Sunday 16 December 2007
Sunday 25 November 2007
Green Company installs wind turbine for NYCC
I'm delighted to announce that our new eco-friendly offices in Thurston Road, Northallerton, are now open. Whilst some staff are not moving in until later in the year, the new offices are a radical improvement upon the range of older ones they replace. The £2.7 million project will provide over 2,000 sq ft of eco-friendly office accommodation for more than 200 North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) staff. A raft of green measures will see NYCC slash its bills and cut carbon emissions by more than 330 tons a year. Measures to improve the development’s use of water, light and heat will be supplemented by an electricity-generating wind turbine to ensure that the building is the greenest in the County Council’s portfolio. The opening of the office is the first step in what we call our Bright Office Strategy, which seeks to improve our portfolio of office accommodation whenever this makes sense geographically and financially.
John Marsden, NYCC CEO
John Marsden, NYCC CEO
Friday 23 November 2007
SSE Announces 18p feed in tarriff
Scottish and Southern Energy plc ("SSE") has developed a new tariff for householders and small businesses which export power to the electricity network generated via solar photovoltaic (pv) panels installed on their premises.
Under the new pricing structure, SSE will combine the price it pays for the Renewable Obligation Certificates ("ROC") associated with solar power and the price it pays for the power itself. It will also install export meters, act as the ROC agent and seek ROC accreditation for customers free of charge. The package will be called ‘solar energyplus’.The new price will be 18 pence per kilowatt hour of power exported. This means that a householder or small business generating 1,500kWh of power a year (just under half the average household’s electricity consumption) will earn around £135 a year if it exports 50% of the total power generated. For customers who export the majority of their generation, SSE believes this will be the best export tariff in the market.Ian Marchant, Chief Executive of SSE, said:"This is another important step forward in the development of our interests in solar power. We are now offering solar power generators a simple pricing structure which represents real value for all concerned. I hope that it helps encourage further investment in solar power, which can play a growing and significant part in meeting the UK’s energy needs."
Under the new pricing structure, SSE will combine the price it pays for the Renewable Obligation Certificates ("ROC") associated with solar power and the price it pays for the power itself. It will also install export meters, act as the ROC agent and seek ROC accreditation for customers free of charge. The package will be called ‘solar energyplus’.The new price will be 18 pence per kilowatt hour of power exported. This means that a householder or small business generating 1,500kWh of power a year (just under half the average household’s electricity consumption) will earn around £135 a year if it exports 50% of the total power generated. For customers who export the majority of their generation, SSE believes this will be the best export tariff in the market.Ian Marchant, Chief Executive of SSE, said:"This is another important step forward in the development of our interests in solar power. We are now offering solar power generators a simple pricing structure which represents real value for all concerned. I hope that it helps encourage further investment in solar power, which can play a growing and significant part in meeting the UK’s energy needs."
