Electrifying Reading Station

FUTURE CLIMATE CHANGE NEWS
 
  • The aim is to become one of the UK’s first climate-neutral train stations
  • Electrifying key routes on the railway will mean faster, greener, quieter and more reliable journeys for thousands of passengers.
  • The overall goals are pointing towards climate-and fossil fuel-free district in 2030 where   carbon dioxide emissions below 1.5 tonnes per person per year by 2020
 
electrifying

Electric trains emits circa 20-35% less carbon per passenger than a diesel train. With zero emissions at the point of use, they  improve air quality in pollution hot spots such as city centres and main line stations. Electric trains are quieter than diesels and are virtually silent when waiting at stations.

Read about the progress at Reading station area development:
http://www.networkrail.co.uk/reading

Green game-changers: insights for mainstreaming business innovation

Take a look through our new report that features 10 larger businesses that draw from entrepreneurial activity and are taking innovation forward at a grand scale.

This review follows on from last year’s Green Game-Changers report, which looked at small-scale sustainability innovators. The potential of these smaller players inspired this year’s review of the progress that large firms have made to adopt and scale up innovations. Within this remit we have honed in on those that have gone beyond product and process optimisation and have innovated their business models towards sustainability.  Hertz, Philips, B&Q, Umicore, and Caterpillar are just a few of the companies who have spoken about their experiences.

Green_game-changers

 

The report was produced with research from Verdantix

The Green Investment Report: The ways and means to unlock private finance for green growth

The Green Investment Report aims to inform and inspire policy-makers and public and private finance providers to close the gap in delivering inclusive, sustainable growth.

 

Foreword

Shaping a global economy fit for the 21st century is our greatest challenge. Such an economy in 2050 will satisfy the needs of more than 9 billion people, who will rightly demand equal opportunities for development. Delivering such inclusive development in a sustainable way, however, requires that we remain within the boundaries of what our planet can safely deliver. Economic growth and sustainability are inter-dependent, you cannot have one without the other, and greening investment is the pre-requisite to realizing both goals.

The-Green-Investment-Report

Download the report of the Green Growth Action Alliance here (40 pages)

http://reports.weforum.org/green-investing-2013/?doing_wp_cron=1359415984.7779729366302490234375

A British Energy supplier launches solar power solutions for companies in Greater Reading

FUTURE CLIMATE CHANGE NEWS

It is now offering British Energy businesses in the Greater Reading area the opportunity to buy solar power solutions. The production of one´s own electricity from the sun can be a reality for entrepreneurs. It has a range of comprehensive solutions which can help with everything from the planning to the commissioning of the plant.

– In spring 2013, we will launch our finished solar packages to residential customers in the region. We are now taking the next step in our commitment to environmentally friendly and renewable energy solutions by also offering corporate solar power, says the director of new business at British TBV-Energy.

British Energy’s offer to entrepreneurs is solution-oriented, which means that we tailor our solutions to the customer’s needs and the current real estate conditions. Customer may help all the way, from accessing it´s feasibility to the installation and commissioning of the solar system. Whether the system is integrated into the building’s facade, roof, or a more standard solution, is completely dependent on what is the most optimal and economical for the customer.

– As the next generation of energy, we want to be at the forefront of developments leading towards our vision of a sun economy – ie where all energy is directly or indirectly derived from the sun – and we believe that distributed, local production is an important step on the way, says British TVB-Energy.

Are you responsible for planing your Eco-friendly business, if so, please take part in our 10+10 Climate Change poll

Here are the links to the survey, thank you (closes 4th February)

TVB_ClimateChallenge Climate Change Business Poll A
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/55TQ8Y5

TVB_ClimateChallenge Climate Change Business Poll B
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/KWTLW9Q

/Team TVB_ClimateChallenge

 

 

How is our very own Local Climate Change programme going on?

As you may know the consultation deadline for the Climate Change Strategy has been extended to the end of January to allow for greater engagement with local business ensuring that the final version reflects the range of views received.

You can also get involved by visiting http://www.reading.gov.uk/climatesurvey  The consultation ends 31/01/13

The consultation is an excellent opportunity for the business community to embrace knowledge and bring value to the region by presenting wise green solutions / advise in companion ship with the local council regarding Readings new ‘green’ legislation programme that will have impact on investments and taxes.

