Eco news in brief

10:18am Thursday 18th September 2008

Solar panels are one of the least cost-effective ways of fighting climate change and will take homeowners 100 years to repay installation costs, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics).

In a new guide on energy efficiency, Rics says roof panels are unlikely to save enough from bills to make them financially viable in a householder's lifetime.

• The UK's first green funding website for businesses has revealed London is in the bottom three regions in the UK for environmental funding initiatives.

The Green Grants Machine website found businesses in London had access to just 12 funding schemes compared with 25 in the East Midlands.

For details, visit greengrantsmachine.co.uk

• A food policy adviser says the Government should develop a comprehensive food labelling system showing all the impacts which food has on the environment.

Professor Tim Lang, an adviser to the cabinet who coined the term "food miles", says labelling should show how healthy it is, its environmental effects and its social consequences.

• Mecca Bingo and energy companies Scottish and Southern Energy are joining forces to give away two million energy-saving light bulbs this month.

Every Mecca Bingo member can collect a free pack of two energy-saving light bulbs from their nearest club this month.

• The Carbon Trust, which works with businesses to reduce carbon emissions, says British firms are wasting almost £7m a day on poor energy efficiency.

It claims businesses could save as much as £1.3bn a year turning off photocopiers and lights at night and installing time switches.

• Environmental charity Thames21 is to deliver the third Cleaner Thames Challenge this year from Thursday until Sunday and is appealing for Londoners to help clean up the river Thames.

For more information, visit thames21.org.uk