 65 per cent of UK homes by 2015, will not be possible.

An example of smart meters in action within the water industry can be taken from Veolia Water’s m20 city project, which was launched in 2011. m20 city, a joint venture between Veolia and the mobile telecommunications operator, Orange, is a company specialising in remote environmental data and water meter reading services. It allows Veolia to improve the gathering and management of data related to water usage, which has significant implications for the reduction of waste. It ensures individual customers are invoiced for exact water usage, and receive automatic alerts in case of any abnormal consumption and allows companies and real estate managers to keep a check on year-round usage across a number of properties.

Furthermore, the real-time monitoring of the water network enables the detection of serious or persistent leaks, and of backflows.

A key enabler for faster infrastructure repairs As national reservoirs shrink and the threat of drought lingers, one of the main priorities for water utilities is to maintain a reliable water network. One of the biggest and

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electricity services industry. Water network managers are under increasing pressure to plan for the modernisation, rehabilitation or replacement of their network to reduce network failure, while not losing sight of the quality and cost of the service provided. well-known water utilities in the UK has reported that it fixes 1,000 leaks and burst pipes every week. This is a huge logistical challenge requiring a very efficient human resource management system that most water utilities have to cope with daily. If utilities do not have an efficient process in place to manage work crews, they are likely to incur delays in completing jobs and draw more pressure from regulators such as Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat).

To ensure that crews are managed properly, utilities must have the necessary tools to balance the dynamics of mobilising, dispatching and monitoring their field service workforces. Mobile workforce management technologies are there to ensure that customer service representatives, dispatchers, and technicians are all in sync with one another in real-time, at all times. By providing personnel access to timely information about the status of each leak case, utilities can ensure the correct service is being delivered in a timely fashion.

For example, experienced field technicians know their territory and the likely duration of different tasks. As a result, even when they are interrupted by unscheduled tasks and emergencies, they can propose and maintain reasonably good schedules for their remaining available crew time. Mobile workforce applications that include real-time scheduling prevent this productivity drop-off.

As the crew finishes its emergency tasks, real-time schedulers immediately produce new schedules that start from the current location, and follow utility-established rules for task priority and drive time.

Furthermore, experienced workers traditionally carry in their minds the correct safety techniques and job structure. Mobile workforce software incorporates that knowledge and makes it accessible via tools such as checklists and context sensitive help. It also ensures that less experienced crews meet utilities’ safety and compliance guidelines.

Managing assets Key to solving the water sustainability issue is also the need to confront issues surrounding aging water networks and their technical complexity, including diversity of materials and inaccessible underground pipes. The water sector is undergoing a similar evolutionary transition to the electricity sector where smart grids are fundamentaly re-engineering the

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As such, utilities are increasingly requiring real-time, enterprise-wide visibility into the type, location, and condition of the assets they possess. Asset managers are in a better position to judge whether to repair, upgrade, or replace assets when they have precise knowledge of the physical condition and cost history of each one.

By deploying asset management technologies, utilities can prioritise investment into those network segments which are the most prone to burst; to perform the root cause analysis of non-revenue water; to transform water management from reactive to pro-active and from assetcentric to information-centric. The net result is better performance of your asset portfolio at a dramatically reduced cost.

One other aspect that water utilities have to consider as they aim to improve the time it takes to carry out network repairs, is optimising the supply chain of materials. Work and asset management solutions can govern storeroom inventory levels so work utilities have adequate stock on hand to support maintenance activities, without incurring excessive carrying costs and increasing the speed of repairs.

For water utilities, one of the keys to overcoming the challenges of drought and lifting the weight off their shoulders, is understanding how smart meters can help provide customers with accurate information on their consumption patterns. It is also important to catalogue exactly where water savings can be made, and by whom, as well as, managing work crews to make these adjustments quickly and competently. By ensuring the right asset management measures are in place and by carefully tracking the condition of the water network, utilities will be able to make a positive contribution to the nation’s goal of improving water sustainability.

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CONSERVATION Page 86 - 87 Japanese Knotweed, Mike Clough, Director, JKSL Page 88 - 92 Invasive Plant Species, Manda Sansom, Technical Manager, Monsanto Page 93 Buglife

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Japanese Knotweed in the UK – Who’s fault?

By Mike Clough, Director, JKSL How on earth have we ended up in a situation where alien species are taking over our countryside? Why would anyone sell plants that could out compete with our native species when they knew that this would be a problem?

Well…it’s a little more complex than you might imagine and requires a close look at our botanical history.

It is generally accepted that these ‘alien species’ were originally garden plants, but what is perhaps not so widely appreciated is just how valuable these plants were once considered. Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica) was actually awarded the gold medal in 1847 by the Society of Agriculture and Horticulture at Utrecht – for the ‘most interesting new ornamental plant of the year’.

Philipe von Siebold and Company of Leiden who were specialist importers of plants from the East, extolled its ‘great vigour’ and its combination of ‘ornamental and medicinal use’. Japanese Knotweed was used to protect young plantations from wind and sun and its young stems, leaves and rhizome were highly valued in Chinese and Japanese medicine.

These plants, newly imported from Japan, could obviously command a high price – to give some perspective 500 francs would buy a ‘mother plant and 25 strong plants’ whereas for a similar price the same catalogue offered 500 Wisteria sinenis for the same amount! Additional benefits were listed as … ‘stabilisation of sand dunes, gracious flowers suitable for bouquets, forage for cattle, flowers for bees and the dead stems could be used to make matches’. The plant was also claimed to be ‘inextirpable’ – ie impossible to eradicate!

Although the first date the plant was commercially available in Europe is agreed as 1848, the date it first came across to the UK has always been argued. The literature contains two dates: 1825 and the late 1840’s.

From this articles point of view this is largely irrelevant.

What is perhaps more important is the earliest record for cultivation in the British Isles which is from John Wood’s garden at Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds in 1881. In 1883 it is recorded as being grown on Mr Scott’s garden in Altrincham and in 1911 two specimens of plants grown in Charles Bailey’s garden at Cleeve Hill in Cheltenham are labelled as having been supplied by Richard Smith of Worcester. The earliest recorded escape was in 1915 at Melrose Abbey; when found it was only in small stands and not considered to be very invasive.

Whenever the actual introduction occurred is perhaps lost forever but what we do know is when the species was first available to the gardening public. The 1869-70 catalogue of William Bull of Chelsea records Japanese |86| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

Knotweed under ‘New Plants offered for first time’. It was offered at 7/6d per plant along with the assurance that it was … ‘perfectly hardy’ …which demonstrates that they had overwintered it in Britain. That it was available in commercial quantities to unleash on an unwary British public in 1869 suggests that it had been in cultivation for a year or more by then.

It appears that Japanese Knotweed was on sale for at least 87 years!

So now we know that Japanese Knotweed was available to the British gardener we need to look a little closer as to why the plant spread so quickly.

William Robinson (18381935) was one of the most respected and influential of the late Victorian Gardeners.

He recommended replacing the blocks of

carpet like bedding much admired by the High Victorian garden movement with a more informal lay out and a more natural setting enhanced by the ‘new’ exotic species that were then becoming available. He promoted his ideas through articles in The Gardeners Chronicle and other journals, culminating with the publication in 1870 of the highly influential book ‘The Wild Garden’. Robinson stated that ‘the great Japanese Knotworts (Polygonum) are handsome in rough places and in the wild garden’ and that there is … ‘ no better plant for semi wild places’.

The influence of Gertrude Jekyll (1843-1932) was just as far ranging, both abroad and as well as in England. In a ‘Gardeners Testament’ she is quoted as envisaging a woodland walk flanked by groups of … ‘plants of rather large stature…bamboos and the great Knotweeds of Japan’, and in Home and Garden (1900) … ‘we ought not forget the quick growing ways of the great Japan Knotweeds growing fast and tall’. At least two of her garden designs include Fallopia japonica being in both the wild garden at Little Aston, Birmingham and at Drayton Wood in Norfolk.

The designers of the time worked closely together, corresponded and visited and exchanged plants. They would also have ordered from the continental nursery gardens such as Von Siebold. There was also regular two way traffic in new plants between Kew Gardens and these wealthy amateurs.

Apparently the largest cluster of Fallopia bohemica in the British Isles is in West Surrey in the area bordered by Dorking, Guildford, Godalming and Haselmere – the Surrey Hills. This is the heart of Gertrude Jekyll country and it is

tempting to see a direct link with the fact that her house ‘Munstead Wood’ was in the centre of this area with its large estates and expensive country houses. Many of these houses were designed by Lutyens with Jekyll designing the gardens – with many of the larger stands near to these properties it is difficult to deny a connection.

In Cornwall there are a number of associations between well-known gardens and the occurrence of Japanese Knotweed. Also in South Wales there are clusters associated with the estates of landed gentry. In Scotland too there are further such clusters, for example along the River Kelvin possibly relating to the botanic garden?

Japanese Knotweed was never going to remain within the confines of the garden for long and from the beginning of the century increasing numbers of ‘escapes’ were reported. In the 1930’s Japanese Knotweed was known by the name Hancocks Curse and its presence reputedly reduced the price of a house by £100. Despite its invasive nature Japanese Knotweed was still being offered for sale in the mid 1930’s.

Reviewing all this information perhaps it would be easy to lay the blame at the door of Von Siebold when he dispatched his fateful package to Kew. Perhaps Kew should have been more responsible and more aware of the growth characteristics of Japanese Knotweed.

Perhaps our garden designers should have had more awareness of what they were recommending…

Whoever takes responsibility at the end of the day the problem remains the same. Perhaps what we can learn from this experience is to not let this happen again?

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MANAGING INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES

By Manda Sansom; Technical Manager, Monsanto UK Most of us agree that a weed can be any plant growing in the wrong place. But some plants have the ability to spread and become invasive, causing damage to the environment, the economy and our health. So they need to be controlled as a priority.

The UK has enacted various pieces of legislation covering the management of invasive weeds, starting with The Weeds Act 1959 which gives powers to prevent the spread of injurious weeds. Common Ragwort, through The Ragwort Code of Practice (2003), is probably the best known due its poisonous nature but several species of Dock and Thistle are also included in this list of native invasive plants. Horsetail, Bracken, Ground Elder and Couch grass are other troublesome home-grown invaders.

The worst offenders, though, are often those plants introduced from other countries where the habitat is very different. These are termed Non-Native Invasive Species (NNIS) or Invasive Alien Species (IAS) whose

introduction or spread threatens biodiversity. The EU is planning to introduce legislation to control or eradicate priority IAS as part of its Biodiversity Strategy this year.

Many developers, householders, councils and volunteer groups across the country have experienced the expensive consequences of managing and disposing of Japanese Knotweed, Giant Hogweed and soil containing material from these plants as ‘controlled waste’ under The Environmental Protection Act (1990). Indeed, some estimates put the cost of Japanese Knotweed alone to the UK economy at £2billion.

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and similar legislation in Scotland and Northern Ireland implement the requirements of the EU Habitats Directive to protect natural habitats from deliberate introductions of NNIS. It is, for instance, an offence under Section 14(2) of this legislation to ‘plant or otherwise cause to grow in the wild’ any plants listed in Schedule 9.

Most amenity managers will be aware that Giant Hogweed and Japanese Knotweed were listed in the original legislation but many may be surprised to know the English list was expanded by a further 37 plant species – 22 terrestrial species and 15 aquatic – in 2010.

While growing these plants in gardens is permitted, it is an offence to allow them to escape and grow in the wild – whether by natural dissemination of seed, growth of shoots or spreading roots, or by dumping material containing plant parts.

Several garden escapes including cultivated members of the Cotoneaster family, Yellow Azalea, Montbretia, Japanese Rose, Wild Rhubarb, Yellow Archangel, Virginia Creeper and Three-cornered Garlic are all now listed, along with the other previously acknowledged problem weeds like Rhododendron Ponticum and Himalayan Balsam.

The threat of large fines – even custodial sentences – for violations of the legislation should ensure all sectors of society become more aware of these plants and their obligation to prevent their spread into the wild.

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The use of pesticides should be kept to a minimum and always be integrated with other control methods where possible. Mechanical means such as topping can give useful control in some situations. But with the exception of Himalayan Balsam most invasive species are perennial and merely chopping them off will only result in vigorous regrowth – often helping to spread the problem even wider.

Although employed for Japanese Knotweed, complete mechanical removal from the soil is extremely expensive and not feasible for most other weeds.

Biological control methods such as the sap-sucking psyllid being trialled on Japanese Knotweed may help reduce the spread. However, they can only be sustainable if they never eradicate the host and they remain confined to a small number of weed species to date.

All of which means carefully targeted chemical treatment continues to be the backbone of most cost effective control programmes, with glyphosate the most widely used. This herbicide is valued not least because it is the only herbicide approved for use on emerged or floating weeds in water and for its lack of residual action in the soil which makes it especially suitable for use in environmentally-sensitive areas.

The high quality glyphosate formulation, Roundup Pro Biactive, stands out as offering the most effective and reliable invasive weed control. Even so, the key to making the most of it lies in understanding how the chemical works.

As a systemic, foliar acting herbicide which blocks the biochemical pathway responsible for plant protein synthesis, glyphosate must first be taken into the plant and then moved to the growing points in roots and shoots where protein production takes place. Once it reaches its site of action, death by starvation will follow.

The movement of glyphosate within the plant sap follows the natural flow of sugars from photosynthesis in the leaves and this varies according to the time of year. Treatment as the stem is extending rapidly to produce flowers – often in early spring – will mean most glyphosate goes to the growing points in the developing stems. While leading to rapid stem dieback, limited downward movement allows re-growth from the base.

Once the flowers are formed the direction of sap movement in perennial plants reverses, sugars being directed back down to the roots for storage. So spraying at or just after flowering will maximise downward glyphosate translocation, giving a much higher level of long-term kill.

Most obvious in the invasive alien Japanese Knotweed, this is also an important consideration in the control of natives like Rose Bay Willowherb, Common Ragwort, Creeping Thistle, Common Nettle, Brambles, Bracken, Horsetail, Common Couch and Ryegrasses.

Reliable and consistent control of invasive weeds depends on a number of factors. As well as treatment at the correct growth stage, key requirements include healthy target weeds, a high performance Roundup product at the correct rate for the species, a suitable application method and appropriate weather conditions.

Specific guidance on controlling some of the most troublesome invasive weeds is given in Table 1.

Other invasive species can be well controlled using the same methods adapted according to the growth habit and flowering time. |90| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

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Buglife Green roofs have been around for centuries and were originally designed to provide water-proofing, to keep buildings warm and to provide forage for livestock.

However, it wasn’t until the early 1980’s that green roofs had a resurgence and have become very popular in Europe, particularly in Germany.

Further to providing green infrastructure benefits, improved building performance and amenity value, green roofs designed with biodiversity in mind can be an innovative means of providing habitat where it would otherwise be lacking, such as in dense urban areas, or providing supplementary habitat within a mitigation scheme.

Buglife, The Invertebrate Conservation Trust, in partnership with Livingroofs.org, has recently completed a three year ‘Living Roof’ project in London. The SITA Trust funded project has successfully installed six biodiverse roofs across some of the most densely populated areas of London.

In February of this year, Buglife and Livingroofs.org produced the UKs first guidance on creating biodiverse green roofs, specifically for invertebrates. The guidance provides a background to green roofs, guidance on roof design such as substrate depth and type, choosing flora, and how to create a variety of habitats such as wildflower meadows, bare ground, and even ponds. Habitat features such as log piles, bee banks and bug hotels provide areas for basking, burrowing and hunting - adding to the diversity of invertebrates that a roof can support.

The guidance is supported by scientific studies biodiverse green roofs have been well studied in Switzerland and the UK, and the wildlife that visits them has been closely monitored and recorded over a number

of years. The biodiverse roofs installed as part of the London Living Roof project have been monitored over the past three years and were found to support common species such as the Zebra spider (Salticus scenicus) and Common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum), as well as UKBAP species including the Shrill carder bee (Bombus humilis) and the Bombardier beetle (Brachinus crepitans).

Clare Dinham, Buglife Conservation Officer said “There’s a long way to go until green roofs become commonplace in the UK, however the use of green roofs is being cited in policies relating to sustainability, climate change and green infrastructure.”

“We hope that this new guidance will help those involved with the green roof industry to design and promote the use of biodiverse green roofs within new developments, as standard practice to benefit wildlife, the environment and people.”

Dusty Gedge, Living Roofs.org said “Re-creating a habitat at roof level plays an important role in nature conservation, particularly in urban areas. This exciting guidance report has shown that taking a considered ecological approach to creating a biodiverse living roof leads to great benefits for pollinators such as beetles, spiders and bees”.

This guidance is aimed at anyone involved with green roofs from planners, ecologists and architects, to policy makers and the general public, and demonstrates how the overall ecological value of a roof can be greatly improved by incorporating simple, yet effective, design features. The report is available to download from www. buglife.org.uk/publications

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Green Building Page 95 - 100 Greenbuild Expo 2012 Page 102 - 104 AIMC4 Update, Stewert Dalgarno, Director of Product Development, Stewart Milne Group Page 106 - 108 Refurbishment, Gavin Summerson, Head of Domestic Refurb, BREEAM

Šlimpertsacadamy.com |94| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

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Greenbuild Expo 2012 returns to Manchester with a stellar line up of speakers and exhibitors ahead of the Green Deal launch

Greenbuild Expo 2012, the largest sustainable refurbishment and building event in the North of England, returns to Manchester Central in May (9-10) with a whole host of exhibitors, speakers and a Green Deal debate arena.

This year, names such as Plumb Center, Panasonic, BASF, Scottish Passivhaus Centre and Mitsubishi will exhibit alongside organisations such as the National Federation of Roofing Contractors, the UK Green Building Council and the Builders Merchant Federation.

The fourth Greenbuild Expo will once again offer over 100 free seminars and training sessions, as well as all the latest product innovations and services to help you construct, refurbish or manage your buildings more sustainably. The full conference programme can be found at www.greenbuildexpo.co.uk and will feature sessions from DECC, the Cabinet Office, Manchester City Council, the BRE, Energy Saving Trust, Kingfisher, Balfour Beatty, Keepmoat, Jewson, Plumb Center and many more. The seminars will be addressing a broad range of topics including the Carbon Reduction Commitment, social sustainability, tackling fuel poverty, the Renewable Heat Incentive, funding options for retrofit projects, legislation updates and a fabric-first approach to low-energy building. Once again the conference programme will be packed with expert advice as well as case studies of successful projects from around the UK. The new Government initiative, the Green Deal, intends to reduce carbon emissions cost effectively by revolutionising the energy efficiency of British properties, both commercial and residential. This will impact on industry, and this year we will be running Green Deal debates which will focus on how it will work, skills shortage, funding and what it entails for domestic and commercial properties. |98| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

The event, which is aimed at professionals, such as architects, contractors, installers, builders merchants, commercial landlords, house builders, planners, facilities and energy managers among others, will also have a hands-on training area with demonstrations.

Ignition 12 Ignition 12 will return as well with an expanded two day seminar programme. Producing heat to warm homes, offices and factories uses about 40 per cent of the energy we consume in the UK. However, unlike electricity production, there has been no sustained attempt to reduce this or shift to renewable sources. With the long awaited introduction of the Renewable Heat Incentive in 2012, and the rising cost of oil and concerns over supply, this is all about to change, and Ignition12 will focus on a heat source that has great potential in the UK – woodfuel.

The 2012 event is sponsored by Panasonic, Plumb Center, Liniar Profiles and Wagner Solar UK. For free registration visit www.greenbuildexpo.co.uk and follow @greenbuildexpo on Twitter.

Highlights of Greenbuild Expo 2012 include: • the return of Ignition, the UK's only woodfuel event, with its own dedicated seminar programme and area of the exhibition. Topics include MCS accreditation, biomass and the RHI and fuel procurement.

• The NFRC is proud to partner with SIG Roofing at Greenbuild Expo to host the Solar Roofing Zone. With NFRC’s purpose-built roofing rig, different types of solar collector systems will be installed as part of the daily demonstrations including both photovoltaic and solar thermal. NFRC will be working with its members, including SIG Roofing, to demonstrate the importance

of roofing contractors in solar installations. NFRC encourages all the necessary trades to work together in order to achieve the optimum solar installation. As such, our belief is that competence in roofing work, rather than just knowing how to install the system, is key when it comes to installing solar panels.

• The Sustainable Cities seminar room returns for 2012, with a programme of speakers tackling going green in an urban environment.

• a central debate area dedicated to the Green Deal, with some of the industry’s biggest names discussing the government’s flagship policy. The speakers will be addressing topics such as how we will deliver low-carbon refurb in reality, how we can encourage consumer takeup, what skills the industry needs and how the funding models will work.

• a BREEAM showcase, looking at the UK's highest scoring projects and revealing how they achieved those top marks.

• our Regulation Revealed room will feature an expert panel who are there to answer your questions about sustainability and regulation, whether that’s a particular part of the Code for Sustainable Homes or BREEAM. • a CPD room with accredited sessions including ventilation, window specification, voltage optimization, Part G updates and solar shading • a training hub with taster session on everything from solar PV installation to becoming a Green Deal assessor For a full list of exhibitors visit http://www. greenbuildexpo.co.uk/index.php/directory/ or to find out more about Greenbuild Expo 2012 visit www. greenbuildexpo.co.uk Entry is free so register now, or if you would like to know more about how you can get involved contact Chris Eldridge on 07921 677645 Highlights of the 2012 Greenbuild Expo seminar programme Wednesday 9th May Newbuild 11:45 – 12:30 PRP Architects will be talking about the lessons learned from Greenwatt Way, a groundbreaking Code for Sustainable Homes level six development Housing newbuild Refurbishment 14:00 – 14:45 The complete refurbishment of a Grade II-listed office building in Westminister to a BREEAM Excellent standard will be discussed by Black Architecture 15:00 – 15:45 How Balfour Beatty transformed Westborough School in Essex with a low-carbon refurbishment

Renewable energy 10:15 – 10:45 NSAET looks at the different routes to becoming competent in renewables, from full training to assessment, plus what is involved in these processes, including knowledge, practical competency and legislation in terms of MCS, the Green Deal and new EU training directives.

12:00 – 12:45 The Distributed Energy Team, part of The National Renewable Energy Centre (Narec) based in Blyth, Northumberland, works with local authorities in North East England on a number of social housing projects to address fuel poverty and ensure that the most suitable technology is installed for the required application.

Fabric first 14:45 – 15:30 It is estimated that over 30% of the UK’s housing stock has solid wall construction. As social housing providers strive to improve thermal efficiency, this session from Mark Group examines the challenges presented by these ‘hard-to-treat’ properties and reviews the solutions to overcome them.

Sustainable cities 14:45 – 15:30 In 2011, housing association Helena Partnerships carried out a retrofit programme on 107 pre-fabricated BISF houses in St Helens, Merseyside, including adding solar panels, external wall and loft insulation, highly effective double glazing and improved ventilation to every property.

Training Throughout the event there will be a selection of training sessions on offer, covering solar PV, solar thermal, heat pump system design, specifying external wall insulation and green refurb.

Ignition12 The UK’s only woodfuel event, Ignition, is part of Greenbuild Expo and has its own seminar programme with sessions including biomass and social housing, woodfuel procurement and biomass and the RHI.

Regulation and ratings 14:30 to close Ask the experts your questions on BREEAM, the Code for Sustainable Homes and more. The panel will be available to answer any questions you have about the various rating and regulation systems for sustainable buildings.

CPD CPD-accredited sessions run throughout the two-day event, with sessions on EWI specification, ventilation, windows, Part G and much more.

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Green Deal debate arena 10:30 - 11:30 Green Deal delivery How will the government's flagship green policy work in practice to deliver energy-efficient buildings?

11:00 – 11:30 Visitors to Greenbuild Expo 2011 will remember seeing the Dwelle house. Find out where it is now and how its creator has developed the idea for sustainable newbuild housing.

14:15 - 15:15 Green Deal skills Do we have the skills needed for Green Deal? With just a few months to go until the launch, are we ready for Green Deal when it comes to skills and training?

Water & biodiversity 10:15 – 11:00 A lot is said about the potential of green roofs to provide, enhance or even create biodiversity. And it is true green roofs can deliver many benefits including biodiverse habitats. University of Sheffield’s Jeff Sorill asks how many green roofs are actually designed to optimise biodiversity?

Thursday 10th May Fabric first 10:00 – 10:30 Chris Herring, technical leader on the Denby Dale Passivhaus project will give a sneak preview of the project’s monitoring data (due to be officially launched in June) exploring the lessons learnt and what the results say about the future of cavity wall construction in low energy and Passivhaus projects.

11:45 – 12:30 Focusing on large scale domestic, nondomestic and retrofit projects, this session from the Scottish Passive House Centre will look at the advantage of increasing the size of Passivhaus developments and how economies of scale can make this standard more achievable and better value.

Newbuild 12:45 – 13:15 How many times have you heard someone say that they have a low-energy building but it uses a lot of energy? This session will look at what can go wrong when making buildings truly low energy.

14:30 – 15:15 Exploring two green fire stations in Bury and Rochdale with the Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service.

Legislation 13:15 - 13:45 Sustainability legislation and how it affects places, including buildings - how is legislation affecting the way we think about places, their design and the types of delivery strategy we put in place.

BREEAM showcase 10-00 – 12:30 A series of presentations from awardwinning, top-scoring BREEAM projects.

Energy 14:00 - 14:30 How can businesses achieve an 18-month return by investing in energy management systems? This session demonstrates how focusing on metering, monitoring and control, as well as engaging staff, can help businesses identify inefficiencies, maximise a building’s potential, and achieve savings of up to 40%.

Training Throughout the event there will be a selection of training sessions on offer, covering solar PV, solar thermal, heat pump system design, specifying external wall insulation and green refurb.

Refurbishment 10:15 – 10:45 How can we inspire homeowners, businesses and other building owners to get involved with Green Deal? Dr Laura Haynes from the Cabinet Office reveals the results of several pilot projects.

CPD CPD-accredited sessions run throughout the two-day event, with sessions on EWI specification, ventilation, windows, Part G and much more.

12:00 – 12:45 A fabric-first approach to a 1920s refurb in Rochdale, featuring internal wall insulation, loft and suspended timber floor insulation, airtightness membranes and much more.

Green Deal debate arena 10:00- 11:00 Commercial Green Deal The Green Deal is not just about domestic buildings, so how can commercial building owners get involved?

Renewable energy 13:00 – 13:45 The UK's only entry into the 2012 Solar Decathlon competition, Team Heliomet, talks about its strategy for self-sufficient housing.

13:30 - 14:30 Green Deal Funding How will Green Deal funding work for different types of customers? Everything you need to know! James Walker (Kingfisher) and tbc

To view the full programme and all the latest speaker updates visit greenbuildexpo.co.uk

Sustainable cities 10:15 – 10:45 This presentation will address the balance of environmental sustainability with social sustainability in the current economic climate. Adding to the discussion will be examples of current Manchester City Council pilot projects. |100| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

Sustainable Homes Targeting energy efficiency

By Stewert Dalgarno, Director, The Stewart Milne Group The government has set the industry a huge challenge: to reduce net carbon emissions to zero for new homes from 2016. To meet that challenge, we need innovative designs and products... enter AIMC4.

In meeting Government targets for sustainable homes, the challenge is not just how to build them, but how to make them available in volume, at a competitive cost and desirable to the consumer. In 2010, a pioneering three year project was set up to bring together industry leading developers and experts to answer this question, while creating world class sustainable housing. Co-funded by the Technology Strategy Board, the AIMC4 consortium comprises three of the UK’s leading housebuilders, Stewart Milne Group, Crest Nicholson Plc and Barratt Developments Plc; plus building material manufacturer H+H UK Ltd, and the Building Research Establishment (BRE).

AIMs The ground-breaking £6.4m AIMC4 project was created to research, design and deliver exemplar homes, to meet the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4 (Building Regulations, Part L 2013) using a fabric-first approach.

This fabric focus means that the energy performance of the building is achieved primarily through the external envelope without reliance on additional micro-renewable technologies - making the homes more affordable, practical and easy to maintain. In short, the Consortium is producing homes that allow people to enjoy the benefits of energy efficiency without having to make much more than a step-change in their living habits.

Perhaps most importantly, AIMC4’s fabric-focused techniques are suitable for cost-effective volume application. For the first time, it is possible to deliver homes to the mass market which not only achieve CSH |102| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

Level 4, but are also desirable and affordable. Stewart Dalgarno, director of product development for Stewart Milne Group puts AIMC4 into context: “Pushing the fabric beyond Code Level 4 is quite unique for a mainstream developer. We’re not aware of any volume housebuilder who is looking at that as a potential mainstream solution for CSH Level 4 and beyond. Most are probably looking at some sort of nominal upgrade to their footprint and offsetting through bolting on a solar panel or air source heat pump – decisions based on what might be the lowest cost option, but not necessarily the best value for the customer in the long term. These low carbon homes differ because they provide long-lasting efficiency. The fabric-first solutions will increase energy efficiency throughout the lifespan of a building and, as new renewable energy technologies are developed, the goal of zero carbon building can be achieved.”

Sustainable Build The project will see 17 Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4 pilot homes built across the UK, through fabric and primary building services alone. Leading the project, Stewart Milne Group is building 8 of the 17 homes across three sites in the UK. The Stewart Milne AIMC4 homes are being built using Stewart Milne Timber Systems’ innovative, BBA approved Sigma II Build System, which provides a robust ‘fit and forget’ solution to low carbon building.

By using the high specification closed panel Sigma II Build System, the construction process benefits from the offsite construction of all wall panels, pre-fitted with external doors and windows, and pre-insulated floor and ceiling cassettes. This precision build makes the properties weather-tight while achieving initial

air-tightness of 3m3/h/m2 @ 50Pa for each plot. The insulation, designed to achieve a U-Value of 0.12 W/ m2/k, offers high water resistance, long term durability, prevents thermal bypasses within the panel cavities, and carries a Green Guide A rating. The result is affordable, consumer friendly and energy efficient homes, which can be easily and quickly erected.

Due to its offsite fabrication, the Sigma II Build System provides a number of cost benefits, including reduced site preliminary costs, reduced cash cycle, lower weather dependency and improved onsite predictability. Also, as projects can be delivered up to 30% faster, the cash cycle is considerably shortened. These characteristics, combined with its flexibility of design, mean that the system is ideal for projects of all sizes and values, across the different sectors, requiring a practical and cost effective build solution.

To demonstrate how AIMC4 homes can be used for private and social housing applications, Stewart Milne Group is building AIMC4 homes in two private developments in Scotland, and a social housing development in England. Two large, detached family homes have been constructed at the housebuilder’s flagship development, Leathan Fields in Portlethen, Aberdeenshire, with a further three homes recently completed at its Athena Grange development in Prestonpans, East Lothian. The final phase of the housing has commenced at the Adelphi House development in Preston, Lancashire, where Stewart Milne Homes is working in partnership with the Communities Gateway Association and Adactus Housing Association, to build a further three homes. The houses are all designed to meet all HCA, Lifetime Homes and Secure by Design requirements.

Driving Innovation in the Supply Chain As part of the project’s objective to highlight the potential of sustainable development, one of the key aims of AIMC4 was to research and develop new design and build processes which will drive innovation in the supply chain. In the early part of 2010, the AIMC4 Consortium identified that a robust and effective supply chain working in partnership with the members was crucial to the process. To achieve this, a procurement method, more typically used in the automotive and aerospace industries, and unique in housebuilding, was employed – an innovative process to inspire further innovation within the project.