Building design news - New County Council offices to save money and the environment
News Archive County Council bosses and developers met this week to inspect their ground breaking new eco-offices in Northallerton after external construction works completed earlier this month. The £2.7m project, developed by Castlevale Properties and built by the Richmond and Leeds based York House Construction, will provide over 2,000 sq ft of eco-friendly office accommodation for more than 200 of North Yorkshire County Councils staff. A raft of green measures will also see the Council slashing its bills and cutting carbon emissions by more than 330 tons per year.Measures to improve the developments use of water, light and heat will be supplemented by an electricity-generating wind turbine donated in part by Castlevale Properties to ensure that the building is the greenest in the County Council’s portfolio.The new office will bring together staff from four separate office sites, which the council has deemed to be outdated and inefficient. The Council is now selling three of these buildings and giving up its lease on the fourth. This, combined with the efficiency savings achieved through the environmental measures, will mean that the building more than pays for itself.Speaking after the inspection, County Councillor Mike Knaggs, chairman of North Yorkshire County Council, said: “This is a groundbreaking scheme that will see the County Council reduce its carbon emissions by the amount produced by 64 typical households.“I believe it is the responsibility of local authorities to lead by example when it comes to reducing their area’s carbon footprint - and that's exactly what were doing here.“We hope our impressive new eco-offices will demonstrate to organisations across North Yorkshire and beyond that it is possible to have comfortable office accommodation that doesn’t cost the earth.”Martin Foster, managing director of Castlevale Properties said: This has been an ambitious scheme in which we have balanced the twin priorities of maximising the buildings impressive green credentials against a need to provide the best possible value for money.The resulting development achieves on both counts with green measures designed, not only to reduce the projects environmental footprint but also to increase the value of the property as an investment for the County Council.Staff begin to move into the new offices within the next two weeks.The new offices environmentally friendly measures include:
· Daylight-linking controls which automatically raise and lower lighting levels according to the level of natural light;
· Occupancy sensors which automatically turn off lights when no longer needed;
· Rainwater harvesting and flow restrictors on taps to conserve tap water
· Solar shading which will reduce the heating effect of the sun in the summer months, reducing the need for expensive air conditioning;
· A natural ventilation system to provide a healthy working environment for staff and again reduce the need for expensive air conditioning;
· Sun pipes to the top floor to provide free lighting;
· Trees positioned to the front of the office to provide shade to the lower floor and a pleasant outdoor space for staff and visitors.
· A 6kW Eoltec Scirocco wind turbine was intalled by The Green Company. It will generate the equivalent of 5 households’ electricity needs.
· Daylight-linking controls which automatically raise and lower lighting levels according to the level of natural light;
· Occupancy sensors which automatically turn off lights when no longer needed;
· Rainwater harvesting and flow restrictors on taps to conserve tap water
· Solar shading which will reduce the heating effect of the sun in the summer months, reducing the need for expensive air conditioning;
· A natural ventilation system to provide a healthy working environment for staff and again reduce the need for expensive air conditioning;
· Sun pipes to the top floor to provide free lighting;
· Trees positioned to the front of the office to provide shade to the lower floor and a pleasant outdoor space for staff and visitors.
· A 6kW Eoltec Scirocco wind turbine was intalled by The Green Company. It will generate the equivalent of 5 households’ electricity needs.
The Green Company installs 6kW wind turbine for North Yorkshire Council
New offices to save money and the environment
Archive News September 07, 2007
County Council bosses and developers have met to inspect their ground breaking new eco-offices in Northallerton after construction completed earlier this month.
The £2.7 million project, developed by Castlevale Properties and built by the Northallerton and Leeds based York House Construction, will provide over 2,000 sq ft of eco-friendly office accommodation for more than 200 of North Yorkshire County Council’s staff. A raft of green measures will also see the Council slashing its bills and cutting carbon emissions by more than 330 tons per year.
Measures to improve the development’s use of water, light and heat will be supplemented by an electricity-generating wind turbine to ensure that the building is the greenest in the County Council’s portfolio.
The new office will bring together staff from four separate office sites, which the council has deemed to be outdated and inefficient. The Council is now selling three of these buildings and giving up its lease of the fourth. This, combined with the efficiency savings achieved through the environmental measures, will mean that the building more than pays for itself.
Speaking after the inspection, County Councillor Mike Knaggs, chairman of North Yorkshire County Council, said: “This is a groundbreaking scheme that will see the County Council reduce its carbon emissions by the amount produced by 64 typical households.
“I believe it is the responsibility of local authorities to lead by example when it comes to reducing their area’s carbon footprint – and that’s exactly what we’re doing here.
“We hope our impressive new eco-offices will demonstrate to organisations across North Yorkshire and beyond that it is possible to have comfortable office accommodation that doesn’t cost the earth.”
Martin Foster, managing director of Castlevale properties said: “This has been an ambitious scheme in which we have balanced the twin priorities of maximising the building’s impressive green credentials against a need to provide the best possible value for money.
