The Royal Institute of British Architects has declared a state of climate emergency, committing to a five-year plan of action for climate change. The decision to formally acknowledge the role that architects have in causing climate change and alleviating it was made at a council meeting of the RIBA. Hurricane Irma (Image: Jo Pegram-Mills)
Solar can help wildlife to thrive, a new tool aims to prove while also seeking to help industry with improving biodiversity of sites. Increasing the biodiversity of solar farms can help tackle both the climate emergency and the UK’s declining wildlife, the report, authored by the Solar Trade Association (STA), adds. Speaking at the launch
The UK has today passed a legally binding net zero emissions target into law, becoming the world’s first major economy to do so. After passing through the House of Lords without challenge, this morning Chris Skidmore, stand-in energy and clean growth minister, signed legislation committing the UK to eliminate its greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Treasury proposes rise from 5% to 20%, while the tax on coal will stay at lower rate Homes hoping to shrink their carbon footprints by installing a solar-battery system face a steep VAT increase from October under new laws proposed by HMRC. The Treasury put forward legislation on Monday to raise VAT for home solar-battery
New research from an Adelaide university has found that battery power storage has reached a tipping point where it’s worth the investment and can save families money. Samantha Corns' family-of-five uses batteries to power their home and said they are "basically living off the grid." The battery, which stores energy generated by her rooftop solar
Right to life is likely to be undermined alongside the rule of law, special rapporteur says The world is increasingly at risk of “climate apartheid”, where the rich pay to escape heat and hunger caused by the escalating climate crisis while the rest of the world suffers, a report from a UN human rights expert
General Electric will demolish a California natural gas-fired plant with 20 years remaining in its useful life, deeming the plant “uneconomical” as inexpensive solar and wind grab a larger share of power in the state. The Inland Empire Energy Center (IEEC), a 750 megawatt plant, is slated for closure by the end of the year.
Legislation to increase the rate of VAT attached to solar panels and home batteries to 20% move forward yesterday following a legislation committee hearing that included accusations of government errors and “bombast and windbaggery”. Yesterday (Monday 24 June) legislation was put forward containing the VAT increase, which will see tax on home solar and battery
Speaking at a flood and coastal erosion conference in Telford, Bevan welcomed the government’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050, but said this would not eliminate climate change-related damage to the country and that communities and infrastructure would be at risk without renewed action. “Even if we didn’t produce another
Two thirds of all people who own a PV array generate enough electricity to become self-sufficient if they have access to storage, according to German utility E.ON. “66 percent of our clients with a solar array produce more electricity over the year than they consume,” the company’s head of German operations, Victoria Ossadnik, told broadcaster