Green Crewe

the new high street

2009-06-26T10:18:00.006+01:00

As retail sales decrease from £250 billion per year, Internet sales increase year by year and are now at £50 billion, coupled with supermarkets increasing market share the high street has been running at 20% over capacity for the last few years, which means as rents are a function of demand they also are running at 20% too high.

As time moves on the influx of 18 years old who will start to be the consumers of the future, will bring a huge wave of new Internet sales, which means the high street will be running at 50% over capacity.

We can look forward to 50% of shops closing and rents and capital values decreasing by 50% - prime will hope fully still stay but this is the face of the new high street.

Central government need to find a new solution for the town centre - we have been lucky that coffee shops have been replacing a lot of retailers as food and drink is one thing that can not be consumed over the Internet, well for the time being anyway.

So what we can do about it:-

Firstly, to compete with retail parks and supermarkets car parking has to be an issue, if there are barriers to shoppers then they simply won't come, so free car parking is a must, public transport has got to be affordable as the first alternative. Park and ride , new transportation solutions.

The local councils have to attract shoppers into towns at weekends with farmers markets, street exhibitions, displays, celebrities etc, free car parking. A "big" Saturday every month, with discounts ,promotions etc and all retailers banding together. Also somebody with local council seek out new retailers , coffee houses sandwich shops, entertainment.

New retailers should not pay the standard rents, don't get fooled into signing an onerous lease, cos once it is signed, its legal. Don't sign an upward only rent review ever! RPI index linked perhaps ! Rate holidays for struggling retailers.

It is inevitable that shops will close as shopping habits change, therefore ,we need to change the shopping habits and redefine the high street. No body is every going to buy a TV or washing machine on the high street any more , it will be bought online or at a supermarket.

The supermarkets will survive so it is up to the consumer to shop at local markets for fruit and veg and cheese, all fresh food , and the local retailers need to go for bulk sales and cut margins.

Fashion will survive on the high street and especially low end fashion, such as primark , but cd shops and electrical shops are gone forever.

Justin King discusses rainforests and climate change for The Princes Rainforest Project

2009-06-22T21:28:00.000+01:00

Green award for Sainsbury's electric vehicles

2009-06-22T21:25:00.001+01:00

Sainsbury’s has picked up an innovation award from the Energy Saving Trust for its use of electric vehicles for home delivery.

The supermarket will have 20% of all urban home-shopping delivery vans electric by September 2008 and wants the whole fleet of around 100 vehicles electric by 2010.It uses zero-emission vans from Smith Electric Vehicles and has been trialling the electric vans since 2005.A spokeswoman for the Energy Saving Trust said: “Sainsburys Online are taking the lead in developing the market for these vehicles.“Providing demand for electric vehicles increases their penetration in the market place, pushes the technology forward and helps to make them more mainstream. This kind of commitment provides a welcome boost to the electric vehicle industry.“Further CO2 benefits come from Sainsbury's customers using the delivery service rather than driving to the store in their own vehicle.”

Sainsbury's Crewe

2009-06-22T21:19:00.001+01:00

Next time you feel like generating a little energy, just roll into your local Sainsbury’s! The third largest British supermarket chain has just unveiled a new energy system that generates power from the vehicles entering the parking lot of its new store in Gloucester. Think that’s neat? It’s just the tip of the iceberg lettuce for this new lean, green market.

Sainsbury’s new kinetic plate system was developed by Highway Energy Systems and consists of two kinetic road plates that move when vehicles drive over them. This movement generates enough energy to drive a generator which produces around 30kW per hour. That, according to the store, is enough to power their checkout system. Of course, kinetic energy is not free - it comes from the vehicles passing over them. So technically, this is really a gasoline powered store. However, the amount of fuel needed is so tiny that the effect is equivalent to that of passing over a speed bump.
The kinetic plates aren’t the only things green about the new store. It also features rainwater tanks, solar hot water systems, more daylight and an efficient building management system (BMS). According to the store, more than 90% of the construction waste was reused or recycled. Furthermore, the chain is trying to reduce the amount of waste that it sends to landfill, choosing to send it to a biomass plant in Scotland.
Green megamarkets sound like a bit of an oxymoron, and frankly we prefer a good old fashioned farmer’s market, local neighborhood retailer or homegrown produce any day of the week. But we don’t see the need for or the convenience associated with supermarkets dying out any time soon, so making each one as green as possible is a good way to go.

Sainsbury's crewe

2009-06-22T21:17:00.000+01:00

J Sainsbury plc's objective is to meet its customers' needs effectively and thereby provide shareholders with good, sustainable financial returns. It aims to ensure all employees have opportunities to develop their abilities and are well rewarded for their contribution to the success of the business. Its policy is to work with all of its suppliers fairly, recognising the mutual benefit of satisfying customers' needs. It also aims to fulfil its responsibilities to the communities and environments in which it operates.
Environmental responsibility is one of the key elements of the Group's approach to corporate social responsibility. J Sainsbury plc seeks to control its direct impacts by responsible management of energy consumption, waste management and by seeking to reduce the environmental impacts of its own-brand products. In addition, it recognises that food retailing is responsible for many indirect impacts on the environment. Where the company cannot control these directly, it seeks to use its influence to help bring about improvement.
It is natural for J Sainsbury plc, established in 1869, to recognise that there is concern about the wider and longer-term issues of sustainable development. Sustainable development is defined by the Brundtland Commission in 1987 as: 'development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs'.
The UK Government refined this definition in 2001 in its sustainable development strategy as ensuring 'a better quality of life for everyone now and for generations to come.'
This means:
Protection of the environment. Limiting global environmental impacts, such as climate change; protecting human health and safety from hazards such as poor air quality and excessive pesticides; protecting wildlife and landscapes;
Prudent use of natural resource. Using natural resources more efficiently whilst developing renewable alternatives to replace them in due course;
J Sainsbury plc will endeavour to enhance its environmental programme with increasingly sustainable principles and use natural resources prudently in its initiatives and environmental management programme of continuous improvement. It will continue to report progress on these in its Environment Reports.

property

2009-06-22T21:16:00.000+01:00

Goal: Develop, design and operate our stores and distribution centres to reduce their environmental impact while achieving customer satisfaction and business growth.
Design and siting of the Group's supermarkets reflects customers' shopping patterns and follows the Government's planning policy.
The Group wants to develop, design and operate its stores to reduce their environmental impact while achieving customer satisfaction and business growth.
Property Programme
Sainsbury's Supermarkets has the greatest number of stores in the Group. It builds a number of new stores every year, and also have a major extension and refurbishment programme. Design, construction and operation of stores have a number of environmental impacts; the company has an Environmental Forum in which best practice is discussed for evaluation and potential implementation. We have worked this year on the new BREEAM rating system by using the Greenwich store against the draft rating system.
Refrigeration
Sainsbury's Supermarkets stores are gradually converting to ozone benign HFCs whilst seeking opportunities on cost effective ozone and global warming benign refrigerants that are safe to use in public places. Propylene (an ozone and global warming benign refrigerant) is being trialled in the company's Greenwich store.
New depots are providing increasing opportunities to use ammonia, another ozone and global warming benign refrigerant.

Refrigerant volume held in Sainsbury's Supermarkets and Shaw's stores(Total tonnes of refrigerant)
Shaw's CFC
Shaw's HCFC
Shaw's HFC
Sainsbury's CFC
Sainsbury's HCFC
Sainsbury's HFC
Sainsbury's Ozone/Global Warming Benign
Notes to Graph:
Sainsbury's Supermarkets data:
The data are for "entrained volume" i.e. the amount held in the store refrigeration system.
Horsham ammonia system replaced with HFC in 2002.
Refrigerant classification (in descending order of quantity):
HCFC: R22, R408a, R409a, R401b, R403b, R401a.
HFC: R404a, R134a, R407c, R407a.
Ozone & global warming benign: HC Propylene R1270.
CFC: R502, R12.
Shaw's data:
Data are compiled from 3rd party evidence and estimates of system charge. Approximately 50% of data are estimated.
The data for 1999/2000 do not include Star Market stores purchased in November 1999, but do so for 2000/01. The data for 2000/01 do not include Grand Union stores.
Data are reported for the year ended 28 February 2002.
An over-reporting error on CFC for 2000/01 has been corrected. This has not been the subject of independent external review.
For U.S. data purposes, 1 ton equals 2000 lbs.
Refrigerant classification (in descending order of quantity):
HFC: R507, R404a, R407a, R134a.
HCFC: R22, R401a, R402a, R408a, R409a.
CFC: R502, R12.
Refrigerant volume held in Sainsbury's and Shaw's depots(Total tonnes of refrigerant)
Shaw's HCFC
Shaw's Ozone Benign
Sainsbury's HCFC
Sainsbury's HFC
Sainsbury's Ozone/Global Warming Benign
Notes to Graph:
Sainsbury's Supermarkets data
Refrigerant classification
HCFC: R22; Ammonia: R717; HFC: R404a, R407c.
Shaw's stores data
HCFC: R22; Ammonia: R717.
For U.S. data purposes, 1 ton equals 2000 lbs.
Performance Overview
Sainsbury's Supermarkets Performance
We have continued to increase our use of ozone-benign refrigerants again during the year and the proportion of these gases in use in our systems has risen from 41.4% to 44.3%. Total refrigerant use continues to increase as we build more stores or extend and refurbish existing ones. In our new depot refrigeration systems we are specifying ammonia, which is both ozone and global warming benign, in accordance with best practice for such large-scale systems. These have the advantage that they also require less refrigerant than more traditional systems, thus allowing the use of smaller pumps and giving greater energy efficiency.
Shaw's Performance
We have continued to refurbish the refrigeration systems in our stores this year, particularly to replace old systems still containing CFCs. We expect to have replaced all CFC systems with either HCFCs or HFCs by the end of 2003. We continue to install refrigerant leak detection equipment in all locations as part of our Master Development Plan, to date 150 locations have those systems operating.