“The resulting development achieves on both counts with green measures designed, not only to reduce the project’s environmental footprint but also to increase the value of the property as an investment for the County Council.”
Staff begin to move into the new offices within the next two weeks.
The new office’s environmentally friendly measures include:
Daylight-linking controls which automatically raise and lower lighting levels according to the level of natural light;
Occupancy sensors which automatically turn off lights when no longer needed;
Rainwater harvesting and flow restrictors on taps to conserve tap water;
Solar shading which will reduce the heating effect of the sun in the summer months, reducing the need for expensive air conditioning;
A natural ventilation system to provide a healthy working environment for staff and again reduce the need for expensive air conditioning;
Sun pipes to the top floor to provide ‘free’ lighting;
Trees positioned to the front of the office to provide shade to the lower floor and a pleasant outdoor space for staff and visitors.
A 6kW Eoltec Scirocco wind turbine will generate electricity.
Archive News September 07, 2007
County Council bosses and developers have met to inspect their ground breaking new eco-offices in Northallerton after construction completed earlier this month.
The £2.7 million project, developed by Castlevale Properties and built by the Northallerton and Leeds based York House Construction, will provide over 2,000 sq ft of eco-friendly office accommodation for more than 200 of North Yorkshire County Council’s staff. A raft of green measures will also see the Council slashing its bills and cutting carbon emissions by more than 330 tons per year.
Measures to improve the development’s use of water, light and heat will be supplemented by an electricity-generating wind turbine to ensure that the building is the greenest in the County Council’s portfolio.
The new office will bring together staff from four separate office sites, which the council has deemed to be outdated and inefficient. The Council is now selling three of these buildings and giving up its lease of the fourth. This, combined with the efficiency savings achieved through the environmental measures, will mean that the building more than pays for itself.
Speaking after the inspection, County Councillor Mike Knaggs, chairman of North Yorkshire County Council, said: “This is a groundbreaking scheme that will see the County Council reduce its carbon emissions by the amount produced by 64 typical households.
“I believe it is the responsibility of local authorities to lead by example when it comes to reducing their area’s carbon footprint – and that’s exactly what we’re doing here.
“We hope our impressive new eco-offices will demonstrate to organisations across North Yorkshire and beyond that it is possible to have comfortable office accommodation that doesn’t cost the earth.”
Martin Foster, managing director of Castlevale properties said: “This has been an ambitious scheme in which we have balanced the twin priorities of maximising the building’s impressive green credentials against a need to provide the best possible value for money.
“The resulting development achieves on both counts with green measures designed, not only to reduce the project’s environmental footprint but also to increase the value of the property as an investment for the County Council.”
Staff begin to move into the new offices within the next two weeks.
The new office’s environmentally friendly measures include:
Daylight-linking controls which automatically raise and lower lighting levels according to the level of natural light;
Occupancy sensors which automatically turn off lights when no longer needed;
Rainwater harvesting and flow restrictors on taps to conserve tap water;
Solar shading which will reduce the heating effect of the sun in the summer months, reducing the need for expensive air conditioning;
A natural ventilation system to provide a healthy working environment for staff and again reduce the need for expensive air conditioning;
Sun pipes to the top floor to provide ‘free’ lighting;
Trees positioned to the front of the office to provide shade to the lower floor and a pleasant outdoor space for staff and visitors.
A 6kW Eoltec Scirocco wind turbine will generate electricity.
Thursday 22 November 2007
Farmer trials 'green' electricity
BBC Thursday, 22 November 2007, 18:25 GMT
A Shropshire farmer is to test a greener form of energy by having a wind turbine installed on his land as part of a research project.
Tony Boyle, who farms at Aston Eyre near Bridgnorth, is trialling six different turbines for the Green Company and Wolverhampton University.
Two small generators are already being used to power batteries and lights for remote barns.
The latest turbine will provide about £1,200-worth of electricity annually.
