News Archive: Environment

14, 2008 November:

Curvy cucumbers

Wonky fruit and vegetables can be sold again after the EU voted to banish current marketing standards on vegetables such as cucumbers and carrots...

13, 2008 November:

Common sense

Common land must be better protected, says the Open Spaces Society, which has launched an awareness campaign...

12, 2008 November:

NZ cuts spending

The Auckland City Council is looking to cut hundreds of millions in spending over the next 10 years on core services such as footpaths, public transport and stormwater to hold rates to inflation...

11, 2008 November:

Go green, save money

An amendment to the Florida state constitution that would exempt those improving their property with storm-proofing or renewable energy devices from higher property taxes based on the resulting enhanced value of the home looks like it will be passed...

Ten years younger

A decade after winning the competition for Ecological Design in the Tropics, the EDITT Tower, a vision of Architects T R Hamzah & Yeang, is finally set to be realized in the city-state of Singapore...

10, 2008 November:

Limitless energy

An ambitious energy-efficiency project that has cut city council tenants' fuel bills by 50 per cent and reduced carbon emissions has won the top prize in the prestigious UK Housing Awards 2008...

Saudi makeover

An historic part of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia is to have a £500 million makeover as part of wider plans to attract more investment and visitors and protect important architecture...

Clean up UAE

The Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) has launched a campaign drive dubbed, 'The Clean up UAE 2008'...

Leave me alone

Sudden oak death disease discovered in Scotland at Merkland Wood...

07, 2008 November:

Green with envy?

Only one of the 12 shortlisted UK eco-town sites has met the Government's criteria and although they seem to have lost faith in the whole idea, green towns are still in the pipeline...

Bulgaria: solar paradise

Bulgaria will become a paradise to all who invest in solar energy, it transpired at a conference on alternative energy sources...

05, 2008 November:

Greenfield bonanza

MPs warn that Government housebuilding target risks unleashing a greenfield housing bonanza...

Round Two

The Government has launched a second round of consultation on eco-towns which will examine proposed locations and standards for the towns...

04, 2008 November:

Heading to the polls

A news provider in Florida has argued that voters should back a proposed change to the state constitution that would offer tax breaks to those installing eco-friendly and storm-resistant measures on their homes...

03, 2008 November:

New parks for London

The vision for a 64km river front stretch of parkland along the Thames will be represented in the UK's biggest architectural model at the Thames Gateway Forum at the end of the month...

Countryside neglected?

'Countryside communities feel neglected by the Government,' according to a select committee of MPs...

30, 2008 October:

Lost in the outback

Australia's Outback cattle trails are under threat from plans to lease and sell them off...

27, 2008 October:

Play it again, Sam

Urgent and drastic' policy changes are needed if renewable energy targets are to be met...

24, 2008 October:

Knot in my backyard

Frequently referred to as 'the curse of gardeners everywhere', Japanese Knotweed has always been known as a formidable plant, especially amongst housebuilders...

20, 2008 October:

A bright idea

Sustainable living isn't just for tree hugging hippies willing to abandon all home comforts - Energy Saving Week is about encouraging everyone to step up their efforts to help the environment...

17, 2008 October:

Low Carbon called for

In its latest report, The Green Building Council (GBC) has urged the Government to make improvements in existing UK housing to meet carbon reduction targets...

Student digs

Parents are being urged to check the safety of their children's university accommodation...

16, 2008 October:

Is the Disney dream over?

Home of the brave, land of the green: Desperate to entice foreign investors back to ailing Florida, the American Government has unveiled plans to introduce tax breaks for homebuyers who are willing to fit energy saving devices to their properties...

15, 2008 October:

Pesticides a danger for UK farms

The National Farmers Union has said that EU pesticide proposals would be disastrous for UK farms...

14, 2008 October:

Eco energy in Bulgaria

New renewable Energy Park makes Bulgaria's Karnobat a centre of environmentally friendly energy production...

Dubai buys energy

Dubai Investments acquire stake in First Energy Bank...