For the first time in the UK construction industry, an intensive and extensive two-stage ‘sandpit’ concept was adopted in order to select suppliers who were able and equipped to achieve the level of whole-house efficiency required. This approach brings manufacturers

together to forge working relationships, using an interactive ‘classroom-style’ brainstorming format. The Consortium encouraged collaboration and identified the very best suppliers from a range of sectors to join a framework of partners. The sandpit sessions were vital to the project: they allowed the Consortium to engage with the companies; outline the AIMC4 challenge; clarify those products and services meriting further assessment; and, perhaps most importantly, to evaluate the ‘fit’ of the companies in terms of working well within the group.

From more than 300 interested companies that took part in an initial questionnaire application, 80 were invited to the first sandpit day, and following that, 50 companies were invited back to a second sandpit session two months later. The final 33 successful companies were then invited to tender for work within the project. Products were tendered against specifications developed by the AIMC4 technical team, with the final selection being made on the basis of energy-saving performance, cost effectiveness and longevity. Now the project is underway, the marketplace for new suppliers remains open, with the Consortium always interested to hear from people with new ideas.

Taking the LEAN View In tough markets, efficient and effective operations are imperative and there are a number of key areas which developers, contractors and suppliers alike must all consider when embarking on new projects. This is particularly true given the objectives of AIMC4 where the price to the end user is a vital consideration.

Areas such as design efficiency, material & packaging volumes, worker man-hours and machinery operations, can all be categorised as potential ‘waste’ if they are not subject to detailed scrutiny. In the interests of minimising cost and optimising productivity the Consortium adopted strict lean construction methodology.

Two ‘Lean Workshops’ brought together the project’s architects, designers, suppliers and contract managers to introduce the ideas and concepts around Lean Design and to examine the basic interfaces and junctions to be considered during the design and construction of the homes.

Each workshop analysed different construction methods – one on timber frame construction, the other on masonry. The workshops provided the partners an opportunity to

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assess the potential issues around assembly elements of the build, both on and off site, and a chance to optimise specifications so they achieved the desired energy targets at minimum cost.

With the success of the sandpit sessions and workshops, Dalgarno believes that collaboration has been key to the project: “A lot of what we’ve learnt is to do with process rather than product – in other words, how you put fabric together. That comes down to integration and the suppliers working together effectively to deliver high performance in a different way. The lean workshops in particular enabled us to establish and neutralise any issues before the build process began, providing long term cost savings by minimising expensive on-site building time.”

Where are we now?

The project is forecast to be complete in July 2013, in time for the change to Part L of the Building Regulations which will make Code Level 4 mandatory.

The pilot homes across the country are now almost complete. Two thirds of the Stewart Milne homes have been built, with work starting on phase three in Preston in spring 2012. Crest Nicholson is currently completing five AIMC4 homes at its Noble Park development in Epsom, Surrey, and Barratt Developments is building four AIMC4 units as part of its Meridian Park development in Corby, Northamptonshire.

Once the homes are occupied, BRE Scotland will carry out co heating tests, a 12 month monitoring programme and occupancy evaluation to assess performance levels and customer reactions. Factors such as actual energy use, heat loss, indoor air quality, comfort and control will be evaluated, with homeowners interviewed to get feedback about their experiences. The results will provide evidence to help achieve the Government targets, as well as determine which products work best to meet the demanding energy efficiency standards that confront the whole industry.

Dalgarno explains: “The exploitation plan is to find a mainstream, low-cost Code Level 4 fabric solution. After assessment by BRE Scotland, we will publish our findings, learn from the process, and be in a position where we know how to deliver consumer friendly Code Level 4 homes suitable for cost-effective volume delivery.”

Summarising the project, Dalgarno added: “This country has ambitious targets for a zero carbon future and we are keen to ensure we can meet the carbon agenda as well as build homes that consumers want to live in. AIMC4 is breaking new ground in its approach to sustainable building; it is showing a realistic way forward, and we believe that the results of the pilot schemes will inform the future of low carbon building.”

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The refurbishment of a building provides a valuable opportunity to improve environmental performance and reduce energy use and other costs. Refurbishment also has a vital role to play in helping the UK to meet its commitment to an 80% cut in carbon emissions by 2050, because most current buildings will still be in existence at that time.

The latest in the BREEAM family of environmental rating schemes are being developed to help building owners, managers and occupiers to carry out higher quality and more sustainable refurbishments.

By Gavin Summerson, Head of Domestic Refurbishment, BREEAM

Reaping The Sustainability Benefits Of Refurbishment

Much of the UK’s building stock needs to be improved and made more energy efficient. Two new BREEAM Refurbishment schemes aim to help deliver higher quality and more sustainable refurbishment projects, measure the improved sustainability of refurbished buildings and give recognition to those achieving high environmental standards.

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BREEAM is an environmental rating system – the most widely used of its kind in the world – which independently assesses the sustainability of buildings. The new BREEAM Refurbishment schemes will measure the impact on sustainability of a refurbishment project, and help to ensure that the most effective methods and technologies are used. They will guide refurbishment designs by identifying the sustainability issues that should be taken into account in the areas of energy, water, waste, materials, management, pollution and innovation.

The new schemes will support initiatives such as the Green Deal and others that help to reduce fuel poverty, mitigate risks from flooding, fire and security, and enhance the health and wellbeing of building users. It will also help developers, designers and – in future – Green Deal advisors to demonstrate their environmental credentials. Certification to the scheme will provide a market-focused label for domestic and non-domestic buildings that have had more sustainable and higher quality refurbishments.

Two BREEAM Refurbishment schemes are being developed. One is for housing – BREEAM Domestic Refurbishment – and is due to be launched in June this year. The other – BREEAM Non-Domestic Refurbishment – is for commercial, public sector, industrial, etc buildings, and is at an earlier but key stage of development. It is a dedicated version of BREEAM for non-domestic buildings that builds on BREEAM’s current application to refurbishment.

BREEAM Non-Domestic Refurbishment The development of the BREEAM Non-Domestic Refurbishment scheme will soon be entering an intense period of trialling and consultation. This follows a customer feedback study of assessors and clients for more than 60 refurbishment projects certified in

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2010/2011 – including buildings such as Darwin House in London, which achieved BREEAM ‘Excellent’, and the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester which achieved ‘Very Good’.

Preparations are now underway for a major programme of pilot schemes involving a wide range of projects, from full refurbishments of large buildings to the fitting out of much smaller structures. The study will include several different building types – office, retail, healthcare, school and others – located throughout the country. Preliminary meetings with participating organisations, such as British Land whose portfolio includes a number of central London offices, are being held and work on the pilot projects is due to start in July this year.

In addition to the pilot projects there will be a wide ranging, open consultation, also due to start in July. All of those with an interest in the scheme will be able to comment on its principles and key aspects, the way it will work and any changes that are being made. ”The aim is to give everyone a chance to have their say and to help shape the scheme,” says Gavin Summerson of BRE Global, which develops and manages the BREEAM schemes. ”The scheme document resulting from this exercise and incorporating the lessons learned in the pilot projects will then go out for extensive peer review.”

BREEAM Non-Domestic Refurbishment will measure a building’s environmental performance before and after refurbishment – as will BREEAM Domestic Refurbishment – in order to assess the impact of the project on sustainability. In the process, opportunities for cost effectively improving sustainability as part of the project will be highlighted. ”One area in which this version will differ from the Domestic scheme,” says Summerson, ”is that we will be linking Non-Domestic with BREEAM In-Use (there is no BREEAM In-Use scheme for housing) so the refurbishment assessment will also look at the performance of the building asset – how the building is being managed and how those issues can be improved.”

The detailed mechanisms for this are still being finalised. ”We may, for example, give a project credit for having a building management assessment carried out through BREEAM In-Use, which identifies potential improvements in the building’s management,” says Summerson. ”The project will achieve a higher rating score if these issues are then addressed in the refurbishment. ”We could also look at the impact that the refurbishment has on the building’s value – there are increasing indications that more sustainable buildings have an enhanced market value. We believe that BREEAM NonDomestic Refurbishment will be able to help provide detailed evidence of this.”

BREEAM Domestic Refurbishment BREEAM Domestic Refurbishment has now completed its peer review process and the assessment manual |108| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

for the new scheme is due to be published on the BREEAM website on 11 June. The scheme will be live for registration on 2 July.

The scheme will be used to cost-effectively improve a range of projects such as: • Making various alterations to a home – for example, replacing windows and fitting new insulation • Conversions and change of use projects, such as converting a large dwelling into smaller ones, or an old hospital into housing • Refurbishment and regeneration schemes covering large numbers of homes.

Certification of a refurbishment project will be provided by a fully trained and competent person who is either a: BREEAM Domestic Refurbishment Assessor – who can independently assess a refurbishment project of any size at design and post-refurbishment stages, or a BREEAM Domestic Refurbishment Professional – who can issue a self-declaration certificate to a small-scale refurbishment project (only at the post-refurbishment stage) that they have been involved with, following a similar approach to the Domestic Energy Assessor model.

Anyone wanting to qualify as a BREEAM Domestic Refurbishment Assessor can attend a training course – details of which can be found at www.breeam. org/events. Information on the training courses for BREEAM Domestic Refurbishment Professionals will be announced in due course.

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TIMBER Page 112 - 115 2013 EU Timber Directive, John White, Head of Timber Trade Federation

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The EUTR – a chance to grow the timber market

By John White, Chief Executive of Timber Trade Federation

The European Timber Regulation (EUTR), due to come into force in March 2013, is a positive step toward eradicating the trade in illegal timber in the EU and a great opportunity for the timber sector to increase its market share.

However, with less than a year to go – and still a lot of confusion in both supply and demand sides of the market - this opportunity could soon become a major threat for those who have failed to get their house in order, affecting supply and demand sides of the market.

Given the long lead times on certain timber products, it is essential that all involved put systems in place now to guarantee compliance as even products ordered before March 2013 could potentially be caught by the regulation if they are delivered after that date.

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Here the law differentiates between ‘first placers’ (or operators in legal jargon) and traders.

First placers on the EU market must keep a record of the supplier, the product species, where it comes from and the amount bought. They must also assess the risk that their products may have come from an illegal source and take action to mitigate that risk. This is known as due diligence and, like all due diligence, it must happen before the product is purchased. It has to be undertaken even if the product is certified by FSC, PEFC or other certification body.

In determining the level of risk, operators must use credible sources of information about the country of origin, the supplier, the product and any other sources of information. No orders should be placed for a product until this process has been completed and any necessary

measures to minimise risk from the product have been taken. This process should also record what actions are being taken to reduce the risk going forward.

Traders are simply required to keep records showing from whom products were bought and to whom they were sold. These records must be kept for five years.

If you are buying product that is already in the EU and on which due diligence has already taken place you still need to keep records showing from whom you bought the product from and to whom you sold it, regardless of its risk status.

The Timber Trade Federation also recommends that an independent auditor assesses what you have done and how you have done it to provide third-party credibility.

All of these moves are designed to increase transparency and traceability of products through the supply chain.

It forces companies, for example, to keep records demonstrating that they have complied with forestry legislation in countries of origin and that local laws governing timber harvesting have been obeyed.

While this process may seem straightforward, developing your own tools and providing credible evidence is never that easy. For this reason, the Timber Trade Federation has developed its own due diligence system, the Responsible Purchasing Policy (RPP) to help its member companies prepare for the EUTR. The TTF provides this as a free, yet compulsory, benefit of membership and its standards go above and beyond the requirements of the EUTR. The TTF provides technical expertise and guidance to support those wishing to implement the RPP as well as advice and support to procurement teams from the demand side.

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This is no green-washing exercise. Those companies which do not implement the RPP or equivalent are expelled from membership – not an easy choice for an organisation whose sole income is from membership fees. As the TTF is the largest and leading organisation representing the timber and wood products supply chain, covering approximately 85% of the timber traded in the UK, its RPP has helped ensure that the vast majority of the timber in the UK is from legal and sustainable sources.

It is important to note that certified timber is not automatically recognised as being legally harvested for EUTR purposes. The RPP is complementary to certification schemes such as PEFC and FSC, even though the certification of these products means they already count as generally low-risk.

From the buy-side, the RPP logo on suppliers’ literature, or proof that they are a member of the Timber Trade Federation, acts as a form of assurance that the products are from legal sources and that due diligence has been conducted.

We believe the incoming EUTR and the tools and processes it requires will go some way to providing even greater transparency and traceability that the procurement side needs to buy with confidence and specify more wood in their projects.

And, as demand for more legal, sustainably grown timber grows, so too will the supply of legal, sustainably grown forest cover, with all the carbon capturing and biodiversity benefits that brings.

ENERGY Page 118 - 122 All Energy Show Preview Page 124 - 125 Environmental Challenges, Patrick Sheehan, Partner, Environmental Technologies Fund Page 126 - 127 Green Deal, Bob Shire, Director, Heatkeeper Page 128 - 129 Policy Clarity for Microgeneration, David Sowden, Chair, Microgeneration Council

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ALL-ENERGY 2012: READY TO WELCOME YOU All-Energy, the UK’s largest renewable energy exhibition and conference, being held in Aberdeen (Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre: Wednesday-Thursday 23-24 May 2012) is set to be a true milestone event with world-class speakers in the conference, helpful sector trails around the show and important new zoned feature areas; country specialists from 14 nations on hand for one-to-one meetings; and acting as ‘home’ to one of The Crown Estate’s “UK offshore wind supply chain seminars”. Entry to all elements of All-Energy 2012 – exhibition, conference and Giant Networking Evening is free of charge to all with a business/professional interest in renewable/sustainable energy, energy efficiency and energy management.

“Visitor registrations are coming in thick and fast. We are well ahead as far as numbers go on this time last year, and looking down the list of registrants is like looking at a ‘Who’s Who’ of renewables – it’s no wonder that the show has been dubbed the AGM of the renewables world,” says Event Manager, Jamie Thompson of Reed Exhibitions.

“In May 2011 we attracted some 8,000 people from 50+ countries and 580 exhibitors. The surge in renewable energy globally continues apace, and our exhibitors in our major exhibition come from nearly 20 countries this year.

Our exhibitor list grows on a daily basis, with its growth keeping in line with our online visitor registrations. We are looking forward to a highly successful show in late May.” All-Energy 2012 introduces some exciting new features as well as tried and tested favourites. There are three new zones within the show: Offshore Maintenance – where offshore wind meets oil and gas; Smart Energy (the All-Energy take on energy efficiency, energy management, micro- and onsite generation); and the Low Carbon Vehicle area powered excitingly by ITM Power’s HFuel Here refuelling system, meaning that hydrogen cars can show off their prowess. The Offshore Maintenance and Smart Energy zones feature seminar areas as well as clustered exhibitors.

“Is there an organisation anywhere – big or small, public or private, that would not benefit from advice on energy usage, management |118| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

and generation?” asks Jamie Thompson. “Our Smart Energy Zone will gather together a full complement of experts to help all types of business and organisation determine the route they should be taking both by means of one-to-one meetings and presentations in the Seminar area.”

Once again UKTI (UK Trade and Investment) provides an added dimension to All-Energy, with the opportunity for visitors and exhibitors alike to meet with specialists from Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Portugal, Spain, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and the USA. Eleven sector specific trails are designed to help visitors around the show, and ensure that exhibitors see footfall on their stand from relevant buyers/ visitors. These encompass bioenergy, investment, jobs, low carbon transport, offshore maintenance, offshore wind, onshore wind, renewable heat, smart energy, solar energy, and wave and tidal.

Highly relevant and topical conference The conference programme is online at www.allenergy.co.uk. The opening plenary session features input from both Westminster and Holyrood with Energy Minister Charles Hendry MP and Fergus Ewing MSP, Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism speaking,

as well as HSE Board Member, David Gartside as a reminder that safety within the rapidly expanding industry is of paramount importance. Key players from industry will also take part.

