Initiative measures from countrywide councils are playing a vital role in assisting the United Kingdom’s (UK) compliance with European Union (EU) and United Nation (UN) climate change regulations. Birmingham City Council has introduced and implemented its own climate change action plan, recognizing its responsibility for countrywide emission reduction targets. The Climate Change Action Plan acts [...]
Once again, a drought warning has been issued for those same parts of England, where ground water levels are lower than any time since 1976. Secretary Caroline Spelman said that without significant rainfall between now and the commencement of summer, residential customers will face severe restrictions including a hosepipe ban. According to Environmental Protection Agency [...]
Decision-making in environmental projects requires consideration of trade-offs between socio-political, environmental, and economic impacts, and the process is often complicated by various stakeholder views. Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) emerged as a useful tool to compare all advantages and disadvantages associated with available investment alternatives, in order to select and justify the most suitable option. Especially [...]
Micro-generation refers to the practice of generating some or all of one’s household electricity or heating through renewable sources, rather than drawing the energy from the National Grid. In order to maintain sustainable energy supply within U.K. and meet emission reduction targets, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) published a Micro-generation Strategy along [...]
While research and development of algal biofuels are currently receiving much interest and funding, they are still not commercially viable at today’s fossil fuel prices. However, a niche opportunity may exist where algae are grown as a by-product of high rate algal ponds (HRAPs) operated for wastewater treatment. In addition to significantly better economics, algal [...]
The government’s 50% cut to feed-in tariffs (FITs) for domestic solar installations, announced this 31st of October 2011, has incurred the wrath of the solar industry in United Kingdom. The action focuses on the recent announcement by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to cut the rate paid to householders with solar panels [...]
Solid waste disposal sites are not often seen as opportunities for energy solutions. Landfill gas (LFG), a mixture of methane, carbon dioxide and trace constituents, is typically viewed as a liability because of explosions, odours, and increasingly, climate change concerns. However, LFG can be turned into an asset. Process of land-filling, LFG collection, electricity generation [...]
Renewable Heat Incentives are the most recently launched incentive scheme, so far announced by the United Kingdom Government in March 2011. The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is designed to provide financial support, and encourage investments from individuals and communities. This is all in order to switch from fossil fuel heating to renewable energy. The Energy [...]
Sustainablewaste management, climate change, and renewable energy are three significant issues becoming increasingly important worldwide, especially in Europe. Incidents of spills, land & water contamination, biodiversity losses, and health concerns have triggered thresholds for policy makers of European Union (E.U.) to ensure implementation of feasible waste management systems throughout the Europe. Various landfill, waste minimization, [...]
