Posts Tagged ‘Approach’

Environment Agency: 21st century approach helps people prepare for flood risk

Posted by admin on October 31st, 2012

he Environment Agency has utilised the World Wide Web as an innovative way to spread information about flood risks to the general public.

This summer’s unusually wet weather means there is a higher risk of flooding in autumn and winter, the Environment Agency and Met Office warned today (Tuesday 30 October).

Interactive online games and animations have been put up on the organisation’s website to help people prepare their homes to reduce the damage caused by flooding.

Other online tools specifically help people to prepare themselves as well as their property for the threat of floods, by talking on the National Flood Forum and filling out a downloadable personal flood plan.

Tony Harris, the Environment Agency’s flood forecasting team leader said: “It is important prepare your property, and also vital to look after yourself, your relatives and your pets if there is a flood.

“The digital information is a great way to reach people who may not know how to keep themselves or their property as well prepared for a flood as possible.

“The downloadable personal flood plan only takes a few minutes to fill out, but could make a huge difference in the way you are prepared for a flood.”

A flash game challenges people to save 12 important items from a soon-to-be-flooded house, which promotes the need to keep valuable items in accessible places.

The interactive flood house invites people to walk through a home and identify all the danger spots to keep it safe, and gives advice to take insurance cover.

Another animation illustrates the different types of flooding, including river, costal, groundwater, sewer, surface water and reservoir flooding.

A video was also uploaded to the Environment Agency’s YouTube channel on Tuesday 30th October that shows flood experts explaining their three-tiered warning codes.

It also gives behind-the-scenes access to the organisation’s flood incident rooms, and can be seen at http://youtu.be/j3onATeGsU8.

The wettest April to June on record, and further wet weather in July, September and October, has left river levels full, the ground saturated and ground waters in some areas exceptionally high.

Emergency responders as well as householders are being advised to be prepared for flooding, which, due to the saturated conditions, could hit with relatively small amounts of rain.

Paul Mustow, head of Flood Incident Management at the Environment Agency, added: “This year our flood defences have protected over 119,000 properties, but we cannot prevent flooding entirely.

“With one in six homes at risk of flooding, the most important step people can take in protecting themselves from the worst impacts is to find out if they are at risk, and sign up to the Environment Agency’s free flood warnings service.

“As winter approaches we’d encourage everyone to take this one step to help protect themselves from what is recognised as the country’s number one natural hazard.”

To access the Environment Agency’s digital flood preparation information, go to the website www.environment-agency.gov.uk.

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English Heritage: Stonehenge – New evidence for its solstitial function and approach

Posted by admin on October 9th, 2012

Using the latest 3D laser scanning technology, an English Heritage analysis of Stonehenge has found new evidence of the importance of the two solstices to its creators, including that of the midwinter sunset.

Approach and View from North East Important

The laser scan has revealed significant differences in the way the stones were shaped and worked. These differences show that Stonehenge was not only aligned with the solstices, but that the view of the monument from the Avenue, its ancient processional way to the north east, was particularly important. To approach and view the stone circle from this direction means that the midwinter sunset had special meaning to prehistoric people, and that they made deliberate efforts to create a dramatic spectacle for those approaching the monument from the north east.

Stones in the North East Segment Larger and More Uniform

A detailed analysis of the first comprehensive laser survey of Stonehenge reveals that those stones on the outer sarsen circle visible when approaching from the north east have been completely pick dressed – that is, the brown and grey crust on the surface has been removed exposing a fine, bright grey-white surface. By contrast, the outer faces of surviving uprights in the south-western segment of the circle were not pick dressed.

These stones facing north-east are also the largest and most uniform in shape, unlike the south-western segment of the monument where there are several smaller and more irregular stones. The lintels are also exceedingly well worked and finished, compared to those that survive elsewhere in the monument.

Stones on Solstitial Axis most Carefully Shaped and Dressed

The study also shows that the techniques and amounts of labour used vary from stone to stone. These variations provide almost definitive proof that it was the intent of Stonehenge’s builders to align the monument with the two solstices along a north-east/south-west axis.

