My four strange but true Easter stories

With Easter a few days away, now is a good time to look back at four of this year’s amazing but true green stories.

Ron Fox, of Noreus Ltd on the University of Keele Science Innovation Park (www.noreus.co.uk), picks his favourite recent environmental tales.

1. For hundreds of years, church organs have played a leading role in Britain’s musical and religious heritage. But amazingly, scientists from the school of architecture at Nottingham Trent University have discovered these musical instruments can provide a unique insight into the history of our climate. Normally, data from satellites has helped monitor fluctuations in our weather. But now researchers have found a much older and more unusual data source in the form of organ-tuning logbooks. Handwritten notes left by generations of organ tuners in some of Britain’s most renowned ancient churches have provided almost 60 years of data on the temperature and humidity recorded by tuners during their visits to churches to adjust the pipe organs. Organ tunings usually take place twice a year because the pipes react to temperature and humidity changes, which can affect the expansion and contraction of the wood and metal. A difference of just one degree Celsius can change the pitch of an organ by about 0.8 hertz, making a notable difference to the notes produced by the instrument. The scientists pointed out that the increasing temperatures inside churches may be linked not only to the warming temperatures outside but also to changes in the use and type of heating and ventilation inside a church.
2. Europe’s first electric aircraft took off from Glasgow at the end of last month – to deliver the post to the Scottish islands. The battery-powered plane, which was operated by Loganair, landed in Dundee and Inverness before flying on to Kirkwall airport on Orkney. The Alia CX300, developed by the American manufacturer Beta Technologies, was used by Royal Mail to carry 560kg of letters and parcels to be delivered to remote parts of Scotland. The plane has a range of 300 miles from battery packs that take an hour to charge. The green test flight is designed to help Royal Mail halve it use of domestic flights as part of its plan to achieve net zero by 2040. But the electric aircraft will first need approval by the Civil Aviation Authority before it goes into regular service.
3. Pizza ovens have been panned for harming the environment. But a study that shows some of these wood-fired ovens emit high levels of carbon monoxide has been challenged by traditional Italian pizza-makers. A project, led by Milan University and Italy’s Enea environmental agency, found that some ovens, particularly the older ones, emit high levels of harmful organic carbon gases. Funded by Italy’s environment ministry, the study discovered that hydrocarbon emissions peaked during ignition, while organic gas emissions went up when pizzas were put in and when fresh air entered the oven, raising the temperature. But members of the True Neapolitan Pizza Association said their wood-burning stoves don’t pollute at all, adding that 90 per cent of their members had introduced water-based soot scrubbers in the pipes in the 1990s to reduce any pollution. Making pizza is a protected craft in Italy, and Unesco placed the art of the Neapolitan pizza makers, who largely prefer a wood-burning oven to gas or electric stoves, on its cultural heritage list in 2017.
4. Wildlife will replace historical figures on banknotes to showcase the UK’s rich and varied environmental life, the Bank of England has announced. Another reason is that images of nature will be difficult to counterfeit. Nature was the most popular theme chosen by 44,000 respondents to a public consultation and focus groups on what images should be used in future on banknotes. The Bank said 60 per cent chose nature, ahead of architecture and landmarks, 56 per cent; historical figures, 38 per cent; arts, culture and sport, 30 per cent; innovation, 23 per cent and noteworthy milestones, 19 per cent. The British monarch, who has featured on British currency, especially coins, for more than 1,000 years, will still be on one side of the banknotes after the other famous figures have been phased out after being featured on banknotes for more than 50 years. These include Sir Winston Churchill, Jane Austen, J M W Turner and Alan Turing. A panel of experts will draw up a shortlist of potential wildlife before it is put to a public vote, with the final decision being made by the governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey. It is likely to be a few years before the new currency enters circulation. Interestingly, wildlife such as mackerel, otters, red squirrels and osprey all appear already on banknotes issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland.

This article raises some interesting questions, said Ron. What would you choose to put on the banknotes? Do you think it is important to celebrate nature? Is it a good idea to replace the old historical figures?

Send your views to Ron Fox at [email protected]

Ron added: “If you want any green energy advice, call me on 0845 474 6641 or contact us here. In the meantime, have a happy Easter.”

Caption: Pulling out all the stops to help fight climate change.

Picture: John Butterworth