Sainsbury's crewe packaging

2009-06-22T21:15:00.000+01:00

Goal: Reduce the waste we produce from our own operations and recover as much as is practical, ensuring the remainder is disposed of responsibly. Encourage customers to recycle where appropriate.
The Group uses packaging in the retail of food and non-food products. Packaging is associated with the product ('primary' packaging), its transport ('secondary' packaging), and sometimes display of the product ('tertiary' packaging such as display trays). A variety of essential functions are provided by packaging; to protect the product from damage, to maintain the quality of the product (and in food the hygiene and safety of the product), to provide information (often required by law), and in some cases to keep customers safe e.g. child-proof closures on pharmaceuticals. Packaging also helps to promote and sell the product.
Packaging optimisation reduces the business' impact on the environment, saves resources and can help to reduce the cost of product. The company wants to optimise the use of packaging and minimise its use while achieving the required functionality in the most cost-effective way. This also helps address the challenge of disposal or recycling of packaging 'waste'.
Packaging Programme
Sainsbury's Supermarkets sells the majority of the packaging used by the Group in association with the products sold. Typically there are around 25,000 products on the shelf at any one time, and approximately 10,000 are own-brand. Examples of Sainsbury's packaging programme include:
Packaging optimisation
Sainsbury's Supermarkets uses a packaging management process that ensures packaging is automatically built into the process of product development. Packaging requirements are being incorporated into the company's product management system, and key members of staff have been trained.
Suppliers are involved in finding alternative (lighter, thinner etc.) packaging for new and revised products.
Reusable packaging
We are introducing reusable crates where feasible to replace cardboard packaging transit outers. This not only reduces packaging waste but also improves product protection.
We encourage customers to reuse their carrier bags through Sainsbury's Supermarkets 'Penny Back' scheme, this has been running since 1991 and gives a customer a penny back for every carrier bag they reuse thus saving resources.
Sainsbury's Supermarkets also offers customers a durable Bag for Life (cost 10p), which is replaced free and recycled when worn out. This encourages customers to reuse the bag a number of times. The supershopper bag (cost 75p), twice the size and strength of the free carrier bag, was introduced last year in response to customers' requests for greater choice in reusable shopping bags. It has a solid base, strong easy-to-use handles and a Velcro pad to close the bag. The response from customers has been very positive with sales of bags running between three and four times the original estimate.
Packaging and recycling
Wherever possible, Sainsbury's aims to ensure packaging is designed to be recyclable e.g. using single materials that are easier to recycle.
We provide information labels on the packaging to identify the material it is made out of to make segregation for recycling easier.
We help create markets for recycled material by including a recycled content in paper, cardboard, metal and glass for packaging.

Packaging used on products for sale in Sainsbury's Supermarkets stores(total tonnes)
Notes to Graph:
The data apply to Sainsbury's Supermarkets only.
1999/00 data were compiled using the SEQUIOA index of packaging weights related to turnover. Subsequent years use Sainsbury's own database of packaging weights compiled to complete the submissions for the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997. Data were taken from a sample of products and extrapolated to reach the total.
Packaging tonnage data are compiled for calendar years ending 31 December 2002.
Data for 1999/00, 2000/01 and 2001/02 have been restated from previous reports to take into account double counting of some categories of packaging.
Performance Overview
Sainsbury's Supermarkets performance
Actual performance is still 10% better than baseline target even though relative to turnover the amount of packaging rose by 4% during the year. This increase has mainly been due to a rise in sales of beers, wines and spirits, which being predominantly packed in glass are proportionately heavier than other packaging. The introduction of reusable crate systems has continued during the year, helping to reduce the amount of transit packaging used within the business.

Sainsbury's crewe suppliers

2009-06-22T21:14:00.003+01:00

Goal: Influence our suppliers to reduce their direct environmental impacts and improve the environmental quality of own-brand products through more sustainable sourcing.
Every product we sell has some impact on the environment as part of its lifecycle; in the way it is grown, transported, used or disposed of, or in the way it is manufactured.
Through our integrated product policy we aim to influence our suppliers to reduce their direct environmental impacts and improve the environmental quality and performance of own-brand products through more sustainable sourcing.
Supplier Programme - 'Raising the Standard'
Sainsbury's Supermarkets has the largest number of suppliers of own-brand products in the Group. It has developed Guidelines called "Raising the Standard" and issued them to all own-brand suppliers, after piloting them with a number of suppliers. The Guidelines cover:
Meeting legal requirements.
Being aware of and managing current and future environmental issues.
Managing environmental effects of production.
Reducing environmental impacts of product lifecycle.
Adopting Environmental Management Systems (EMS) wherever possible.
Self-assessment of suppliers has shown a high proportion of those engaged either have existing EMS or are planning to introduce them in the future.
Product Programmes
Sainsbury's Supermarkets has approximately 10,000 own-brand lines. It is working with key suppliers to address the most significant environmental concerns. These include:
Forest Stewardship Council: these are products certified using timber from sources that are well managed, in a way that sustains the timber harvest, the natural ecology and biodiversity which have developed within the forest, as well as supporting the indigenous people who live and work there.
Marine Stewardship Council: Sainsbury's is working with suppliers towards complying with the principles of sustainable fisheries of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). The company is promoting fisheries practices that maintain the biodiversity, productivity and ecology of the marine environment, and that are economically viable. Sainsbury's Supermarkets is providing three-year funding for the MSC/Sainsbury's Tuna initiative to evaluate best practice in this part of a diverse industry.
Integrated Crop Management: this agricultural system places emphasis on preventative methods of pest and disease control and conservation of natural resources, using biological and natural controls wherever possible. Almost all UK fresh and frozen produce is grown using this approach, and Sainsbury's suppliers are rolling it out overseas.
Farm Biodiversity Action Plans (Farm BAPs): these aim to promote wildlife and habitats in a productive farm landscape through environmentally sensitive farming, conserving and enhancing native plants and animals and their habitats. An increasing number of suppliers are developing these action plans with Sainsbury's and targeting the conservation of locally and nationally important species. There are now nearly 700 farms with Farm BAPs in operation.
Sainsbury's sourcing from the wild policy: this policy recognises that the uncontrolled harvesting of animal and plant species from the wild can have serious effects on wild populations which are under increasing pressure from both trade and land development. All Sainsbury's suppliers have been provided on guidance on how to address and prevent these effects.
Organic food: we continue to respond to our customers' organic needs, particularly in improving supply and availability where we can support British organic farmers. Following our pledge to increase UK organic food production, we have made excellent progress with our target to reduce our reliance on imported organic foods to 45% by next year (from 60% two years ago). Now virtually all fresh organic produce, meat and dairy products that can be produced in the UK, are from British organic farms. In addition we are playing a leading role as a contributor to DEFRA's Organic Action Plan as a member of the team which aims to reduce the UK market's dependence on imported organic foods.

Progress against sustainable wild fish sourcing strategy and vision
Performance OverviewSainsbury's Supermarkets
During the year we have worked with the Scottish Development Agency on a scheme to develop and implement a programme to assist UK SME suppliers develop environmental action plans with quantified environmental improvements. From an original list of 27 suppliers, six agreed to have their environmental performance reviewed by our Environmental Management team. There were many common themes in the reviews and we have been able to help the companies to improve both their environmental impact and their costs through suggested improvements.
We have made good progress towards the development of truly sustainable fisheries with the publication of our sustainable fish strategy. This will ensure that all our own-brand fresh, frozen and canned wild capture fish will be sourced from well-managed fisheries which meet the needs of the FAO Code of Conduct for responsible fisheries. We are the only supermarket chain to have set this target and we are working hard to ensure that we will meet our target date of 2010.

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Sainsbury's crewe energy

2009-06-22T21:14:00.002+01:00

Goal: In our own operations, reduce CO2 emissions from energy for building services through responsible energy sourcing, minimising demand and efficient consumption.
The majority of the Group energy use is in the operation of the supermarket stores. Energy is used to run the store (e.g. heating, lighting and refrigeration) with refrigeration using the most energy as the proportion of fresh food sold grows. This involves the consumption of fossil fuels, releasing carbon dioxide (CO2).
We recognise the need to tackle our contribution to global warming. We are focusing on energy efficiency and buying energy from sources with lower CO2 emissions.
Energy Programme
Sainsbury's Supermarkets uses the most energy of the companies in the Group. Sainsbury's Supermarkets is currently undertaking a major store refurbishment programme and is running initiatives to improve energy efficiency. Examples of its energy programme include:Energy efficiency:
A £14.5 million capital investment programme singularly focused on energy reduction projects has now started. Installations on various stores changing lighting, refrigeration and supply voltages is reducing total electricity usage by 2-20% per site.
Stores are targeted with energy usage, and their progress monitored. There is a company intranet site with specific information to support stores by monitoring and managing results.
A "Save It" campaign in stores encourages colleagues to switch off equipment when it's not being used, close cold store doors and switch off lights.
Control systems are being checked and updated to ensure stores use energy as efficiently as possible.
As part of the company's Climate Change Levy Agreement with DEFRA, an in store bakery target has been agreed to ensure steady reduction in CO2 emissions reductions until 2010.Renewable energy:
Sainsbury's Supermarkets uses renewable energy where financially feasible. Currently a number of initiatives are being trialled:
A wind turbine is in operation at East Kilbride depot providing a proportion of the depot's energy requirements depending on wind speed. Small wind turbines are also fitted at Greenwich and Kingston-upon-Thames stores.
Combined Heat and Power (CHP) is being used in six stores, improving the energy output and efficiency of fossil fuels - providing both heat and electricity to the stores.
Solar panels and natural lighting are also used in Greenwich store.

Carbon dioxide emissions associated with energy use at Sainsbury's Supermarkets and Shaw's stores (tonnes CO2)2)" src="http://www.j-sainsbury.co.uk/files/reports/er2003/images/g_energy.gif" longDesc="graph_energy.htm">
Shaw's
Sainsbury's
Notes to Graph
Sainsbury's Supermarkets data
2001/02- 2002/03
Data do not include Sainsbury's Local stores, which account for less than 1% of floor area and a similar proportion of total energy used.
Gas data are taken from meter readings and from estimates where necessary.
2000/01-2001/02
Sainsbury's Supermarkets: basis of calculation for 2000/01 used actual energy data, rather than a mix of audited bill data and average unit cost. Over 98% of data are complete, remaining data are estimated.
Sainsbury's Supermarkets conversion factors were taken from DETR Environment Reporting Guidelines (1999):Electricity 0.44kg CO2/UK kWhNatural Gas 0.19kg CO2/UK kWh
In previous years Sainsbury's Supermarkets data were in financial periods. From April 1 2000 energy data are reported in 12 months from 1 April to 31 March.
1997/98 -1999/2000
Energy consumption data were based on audited accounts, and where data were missing, estimates were made.
Conversion factors have also been changed to use those from the DETR for the three years 1997/98 to 1999/2000.
Due to organisational restructuring the data for 1997/98 and 1998/99 were amended to be consistent with the data collecting methodology used in 1999/2000.
Shaw's data
The data are for Shaw's supermarkets stores only.
The data for 2000/01 did not include Grand Union stores.
Data for 1999/2000 refer to period 1 January to 31 December 1999. Succeeding years relate to periods from 1 March to 28 February. For U.S. data purposes, 1 ton equals 2000 lbs.
Shaw's conversion factors from US Environment Protection Agency guidelines: Electricity 1.1lbs CO2/kWh (0.499kg CO2/kWh) Natural Gas 0.19kg CO2/kWh.
Data for 2000/01 restated from last year's report but not subject to independent review.
Sales areas for both Sainsbury's Supermarkets and Shaw's have been taken from the J Sainsbury plc Annual Report and Accounts 2003.
Overall PerformanceSainsbury's Supermarkets Performance
Overall CO2 emissions from store energy usage declined by 2.6% during the year and are now 5.8% below the baseline year of 1997/98. This improvement in performance has been due to a combination of projects including the start of our Energy Projects Agreement (EPA) with our energy supplier, RWE, which includes a £14.5 million capital investment in energy saving installations, our energy awareness campaign "Save It" and our Climate Change Agreement reducing consumption in in-store bakeries. With the current savings achieved from our EPA we are confident of meeting our long-term goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 10% in 2005.Shaw's Stores Performance
Overall CO2 emissions from store energy rose 5.6% in total (4.5% relative to floor area) during 2002/03. This was due to a particularly cold winter and a warmer than usual summer. Heating degree days (where mean temperature is below 65°F (18°C)), rose by 30% during the winter and cooling degree days (where mean temperature is above 65°F) rose by 16%.
Seven additional Energy Star labels were obtained during the year. This means that there is at least one Shaw's store with an Energy Star label in each of the New England states. In addition to further the commitment to purchasing renewable energy, renewable energy credits have been purchased for three stores in Rhode Island to assist customers to invest in clean energy for their local neighbourhoods.

Sainsbury's crewe Waste and Recycling Programme

2009-06-22T21:11:00.003+01:00

Goal: Reduce the waste we produce from our own operations, recover as much as is practical and ensure the remainder is disposed of responsibly. Encourage customers to recycle where appropriate.

Due to the nature of retailing, most of the waste the Group produces is in store often associated with fragile and short-life products. With rapid changes in weather and other factors, it is not always possible to match supply to demand perfectly. So whilst it is in the company's interest to reduce waste, we are unlikely to be able to eliminate the generation of waste altogether.
Efficient waste management reduces the business' impact on the environment, conserves resources and saves money. So we want to produce less waste, recover as much as is practical and make sure the remaining waste is disposed of responsibly.

Overall, Sainsbury's Supermarkets waste volume is the greatest of the operating companies. Its management programme includes:
Producing less waste:
The "Stockwise" campaign continues to challenge the business to generate less waste, be it damaged goods not fit for sale or food past its display-until date.
A central performance improvement team is addressing resource productivity, through reviewing products to engineer out potential waste.
Reusing
Many products are being moved from cardboard boxes to reusable crates, (which have a life of over ten years), thus avoiding the use of additional tonnes of cardboard.
Recycling
Sainsbury's Supermarkets has been recycling cardboard for about 100 years and plastic too since the 1980s. Stores segregate the recyclable material on the shop floor using specially designed pouches; high density compacted bales of the sorted material are sent to the recycler.
Each store has recycling targets and there is a communications campaign in stores highlighting the environmental and financial benefits of recycling. An intranet site where store colleagues can learn more about recycling and composting initiatives backs this up.
Sainsbury's Supermarkets encourages recycling by selling recycled products such as the Revive range of kitchen towels, toilet rolls, writing paper and envelopes; bin bags; as well as the "Remarkable" range of stationery, containing such things as pencils made from recycled plastic vending cups and mouse mats made from recycled tyres.
Wherever possible Sainsbury's Supermarkets provides space at stores for local authorities and charity recycling banks to encourage customers to recycle their used packaging, textiles, shoes and books.
Donation
Sainsbury's food donation programme, where food of good quality past its 'display until' date but not its 'best before' date continues to expand. Food is donated to around 400 charities. These work with the homeless, with marginalised people who may be suffering the effects drug, alcohol, or substance abuse or even with animal care. A number of stores both donate and compost - unique in retailing in the UK.
Redundant but serviceable equipment and non-food continues to be donated from stores and also depots.
Composting
Sainsbury's has been trialling composting for seven years. One scheme in E & SE London is now cost effective and commercial. Another is currently being evaluated, and a third is to be set up in an urban situation. The company has more stores sending waste for composting than any other retailer, with over 30 stores involved in composting.