The sides of the stones that flanked the solstice axis were found to have been most carefully worked to form very straight and narrow rectangular slots. These stones include two of the north-east facing sarsens in the outer circle, the Great Trilithon in the inner sarsen horseshoe, and a now isolated upright stone in the south-west segment of the outer circle.

Since all other stones have visibly more natural, less neat outlines, this strongly suggests that special effort was made to dress those that flank the NE/SW axis to allow a more dramatic and obvious passage of sunlight through the stone circle on midsummer and midwinter solstices.

Solstitial Alignment Currently Severed by Road to be Restored

Loraine Knowles, Stonehenge Director at English Heritage, said: “The new presentation of Stonehenge will enable visitors to appreciate the importance of the solstitial alignment far better. It’s why we are closing the A344 – which severs the alignment – to enable the stone circle to be reunited with the Avenue.”

The new Stonehenge visitor centre at Airman’s Corner, 1.5 miles west and out of sight of Stonehenge, is scheduled to open in late 2013.

Findings Exceed Expectations

Analysis of the laser scan has also led to the discovery of many more prehistoric carvings, including 71 new Bronze Age axeheads, which bring the number of this type of carvings known at Stonehenge to 115.

Susan Greaney, Senior Properties Historian at English Heritage, said: “We didn’t expect the results to be so revealing about the architecture of Stonehenge. It has given further scientific basis to the theory of the solstitial alignment and the importance of the approach to the monument from the Avenue in mid winter.

“Analysis of the different techniques used to dress the stones may even help to refine the chronology of the construction. Disappointing to some, the scan has also ruled out many poorly defined lines and hollows previously thought to be possible prehistoric carvings.”

English Heritage commissioned the first comprehensive laser survey on Stonehenge in 2011. Archaeological analysis was then carried out to examine the high-resolution data that was produced for all the stone surfaces.

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Natural England: Designations strategy – Developing the approach for future landscape and nature protection

Posted by admin on September 21st, 2012

21 September 2012

Natural England has adopted a new approach to the way our most precious landscapes, geology and wildlife will be protected in the future.

Today we have published a new Designations Strategy which takes forward the recommendations of the 2010 Making Space for Nature report and helps to deliver the Government’s Natural Environment White Paper, which reaffirmed commitments made under the England Biodiversity Strategy and European Landscape Convention.

Both the Natural Environment White Paper and Making Space for Nature focused on the need to do more to join up England’s wildlife habitats and create more coherent ecological networks which would help wildlife adapt better to a changing climate and provide opportunities for isolated populations of threatened species to expand.

Natural England has a major role to play in the way our most precious landscapes, geology and wildlife are protected. We are  responsible for designating landscapes and notifying new sites for protection -  these include Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, National Parks, National Nature Reserves and National Trails – as well as amending the boundaries of already existing protected areas. We also advise Government on international and marine designations.  

This new strategy will help us prioritise future designation work and we will;

  • Manage our designation activities in a more joined-up way – ensuring new designations and sites work together, bringing more benefits for wildlife.

  • Review the extent and diversity of the current series of AONBs and National Parks to help establish where there is scope for future new designations and provide clarity to local authorities, for example, on whether proposals for these or for boundary variations have a good chance of being taken up in the future.

  • Complete a scientific review of the SSSIs leading to an update of these sites.
  • Support development and implementation of the recommendations from the current terrestrial SPA review.
  • Promote access to and engagement with nature by the public.
  • Provide timely advice to enable Government and regulators to establish a well managed Marine Protected Area network in English waters by the end of 2016.
  • Advise on the management of non-statutory and local designations, to help these sites work alongside statutory designations.
  • Improve our advice given in response to enquiries from organisations and individuals about sites or areas and their potential for designation, to help inform future needs for evidence and supportive work.

info4local Subject Documents

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An Isle of Wight couple aim to beat the sluggish housing market with their innovative approach.

