Recent highlights

There's a big clean energy vote coming up - here's what you need to know

18 Mar 13

UPDATE 16 May 2013: We've got a date! The key vote is scheduled for Monday 3 June. If you haven't already contacted your MP about this, now's the time!

The Energy Bill, at a jaunty angle

1. What's going on?

MPs are voting on the Energy Bill, a wide-ranging policy that sets the long-term course for our energy system.

There's a (lovable) rogue amendment on the table, which would set an upper limit on carbon emissions from electricity.

MPs will vote on this separately, and if it passes, we'll be charging our hoverboards with nearly zero-carbon power by 2030 – good news for pretty much everyone who doesn't sell oil for a living.

Ready to get stuck in? Use our email tool to get your MP on board

 

Photo: William Warby

"You call that a landmark bill? THIS is a landmark bill"

2. Why that matters

Ok sure, there's plenty of obscure green targets you could get excited about – let me tell you why it's worth getting excited about this one in particular.

Right now, most of our electricity comes from a fleet of knackered old coal and gas-fired power plants, and they need replacing ASAP.

What comes next? It's basically a choice between clean energy sources like wind and solar, or another wave of pollution-tastic gas fired power plants. 

The China checklist - 10:10 tips for a billion people

14 Mar 13

10:10 checklist in Chinese

We've seen some amazing takes on the classic 10:10 checklist, but this slick new design from 10:10 China has got to be one of the best.

Solar School of the Week: Courthouse Junior

7 Mar 13

Sunshine cakes

Crossdale's sunshine cakes disappeared in a matter of minutes!

For many of the Solar Schools, the road to becoming a green school is a path that they have been following for several years. They have picked up a clutch of medals for their eco activities along the way, from bronze to platinum, but installing renewable energy has remained elusive until now.

Solar Schools helps them to acheive their ambitions to be powered by clean energy as well as building links with their local community and, well, it's great fun too!

The unusual suspects: Mexico's petrochemical capital joins 10:10

25 Feb 13

The petrochemical capital of Mexico isn't the first place you'd look for a super-ambitious carbon cutting project, but as the launch of Salamanca's 10:10 project shows, the good stuff can pop up anywhere.

On 11 February the mayor of Salamanca signed a 10:10 inspired carbon-cutting commitment that will see the municipal government cut its emissions by 5%, and help residents do the same.

Would you, could you (fundraise) on a boat?

20 Feb 13

We don't just hand out the Solar School of the week crown to any old Tom, Dick or Harry. So, if you're looking to attract the attention of the team and join the hallowed halls of fame, you could do a lot worse than following these top tips:

  1. Be generally awesome. 
  2. Run a Facebook page that would make Mark Zuckerburg proud.
  3. Involve boats. And Phil Shingler. Or ideally Phil Shingler on a boat...

Ok fine, Millbrook Primary kind of ran away with this one...