Find out more about the work companies are doing behind the scenes to develop cutting edge technologies and materials:
Incandescent bulbs have been the lighting workhorse for over 100 years. But they are now being phased out across the globe as everyone looks for more efficient lighting options - driven largely by concerns over climate change and energy resources. However, these more efficient options require more intelligent electronics to control how quickly these lights can be turned on and how well they work with dimmer switches.
This is where NXP comes in - offering innovative solutions to these challenges. The circuits developed by NXP help deliver the high quality compact-fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and LED bulbs that consumers demand. So everybody can take advantage of the opportunities that this lighting revolution is bringing. Thanks to these IC solutions, NXP has helped to save over 500 million kg CO2 per year compared to more traditional lighting solutions.
Wolseley offers energy saving solutions for the whole home, from roofing to lighting and renewables. The Wolseley Sustainable Building Centre in Leamington Spa is a living interactive showcase for renewable and sustainable materials for building and water conservation projects.
The centre has won many awards including the 'Carbon Positive Pioneer Award' at the Prince of Wales May Day Event and the Edie Award for 'Best Sustainable Construction Project'.
Wolseley has a sustainable product range of over 7000 items and more than 1,600 branches in the UK, trading under a range of names including Bathstore, Plumb Center and Build Centre.
Lighter vehicles mean lower fuel consumption, and Corus has developed Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS) as a key material to reduce vehicle weight.
Today, the average car is already 60kg lighter (where AHSS have been used) and as the weight savings approach 100kg, the use of AHSS will equate to a saving of one tonne CO2 over the life of each car - that's a £550 fuel saving at today's prices.
Shell is working on a range of projects to develop advanced biofuels that do not compete with food. There are five pre-commercial joint ventures and six research projects with universities round the world including at Manchester and Exeter.
Projects include biodiesel from marine algae - based on salt water and arid coastal areas.
H+H UK manufacture aircrete products for the construction industry that are thermally insulating and contain 75-80% recycled material, most of which would otherwise be sent for landfill.
The products help optimise the thermal performance of buildings, reducing CO2 emissions and the need for additional insulation, and less fuel is used in delivery compared to heavier building materials.
H+H has been ranked one of the UK's top green companies in the Sunday Times 2007 and 2008 awards.
In January Tesco opened an environmental store in Cheetham Hill, Manchester. The store has a carbon footprint 70% smaller than an equivalent store built in 2006 and serves as model for future Tesco stores.
BP is working on a number of projects to develop biofuels, including a joint venture with British Sugar and DuPont to construct and operate a £420 million litre bioethanol facility in Hull.
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