Posted by admin on September 7th, 2012

Luxury property developer Peter Dale and his wife intend to sell their newly built Church View House in Shalfleet in a way which circumvents the current sticky housing market, but still offers both vendor and purchaser a ‘win-win’ approach.
Construction on this stunning, bespoke house was completed in January 2012 by the owners, Peter and Pam Dale, using Isle of Wight Bembridge Ledge stone to match the Norman church across the lane. As you would expect, Church View House is to a high specification, incorporating triple glazed windows, eco lighting, heating and hot water systems throughout.

The house has been designed to offer very flexible living accommodation over 3 floors. This includes an upstairs sitting room & 5 bedrooms (2 en-suite) plus a family bathroom. Discreet solar panels provide hot water and an air-source heat pump supply the under-floor heating & radiators.

Set in a conservation area, in the village of Shalfleet the house is within a short walking distance of the National Trust medieval Shalfleet Quay, offering boat mooring. Shalfleet is an archetypal English village with a shop, post office, Inn and school set in the lovely West Wight countryside; yet only 5 miles drive to Newport.

There is also planning permission already in place for a detached car barn and the property comes complete with a 10 year structural warranty for complete peace of mind.

The couple will be selling this stunning property in what only can be described as a ‘dream competition’. They are currently selling tickets for the property draw for just £10 each from a dedicated website at www.churchviewhouse.co.uk. The lucky winner will walk away with the property and a chance to change their lives and those of their family immediately. So far, Peter and Pam have both been overwhelmed by interest in their property and this more unusual approach they have chosen to adopt.

Peter comments: “Our inspiration for selling the property in this way is the ‘feel-good’ factor it brings. Rather than selling the property in the normal way, we thought this would offer someone the chance to live here who could never normally have afforded to or who couldn’t justify the move, but who would really love to live in the house. That would be great. ”

Selling the house in this manner offers Peter and Pam the opportunity to beat the sluggish housing market within a defined period of time and ensures they do not get caught in the ever increasing issues with ‘chains’ or mortgage applications being experienced by many house vendors and purchasers. As Peter commented, it also appeals to them personally as a way of bringing a little light to those caught in the housing market. This luxury property is appealing to a wide audience already and as Pam adds: “We both thoroughly enjoyed building the property and took time and effort in making it ‘just right’. The location is stunning, being both rural, but remaining within the Shalfleet community and all it offers. It is also close to tranquil and picturesque Shalfleet Quay. All in all, we are delighted with the property which offers the perfect lifestyle and accommodation. To me, to offer it via estate agents did just not do it justice and seemed impersonal. The competition is our way of keeping the sale personal to us and of bringing some feel-good spirit to people in a time of economic doom and gloom.”

To enter the draw, you simply need to visit the properties website at www.churchviewhouse.co.uk and watch a brief video telling you more about this stunning property, answer 4 simple questions about Church View House, pay your entry fee and if you answered 3 of the 4 questions correctly you are automatically entered into the draw, which takes place in January 2013, its’ that simple. You can also enter as many times as you like, increasing your chances of winning this stunning property.

If enough tickets aren’t sold then the draw still takes place but with the winner receives a substantial cash prize instead. But with a limited number of tickets available for this luxury home, sale of all the tickets is expected to be completed well before the draw date.

— Ends —

Media contact:

Claire Elbrow
Blue Lizard Marketing
Tel: 01638 731513/0779 958 8285
Email: [email protected]
Custom Release Wire

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New SaaS footprinting service targets polluting IT Innovative measurement approach identifies specific items of inefficient IT and provides recommendations for how to replace

Posted by admin on July 19th, 2012

From: CO2High Ltd
Published July 19, 2012 12:04 PM

Bath, United Kingdom – As energy prices rise, large organisations have a big headache with the costs of keeping their IT alive.  It’s not always easy to know exactly what’s in the IT estate, and making generic assumptions about consumption rates means only estimated totals can be calculated.  With large differences in actual device consumption rates, what is needed is accuracy on a device-by-device basis.  That option now exists with the launch on an innovative SaaS-based service that determines IT footprints with device-level granularity. 