That is about double what the farm needs and any surplus will be sold back to the National Grid at a profit, a spokesman for the Green Company said.
Mr Boyle said he and other farmers and landowners were keen to see how effective the trial was and that early signs were very positive with neighbours asking which turbine they should install
A Shropshire farmer is to test a greener form of energy by having a wind turbine installed on his land as part of a research project.
Tony Boyle, who farms at Aston Eyre near Bridgnorth, is trialling six different turbines for the Green Company and Wolverhampton University.
Two small generators are already being used to power batteries and lights for remote barns.
The latest turbine will provide about £1,200-worth of electricity annually.
That is about double what the farm needs and any surplus will be sold back to the National Grid at a profit, a spokesman for the Green Company said.
Mr Boyle said he and other farmers and landowners were keen to see how effective the trial was and that early signs were very positive with neighbours asking which turbine they should install
Thursday 15 November 2007
Planning authority’s approval in June 2006
25/04/07 - Archive News
I can confirm that since the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea planning authority’s approval in June 2006, for the four wind turbines on our building, we have at last installed them and went live and connected to the Electricity Grid; on 1/4/2007.
To keep in the spirit of the environmental concerns of London Mayor Ken Livingstone, when he was quoted in The Sunday Times, 13th of Feb 2005 addition, that he wanted London to be the world’s “greenest” capital on earth, I came up with a proposal to install four Wind Turbines, on our Building and appointed THE GREEN COMPANY (EUROPE) LTD.
We were one of only two planning applications the other by the Tory leader Mr. David Cameron. We hoped we will be the first approval and the first installation in the whole of London……….It was like a personal race with Mr. Cameron. However we thought we lost this personal race to be the first when Mr. Cameron fitted his wind turbine to his House in March. Unfortunately, Mr. Cameron had to take down his Turbine because it was fitted incorrectly and not according to his planning approval. It transpired that we then were officially the first. Anyway we considered that we were the first to install four wind turbines on a residential building in the City of London.
Mr. Kassem Shakarchi
I can confirm that since the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea planning authority’s approval in June 2006, for the four wind turbines on our building, we have at last installed them and went live and connected to the Electricity Grid; on 1/4/2007.
To keep in the spirit of the environmental concerns of London Mayor Ken Livingstone, when he was quoted in The Sunday Times, 13th of Feb 2005 addition, that he wanted London to be the world’s “greenest” capital on earth, I came up with a proposal to install four Wind Turbines, on our Building and appointed THE GREEN COMPANY (EUROPE) LTD.
We were one of only two planning applications the other by the Tory leader Mr. David Cameron. We hoped we will be the first approval and the first installation in the whole of London……….It was like a personal race with Mr. Cameron. However we thought we lost this personal race to be the first when Mr. Cameron fitted his wind turbine to his House in March. Unfortunately, Mr. Cameron had to take down his Turbine because it was fitted incorrectly and not according to his planning approval. It transpired that we then were officially the first. Anyway we considered that we were the first to install four wind turbines on a residential building in the City of London.
Mr. Kassem Shakarchi
Scirocco wind turbines running in Orkney
9/11/07 - Archive News
"Watching the news last night on the TV, it seemed that Orkney had the worst of the weather yesterday - Even speaking to someone in Shetland today, they reckoned there was less wind up there yesterday than there was here in Orkney.
With 4 Scirocco wind turbines running in Orkney at the moment, and I thought you might be interested to hear how they all fared!
The highest wind speed we recorded was 43.8 m/s, and for a significant part of the day (0700 to 1500 or so) the wind sat steady at between 30 and 35 m/s, fluctuating up to 40ish. There were a lot of brownouts and blackouts on the grid, some lasting overnight and the power only
being re-instated this morning.
3 of the owners phoned me up at various points in the day yesterday, as the wind was battering us about. All were just phoning in to report their turbines were doing away fine, and what their latest meter readings were! One of the owners was without grid overnight and was wondering what he should do with his turbine. We simply advised him to leave it be, and when the grid returned, it would all come back on line again. This he did, and I spoke to him again to day and all is well! We reckon it ran free in nothing less than 20 m/s all night, and nearer 30 m/s most of the time!
