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Issue No. 32 Contents
18 January 2008

. Q&A - Interview with a low carbon leader:

- Robert Webb, XCO2 and quietrevolution

. Network case studies - best practice and lessons learned:

- Places for People
- Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS)

. Networking and best practice sharing opportunities:

- Low Carbon Innovation Exchange event in Bristol boasts impressive line-up of low carbon practitioners presenting best practice sharing and training sessions on a range of practical topics.

Robert is a designer and entrepreneur focused on innovation in low-carbon energy and buildings. Originally trained as an architect, he has worked with leading architects and engineers and authored a number of respected publications in the field. He combines a business-led approach with a sound understanding of energy technology in the built environment and a strong commitment to clear communication. He founded buildings energy engineering company XCO2 in 2001 and co-founded Quiet Revolution, a wind turbine vendor, in 2003.

Tell us about what are you working on right now.

"The focus at quietrevolution is scaling production to meet strong demand, we have our own assembly plant in Wales and are working closely with specialist suppliers. At the same time we are designing the next iteration of the product to bring costs down and looking to further production growth in order to meet demand from global markets."

What are your proudest 'green' achievements?

"My proudest achievement is to have been behind the creation of quietrevolution and having the persistence and energy to pull together the team and the money to make it happen. We've developed the core technology from scratch to optimise performance in distributed generation near the point of energy demand. (quietrevolution is a quiet and elegant vertical-axis wind turbine) and given current demand we seem to have got some things right!"

What are the biggest challenges quietrevolution faces in the coming years?

"Its tremendously exciting to be in such a fast growing space, but that also carries risk. The biggest challenge is growing fast enough to make a difference but not so fast that things get out of control."

What are the biggest challenges you face in your roles and how do you deal with them?

"Recruitment is undoubtedly the biggest challenge. Good engineers and technologists are in scarily short supply in the UK, something we've got to address urgently from the school level up."

Who or what has been your biggest influence?

"I realised in the late 80s that climate change represented a huge threat to humanity and at the same time the best possible driver for innovation and change - after all, necessity is the mother of invention. It creates a huge opportunity to pull together and make things better. However, as we all know, it will take a lot of luck and a lot more political leadership than we are now seeing if our civilisation is indeed going to survive."

In what areas are UK designers and engineers leading the way in reducing carbon and in what ways are they lagging behind?

"There is huge innovation in microgeneration and rapid improvements in understanding of energy efficiency of new buildings, driven by client demand and increasing regulation. However there is a shortage of skilled design engineers - something which our consultancy, XCO2 is addressing by creating software design tools and design guidance, increasing architects' ability to design iteratively for optimal performance."

Are current UK Government climate change targets realistic in your view?

"The targets are realistic in that they are necessary, but of course they are very unlikely to be achieved given current policy. We need politicians with the vision to create an overarching policy framework, instead of the piecemeal measures that we have today."

Domestic wind turbines are expensive to install, when will costs stop being prohibitively high?

"Micro-wind turbines on each house are difficult to make affordable, as many siting points will not be windy enough. However, larger turbines six kilowatts and above, properly sited, can generate two to three houses worth of electricity and pay for themselves well within lifetime."

What emerging energy usage trends do you predict?

"Within a few years we will have financing schemes for distributed generation, making investing in hardware equivalent to an energy purchase decision. We will also see huge growth in the ESCO model for both new developments and energy efficiency, again, enabling large scale investment in energy at low upfront cost to the end-user."

What have been the most important lessons you have learned from your roles as directors of XC02 and Quiet Revolution?

"Dont give up! You have to take the knocks and problems and still rise up each morning full of energy and commitment to make it happen."

Please send any questions you have for future "Q&A" interviewees to: Mel Poluck, Editor at: mel@carbon-innovation.com .


Low Carbon Training Seminar:
Quick Wins on Energy Efficiency & Carbon Management

With high-energy costs and looming climate change problems, the need to review energy efficiency and minimise carbon emissions has never been greater. This one-day seminar cuts through the complexities to provide a ten-point plan for minimising both carbon emissions and energy costs.

• No-cost ways to boost the bottom line by reducing wasted energy
• Investing in energy efficiency - how to maximise the payback
• Examples of projects that have yielded good energy savings
• Demystifying the carbon agenda
• Calculating your carbon emissions
• How to reduce carbon emissions … whilst improving efficiency and profits
• Learn from hard-won experience from those at the forefront of carbon reduction
• Energy White Paper - the likely impacts of new legislation on your business
• Empowering staff and creating a culture that embraces environmental issues
• Gaining board-level support for environmental initiatives

Click to see when and where this seminar is next being staged

 

Places for People

Housing company Places for People aims to provide alternative and affordable sources of energy as part of its ethos of providing environmentally friendly homes and sustainable communities. The company (http://www.placesforpeople.co.uk) is one of the largest property management and development companies in the UK, with nearly 60,000 homes and thousands of new homes in development annually.

