Feature Articles

Energy efficiency is fast becoming a way of UK business life. Should water efficiency be equally intuitive? Despite grand plans to move water en mass around Britain, will behavioural change prove the main answer to supply sustainability, asks Jon Herbert?

The coalition Government will make history this year with the launch of the world’s first investment bank dedicated to greening the economy. The bank will not be fully capitalised for another three or four years. John Barwise considers the credits and debits of the new green bank balance sheet.

The shale gas industry has been given a recent boost with the publication of a Government-backed review recommending a series of measures to mitigate the risks of hydraulic fracturing (fracking). John Barwise reports.

Can a company increase its profits, reduce waste, improve its compliance standards and meet the aspirations of its stakeholders, while enjoying financial benefits such as lower capital limitations and a lower cost of debt? The answer is “yes”. Verity Hambrook explains how.

David Alexander examines the community infrastructure levy (CIL) system of planning charges to fund a wide range of essential or desirable infrastructure projects.

As sustainability and ethical procurement move from being buzzwords to standard expectations, SMEs may find the concept of managing corporate responsibility risks in their supply chains daunting. Soledad Milius suggests some practical starting points.

Paul Landau highlights the sources of both data and information on air-pollution measurements — both nationally and internationally — and summarises a selection of the main databases available.

Necessity is intensifying the hunt for novel energy resources, both renewable and non-sustainable. But hard decisions could have long consequences. Jon Herbert explains further.

As a follow-up to an earlier feature on Defra’s proposed revisions to Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 governing contaminated land, Rob Bell garners industry opinion and considers whether the new guidance is a step in the right direction.

John Barwise traces the highs and lows of the solar PV fiasco.