Day: 15 June 2001

US’s third president to use energy efficient lighting

The Thomas Jefferson Memorial, in Washington DC, will have a new high-tech, energy-efficient lighting system from September, resulting in an 80% cut in energy use.

Coral bleaching could result in adaptation to climate change

Bleaching of coral, where the organisms lose their colourful algae with which they live symbiotically, and which is caused by stresses such as increases in sea temperature (see related story), rather than starving the organisms, could be allowing them to adapt to global warming, according to new research.

Welsh magistrate imprisons man for fly-tipping

A Bridgend Magistrate has sentenced a man to prison for blighting the area for a year with indiscriminate fly-tipping.

Spain gets 11 new wind farms

One of Spain’s largest electricity generators has announced the creation of 11 new wind plants, increasing national capacity by 20%.

Scottish Executive launches £180 million water improvement programme

Scottish water consumers are to be provided with a more modern and efficient water industry with the launch of the North of Scotland Water Authority’s £180 million Water Quality Improvements Programme, which will provide a better service, cleaner environment and a better quality of life for all, says the Scottish Environment Minister Ross Finnie.

Russia votes to accept other countries’ nuclear waste

The Russian parliament, the Duma, has approved by a large margin a controversial proposal that permits the import of other countries’ nuclear waste for reprocessing as a source of income for the cash-strapped nation.

Following Labour’s election victory, all change in environment ministry

The government has announced sweeping changes to the leadership and responsibilities of the environment ministry.

Germany pulls the plug on nuclear power

The German government and leading electricity-generating companies have signed an agreement on the termination of nuclear energy use.

Microelectronics market demands increasingly pure water – a boon for the water treatment equipment market

Despite a recent decline in the sales of microchips, which might have been expected to produce a knock-on effect for companies supplying the industry, the market for water treatment equipment is booming, with sales to the microelectronics industry expected to grow from US$54 million (£39 million) in 2001 to US$73 million (£53 million) in 2007.