One off grid client had kWh's coming out of her ears yesterday - Remember that unlike many turbines, the Scirocco makes full power even in 30 m/s and doesnt tail off in high winds.
Unfortuantely, we did have some other problem wind turbines yesterday, but not Eoltecs. We have one with a burned out generator core, and about 4 others that suffered DC overvoltage "lockouts" which lost a whole 24 hours production until the wind dropped sufficiently for the inverters to reset.
I also had a phone call from someone who DIY installed a 1 kW turbine earlier in the year - It didnt survive, and broke up, apparantly quite spectacularly in the wind! His house and office overlooks an Eoltec wind turbine so he was asking today if we could fit a Eoltec Scirocco instead, as it galled him looking at it running away all day through the storm as his lay in bits!
This morning it was pretty cold, with some bits of snow lying around. With the air being this cold (and dense!) this is about as onerous as it gets for turbine survivability! We notice the big turbines do a lot more power in the colder weather due to the denser air, so wind
whisling past a turbine at 3 degrees and 44 m/s is a pretty good test for it! " Bryan
"Watching the news last night on the TV, it seemed that Orkney had the worst of the weather yesterday - Even speaking to someone in Shetland today, they reckoned there was less wind up there yesterday than there was here in Orkney.
With 4 Scirocco wind turbines running in Orkney at the moment, and I thought you might be interested to hear how they all fared!
The highest wind speed we recorded was 43.8 m/s, and for a significant part of the day (0700 to 1500 or so) the wind sat steady at between 30 and 35 m/s, fluctuating up to 40ish. There were a lot of brownouts and blackouts on the grid, some lasting overnight and the power only
being re-instated this morning.
3 of the owners phoned me up at various points in the day yesterday, as the wind was battering us about. All were just phoning in to report their turbines were doing away fine, and what their latest meter readings were! One of the owners was without grid overnight and was wondering what he should do with his turbine. We simply advised him to leave it be, and when the grid returned, it would all come back on line again. This he did, and I spoke to him again to day and all is well! We reckon it ran free in nothing less than 20 m/s all night, and nearer 30 m/s most of the time!
One off grid client had kWh's coming out of her ears yesterday - Remember that unlike many turbines, the Scirocco makes full power even in 30 m/s and doesnt tail off in high winds.
Unfortuantely, we did have some other problem wind turbines yesterday, but not Eoltecs. We have one with a burned out generator core, and about 4 others that suffered DC overvoltage "lockouts" which lost a whole 24 hours production until the wind dropped sufficiently for the inverters to reset.
I also had a phone call from someone who DIY installed a 1 kW turbine earlier in the year - It didnt survive, and broke up, apparantly quite spectacularly in the wind! His house and office overlooks an Eoltec wind turbine so he was asking today if we could fit a Eoltec Scirocco instead, as it galled him looking at it running away all day through the storm as his lay in bits!
This morning it was pretty cold, with some bits of snow lying around. With the air being this cold (and dense!) this is about as onerous as it gets for turbine survivability! We notice the big turbines do a lot more power in the colder weather due to the denser air, so wind
whisling past a turbine at 3 degrees and 44 m/s is a pretty good test for it! " Bryan
First wind turbine installer
4/10/07 - Archive News
The Green Company is the first wind turbine installer to be accredited under the DTI's (now BERR) Microgeneration Scheme.
The Green Company is the first wind turbine installer to be accredited under the DTI's (now BERR) Microgeneration Scheme.
The Green Company is formed
8/8/06 - Archive News
The Green Company is formed to help people reduce their impact on climate change in ways that make financial sense, and without changing their lifestyles.
The Green Company is formed to help people reduce their impact on climate change in ways that make financial sense, and without changing their lifestyles.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)