Recent Blog Posts

Video Interview with Novalux at Ecobuild 2012

David Thomas — Fri, 18 May 2012 10:16:12 +0000

May, May 18, 2012 - 11:05

We interview the Directors of Novalux, a new energy efficiency company, about starting up a business in an industry that’s being blown about by the feed-in tariffs and by the incoming Green Deal.

Our final interview from Ecobuild was with Jamie Vaughan and Joseph Allcott, two young entrepreneurs using their backgrounds in finance, business, engineering and sustainability to build a green energy brand, despite the turbulence of the feed-in tariffs.

Interview with Eric Thanenthiran of Sol.evo

David Thomas — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:33:51 +0000

May, May 15, 2012 - 03:05

The Eco Experts spoke to Eric at Ecobuild about how solar PV car canopies can transform car parks into more attractive sites that generate zero carbon energy.

Interview with Eric Thanenthiran of Sol.evo

Greenbuild Expo 2012 at Manchester Central, 9-10th May

David Thomas — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:07:43 +0000

May, May 15, 2012 - 02:05

Greenbuild 2012 focussed on The Green Deal, and wood fuel. Over 180 companies exhibited, and thousands of visitors came through the doors of Manchester Central.

Greenbuild Expo 2012 - all about The Green Deal and Renewable Heat

On Thursday 10th May I visited Manchester to report on Greenbuild Expo 2012 for The Eco Experts. Unlike March’s massive Ecobuild event which was focussed on construction, Greenbuild was all about renewable energy: solar PV, solar thermal, and biomass.

Video Interview with Rob Wellman, The National Skills Academy

David Thomas — Thu, 03 May 2012 11:40:04 +0000

May, May 03, 2012 - 12:05

The Eco Experts interview Rob Wellman, Network Operations Manager at The National Skills Academy. The NSA works with Government to develop training networks for tradesmen, playing a key support support role for the UK’s growing Green industry. Rob talks to us about MCS (Microgeneration Certificate Scheme) training, and how the NSA network is spreading to accommodate the length and breadth of Britain.

Video Demonstration Of The Wattson Home Energy Monitoring System

David Thomas — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:41:52 +0000

April, Apr 27, 2012 - 03:04

A video demonstration of the Wattson, an award-winning energy management system and, for our money, the top gizmo at Ecobuild.

The Wattson is an energy monitoring system adapted for home use, with an innovative lighting display that has made it famous in the green energy market for giving the public an interface, at last, to gauge their own energy habits and match them to the energy they are producing.

Video Interview with Bruce Davis, MD of Abundance Generation: A New Democratic Financing Model

David Thomas — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:15:04 +0000

April, Apr 26, 2012 - 12:04

We speak to Bruce Davis from Abundance Generation, a financing platform that allows anyone to invest in renewable energy no matter how much or how little money they have to spend. The interview is below, and the full transcript below that.

Abundance Generation has just launched. It’s a democratic finance platform that allows people to invest as little as £5 in renewable energy projects.

Video Interview With Chris Hopkins, MD of Ploughcroft Solar (And Dragon Slayer)

David Thomas — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:28:49 +0000

April, Apr 23, 2012 - 02:04

The Eco Experts caught up with Chris after one of his solar PV demonstrations at Ecobuild. The interview is below, and the full transcript below that.

If Chris looks familiar, you may have seen him on Dragon’s Den. He impressed the dragons and attracted £120k investment from Deborah Meaden and Theo Paphitis.

Ploughcroft has become increasingly known for excellence in training and customer service. Chris prides himself on the Ploughcroft Approach: his method that he teaches across the UK to beginners and competitors alike.

Video Interview With Solar Trade Assocation CEO

David Thomas — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:46:26 +0000

April, Apr 20, 2012 - 11:04

We interview Paul Barwell, CEO of the Solar Trade Association, about the feed-in tariffs, The Green Deal and the future of the UK solar industry.

Another influential character we met at Ecobuild is Paul Barwell, CEO of the Solar Trade Association, an organisation founded in 1978 to represent solar companies.

The Solar Trade Association negotiates with Government in order to change policy, regulate and manage the solar industry. The organisation aims to increase solar power’s profile in the UK’s energy strategy.

Video Interview: Delivering The First UK Solar Photovoltaic Market Assessment

David Thomas — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 13:53:57 +0000

April, Apr 17, 2012 - 02:04

The Eco Experts interview Colin McNaught, Head of Knowledge at AEA – one of the world’s leading sustainability consultancies – who have just delivered the first full Assessment Report of the UK solar PV market.

Commissioned by the British Photovoltaic Association (BPVA), AEA recently completed the first comprehensive report on the UK solar PV market. The report which will help businesses and solar organisations navigate the green revolution in UK energy.

Is The Green Deal The Real Deal?

David Thomas — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 16:20:31 +0000

March, Mar 29, 2012 - 05:03

The Green Deal: explained by Energy Minister Greg Barker and Paul King of the Green Building Council. From a seminar at Ecobuild 2012

Green Deal – The Real Deal?

Greg Barker, the Minister for Energy and Climate Change, was one of the biggest crowd pullers at Ecobuild. The Eco Experts went to see him speak on the subject of ‘Green Deal – The Real Deal?’ where he was pitted with/against Paul King, Chief Executive of Green Building Council.
Here’s what happened:

Paul King spoke first.

In a nutshell: