Generous News

On yer bike

2010-07-30T07:31:44Z

A new bike hire scheme has begun in central London.

Already, more than 11,000 people have signed up to the idea, far outstripping the 5,000 bicycles which will be available today at special docking stations. And more than 12,450 keys have been handed out to Londoners – enabling them to unlock bikes left at 330 docking points across the city.

A bit of detail
The keys cost £3 and the cost of using the cycles varies from £1 for an hour to £50 for 24 hours. TfL and operator Serco expect to roll out the scheme to casual users after a month. The 23kg bikes with three gears do not come with locks and TfL said this was done to deter people from keeping the cycles for long periods.

Our energy future: costs or savings?

2010-07-28T06:08:17Z

The Telegraph is today reporting that the Government is saying that ‘Householders face a £300-a-year rise in their gas and electricity bills and significant cuts in how much energy they use if Britain is to “keep the lights on” and meet its climate change targets.’

But this sort of lead coverage isn’t exactly helpful or Generous-spirited. It faces one truth: energy will undoubtedly have to cost more in the future. But it relegates talk about the ways in which households can work to greatly reduce their energy needs and consumption going forward. Something we’re very switched onto here at Generous.

Admittedly, the Telegraph article does go on to talk about the imperative of energy-saving initiatives, but its thrust remains cost. ‘This would make the average family’s annual energy bill of £1,100, £300 more expensive.’

To read more about Energy Secretary Chris Huhne’s 32 separate proposed measures to cut the UK’s carbon emissions by 80 per cent within the next 40 years, click here.

And to join the debate about what sort of mix of energy generation you think fits the Generous ticket, sign in and leave your comments below this story. Tell us what you think.

Flickr photosource – thanks phault

Glastonbury teams up with Triodos

2010-07-27T08:25:19Z

Now that the 175,000 festivalgoers have gone home and the stages have been dismantled, work is starting at Worthy Farm – home to Glastonbury festival – on a major solar-power project, financed by an ethical bank’s savers.

Bristol-based Triodos Bank has granted a £500,000 loan to Michael Eavis to help pay for the installation of what will be Britain’s biggest solar roof. The bank says it is a good example of the type of green project that savers who put their cash in its climate change bonds are supporting.

The solar-panel system will be on the roof of the “Mootel” – the barns that are home to the farm’s herd while the festival is on. And, on a clear, sunny day, it is expected that the 1,100 panels will generate around 200kW (kilowatts) of power.

You can read more about the loan, how Triodos works and what the new roof might achieve here.

Related actions

Go Ethical With Some of your Savings

Flickr photosource – thanks hidden shine

Plastic bottle boat sails the Pacific

2010-07-26T11:45:49Z

The Plastiki and crew have reached the end of their epic voyage which has taken them through the Pacific Ocean on an 8,000 nautical mile adventure lasting over 130 days! The team arrived midday today at Sydney’s Australian National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour to an excited crowd of friends, family and supporters.

Plastiki’s mission has been to highlight just how polluted the Pacific is becoming – not least with plastic bottles. The crew are determined to protect our oceans and beat our waste.

Check out Plastiki’s amazing voyage here.

Related Generous actions

National Transplant Week

2010-07-14T12:50:24Z

As National Transplant Week draws to a close it’s not too late for you to register your name online. Organised by the charity Transplants in Mind, this year’s appeal had the tag line ‘What are you waiting for?’. It’s a Generous question, if ever we heard one.

It’s a Generous action already – and it would be great to have more of committing to it (the link to the online sign-up form can be found through the Generous action page).

You can read more about Transplant Week here.