Waste generated at Sainsbury's Supermarkets and Shaw's stores. (Total tonnes of waste)
Shaw's diversion
Shaw's disposal
Sainsbury's disposal
Sainsbury's diversion
Notes to Graph:
Sainsbury's Supermarkets data:
Diversion includes materials sent from recycling, composting or food donation. All other waste is sent to a landfill site.
Donations for years since 2000/01 are estimated on audit data from inputs to Fareshare.
Composting data are based on contractors' estimates.
Data are for solid waste only. No records were obtained for special waste. In some instances where data are incomplete, some assumptions have been made.
Methodology of data collection has changed over the period with some materials moving from internal to external source data.
Shaw's data:
Waste disposal showing 61,062 tonnes (67,310 tons) are calculated from an average skip weight and average number of lifts per store/year from a sample of 25 stores.
Diversion data are derived from financial sales data from participating stores and comprise 37,550 tonnes (41,392 tons) of cardboard and 344 tonnes (379 tons) of plastic.
For US data purposes, 1 ton equals 2,000 lbs.
2000/01 data did not include stores acquired from Grand Union.
Performance Overview
Sainsbury's Supermarkets performance
We have improved performance this year and have now reduced waste relative to turnover by 5.4% against the baseline of 1999/2000. We are still hopeful of meeting the 10% reduction by March 2004. The continued increase in the use of reusable crates within our supply chain has meant less cardboard and plastic transit packaging is available to be recycled (-6.4%). In addition, emphasis on increasing sales of fresh foods has meant that more waste was sent to landfill last year (+5.8% relative to turnover), despite increased food donations. We have continued to increase levels of food donation and composting, albeit from small bases.
Shaw's performance
Cardboard recycling volumes have declined 8.2% due to the increase in use of reusable totes within the business. There has been a revival in the market for recycled plastic, which has meant a resumption of material being provided for recycling. It is projected this will amount to 344 tonnes during the year, with more being returned from stores to a third party distributor, but regrettably unmeasured.
A change in the method of data measurement for total waste this year means that comparisons are best made with 2000/01. Waste has fallen by 0.3% over this time, despite an increase in sales of 9.4%, a creditable achievement.

Reducing CO2 Emission's from Sainsbury's Transport Fleet

2009-06-22T21:11:00.001+01:00

Reducing CO2 emissions is another area where Sainsbury's is hoping to make progress in the future. Sainsbury's is always exploring new ways of achieving this.

Awareness among Sainsbury's stakeholders of global warming and the implications of climate change is continually growing. It is their concerns that have kept reduction in CO2 emissions from our transport programme as a priority for Sainsbury's. In 2002/03 we have achieved a reduction in mileage travelled of 3.9% whilst delivering an extra 2.8% to our stores. This has resulted in a reduction of 6.2% in the amount of CO2 emitted by our vehicles. Key in achieving our objectives has been to optimise the effectiveness of our transport fleet, be it those making food deliveries to store or Sainsbury's colleagues making their way to work.

The renewal of the fleet has given us the opportunity to use more energy-efficient engines but other activity is being looked into to make further reductions in CO2 emissions.

We conducted a trial with 20 trucks using biodiesel. The fuel was a 5% blend of biodiesel, which uses virgin blend rapeseed oil and linseed oil. The trial was specifically monitoring performance and driver acceptance. With driver feedback positive and performance on par with standard diesel, the trial was judged to be successful. Unfortunately, the fuel has not been adopted because there were commercial barriers. It is hoped that duty might be reduced on the fuel to make it a commercially viable proposition but this has not happened yet.

Sainsbury's has also looked at using gas-powered vehicles. Aside from the environmental benefits such as reduced NOx, SOx and CO2 emissions, the fuels could also help the business to be more effective. To minimise the risk of disturbance to neighbours, Sainsbury's lorries can currently only make deliveries during specific times of the day, resulting in large numbers of lorries transporting goods across the UK to stores during this short window of time. Gas-powered vehicles could help spread out delivery times simply because they are much quieter. Current delivery restrictions could be relaxed, enabling Sainsbury's to use fewer vehicles over a longer time period. This would be beneficial in a number of ways; reducing emissions, congestion on the roads and disturbance.

Sainsbury's colleagues are also doing their bit for the environment, by thinking more carefully about how they travel to work. Sainsbury's Green Travel plans are now introduced into every new store and also those that have been extended or significantly refurbished to encourage staff to switch from their cars to alternative transport such as the bus, train or bike. Increased bicycle parking, showers and lockers, improved pedestrian access and better bus services are all now features of a modern store.

Since the introduction of the first Green Travel plan in 2000 at Watchmoor Park store in Camberley, Surrey, the number of colleagues using cars has reduced despite the challenges of staff turnover and the demands of shift patterns at the busy store. Sainsbury's now has Green Travel Plans in 40 stores and as well as continuing to extend the reach of the initiative among colleagues is looking at promoting green travel to its customers too.

e scooter...I want one .....but ?

2009-06-21T20:26:00.007+01:00

http://www.xerotechco.com/downloads/eScooter_classic.pdf

I really want one of these but following a near death experience 4 years ago on a motor bike , i am not allowed. but the burp says.....................XERO offer a range of zero emission electric vehicles as an affordable solution to your inner city transportation needs.

We are all too aware that today’s transport costs are an increasing drain on our budgets as well as being unkind to the environment.

electric bikes, electric scooters and electric cars provide all the answers but without the compromise. High quality, economical, eco-friendly vehicles for today’s urban lifestyle.

The Classic is a retro designed electric scooter for today’s “closet” Mod. Be environmentally and economically aware without compromising on style.
The XERO we offer a range of zero emission electric vehicles as an affordable solution to your inner city transportation needs.
We are all too aware that today’s transport costs are an increasing drain on our budgets as well as being unkind to the environment.
Our electric bikes, electric scooters and electric cars provide all the answers but without the compromise. High quality, economical, eco-friendly vehicles for today’s urban lifestyle. is perfect for city commuting reaching speeds of up to 30 mph (restricted), an overnight charge time of 8 hours and a range of approximately 50 miles.
Motor
maintenance free brush less DC 1000W
Max Speed
legally limited to 30 Mph
Max Range
up to 50 miles
Charge Time
8 hours
Battery Type
lead acid silicone sealed
Warranty
12 months or 6,000 miles all for £1, 500

Delft:Promoting the use of bicycle by systematic town planning.......food for thought