Read the full story on the Forum here

Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS)

Changes in weather conditions brought about by the effects of climate change poses a massive threat to the property market. With a large stake in property, mortgage lender and housing financier HBOS has already been carefully managing its carbon emissions and environmental impacts for many years.

Read the full story on the Forum here



Low Carbon Training Seminar:
Quick Wins on Energy Efficiency & Carbon Management

With high-energy costs and looming climate change problems, the need to review energy efficiency and minimise carbon emissions has never been greater. This one-day seminar cuts through the complexities to provide a ten-point plan for minimising both carbon emissions and energy costs.

• No-cost ways to boost the bottom line by reducing wasted energy
• Investing in energy efficiency - how to maximise the payback
• Examples of projects that have yielded good energy savings
• Demystifying the carbon agenda
• Calculating your carbon emissions
• How to reduce carbon emissions … whilst improving efficiency and profits
• Learn from hard-won experience from those at the forefront of carbon reduction
• Energy White Paper - the likely impacts of new legislation on your business
• Empowering staff and creating a culture that embraces environmental issues
• Gaining board-level support for environmental initiatives

Click to see when and where this seminar is next being staged

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



The next staging of the Low Carbon Innovation Exchange in Bristol on 11 March offers a very extensive programme of roundtable discussion groups and training seminars to provide specific opportunities to share best practice and discuss challenges being faced.

The focus is on networking and learning, with each participant having a bespoke programme tailored around their specific objectives and situation.

Programme for 11 March 2008, Bristol Marriott Hotel:

Empowering staff to take action
Facilitator: Stephen Clarke, Partner, Wilmott Clarke

Minimising Carbon in the Food & Drink Supply Chain
Facilitator: Joe Keohane, Director, Sharp's Brewery

Award winning environmental management and sustainability in action
Facilitator: Mark Bartlett, Environmental Manager, Ginsters

Experiences of a Low Cost Airline
Facilitator: Steve Parrott, Director of Health, Safety and Environment, Flybe

Taking the lead and challenging the norm
Facilitator: Dave Gill, Environmental Manager, Communisis BBF

Practical steps to reduce electricity and water usage at Tulip Fresh Meats
Facilitator: Ian Humpage, H&S and Environmental Manager, Tulip Fresh Meats

Holistic approach to Green Transport
Facilitator: Terry Avery, Corporate Fleet Manager, City and County of Swansea

Empowering staff to take action
Facilitator: Sarah Nutt, Chief Inspector, Devon and Cornwall Constabulary

Environmental & Sustainability Issues in relation to highways winter maintenance and street lighting
Facilitator: Keith Jones, Operational Manager Highways, Vale of Glamorgan Council

Wood fuel options for businesses
Facilitator: Anna Halcro-Johnston, South West Bioheat Programme Manager, Regen SW

The challenge of achieving carbon reduction by reducing business mileage
Facilitator: David McDermott, Technical Service Director, Midas Group

Preparing local authorities to succeed in emission reduction targets
Facilitator: Jackie Young, Environmental Development Officer, Plymouth City Council

Delivering Power Requirements and Energy Savings with CHP
Facilitator: Gary Crisp, Energy Manager, Airbus

Case Study Local Authorities leading by example to address climate change
Facilitator: Kevin Smith, Energy Surveyor, Bournemouth Borough Council

Energy efficiency initiatives in action
Facilitator: David Rose, Energy & Environmental Analyst, South West Water

Tackling waste and recycling issues in the Construction industry
Facilitator: David McDermott, Technical Service Director, Midas Group

The challenge of minimising carbon in the food manufacturing sector: The Barts Spices story
Facilitator: Edward Shaw, Chairman, Barts Spices

Biomass Solutions
Facilitator: Paul Isbell, Energy Manager, Bristol City Council

Small-Scale Energy Generation
Facilitator: Dr Andrea Humphries, Lecturer in Sustainable Technologies, Harper Adams University College

Life after ISO 14001. Where do we go from here?
Facilitator: Frank Harvey, Environmental Co-ordinator, Harmsworth Printing

Reducing costs and carbon footprint of your IT infrastructure: the experience of Bath and North East Somerset Council
Facilitator: Stuart Batson, IT Operations Manager, Bath & North East Somerset Council

Rebuilding & Recycling Vs Purchasing New: A novel approach to maintaining company vehicles
Facilitator: John Rhodes, Works & Development Manager, Landcare Services

Travel Planning in the context of CSR
Facilitator: Nicola Blundell, Environmental Director, Zurich and Arthur Champion, Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental Advisor, Zurich

Marketing in a Green Thinking Society
Facilitator: Gareth Kane, Director, Terra Infirma

Developing Green Champions in an organisation
Facilitator: Stephen Clarke, Partner, Wilmott Clarke

