Category Archives: Energy

Future Energy Scenarios 2023 Released

An electricity pylon against a sunset sky to represent the electricity grid

The National Grid Electricity Systems Operator (National Grid ESO) has just released the 2023 Future Energy Scenarios document. The report breaks down how electricity demand and how the inputs to the grid will change over the coming years. Why is this important? The Future Energy Scenarios (FES) show how the impact of each kilowatt hour […]

Operational Carbon Reductions Are About to Get a Lot More Challenging

Are the UK’s operational carbon reductions about to get a lot more challenging? In this article we will explore how the carbon impact of electricity is expected to change over the coming years. Many companies and individuals have relied on a greener National Grid for their operational emission reduction targets. However this is about to […]

IEA EBC Annex 80 Promotes Resilient Cooling in Buildings

Professor Behzad Sodagar, a Principal Sustainability Consultant at Circular Ecology, is a participant of the International Energy Agency Energy in Buildings and Communities (IEA EBC) Annex 80: Resilient Cooling of Buildings. The Annex seeks to “support a rapid transition to an environment where resilient low energy and low carbon cooling systems are the mainstream and […]

New Carbon Offsetting Requirements for UKGBC Net Zero Carbon Buildings

The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) recently released their updated document on Renewable Energy Procurement and Carbon Offsetting: Guidance for Net Zero. The guidance was released alongside a webinar explaining the changes made as a response to feedback for the public consultation draft, which was released in late-2020. The update outlines the pathways for taking […]

Defra GHG Emissions Factors for 2019 Released

Defra and BEIS have recently released their GHG emissions factors for company reporting. In the world of carbon footprinting they are considered a seminal resource. The factors show that the UK continues to rapidly decarbonise the grid electricity supply. Download the latest factors from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/greenhouse-gas-reporting-conversion-factors-2019    

Net Zero Carbon Buildings Framework Released

Green Construction

The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) has recently released a framework for net zero carbon buildings. This is a positive step forward for improving the environmental impacts of construction. The framework covers both embodied carbon and operational carbon. We have put together a summary article on net zero carbon buildings. What is net zero, how […]

Carbon Footprint of UK Electricity 2018

In the world of carbon footprinting, the emissions factors from the UK government are a seminal resource. Each year that they are updated gives new insight into the decarbonising UK electricity supply. The 2018 factors are now available. So, what do the “UK Government greenhouse gas (GHG) conversion factors for company reporting” tell us about […]

Carbon Footprint of UK Electricity – Year on Year Change

Each year the UK government releases their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions factors for company reporting. Within the carbon footprinting sector they are often know as Defra’s GHG emissions factors, despite now being produced by the Government department, BEIS (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy). They are an invaluable resource for carbon footprint professionals.​In August […]

Whole Life Carbon as a Vehicle for Innovation

This is Part II of the article, part I revealed how the HM Treasury stated that…  “Reducing carbon reduces costs” – HM Treasury, 2013 The Infrastructure Carbon Review (2013) made this bold statement. It appears word for word in the report. However, such a bold statement should not be taken out of context and it […]

Low Carbon Energy Reaches Record High

Blog by Stephen Allen The contribution of low carbon energy in the UK has risen to an all-time high, while our dependence on fossil fuels has fallen to a record low. Such good news stories seem rare when it comes to the environment – so how did we get here? Percentage Shares In 2005, I began […]