2009-06-21T20:20:00.003+01:00

City/Town, 20,000-100,000 The promotion of bicycle use has a long tradition in the Netherlands, as nearly 12 of the 14 million Dutch citizens own a bicycle. Throughout the 1980s, the national Ministry of Transport, Public Works, and Water Management provided substantial financial resources for city-wide bicycle projects. Delft was one of the model locations which implemented a systematic network of bicycle paths. This case of good practice has made an impact for the following reasons:
Bicycle use has increasingly become a viable option for the inhabitants;
Environmentally compatible means of travel have been integrated into the overall town planning;
Infrastructure improvements systematically contribute to the positive image of cycling;
In contrast to the national trend, there had been no increase in car travel;
Cycling comfort and safety standards have been improved.
Concept and aims
A major aim of traffic planning in the Netherlands is directed towards restricting the use of cars. Therefore, in the late 1970s, the first national Traffic and Transport Structure Scheme and the following Programme for Personal Transport (1980-84) gave high priority to the encouragement of bicycle use and the improvement of traffic safety by providing better facilities for cyclists. Within this policy strategy, the municipality of Deft was selected as a model city for pro-bicycle traffic planning.
The second Traffic and Transport Structure Scheme also seeks a balance between individual freedom, accessibility, and environment. It has been concluded that the only way to reach this goal is to control the use of the car. In the Netherlands, 40% of all car journeys are less than 5 km, and therefore, the bicycle is likely to represent an reasonable alternative. Consequently, the following two trends are desired:
for short distances (up to 5-10 kilometres), a shift from using cars to using bicycles should take place with a considerable increase in the number of kilometres covered by non-motorised transport;
a shift from using cars to public transport should take place, with the expectation that twice as many passengers‘ kilometres will be covered by public transport in 2010.
Concerning the use of bicycles, the national plan aims for a 30% portion of city-wide transportation to be achieved through cycling by 2010. This should be reached by using a combination of measures that favour cycling, such as: the provision of new cycle routes, facilities at railway stations, principal bus and tram stops, and various other aims to make cycling both safer and more pleasant.
Bicycle use varies distinctly between medium sized towns in the Netherlands (population between 50,000 - 200,000). The proportion of trips made with bicycles varies from 20%-50% in these towns. Currently, there are approximately 19,000 km of cycling paths and lanes in the Netherlands.
The project’s primary goal is to encourage cycling. Research on urban bicycle routes has stressed that an increase can be reached if the infrastructure for cyclists is improved. It was also stated that the network structure of bicycle routes is the most promising way to get people on their bikes. On the one hand, the extension of the bicycle routes is improving traffic safety standards, and on the other, the subjective feeling of safety of the potential users is growing. In particular, the subjective factor triggers a change of attitude towards cycling. Such a positive opinion is especially important in peripherally located districts, as an efficient change in the modal split is assessed in the distances travelled. The Delft planning approach is paying tribute to the different user demands.
Implementation
Between 1979 and 1985, the Delft bicycle plan was put into practice. The main effort had been on the construction of facilities that could help to complete the city-wide bicycle network. The network plan includes a diversity of measures in the area of urban infrastructure, as well as regulations concerning traffic control. The main characteristic of the Delft bicycle network plan is its hierarchy. It is made up of three networks at different spatial levels - the city level, the district level, and the sub-district level, each having its own functional and design characteristics:
The city level network consists of a grid of cycle paths situated approximately 500 metres apart. The paths run directly through the city and they are connected with the regional bicycle path system. The network is designed for the purpose of linking intensive flows of cyclists with important urban activity centres, such as: schools, university, railway and bus stations, office and industrial areas, and sport and recreation areas. Physical barriers (canals, railways, etc.) require expensive infrastructure measures to avoid detours.
The district level network has two major functions. It connects the various facilities within the district (schools, shops etc.) and collects and distributes traffic to and from the city level network. At this level the links are spaced 200 - 300 metres apart. In contrast to the city level network, the bicycle flows are assumed to be less dense as the district level network is mainly used for shorter distance trips. The facilities required at this level are relatively simple: separated bicycle lanes, small bridges, etc.
The sub-district level network connects housing areas to local amenities, which in most cases is a short trip. This particular network is often used by children. The sub-district level network is a fine-grained system with links at 100 metre intervals and a simple structure and provisions which can also be used by pedestrians.
So far, the Delft bicycle network consists of:
building of two tunnels;
construction of three bicycle bridges;
reconstruction of seven intersections;
creation of space to wait in front of cars at 14 traffic lights;
3.3 km of new connecting bicycle tracks;
2.6 km of streets that are bi-directional for cycles, but one-way for cars;
8.5 km of bicycle lanes and tracks parallel to roads;
repaving of 10 km bicycle path with asphalt.
A new bicycle plan was made in 1999. Priority was given to cycling areas that experience bottle-necks, and a study was done to identify these areas. Second, further facilities and accommodations were made for bicycle parking and storage to make cycling a more comfortable option. Funding was received to accomplish these measures.
Results and Impacts
Based on the Delft project, it can be assumed that 55% is the maximum attainable share for bicycle transportation within the city.
The average number of bicycle trips has increased by 10% from 25,000 to 28,000. The distance travelled by bicycle increased from 6 to 8% (depending on the type of trip). This figure does not include increases caused by factors other than the bicycle network. The length of the trips also increased from 3.7 km to 3.9 km, although there are shorter routes available now. The increased number of trips is mainly attributed to males making more bike trips to school or work. Another interesting result is that the distance travelled also increased, whereas the travel time did not change.
An evaluative study showed that these results are mainly due to a change in the usage of the network. The following factors contributed to the improvements:
The hierarchical structure is an important element of the planning, as it is giving priority to urban centres and the linkage of urban, district, sub-district, and neighbourhood levels.
It is estimated that 60% of the bicycle kilometres are travelled on the urban level, which represents only 30% of the total network length.
At the same time, cycling on separate bicycle tracks has increased from 30% to 35%, whereas cycling on normal streets with mixed traffic decreased from 45% to 40%.
The higher standards of cycling comfort and safety encourage people to choose the bicycle as a means of transport. The city centre has especially experienced positive effects, as the number of car trips to the area declined. This makes the historic centre more attractive and gives it a pleasant, intimate ambience.
The modal split changed from 40% to 43% in favour of the bicycle. Car use and walking both remained stable at 26%. The public transport share declined from 6% to 4%, although the total number of passengers remained the same.
Finance
Between 1982-1992, the spending on the Delft bicycle plan amounted to 28 million Dutch Guilders. Fully 80% of the cost were given as grants from the Ministry of Transport, Public Works, and Water Management.

amsterdam dream city

2009-06-21T20:06:00.007+01:00

I went on a business trip to Amsterdam this week ......this really is the dream city......take away the sleaze, and this has got to be a "blue print" for the ideal green city . Everybody rides a bike very few cars, and a station right in the middle of town.

Integrated transport system, trains every 10 Min's from the airport....this could be the blueprint for Crewe ?????

Tram systems, canal's, railway station, foot paths, cycle lanes, why do we have no imagination?

Train fares are cheap ...3 Euros from the airport and then everything is in walking distance.We don't want a copy but Manchester airport could be Schipol and Amsterdam railway station, crewe station , and then bike city, crewe! it is a bit bigger than crewe amsterdam- Population: 740,000.

Monodraught reduces energy consumption for Tesco.....and some more useful bits .................

2009-06-21T20:01:00.001+01:00

Monodraught Windcatchers make a significant contribution to reducing energy consumption in a new Tesco Superstore near Manchester.
Tesco, the UK's leading supermarket chain set itself a target to reduce by 50% the carbon emissions from all its stores by 2020 as compared to a baseline of 2006.

The new Tesco store front near Manchester

Remarkably they exceeded this ambitious target when they opened their first major new Eco store at Cheetham Hill, Manchester, reducing the carbon footprint by 70% compared to an equivalent sized store built just over two years ago.
These measures are delivering significant savings for the company with a 48% reduction of the store's fuel bill based on 2006 baselines.
An ITN film production featuring the Monodraught Windcatcher natural ventilation systems installed at Cheetham Hill was a major attraction at this year's NEMEX exhibition.
Bill Moss, Tesco's Community Champion at the new Cheetham Eco Store said on the film, "The environmental impact of the store is absolutely amazing".
"There's a real nice feel about the whole store ...".
"the fresh air that comes in makes for a better working environment".
"All the staff and customers like it, it's not like working in a normal supermarket." Highlighting Monodraught's innovative approach, the Tesco billboard in the store announces: 'Our roof vents let air flow naturally, so we use less energy to heat and cool the store'.
This is quite a compliment to the innovative advantages of the Monodraught Windcatcher system.
The 52,000 sq ft Cheetham Hill store, located in a redevelopment area near Manchester, is built to an Environmental Format that will provide a "low carbon blueprint" for future Tesco stores built in the UK.
Steve Howard, chief executive of The Climate Group - an NGO that has worked with Tesco on its low carbon strategy - urged other companies to use the Cheetham Hill store as a template for future low carbon buildings".
"This new blueprint store design is an example that we hope other businesses will follow," he says.
Echoing this sentiment, Dean Hyndman a Senior Electrical Engineer with the project's consulting engineers Scott Wilson, says: "We were asked to examine environmental issues in order to reduce the carbon footprint for the Cheetham Hill store and all other Tesco stores in the future".
"One of the key energy saving initiatives was to reduce the air conditioning load by providing natural ventilation where practically possible." He estimates that the energy savings achieved by replacing air conditioning with Monodraught Windcatchers will be in the region of 20%.
Scott Wilson is a multi-disciplinary international design and engineering consultancy, which employs some 6,500 employees worldwide and provides sustainable, integrated solutions to meet the environmental needs of clients.
The Consultancy has previous experience working with Monodraught and was particularly keen to use bespoke Windcatchers to give the new Environmental Format stores a more individual and innovative identity.
Dean Hyndman says the Monodraught design team was very enthusiastic, producing a distinctive design and making it practical for the Tesco installation.
The eleven, 4-metres high, oval shaped Windcatchers installed at Cheetham Hill are certainly distinctive, and are finished in the eye-catching blue and grey Tesco livery.
Windcatchers, together with Monodraught SunPipes and Suncatchers, have also been installed at the new Tesco Express store in Hinckley, Leicestershire, which opened in June 2008 and is also based on their eco-store concept and is being used to create the Environmental Format for new smaller stores.
The design of Monodraught Windcatchers is based on an innovative technology that is making a positive contribution to the elimination of air conditioning, which in turn reduces the carbon emissions produced by burning fossil fuels.
Windcatchers are also widely recognised as the most effective means of harnessing the wind's potential as a renewable energy source.
Roof mounted and designed to operate with virtually no moving parts, they use established atmospheric principles and the natural effects of the wind to bring fresh air into a building and extract stale warm air, using only natural forces.
Warm air rising to roof level decreases the air pressure within buildings, allowing cooler air to enter the building via the Windcatcher units.
The resultant change in air pressure produces sufficient airflow to make the space comfortably fresh.
Wind blowing onto the windward side of a ventilation stack increases the through-put of air and encourages stale and stagnant air to be extracted through the leeward side of the roof unit.
Opposed blade dampers - made from recycled plastic, with their ventilation rate controlled by the building's BMS system - can precisely control airflow through the system dependent on the internal temperature.
At night they can also be programmed to open fully, providing a downwash of cool air that purges the building, leaving the interior feeling fresh and clean for the following morning.
Monodraught Windcatcher units can be controlled individually or by a central control panel, which can be fitted with a spring/summer/autumn/winter switch to ensure that dampers open for night time cooling only during summer months.
At other times of the year dampers can be set to provide trickle ventilation without the problems of cold draughts.

and some more useful bits .................

