Southern Solar are specialists the installation of solar thermal and solar electric systems. They have built a strong reputation for delivering a high quality service to commercial, public sector and domestic clients, having successfully completed thousands of solar projects across the South of the UK. Currently with five regional bases in Sussex, London, Bristol, Hereford and South Wales - our regional teams survey, specify, install and maintain solar systems within a 100 mile radius of each base. Southern Solar is in the process of setting up a new office in Oxford. "At Southern Solar we are passionate about renewable energy and the state of our world. We believe that renewable energy and energy efficiency have a big role to play in helping the UK to reduce its' dependency on fossil fuels and its' impact on the environment. We are keen to see a world that is fit for future generations to inhabit, and are actively doing our bit to help make it so. We feel that humanity has some massive challenges ahead of it both from climate change but also from resource depletion, and the potential economic problems that will follow. Instead of being paralysed by what appear to be large and insurmountable problems we have decided to get on and make some changes - one house at a time. Helping people across the south to understand whether renewable energy will work for them and more specifically, what renewable energy will work for them, is part of our daily work. We have always offered a range of products and systems as we find that one size does not fit all!" Visit www.southernsolar.co.uk for more information. | 
Recently at the COP17 UN Climate Change Meetings in Durban, South Africa, new plans to extend the UN's Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) programme into Africa were released. REDD+ refers to national and international policies and actions focused on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries, as well as enhancing the crucial role that forests play in providing basic ecosystem services (notably water resources, soil protection, and biodiversity) and in improving the living conditions of populations in tropical forest countries. Central African and Donor Partner Countries Announce a Joint Declaration of Intent on REDD+ in the Congo Basin. Meanwhile the IUCN’s National Committee of the Netherlands, represented by their Senior Advisor on Energy and Climate, Carl Königel, are also in Durban launching the African Terrestrial Carbon Centre (ATCC), their new initiative on REDD+ in Africa. Mr. Raymond Mbitikon, Executive Secretary of the Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC), added that “Central African countries have a solid track record of cooperation and coordination on forest conservation in the Congo Basin. We look forward to the opportunity to accelerate our efforts as a result of the transparent, sustainable, predictable, and results-oriented support we will receive from our development partners.” Excellent news for Central African forests and their people if the system will work. We hope to bring you more on this in the near future. via www.iucn.org and www.un-redd.org
BPEC (Training) Ltd is a registered charity commited to identifying the education and training needs of those who work in the Building Services Engineering Industry and providng innovative solutions to address these needs. In an era of increased government and european legislation and also rising energy bills, renewables technologies are becoming increasingly important as the homeowner looks to alternative ways to heat their homes and provide hot water. BPEC offers the plumbing and heating engineer a range of renewable energy courses and will continue to update and add to this portfolio of products.
