New research by British Gas (Centrica) has revealed that UK households could save an average of £147 per year on their electricity bills by switching off their ‘vampire electronics’. What Are Vampire Devices? So-called ‘vampire devices’ are those household electronic devices, plugged into the mains, that continue to drain power when left on standby. These include remote-ready devices with…
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria and particularly sustainability are now key to many business spending decisions. Here we look at some of the current key trends. Ten Trends 1. Putting sustainability at the heart of the business. This is now much more than just an attractive concept. The need to tackle global warming, meet net-zero targets, appeal to…
Nature-based carbon capture and storage company Brilliant Planet uses ‘microalgae’, grown in open-air natural seawater pond-based, high-tech systems on coastal desert land to remove carbon from the air. Permanently Capturing And Storing Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide The company says that its method of using technology and science-led, pond-based algae-growing systems can deliver an affordable method of permanently and quantifiably sequestering carbon…
Microsoft is building a new data centre region in Finland that will use the clean heat from its server cooling processes to heat local homes and businesses. Microsoft and Fortum The project, which will see Microsoft working in collaboration with local state-owned utility provider Fortum Corporation, requires Microsoft to build a new data centre region in the Helsinki metropolitan area of Finland. …
In this insight we look at how hypermiling techniques and tools can help reduce fuel costs and help the environment. What Is Hypermiling? Hypermiling is driving (or flying) a vehicle with techniques that maximise fuel efficiency. Hypermiling enables car drivers, for example, to drive more economically, saving costly fuel and helping the environment. Hypermiling can help drivers to exceed…
Tesco and Asda have announced that they are to trial the use of a coating for fruit that’s made from the same materials found in peels, seeds, and pulps as a way to extend shelf life, fight food waste, and reduce the need for packaging. Tackling Food Waste The UK throws away a staggering 6.6 million tonnes of household food…
Computer hardware company HP has announced that it has acquired ‘CHOOSE Packaging’, a packaging development company and inventor of the only commercially available zero-plastic paper bottle in the world. Paper-Based Bottles Edinburgh-based CHOOSE Packaging’s paper-based bottles are made with naturally occurring, non-toxic materials and are an alternative to single-use PET packaging plastic bottles. The paper-based bottles can hold a…
BloombergNEF’s reports of a record-breaking 27 per cent year-on-year increase in global investment in clean energy technologies and infrastructure could point to real progress being made towards hitting climate-change goals. $755bn Increase – Asia Focus Energy strategic research provider BloombergNEF’s annual investment report, Energy Transition Investment Trends 2022, has highlighted a record-breaking 27 per cent rise in clean energy…
With a recent study finding that the costs of producing lithium-ion battery technologies have fallen by about 97 per cent since their commercialisation three decades ago, we look at the reasons why, and the possible implications. What Is A Lithium-Ion Battery? A lithium-ion battery is a type of rechargeable battery. The lithium ions in it move from the negative…
In this article, we look at what ethical phones and computers are, what makes them ‘ethical’ and what contribution they could be making to helping the environment by tackling issues such as the growing e-waste mountain. Tackling E-Waste The world currently has a significant problem with electronic waste in terms of a “take, make, consume, dispose” attitude, mounting volumes of production…