In addition to the plenary session, there are worldclass speakers taking part in virtually every session and stream of the conference – The Crown Estate’s new Head of Offshore Wind, Huub den Rooijen; biofuel expert Professor Martin Tangney; Graham Cooley of ITM Power; representatives of virtually every wave or tidal device currently being developed; senior representatives of Gamesa Wind UK, Iberdrola, Alstom; EDP Renewables UK, and EDP Inovacao, and many, many more. “It is truly amazing to think of such a line-up all under one roof,” says Jamie Thompson.

Conference day-by-day Following the plenary session the conference breaks into parallel streams with sessions on Day 1 devoted to offshore wind (three of the ten sessions in all); renewable energy growth in China and the Far East – what this means for UK; microgeneration and onsite renewables – the way forward; a session especially for the farming community; Marine Scotland’s take on promoting offshore renewable development in Scotland; the first three wave and tidal sessions (there are seven in all); hydrogen and fuel cells; sustainable transport; power storage; hydropower; carbon capture and storage; the grid; demystifying EMR and other government initiatives; nuclear business opportunities; and islands and ‘energy islands’.

Day 2 is just as packed as the first day, with four more wave and tidal sessions; offshore renewables – on the shoulders of giants: building on the experience from the wider energy sector; industry perspectives on financing; frameworks for support; renewables for communities - in two sessions, and also a look at the International Year of the Co-operative and co-operatives and renewables; IPA’s ‘Changing the power landscape of Scotland’; two sessions devoted to onshore wind; two to improving public perception; and two looking at biomass and biofuels.

Then there are sessions on Scotland’s initiatives; district heating; nanotechnology and its role in power storage; geothermal; and a very busy offshore wind day, with four more sessions and the accolade of a double session for the ‘UK offshore wind supply chain seminar’ organised

by The Crown Estate, Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Further offshore wind sessions will be held in the Offshore Maintenance area on the exhibition floor (held in association with RenewableUK and AREG); and similarly the exhibition floor seminar area in the Smart Energy Zone – held in association with the Renewable Energy Association - is where energy efficiency, case histories and presentations on every form of microrenewable, and energy management will come under the spotlight.

Wednesday night sees the networking event of the show take place – the Giant Networking Evening, which does exactly ‘what it says on the tin’. With an element of fun, it encourages people to network during the Welcome Reception, staged by Aberdeen City Council, and enjoy each other’s company over ‘bowl food’ and fairground style attractions throughout the evening – many a deal has been cemented there, or new project born.

There are also side events being held the day before AllEnergy opens organised by RenewableUK (with a wave and tidal flavour); the Energy Generation and Supply Knowledge Transfer Network (who are organising a seminar on the transfer of skills and technical knowledge from oil and gas to the renewables sector); NOF Energy on nuclear new build and the resulting business opportunities; the ever-popular RenewableUK Connect networking evening; and, on the morning of the show, the traditional Renewable Energy Business Breakfast organised by Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce.

Just the tip of the iceberg The All-Energy website contains “What They’re Showing” preview information from a growing number of exhibitors – we give details of just a few of them. Just go online to read more about: • AGR Seabed Intervention will be introducing the renewables and O & G communities to the all-new E-Vator seabed excavation tool. There will be posters and specifications of the new system for all to review. The actual equipment is currently in production and delivery due at the AGR facilities in August-September 2012.

• Altair Engineering’s HyperWorks offers best-in-class modelling, analysis, visualisation and data management solutions for linear, nonlinear, structural optimisation, fluid-structure interaction, and multi-body dynamics applications, enabling engineers to design components and structures most efficiently and effectively.

• Andritz Hydro Hammerfest (formerly Hammerfest Strøm) installed the 1000kW tidal device, HS1000, at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in late December 2011. This is being tested in order to bring on the experiences in the development of a ”world first” commercial tidal power array in the Sound of Islay.

• Arbuthnott Wood Pellets Ltd provides local manufacturing; indeed they were the first company to manufacture wood pellets in Scotland. Theirs is a family business that can compete with the corporate. Wood pellets are used by public and private companies, and in private homes. They will be offering advice on setting up a pellet stove/boiler and on cost comparisons with other fuels.

• Atmos Consulting will be launching its newly developed GIS data modelling tools. Of particular interest is their ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE |119|

brand new Cumulative Visibility Modelling (CVM) Tool.

The CVM tool enables automated mapping of the intensity of cumulative onshore wind farm visibility. The first of its kind, this tool will be an essential aid to onshore wind development going forward.

• Batt Cables plc is now stocking the new N2XH-J 0,6/1kV DIN VDE 0276-604 energy cable. A halogen free and flame retardant power cable suitable for fixed installation in dry, damp and wet rooms, underneath brickwork and concrete. The N2XH-J can be laid outside, but not in water or directly in ground. Local branches can provide information on the newly launched cable, which is ideal for solar.

• CgMs Consulting will be outlining their renewable energy related heritage and planning consultancy services. Heritage has become an increasingly problematic planning issue facing renewable energy developers with an increasing number of schemes being refused planning permission due to impacts on heritage assets.

• DMC Technology (Scotland) Ltd All businesses need some form of management or accounting system. With SmartBase you get a flavour of both worlds in the one package. SmartBase is effectively a database engine that can be customised for many industry’s needs.

• Dmi Precision Engineering Limited will highlight their new Mazak integrex 300IV ST twin spindle mill/turn, their new CNC Aximo CMM inspection machine, and their new Supply Point tooling management machine, as well as a range of their manufactured components.

• EA Technology provides expert power electrical engineering consulting services for grid

connection, technical documentation, policy creation, technology testing, energy storage, training services, supplier audits, and technical specification creation. They have over 40 years experience in the electricity industry and a worldwide reputation for excellence and innovation.

In addition to featuring these consultancy services they will also be highlighting their ability in lightning protection, earthing studies, forensics, and cable testing.

• Eclectic Energy will feature the StealthGen building mount micro wind turbine and grid tie system. The StealthGen is one of the quietest and most efficient wind generators at its size currently available, and of interest to local authorities, builders, architects, householders etc. They will also be showing the D400 wind generator which is used by householders, boat owners, farmers etc.

• Eclipse Magnetics Ltd will focus on their Magnetic Filtration Products – Micromag, Filtramag, Automag, and Boilermag. These are high intensity magnetics filters for improving efficiency in manufacturing and commercial heating systems. Their environmental benefits include: no disposable items, reduced landfill, recycled ferrous content, improved heating efficiency, longer lasting fluids.

Also no running costs.

• Energy Technologies Institute will feature updated information on ETI projects across offshore wind, marine energy, distributed energy, buildings efficiency, energy storage and distribution, carbon capture and storage, transport and bio energy. Exhibits will include a scale model of the ETI's 11kV wetmate connector that could help reduce costs of energy for the marine industry, and demonstration of the UK's CCS storage capacity database.

• Ensinger Ltd is introducing a line of PEEK tubes. Available in standard and custom materials, ranging in ODs from 1.25" to 6.6". Standard products include 450G-unfilled 450GL30-30% GF TECAP, EEK LSP-30% GF for reduced springing.

For higher performance needs, they also have the PEEK HT, ST, Carbon filled T-series (PEEK/

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Celazole Blend) plus other and custom compounds.

• Environmental Technologies Ltd will feature a range of long life biodegradable lubricants and fluids for use by clean power generators. These are hydraulic fluids with an operational service life in excess of ten years without an oil change, gear oils with an established track record in very arduous applications, and an oil condition monitoring service to ensure maximum reliability and value for money.

• FenderCare Marine Limited: Following the successful launch of their dedicated marine energy base, Fendercare Lyness, in the Orkney Islands, they are proud to announce their follow up offering to the offshore wind industry - Fendercare Gt Yarmouth.

• Fine Energy offers a rental option for wind energy - landowners can earn rental income in return for siting one or more wind turbines on their land. Visitors can talk to the team about how they obtain planning consent, get a grid connection and ensure the project is in the hands of the right specialist. With Fine Energy, landowners get on with their business while Fine Energy gets on with theirs.

Their clients don't need to spend time and money understanding wind energy – Fine Energy takes care of it.

• FLIR Commercial Systems BV will focus on the new entry level FLIR i-Series, which they say has no equal.

No other thermal imaging cameras within this price bracket have the same level of functionality and, despite their increased capabilities, their price is the same as their forerunners.

• ……. Go online for “G” onwards!

Supporters and sponsors All-Energy is held in association with RenewableUK, Scottish Renewables, Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (AREG) and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI). The Society for Underwater Technology is its learned society patron and it is actively supported by nearly 30 government departments, development agencies, trade associations and professional bodies.

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The Crown Estate, Ernst & Young, Forestry Commission Scotland; renewablescareers.com; and RES. Further information on all aspects of All-Energy 2012, and free online registrations is at www.all-energy.co.uk and available from ae.helpline@reedexpo.co.uk Tel: +44 (0)20 8271 2179.

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Big impact needs real innovation, not just real subsidies

By Patrick Sheehan, Partner, Environmental Technologies Fund Since the industrial revolution, we have taken some things for granted.

We have assumed that natural resources are available in abundance. We have also assumed that cheap power will be available, reliably. Finally we have, by and large, assumed that the planet can cope with anything we do.

Today, we live in a different world. All three of these assumptions are beginning to be tested and could turn out to be unsafe, or even simply wrong. As consumer societies grow in Asia and Latin America at a scale that looks set to dwarf Europe, it looks likely that they will be tested to the full.

The cost of fuel is rising up the political agenda, and fuel poverty is becoming a real concern. Subsidising fuel for the needy is a sensible response. However, as fuel prices are forecast to continue to rise, such programs could well become untenable. In Europe, governments are keen to promote renewable energy generation and have implemented a range of initiatives to subsidize such generation. Here again, long term subsidy is unlikely to be a viable option. Indeed, governments have already announced cuts in solar feed-in tariffs.

One response to the collective challenge has been to suggest that society accepts higher costs and, in effect, a lower standard of living. This is both defeatist and at the same time oddly optimist – optimistic that the public will ever accept this reality, and defeatist in denying the power of innovation.

The solution lies, as it did at the time of the industrial revolution, in creating and adopting new technologies.

This is already happening in some industries. Over the past decade the renewables industry (mainly wind and solar) has grown enormously. The automotive industry is also now on the cusp of radical change as it experiments

with the electrification of transport. The pressures forcing change have not relented and many other industries are likely to see similar radical changes in the decade ahead.

My core message is this. Technological innovation provides the only practical and sustainable way for society to continue to prosper. We should plan for large-scale change across many industries, not just the power generation industry. We will be far better off if we embrace change, rather than fight it.

Action is required on a large scale.

In the UK, the government recognises much of this, and has responded imaginatively with the creation of The Green Investment Bank. Creative and impressive as it is, it is still only a good first step. In practise it is quite focussed on the very large capital requirements of renewable energy generation. Already, even before it is operational, commentators are keen to point out that it has ‘only £3billion’ of capital and that this is a small fraction of the money required to fund a large-scale shift to offshore wind. Clearly though, the government is no longer made of money. So what else can be done?

Today’s orthodoxy is not the only approach.

The energy generation industry does need to incorporate renewables, and it is big infrastructure that will require a lot of capital, however done. In business though, normally, no one would roll out an expensive and loss making product. They would instead develop the product to the point where it was sufficiently profitable before they rolled it out. So, the question is whether financial support from government, taxpayers and energy consumers is being used as effectively as it could be when it is subsidizing the deployment of today’s technology. An alternative would be to put more emphasis on the development of newer and more cost effective technologies.

In essence, “are we getting the best bang for the buck?”

Given the extent of the bucks, this should be an urgent question.

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We could get a far bigger ‘bang for the buck’ by diverting some cash from subsidies into the commercialisation of innovative new technologies.

You may think that I am biased. After all, I am a partner at a firm called the Environmental Technologies Fund. I am not, though, arguing the case because I work at this firm. Rather, I took a career risk in founding this group in 2006 with my partners precisely because we believed we could create a big impact through carefully funding innovation and growth of important new technologies.

When we started we had to think carefully about how we measured impact. Traditionally, consultants would measure the carbon footprint of established companies or the percentage of renewable energy used. We needed to think about the potential future environmental impact of new technologies. Rather than take you though the methodology, I would like to give two examples of highimpact innovations, developed by our portfolio companies •

Kebony - converts softwood (e.g. pine or beech) into something very similar to tropical hardwood (like teak or mahogany), using an inexpensive patented process. It is providing a cost-efficient alternative to tropical hardwood, which clearly has huge environmental benefits.

•

Metalysis - refines metals using a revolutionary new process. It uses a fraction of the energy consumed in traditional metal refining and no hazardous chemicals.

Its process also makes metals like titanium far cheaper and therefore more widely used, enabling many other energy-saving innovations.

The potential environmental benefits of these technologies are very large indeed. As important, once fully commercialised, these technologies are significantly cheaper than alternatives and so will replace the incumbent ‘dirty’ technologies for simple economic reasons. The investment required to enable the environmental benefits is therefore capped and no ongoing subsidies are required. The potential ‘bang for the buck’ is therefore much larger. In fact, according to our calculations, it is over one hundred times as great.

We should remember that ‘the environment’ and ‘energy’ are not synonymous.

If you look at our website, you will see that the companies we support operate in a wide range of sectors, from metal refining to software. For us, ‘environmental’ describes impact, not an industry sector.

Other industries may not lobby as effectively as the energy sector – indeed they may not be lobbying at all and may even be happy to keep their heads down. However, many industries are fortunately far more capital efficient than the energy sector, and so can adapt at far lower cost. The individual young companies I have mentioned both illustrate this.

Legislation, used carefully, can be used to stimulate innovation.

In a number of industrial sectors it is also possible to use legislation, rather than subsidy, to promote change.

Legislation has the huge advantage, to the government and taxpayer, of being free. National legislation is often viewed by business as a potential obstacle to international competitiveness. However, certain types of legislation can aid competitiveness in the medium and longer term – specifically legislation that acts so as to promote, or even force, innovation. Examples include energy efficiency requirements for new buildings and anti-pollution requirements in the car industry – each stimulating innovation and international competitiveness.

So, government could give more thought to the more strategic use of legislation of products and markets to promote green innovation. Clearly this should focus on areas where environmental benefits are clear. Equally clearly, care would need to be taken not to impose short term costs that are unaffordable, or that do not result in significant longer term competitive advantage. Any legislation should be implemented in such a way as to promote the rise of new industries, particularly industries that can then export their superior technologies to the rest of the world.

Not a one trick pony.

Fundamentally then, while I believe that we face pressing environmental problems, and we need to address them boldly, we can also face them with confidence. But we should not frame our actions simply in terms of funding a transition to renewable energy. While we do need to make this happen, it should be part of a wider plan, not the sole plan. The wider plan is about innovating across many sectors to create a resource efficient economy.

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Is the Green Deal such a great deal?

By Bob Shire; Director at HEATKEEPER The Green Deal is almost upon us and, as expected, the media is busy with debate and commentary on what it will mean for the economy, the environment and, more importantly, the general public.

As someone with a commercial and genuine personal interest in energy efficiency and sustainability, I have as yet failed to find a definitive answer to the most basic of questions: ‘how will it benefit me?’

At the heart of the Deal is the pursuit to improve the sustainability credentials of the UK by providing its housing stock with a much-needed overhaul.

From insulation to energy generation, the Deal aims to provide finance measures over a longterm period that have an immediate short-term benefit and deliver energy savings that exceed the cost of the loan. A fantastic idea, in principle, however much of the coverage tends to focus on the less affordable, large-scale investments such as solar panel installations. For the majority of people such heavy investments are daunting and difficult to conceive – quite frankly they are out of many people’s league.

