AIR QUALITY NEWS

The national shared transport charity Collaborative Mobility UK (CoMoUK) has published a manifesto in which it calls on the next Mayor of London to support and develop shared transport in the city. The charity warn that London is missing out on the potential of shared transport and indeed, a Clean Cities report last year highlighted […] The post CoMoUK call on next London Mayor to accelerate rollout of shared transport appeared first on AirQualityNews.

The University of Liverpool have achieved operational cost savings of £25,000 and energy consumption reductions of 23% at a campus building using a new tool designed to optimise the operational performance of buildings. Glasgow-based climate technology firm, IES, have been working with the university to evaluate the impact of an ongoing HVAC refurbishment project in […] The post Digital twin helps University of Liverpool cut energy consumption by 23% appeared first on AirQualityNews.

The Cross River Partnership has put out a call for available spaces in London which can be used as Urban Logistics Hubs to enable emissions free deliveries across the capital. The partnership are asking that landlords who have some unused space consider renting it out as a logistics hub or micro site, which act as […] The post Cross River Partnership seeking sites for last-mile delivery consolidation appeared first on AirQualityNews.

Worcestershire County Council has secured over £300,000 to replace one of their mobile library vans with a new electric mobile library and outreach vehicle. The money has ultimately been provided by the Arts Council through the Libraries Improvement Fund element of the Cultural Investment Fund (the other two being the Cultural Development Fund and Museum Estate […] The post Arts Council provide funding for electric mobile library appeared first on AirQualityNews.

Belgian campaign group Les chercheurs d’air have gathered together 140 doctors and environmental experts to put their names to a letter which calls on candidates for the 2024 Brussels elections to act on the poor air quality suffered in the city. Timed to coincide with World Health Day, the group aim to highlight the toll that […] The post Politicians called on to improve air quality in Brussels appeared first on AirQualityNews.

Flying is one of the most carbon-intensive activities — yet it contributes just 2.5% of the world’s carbon emissions. How does this add up? Well, almost everyone in the world does not fly. Studies estimate that just 10% of the world flies in most years. But as incomes rise, this will change. A combination of […] The post Aviation emissions have doubled since 1990, and are likely to keep rising appeared first on AirQualityNews.

The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) have published new research that shows an overwhelming number of people rely on public transport or would like to use it more often, but for many of them it simply isn’t working. The IPPR’s research highlights that the cost of living crisis has impacted the way many people […] The post Policy group call for parties to outline their proposed transport strategies appeared first on AirQualityNews.

The fifth round of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition has been launched today to support feasibility studies focused on accelerating the development of green shipping corridors into and out of UK ports. £1.5 million funding is being made available to help map out the infrastructure required along such routes to enable vessels to access green […] The post Funding to support zero emission shipping routes to and from the UK appeared first on AirQualityNews.

The panel discussion is always a highlight of an Air Quality Conference and the Northern event did not disappoint in this respect. As panel discussions go, this was just what you’d want. An observation made by one panelist would be picked up by and developed by another – the success of the session was very […] The post 2024 Northern Air Quality Conference – panel discussion appeared first on AirQualityNews.

FairCharge the electric vehicle advocacy group founded by motoring journalist Quentin Willson has published a booklet which address and dismisses 21 classic myths surrounding EVs. When he spoke at our National Air Quality Conference last November, Quentin addressed the problem of misinformation, the selective use of information and anti-EV sentiment, citing one tabloid which managed […] The post FairCharge publish ‘Little Book of EV Myths’ to battle misinformation appeared first on AirQualityNews.

A report by InfluenceMap, using the Carbon Majors database, considers how the major emitters of CO2 around the world have performed since the  commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions was made in the Paris Accord The report found that 80% of the global emissions from fuel and cement production since then, can be traced to […] The post Most fossil fuel companies accelerated production after the 2016 Paris Agreement appeared first on AirQualityNews.

A new study by John Hopkins University has found that California puts more sulfuryl fluoride into the atmosphere than all the other American states combined, and 12% of the global total. This relatively obscure gas is widely used as a fumigant for treating termite infestation in buildings and ships. It was first approved by the […] The post California responsible for 12% of the world’s sulfuryl fluoride emissions appeared first on AirQualityNews.

At the Northern Air Quality Conference last month, Andrew Whittles, Director of Air Quality Programmes at Bradford Council discussed the moves the city was making in terms of establishing itself as a – if not the – centre for hydrogen in England. Aside from his air quality role, Andrew is also involved in developing projects such […] The post Hydrogen production in Bradford gets the go-ahead appeared first on AirQualityNews.