Uniquely, CO2High’s service works by using network discovery technology combined with a database of device energy consumption rates to provide an accurate way of determining footprints right down to each device in the estate.  This means that individual devices (such as desktops, routers, printers, servers, mobile devices) can have there consumption determined and compared to what is available in the marketplace.  Traditionally such a footprint would typically have been estimated using extrapolated averages from a manual audit.  The problem with such traditional estimates is that they can be inaccurate and only give an overall general view.  With this new service companies simply initiate the measuring process from their web browser and when the estate is fully discovered, the service delivers a PDF report.  This shows various views of energy consumption and provides recommendations for replacing energy inefficient devices. 

“This technology is a leap forward in better carbon management.” says Tim Gibbs, CEO of CO2High, “In typical office environments 15-30% of energy costs are spent just keeping IT alive so there’s a huge gain available if IT consumption can be better understood.  Large estates means it’s a struggle to track what equipment a company might have, let alone determine how each device impacts their energy bill.  Our approach provides clarity by detecting all networked devices and works out footprints down to a device level.”

CO2High’s CIO Christine Headford adds “We’re delighted with the results of this new approach and pleased that the service has already been adopted by a major UK university even before its launch.  Companies are increasingly scrutinising energy spends and clearly there’s a need for better footprinting. Although organisations vary, our initial reviews show that this service can identify energy bill savings of between 8% and 20%.”

The service can be found at http://www.co2high.com

ABOUT CO2High Ltd:
CO2High is a wholly privately owned company founded in early 2012 specifically as a vehicle for bringing the technology to market.  Images suitable for publishing can be found at http://www.co2high.com/mediapack .  Tim Gibbs and Christine Headford are founding directors of the business, and are both veterans of IT having each worked in IT for about 30
years. 

Contact Info: Tim Gibbs; Director
Phone: +44 (0)1373 834744
Email: pressrelease @ co2high.com

Website : CO2High Ltd

ENN Network News – ENN

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Implementing Farmers’ Rights under the FAO International Treaty on PGRFA: The need for a Broad Approach based on Biocultural Heritage

Posted by admin on June 27th, 2012

Authors: K Swiderska
Published: 2011

The FAO Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA) seeks to protect Farmers’ Rights through equitable benefit-sharing from the use of farmers’ crop varieties. It recognises the enormous contribution that indigenous and local communities and farmers have made to the conservation and development of crop genetic resources. Yet the ability of farmers to continue this role is seriously threatened – not only by a lack of benefit-sharing, but by a lack of secure rights to land and genetic resources and policies that promote industrial agriculture and monocultures. This paper argues for a broad approach to the protection of farmers rights, which goes beyond benefit-sharing, to include protection of farmers’ customary rights over genetic resources and associated landscapes, cultural values and customary laws, on which the continued conservation and improvement of crops by farmers depends. It draws on research by IIED and partners in Peru, Panama, India, China and Kenya.

Environment

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Land Science Technologies Announces Retro-Coat™, a New Approach to Mitigating Vapor Intrusion at Brownfield Sites with Existing Structures

Posted by admin on June 14th, 2012

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif.–()–Recently, at the Eighth International Conference on Remediation of
Chlorinated and Recalcitrant Compounds, organized and presented by
Battelle, Dr. Ben Mork, the Director of Research and Development at Land
Science Technologies (LST), a Division of REGENESIS, Inc. delivered a
formal “Technologies for Tomorrow” luncheon presentation which included
subject matter on a new vapor intrusion mitigation product called Retro-Coat™.
This new technology is part of a suite of successful vapor intrusion
solutions, including the widely used vapor intrusion barrier Geo-Seal®,
offered by LST and designed for use on a range of contaminated
properties including brownfields.