2009-06-21T19:59:00.001+01:00

Alternative Energy
Generating renewable energy is a key part of our climate change strategy. We are installing alternative energy sources on site such as wind, solar, bio-gas, combined heat and power (CHP) and combined cooling, heat and power (CCHP).
In the US, Fresh & Easy's £7.5 million investment to install 46,450m2 of solar panels at its California distribution centre is now providing nearly three-quarters of the facility’s energy.
In 2008 in Turkey, we built the first trigeneration scheme to power a shopping centre. The 2.2MW plant will cut carbon emissions by 16%.
In the UK, in 2008, we invested over £26 million in 47 CHP and CCHP plants for local generation, as well as 27 wind turbines and one store installation for solar generation. These technologies are expected to reduce our carbon emissions by about 6,000 tonnes of CO2 per annum.
Most of our CHP plants will run on natural gas and some will run on renewable fuels such as recycled vegetable oil, reducing carbon emissions further.
Refrigeration
HFC gases were introduced as a replacement for ozone-depleting CFCs and HCFCs, but we now know that they are an extremely potent greenhouse gas. Over a fifth of our carbon footprint comes from refrigerants, and we are working hard to reduce the impact of our fridges on climate change.
We have been investigating ways of replacing HFCs with a natural alternative. Our distribution centres in the UK now all use natural refrigerants. We have tested low-carbon refrigeration systems in four stores (Swansea, Wick, Shrewsbury and Cheetham Hill) and are using what we have learned to develop a system for all our stores.
We have also been trialling new technologies to make our fridges and freezers more efficient, including:
using low energy LED lights to light our freezers instead of fluorescent bulbs which produce heat;
replacing the small heaters traditionally used to stop freezer doors from steaming up with a special film that requires no energy to keep glass clear; and
testing whether we can put doors on all our freezers in stores without interfering with our customers' shopping trips.

New environmental format - Cheetham Hill -TESCO OPENS UK'S MOST ENERGY EFFICIENT STORE

2009-06-21T19:51:00.008+01:00

Cheetham Hill is Tesco's first store built using our new, low-carbon blueprint

the result of bringing together everything that has worked well in our existing environmental stores. The store has a carbon footprint 70% smaller than an equivalent store built in 2006 and, planning permitting, this will be the model for stores built in the UK from now on.
The carbon savings come from an innovative mix of environmentally friendly design, materials and technologies. These include a frame made from timber instead of steel, 12 roof lights each measuring six metres across to cut down on artificial lighting, and a refrigeration system which uses CO2 as a coolant rather than more potent greenhouse gases, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
Attention to detail includes using more material with recycled content and designing store equipment such as signs to be easily recycled when we no longer need them.
The store is also our latest regeneration partnership, with around half of the 260 employees having previously been unemployed or on benefits for six months or longer.
"Tesco's climate commitments are proving that it is possible to combine new technology and good business sense to make dramatic reductions in their carbon footprint. This new blueprint store design is an example that we hope other businesses will follow."

maybe sainsbury's they can take a leaf here.................................................................................... I have been to see the stor in all its glory...very impressive!

Tesco today opens its first store of the future in Cheetham Hill, Manchester. The store has been built using Tesco’s new low carbon blueprint which will provide a foundation for stores built in the UK going forward.
The new 52,000 sq ft store is part of Tesco’s Climate Change Programme and plan for the future to build low carbon stores. Through a combination of energy efficiency measures, the store’s carbon footprint is 70% less than an equivalent store built in 2006. These measures will also deliver significant savings for the Company with a 48% reduction of the store’s fuel bill based on 2006 baselines.
Commenting on the Cheetham Hill store, Lucy Neville-Rolfe, Executive Director, Corporate and Legal Affairs at Tesco, said:
“The Cheetham Hill store is an exciting development in Tesco’s long term plans to reduce significantly the carbon footprint of its stores by 2020. The new blueprint, which will provide a foundation for future stores being built in the UK, demonstrates our commitment to tackling climate change. It will also considerably reduce store fuel costs going forward.
“In these tough conditions we feel that our Regeneration Partnership, through which we ring-fence a large number of jobs for people out of work or on benefits for at least six months, is more important than ever. Particularly in a climate where many people are worried about job security, we are delighted to be creating further employment in the greater Manchester region.”
The new store boasts an innovative mix of environmentally-friendly materials, technologies and design. Whilst similar in appearance to existing Tesco stores, the store architecture, fixtures and signage at Cheetham Hill store are specifically designed to both reduce the store’s carbon footprint and heat wastage and to maximise the use of recyclable content.
The design and store interior consists of many energy efficient features. For example: the store has a new lighting system that automatically dims individual lights when natural light increases; it has a natural refrigeration system whereby all fridges are cooled with CO2, which is significantly less damaging to the climate than traditional fridge gases; and it has a fully recyclable plastic moulded checkout packing areas, which have much lower carbon and water content. Importantly, despite these innovative adaptations, the consumer experience remains of the highest quality and relatively similar to that of existing stores.
Since 2000, Tesco has invested significantly in improving energy efficiency and it has succeeded in halving the amount of energy its UK stores require for every square foot of space (2006 baselines). The Cheetham Hill store is a major development for Tesco in meeting its long term environmental objective to dramatically reduce its carbon footprint.

Steve Howard, CEO, The Climate Group, said:

“Tesco’s climate commitments are proving that it is possible to combine new technology and good business sense to make dramatic reductions in their carbon footprint. This new blueprint store design is an example that we hope other businesses will follow.”
Importantly, the new store will play a significant role in the local economy employing 230 staff in total. It represents the latest store to open under the retailer’s Regeneration Partnership scheme, with 118 of the jobs being ring-fenced for people who have been out of work or on benefits for at least six months. Through the scheme Tesco has been working with key organisations, including those local to the area and the Government’s Learning and Skills Council, to offer training to these new employees in preparation for their new start.

Sainsbury's crewe

2009-06-21T17:15:00.011+01:00

I believe that supermarket shopping is the "greenest form" of shopping. The theory behind this is eventually , online shopping will be become the norm and the 18 year old's today become theaverage shopper in 10 years time, ie. 28 year olds then most of these will shop online and hopefully take the need away from folk coming to town centre- this does leave a problem with the town centre as we know it today.

The devil is going to be in the detail - so lets hope it is going to be at the forefront of building technology , grey water recycling, natural roof lights, wind turbines, sustanable wood.

A recent article in The Guardian

Sainsbury's brings green power to the checkout with 'kinetic plates'A supermarket chain will open its first "people-powered" store this week using technology that captures energy from vehicles to power its checkouts.
In a European first, Sainsbury's will install the invention at its new store in Gloucester, opening this Wednesday.
Energy will be captured every time a vehicle drives over "kinetic road plates" in the car park and then channelled back into the store.
The kinetic road plates are expected to produce 30 kWh of green energy every hour — more than enough energy to power the store's checkouts. The system, pioneered for Sainsbury's by Peter Hughes of Highway Energy Systems, does not affect the car or fuel efficiency, and drivers feel no disturbance as they drive over the plates.
Alison Austin, Sainsbury's environment manager, said: "This is revolutionary. Not only are we the first to use such cutting-edge technology with our shoppers, but customers can now play a very active role in helping make their local shop greener, without extra effort or cost.
"We want to continue offering great value but we also want to make the weekly shop sustainable. Using amazing technology like this helps us reduce our use of carbon and makes Sainsbury's a leading energy-efficient business."
The kinetic road plates are one of a number of energy-saving measures at Sainsbury's new store in Gloucester Quays, Gloucester. The store will harvest rainwater to flush the store's toilets and solar thermal panels will heat up to 100% of the store's hot water during the summer, and more than 90% of the construction waste was re-used or recycled.
David Sheehan, director of store development and construction at Sainsbury's, said: "The new environmental features within the Gloucester Quays store mark a very exciting time in store development. We are able to use cutting-edge technology to improve our services and the store environment for our customers and colleagues, at the same time as ultimately reducing our carbon footprint across the UK."
Scientists pointed out that the energy generated by the devices is nottotally "free". Rather, they capture a tiny amount from each car thatpasses over them, increasing each vehicle's fuel consumption by a tinyamount.

Apartments - sustainable

2008-11-09T14:11:00.003Z

Are town centre apartments sustainable, they help if you work eat sleep and play in a central location , so I don't think that they have been an idea in Crewe , but i think that we have hit an over supply now. This is evidenced by several flats coming on to the market via the auction houses at bargain prices
My advice is don't get tempted yet as they will fall a lot more before they really are a bargain.

Sustainable?- I think so in a town like crewe, if you live here you can certainly walk to work, if you work in town.

