The Icon

SERIES of initiatives, projects and policy changes have been devised by North Somerset Council to help tackle the climate emergency. The measures are set out in the council’s Climate Emergency Strategy and Action Plan. The council declared a climate emergency in February this year and set a target of North Somerset becoming carbon neutral by 2030. Since then a cross-party group of...

386MW gas-fired power station in Norfolk is ready to support the industry move towards renewable energy sources following a major redevelopment. Jorge Pikunic, Managing Director of Centrica Business Solutions, commented: "The speed and flexibility of King’s Lynn supports the transition to a renewable-led energy system, helping balance the grid during gaps in generation caused by the intermittency of renewables. "It does...

NEW chairman has been appointed for Electricity North West’s sustainability panel. Todd Holden, the director for Low Carbon at The Growth Company, a North-West based not-for-profit organisation, has an extensive background in resource efficiency issues and the development of low carbon services. Mr Holden, who said he was 'delighted' by his new role, commented: “The panel has achieved a number of...

WORK on a £120 million glasshouse project to reduce CO2 emissions and bring hundreds of jobs to West Suffolk has started near Bury St Edmunds. West Suffolk Council through its Economic Growth Team and Planning Service has supported the scheme being built at Ingham. Frank Stennett, owner of the land the house will be built on, said: “This technology is revolutionary...

THIS year’s new Christmas lights in Manchester city centre are largely biodegradable and have been made from recycled materials. The bioprint range of lights will include 360,000 low energy LEDs installed to 126 trees across the city centre and a fully LED Christmas tree at the Cathedral. This amounts to 22 miles of LEDs that would stretch from Manchester city centre...

PLEDGE to Net Zero is the first industry commitment in the UK requiring science-based targets from its signatories to tackle carbon emissions within their organisations. The pledge aims to support the UK’s net zero greenhouse gas targets in line with the Paris Climate Agreement 2015, which set a global goal to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Professor Will Pope HonFSE...

REVIVE is a new council-owned public EV-charging network in the West of England, which was taken over by Bristol City Council from the previous network Source West. Revive will serve EV drivers in Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset. Councillor Kye Dudd, Cabinet Member for Transport at Bristol City Council, said: “Revive will provide us with...

KIRKLEES Council in West Yorkshire has approved a new plan to reduce air pollution across the borough with various means up to March 2024. The new plan includes recording effects of exhaust fumes to overall air quality and encouraging usage of electric vehicles with new infrastructure. As part of the plan, air quality monitoring equipment will be used outside schools to...

PRIVATE rented sector in Nottingham has seen a big improvement in energy ratings since the introduction of selective licensing. Since the licensing scheme came into effect in August 2018, there has been a 47.8% reduction of E, F or G-rated Energy Performance Certificates (EPC), the least energy-efficient grades. Since the scheme's introduction, properties with these ratings now account for just 14.7%...

HACKNEY Council has announced details of its new publicly owned energy services company, set to generate clean energy, eliminate land transport emissions, reduce the Council’s own carbon emissions, and supporting residents and businesses to do the same. Called Hackney Light and Power, the new company, which is owned, run, and managed by the local authority, will play a key role...