from
The Energy Supplement
Lightworker
MAGAZINE
Make a Difference to Climate Change: Good Energy Juliet Davenport is the founder and chief executive of the renewable electricity provider, Good Energy. Her passionate approach to empowering people to tack‐ le the seemingly insurmountable problem of climate change has won a string of awards. We all lead busy lives, juggling spending time with our families with work and get‐ ting the bills paid on time. But now, more than ever, people are accepting that as individuals we have a role to play in tackling climate change, and the dire conse‐ quences if we fail to act. Many of us are already doing our bit by recycling and reducing our waste, cutting down on flights where possible, buying more efficient cars and growing our own vegetables. Others are going further, fitting solar panels on their roofs or wind tur‐ bines on their land to generate their own renewable electricity. Not everyone can do all these things. I set up Good Energy nearly 10 years ago, because I wanted to make it easy for ordinary people to take one simple step to‐ wards making a difference to climate change. With electricity contributing around a third of the average household’s C02 emissions, switching to 100 percent renew‐ able electricity is something anyone can do. There are several so‐called “green tariffs” available, but here at Good Energy we’re unique in that all the electricity we supply is generated by clean, renewable sourc‐ es such as wind, water and sunlight (and even animal manure!). We have our own wind farm in Cornwall, but most of our electricity comes from a community of 1,200 independent renewable generators throughout the country. From farming communities to families based in towns and cities, we have a diverse network of energy entrepreneurs, large and small, who are making a difference in tackling climate change. By buying electricity from us, our customers are helping to support them. It’s why organisations such as Friends of the Earth, River Cottage, Sustrans and ActionAid have chosen us to supply them with renewable electricity. Switching is easy ‐ we operate by supplying electricity to the National Grid like any other energy supplier. The difference is for every unit of electricity our customers page one
Lightworkermag.com
energy supplement
use, we supply a unit of renewable electricity to the grid, and all this is indepen‐ dently verified every year. But it doesn’t stop there. We also want to help our customers use less energy over‐ all and save money on their bills. The idea of an electricity company trying to sell less power may sound strange, but it makes sense to us. Our vision for the UK is to source an increasing percentage of our energy from renewables – and the less energy we all use overall, the easier this will be. Today we work with over 26,000 customers, not only households but also busi‐ nesses, and we know that by joining Good Energy they feel part of an overall effort to make a difference to a big problem. Whether you choose to make the switch to a renewable electricity supplier, take steps to make your home more energy effi‐ cient or try your hand at generating electricity, Good Energy can help. energy supplement
Lightworkermag.com
page two
Tree Planting: Global ReLeaf International
American forests partners with environmental organisations worldwide through their Global ReLeaf International program. Each tree‐planting project adapts the Global ReLeaf model to a country’s local cultural and environmental needs. These projects include urban forestry, educational programs, grade‐school education, rural reforestation, and the establishment of tree nurseries. There are two types of Global ReLeaf projects: 1) In urban areas, trees are planted through the Global ReLeaf Fund. The program also encourages individuals to plant trees around their homes and businesses or join community groups to plant trees that shade, cool, and beautify their neigh‐ bourhoods. 2) In less‐developed areas, trees are planted in ecosystem restoration projects called Global ReLeaf Forests. Many of these areas have been damaged by natural or human causes. These trees help clean the air and water, filter polluted runoff, slow global warming and erosion, and provide habitat for wildlife. Examples of international projects: Regeneration of Dom Community Forest Year: 2009 Trees Planted: 50,000 Location: Cameroon The village Dom, with a population of 1,500, that is located in one of the seven divisions that make up the North West Region of Cameroon, will receive 50,000 trees in their degraded community forest. The project will improve water infil‐ tration and thus increase the volume of water in the pipes that has since 2002 dropped to less then half its 1980 size. It will also reduce erosion minimizing the silting up of pipes resulting from the flash floods that occur in the rainy season. The project will train 20 youth to be nursery caretakers and also use community members to outplant the seedlings. page three
Lightworkermag.com
energy supplement
Reforestation and Sustainable Farming: Quetzaltenango, Guatemala Year: 2009 Trees Planted: 40,700 Location: Guatemala The Alliance for International Reforestation will grow and plant 50,000 native trees in Guatemala in 2009 to reverse the process of deforestation and slash‐and‐ burn farming. These trees will be planted along stream beds and on steep slopes, within fields for soil nutrition, and beside fields to provide windbreaks around crops. This project will establish tree nurseries to grow the trees, educate farm‐ ers about forest restoration and sustainable farming, improve the productivity of crops through trees, and prevent soil erosion and mudslides. Farmers involved in the project will receive one‐on‐one training concerning the stewardship of local forests.