New Bike

2008-06-11T19:43:00.000+01:00

As part of my new green image - i bought a new bike and took the train to manchester with my bike

My observations,

1 £11 return journey - maybe a little expensive - should be £5?
2 No where to put the bike on the train, thus blocked the walk ways
3 only one other bike on the return journey

It is not rocket science, but a carriage should be available for all bikes to store them, cheaper fares (but we know that anyway!) and if we did this prior to the congestion charge in manchester it may make the transition easier

Congestion Charge in Manchester - now a reality

2008-06-10T22:14:00.001+01:00

I can not hardly contain my excitment about the thought of the "congestion charge" in Manchester, sadly it is not coming in for a few years

It will mean less traffic in manchester and the roads leading into Manchester, also promisd capital sums of £1.6 billion to invest in the public transport, which is badly needed and hopefully evybody will start getting use to the idea years in adance

What will it mean to Crewe?

Hopefully any large companies wishing to locate in mManchester may just consider towns such as crewe to build teh new HQ's . So Crewe needs to be ready to court any firms that now have second thoughts on Manchester.

Green Party - C&N Elections

2008-05-19T21:49:00.005+01:00

Well, I never thought that I would ever vote Greens, but i think that the time and day has finally arrived.

My biggest fear, and thought, is transport, and for that reason mainly that is why I will be voting Green, they wont get in , but I value my vote and it helps me know that it is the "Right Vote".

It is a shame that some of the mainstream parties cant adopt some greener transport policies.

The first thing I would do is assit public transport- I drive everywhere and dont want to- I really want to catch teh train on some longer journeys and I have dusted down my bike!

some further comments

www.creweandnantwichguardian.co.uk/news/byelection/news/display.var.2282122.0.greens_hit_out_at_excessive_rail_fare_rises.php

Bergen - Now that is a green city

2008-03-26T18:56:00.003Z

You would expect Norway 3rd and Norway's Last Europen City (Stavanger, this Year) of Culture to be over run with cars and people but I have never seen such an understated city - It really is fantastic and also part of the city form (above) form part of a world hertiage area.

It has everthing going for it, a port, an airport, a rail way station and fantastic landscape

and as such it really is a green city, buildings of sustainable materials, no cars road pricing, Electric Buses ,A Train statition in the city centre - I now i really want to live there!

There must be a down side?, and yes there is the cost of living !

It also must be the most expensive place in the world , except of course to Olso.

Carrier bags - do we still need them? or just wasteful?

2008-03-24T21:23:00.002Z

We all drive in our cars to the supermarket and put our shopping in carrier bags to take the food/shopping home and we are still guilty of using hundreds of carrier bags a year.

I for one have now used my last carrier bag and find it unbelievable that the sales staff still offer a carrier bag for one or two items when there has been so much press about their use!

Is it not possible to invent something else that is cheaper more sustainable that a carrier bag??

And what is more unbelievale is online shopping which may be more sustainable that traveling to a supermarket , but they still hand out carrier bags with the food that is then put into portable boxes?

I know Tesco et Al are clever so come on come up with something better! It will be more economic in the long term and it may just help the planet.

Get your, glasses, sunglasses or Ray Bans repaired at EyeWearRepairs.com

smoking? Will it do any good to hide fags from display?

2008-03-24T12:04:00.005Z

It never ceases to amaze me the arugumenst that are put up in support of smoking- I have an 86 year aunt that chain smokes , and she justifies smoking by saying it never did her any harm- I have given up arguing now, because she has a point but it will get her in the end! Her mother died at the age of 92,

There is no doubt that smoking will kill you and it has a massive drain on the NHS , either booozing or smoking account for most illness in local hospitals, and if folk wont take responsibility for themselves then unfortunaly I am in favour or governement intervention, in the strongest way.

I just dont understand why kids statrt in the first place- I used to drop my son off at school and was horrified at the number of school kids were standing in the surrounding streets smoking.

Is it beyond common sense for the parents to know if there children are smoking, you can smell it for one, and if you dont stop them you are effectively helping them ultimatly to die young(er)

empty properties-EDMO

2008-03-23T21:14:00.005Z

It is estimated that around 280,000 properties in England have been unoccupied for 6 months or more, and from June 2006 local authorties have the power to take over such properties and rent them out.

I think that the powers are probably "under used" and there are certainly empty properties in the locality that could be taken over via the EDMO's. This one little unknown law could go a long way to helping the housing shortage.

If you know of a property it may well be worth getting in touch with the local council and test how far they will go and ultimatly how commited they are to reducing a problem?

I just wonder that given the credit crunch and hosuing depression how many LA's will undertake the EMDO's with all of the empty apartments around.?

If you let me know of any properties let me know and i am quite happy to confront the council on this issue

eco town- what we missed out on!

2008-03-23T19:28:00.003Z

This is the most succesful eco town in europe in a town called Vauban, Freiburg in Germany- I haven't seenit yet but i will certainly be taking a trip in summer to see how the germans do it! - Its just a shame that some of the local councillors didnt have a trip to Vauban , before they decided against the eco town outside Nantwich and I just wonder if pochins withdrew the application without going to germany.

It always good to have some facts before you rule something out of hand, and it makes my blood boil to see these people in such postion making decision that will effect us all -Centarl government suggests that we need 3 million new homes by 2020. Where do they suggest that they are built?

NIMBY

some interesting facts

All houses are built to a low energy consumption standard, with 100 units designed to the Passivhaus ultra-low energy building standard. Other buildings are heated by a combined heat and power station burning wood chips, while many of the buildings have Solar collectors or photovoltaic cells.

Vauban is connected to the town center by a tramway (line 3, Paula-Modersohn-Platz).
Around 40% of the households have agreed to live without their own cars, while others have to leave their vehicles in at the edge of the development. Consequently most streets are pedestrian friendly and suitable for kids to play, and have a 5km/hour speed limit.

The site was originally developed as a military base in 1936, and was occupied after World War II by the French forces occupying the region. The military left in 1992. Over a period of some years the vacant structures were occupied by various tribes of hippies and anarchists. Following battles with the city government, squatters won the rights to four of the original twenty barracks. The other sixteen were re-appropriated by the city and have been converted into private apartments or student dormitories for the University of Freiburg. Some former residents of these structures have taken up residence in a diverse assortment of cars, vans, and retired civil service vehicles, forming what has been named Wagenplatz.

can they really argue?

Bad Planning? or Bad design?

2008-03-23T15:25:00.006Z

Sometimes we get a little too desparate for things that we don,t look at the details!

These are grade 1 listed railways cottages, in the heart of Crewe Town centre, and would look fantastic in any town or city, but if you look to the end of the street you see a "grey blanket of uninspiring design!" what a mistake.

Who is to blame the cllrs, the planners, or the developers, or us as we were a little too eager to get a leisure scheme.

Tesco - Recycling Centre- Crewe

2008-03-02T18:48:00.005Z

Tesco get a lot of bad press- but here in Crewe they have done themselves proud in Crewe , with a brand new recyling centre- it looks fantastic and in a very prominant spot at the front of the supermarkets site so now there are no excuses not to take your rubbish with you back in the car and get rid of it.

Tesco are very good at what they do so I am sure this recycling centre will work very well- so put on your sandles, stop hugging those trees and get down to Tesco.

Any thoughts?

Eco town at wardle??

2008-02-19T19:44:00.002Z

It hit the news this week with a bang- i posted last week about the possibility, then it hit the news big time.

The government is quoted as suggusted that we need 3 million new homes by 2020, but where are we going to put them

Prescot was a champion of brownfield developments, and largely very succesful, but we still dont have enough devlopments on the go to satisfy the demand.

There are 1.6 million people that are on the council house waiting list across the uk at the moment , and this figure is sure to increase and we dont build any more council houses any more for the needy.

The only way forward is to seek some sensitive green field sites such as Wardle , which is partially brownfield.

It brought out the NIMBYs on tv

What do you think?

Car parking Charges in Crewe

2008-02-18T19:56:00.004Z

In last weeks chronicle Cllr Hogben is making a stance over car parking charges in Crewe.

I am in favour of car parking charges and any hike in car parking charges, as this is the only way available at the moment to deter cars causing congestion in Crewe.

What is the alternative Cllr? Some issues just should be political , cllrs should use common sense rather than political point scoring to make judgements.

We should also be charging on the motorways but thats another story.

Congestion Charge in Crewe?

2008-02-12T17:34:00.000Z

Red Ken is introducing further taxes on Gas-guzzling vehicles such as 4x4 'Chelsea tractors' will have to pay a daily charge of £25 to enter London's congestion charge zone from October this year, Ken Livingstone has announced

The existing congestion charge has been an enormous success in london and plans are being introduced to have a charge in Manchester and Durham ?

I am in full agreement with the charge and hope that soon it will be introduced across the whole country for towns and city centres.

