June 3rd, 2010

China KO’s the US from the Top Spot

It has been released in a new report that China have pushed their way to the top of the leader board for renewable energy, replacing the U. S as the number country investing the most towards renewable technology. Moving into the top spot, China is being named as a new clean tech superpower.

For the first time the United States have been replaced at the top spot and have moved down the table below the UK, Germany and France. The new report put together by the non-profit organisation The Pew Charitable Trusts was published recently and is a detailed league table of investments in low-carbon energy among the G-20.

The table, cataloging 2009 clean energy data, shows China investing almost twice as much as the U. S. However, the U. S are still leading the way in energy capacity, and dont rule out the UK! We, as a nation are right up there on podium, showing that we can contribute with the larger countries to really make a difference. The UK are 3rd in the overall results for clean energy investments, 4th in the 5 year clean energy investment growth rate and 5th in the percentage of total power it receives from clean energy sources ahead of France, China and the United States.

This report shows that not only the big guns are really trying to put something back and help towards finding some new and renewable solutions.

April 30th, 2010

Energy Efficiency For All

This month saw the launch of the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme. Formally known as The Carbon Reduction Commitment Scheme, it is the UK’s mandatory climate change and energy saving initiative.

This scheme has been specifically designed to hit the top senior levels of large organisations to educate and bring awareness to the growing improvements to reduce energy use and therefore cutting back on carbon emissions. These targeted carbon emissions are separate to those already covered by climate change agreements and the EU emissions trading scheme.

For those wanting to participate and join the CRC the scheme is going to be run as a ‘cap and trade’ directive and will provide financial incentives to reduce carbon emissions from energy use. Based on annual emissions,  there will be allowances for each organisation which can be purchased, and on reducing the emission there funds get directly recycled back into the organisations.

Already in partnership with the Scottish Government, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Department of Environment Northern Ireland, this newly named scheme is going to influence around 20,000 UK public and private sector organisations who are responsible for around 10% of the UK’s emissions.  

As the scheme moves forward the registration for organisations to join is now open. Click HERE to find out what the scheme is going to achieve and how you can be part of it.