energy supplement
Lightworkermag.com
page four
Organic Food Home Delivery Organic farming is based on the idea that a healthy environment significantly benefits crops and the health of those consuming them. It’s about respecting natural ecological balances and maintaining the health of the soil and the ecosystems in which crops and livestock are raised. Why should I go organic? • It tastes great • It’s good for the environment • It preserves the fertility of the soil • It improves water quality • It’s good for wildlife • It promotes animal welfare • It’s good for you • It doesn’t use ingredients that are genetically modified • It supports the rural economy because it is more labour intensive • It is a sustainable agricultural system for the 21st century
UK‐based Abel & Cole explain what differentiates organic home deliverers such as themselves from your local supermarket: • We care about our producers, we are flexible and appreciative with them • We work with small, independent producers • We buy our produce on the basis of taste, not looks • Our fruit and veg are seasonal • Everything we sell is delicious! • Everything we sell is natural ‐ no additives • Everything we sell is ethical ‐ no moral dilemmas in the aisles! • A weekly shop takes under ten minutes with us • We can deliver regularly so your shopping takes care of itself • Our customers are proud to buy from us! To find your local delivery service, click here. page five
Lightworkermag.com
energy supplement
Cutting Carbon Emissions: The Carbon Trust The Carbon Trust is a not‐for‐profit company with the mission to accelerate the move to a low carbon economy. They provide specialist support to help business and the public sector cut carbon emissions, save energy and commercialise low carbon technologies. By stimulating low carbon action they contribute to key UK goals of lower carbon emissions, the development of low carbon businesses, increased energy security and associated jobs.
Case studies Carbon management: JCB When JCB decided to make energy efficiency part of its strategic planning pro‐ cess, a Carbon Trust survey within a Carbon Management service showed the company the way forward. In the first six months of implementation, JCB’s en‐ ergy costs were cut by £728,000, while its CO2 emissions are expected to drop by 7,800 tonnes over the course of the year. Savings at a glance: ‐ Total project cost: £300,000 ‐ Projected annual cost savings: £1,500,000 ‐ Projected annual CO2 savings: 7,800 tonnes Loans: The Friends’ School The Friends’ School in Essex wanted to reduce the £8,500 yearly cost of heating its swimming pool. A pool cover purchased with a loan from The Carbon Trust has enabled the school to save over £2,000 per year in energy bills. Carbon surveys: Westbury Dairies Westbury Dairies is the largest single‐site dairy in the UK. In 2004 Westbury’s annual energy bill was in excess of £2m and so the organisation contacted the Carbon Trust for advice on energy efficiency. Savings at a glance: ‐ Reduced their carbon emissions by almost a sixth ‐ Cost savings of £400,000 per year Emerging technologies: Nujira With a phone in everyone’s pocket, communication has never been so easy – or so power‐hungry. With 3G becoming commonplace and 4G emerging, the en‐ ergy consumption of mobile phones and base stations is set to increase dramati‐ cally. The same is true of TV broadcast transmissions as networks switch to digi‐ tal. With support from the Carbon Trust, Nujira is working on a solution. energy supplement
Lightworkermag.com
page six
Rethinking Car Use: Carplus
Carplus is the UK’s national charity promoting responsible car use. Whilst recognising the benefits cars bring to society, Carplus is acutely aware of the finan‐ cial, environmental, social and health costs of motoring today and seeks to bring about a rethink of car dependency. Resources include:
car clubs
car sharing
eco‐driving
low carbon options
car disposal
page seven
Lightworkermag.com
energy supplement