Why recycle?

2008-02-10T19:21:00.000Z

UK households produced 30.5 million tonnes of waste in 2003/04, of which 17% was collected for recycling. (source: defra.gov.uk) This figure is still quite low compared to some of our neighbouring EU countries, some recycling over 50% fo their waste. There is still a great deal of waste which could be recycled that ends up in landfill sites which is harmful to the environment.
Recycling is an excellent way of saving energy and conserving the environment. Did you know that:

1 recycled tin can would save enough energy to power a television for 3 hours.
1 recycled glass bottle would save enough energy to power a computer for 25 minutes.
1 recycled plastic bottle would save enough energy to power a 60-watt light bulb for 3 hours.
70% less energy is required to recycle paper compared with making it from raw materials.

Some Interesting Facts

Up to 60% of the rubbish that ends up in the dustbin could be recycled.
The unreleased energy contained in the average dustbin each year could power a television for 5,000 hours.
The largest lake in the Britain could be filled with rubbish from the UK in 8 months.
On average, 16% of the money you spend on a product pays for the packaging, which ultimately ends up as rubbish.
As much as 50% of waste in the average dustbin could be composted.
Up to 80% of a vehicle can be recycled.
9 out of 10 people would recycle more if it were made easier.

Tesco - £1.99 Chicken? Food for Thought?

2008-02-10T16:10:00.000Z

Tesco has introduced a £1.99 chicken as the latest Government research shows more than a quarter of broiler chickens have difficulty walking

What are your thoughts? We cant turn the TV on at the moment without seeing the TV chefs arguing the point about eating this kind of crap

A Defra study of 51,000 birds within 176 flocks belonging to five major UK producers, revealed that at an average of 40 days, 27.6 per cent showed "poor locomotion" and 3.3 per cent were almost unable to walk. The figures come despite regular culling of flocks.

We can all vote with our feet and not buy such chickens and i would urge you to do just that

Asda introduced a £2 chicken last year

Greener Shopping

2008-02-10T16:08:00.002Z

Lesson 5 - Greener shopping

There are now lots of choices you can make when shopping that help take care of the environment.
Take a bagHang on to your shopping bags and take some with you when you next go to the supermarket.
Look for the labelsUse labels to choose products that have a lower impact on the environment. For example, energy efficient appliances and cars, and sustainable fish. Using labels to buy sustainable wood and peat free compost will protect important natural habitats that help balance climate change effects.

Buy recycled

Recycling and cutting waste

2008-02-10T16:05:00.000Z

Lesson 4 - Recycling and cutting waste

Reducing, reusing and recycling waste saves on the raw materials and energy which are needed to make new paper, metal, glass and other items. Saving energy helps tackle climate change.
Re-use and repairAvoiding waste in the first place, by re-using and repairing items, is the most efficient way to reduce waste. For example, buy items that can be re-used rather than disposables, and pass things on when you’ve finished with them.

Recycle moreNearly two thirds of all household rubbish can be recycled. Most councils run doorstep recycling collections for paper, glass and plastics, often more. But local civic amenity sites often accept many other things – from wood and shoes, to textiles and TVs.

Get compostingComposting food waste reduces climate change effects. Many local councils offer subsidised compost bins or home collection for kitchen and garden waste.

Eating and Drinking

2008-02-10T16:02:00.000Z

Lesson 3

Eating and Drinking

Producing, transporting and consuming food is responsible for nearly a fifth of our climate change effects. Some foods have a much bigger impact on the environment than others.

Look for the labelsLook for the labels to help you choose food that has been produced with the aim of reducing the negative impact on wildlife and the environment

Buy fresh and in seasonBuying food and drink when locally in season, and unprocessed or lightly processed food, is likely to mean that less energy has been used in its production. Providing it has been produced and stored under similar conditions, choosing food that has travelled a shorter distance will help to reduce congestion and transport emissions.

Reduce your food wasteThe average UK household spends £424 a year on food that goes in the bin - if this ends up in landfill it produces methane, a greenhouse gas judged to be more than 20 times as powerful as carbon dioxide. Throwing less food away produces less methane and reduces other harmful environmental impacts from producing, packaging and transporting food.

Green travel

2008-02-10T16:01:00.000Z

Lesson 2 - Travel

Personal travel accounts for around a quarter of all the damage individuals do to the environment, including climate change effects.

Choose an efficient carIndividual car travel is responsible for the majority of climate change impacts from travel. If you’re buying a new car, look for the fuel efficiency label to choose a more efficient model. This will cut your carbon emissions and save you money on fuel and Vehicle Tax.
Try to reduce your car useReduce the number of short trips you make in the car. Walking, cycling, or taking the bus or train will help reduce local air pollution and the climate change effects of getting around.

Tackling the environmental impact of flyingConsider the need for a flight and the alternatives to taking a plane. If you do fly, you can offset your CO2. You could consider options for reducing your travel, for example taking fewer, longer breaks if possible instead of several short ones. Maybe you can find what you want closer to home, by taking a holiday in the UK or travelling to nearby countries by rail or sea.

Greener living: a quick guide to what you can do

2008-02-10T15:52:00.000Z

Lesson number 1

Tackling climate change will be one of the most important things this generation does, and everyone needs to get involved. Every day, more and more people are taking actions to help reduce carbon emissions and tackle other environmental problems. Here are some ideas about how you can help.

Where to start?

Throughout the Directgov environment and greener living section you will find practical ideas to help you make everything a bit greener, from your home to the contents of your shopping basket. But if you’re short on time, here are some ideas to choose from to get you started.
1. Save energy and water at home

Burning fossil fuels to heat our homes or produce electricity releases carbon emissions, which cause climate change. The energy you use at home is likely to be your biggest contribution to climate change. 80 per cent of it goes on heating and hot water, so this is a good place to look for savings.

Turn down your thermostatTurning your thermostat down by one degree could reduce carbon emissions and cut your fuel bills by up to 10 per cent.

Look for the labelsWhen buying products that use energy – anything from light bulbs to fridge-freezers – look for the Energy Saving Recommended label or European energy label rating of A or higher. The European energy label also tells you how much water appliances use, so you can choose a more efficient model.

Improve your insulationMore than half the heat lost in your home escapes through the walls and roof. Cavity wall insulation costs about £450, can take a couple of hours to install, and could save you £92 a year on fuel bills.

Install water efficient productsLow flush volume toilets, water efficient showerheads and aerating heads on washbasin taps help to reduce your water use significantly. Also, fixing dripping taps and fitting a ‘hippo’ in toilet cisterns are cheap ways of saving water. You can also collect rainwater in water butts and use it for watering your garden instead of a hose.

Crewe and Nantwich Waste Management

2008-02-10T15:41:00.000Z

Last year the people of Crewe and Nantwich Borough threw away around 46,316 tonnes of rubbish. A quarter of this is recyled , with the rest going to land fill sites and we are runiing out of sites quickly which means we all need to do a bit more on the recycling front.

The best solution would be to CUT DOWN the amount of rubbish we all throw away every day, and this is the theme of a major new council drive.

Waste all of a sudden has become a problem- Until last year we all took the matter of waste management for granted ,not only in Crewe but also around the uk.

We need to be serious about our waste and do our bit to help the council help save the planet

Amazing Waste Facts
On average, every household in the UK uses, and then throws away one 2 litre plastic bottle every day. That means a staggering 17MILLION a year in the Borough of Crewe & Nantwich! This is a major problem for Landfill Sites as they take about 800 years to rot away.

Also in the UK, we use more than 8 BILLION carrier bags each year, approximately 134 bags for each person in the UK.

That means that in Crewe and Nantwich, we use roughly 15 MILLION CARRIER BAGS per year.
Every disposable nappy that has ever been thrown away still exists in the Landfill Sites.
It takes 3,000 used plastic bottles to make one picnic table.
Every year the average dustbin contains enough unrealised energy for 500 baths, 3500 showers or 5000 hours of T.V.
Some fleece jackets are made from recycled PET (a type of plastic) bottles.

Secret' eco-town plans spark protest- guardian-10th feb 2007

2008-02-10T14:57:00.000Z

Caroline Flint the housing minister is planning 10 eco towns.

I understand that one of these might be postioned out-side Nantwitch- Rumour or Truth?

Personally, I think that we need to start somewhere and it is better to control the supply of new homes than to allow market forces to impinge on the Green Belt.

The current Planning system generally regulates the supply of Land but as the Goverment has issued targets of a further 3 million new homes by 2020 to keep up with the increased population , they need to come from somewhere and the feelings are that they may need to impinge on previous green belt as the brownfield sites are not emerging as previously thought due to a variety of issues .

Do we want an eco town oustide Nantwich or else where in the uk?

Further thoughts can be read here http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/feb/10/communities.planning1

Let me know what you think?