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The Start Of The Warmer Group And The Green Energy Centres

It all started 25 years ago when I wanted to start my own company.

I went to the library to look at business books but not one would provide me the information I craved. Some would tell me how to sell, others would tell me how to run accounts, but none would tell me the true way of how to run a business.

Until I found this kids game.

It Starts With A Little Man Running Around In A Little Loincloth

One day he makes a killing and it all starts.

He then needs an abattoir, a market stall, a person to sell the meat, and so on. After a period of time, he is running a

complete city and everything is great. Until one day he takes his eye off the ball and all hell breaks lose.

The man in the market falls ill, the bank forecloses on him, there is a recession and he is left with the remnants

of the city he once had.

Moto – Never Take Your Eye Off The Ball!

Oil Running Out!With only 30-40 years left before the world runs out of fossil fuels, we have to do something!

Sir Richard Branson warns that the oil crunch is coming within 5 years!

Britain is particularly vulnerable because it has gone from being a net exporter of oil, gas and coal to being an importer, and we are becoming increasingly exposed to competition for supplies.

• The Kyoto Protocol was an agreement negotiated by many countries in December 1997 which came into force with Russia's ratification on 16th February 2005.

• The reason for the lengthy timespan between the terms of agreement being settled and the protocol being engaged, was due to the terms of Kyoto requiring at least 55 parties to ratify the agreement and for the total of those parties emissions to be at least 55% of global production of greenhouse gases.

• The protocol was developed under the UNFCCC – the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

• Participating countries that have ratified (an important term which I will clarify) the Kyoto Protocol, have committed to cutting emissions of not only carbon dioxide but also these other greenhouse gases:

• Methane (CH4)Nitrous Oxide (N2O)Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6)

What Is The Kyoto Protocol?

Kyoto• If participant countries continue with emissions above the targets, they are

required to engage in emissions trading i.e. buying "credits" from participant countries who are able to exceed their reduction targets, in order to offset.

• The goal of Kyoto was to see participants collectively reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by 5.2% below the emission levels of 1990 by 2012.

• While the 5.2% figure is a collective one, individual countries were assigned higher or lower targets and some countries were permitted increases. For example, the USA was expected to reduce emissions by 7%. This chart gives you an idea why different countries were apportioned different targets.

• We are all aware of the effect man has on the planet and the spiralling cost of energy.

• At the Kyoto Summit in 1997, the UK agreed to a 12.5% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels by 2008-2012.

• In his April 2009 budget, Alistair Darling committed the UK to a 34% reduction in our carbon emissions by 2020.

• Addressing climate change and the UK’s impact on global warming, the Government set some stiff targets;

A 60% reduction in UK carbon dioxide emissions by 2050A carbon neutral Government office estate by 2012A 30% reduction in carbon emissions from central Government buildings by

2020 10% of UK energy generation from renewables by 2010

• According to the Energy Review Report 2006, as at 2004, business was responsible for 60.5 million tonnes of carbon (MtC) (40%), residential housing was responsible for 41.7 MtC (28%), transport was responsible for 43.1 MtC (29%) and the public sector was responsible for 5.7 MtC (3%).

Saving Money, Saving Energy & Saving The Planet

• The proposal in the draft Climate Change Bill to set annual, legally binding carbon reduction targets.

• The European Union's commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by the year 2020.

• The Code for Sustainable Homes will eventually become mandatory to Level 6, but in 2010, Building Regulations will be changed to reflect Level 3 of the Code for every new home built.

The Renewable Training Academy Welcomes Latest Headline Initiatives

Feed-in Tariff Scheme

• Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) became available in Great Britain on 1st April 2010. They are not available in Northern Ireland, although this is under review.

• Under the FIT scheme, energy suppliers (compulsory for big six suppliers) have to make regular payments to householders and communities who generate their own electricity from renewable or low carbon sources.

How The Scheme Works• Generation Tariff: a set rate paid by the energy supplier for each unit (or

kWh) of electricity you generate. This rate will change each year for new entrants to the scheme (except for the first 2 years), but once you join, you will continue on the same tariff for 20 years, or 25 years in the case of solar electricity (PV).

• Export Tariff: you will receive a further 3p per kWh from your energy supplier for each unit you export back to the electricity grid i.e. when it is not used on site. The export rate is the same for all technologies.

• Energy Bill Savings: you will be making savings on your electricity bills because generating electricity to power your appliances means you do not have to buy as much electricity from your energy supplier. The amount you save will vary depending on the amount of electricity you use on site.

• Deemed Export: most domestic FIT installations are likely to have their export deemed (estimated) at 50% until smart meters are rolled out.

• The UK Government has now announced the introduction of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) from 2011/12 as part of their Comprehensive Spending Review.

• The RHI scheme is expected to be launched in June 2011. Further details along with tariff levels are still to be confirmed.

• The RHI scheme is designed to provide financial support to encourage individuals, communities and businesses to switch from using fossil fuel for heating to using renewable products such as air/ground source heat pumps and solar thermal.

Renewable Heat Incentive

Turn off all office equipment when not in use i.e. at lunchtime, overnight, over weekends and bank holidays. A single computer and monitor left on for 24 hours will cost over £50 a year. Switching it off out of hours and enabling standby features could reduce this to £15 a year and also prolong the lifespan of the equipment. For a typical small office with 10 computers, this could equate to savings of over £300 per year.

Turn off lights in empty rooms and replace bulbs with energy saving bulbs. Lighting costs can be cut by as much as 15% by simply turning off lights in rooms and corridors that are not being used.

Reduce water consumption by turning off taps fully and fixing any drips.A constantly dripping tap can waste 500,000 litres of water per year. This could cost your business about £400 per year.

Why Don't More Businesses Save Money Through Energy Management?

Examine waste disposal costs and consider partnering with a nearby business to recycle your waste. Look at whether your waste could be turned into another businesses raw material. Businesses can save 4–5% of their turnover by using waste minimisation techniques.

Keep heating at a constant level and ensure doors and windows are shut when using heating or air conditioning. Your heating costs will go up by 8% each time you increase the temperature by just 1°.

Ask your suppliers about take-back schemes for unused products. You may be able to get your money back, or at least a portion of the cost.

Minimise the need for travel and drive efficiently when travel is necessary. A business with 5 company cars could save £5,300 per year through more efficient driving, leading to a reduction in fuel consumption and mileage repayment costs. Real savings can be made on every vehicle used by reducing the load carried and good maintenance.

Invest in efficient equipment to help cut your energy, transport and water costs. Government support includes Interest Free Energy Efficiency Loans and Enhanced Capital Allowances.

Use email where possible, set your PC to print double-sided and use refillable printer, fax and photocopier cartridges. Your business can refill inkjet cartridges for about half the price of a new one.

Let your customers and suppliers know you are committed to reducing your environmental impact and promote it through your marketing. More than a third of consumers would favour a product that has been designed with either low environmental impact, minimal packaging or recyclability in mind.