Low Carbon Bulletin

Dear Member,

Welcome to the third issue of the Low Carbon Innovation Bulletin.

Since our last issue the network has swelled to over 1800 members, with new members joining on a daily basis.

There has been a great response for our call for members to get involved in the Low Carbon Innovation Exchange, with over 30 network members volunteering to host discussion groups on their carbon reducing experiences. Details of some of these can be seen in the Exchange section of the bulletin.

This month's case studies come from Airbus, who have invested heavily in a combined heat and power system, St Alban's City and District Council who are insulating residential housing and Swindon Borough Council who have saved energy through a controlled lighting system.

As usual this issue includes a news update and also best practice ideas.

Please remember, if you have a case study that you would like to be profiled at the exchange or in the bulletin get in touch!

Best regards

Dominic Matthews

Click on the links below to read the full stories

Cement Industry sets out its work to help tackle climate change

www.politics.co.uk published 12/04/2007

DHL commission high performance electric vehicle

www.fibre2fashion.com published 10/04/2007

North Lanarkshire Council turns to tracker to improve its fleet

www.easier.com published 01/04/2007

Cautious welcome for museum and gallery emissions ratings

www.24hourmuseum.org.uk published 03/04/2007

The Low Carbon Innovation Network and Enterprise Events cannot be held liable for the content of external websites

To see more news and to add some of your own visit the forum here

The Low Carbon Innovation Exchange will take place on June 14th at the Olympia 2 Conference Centre in London and the list of companies and products that will be on show continues to grow.

Companies represented in the showcase will include:

Akristos, Ambirad, Aptiform, Curvaceous Software, EA Technical Services Ltd, Encraft 2003 Ltd, The Energy Savers, Eurowind, Flexitricity, Gasfill 2000, Interflush Ltd, KVM Partnership, npower business, Scottish Power, Schneider Electric Ltd, Sd3, Spirovent, Tarmac, TruRead and Walltransform

Full details of the showcase attendees can be seen here

The best practice Exchange is an event for members of the Network to share experiences and develop actionable ideas about how to effectively reduce carbon emissions.

The format is designed to enable the effective sharing of best practice through peer-to-peer interaction and offers a wide choice of roundtable discussion groups and case studies to enable participants to discuss challenges, share knowledge and explore alternatives. Each discussion group has a facilitator to help focus the discussion so that individuals may learn from the collective experience of the group.

We've had a great response from the network in terms of members coming forward to host sessions on the work that they have done.

Discussion Groups on the day will include:

Delivering power requirements and energy savings with CHP

Ray Roberts, Head of Facilities, Airbus

Successful conversion of coal fired boilers to biomass and utilising waste wood

Jeff Evans, Sustainability Group Leader, Barnsley Metropolitian Council

Use of biomass fuels in cement manufacture

Iain Walpole, Environment Manager, Castle Cement

Voltage reduction in buildings

Graham Weston, Energy Officer, Wycombe District Council

Gaining quick wins in carbon reduction

Alan Carter, Energy Manager, Debenhams Retail

To book your place to attend the exchange for the special discounted member rate please click here

The full programme for the day can be seen here

So how can you be involved?

-- Have you got any experience on a carbon reduction initiative that you would be willing to share with a small group of counterparts?

-- Or is there a specific challenge you face, where a collective brainstorm may help provide some of the answers for yourself or others?

Previous participants who have led or facilitated discussion groups at similar best practice events have rated the peer interaction to be very valuable, both in terms of exchanging experience and bringing together networks of people sharing an interest or challenge.

In recognition of your contribution, all topics accepted into the programme will qualify for a complimentary place at the Exchange.

So if you are interested in hosting a roundtable group on a topic of interest, please send an email to laura@carbon-innovation.com and we will call you to discuss the options.

Expert panel sessions on the day will cover a range of subjects, giving network members an insight into how carbon emissions are being reduced around the world, and also the opportunities that the future holds for reducing them further.

Panel sessions on the day will focus on minimising carbon emissions and creating bottom line savings, micro power generation, adapting products to suit new low carbon demands and supply chain partnerships.

To find out more about the Low Carbon Innovation Exchange please click here

Lighting the path to carbon reduction at swindon

Reducing energy consumption and providing a lead on carbon reduction has always been a priority for Swindon Borough Council. The original mains signalling activated lighting control system installed within Wat Tyler House at the Civic Offices had failed and replacement parts were no longer available. After careful market evaluation and following lengthy discussions with the Council’s Energy Manager Clive Wilce, they set about devising a unique and cost effective method of automatic lighting control for the building. It was agreed that the system had to fit within the philosophy of individual user control but combined with automatic detection and daylight saving.

Read the full story on the forum here

airbus: delivering power requirements and energy savings with chp

The extensive redevelopment of Airbus UK’s manufacturing facility in Broughton, Cheshire comprises of several buildings, which accommodate the equipment required to manufacture the wings for the A380 double deck super jumbo. With a number of manufacturing units dispersed around the site, Airbus were keen to explore the possibility of implementing a distributed CHP solution that could provide secure power and flexible thermal outputs to serve both space heating and process requirements.

Read the full story on the forum here

ST Albans tackle insulation in older homes

St Albans City and District Council recently began to tackle energy reduction in older homes, which are typically difficult to insulate because of the lack of cavity walling.

However a new project will see 18 homes fitted with double-glazing, 25cm deep loft insulation and solar panels. As a result of the lack of cavity walls, external insulation will be fitted in the form of insulation boards.

Read the full story on the forum here

The bigger the Network is, the more organisations there are to share best practice!

Please forward this bulletin on to anyone who you think would like to be part of the Low Carbon Innovation Network. This may be someone within your organisation or it may be someone in your supply chain or competitive organisation.

New members can register for the bulletin for free by clicking here

We are always grateful to receive any comments or feedback that you have with regards to the bulletin, the forum, the exchange or the network in general.

We would also like to hear from you if you have a case study for the bulletin or have a topic that you would like to discuss at the exchange.

Please send any comments or suggestions to Dominic Matthews, Editor, at dom@carbon-innovation.com or call +44 (0) 1883 344 799

Best Practice Ideas

Please visit the forum here and share a tip that you have for organisations to reduce their carbon emissions. Often the very simplest ideas can have the greatest effect in reducing carbon emissions.

April Best Practice Ideas:

Let people know that your energy management policy is serious by getting a statement of commitment from senior management.

Ask the opinion of new staff members. Often they will be able to spot areas of energy wastage easier than existing employees.

Service boilers annually and request for a combustion efficiency report. The report should show an improvement in efficiency once the service has been completed.

If a 1p coin can fit between a window and its frame, draft stripping could reduce heat loss.

Retain heat in the winter and reduce heat in the summer by drawing curtains and blinds at the end of the day.

Make sure that all vehicles have fully inflated tyres to maximise fuel efficiency.

To share your best practice ideas visit the forum here

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