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Several Government Departments are undertaking studies to assess the best way of dealing with energy security and climate change. What is needed is a comprehensive national programme to involve the public and help and encourage them to start using renewable energy!
The Department for Environment (DEFRA) has just launched The Climate Change UK Programme 2006 with the words that there is strong and indisputable evidence that climate change is happening and that man-made emissions are its main cause and action is needed now. They then go on to announce modifications to our inefficient and polluting energy infrastructure, rather than a fundamental change to clean technologies. The level of Government support for developers of new energy technologies would be more appropriate for a publicity budget rather than for a national programme to change to new energy sources!
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Green MotorSport already has solar panels and micro wind turbines producing electricity for its equipment and contributing renewable energy towards recharging its electric karts. Our transporter is powered by 100% bio-fuel while the Government is only planning for 5% bio-fuels for transport by 2010, which will in any case be largely offset by the projected increase in car mileage! We are planning to use a hydrogen fuel cell system to store renewable energy, but this technology is not even mentioned in the latest Government Micro-generation Strategy. |
Safe, secure energy
Energy saving and renewable technologies conserve energy and so why aren’t we investing in them? Why is the automotive industry still churning out more fossil fuel powered cars when the gases they emit could harm our world and lead to dangerous climate change? The author of the latest Government report, commissioned by the Treasury, has just said “The most recent science indicates that some of the risks of climate change are more serious than had first appeared and could be irreversible and accelerate the process of global warming, leading to temperatures higher than anything seen in the past 50 million years. Even if we can stabilise global emissions of greenhouse gases in the next decade or two and then ensure that they fall sharply, there is still a risk that we will exceed the safe limit of 2 C global temperature increase.”
Power to the People!
We need action today! We need to invest in more energy saving and renewable energy projects. Energy is the key to unlocking everything. Everything we do, everything we eat is associated with the bigger picture of energy. We need to make sure there is enough to go round. We need to take care of energy, save it, use it in a responsible way and certainly not waste it, as there is only so much we can harvest at the moment. More importantly, do we have space for the emissions that are created if we burn fossil fuels?
Greenhouse gases from transport growing
The Government continues to support our inefficient transport systems but a new report commissioned by the Department of Transport states “We need major changes in the way people travel. A 60% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from the transport sector is essential within 25 years and changes in lifestyles and travel patterns are needed as well as new technologies. There is no time for delay, as looking over the horizon, we can see that concerted action is required now and not tomorrow!”
Using more energy and wasting more
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People are getting thirstier for energy. In the UK we use about ten times more than in poorer countries. Electronics, computers and domestic gadgets save our time but don’t save energy! We need to offset the use of energy intensive devices with micro-generation technologies in our own homes. These technologies may be small in comparison to the large power stations, but remember that the main reason why the large power companies exist is because each of us is burning energy in our homes!
Micro wind, solar units and combined heat and power (CHP) systems are just a few ways of reducing our energy demand. They can be backed up with energy saving measures and the use of bio-fuels and energy from waste. If we generate electricity in our homes, we can use the heat as well. Few people realize that only 35% of the original energy is available when they plug into an electric socket. This is mainly because it is uneconomic to transport heat from the central power stations, but when we generate the electricity and heat in our homes the efficiency is generally over 80%! Every year about a million households buy new boilers and if only half of the UK households replaced them with combined heat and power units, over the next decade, this would displace our entire nuclear generating capacity! |
We need individuals to work with those in the Government who are committed to avoiding dangerous climate change and at the same time ensure long-term energy security.
Many small renewable companies in the UK have great concepts but don't have the funds to continue their much-needed research. The problem with current funding structures is that the bigger companies get the funds and the small companies with the ideas rarely see the light!
Public awareness
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What the country needs is good quality, high profile renewable energy education.
Green MotorSport brings technology and environmental issues to everyone’s attention making learning about renewable energy and energy efficiency interesting and exciting.
Green MotorSport draws attention to these technologies by demonstrating its powerful high performance electric karts and a combination of renewable energy systems. |
We also work with Future Energies, which started the first dynamic renewable energy online magazine in the world. The magazine is a content-driven website dedicated to exploring innovations in a variety of renewable technologies.
During the Whole Life Festival in Kent during March (06), Green MotorSport demonstrated how members of the public can reduce their energy consumption and begin the change over to renewable sources. People were encouraged to save energy, to understand how to start generating their own electricity using renewables, and to make use of fuels derived from waste or energy crops.
It was explained that the extremes of weather we are witnessing are just the early stages of global warming and if we stop burning fossil fuels we could avert more dangerous consequences. Lifestyle changes are essential as well as a change of investment to the energy technologies of the future. People should tell the Government that they want a complete change from our wasteful and damaging use of energy. We must avoid fuel poverty and have power generation that is secure, affordable and sustainable in the long term.
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Green MotorSport also exhibited at the World Environment Ministers’ Forum in Dubai this spring. Representatives from 160 countries attended and the Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai presented the third cycle International Prize for the Environment to Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary General.
Gordon Foat will be giving a presentation at the Caribbean Climate Conference, Montego Bay Jamaica, concerning biotechnology and bio-fuels, and associated viable technology options for the Caribbean. |
Green MotorSport will continue to work with the United Nations Environment Program, which shares information between regional networks concerning high quality renewable energy educational projects.
Green Motorsport at Silverstone Racing Circuit
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As part of Green MotorSport’s awareness campaign in 2005-6, Ross Curnow, Patron of Green MotorSport, was supplied with an electric scooter at Silverstone racing circuit to introduce zero emission technologies into the heart of the motor sport world!
Ross Curnow, the winner of the 2004 Formula BMW UK Rookie Championship, said that he was immediately surprised by the speed of the electric scooter and how well it handled. The acceleration was rapid and its take off from a stationary start was very smooth and predictable. During the race season the electric scooter proved perfect around the pits and paddock due to its reliability, nippiness, comfort and ease of use. The batteries would easily last a day with the mileage that he needed to do. |
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Ross is currently getting ready for his next season in the 2006 Formula BMW UK Championship with Nexa Racing, which was awarded the 2005 Formula BMW UK Drivers’ Championship, having won the British Formula Ford Drivers’ Championship the previous year. The electric scooter was used a lot at the "British Grand Prix" at Silverstone. Many famous racing drivers from past and present asked about the scooter and electric technology. Overall the electric scooter supplied by Green MotorSport was a great addition to the race team and many people admired it as Ross nipped around at race meetings and events spreading awareness of new zero emission technologies! |
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Gordon Foat will be giving a presentation at the Caribbean Climate Conference, Montego Bay Jamaica, concerning biotechnology and bio-fuels, and associated viable technology options for the Caribbean
Caribbean Climate Conference, Montego Bay Jamaica For more detailed info on Green MotorSport & events, download the information pack.
256k Broadband CNN video Monday, 21 March 2005,
Green MotorSport Promo Video
CNN Green Motorsport Transcript
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