September 2009 Archives

CHESHIRE West and Chester Council put its weight behind International Car Free Day by encouraging employees to leave their vehicles at home.

International Car Free Day, an annual event, aims to reduce the use of cars, particularly for short journeys, by encouraging people to use other forms of transport.

This year's Car Free Day took place on Tuesday, September 22.

By choosing to cycle, walk, travel by train, or even car share to reduce single occupancy journeys, the council's employees have helped the environment and saved on the cost of petrol.

CHESHIRE West and Chester Liberal Democrats have urged the council to adopt the nationwide 10:10 Challenge.

This is where hundreds of companies and organisations pledge to decrease their carbon emissions by 10% during 2010.

A GROUND-BREAKING electric car which would secure the long-term future of Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port plant was launched at the Labour party conference yesterday.

The Ampera was unveiled by Lord Mandelson and endorsed by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who are both backing the bid for the vehicle to be built at the North Road factory production line in 2012.

The world is nearly too late to cut greenhouse gases and avoid weather chaos, experts are warning.

Scientists fear average global temperatures could climb 4C by 2060.

Launched on 1 April 2006, DECC's Low Carbon Buildings Programme Phase 1 replaces the previous DTI Clear Skies and Solar PV grant programmes.

Open to householders, public, not for profit and commercial organisations across the UK (except the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man), the programme will demonstrate how energy efficiency and microgeneration can work hand in hand to create low carbon buildings.

The aims of the programme are as follows:

To support a more holistic approach to reducing carbon emissions from buildings by demonstrating combinations of both energy efficiency measures and microgeneration products in a single development.

The recession has had little impact on humanity's over-consumption of resources, says a report.

The New Economics Foundation (Nef) calculates the day each year when the world goes into "ecological debt."

A GROUND-breaking scheme that has seen all of Deeside TNT depot's power supply come from renewable sources, has helped the company retain the crown of 'greenest on the planet' for the third year in a row.

The entire electricity supply at the express delivery giant's depot based at Fourth Avenue, Deeside Industrial Park, now comes from wind and hydro-electric power sources, playing a major part in helping TNT retain the top spot in the prestigious Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI).

A HOUSEHOLD energy advice and efficiency roadshow is under way.

Flintshire residents will be advised about energy bill savings, carbon footprint reductions and insulating their homes in time for winter.

Everyone who attends an event will receive two low-energy lightbulbs and an energy-saving plug.

Flintshire County Council's executive member for housing, Cllr Helen Yale, said: "These events and the energy advice line can help anyone wondering how to begin making their home more energy efficient and what support they may be entitled to.

RESIDENTS are being challenged to come up with an inventive way of squashing cartons before recycling them.

The council has teamed up with Tetra Pak to launch a 'How do you squash yours?' competition to celebrate the fact householders have embraced carton recycling since the introduction of bring bank collection facilities in Wrexham and to maximise space in the bins.

On average, milk, juice, smoothie and even wine drinkers in Wrexham will use a massive 7.1 million cartons each year.

HOUSEHOLDS in Wrexham are to receive new kitchen caddies and blue recycling bags to give them more opportunities to recycle and compost their waste.

The move follows a pilot of 6,000 homes in July.

Deliveries began at the end of last month and will include a leaflet explaining the scheme.