The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Chris Huhne, today (26 October) opened the University of Salford’s newest research centre for energy and public policy – the newly renovated and historic Joule House.

The Minister toured Joule House, which was home to Salfordian physicist James Joule, who gave his name to the Joule unit of energy and was shown how the University is continuing this legacy after meeting researchers who are working to make Britain’s homes more energy efficient and to combat the fuel poverty faced by five and a half million households.

1st October Wales will officially become the first country in the UK to introduce a charge for carrier bags.

The 5p charge, which will apply to all single use bags,  will see shoppers across Wales reusing the bags they already have in an effort to avoid any  extra cost. This will help to reduce litter and avoid unnecessary damage to the environment.

The Welsh Government predicts that as a result of its charge, carrier bag use in Wales will reduce by a massive 90%.

 Environment Minister John Griffiths has reiterated the Welsh Government's position on weekly waste collections, saying:

"I believe that it is up to councils - not central government - to decide what frequency of waste collections works best for their community. It is clear, however, that the pattern adopted by most Welsh councils, that is weekly separate food waste and recycling collections and fortnightly collections of residual (or black bag) waste, is the most sustainable, successful and cost-effective solution.

October 3rd marks World Habitats Day, yet there is no cause for celebration. CIWEM has serious doubts over the UK Government’s ability to protect and reintegrate vital habitats which provide a number of valuable ecosystem services in light of the new National Planning Policy Framework. A much more integrated policy approach is needed in order to halt increased habitat fragmentation, vital to increasing our resilience to the impacts of climate and demographic change.

 The fragmentation of habitats can considerably undermine the integrity of whole ecosystems - reducing genetic diversity, limiting migration and reducing predators’ range. In the UK the degree of habitat fragmentation has long been recognised and the 2011 National Ecosystem Assessment found that of the 8 habitat types assessed, 30% are in decline. 

Helping visitors plan their visit to All-Energy, the UK’s largest renewable energy exhibition and conference (Aberdeen, 23-24 May 2012) , and thus make the very best of their time within the show is a priority for organisers, Reed Exhibitions, who are introducing a series of sector-specific trails at next year’s show.  These will encompass wave and tidal; onshore wind; offshore wind; bioenergy; solar; and renewable heat, with trails also devoted to investment, jobs, smart energy (energy efficiency and energy management), and low carbon transport.

From Saturday 1 October, water companies will take charge of many drainage systems which have previously been the responsibility of individual property owners. This is the fulfilment of a long standing Welsh Government commitment to remove the burden of maintenance on householders whose drainage systems had not been adopted by the water companies or their predecessors.

These changes, introduced in Wales by Environment Minister, John Griffiths, in July, will mean that householders will no longer be caught out by unexpected and often expensive bills, for the repair of broken, blocked or damaged sewers and the difficulties that occur where several properties are affected.

Legislation was passed last year to ensure that all new indoor pools are insulated to the same standard as walls and ceilings in houses.  However, Nigel Rose, developer of Thermapool, says his contacts in the swimming pool industry and planning officials have suggested to him that nine out of ten new pools are not insulated to the correct standard, and therefore are being built illegally.

Leading environmentalist Jonathon Porritt has predicted that RWM in partnership with CIWM, the waste and resource efficiency industry’s flagship event, will “grow and grow” following this year’s success, which saw visitor numbers up 38%*.