13, 2008 October:

Not enough water in Spain?

The European Commission is investigating more than 250 new housing projects in Spain amid fears that there is not sufficient water supply for the developments...

10, 2008 October:

Planning needed for gardens

Whilst this month has seen the relaxation of planning restrictions surrounding home extensions, as TheMoveChannel.com's news story of October 1st reported; planning permission for garden alterations just got a whole lot more complicated...

People first, not planning

The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) have today called for the new Mayor to adopt a 'people first' agenda for planning in London, to secure more human scale homes and development in good quality local environments...

08, 2008 October:

Green living

British Waterways has unveiled plans to power 45,000 homes with wind and hydro-electric turbines along Britain's historic canals and rivers...

07, 2008 October:

Great paint

Natural Building Technologies is working to raise awareness of the importance of specifying the most appropriate paint finish in an age where the highest levels of air-tightness and breathability are being achieved...

06, 2008 October:

£700 for your pocket

Tenants living in inefficient properties could save £700 a year on energy bills if their landlord installs straightforward energy saving measures...

Confusion over EPCs rages on

Landlords are confused by the new regulations surrounding energy performance certificates...

Dubai should go green

Public and private developments in the Middle East should adopt the latest green building codes as a matter of course, not least because they can save costs, it is claimed.

01, 2008 October:

Politicians support 'Greening the UK' campaign

Political support for the Horticultural Trades Association's (HTA) Greening the UK campaign, which aims to increase the amount of green planting in urban developments, was received last week at a Labour party conference fringe event in Manchester...

How does your garden grow?

The importance of landscaping and gardening will be enhanced by the presence of international companies at an exhibition in Abu Dhabi in November...

Half of all landlords ignoring EPCs

From today, 1st October, landlords are legally required to provide an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for properties that are marketed to new or prospective tenants or re-let to existing tenants...

29, 2008 September:

Hydro power station planned

Romania is planning a giant hydro power station on the Danube...

25, 2008 September:

EPC deadline extended to January

Originally set as October 1st 2008, the Government has extended the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) deadline which means commercial properties now have until 4th January 2009 to get their EPCs.

A taste of Venice in Orlando

Most famous for Disneyland, Orlando in Florida is realising that pixie dust and magic don't make eco friendly homes, and are doing something about it with a new eco city.

23, 2008 September:

EPCs compulsory for new residential lets

As of 1st October 2008, Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) will become compulsory for all new residential lets, affecting the marketing of around 10 per cent of properties for sale. Unlike before, no property, whether it is bought, sold, built or rented, is exempt, regardless of its time on the market.

22, 2008 September:

Green with envy

The USA has gone green in an attempt to live in a more sustainable way, reveals the latest report from Green Roofs for Healthy Cities.

17, 2008 September:

Free renewable energy from the ground

Renewable energy specialist Ecoliving has been awarded funding in order to provide ground source heat pumps, which can help the average Scottish household save 60 to 75 per cent of heating energy used each year.

15, 2008 September:

Millions of new trees for Spain

Forty-five million trees will be planted over the next three years in Spain. The planting is part of a plan to combat desertification and climate change, while reducing erosion and protecting endemic species. The project is likely to generate some 670,000 hours of work, thus creating many new jobs.

Guidance for green networks introduced

Ambitious guidance for allotments, community gardens, city farms to sustainable urban drainage schemes and flood storage areas - has been published in the latest eco-town worksheet on green infrastructure.

12, 2008 September:

Plan Abu Dhabi 2030

Abu Dhabi is introducing new regulations for environmentally friendly buildings, which are expected to be implemented as of January next year.

09, 2008 September:

Carbon appeal replacing kerb appeal

Going green will open property market, says the Energy Saving Trust, whose latest research reveals that energy efficient homes are swaying buyers.

21, 2008 August:

China's eco-city breaks ground

The China-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city is scheduled to break ground this July and will be completed within 10 to 15 years.

19, 2008 August:

Country Life

Britain's country villages are facing the brunt of prices increases, making that rural dream more expensive than living in the city