The range of views on global warming were summed up in last month’s letters page (BSj 03/07). Since then, the summary of the recently dramatised IPPC report has become available. While it denigrates fossil fuel emissions and land-use change, it does indirectly acknowledge that climate change is a natural phenomenon by stating that the polar regions were warmer 125,000 years ago than they are today.

Present British energy policy focuses primarily on electricity generation. In Scotland, the public is outraged by the proposed proliferation of pylons and wind turbines. In England and Wales, the use of renewables is perhaps more realistic. Nevertheless, we do not have a sufficiently compelling reason for forcing wind energy and pylons on our beautiful landscapes. The cost penalties of renewables trading and transmission are borne by the consumer. The trading is pushed beyond reasonable limits. A major power company that promotes wind energy down-rated some of its hydro-stations to be eligible for Renewables Obligation Certificate trading, and then compensated the reduction with wind, with more ROCs to trade.

I make a plea to members when they are contributing to Environmental Impact Assessments. Please use independent figures for carbon emissions savings and load factors for wind energy based on information from DEFRA and the DTI respectively. The amount of coal used has dramatically reduced and the load factors experienced have been lower than hoped. Transmission losses also need to be considered due to the vast distances between generation and demand.

Lastly it is important that we influence government to direct fuel taxes at energy conservation and innovation/research prioritised by potential carbon saving and value for money.

J H R Hampson CEng, FCIBSE

Source

Building Sustainable Design