Richard Branson proposes steps on reducing Russian oil use

soldiersailor I am in total agreement with you. There is a land based oilfield near Bournmoth that has been fracking since the 1980s. Most local people do not even know it is there, let alone suffered any side effects from the fracking. It has also been used off shore in the North Sea for nearly as long.

However while the USA has got immense quantities of gas from shale geology, there have been doubts expressed recently whether the shale geology of the UK would yield anything like the same quantity. Whether other countries have these same shale gas resources I am not sure and in the end gas, is gas, is gas. It is a hydrocarbon, it is a major contributor to global warning and can only be a temporary solution to a particular circumstance.

It is also worth bearing in mind that the reason Germany is purchasing so much gas from Russia is because some years ago it decided to phase out all its nuclear power plants, a decision it is already regretting, and replace it with gas fired power stations - the gas coming from Russia. It still produces a third of its electricity from coal-fired power stations that burn brown coal and lignite, which is far more polluting than black coal.

LizzieDrip

I cannot believe the hypocrisy of the man!!! He went into space in July last year - just because he could. How much fuel did that ridiculous joyride use. Branson, either put your money where your mouth is - or keep that mouth shut?

I thought exactly the same ! I do think we need incentives to slow down and use wind , tidal and solar power . But I cant take it from him when hes burnt so much in vanity projects !

If only you could get to the moon on hot air Branson would be first up there. It's not enough to talk the talk. He needs to walk the walk.

I'd like my granddaughter to grow up in a world where people aren't fighting each other over oxygen masks when all the fires are blazing, because of the rise in temperature.

Me too, Philippa111. That’s why I want people like Branson to do their bit too - rather than patronise the rest of us. It’s the hypocrisy I can’t stand! He’s telling us to turn down our thermostats etc, like some kind of eco warrior, whilst simultaneously promoting space tourism (for the millionaires of course). Once again, smacks of one rule for the super rich and another rule for the rest of us. Well, we all live on the same earth, so perhaps we should be complaining about the advent of space tourism! There’s an interesting article in the Financial Times, explaining the real costs of Branson’s space jaunts - both financial and ecological.

Thanks, PhilippaIII. I wasn't trying to brag, but just saying there are lots of changes we can make. I'm 74 so I've had my fair share of flying - and look back fondly on a time when flying was glamorous! I still work, but I see clients at home. My world has shrunk a lot, but I'm OK with that.

LizzieDrip

I cannot believe the hypocrisy of the man!!! He went into space in July last year - just because he could. How much fuel did that ridiculous joyride use. Branson, either put your money where your mouth is - or keep that mouth shut?

Lizzie I could not put it better - the bearded wonder is a law unto himself

Yes....heard a radio conversation giving optimum speeds for various models of cars to achieve minimum fuel usage. I now no longer drive any faster than 56 mph and am actually finding the experience rather pleasant.

I started restricting my speed after reading how much I could save and seeing my fill-up now costing £60.

Wow Disgruntled That's amazing! I'll also take on board some of the things you are doing. For Grantanow, I don't think 2 wrongs make a right. But I think it's up to each individual to do the best they can. All the (little) things we are willing to give up or change add up in the bigger picture if we all take responsibility . I'd like my granddaughter to grow up in a world where people aren't fighting each other over oxygen masks when all the fires are blazing, because of the rise in temperature.

I'll think about not flying when I see people like Liz Truss and other 'top people' not using private aircraft. It's not acceptable to cut the ordinary holidaymaker off from going abroad when the rich get around it so easily.

OK, PhilippaIII I've given away my car and my tv; I've let my passport run out; I don't have a dishwasher; I walk down to the shops (a small Co-op and a greengrocer) most mornings and stock up. I use Eco products (laundry nuts for instance) and bars of soap and shampoo. I wash my hair once a week at most; I've planted veg and lettuce; most of my clothes are second hand (either from EBay or cast offs); I switch everything off at night.... I'm trying my best. And I'm hoping for the best.

