Biomass boilers are to be installed in small business premises across Scotland as part of a new initiative.Some £1.6 million has been allocated to 26 projects as part of the Scottish Biomass Heat Scheme.Energy minister Jim Mather revealed the plans last week and explained that converting businesses to biomass systems...

Scottish and Southern Energy is looking to build onshore wind turbines in the Shetland Islands.The company has teamed up with partner Viking Energy and the Shetland Islands Trust to submit plans for a wind farm large enough to provide power for 500,000 homes.Proposals suggest that the 540MW development, featuring 150...

Homeowners have been warned to avoid employing doorstep traders offering cheap insulation.Government organisation Consumer Direct has advised Brits to be on their guard this summer.Figures from the group show that complaints regarding cold callers offering home maintenance services traditionally rise during the summer months.Last year, the number of complaints received...

Former England rugby star Garath Archer has given his support to ground source heat pumps.The Bristol and Newcastle Falcons player built his own family home in Durham in 2007 and opted for an environmentally-friendly design.Heat pumps were included as the land did not have access to standard gas mains and...

Cutting VAT on home improvements will help crackdown on cowboy builders, the National Home Improvement Council (NHIC) has said.The organisation has given its support to calls from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) to drop the VAT on renovation works to five per cent.Andrew Leech, director of the NHIC, explained...

A garden designed to promote water conservation has been presented with an award at the Chelsea Flower Show.The Future Nature show garden picked up the Silver-Gilt Flora medal at the prestigious event, with judges recognising its commitment to environmental issues.Every element of the garden is environmentally-friendly and the design, supported...

European energy commissioner Andris Piebalgs has met with counterparts in Australia to reinforce collaboration on projects designed to tackle climate change.Commissioner Piebalgs signed a memorandum of understanding in Melbourne to commit the EU as a founding member of the new Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Institute.Developed by the Australian government...

Europe's largest onshore wind farm has been officially unveiled in Scotland.First minister Alex Salmond switched on the Whitelee 140 wind turbine development yesterday (May 20th).The opening of the £300 million wind farm coincided with a plan from Scottish Power to further extend the development to provide energy to 250,000 homes...

Combined heat and power (CHP) equipment manufacturer ENER-G has opened a new factory in Greater Manchester following increased demand for its central heating systems.The new manufacturing space will allow the firm to increase production of CHP equipment and biogas energy generators by 50 per cent.ENER-G has also announced plans to...

The European Commission has announced €4 billion worth of funding for new energy projects across the continent.As part of the European Energy Programme for Recovery (EEPR), the Commission will support work to establish new wind power and carbon capture and storage (CCS) developments.The €3.98 billion fund will be allocated over...

Several new wind turbines could be constructed off the coast of northern England following a project from the New and Renewable Energy Centre (NaREC).The Northern Wind Innovation Programme will provide support for offshore energy developments as part of a collaboration between NaREC and Envirolink Northwest.Some £2.6 million will be available...