Sustainable Bristol
Facilitator: Sarah Hills, Principal Sustainability Advisor, Forum For The Future

Best Practice in green new build construction projects
Facilitator: John Brenton, Energy Manager, Bristol University

Waste minimisation and recycling at Somerfield Stores
Facilitator: John O'Connor, Safety Contracts & Environment Manager, Somerfield Group

A local Authority's challenge to promote domestic renewable energy
Facilitator: Jessica Whiting, Sustainability Manger, South Gloucestershire Council

Achieving zero carbon in the building sector: how will the sector achieve the Government targets to both design and operate facilities that consume no net energy?
Facilitator: Sunil Shah, Head of Sustainability, Jacobs

Creating 'Green Teams' to champion sustainability projects in an organisation
Facilitator: Stephen Power, Urban Designer, East Devon District Council

Running low carbon conferences and seminars
Facilitator: Phil Harding, Senior Policy Adviser, Government Office for the South West

Going carbon neutral by 2012!
Beverley Draig, Sustainability Policy Coordinator, Eastleigh Borough Council

Delivering Power Requirements and energy savings with CHP
Ian McKay, Energy Consultant

Creating a corporate culture for moving recycling on beyond paper
Ken Young, Environmental Officer, St. James's Place plc

Local authority carbon management programme reaches the parts other programmes don't
Thalia Carr, Environment & Community Officer, Reading Borough Council and Kirstin Coley, Energy Management Officer, Reading Borough Council

How we managed over 40% in gas savings on Educational/Office Buildings
David Oldham, Energy Manager, University of West of England

Laterally thinking the agenda: Unlocking the benefits of joint working
Facilitator: Mark Summers, Head of Environmental Services, Cornwall Healthcare Estates & Support Service

Quick Wins on Energy Efficiency & Carbon Management
Seminar Leader: John Mullholland, NIFES Consulting Group

Best Practice for Energy Managers ~ in a carbon conscious world
Seminar Leader: George Norrie, GRN Associates

Best Practice for Environmental Champions
Seminar Leader: Ian McKay, TEAM

Green & Lean Supply Chain Management ~ squeezing out carbon from 'cradle to grave'
Seminar Leader: Bernard Auton, Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport

Green & Lean Marketing ~ how to delight low carbon consumers
Seminar Leader: Gareth Kane, Terra Infirma

Green & Lean Information Management ~ how to save costs and cut carbon emissions
Seminar Leader: Simon Graham, Consultant

To book your place at the Bristol event (or any other of the regional Best Practice Exchange events) click on the following link: www.carbon-innovation.com/exchange.php


Low Carbon Training Seminar:
Best Practice for Environmental Champions

Many organisations make internal appointments for climate change champions to drive forward the green agenda and initiate carbon reduction projects. This one-day seminar gives practical advice and support for all those faced with this exciting, but somewhat daunting task!

• Demystifying the carbon agenda
• Overcome the key barriers to minimising carbon emissions
• Simple ways to improve energy efficiency and reduce your energy costs
• Staff involvement - ten ways to engage others to take action on climate change
• Good practice examples on overcoming challenges to implementation
• Hands-on experience of building the business case and advocating real change
• Practical ways to shift attitudes - and head towards a low carbon corporate culture
• Case studies on successfully implemented carbon reduction projects
• Overview of upcoming legislation and the likely new regulatory environment
• Developing a climate change strategy

Click to see when and where this seminar is next being staged

 

Do you have colleagues that might be interested in receiving the Bulletin?

As the size of the Network grows, the opportunities to share best practice just get better!

So please encourage others to enrol on this free-to-join Network, for example other climate change champions and those with energy, sustainability, environment, fleet management, information technology, infrastructure development or corporate responsibility remits.

Please forward a copy of this Bulletin to all you think might be interested.

New members can register for the Bulletin here



Low Carbon Training Seminar:
Green & Lean Supply Chain Management

The leanest supply chain is often the greenest supply chain, so there's a real win:win opportunity. This one-day seminar provides information and advice for all those involved in supply chain management on the quest to reduce carbon emissions and enhance operational efficiencies.

• Demystifying the carbon agenda
• Identifying the carbon 'hotspots' in your supply chain and realising the quick wins
• Sourcing goods/services from suppliers with good carbon management practices
• Working collaboratively to minimise the carbon footprint along the supply chain
• Reviewing the environmental impacts of the distribution process
• Tracking carbon emissions across the supply chain
• Ideas on making re-cyling and re-usage a key process within the supply chain
• Benchmarking your performance
• Opportunities to localise your supply chain?
• Horizon Scanning ~ technologies that could transform supply chain efficiency

Click to see when and where this seminar is next being staged

 

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 a future Best Practice Exchange.

Please email any comments or suggestions to mel@carbon-innovation.com


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