Page 5 - LONDON EDIT 2008-2009 pj

sustainabletimes 05 www.binfo.co.uk

Panasonic sponsorsWWF

Panasonic is becoming a major sponsor of theWWF as part of its ‘eco ideas’ strategy to improve the efficiency of products, increase environmental performance at manufacturing sites and encourage people to act more responsibly.

The consumer electronics company is sponsoringWWF’s International Arctic Programme, which has been established to protect this pristine region from growing threats, ranging from climate

change to illegal fishing and oil and gas exploration.

As part of the ‘eco ideas’ programme, Panasonic also plans to launch 20 ‘superior green products’ by March 2010 and reduce CO 2 emissions from European manufacturing sites by 10%.

www.panda.org/arctic www.panasonic.net/eco

When it comes to being green it seems that there is always something or someone that stops us from acting in a more responsible manner.

According to an ICM Research survey for the Energy Saving Trust, 63% of us would be greener if the Government offered green tax credits; 50% of us would live a greener lifestyle if we had more time; and 44% would act more responsibly if our employers gave us an incentive to do so, such as loans to buy energy-efficient products. Blaming one’s employer is not a completely groundless excuse, as the pan-European survey of 6,000 adults revealed that Britons work the longest

hours in Europe and spend the most time commuting (more than 5 hours per week). Almost one in three Britons said that their job was the main reason they did not have time to be green and one in seven (14%) would like their employer to give them time off to take necessary carbon reduction measures. More than a quarter of British survey respondents (27%) said they would like the Government to introduce a green public holiday to help them find time to take action to reduce their carbon footprint, compared with a European average of 12%.

www.energysavingtrust.org.uk 0800 512012

As the worsening economy forces businesses to cut costs, npower is recommending energy-saving measures as one of the easiest ways to reduce expenditure.

Its team of experts recently helped four businesses cut their energy spend by £1,200 and reduce CO 2 output by almost 4.9 tonnes by implementing simple measures that could help any business save up to 20% on energy bills. These included reducing the air conditioning settings in a pub by 2°C; defrosting the fridge freezer and installing energy efficient lighting at a car auctioneer’s; and draught proofing doors and changing light bulbs in a shop.

greenAgenda…

Simple steps to save energy

What’s stopping you from being green?

HPA identifies radiation risk from light bulbs

People who sit for long periods next to certain energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulbs could be exposed to higher than recommended ultraviolet radiation levels, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) has warned.

The HPA recommends that open (single envelope) CFLs should not be used if someone is likely to be within 1 foot or 30cm of a bare bulb for more than 1 hour a day. In such situations, open CFLs should be replaced by encapsulated (double envelope) bulbs, which look similar to traditional domestic light bulbs. Alternatively, the lamp should be moved at least 30 cm or 1 ft away.

The HPA’s research found that people within 2 cm of some open flourescent bulbs were exposed to radiation levels equivalent to direct sunlight on a summer’s day.

Guaranteed carbon capture

To counter the poor reputation of forestry offsets, carbon offset company Carbonica guarantees that its reforestation programmes in Central America will capture carbon throughout the term of the offset.

Dr Mikel Susperregi, founder of Carbonica, said that trees would be assessed on an annual basis and any damaged ones replaced. He added: “Trees release the CO 2 that they have captured during their growth back into the atmosphere when they die. That is why it is important to replace them upon maturity and use the timber commercially. The CO 2 is then safely locked away in the wood. This way the forests are efficient sinks of carbon.”

www.carbonica.org 020 7499 9192

No premiums for green IT, please

Lack of knowledge and high prices are the two biggest obstacles to green purchasing, according to a global survey conducted by Cohn &Wolfe and Strategic Oxygen. The GreenFactor survey of 12,000 consumers found that the cost of Green IT was a factor for 45% of respondents. More than half (57%) said that they did not expect and were not willing to pay premiums for green electronics. Just 15% said they expected and were prepared to pay higher prices for Green IT. For more survey results, turn to page 11.

www.greenfactorstudy.com