“Vapor intrusion
represents a lot of uncertainty for building owners. Retro-Coat provides
a simple and proven solution to a complex problem. Implementing
Retro-Coat can reduce site characterization cost, building mitigation
cost and provide the building owner with greater long-term assurance and
flexibility in successfully mitigating their vapor intrusion risk.”

Retro-Coat is a new, specially formulated concrete coating developed to
mitigate vapor intrusion in existing structures. The Retro-Coat material
is highly effective in mitigating potentially harmful contaminant vapors
resulting from chlorinated solvents and/or petroleum hydrocarbons in
groundwater or soil environments. During the presentation, Dr. Mork went
into great detail regarding the research and development process,
including the new long-term chemical resistance and testing
methodologies developed by LST to document the effectiveness of the
Retro-Coat material. He also mentioned that more information will be
available regarding the details and testing of Retro-Coat in a
forthcoming white paper due out later this summer.

Looking beyond the testing and application, Peter Grant, Division
Manager for Land Science Technologies, added, “Vapor intrusion
represents a lot of uncertainty for building owners. Retro-Coat provides
a simple and proven solution to a complex problem. Implementing
Retro-Coat can reduce site characterization cost, building mitigation
cost and provide the building owner with greater long-term assurance and
flexibility in successfully mitigating their vapor intrusion risk.”

To request more information about Retro-Coat or for a current or
developing project visit www.landsciencetech.com.

Land Science Technologies (LST)™ is dedicated to developing and
providing advanced technologies for sustainable land development. A goal
of LST is to provide innovative and technically sound development
solutions for underutilized environmentally impaired properties,
commonly referred to as brownfields. LST’s cost-effective,
industry-leading technologies offer engineering firms and real estate
developers solutions to issues facing the development of brownfields
today. www.landsciencetech.com

LST is a division of REGENESIS, Inc., the global leader in advanced
technologies for contaminated site remediation. Since 1994, REGENESIS
has developed and commercialized a range of proven soil and groundwater
remediation products to treat a wide variety of contaminants. www.regenesis.com

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A balanced kettle of fish – IUCN suggests a novel approach to fishing

Posted by admin on March 1st, 2012

An IUCN study published in the journal Science suggests major rethinking of fisheries management that could increase food security and minimize the negative impacts of fishing on the environment.

IUCN – News

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The Practical Approach Taken to the Draft Septic Tank Standards will Protect Groundwater – Hogan

Posted by admin on March 1st, 2012



The Practical Approach Taken to the Draft Septic Tank Standards will Protect Groundwater – Hogan

01/03/12

 
 Mr. Phil Hogan, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, today (1 March 2012), published the draft performance standards for septic tanks and other domestic waste water treatment systems.  “I gave a commitment in the Dáil, during the debates on the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012, that I would publish the draft standards for the operation and maintenance of domestic waste water treatment systems for a public consultation process. The practical approach taken by my Department, in consultation with the EPA, won’t only protect groundwater, but will actually enhance our water quality. Members of the public now have an opportunity to consider these draft standards for the next four weeks and following that I will finalise the regulations to give effect to the standards” the Minister said.
 
“The draft standards set out the responsibilities of owners of septic tanks and other systems including requirements for the removal of sludge and ensuring the system is in working order and properly functioning. As I said during the course of the debate on the bill, if householders are meeting the requirements of these standards and their systems are not causing pollution, they have nothing to worry about” said the Minister. “It is important that householders are aware of the location of their system and that they carry out a visual examination of their system at least once a year to ensure there is no evidence that it is causing pollution.”
 

Environmental and economic spin-offs
 
Minister Hogan added “Implementation of the new legislation is necessary not only to comply with the European Court of Justice ruling against Ireland in October 2009 and our obligations under the EU Waste Directive, but most importantly, to protect public health and the environment, particularly water quality. Having good quality water resources will also be an important factor in helping to attract new inward investment to support and create employment in local communities in sectors such as pharmaceuticals and ICT.”
 