So what is the alternative, and how can we still save energy, money and the planet? Greg Barker, the Minister for Energy and Climate Change, recently highlighted that the UK building stock was responsible for 43 per cent of total UK emissions in 2009. That is a significant number and one that is driving the apparent uncertainty around The Green Deal. After all, is The Green Deal really able to reduce this figure?

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Unemployment continues to rise, the increase in the cost of living continues to exceed growth in average pay and the amount of money that people comfortably will invest in longer-term projects is being squeezed. So, whilst the Deal’s aim to provide financial savings equal to or greater than the costs attached to the energy bill work in principle, taking on a solar panel installation at £10,000 may be a step too far – even if the financial obligation lies with the property and not an individual. Not only that but

the more The Green Deal becomes associated with highinvestment solutions, the more disengaged people will become when it comes to green measures.

Even now, on the eve of the launch, Barker still uses language that is more exclusive than inclusive when he talks about how around six million households do not have double glazing in all their windows and that there are still 16.4 million non-condensing boilers in the UK. Yes, these are measures that should be a standard feature in any modern day household; however they are expensive at best and for some, downright unaffordable.

I believe that more needs to be done to educate the general public about the accessible and low-cost investments that can have a dramatic impact on the energy usage of an average home. Retailers, merchants, energy providers and government all have a responsibility to make clear to people that energy efficiency is not reserved exclusively to those who are willing to sign longterm contracts under The Green Deal. Nor does it have to be expensive.

Saving money through reducing energy usage is readily available to those on modest incomes and who don’t want to spend vast sums of money on generating a return.

As a producer of HEATKEEPER energy saving radiator panels, we work hard to communicate how our product can deliver a 20% reduction in energy bills with a payback period of less than a single heating season. And we are not alone. There are many producers and products that provide low-cost and sustainable solutions and that have the power to engage the population at every level of the sustainability ladder.

Much has changed since the days when energy efficient light bulbs were the main feature of the energy-saving debate. Whilst they undoubtedly play a key role in energy efficiency, they are the ‘entry point’ and represent just one in a huge armoury of products that are inexpensive yet can contribute to significant savings.

I am sure most people are now convinced about the economic, environmental and social benefits associated with energy reduction.

Equally certain is the setback of the economic recession and its aftermath since 2008. Up until that point, there was a greater appetite for green measures – even if they were more expensive and had payback periods in excess of 25 years.

Currently however the financial pressures of day-to-day living are the priority. If sustainability is to establish its pre-recession levels of interest then it needs to be inclusive, accessible and affordable. Whilst The Green Deal sets out to bring sustainability to the top of the agenda once again, there is a risk of it being more of a turn-off if it comes across solely as an initiative for the wealthy.

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Policy clarity for microgeneration: will market growth be swift or steady? By David Sowden, CEO of MicroPower Council This year promised much for the microgeneration sector, with a number of key policies on the horizon including the domestic Renewable Heat Incentive and the Green Deal.

Both of these policies brought new possibilities for the expansion of the domestic, low carbon energy sector.

However, in the early months of 2012, the Feed in Tariff scheme has been under the most scrutiny in the Media.

The scheme was delivering mass consumer interest in Solar PV, with thousands of installations peppered across the country by the end of last year. So far, however, much of the detail relating to these policies is yet to be defined and investors are still attempting to predict what lays in wait for 2012. In particular, the ongoing Feed in Tariff’s legal battle between Government and some key industry stakeholders spilt over into early 2012. The sector was kept on the edge of its seat as the tragicomedy of policy errors was played out in the glare of the media spotlight.

Ultimately, the Government’s appeal against the High Court ruling regarding the changes proposed in the Phase 1 Consultation was rejected. Unfortunately, this did not put an end to the saga: the Government is still pursuing its appeal, but this time in the Supreme Court.

This leaves the PV industry and its customers second guessing the outcome and sales had to proceed on the basis of a minimum 21p domestic tariff up until 3rd March 2012.

DECC chose Thursday 9th February 2012 to publish the response to Phase One of the Feed-in Tariff Consultation, alongside both parts of the Phase Two Consultation. This was perhaps DECC’s attempt to draw a line under the drama and speculation surrounding FiTs in the early part of the year. However, the announcement proved to be a mixed bag for many in the low carbon energy sector.

Since then, the industry has been left to digest the many facets of not just one, but two, consultation documents: 2A which covers tariffs and degression policy for Solar PV from 1st July 2012 and 2B which covers non-solar PV technologies and wider scheme rules. |128| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

It is apparent in these consultation documents that Government’s intentions are set to reign in tariffs at a fairly steep rate in most cases. Government also appears to have accepted that no degression mechanism will be capable of concurrently balancing a wide range of complex variables to achieve a specific ‘target’ rate of return in all cases. It will only be possible to keep a firm grasp on costs by linking tariff degression directly to uptake volumes, indirectly achieving a range of workable rates of return. Industry has been anxious to ensure that mechanisms are in place to enable tariff adjustment should it become apparent that the belt has been drawn too tight and a particular technology or market segment is turning somewhat blue in the face. Government has assured the industry that this will be the purpose of the scheme reviews. Micro CHP is the one technology where an increase in the tariff level has already been envisaged this time around, with 12.5p due to enter into effect from October 2012. This was in recognition of the fact that the rates of return that were being achieved were dropping far below the target, resulting in sluggish uptake in a technology that should already be offering a viable and accessible low carbon alternative to the conventional gas boiler.

Micro CHP has also been something of a case apart in terms of energy efficiency requirements. Industry has been mildly disappointed by the decision to use the level of energy performance on the Energy Performance Certificate to determine eligibility for the Feed-in Tariff, inevitably making adoption of on-site electricity generation most costly for those properties in greatest need of energy performance improvement. This said, Level D will make the Feed-in Tariff far more accessible than it would have been using Level C as the key criterion. However, for micro CHP the stakes are even

higher: with the conventional gas boiler as its arch rival, requiring energy efficiency improvements in order to receive a Feed-in Tariff for all technologies would have left the nascent micro CHP sector fighting an uphill battle. Why would a customer choose micro CHP if they could opt for the traditional alternative, avoid paying out for energy efficiency improvements and postpone clearing out the loft for another few years?

These documents take in hand a plethora of other aspects of the Feed-in Tariff scheme. Government is clearly open minded to debate around the true value of exported electricity, stating that export tariffs at 3.1p/kWh may not be reflecting the true value of exported electricity which has been modelled at between 2.9 and 5.7p/kWh. Increasing the export tariff, could be a viable option for all FiT eligible technologies at a time when the budget is under pressure and some technologies will struggle to make the needed cost reductions in the time available.

Another key question is whether tariffs should move from index linked to nominal rates. Whilst there are opinions for and against tariff indexation, there is no arguing the fact that it matters to the customer. The absence of indexation is likely to deter the customer, rightly or wrongly, and ultimately this is the only audience whose opinion really counts. Assuming that, on balance, it may make sense for indexation to remain in place, a shift to the CPI (as opposed to the RPI) index would help bolster consumer confidence whilst saving Government some much-needed pennies.

Government has already stated its intention to introduce a tariff at 80% of the standard tariff for generators or nominated recipients already receiving Feed-in Tariffs for more than 25 PV installations from 1st April 2012. Additionally, Consultation 2b proposes to differentiate between ‘community’ and ‘commercial’ multi installations, allowing just community multi installations to continue receiving the 80% tariff rate beyond October 2012. The Government’s response to the current consultation and the eventual definition of a ‘community’ scheme could dramatically alter the shape of future business models in the private and social housing

sectors. Charities, housing associations and others are currently waiting with baited breath, to see whether future projects will remain viable. This could potentially mean that the success of rent-a-roof schemes will be curtailed due to tariffs as low as 4.5p/kWh rendering such initiatives unprofitable.

In the meantime, those with an interest in domestic renewable heat wait to ascertain whether 2012 will be the year during which the domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) will transform the market for technologies such as solar thermal and air source heat pumps. The soon-toclose Renewable Heat Premium Payment (RHPP) scheme is set to finish well below budget, with Government rules preventing remaining funds from being transferred over into the new financial year. This is a source of considerable frustration for many in the industry as many customers have been unforthcoming to take up these incentives. Perhaps this could be partly attributed to a lack of information about the rules governing eligibility and eventual tariff levels. Even less is known about how the domestic RHI will interact with – or indeed whether it will even be available alongside – the upcoming Green Deal. It would indeed be ironic if, just as tariffs became available to enable technologies such as air source heat pumps to genuinely compete with the traditional alternative, the new mechanism designed to provide access to upfront capital were to effectively rule them out by excluding those householders in receipt of the RHI. To conclude, industry has had its tolerance tested by the long-lasting period of uncertainty and confusion, market shocks and seemingly infinite consultations. The FIT was implemented in haste and policy legacy issues have plagued the industry ever since, with damaging bubbles of demand being burst by rapid tariff cuts and jobs lost.

If the FIT can be compared to the hare, then perhaps the RHI and the Green Deal are the tortoises making their way slowly but purposefully behind. Indeed, well thought through and sustainable policies to support the microgeneration sector are crucial to the success and longevity of the industry. After all, of the hare and the tortoise, who won the race?

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LAND MANAGEMENT /DEVELOPMENT Page 132 - 133 Page 133 - 134

Defra’s Revised Part 2a Statutory Guidance, Simon Firth, Director, Firth Consultants Auditing Scheme for Land Condition, Phil Crowcroft, Chairman, SILC

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Defra’s Revised Part 2A Statutory Guidance

By Simon Firth; Director of Firth Consultants Ltd and Chair of Environmental Industries Commission Defra’s revised Part 2A Statutory Guidance finally came into effect on 6th April 2012, more than 2 years after Defra announced its plans to review the contaminated land regime. The road to completion has been long and arduous and whilst Defra has had much support along the way, the revision process has not been without its sceptics.

Defra embarked on the revision process after highlighting various flaws in the original Statutory Guidance which, they argued, had hampered its implementation. A major flaw was that the guidance did not adequately explain what was meant by “contaminated land”. This had led, in some instances, to the determination of sites with low levels of contamination, where the dis-benefits of intervention had far outweighed the likely benefits.

The lack of clarity in the guidance had also led to an unnecessarily lengthy assessment process at many sites, with homeowners being held in a state of uncertainty and stress before the decision was made to either declare the land as not contaminated or embarking on remediation to mitigate the risks. In short, too much time and resources were being spent investigating sites that were not ultimately determined as contaminated land, leaving too little for remediating sites where the risks were clearly unacceptable.

Defra has worked hard to produce a revised guidance that seeks to resolve these failings. The new guidance is significantly shorter than its predecessor (74

as opposed to 189 pages) with much of the repetition and unnecessary jargon cut out. It is straightforward and to the point and ensures that the key principles of the regime are not lost in the detail. It clarifies that the Part 2A regime should be used as a last resort for addressing land contamination and that the starting point under Part 2A should be that land is not contaminated unless there is reason to consider otherwise.

But most importantly, the technical basis of how risks are evaluated has been improved in the revised guidance. In the old guidance, land was either deemed contaminated land or it was not. For human health, the boundary between the two was based on whether or not there was significant harm or significant possibility of significant harm (SPOSH). Invariably, it was the latter that was the deciding factor and this was based on whether there would be “unacceptable intake” from one or more pollutants. The old guidance did not detail what was meant by unacceptable intake leading to confusion and multiple interpretations of the guidance and ultimately its downfall.

The revised guidance gets away from this black and white view of contaminated land and instead makes use of a four category system. Category 1 applies to land where the risks are so high that the decision to determine as contaminated land is relatively clearcut. The assessment process at these sites should be relatively quick allowing the risks to be managed as quickly as possible. Category 4 land lies at the opposite end of the spectrum. The risks arising from these sites are not of concern and they should not be considered for determination. The guidance gives various pointers for what type of land should be considered as Category 4, such as land with normal background concentrations of contaminants

d e t a n i m a t Con

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and land where concentrations are below SGV or other generic assessment criteria. Once sufficient data has been gathered to conclude that the land is Category 4, no further effort is warranted.

Land that was not obviously Category 1 or 4 would fall into either Category 2 or 3, with the distinction being that the risks are deemed unacceptable at Category 2 leading to determination of the land, whilst risks are not unacceptable and the land is not determined for Category 3 land. Deciding whether land falls into Category 2 or 3 will be less clear-cut than the other categories. The new guidance emphasises the need to account for uncertainties when making this decision. In some cases, there will be insufficient certainty in the results of the risk assessment alone to decide whether or not to determine. In these circumstances the guidance allows for other factors to be considered, such as the balance between costs and benefits of determining the site and the ensuing actions. This avoids the problem of determining and remediating sites that result in large negative impacts to society and the environment for questionable benefits.

The four category system focuses Part 2A resources on mitigating risks from the highest risk sites, ensuring that what little Part 2A resources remain are spent wisely. But the benefits of the revised guidance are not limited to the Part 2A regime alone. The Part 2A regime is inextricably linked with Planning. Despite the recent slash and burn of planning guidance, the new National Planning Policy Framework still contains the conditions that (in the context of land contamination) land should be safe, suitable for use and not determinable as contaminated land under the Part 2A regime. Indeed, Defra’s impact assessment predicted that the majority of monetary benefits arising from the revised guidance would come from the avoidance of unnecessary remediation at development sites. Through consultation with various industry bodies they estimated that each year some £140m to £280m worth of unnecessary remediation is carried out at development sites, largely as a result of the overly cautious practice of removing soil with contaminant concentrations in excess of SGVs or generic assessment criteria to landfill. Defra argued that the lack of clarity in the old guidance had encouraged this practice and make it clear in the new guidance that SGV or generic assessment criteria should not be used as remediation criteria under any circumstances.

Whilst the new guidance forms a better framework for making decisions on sites considered under the Part 2A or Planning regimes, its successful implementation will be reliant on forthcoming supporting guidance and tools.

Guidance on controlled waters is expected from the Environment Agency and the British Geological Survey is currently working on a project to define what is meant by normal background concentrations under the context of Part 2A. Defra has also recently announced its intentions to commission a project to derive Category 4 screening values (C4SL). Their impact assessment explains that these would be higher than the existing SGV and generic assessment criteria but would still be below the top of Category 4. They also suggest that the top of Category 4 will be the “likely de facto minimum standard chosen by developers” and hence the C4SL would be applicable to sites considered under Planning as well as Part 2A. Defra’s hope is that the C4SL will significantly reduce the amount of soil unnecessarily sent to landfill.

Many would have liked the new guidance to accurately define the boundary between Category 2 and 3 but, as Defra has discovered, this boundary is clouded by irresolvable uncertainties within the risk assessment process, and for some sites, other factors must be considered when deciding which of these two categories apply. Inevitably, there will be multiple interpretations of where the boundary should lie but it is important to recognise that the boundary will vary from one site to another depending on the risk context and other socioeconomic factors. To help ensure a consistency in approach Defra has proposed that an expert panel be formed to review Part 2A decisions.

Whilst the decision of whether or not to determine a site as contaminated land will still be difficult for many sites, with practice, the new guidance should bring increased confidence to the decision making process. Furthermore, subject to the production of supporting tools, the revised guidance should offer a better reference point for determining when remediation is warranted at planning sites and thus help towards the National Planning Policy Framework’s goal of sustainable development.

Simon Firth is an active member of the EIC’s Contaminated Land Working Group and is chair of its Part 2A subgroup. EIC works to provide the environmental technology and services (ETS) industry with a strong and effective voice with Government in the debate about how to ensure that British companies succeed in a rapidly growing world-wide market. With over 270 Members, EIC.