A team from Columbia University’s Irving Medical Center have tested far-UVC light in real world conditions and the results were dramatic, with more than 99% of an airborne virus in an occupied work environment being inactivated. Since Covid-19 there has been a surge of interest amongst the public about the use of UVC lamps for […] The post Far-UVC light eliminates over 99% of airborne virus in an occupied room appeared first on AirQualityNews.

Despite air quality being an issue that is discussed much more widely that it has in the past, an international group of experts are drawing attention to the fact that indoor air quality is still being overlooked. They are asking that indoor air performance standards, for spaces in which people spend a significant proportion of […] The post Calls for indoor air quality standards to be introduced worldwide appeared first on AirQualityNews.

A new tool has been created that will allow local authorities across London and the South East  to identify where best to locate new green energy projects such as wind and solar farms. This project has been led by Anglia Ruskin University and University of East Anglia, supported by UK Power Networks’ Distribution System Operator […] The post New tool to help Local Authorities site solar and wind projects appeared first on AirQualityNews.

A new study by John Hopkins University has found that California puts more sulfuryl fluoride into the atmosphere than all the other American states combined, and 12% of the global total. This relatively obscure gas is widely used as a fumigant for treating termite infestation in buildings and ships. It was first approved by the […] The post California responsible for 12% of the world’s sulfuryl fluoride emissions appeared first on AirQualityNews.

As air quality declines, the risk of issues like respiratory disease increases. However, many don’t realise that risk of conditions like diabetes, heart disease and stroke also increase. At the same time, while 90% of people agree with the need for climate action¹, local projects often struggle to win sufficient support. Opposition to environmental measures […] The post Making air pollution meaningful for Meath County Council appeared first on AirQualityNews.

Last month, innovative e-bike designers Gocycle shared some CGI images of a possible cargo bike they were developing and this week they have unveiled a pre-production model and announced that they expect the first deliveries to be made in September of this year. Gocycle’s journey began in 2002 when former McLaren Cars design engineer Richard […] The post Gocycle to launch folding electric cargo bikes appeared first on AirQualityNews.

New provisional figures for the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions suggest that 2023 saw a decrease of 5.4% from the 2022 figure, with total greenhouse gas emissions 52.7% lower than they were in 1990. The main driver of the continuing fall in emissions has been the shift away from using coal for electricity generation towards gas […] The post UK greenhouse gas emissions fall again appeared first on AirQualityNews.

This year’s Northern Air Quality Conference was held, for the first time, in Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall. The new venue lent itself to a transformative event, from which our delegates left with a greater understanding of the problems and solutions surrounding air quality. From the air quality professionals exhibiting upstairs, to the speakers in the main […] The post 2024 Northern Air Quality Conference appeared first on AirQualityNews.

Considering switching to an electric car, but with no access to off-road parking, Stirling resident Stephen Gordon turned to Google and came across the pavement-channel solution offered by EV charging specialists Kerbo Charge. Stephen (pictured below) took his findings to Sterling council who turned out to be quite enthusiastic about finding solutions that might help […] The post Sterling resident steers council towards EV charging solution appeared first on AirQualityNews.

Considering switching to an electric car, but with no access to off-road parking, Stirling resident Stephen Gordon turned to Google and came across the pavement-channel solution offered by EV charging specialists Kerbo Charge. Stephen (pictured below) took his findings to Stirling council who turned out to be quite enthusiastic about finding solutions that might help […] The post Stirling resident steers council towards EV charging solution appeared first on AirQualityNews.

The quality of the air that we breathe is incredibly important for a variety of aspects of our health. Whilst the air quality outside is subject to things such as pollution, we usually expect that our indoor air quality will automatically be cleaner and better for us, but this is not actually the case. There […] The post The importance of ventilation hygiene for air quality appeared first on AirQualityNews.

A research team has developed a new type of paint that removes pollutants from the air, lasts longer than traditional wall paints and can be created from recycled materials. The team, from TU Wien in Austria and the Università Politecnica delle Marche in Italy, created special titanium oxide nanoparticles that can be added to ordinary […] The post Self-cleaning paint can break down air pollutants appeared first on AirQualityNews.