“The principal and immediate beneficiaries of the new legislation will be the householders, their families and their neighbours as it enhances the protection of groundwater, which is the source of drinking water for many people in rural Ireland. It will also help to enhance Ireland’s environmental reputation which in turn will have positive benefits for the tourism, agricultural and food producing sectors” the Minister said.
 
Summary of the key draft  standards:
1. Know where your tank is located;
2. Visually examine your tank every year;
3. Ensure only domestic waste water is treated in your tank;
4. Ensure your tank only discharges from those points for which it was designed to discharge from;
5. Ensure the effluent is not discharged to or does not rise to the surface of the ground;
6. Ensure your tank is not discharging into streams/ditches;
7. Desludge your tank when necessary, using an authorised waste collector;
8. Ensure that your tank is not polluting and operation and maintenance is in compliance with the manufacturer’s manual, as appropriate.

“If, as part of the inspection, a problem is detected, the inspector from the local authority will identify a practical and pragmatic solution to the problem to ensure your system is no longer polluting the environment or is a threat to public health.”      
 
Registration
 
The Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 provides for the establishment of a registration system for domestic waste water treatment systems.
“I recently announced that there would be an initial €5 registration charge for the first three months to encourage householders to register. Following that period, the registration charge will be €50. The registration system is currently being developed and is expected to be ready in mid April. I will announce full details of how people can register after the conclusion of this consultation process.”
 
Inspections
 
The Environmental Protection Agency will be developing a National Inspection Plan which will be implemented by the local authorities. The Plan will provide for a risk-based approach to inspections to identify on-site systems which are causing pollution. Inspections will commence in 2013.  The Plan will be completed by the end of this year and details of how and where inspections will take place will be made available thereafter.  Householders, particularly elderly or other vulnerable people, should not allow any person enter their property to examine their septic tank unless they have received prior notification in writing from their local authority that their system is to be inspected. Any person claiming to be from a local authority should also be asked for official identification.
 
There is no fee for inspections.

“I have stated on a number of occasions that I will keep under review the need to provide financial support to households whose systems are deemed, following inspection, to require substantial remediation. The need for any such support will only become clearer when inspections are being carried out.”

 
Consultation process
 
The standards will be finalised after submissions made on foot of the public consultation process have been considered. The standards will then be incorporated into Regulations to be made under Section 70L of the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 and will thereby be underpinned by statute.  Minister Hogan stated “The draft standards have been prepared by my Department in consultation with the EPA and the local authorities. The draft standards take a common sense approach and do not make unreasonable demands on the owners of on-site waste water treatment systems. The key objective is to protect public health and the environment and I would encourage all interested parties to read the consultation document and, if they have any views, to make a submission to my Department.”  
 
The draft standards are available to view and download from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government’s website: www.environ.ie.  The closing date for receipt of submissions is 4 pm on Friday, 30 March, 2012.
 
Submissions in relation to the draft standards can be made by email to [email protected]  or, in writing, to the address below.
 
Domestic Waste Water Systems – Consultations,
Water Services Policy Section,
Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government,
Newtown Road,
Wexford.

Please note that all submissions and comments submitted to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government for this purpose are subject to release under the Freedom of Information Acts 1997 and 2003.

Ends.

Contact Yvonne Hyland 086 850 8879
 

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Defining Fossil-Fuel Subsidies for the G-20: Which Approach is Best?

Posted by admin on February 29th, 2012


Authors:



Publisher:
Centre for Global Studies, University of Victoria , 2010

In this policy brief, the GSI recommends a three-step process to define, measure and evaluate subsidies, beginning with a broad definition that covers preferential treatment in all its forms, and then narrowing down to focus on which subsidies meet national criteria for reform. This method is flexible with respect to national priorities, practical, in line with existing international obligations and paves the way for a consistent approach across sectors. The brief outlines how it could be applied to any sector, but drawing on examples from the energy sector in particular.

Environment

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