Supercharged growth for renewable energy start-up as it reports £1 million turnover in just one year
Leeds-based specialist renewable energy and electric vehicle (EV) firm, E-Merge Group, has experienced a supercharged first year of operations, reporting a turnover of £1 million since the start-up business was established just 12 months ago. Set up in April 2023 by renewable energy experts, Marc Haley and Charlotte Ward, the E-Merge Group has experienced unprecedented…
Vastint UK reveals first look at the second phase of Aire Park masterplan
Vastint UK, the developer behind Leeds’ highly anticipated mixed-use district Aire Park, has revealed a first look at its plans for the final phase of its masterplan. The next step in transforming the former brownfield site in Leeds South Bank into a vibrant new destination, the plans feature 502 high-quality 1,2,3 and 4 bedroom homes,…
Analysis: delays to building new UK power generation creates energy security ‘crunch point’ in 2028
By 2028 the UK’s demand for power is set to exceed secure dispatchable and baseload capacity by 7.5GW at peak times “Crunch point” is a result of delays in bringing new generation on to the system, increasing demand for power and upcoming retirement of existing assets Shortfall would leave UK more dependent on intermittent domestic…
National innovation award for AI powered help to cut household food waste
Data scientist from York St John University is on a mission to help us to keep track of what’s in our fridge and cupboards An artificial intelligence expert has won a national innovation award worth £50,000 to further develop a sustainability app that is helping to cut global food waste. Dr Somdip Dey, a Lecturer…
CSI York – Project to boost green construction skills
A new initiative which plans to create new jobs, boost green construction skills and in turn help tackle the climate emergency will be discussed at a meeting next week (20 February). The council, with partners on the Retrofit One Stop Shop York (ROSSY) project, has been awarded £3.37m from Innovate UK to support, promote and…
PM’s electrifying visit to Harrogate’s leading bus operator
Sunak hails progress on multi-million pound switch to zero emission bus fleet Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has today (12 February 2024) welcomed progress towards a multi-million pound switch to zero emission electric buses during a visit to Harrogate’s leading bus operator. The Harrogate Bus Company, a subsidiary of Transdev, placed orders in Autumn 2023 worth…
The role of finance in driving down NHS carbon emissions
Carbon reduction commitments already play a role in the assessment of public sector suppliers, but for this to genuinely shift the dial towards net zero, we all need to improve how we understand, assess and monitor carbon reduction both within our own organisations and among our suppliers. Since April 2023, suppliers for all new government…
Bridging Mechanism Consultation
Drax welcomes the UK Government’s announcement of the launch of a consultation on a transitional support mechanism for large-scale biomass generators, including Drax Power Station, as they transition from the end of their current renewable schemes in 2027 to bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS). The consultation, which closes on 29 February 2024, recognises…
Analysis: Development of BECCS at Drax power station projected to save UK £15bn and offset carbon emissions equivalent to all departing flights from Heathrow
Cost savings from carbon removals from BECCS at Drax are projected to be equivalent to £700m per year from 2030 to 2050, compared to other more complex carbon reduction measures Annual amount of carbon captured by the project would be equivalent to taking 3 million cars off the road or cancelling all annual departing flights…
Leeds Beckett engineers collaborate to develop innovative new products using NHS healthcare waste
Leeds Beckett University and Q Medical Technologies Limited have secured Government funding to develop and commercialise innovative new products repurposing healthcare waste. The team will begin by commercialising new, low-carbon aggregate substitutes known as floc – repurposed and treated, clinical and offensive NHS waste – which are in demand for use in civil engineering. Dr…
City of York Council backs Clean Air Night
As winter draws in and the nights get cold, the council is supporting Clean Air Night (24 January) to raise awareness of the dangers of burning wood and other solid fuels in the home. While it might appear more cost-effective to use a wood stove or fireplace with rising energy costs this winter, research shows…
Develop launches new F-Gas training to bridge the HVACR skills gap
Develop Training, the UK’s leading accredited provider of compliance, technical, and safety training, has re-launched one of its most popular courses, F-Gas (Category 1), to provide delegates with training to identify the hazards and safe working practices for working with fluorinated gases. Re-launched on 20th November, the return of the course to Develop is well-timed with…
‘Fuel for Thought’ this Winter
The council has launched its new ‘Fuel for Thought’ campaign this week, raising awareness of the dangers of burning wood and other solid fuels in the home. The campaign highlights that burning solid fuels in stoves and open fireplaces releases tiny, harmful particles in the smoke (known as fine particulate matter, PM2.5 for short) that…