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Hands up time. d The land Forum an TP P LC Si of r ness t; The Chai brownfield busi

By Phil Crowcrof to being in the

th the r (and I admit ofessionals in bo I can remembe pr t as gs ng on lo as am r te Fo deba people there has been takes too long, , It s) s. ar se ye es 30 oc er pr for ov t regulatory or quality, it ate sector abou issions are of po bm su public and priv n, tio ta technical e right documen sagreement on di is e er th don’t produce th s, much ndition nservatism and the planning co co fy rtis de sa un t d n’ an es , do blic or rvatism t generically pu e is over-conse no er e th ar , s es te ch ba oa de appr ving these find themselves d the people ha ange hats, and ch d an much more. An bs jo ge time. Many ople. They chan es from time to iv ct pe rs pe private sector pe nt ffere a common tuation from di working within at th d an e, looking at the si su esses in key is mpetence is a regulatory proc co ed at re th ag e re er liv ag will people de help competent ner. framework will st-effective man co d an nt ie fic ef the most ens, and ed that this happ at ul eg R d an ator improve s of both Regul king together to st or re w te t in ar e st th d in an It is e culture, tion” is not an ay from a blam e “better regula ev hi ac n that we step aw ca e w a recognition suggestion that ed, it is merely at ul eg R or regulation. The s or at ite resources, of either Regul er more with fin liv de to s or implicit criticism at d obtain Regul better, allowing requirements an ry do n to la ca e gu w re at e th satisfy th appropriate e Regulated to cales and to an es tim e and allowing th bl ea ag sign off in man environment. their permits or health and the of n tio ec ot pr r standard fo es ate sector bodi public and priv of e ng eas of ar ra a of r ts of a numbe (which coun e m on ru as Fo is nd th La The discussing hemes such as bers) has been datory audit sc an m of e amongst its mem lu va the ried in scope, cently explored The schemes va . es at st n lia activity, and re ra escriptive of Aust me were very pr g in a number so in d at an er n, op io e at os sl th ry slim, w legi the UK being ve as a result of ne in d n te io ea at cr sl e gi le er w help new but me. This might the possibility of he ith sc W y . ar ed nt is lu al vo and form ds the idea of a assess ideas ed more towar m continues to ru Fo e th d the Forum mov an Code of tion, voluntary Waste of better regula e rm th fo of a s er es liv cc de on sites, the su t, reflecting on ntial waste soils ec te bj po su of is l th ro nt nd ve arou propriate co which would ha has ensured ap ental permits, nm ro vi Practice which en al rm application of fo but avoided the rden. ive regulatory bu been an excess

Register (SiLC) was originally The Specialist in Land Condition ns of Lord Rogers Urban created out of the recommendatio been steadily growing over Task Force Report in 1999, and has ple able to deliver good the years to deliver competent peo recognising the great range of services in the brownfield sector, rage piece of industrial land. skills needed to deal with the ave e SiLCs as not delivering a There have been criticisms of som many others have shown suitably high standard of work, but and deliver a harmonious that they can do an excellent job s work in the private sector, planning process. Whilst most SiLC lic sector professionals there is a growing number of pub h the scheme supported by who have become registered. Wit

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nine professional institutions and bodies, it is in a good position to play a substantial role in developing better regulation ideas, and has recently declared its position publicly through a letter to Government Ministers and associated press release.

The SiLC Professional and Technical Panel (PTP) decided that with the changes currently occurring in the regulatory processes which affect brownfield sites (both the Planning Framework and the new Part 2A Statutory Guidance), and the raised level of debate about better regulation, that the time was right to make a public statement about its position. Such a statement has not been intended to exclude any other bodies who can play a role in improving the regulatory experience, but rather to be one of what I hope will be a number of parties putting their hands up to support better regulation. The more ideas and approaches we can explore, the better.

SiLCs thoughts have focussed around a scheme that could comprise an auditing process for projects using previously-developed land, based on the expertise of registered SiLCs, which could offer a valuable opportunity to support sustainable development, improve the regulation process (for both regulator and regulated), save developers and contractors time and money and stimulate economic growth.

•

would meet that requirement – there will be no need to consider the additional costs and bureaucracy of a new scheme for competent persons; This proposal would lead to a reduced burden on public sector regulators who can focus limited resources on overseeing higher risk sites and other areas of legislation such as Part 2A of the EPA (1990) and allow a much lighter touch on the brownfield redevelopment process.

The partner organisations in SiLC that support the proposal put forward to Ministers are:

• The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management; • The Institution of Civil Engineers; • The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment; The benefits of such audits include: • Chartered Institution of Environmental Health; • Royal Society of Chemistry; • A simpler and more effective process to get previously • The Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland; developed land back into beneficial use - agreement • The Association of Geoenvironmental and on risk assessment and remediation can be Geotechnical Specialists; established for each project by an audit or review by an • The Geological Society. acknowledged competent person; • Lessened risk of land being developed in a way that In conclusion, SiLC, alongside many other bodies and has legal come-back in the future or impacts on organisations, have been promoting higher standards and human health; competence in the industry for 12 years, and reflect many • A reduction in the risk to developers who wish to of the values and objectives of the Professional Bodies that support the scheme. Working together with other develop brownfield sites – ‘cowboy operators’ and less organisations, public and private, it is hoped that we can experienced contractors will find it increasingly develop an audit scheme which improves the regulatory process, to the benefit of all parties involved. difficult to undertake work of an inadequate quality; • The scheme could be voluntary – developers could seek the ‘comfort’ of being audited and the de-risking of their projects – or it could be compulsory – all developments being audited so that there is a significant reduction in badly executed developments; • A Register of professionals who are suitably vetted and ‘accredited’ by a scheme supported by the key professional bodies in the sector; • The SiLC scheme has been in place for twelve years and is viable; with Government policy support for the scheme, it has the potential to manage the required level of support for an auditing scheme in the UK; • Future European Legislation – most notably a Soil Framework Directive – will require a ‘competent person’ to assess soil quality and the SiLC scheme ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE |135|

MISCELLANY Page 137 Environment Prosecutions Page 138 - 139 Wayne Terry, Head of International Developement at NQA Page 140 - 142 Accredited Certification is a Valuble Business Tool, John Murthy, UKAS Page 144 - 146 Sustainability Live Show Preview Page 147 - 154 Case Studies Page 155 - 156 Famous Last Words, Hillary Davey

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROSECUTIONS Pig farm fined 14,000GBP Z Munter (Farms) Ltd was fined £14,000 and ordered to pay £4,658 full costs after pleading guilty to polluting a stream which leads into the River Dove.

The grossly polluting pig slurry escaped from a drainage channel across a sloping yard and through holes in the bottom of a boundary wall designed to drain rainwater from the yard into the stream.

£10,000 fines for illegally storing waste Clifford Nicholls pleaded guilty at Wolverhampton Magistrates’ Court to operating a regulated waste facility without a permit between 1 April and 30 April 2011; and failing to provide copies of waste transfer notes, on 2 April 2011.

The 53-year-old was fined £10,000, and ordered to pay £2597 in costs, along with a £15 victim surcharge. Mr Nicholls was also ordered to undertake 40 hours of unpaid work as the offence had been committed during a suspended sentence from a conviction back in January 2011.

Chesterfield man in court over illegal transportation of tyres A Chesterfield man received a suspended prison sentence after illegally storing thousands of tyres and transporting some of them to Vietnam.

Andrew Revell, aged 50, of The Green, Hasland appeared at Derby Crown Court.

Revell was sentenced to a 12 month prison sentence suspended for two years on each of the five charges, ordered to do 200 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay full court costs of £9,578.75.

Boaters ordered to pay £6,587 for flouting registration and other navigation laws Five boaters caught using their vessels on the River Thames without valid registrations and one with inadequate sanitary appliances have been convicted by magistrates.

Paul Phillips of Victoria Mansions, Wilsden, London, was charged after an Environment Agency officer found the defendant’s vessel “Triton” moored against a derelict pontoon on Hurst Park below Garricks Aite without a valid licence.

Kent landfill firm fined 46,000GBP for repeatedly breaking the law Trago Mills successfully appeals against sentence Trago Mills has had its fine for dumping and burning waste at two of its out-of-town shopping stores reduced following a hearing at Exeter Crown Court.

The company appealed against a fine of £185,000 imposed by South Devon magistrates in September 2011 after pleading guilty to five offences of illegally depositing and disposing of waste at sites near Newton Abbot and Liskeard.

The Environment Agency has successfully prosecuted Kent firm, Bournewood Sand & Gravel Ltd after they repeatedly breached their landfill permit. The company was fined a total of £10,000 and ordered to pay £36,000 in costs.

Environment Agency officers visited the site in Swanley on a number of occasions and discovered lorry loads of contaminated waste being accepted at the landfill site.

One such visit identified a major leak from an on site diesel tank which had not been cleaned up, but left to sink into the ground.

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SOLAR PV – BUILT TO LAST?

By Wayne Terry; Head of International Development at NQA The substantial support given by the Government’s Feed-In Tariff (FiT) over the past two years has caused an upsurge in solar PV system installations. The planned amendments to the FiT will certainly stifle demand for solar PV to an extent, but with the seeds of renewable energy now sown, I feel that technologies like solar PV are now here to stay.

of efficiency throughout their lifespan. The Government is naturally keen to protect its investment in renewable technology, and so stipulated that only products and contractors covered by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) can qualify for the FiT scheme. We expect that installations carried out with Green Deal funding will be subject to the same precautions.

The change to the FiT only affects the amount paid directly to the homeowner for the electricity generated by their renewable technology – the generation tariff. In the longer term, I believe that the new, lower generation tariff as well as savings on fuel bills will still make solar PV an attractive option for homeowners looking to invest in technology that is both green and cost-effective.

MCS product certification is a complex scheme because of the typical supply chain from manufacture to sale.

The final unit design and assembly of most systems might be carried out in the UK, but the significant components (ie the PV panels themselves) are likely to be imported from factories in the Far East. Those outside the manufacturing sector may well be surprised at the complexity and rigour of the process that is required to achieve certification.

This autumn we will see the introduction of the Government’s Green Deal. The scheme will include financial grants for homeowners, which will reduce the cost of installation for renewable technologies. Solar PV may well form part of a home-improvement package to increase the energy efficiency of existing housing, in which case the solar industry may benefit from this support, as it did initially with the FiT. New housing projects are currently implementing solar PV systems to achieve the standards set out in Code Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. As the Government still maintain their commitment to reducing carbon emissions by 2020, new homes will need to make use of renewable technology to meet new efficiency standards.

For all of these reasons, the solar PV industry will continue to present major opportunities for both contractors and manufacturers, although it will need to work hard to build a reputation for itself that reflects quality and reliability – after all, the funding mechanisms in place are anticipating a life-cycle of 25 years for installations.

This estimated 25 year life-cycle of renewable energy systems requires high quality products that will operate consistently at the required levels

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There are two main phases of MCS product certification.

Firstly the individual products need to be tested to make sure they will achieve their function effectively. It is also necessary for the manufacturing facility to be checked and verified to ensure it is sufficiently well organised and controlled to deliver consistency of production.

The factory must operate a documented system which analyses its manufacturing quality control and assessment – its Factory Production Control.

This covers each aspect of quality control in the manufacturing process. It is not a static process and includes regular reviews and a programme to make sure new staff understand and implement the approved procedures.

If a company holds ISO 9001 certification, then they will already have many of the necessary requirements in place, but to attain MCS certification the

manufacturer will still need to demonstrate its Factory Production Control against the MCS standard.

The MCS certification body will visit the factory, wherever it is in the world, to inspect the quality system to make sure the processes appearing in the documentation truly reflect the working practices on the ground. This audit process usually takes two days on site for most factories as it requires considerable expertise and time.

The second phase of the certification process is product testing. MCS includes a detailed list of performance criteria that the finished products must meet in order to gain certification. These will consider the manufactured quality of the products as well as its generating capacity.

The aim is to ensure that the product performs reliably and will continue to do so for 25 years. Again, it is not just the test results that are important, but also the expertise at the testing facility itself.

The easiest option available to the manufacturer is to send products to an independent testing facility that is itself certified by an internationally recognised organisation under ISO 17025. In this case, the MCS certification body will simply ensure that the tests carried out are those required by the MCS standard.

If the testing house used is not accredited to ISO 17025, the MCS certification body will first need to examine and assess the procedures of the testing house in order to establish that the results it produces can be relied upon.

NQA is one of a number of bodies accredited to award MCS product certification. NQA benefits from operating as an international organisation, possessing the necessary expertise in all locations relevant to the manufacturing process of MCS products. MCS

certification is designed to be uniform, no matter which body is carrying out the process. To the buyer of the product, therefore, it should make no difference which organisation carried out the function as they will be equally rigorous. To the manufacturer who has to work with the certification body, however, the difference can be marked.

NQA is particularly well placed to conduct MCS certification because of its global reach. With auditors spread around the world, visits to manufacturing plants are more straightforward and it prides itself on offering a personal service in a highly technical field. Furthermore, NQA is also able to certify all the various renewable technologies currently included in the MCS scheme.

In the UK, solar technology and other micro-generation schemes are still relatively new. We believe that over the next decade they will continue to grow and become mainstream.

However, if the technology is to become widely accepted by homeowners it will need to prove its case not just financially but also in terms of reliability. This is where rigorous quality control and third party certification is vital to ensure that the industry builds and maintains an unblemished reputation to encourage consumer confidence.

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nment: o r i v n E e l b a i f i t A Cer is a n o i t a c i f i t r e C Accredited ol o T s s e n i s u B e l b Valua AS ting Manager, UK

By Jon Murthy, Marke

ntinued to remain a mental issues have co on vir en n, tur wn do ic om tside the company’s Despite the recent econ the expertise will lie ou ten Of . ies an mp co of UK ces can be a priority for the majority rry out these key servi ca to rs lie pp su le iab ess size d finding rel n. Regardless of busin ow core business area an kn un the o int p tri a ss and feels like goods and services time-consuming proce to have confidence in the ed ne s rer cu pro in, ted the sharp end of their or industry sector opera st of their attention to mo te vo de n ca rs ne that ow that they purchase, so business. customers with the ed as a tool to provide us ing be is on ati fic rti ce y on the tin. In addition Increasingly accredited re will do what they sa cu pro y the s ce rvi se that the ty customers, necessary confidence reassuring better quali d an g tin rac att gh ou siness business thr company’s day to day bu the to helping to grow the on t ec eff ive sit po a question is also having onmental services, the vir en es accredited certification lis uti or ers off ur company either operations. Whether yo your organisation? is how can this benefit

ed Certification? mpetence of an organisation to carry What is Accredit ss for ensuring the co sole on is essentially a proce on Service (UKAS) is the

Accreditati gdom Accreditati d tasks. The United Kin and verification – nt for the assessment out one or more specifie me rn ve go UK by ed nis g and calibration Body recog ation, inspection, testin National Accreditation fic rti ce of – s ard nd ecognised sta ing confidence in the against internationally-r eckers, thereby provid ch the k ec ch to ely tiv ec credited certification activities. Its role is eff have achieved UKAS ac t tha s ce rvi se e lis uti hold or companies that either status. el, ing Products, Personn t can be certified, includ tha life s es sin es bu pli of ap There are many aspects h & Safety. Certification and Occupational Healt ce rvi Se the Quality IT y, rit cu Se Information st commonly used being mo the n, tio era op s es l Management to busin 14001 for Environmenta to standards that relate ISO th wi ng alo , 01 90 standard ISO Management Systems Systems. an assessment cycle rigorous process, with a is dy bo on ati fic rti to ensure that dited ce d two surveillance visits Becoming a UKAS accre an its vis nt me ss se as s isting of two that certification bodie lasting four years, cons on provides assurance ati dit cre ac d AS an UK le . iab ed rel standards are maintain deliver a consistently s, and are competent to ard nd sta ed nis og rec operate to impartial service.

lp me? that it will get the How does this he ld assure the procurer ou sh dy bo on ati fic rti AS accredited ce ding of this ‘value’ the

Using a UK in a clearer understan dies, carried value it pays for. To ga tion of accreditation bo business benefits and cia so as l ba glo the F), drivers for ation Forum (IA rvey aimed to clarify the su e International Accredit Th . ies om on ec t ses in 40 differen , and the extent of any out a survey of busines sing a certification body oo ch in ed olv inv s tor fac seeking certification, the rtification process. ce the m fro benefit derived

Increasing Business

t over 80% of all t of the IAF survey is tha ou me co to gs din fin icant Using a more One of the most signif ’ to their organisation. lue va d de ‘ad d ha on ati y had seen an t certific ndents reported that the respondents stated tha po res UK of rds thi o tw nt, nearly quantifiable measureme ation. ect result of the certific dir increase in sales as a

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An increasing number of organisations, in both the public and private sectors are specifying accreditation as a precondition to tendering for contracts. In addition, accredited certification has become the expected industry norm for many sectors. A company that either holds or utilises accredited certification services is therefore able to overcome this hurdle and widen the potential market for its goods or services.

