Tory council happily running ‘conservatory tax’ for past five years
Extensions such as this conservatory would require simple energy-efficiency steps in a policy an Uttlesford council spokesman called ‘very, very uncontroversial’. Photograph: Alamy A Conservative council in Essex has been running a so-called “conservatory tax” for five years without complaint, the Guardian has learned. On Tuesday, David Cameron…
What’s the truth about fracking?
Protesters voice their opposition to fracking at Hesketh Bank, Lancashire. Photograph: Alamy “It was just like something from Nasa,” says Doreen Stopforth, pointing from the front window of her bungalow to the flat expanse of cabbages and the River Ribble beyond. One day last year, an enormous drilling…
Shale gas fracking risks exaggerated, insurance broker claims
Protesters scale a shale gas rig near Southport, Merseyside. An insurance broker has downplayed the risks of fracking. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA A leading City firm has defended the controversial practice of fracking for shale gas on the day the government received advice to give it the green light…
Apple defends green credentials of cloud computing services
James West from Climate Desk explains the environmental impact of Apple’s energy consumption Link to this video Apple disclosed sensitive information about energy demand at the data centre housing its iCloud service for the first time on Tuesday, defending its green credentials in the face of a campaign…
Q&A: shale gas and fracking
Shale gas has been transformational in the US, one of the world’s biggest energy markets. Photograph: Bloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images What are shale gas and fracking? Shale gas is natural gas trapped in rocks deep underground It’s extracted by “fracking”: pumping water, sand and chemicals into the rocks…
Fracking: green groups denounce report approving further exploration
Campaigners at a public meeting in January to discuss the planned shale gas drilling and fracking site near Balcombe village, Sussex. Photograph: Martin Godwin for the Guardian Campaigners reacted angrily on Tuesday to the recommendation by government advisers that “fracking” for shale gas can resume in the UK,…
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