This blog may help people explore some of the 'hidden' issues involved in certain media treatments of environmental and scientific issues. Using personal digital images, it's also intended to emphasise seasonal (and other) changes in natural history of the Swansea (South Wales) area. The material should help participants in field-based modules and people generally interested in the natural world. The views are wholly those of the author.
Tuesday 23 December 2008
Turning the Lights Off?
It has been claimed that the carbon footprint of Government buildings in the UK exceeds that of the entire country of Kenya (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/dec/23/carbon-emissions-uk). Kenya is admittedly a somewhat modestly developed, pastoral and warm country but this finding is somewhat shocking, given the claim that plans had been in place to improve energy use by the Houses of Parliament and numerous other buildings. The sad thing is that even relatively new government buildings do not seem to have been planed to minimise carbon dioxide emissions (this, surely, should be a mandatory element). Given the 'credit crunch' it is now claimed that it is too expensive to put double glazing into place (this is admittedly difficult on listed properties) and to place wind generators near the properties. One would, however, assume that the savings would off-set some of the expenditure. An example from the 'top' is also desirable when trying to change public behaviour. Improving the energy use of government's housing stock might be a better (and longer-lasting) way of stimulating the economy (builders will have to work to put the changes in place) than simply reducing VAT. The developed skills can also be applied more widely to people's homes etc.
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Birder's Bonus 233
Unusually, a Mute swan ( Cynus olor ) was floating on the Loughor estuary near Bynea.
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The UK government continue their quest to turn England's rivers back into sewers. They first facilitated the privatised water companies...
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Garden plants in France, The Netherlands, The UK and Sikkim (NE India).
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