UKAS accreditation is recognised internationally, meaning it can open doors abroad equally as well as at home. This has become increasingly relevant in today’s global marketplace, as confirmed in the IAF survey. When asked about the importance of accredited certification being covered by the IAF Multilateral Recognition Agreement (MLA), 35% stated that the acceptance of their certification in overseas markets was very important.

Improving operations Accredited certification can help save a business both time and money. The audit process allows owners to identify where improvements can be made, processes streamlined and best practices implemented. In addition to increasing overall efficiency, the lessons learned can also be used to help control costs.

Companies purchase independent evaluations either through choice (e.g. to reduce the risk of product failure) or as a consequence of legal requirements (e.g. health and safety regulations). Nearly half of all participants in the IAF survey gave internal business improvement as the main driver for seeking certification, whilst approximately one third said it was a requirement of their customers. However, respondents overwhelmingly stated that certification was important to their customers.

Despite only 12% citing it as the main reason for gaining certification, over 80% confirmed that certification had helped them meet national regulatory requirements.

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Summary

Rather than being something that is done begrudgingly merely to tick compliance boxes, the IAF survey reveals accredited certification is something that organisations are choosing to seek primarily to improve internal operations and to provide customer confidence.

The value of accredited certification is recognised in UK businesses of all shapes, sizes and industry sectors.

Nearly 2/3rds of IAF survey respondents work in small to medium sized businesses, with over half of those coming from companies with less than 50 employees. While the majority of respondents were responsible for managing quality within their organisation, over a quarter were either finance directors, marketing managers or other senior management personnel.

An evaluation service accredited by UKAS has proved that it complies with the best practices of the particular industry. It has also demonstrated that it is competent to deliver a consistently reliable, impartial, and accurate service, which meets the appropriate internationallyrecognised standard. Not only is accredited certification being used as a tool to deliver internal business improvement and regulatory compliance, but businesses confirmed that it has a positive effect on revenue.

Many of the benefits to companies achieving accredited certification can also be conferred on companies using accredited certification services, to wider marketplaces at home and abroad. This illustrates that regardless of whether an organisation either provides or utilises environmental services, companies are clearly recognising the value for money that accredited certification provides them.

For further information on accreditation and a list of UKAS accredited bodies, visit www.ukas.com

Sustainabilitylive! – leading shows united at the UK’s premier energy, water and environmental event Under the banner of ‘leading the way for a sustainable future’, Sustainabilitylive! is once again at the NEC in Birmingham, from 22nd to 24th May 2012.

The distinctive individual shows - covering the energy, water, land and sustainability sectors - each give leading companies a chance to showcase their latest products and services and do business.

Not only will there be hundreds of exhibitors with something to offer, each show will also be running a FREE three-day conference and seminar programme where a panel of experts will put the spotlight on the big issues, latest advice and ground-breaking innovations.

All of the shows also offer free admission, so visitors looking for joinedup thinking to solve a problem across any environmental sector, will find everything they need is to hand.

And this year, Environmental Technology will be represented through a busy seminar programme discussing a wide range of issues, including waste management, zero waste, energy from waste, and driving resource efficiency in supply chains. The programme will sit within the Environmental and Land Remediation theatre and will run on Days 2 and 3 of the show.

Get the latest on saving energy at the National Energy Management Exhibition (NEMEX) NEMEX 2012 will feature the latest advances in renewable energy products, energy management services and energy-efficient technologies.

In the last two years the UK’s leading event for energy management has seen a 37 per cent rise in visitors and it will keep up the momentum in 2012 by marking its 30th anniversary with an additional high-level conference programme.

Main sessions on the new stage will cover energy policy, EMR - Electricity Market Reform, REMIT, energy saving, carbon reduction, renewables, RHI, smart meters, PV/Solar, CRC and behavioural change. Utility Week will run sessions for its readers, as will the MEUC – the Major Energy Users Council.

The existing seminar theatre will also be in full swing, with topics such as procurement, behavioural change, energy management standards, lighting, voltage optimisation, retro-fit, anaerobic digestion and more.

It adds up to a winning combination for exhibitors and visitors alike, united by the challenge of meeting the UK’s strict targets to reduce CO2 emissions |144| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

by 80% by 2050 and to obtain 15% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020.

NEMEX attracts a diverse audience from large multinationals and SMEs to senior individuals from the public sector.

Big names on the exhibitor list for NEMEX 2012 include INENCO, consultants specialising in energy management, sustainability and environmental services; EBM Papst, a market-leader in high-quality, technologicallyadvanced, air movement products; and Business Stream, the company set up when Scottish Water divided its wholesale and retail operations, plus Siemens Energy, Ener-G, Flextricity and Buderus.

The International Water and Effluent Exhibition (IWEX) highlights a new wave of innovation at the 2012 show The place to go to catch up with the latest news in the battle to find smarter ways of using water is the International Water and Effluent Exhibition (IWEX) 2012.

IWEX is the UK’s leading water industry event with its unrivalled combination of showcasing the brightest ideas, and offering a rich seminar programme with up-to-theminute insights and advice.

The 2012 event will once again bring together companies representing the whole spectrum of invention, from small businesses to larger product and service providers, all with the common aim of developing better ways to be more water-efficient.

It will build on a fine track record of success, as demonstrated when IWEX celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2011.

The 2011 event saw everything, from water conservation to leak detection, metering technology to waste water treatment technology, on the shopping list of key players from across the water and effluent industry.

Clive Mottram, from Eversheds, was an IWEX 2011 visitor and said: “IWEX provided an excellent forum for a wide range of water industry stakeholders to showcase their products and expertise. The exhibition hall positively buzzed with networking and discussions around water sector issues. I look forward to attending again in future.”

IWEX has seen a 15 per cent increase in visitor numbers over the last two years and exhibitors already signed up for 2012 include steel specialists Steelway; pipe, valve and fitting experts R2M; Sarco Stopper, whose pipeline stopping systems go worldwide from their base in West Lothian; and many more with a similar UK or global reach, including British Water, Tecnolog, Draeger Safety UK, KSB, Hydra Valve, WEG Electric Motors UK, Ashbrook Simon-Hartley, Busch, Speedy Services, Casting Services Group, Katronic Technologies Ltd, Hoofmark, MSE Hiller,

SAER and Aerzen Machines Ltd. A major highlight of IWEX 2012 will be the 24th Institute of Water National Drilling and Tapping Championship.

This hotly-contested event sees the water companies’ top teams line up to drill and tap a 150mm diameter ductile iron main under pressure and connect a service tap.

Leading the way in brownfield regeneration - Brownfield Expo (BEX) In recent months the government has made clear it sees a buoyant building industry at the heart of the UK economy’s fightback.

Greenbelt development may have dominated the headlines, but a building surge will also see great opportunities for building on regenerated brownfield sites, with information on remediation developments on offer at Brownfield Expo (BEX).

BEX is well established as the UK's main event for all those looking to redevelop brownfield sites and attracts civil engineers, house builders, environmental health professionals, manufacturing and service industries, procurement managers and many others from across both the private and public sectors.

In 2011 there was a 25 per cent increase in visitors to the show and more than 100 per cent increase in the number of people who attended seminars.

Hans Garbutt, Marketing Manager at Environmental Scientifics Group, said: “BEX is one of the most important events in the brownfield sector’s calendar; it provided ESG with a good platform to showcase our testing, inspection and compliance services, with a particular focus on our onsite mobile chemical testing laboratory.

We generated several quality leads.”

BEX 2012 will once again feature some of the biggest names in the sector including Regenesis, Adventus Europe, PA Geotechnical, Derwentside Environmental Testing, Landmark, Ashtead Technology Ltd and GroundGas Solutions.

Exploring corporate sustainability at Sustainable Business (SB) - The Event Sustainable Business - The Event, offers a unique platform for industry experts to showcase the products and services that are helping to create more sustainable businesses.

It attracts high-calibre visitors and environmental decision-makers across the full range of private and public sector organisations, all of whom have a commitment to respond to the sustainability challenge and find out how minimising environmental impact can maximise profit.

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Exhibitors already signed up for 2012 include NQA, Environmental Sustainability KTN, IChemE, Lloyds TSB, BSI and The Woodland Trust.

At the heart of SB – The Event is its unique conference programme, offering sessions on the latest corporate sustainability thinking. In 2012, delegates will hear from business leaders from the likes of TUI Travel, Virgin Media, Alliance Boots, Marks and Spencer, Eurostar, Global Action Plan, Carbon Trust, plus many more.

Celebrating the best in the business – the Environment and Energy Awards The Environment and Energy Awards celebrate excellence and innovation across the environment, energy and sustainable business sectors.

This year there are 13 categories – including ETSA Energy Manager of the Year, the Renewables Innovation Award sponsored by Manor Rose and the Sustainable Business of the Year sponsored by NQA. Judging is carried out by a panel of experts.

All new for 2012 is the Outstanding Achievement Award.

This award aims to find the individual who has made an impact in either the environment or energy sector through their drive, passion and commitment to boost performance and quality in their business over the last five years.

The awards are widely regarded as one of the highest industry accolades, which is reflected in both the high quality of the entries and the rising number of submissions. In 2011 there was a 46% increase in award submissions and a 40% increase in the number attending the glittering awards evening.

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The 2012 winners will be announced on 22nd May at the National Motorcycle Museum, close to the NEC. Running alongside Sustainabilitylive! is the Smart Low Carbon Cities, Communities and Infrastructure conference. This will address the need for a larger-scale decentralised energy system together with a smart grid and maximised resource efficiency – both key drivers towards achieving future climate change objectives.

Delegates will hear a range of best practice solutions along with government and business strategic plans for upgrading the present infrastructure. Featured presentations include National Grid, IBM, E.ON and British Gas New Energy.

With so many good things going on, Sustainabilitylive! is the must-attend event for anyone looking to network with like-minded professionals, source information and find solutions for your business.

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.

DIVINE INSTALLATION AT DALE STREET METHODIST CHURCH

CASE STUDY

Midands renewable energy specialist Eco2Solar has answered the prayers of the Dale Street Methodist Church congregation, by installing solar panels to help reduce its carbon footprint.

Kidderminster based Eco2Solar has been working with Dale Street Methodist Church to lower its carbon emissions with the installation of a 9.75kWp solar PV system.

Five members from Dale Street congregation appointed Eco2Solar after agreeing to fund the installation with interest free loans to the church.

The Dale Street system comprises 39 Suntech STP250S-20/ Wd 250 watt panels and one Fronius IG120 inverter and is expected to produce more than 8,000 units of “green” energy every year – equivalent to the annual electricity use of 2.5 average households. Electricity generated will be used on site, helping the church, which supports over 25 community organisations, to reduce its energy costs and carbon emissions.

The church will pay back loans from the £1,425 in tax-free annual income it expects to generate from the Governmentbacked Feed in Tariff (FIT) scheme.

Property steward of Dale Street Methodist Church, Andrew Emm said: “We were immediately impressed with Eco2Solar and its competitive offering.

“It’s great to know the system is immediately generating renewable energy to help reduce our environmental impact. We have already seen the system running as high as 70 per cent in just winter sunshine. We were confident to work with Eco2Solar knowing that our 100 year old slate roof was in safe hands.”

“Dale Street Methodist Church is leading the way forward ensuring renewable energy plays an important role in the local area”, commented Paul Hutchens, managing director of Eco2Solar.

He said: “We are delighted to support the church and its congregation. It is always very rewarding to be a part of a project where the community has invested so much valuable time, care and money.

“It shows even the most treasured buildings can benefit from solar panel installation without detracting from the original features.”

For more information, visit www.eco2solar.co.uk.

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CASE STUDY South West Water invests in reed bed refurbishment Three of South West Water’s treatment facilities in Cornwall and North Devon are operating at optimum efficiency following its investment in the refurbishment of its tertiary reed bed systems.

The upgrades at St Cleer, Week St Mary and North Molton were undertaken by Staffordshire-based, reed bed specialist, ARM Reed Beds (ARM) and forms part of South West Water’s commitment to provide reliable, efficient services to its 1.6 million customers.

ARM was awarded the contract in August 2011 and has been delivering the project through H50, South West Water’s delivery alliance.

Tori Sellers, director at ARM, says: “Reed beds by their very nature act as a filter to trap suspended solids and must be maintained to prevent them from clogging, which would result in a reduction in treatment efficiency.

“South West Water had two types of reed bed system in place - a vertical flow bed at St Cleer and horizontal flow beds at Week St Mary and North Molton.

“We completed a partial-refurbishment at St Cleer which involved the removal and cleaning of around 240 tonnes of gravel to help optimise its hydraulic efficiency.

“However both Week St Mary and North Molton required significant refurbishment so we worked with South West Water to install new liners and a new collection and distribution system, as well as installing a new pump feed.

“We washed and re-used the gravel rather than replacing it which is a more cost-effective and sustainable alternative to sending to landfill and replacing with new.

This process will also extend the asset life of the reed beds going forward,” says Tori.

informed and reassured that the environment and water courses were protected at all times.

ARM has a long-standing relationship with South West Water having worked on various projects throughout the region.

“I was particularly impressed with ARM’s processes. For instance, rather than send the clogged gravel to landfill, they washed it. That not only cut costs but also helped reduced our carbon footprint.

Jason Buzza, a waste water treatment supervisor at South West Water, added: “Although we have worked with ARM before, this was my first ARM project and I have to say I was impressed with both their professionalism and knowledge.

“To sum it up, ARM transformed old reed beds into brand new ones which will help us maintain compliance for the foreseeable future and by working with nature, we’ve minimised running costs.”

“We had numerous unforeseen problems with the refurbishment at St Cleer due to the state of the reed beds and bad weather but we were always kept well-

South West Water worked closely with ARM’s project manager, Chris Wainwright, to complete the three reed bed refurbishments by November 2011.

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CASE STUDY

New energy centre fuelled by local woodchip powers Waitrose A low carbon energy centre which uses sustainable local woodchip to power, heat and cool a Waitrose store has opened on the Isle of Wight.

Waitrose East Cowes’ advanced new energy centre - developed by FTSE 250 outsourcer and energy services company MITIE - provides the vast majority of the supermarkets’ energy needs, making it almost completely independent of the national grid.

Officially opened by local MP Andrew Turner, over time the energy centre may even become a community energy hub, with the potential to supply heat to local homes and community facilities. It will also contribute £150,000 per year to the local economy in the form of jobs and purchasing of local supplies.

The energy centre, which makes use of renewable and low carbon technology, will cut the stores carbon emissions by over 750 tonnes per year – equivalent to 1500 transatlantic flights.

It is the first energy centre which has been developed as part of a partnership between MITIE and Waitrose which will help the supermarket chain achieve an absolute carbon emissions reduction of 15% by 2020/2021 when compared with 2010 levels.

The second energy centre – currently being developed in Bracknell – will come online at

the end of May. Using the same technology the centre will cut carbon emissions by the same amount.

