Simeon Brody
There are two main 'environmental' stories exercising the media at the moment and therefore forcing themselves into our consciousness, the delay in the introduction of Home Information Packs and the proposal to change the planning laws. When HIPs are introduced, house buyers will be able to see the energy efficiency rating of the building, and therefore may be able to choose a house which emits less carbon and costs less to run. But most houses will not initially be included as they have less than four bedrooms. Roll-on a sensible and effective system.
The planning laws proposal is more complicated but the broad idea is to make it simpler, quicker and cheaper to get building projects through the planning process - which involves finding out the views of neighbours and other people who might be affected. This might be great for householders wanting to build an extension or to put solar panels on their roof, but the bigger picture is less rosy as it could enable big developments like power stations and airports to be approved with less chance for us to have our say. For me, the planning process exists to protect our environment and ought to be rigorous, comprehensive and fair, and have sustainability and climate change issues at it's heart. Watch the media for updates, and contact your MP if you want to try and influence their opinion and which way they vote.
How do you know what your Member of Parliament is saying in the House of Commons? There is a great service called They Work for You which you can sign up for, if you are happy to receive regular email alerts.
My second column in CC magazine is due to be published next week, and then (hopefully!) every three weeks after that. I am pleased with the response to my first a month ago, which included a reader in America who wanted help with 'greening' her office environment by introducing recycling. I was able to offer her some pointers which included looking into 'Corporate Social Responsibility' which can help organisations address their carbon footprint, waste arisings and ethical purchasing decisions. The other interesting response was from an inventor, Derick Sinclair, who has nearly perfected a water-saving device which stops the waste of water we normally run out of the hot water pipe before the hot water arrives from the boiler or tank. See www.aqua-technique.com for details. All responses to my column and blog are welcomed and will be replied to.
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