Comments on: Cabinet http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2008/01/08/5081 Every day the Prime Minister's Spokesman meets a small coterie of political journalists known as 'the lobby' for a topical chat, or 'briefing'. Sat, 22 Nov 2008 10:41:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Mrs E M Kent http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2008/01/08/5081#comment-7109 Mrs E M Kent Fri, 11 Jan 2008 21:13:07 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2008/01/08/5081#comment-7109 There is a risk that focusing on new nuclear plants will undermine attempts to find cleaner, greener, more sustainable and secure solutions to the problems we face from global warming, climate change, high prices and fuel shortages. New Nuclear Plants cannot be built and start electricity generation in a few weeks or months, or even years. However, if one tenth of the taxpayers' contributions to nuclear technology over the years were to be invested in loans to help individuals and business consumers reduce their demands for conventionally and centrally generated electricity and gas, then we would easily be able to reduce our dependence on centralised and vulnerable power sources, (by an average of at least 50% over each charging period in many cases) within the time it takes to make, order and install the equipment. By installing solar panels for heating water, and the new vertical bladed wind turbines, which require airflows of only 2-3 m/s to efficiently generate electricity, individuals and businesses can dramatically reduce their needs for gas and electricity from fossil fuel sources. Turf roofs and rainwater collection for flushing toilets can reduce water (and therefore energy) consumption, and help to attenuate rainwater runoff wherever there are buildings. Community waterwheels and wind and wood burning power schemes, as well as the very efficient combined heat and power stations for district heating and air conditioning can sell surplus electricity back to the National Grid for others to use, thus also reducing others' demands on centralised fossil fuel and nuclear powered energy sources. Elizabeth Kent, Hampshire #### There is a risk that focusing on new nuclear plants will undermine attempts to find cleaner, greener, more sustainable and secure solutions to the problems we face from global warming, climate change, high prices and fuel shortages.

New Nuclear Plants cannot be built and start electricity generation in a few weeks or months, or even years. However, if one tenth of the taxpayers’ contributions to nuclear technology over the years were to be invested in loans to help individuals and business consumers reduce their demands for conventionally and centrally generated electricity and gas, then we would easily be able to reduce our dependence on centralised and vulnerable power sources, (by an average of at least 50% over each charging period in many cases) within the time it takes to make, order and install the equipment.

By installing solar panels for heating water, and the new vertical bladed wind turbines, which require airflows of only 2-3 m/s to efficiently generate electricity, individuals and businesses can dramatically reduce their needs for gas and electricity from fossil fuel sources. Turf roofs and rainwater collection for flushing toilets can reduce water (and therefore energy) consumption, and help to attenuate rainwater runoff wherever there are buildings.

Community waterwheels and wind and wood burning power schemes, as well as the very efficient combined heat and power stations for district heating and air conditioning can sell surplus electricity back to the National Grid for others to use, thus also reducing others’ demands on centralised fossil fuel and nuclear powered energy sources.

Elizabeth Kent, Hampshire

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