A few relevant facts and figures • Over the past 25 years the number of journeys made by car has in‐ creased, while those by foot, rail, bus and cycle have decreased. The majority of personal travel (93%) and freight movement (65%) is now made by road (10 year transport plan, DTLR 2000). • Road traffic in the UK, at 7,800 vehicle kilometres for each member of the population, is 26% higher than the OECD Europe average (Environmental Performance Reviews, Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Develop‐ ment). • Road transport accounts for around 22% of UK CO2 emissions and air transport a further 3%. • Emissions from road transport are the main causes of chronic hot spots for particulates and nitrogen dioxide in major urban areas. Road transport emits 44% of the UK’s nitrogen oxides and up to 75% or more of nitrogen oxides in con‐ urbations. Similarly vehicles account for 20% of particles nationally but about twice this in conurbations (The Urban Environment in England and Wales ‐ a de‐ tailed assessment, Environment Agency 2002). • The cost of motoring has remained at or below its 1980 level in real terms. In contrast, public transport fares have risen over the last 20 years; in 2001, bus and coach fares were 31% higher and rail fares 37% higher than in 1980 (Transport Trends 2002, Department for Transport). • The proportion of human‐induced climate change accounted for by avi‐ ation is three times greater than that of the equivalent amount of ground level emission of carbon dioxide. This is due to the range of greenhouse gases emit‐ ted by aircraft and the altitude at which they are emitted (The Environmental Effects of Civil Aircraft in Flight, RCEP).
energy supplement
Lightworkermag.com
page eight
Virtual Offices
According to Penelope Trunk ‐ ‘The Brazen Careerist’ who provides career man‐ agement tools for next‐generation professionals ‐ virtual offices not only reduce your energy consumption and carbon footprint, but also “work life and home life will be blended in a way that makes each more rewarding.” At present, the most common virtual office users are:
Home‐based entrepreneurs
Healers / Therapists
Business consultants
Trainers / Instructors
Mobile salespeople
Lee Ann Obringer cites the advantages and disadvantages as:
page nine
Lightworkermag.com
energy supplement
Advantages While the advantages of working from a home/virtual office may seem obvious to you ‐ more freedom, more flexibility, the opportunity to be at home with your kids ‐ there are probably even more benefits that you haven’t thought of. Here are a few. ‐ Environmental benefits from not driving a motor vehicle in slow‐moving traffic and polluting the air ‐ Reduction in traffic congestion ‐ Reduction in stress levels from not having to drive in congested traffic to and from work ‐ Time saved not commuting to an office ‐ Monetary benefits from savings in gas, wear and tear on your car, business clothing, and lunches out ‐ Benefits from being able to manage your time more effectively ‐ Productivity benefits from being able to work when you are most productive ‐ Health benefits of being able to eat a better diet that includes less fast food ‐ Opportunities to get physical exercise when needed mentally ‐ Reduced stress benefits ‐ Benefit of living a more balanced life ‐ A more relaxing work environment ‐ More opportunities to hire part‐time or contract workers ‐ A larger pool of employee applicants because location isn’t as important Disadvantages ‐ Lack of face‐to‐face communication increases chances of miscommunications or misunderstandings ‐ Technical difficulties hindering communications or work progress ‐ Feelings of separation or disassociation among employees ‐ Less camaraderie among workers meaning possibilities for less cohesive work teams ‐ Problems separating your free time from your work time because your work is always “there” ‐ Less convenient to run errands at lunch time ‐ Feelings of isolation if you are always home alone ‐ Lack of support ‐ both administrative and managerial Being fully informed allows you to make a clear decision on what office environ‐ ment is best for you.
energy supplement
Lightworkermag.com
page ten