Sydney Airport sought a cost-effective solution to characterise emission sources at and around the airport and inform appropriate air quality measures. Leveraging QuantAQ’s advanced sensor technology, infrastructure consulting firm AECOM implemented a tailored network to answer their air quality questions while operating under unique logistical challenges Sydney Airport’s commitment to sustainability includes ensuring that their […] The post Case Study: AECOM’s monitoring solution at Sydney Airport appeared first on AirQualityNews.

Parent campaign group Solve the School Run have launched a data dashboard to allow campaign groups to understand the dynamics of  the school run in their area, enabling them to better present a case for alternative travel initiatives.  One of the founders of Solve the School Run is Claire McDonald, whose 14 year-old son walks […] The post Mums launch data dashboard to Solve the School Run appeared first on AirQualityNews.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service has signed a 20-year agreement to connect to the £70m Bradford Energy Network, which will prevent 8,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide being emitted. When it begins operating in 2026 it will become the UK’s largest low-to-zero carbon district heating network . The heat network is being funded partly through the […] The post Bradford courts sign up to city’s new energy network appeared first on AirQualityNews.

The UK’s undershoot on heat pumps underlines the challenge of decarbonising the built world. Catriona Hyland, research analyst at A/O, presents six priorities we need to tackle urgently. Once again, despite good intentions, targets and soundbites, yet another attempt at decarbonising our homes is on the ropes as it’s reported the uptake of heat pumps […] The post Built world is huge contributor to GHG emissions… here’s how we change this appeared first on AirQualityNews.

Latest research undertaken by the RAC has revealed that while most supermarket chains are embracing the notion of EV charging – some of them very enthusiastically – ASDA appear to be in reverse.  Following the end of their contract with bp pulse, the number of chargers available at their stores has plumetted from 246 in […] The post Supermarket survey: Only 22 ASDA stores offer EV charging appeared first on AirQualityNews.

In a move that will boost the North East’s charging network by 126%, South Tyneside Council are partnering with Connected Kerb to roll out 2,100 chargers,  80% of which will be operational within two years. Currently, the North East is home to just 2.7% of the UK’s public charging infrastructure which equates to 58 chargers […] The post South Tyneside embark on huge EV charge-point roll-out appeared first on AirQualityNews.

Tom Graham, a barrister specialising in town and country planning, environmental law and highway law examines how air quality can be raised by interested parties in connection with applications for planning permission. In essence the planning process devolves into the following: • Legislation • National Planning Policies • Local Planning Policies • Development control (i.e. […] The post Air quality and the planning process appeared first on AirQualityNews.

Barnet Council have collaborated with arts organisation UP Projects and artist Holly Graham to create a mural highlighting air quality and the climate emergency. Titled ‘Stop and Smell the Flowers’, the mural was unveiled on  Station Road in the heart of Edgware Town Centre. The artwork takes the form of a collaged image that has […] The post Barnet residents asked to ‘Stop and Smell the Flowers’ appeared first on AirQualityNews.

The City Corporation have launched a Heritage Buildings Retrofit Toolkit to guide local authorities through the minefield of retrofitting listed building or those in conservation areas. The UK’s built environment accounts from for 25% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions and while cleaner/greener methods and technologies  are being incorporated into new builds, the vast majority […] The post City of London launches Retrofit Toolkit to protect heritage buildings appeared first on AirQualityNews.

DD-Scientific, manufacturers of cutting-edge gas sensor technologies, have announced the appointment of Will Parrett as its new Sales & Marketing Director. Will brings over 20 years’ experience in technical sales and marketing, which most recently saw him responsible for managing growth, modernisation and rebranding as Sales & Marketing Director EMEA at sensor manufacturer Alphasense. The […] The post Will Parrett Joins DD-Scientific as Sales & Marketing Director appeared first on AirQualityNews.

Cheshire West and Chester Council are making a determined effort to promote the transition to electric vehicles to both residents and businesses in the borough by hosting an EV Awareness Event in May. The Council will be holding the free ‘understanding how to transition to electric vehicles in business and at home’ event at Ellesmere […] The post Council’s Ellesmere Port event to assist the transition to EVs appeared first on AirQualityNews.

On 19th March we hosted our fourth Northern Air Quality Conference in Manchester which was held, for the first time, at the spectacular Bridgewater Hall. There seemed to be consensus among everyone we spoke to that the venue was perfect, not just for hosting an exhibition/conference event but for hosting one that pertained to air […] The post Report: The 2024 Northern Air Quality Conference appeared first on AirQualityNews.