Mike Tivey, Managing Director of MITIE’s Asset Management business, which has developed and will operate the energy centre over a 12 year contract, said: “MITIE’s partnership with Waitrose means the East Cowes store will be the first in the UK to get the vast majority of its energy needs from an independent energy source.

“This will not just have a positive environmental impact, but create jobs and prosperity in the local economy, and is a perfect example of the many benefits decentralised energy can provide our communities with.”

Nigel Keen, Director of Development at Waitrose, said: “We are committed to reducing our carbon emissions by an absolute reduction of 15% when comparing our emissions from 2010 with those in 2020 and the one-site energy centres at East Cowes and Bracknell will help us achieve our target – growing the Waitrose business in a sustainable and innovative way.”

Andrew Turner, MP for the Isle of Wight, said: “I am very pleased to see the development of this new energy centre. The John Lewis Partnership’s decision to take this course of action in reducing Waitrose East Cowes’ reliance on the national grid, and reducing carbon emissions, is a very positive move.”

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CASE STUDY FOR YORKSHIRE Yorkshire’s foremost green energy company Earthtest Energy is fast becoming a trend-setter in changing the way buildings and homes are heated with the use of geothermal energy. Ground source heating using geothermal energy can offer savings on heating bills of up to 85% with high levels of insulation and heat recovery without compromising on ventilation.

The company’s recent project for Yorkshire’s Booth Brothers resulted in a rare A+ Energy Performance Certificate for the Old Corn Mill at Bullhouse Mill, one of only a handful of carbon negative industrial buildings in England and Wales. Additionally, as the system of geothermal energy is eligible for the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), a government initiative, owners of such installations can reap the financial incentives year after year. The Earthtest project at the Old Corn Mill is the first ever recipient of RHI accredited by Of-gem – also a prestigious first for Yorkshire. This entitles the owners of the building to payments of 4.5 pence inflation linked for every kilowatt hour of heat generated for the next 20 years.

As an extremely keen practitioner of innovative, environmentally-friendly methods, Charles Booth, Managing Director of Booth Brothers, saw his vision for Bullhouse Mill become a reality with Earthtest. The system starts with a 50m borehole that provides water at 11°C. The heat extracted from the borehole water is then increased in temperature by the heatpump to 32°C and passes through underfloor heating pipes, installed under ceramic tiles by Earthtest throughout the offices.

To further maintain a healthy working environment Earthtest installed a mechanical ventilation system with full heat recovery. Three air handling units, situated in an adjacent warehouse, extract stale warm air from the offices and pass it through a heat exchanger prior to discharging it outside the building. The units also Image below: Bullhouse Mill – Yorkshire’s first

introduce fresh, filtered air that passes through the other side of the heat exchanger before being distributed around the offices. This mechanical ventilation system with heat recover (MVHR) ensures that the heat, which has already been “purchased”, stays within the building and the air throughout the offices remains clean and fresh. To minimise the energy consumption of the building, insulation levels were increased to double the requirements of standard building regulations, and the air permeability was halved. An airlock front door was specified and triple glazing installed, but it was the careful attention to detail to avoid unnecessary thermal bridging and to eliminate any unmanaged airflow that enabled the building to be truly energy-efficient.

Frances Bennett, director of Earthtest Energy explains why this is becoming such a popular trend amongst the environmentally conscious, and following in the footsteps of projects featured on Channel 4’s Grand Designs.

“Whether you want to have the most energy efficient building or the most economic solution, it is essential that the heating system is integrated into the building design with all systems correctly interfaced.”

“We harness geothermal energy via drilled boreholes, which is heat from the ground that occurs naturally, as it is generated by forces within the earth that maintain a relatively constant temperature (usually 10°C to 12°C) at depths of 15 metres beneath the surface. Therefore, it is clean, green, environmentally friendly and sustainable.”

The design and installation of the system at the Old Corn Mill was a prestigious project for Yorkshire’s Earthtest Energy who, although work nationally, have the local region close to heart.

For more innovative ideas visit www.earthtestenergy.com To learn more about the carbon negative offices at Bullhouse Mill, www.bullhousemill.co.uk

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CASE STUDY

from the whole project team, and is a great result that will make good use of a brownfield site with existing connections and generate jobs for the locality.

“The proposals fit within the Borough’s own development plans, which meant that committee members had to have compelling evidence to refuse the plant.

A derelict South Wales power station is to see new life as an environmentally friendly ‘biomass’ power station, thanks to an Environment Impact Assessment by Gloucester consultancy Sustainable Direction Limited (SDL).

Bridgend County Borough Council has given developers Morgan Credit Energy the green light for the Llynfi Power Station scheme after studying SDL’s report on how it might affect the local environment.

Council planners said the planning application had been ‘extensively researched’ and that the team had produced a ‘polished document’.

When completed, the wood burning power station will provide enough electricity to power around 53,000 homes - about the number of homes in Bridgend itself.

This will help Wales meet its renewable energy targets and decarbonise the National Grid in the area.

The original power station, on the outskirts of Bridgend, started operating in the 1940’s and closed down in the late 1970s. Since then the site has deteriorated and now resembles an abandoned brownfield site primed for redevelopment.

“The planning application was brought before the council with no objections whatsoever from the relevant statutory bodies.

“They suggested one or two revisions to the conditions which were well received by both the council and Morgan Credit Energy (Wales) Ltd. “The whole planning process was used in such a way to deliver real benefits to the community, and this project is a great case study to use when demonstrating the benefits of doing Environmental Impact Assessment alongside project development.

“The Scoping process identified that the fuel should be brought in by rail and solidified. This will minimise the impact of lorries through the nearby communities.

The Noise Assessment found that unloading material during the night would be unacceptable to locals, so the process was altered by unloading during the day instead.

“The fact that no statutory representatives had any

llynfi old power station aerial

llynfi new power station impression

SDL Managing Director, Dr John Henry Looney, said: “This is the culmination of 18 months of hard work

outstanding issues was the result of an iterative process, closing out each topic to the satisfaction of all parties, which satisfied the developer, mitigated the impacts and maximised the benefits for the local community and for Bridgend Borough as a whole. This really was sustainable development in action.”

Llynfi old power

station ground

For more information email; info@sustainabledirection.com

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CASE STUDY

Dreadnought tops off ground-breaking straw bale house

Engineer Brian Waite is a man on a mission – a mission to convert people to the merits of houses made from straw. It’s not as daft as it sounds given he’s utilised his own patented construction method to build a two-storey home that is virtually zero energy with an almost negative carbon footprint.

It’s also a major accomplishment given that the Strawbale House is located in Cockermouth, Cumbria, one of the wettest and windiest parts of the UK. After several years of perseverance and much hard work the house is now almost finished, with any questions about its strength and weathertightness dispelled by its crowning glory of Staffordshire Blue clay plain tiles from West Midlands manufacturer Dreadnought Tiles. |152| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

CASE STUDY The supporting structure of the 50m2 property comprises a series of wooden cruck frames with metre-long straw bales packed tightly between to form the continuous walls/roof and insulation of the property. The frame and bales are retained by a patent-pending mechanism designed by Mr Waite, who carried out much of the construction work himself.

Early in the design phase Mr Waite ruled out the use of eaves overhangs, an established method of protecting properties from the weather, opting instead for a high quality roof tile and a ventilation system that wicks moisture away from the lime render.

Planners played their part in influencing how the scheme progressed and its final appearance, initially stipulating that the roof covering should be slate to match the local vernacular. However, due to the curvature of the roof, small format tiles were required, ruling out slate.

Mr Waite wished to use only British made product and Dreadnought’s Staffordshire Blue roof tiles matched the specification and satisfied the local authority, with some 7,500 supplied for the project.

The Staffordshire Blues wrap over the house to just one metre above ground level, providing a goodlooking yet tough exterior that will last for decades.

“This project highlights how plain clay tiles help to deliver the highest level of sustainability,” said Alex Patrick-Smith, Managing Director of Dreadnought Tiles. “With their BRE A+ rating and long life performance Dreadnought Staffordshire Blue tiles provided an ideal complement for this pioneering environmentally friendly house. Our tiles are increasingly being used in contemporary designs, especially on curved roofs where they are the principal feature of the building and help to create the striking and aesthetically pleasing appearance as can be seen on this straw bale building. Their single camber and tight dimensional tolerances ensures the tiles sit right on the roof as the pitch of the roof becomes increasingly steep.”

Mr Waite developed the Strawbale House as a prototype to demonstrate his ideas were viable and showcase what could be achieved with plentiful natural resources. He’s now hoping a manufacturer will step in and snap up the idea, producing the homes in kit form with only straw bales required!

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CASE STUDY RENEWABLE ENERGY COMPANIES JOIN FORCES FOR FARM SOLAR PV PROJECT Two renewable energy companies have joined forces to develop a £1.2 million solar PV project at a poultry farm, one of the largest of its kind in the UK. The scheme has seen more than 2,300 panels installed in Shropshire and Mid Wales, including a 150 metres-long ground array of 1,200 panels at Comberton Poultry Farm in Ludlow.

The solar photovoltaic system, which also included 60 metre long arrays of around 1,100 panels on the roofs of three poultry sheds, was supplied by Welshpool-based Organic Energy and installed by 7 Energy, of Shrewsbury.

Andy Boroughs, managing director of Organic Energy, said the installation at the farms had already cut farmer Edward Davies' electricity bills.

He said: “Working with 7 Energy, we have been able to develop a bespoke solar PV system, with the Ludlow site the single biggest installation ever created in Shropshire and we believe the Powys array is probably the largest in Mid Wales too.

“We provided more than 2,300 SCHOTT Solar PV panels.

On current readings, the system has reduced electricity usage at the sites by 65 per cent and the installation has exceeded its predicted energy capture by 10 per cent.”

Installer Martin Dowley said the total project cost for Comberton Poultry Farm and Cottage Farm, in Powys, was around £1.2 million.

He said: “We're delighted with the performance of the installation, which produces around 433,472 kWh a year.

The average house uses between 3000 - 4800 kWh per annum so the whole system could generate enough power for between 90 to 144 homes.

“The Ludlow site, where the buildings face east-west, was not suitable for a roof installation so we have created a ground-mounted system which consists of a single framework on a concrete base.

“At Cottage Farm, there are three roof arrays, which produce 208,400 kWh a year. We recommended SCHOTT Solar PV panels from Organic Energy, which have undergone and passed rigorous testing specifically with regard to concerns over ammonia produced in poultry and livestock sheds. These are designed to last 25 years.” |154| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

Image 1: Installer Martin Dowley, left, with farmer Edward Davies at the ground installation in Shropshire

The installation should pay for itself within seven to eight years, with Mr Davies able to take advantage of the Feedin-Tariff. The tariff pays a rate of 30.7 pence for every kWh generated as both sites were completed before the deadline after which the FIT for systems over 50 kWh was reduced.

Mr Davies, who has been rearing poultry for around 20 years, added: “We wanted to look at renewable options to hedge our electricity costs.

“We were put in touch with Martin who assisted us with the best way forward and went down the solar route.

We installed SCHOTT Solar PV panels because of their resistance to ammonia which can be an issue, and so far it's working very well.”

Although nearly a year in the planning, once the necessary permissions had been given and groundwork completed, the full installations took three to four weeks to complete.

Organic Energy is a UK distributor for leading global solar PV panel manufacturers, SCHOTT Solar. The extremely high quality of the range maintains Organic Energy's focus on providing nothing but class-leading installations.

It is also the sole UK distributor of the sought-after ÖkoFEN wood pellet boilers.

7 Energy is a renewable energy company which designs and installs systems for wind turbines and photovoltaic panels and is experienced in large scale and domestic installations. Recent large-scale systems include schools, commercial buildings as well as farms.

For more information, please contact Amy Bould or Mark Waugh, at Be Bold Public Relations, on 01952 898121 or email amy@beboldpr.com or mark@beboldpr.com

FAMOUS LAST WORDS

GREENER SUPPLY CHAINS: IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL I have long been an advocate of environmental issues and when others in the industry have shied away from making changes, I have fully embraced the idea of a greener logistics industry. It is still something I am very passionate about, which is why I recently spearheaded a campaign to fight the European Commission Proposal that a standard height of four metres be introduced for all new lorry trailers sold in the EU. Although this proposal was dropped in relation to doubledeck trailers, sparing the environmental impact of having more vehicles on the road to compensate, singledecks are still included. With around 80 per cent of the UK semi-trailer fleet having a height of 4.25 metres or greater, and the majority being single deck trailers, you do not have to be a mathematician to realise that this will still have massive cost implications for a huge proportion of an industry that is already suffering. This is a fight that goes on.

As an industry, the logistics sector is getting much better in terms of its environmental awareness. Steps have already been taken, and should continue to be taken, to lessen the environmental impact of supply chains, and I believe that pallet networks, like my own, play an important role in this.

By their very nature, pallet networks aim to reduce the number of journeys for hauliers. Take Pall-Ex’s hub and spoke model as an example.

Its whole ethos involves members collecting freight from customers and delivering it to our hubs in Leicestershire and Carlisle. There it is sorted and loaded onto the vehicle of the network member responsible for the destination postcode.

By Hilary Devey, CEO and founder of palletised freight distribution network Pall-Ex The process of trunking and consolidating freight ensures a much stronger load profile for lorries and trailers. In fact, figures show that the average vehicle-fill for pallet networks is 73 per cent, compared to just 51 per cent for conventional haulage systems.

This reduction in the number of ‘empty journeys’ results in heightened environmental efficiency and reduces the overall number of vehicles required for the distribution process. The Department of Transport calculated that pallet networks help to take approximately 837 vehicles off the road every day. If you equate that to both cost and CO2 savings, the results are impressive.

Creating greener supply chains is also about burrowing down and seeking new opportunities. This is something that we have managed to achieve with our own Retail Plus + offering.

Many retail outlets are situated in timed pedestrian zones and are not open around the clock, which results in a small delivery window when staff are present and shoppers are not restricted. Space can also be an issue and often pallets need to be split on location.

Retail Plus+ was developed as a solution to these issues, offering home deliveries, timed deliveries into retail outlets and deliveries outside of trading hours, including the de-palletisation of goods and the removal of packaging.

A growing number of corporate clients are now making use of the service. We deliver goods directly to each store, unwrap the freight, decant it and deliver it into storerooms before recycling the packaging.

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This way of working offers flexibility in terms of flowing deliveries from regional distribution centres, in turn having a positive environmental impact. One high street name that uses Retail Plus+ has reported an annual saving of 890 tonnes of CO2 as a result.

Sometimes the simplest of actions can make a big difference. In our own network, we operate Eco Drive, which has seen us partner with waste recycling specialist The Greenhouse.

The process involves Pall-Ex taking back the waste packaging from deliveries and recycling it for customers, saving them the time and the cost of doing this themselves. The return journey from the delivery is used to deal with it, so no extra emissions are caused.

This take back service works across our customer base in the UK and our European partners in Italy, Iberia and Romania have all expressed interest in introducing similar schemes too.

For some in the industry, the last few years may have involved a change in mindset, as they adapt to those issues that are taking greater priority. However, the fact of the matter is that the next generation are being taught to think in terms of sustainability and environmental matters from the very beginning.

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This was evidently apparent a few weeks ago when my team held a ‘Dragons’ Workshop’ for students from 10 local primary schools at our central hub in Leicestershire.

The children, aged 10 and 11, were split into groups and tasked with creating a new business product or service.

They were asked to develop a business brief, including details of their concept and its target audience, and to create a brand name and logo.

They then had to pitch their ideas to a panel of Pall-Ex staff. The winning concept was a solar panel system for cars to help save running costs, but everyone was impressed with the strong sense of environmental awareness that flowed through each idea and the acute awareness of its importance that each student displayed.

It was interesting to note that these children represent the next generation of employees that will be coming into our businesses and that this is the way that they are thinking. Situations like that make you realise that the logistics industry is on the right road in terms of lessening the environmental impact, but it is a journey that is far from over.