A product or system is only as low carbon as the materials and components from which it is made. More and more, companies expect their suppliers to have strong corporate and social responsibility policies that meet their own high standards. A sustainable supply chain will ultimately increase profitability. - Description added by: David Lockie

A product or system is only as low carbon as the materials and components provided they do not increase during its life the overall environmental burden  with its maintenance and repair costs. - Description added by: Andrew Schofield

Electricity is fundamental to modern societies. It is the backbone to nearly all other technologies and we use it daily in lighting, appliances, communications and healthcare. Currently most electricity is generated in centralised, large-scale power stations fuelled by fossil fuels, uranium (nuclear power) or through renewable or alternative energy sources such as wind or hydro-electric power. It is becoming increasingly clear that we need to secure long-term, cost-effective and sustainable alternatives to fossil fuel power stations to cover both current demand, and future growth. There is an urgent need for open debate and consensus on the future of electricity generation as decisions are being made now that will still need to be in place in thirty years time, when the world might look radically different from how it does now. - Description added by: David Lockie

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Renewable and alternative energy sources are set to play an increasingly important role in providing the electricity, heat, cooling and fuels that society needs. There is a wide range of energy sources such as solar (both photovoltaic and solar thermal), wind, bio-fuels and biomass, hydro-electric, geothermal and heat pumps. - Description added by: David Lockie