Chairman joins volunteers from Leeds Building Society help Canal & River Trust improve local environment
Volunteers from Leeds Building Society swapped suits for PPE, and laptops for saws and spades, turning out in force to spend a day volunteering along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal with Canal & River Trust, the largest waterways charity in the UK. Leeds Building Society’s chairman, Iain Cornish, joined 15 colleagues from the organisation, who…
Trad Collective Ltd joins prestigious Leeds scheme
Town Centre Securities PLC (TCS) announces the opening date for the latest brand set to join its premium Vicar Lane scheme in the heart of Leeds, Trad Collective Ltd. A unique, sustainable clothing and lifestyle products retailer, Trad Collective Ltd will open on December 10 2023. This exciting addition to the Yorkshire retail landscape promises…
Council delighted by ‘micro woods’ grant win
City of York Council has won a £39,000 grant to plant more trees in the city from the DEFRA / Forestry Commission ‘Coronation Living Heritage Fund’. This fund was set up to support local tree planting initiatives to commemorate the Coronation of King Charles III. The grant will support CYC’s tree planting ambitions through 100%…
Industry awards recognise contribution in the drive to Net Zero
Parkin-Spencer Refractories Technical Manager, Dr Jafar Daji, and Parkinson Spencer Refractories were delighted to be presented with two industry awards at the British Ceramic Confederation’s “Delivering Net Zero for British Ceramics 2023.” Technical Manager Dr Jafar Daji recently attended the flagship UK Ceramics Industry Decarbonisation Conference “Delivering Net Zero for British Ceramics 2023”; organised by…
Transdev places £7.5 million order for 15 new electric buses
Government-backed order to convert Shuttle route between Keighley and Bradford to zero-emission operation Yorkshire bus operator Transdev today confirms it has placed an order worth £7.5 million for 15 new electric buses to convert one of its most popular routes, the Shuttle linking Keighley and Bradford in West Yorkshire, to zero-emission operation. The orders are…
Yorkshire Garden Centres group reaches final of regional food and drink award
The team at a Bradford-headquartered garden centre group is celebrating after reaching the final of a regional food and drink business award. Yorkshire Garden Centres has been shortlisted in the Best Retailer category in the Azets Food and Drink Business Awards. Yorkshire Garden Centres’ MD, Mark Farnsworth, said: “We have grown our family of garden…
Tingley garden centre celebrates its first gardening season with a spring launch weekend
A Tingley garden centre is celebrating springtime and its first gardening season with a celebration launch weekend next month On the 1st and 2nd of April, visitors to Tingley Garden Centre will be able to see the changes that owners, Yorkshire Garden Centres, have made since it opened in September and get 15% off plants, garden furniture,…
Bradford Garden Centre to host free houseplant advice session
A Bradford garden centre is hosting a free drop-in session for customers to get expert houseplant advice. Gardeners’ World Live presenter Joe Bagley will be in the houseplant department at Tong Garden Centre from 12 pm on Saturday, 25th March to give advice and answer questions about houseplants. “More people are interested in indoor gardening than…
Bradford garden centre wins regional sustainability award
The team at a Bradford garden centre is celebrating after winning a regional sustainability award. Sustainability Lead, Steph Bates and Head of People and Culture, Neil Barwise-Carr from Tong Garden Centre were presented with the Sustainability Award at the FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards in Yorkshire and The Humber on 24th February. Organised by the…
International project AgriLoop is launched to accelerate the future of circular agriculture by converting residues into high-value, eco-friendly products
Thirty-five academic and private partners from across Europe and China are now working together on the AgriLoop project, which will develop sustainable processes to convert agri-food residues into high-value, eco-friendly products for use in food, feed and bio-based materials. This new collaboration will find new uses for agri-food residues: currently an underexploited resource for both…
Sustainable Hosting that won’t cost the Earth
Sustainable Hosting. One of the easiest but most important changes to make to minimise your online carbon footprint and improve your reputation. Yet it’s a consideration a lot of companies overlook when developing their sustainable strategy. But sustainable hosting doesn’t have to cost the Earth. Neither environmentally nor financially! York based web hosting company, HA,…
Micklefield housebuilder online quiz takes flight again for national nest box week
With National Nest Box Week (14th to 21st February), Barratt Developments Yorkshire East, which includes Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes, is encouraging Micklefield homeowners to test their knowledge on garden birds by flocking to its digital bird quiz. Following the success of the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch, the five star housebuilder has launched its…