How do we attract business to invest in a Sustainable TVB Reading raising awareness on the Climate Change Programme?

This is really a unique chance to feedback your climate business views back to the council

A vision for us all
Reading is a vibrant environment with compact, functional developed areas. There are good communications to shopping and services, workplaces and the surrounding nature. Buildings and infrastructure are characterised by sustainable energy solutions and smart environmental design, and are adapted to future climate change. The city has clean rivers and watercourses, and plenty of parks that are both beautiful and safe..

Keep us updated, do you have a local business case to share, join us in the group TVB_ClimateChallenge – http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=4704185 The conference group will be open until February 1st.
Please send invites to your connections or ANY INTERESTED PARTIES E.G.THE SUST. MANAGER

Businesses, you can’t do it alone, together we can achieve so much
Welcome

/Team TVB_ClimateChallenge

Cities Special Interest Group – Hotting Up? Low Carbon Plans in UK Cities

The battle against climate change and resource depletion will be won or lost in the world’s cities. Cities present us with huge environmental challenges, but also offer huge opportunities, because they create economies of scale in technology deployment and access to capital, both of which are vital if we are to make the existing built environment of our cities sustainable and resource efficient by 2050..

Future Cities Special Interest Group – Hotting Up? Low Carbon Plans in UK Cities

The school where everyone is encouraged to play Minecraft

FUTURE CLIMATE CHANGE NEWS

Learning climate-smart solutions in school; students play the computer game Minecraft. The aim is to be able to understand how abstract subjects work in practice.

TVB_ClimateChange

Minecraft uses square blocks based stuff, a bit like a digital version of Lego. For some time all students in the seventh grade in high school play the game.  It is part of an interdisciplinary project that spans the subjects of chemistry, physics, biology, social studies and English.

Should learn to build climate change smart

The project involves students working together to build a future city with pleasant climate smart solutions based on the knowledge they receive within their classes.

The purpose of this project is that students should be forced to make decisions relating to environmental issues in order to know what to build in the game. It creates a desire to learn, says teachers in science and mathematics.

In the game, students have built houses, among other things, containers for sorting and electricity through wind and hydro and solar cells.

I think it’s great fun for students to learn in a different way.  Because you get to try to really build things so you understand more easily how they work, says a student at the school.

Required in teaching

Minecraft is a game that currently has around 40 million registered users worldwide. Most played of course at leisure, but at Reading’s coeducational schools it has now become mandatory for an entire year. Students must regularly submit ratings founding essays and keep accounts where they show what they have done and why.

We must not let the PC gaming take too much time. The students really know what they’re doing and understand what the purpose is,  it is important to combine the game with the regular teaching.

So far pleased with the results

The project will continue in the spring term and as long as the school are happy with the results.  In any case, we have gained a new perspective on some things.

Now I’m almost tempted to waste sorting because I learned what the consequences are if we do not take care of the environment properly.

Links to brief about this:

http://deangroom.wordpress.com/2013/02/03/8-ways-minecraft-works-on-your-brain/

http://blogs.ncs-nj.org/minecraft/2013/01/10/group-1-week-1-recap/

http://www.middleschoolminecraft.com/2013/01/06/science-minecraft-feathers-and-guinea-pigs/

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/minecraft-block-by-block-gaming

How changing car buyers’ behaviour can help cut CO2 from road transport

easit

easitNETWORK is a powerful working partnership designed to support
and encourage the most influential businesses in a local area to adopt
alternative and sustainable transport behaviours to reduce pollution,
ease congestion and increase satisfaction within its staff base.

By bringing together the major employers in an area, easitNETWORK
generates a critical mass, enabling the introduction and use of far more initiatives
that could not necessarily be taken up by one of the organisations alone. The benefits of this approach are in establishing a working partnership and a sizeable group that is more effective in lobbying for changes to public transport provision, generating funding for new initiatives and creating a better sense of community. Since launching in 2005, easitNETWORK has grown to represent over 60 businesses employing over
200,000 staff in the South East!

http://www.easit.org.uk/easitthamesvalley.php