New AutoMotive, whose raison d’etre is to encourage clean energy transition within road transport, have published their 2024 State of the Switch report in which they predict there will be 25% more EVs on the UK’s roads by next year. The report examines the progress that has been made in transition the UK towards zero […] The post New AutoMotive publish third annual State of the Switch report appeared first on AirQualityNews.

Researchers from King’s College London examined air quality at the proposed sites of 147 newly approved schools in England between 2017-2025.  Using air pollution data from Central Office of Public Interest, they recorded PM2.5, PM10 and NO2 levels for every school location (and the nearest approximation for seven greenfield sites which are et to have […] The post 86% of new schools in England will be in areas breaching WHO limits appeared first on AirQualityNews.

The 24th issue of Air Quality News magazine is now available to read online. The magazine was officially launched yesterday, at the Northern Air Quality Conference and the digital version can be read here. In the previous issue of the magazine we looked forward to Clean Air Night, a January sibling to the well-established Clean […] The post The latest Air Quality News magazine is out now! appeared first on AirQualityNews.

As of today, EV drivers without access to off-street parking can apply for funding from the Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant. The charging solution being funded is the cross-pavement channel, whereby the charger is connected to the vehicle  by a cable embedded into the pavement.  The grant will finance 75% of the cost of buying and […] The post Grants now available for EV drivers without off-street parking appeared first on AirQualityNews.

Having secured funding from the Mayor of London’s Air Quality Fund, Camden will be addressing air quality issues around the borough, from sources as diverse as canal boats and film crews.  Councillor Adam Harrison, Cabinet member for a Sustainable Camden said: ‘It’s great news that we have been successful with these bids. Funding for these […] The post Camden announces five new air quality projects appeared first on AirQualityNews.

Three years since Bus Back Better was published, charity Campaign for Better Transport have looked at how funding has been distributed across local authorities and found some extraordinary imbalances.  It was on this day in 2021 that the Government published ‘Bus Back Better: national bus strategy for England’ with the stated aim of delivering better […] The post ‘Bus Back Better’ funding wildly unbalanced, charity finds appeared first on AirQualityNews.

Researchers have found that pollution from oil and gas flaring in America is responsible for more than 700 premature deaths and 73,000 asthma exacerbations among children annually. They also calculated that the cost to the country in health damage was $7.4bn. The team, from the University of North Carolina, Institute for the Environment, Boston University […] The post Oil and gas flaring in the US costs over 700 lives annually appeared first on AirQualityNews.

A kite-flying team from the University of Surrey are one of the beneficiaries of £12 million in funding from NERC, Defra and Innovate UK which has been awarded to projects developing systems for monitoring of our waterways, habitats, soil and greenhouse gas emissions. The Innovation in Environmental Monitoring programme has been designed to support UK […] The post Greenhouse gas emissions to be measured by robots flying kites appeared first on AirQualityNews.

Air quality specialists Airly has announced the launch of a new AI tool that has been developed to revolutionise the work of air quality consultants and accelerate the production of air quality assessments in planning applications. Airly Product Lead Marta Steiner said: ‘Working closely with air quality consultants, we have utilised the power of AI […] The post Could AI unblock the backlog of planning applications? appeared first on AirQualityNews.

A new study by Imperial College London has examined the impact of airborne dust on employees working within the London Underground.  Over 19,000 people are employed by the  London Underground and many of those are exposed to elevated concentrations of PM2.5 on a daily basis. The study – the largest to date – aimed to […] The post New research on health impacts of air quality on London Underground staff appeared first on AirQualityNews.

Adding a fourth light to traffic signals – in addition to red, green and amber – would shorten wait times at street corners for pedestrians, as well as improve traffic flow according to engineers in America. Although we’ll need more automated vehicles on the road first… Last year, having run computational simulations, transportation engineers at […] The post The future of traffic control: Red, green, amber and white? appeared first on AirQualityNews.

A Manchester-based campaign group called Ardwick Climate Action have launched a Green Route to guide residents through the neighbourhood via a series of green sites, relatively protected from the surrounding traffic. Ardwick sits on the edge of the city centre. The constantly busy A6 slices through it and the Bee Network’s cycle lanes haven’t made […] The post Action group open Green Route to avoid traffic pollution appeared first on AirQualityNews.

West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin has unveiled proposals for a new tram system that will run between Leeds and Bradford, with a later extension to Dewsbury also a possibility.  Subject to being agreed at a final Combined Authority meeting this week,  this will represent a major step forward for the area’s proposed mass transit scheme. […] The post Tram plans announced for West Yorkshire’s mass transit system appeared first on AirQualityNews.