Well, it's better he does something rather than nothing, I guess. He can influence situations. I think the following individual responsibility is this: We can use the shower for a minute less every day or so until down to shorter times. Only wash a full sink of dishes instead if fulling it with warm water for a few things. Same with the washing machine. Cook on a lower heat...the food still cooks fine. Buy a pressure cooker... it saves a lot of energy and cooks things a lot faster. Try to buy food from as near to home as possible..Do we really need those mange tous from Ghana? Use the oven to full capacity when possible instead of over several sessions. Take the bus where possible... this is difficult for some, I know ,who still feel vulnerable to Covid. Run several errands at once in the car. Think ahead consciously of where/how you can save fuel. We have a speed limit of 20 mph here so that's a bonus as there is no pressure from the , often aggressive, eager beavers, to go faster. Invest in some very warm clothes...cardigans, jumpers , thermal leggings etc... yes even for summer! My house if often colder inside than it is outside! Take the train instead of flying, where possible. I'm sure others will have things they do... I'd love to hear them.
I've made a lot of adjustments and out of interest, I'm going to take my meter readings at the end of the month to see what I have used.

I heard on the news that the government are not backing projects that have been proposed for 'green' fuel!! Heads in the sand! Who are these people??

Totally agree with you LizzieDrip. What a total hypocrite. He suggests airlines cut routes that are not making alot of money! I had to laugh out loud when I read that. Nothing about what Virgin will be doing.

I'm with you, Tizliz - during the first lockdown I was very hopeful for a green revolution, hoping that more people would stop driving, stop going on cruises, stop flying (or at least cut down on flights); hoping that smaller weddings and parties might become fashionable, and so on. But it seems that capitalism is still the order of the day and most people seem to have not only back to the old ways, but are clinging on to them, relishing consumerism. The simple life doesn't seem to have caught on as much as I had hoped.

I have a simple solution to stop the use of Russian oil. It's a no-brainer and could be up and running within six months. It's called fracking. And yes, I'd be happy to have a fracked well at the bottom of my garden.
Few people seem to be aware that fracked wells are about as intrusive as an average size double garage. The massive dereks and equipment so typically shown in photos of fracking is just the process of making the well and it's all gone after a relatively short time, leaving the well to continue producing for twenty years or so.
The source of much Russian gas is from fracked wells, which is why the not so nice Mr Putin has been subsidising demos against fracking in the UK.

We don't have any motorways in Norfolk, and very few dual carriageways (and what we have have roundabouts to slow you down), here it's a better idea to remember to turn off the engine when sitting at the numerous Anglian Water and gas companies roadworks!

SueDonim

Wasn’t there a 50 or 55mph speed limit in the 70’s oil crisis? I’ve just read an interesting article that says driving in the correct gear is more important than the overall speed. Basically, keep your engine revs as low as possible because that uses the least fuel eg going faster in a high gear can use less fuel than going more slowly in a low gear.

Lane discipline, too, using the inside lane to enable traffic to flow more smoothly. Stopping and starting are fuel-intensive. Mind you, so many roads are closed for repairs round here you’re lucky to be able to go anywhere at more than a snail’s pace.

yes. news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/15/newsid_2559000/2559807.stm

Agree with that.

Are we to assume to Virgin Atlantic won't be flying any more to save fuel? I think it is a bit rich of somebody who has no problems with money or paying the bills telling us how we should be saving money.

That was then; this is now LizzieDrip. I don't care who comes up with the ideas. If we can save the equal of Germany's oil from Russia, it will mean they don't have to pay for the weapons used against Ukraine. Am I going to pick a fight with Branson if he can help make it happen? Not on your life and certainly not at the risk of more lives in Ukraine.

I cannot believe the hypocrisy of the man!!! He went into space in July last year - just because he could. How much fuel did that ridiculous joyride use. Branson, either put your money where your mouth is - or keep that mouth shut?

Wasn’t there a 50 or 55mph speed limit in the 70’s oil crisis? I’ve just read an interesting article that says driving in the correct gear is more important than the overall speed. Basically, keep your engine revs as low as possible because that uses the least fuel eg going faster in a high gear can use less fuel than going more slowly in a low gear.

Lane discipline, too, using the inside lane to enable traffic to flow more smoothly. Stopping and starting are fuel-intensive. Mind you, so many roads are closed for repairs round here you’re lucky to be able to go anywhere at more than a snail’s pace.

I remember going on an essential journey during the fuel strike about 20 years ago - I kept to 50 mph on the motorways to conserve fuel and it worked but there was little traffic on the roads at the time.

Some dual carriageways near to me have reduced speeds to 50 for environmental reasons where they run alongside housing estates, which I think is admirable

Farzanah Motorways near us have a 50 mph speed limit which seems like a good idea if it reduces fuel use and pollution.

However, in practical terms it doesn't achieve that because of the huge bottlenecks and miles of traffic crawling along at 5-10 mph at peak hours in various areas.

Farzanah

I am with him on cutting speed limits. I have reduced my speed where I can and I may arrive a few minutes later, but can get in excess of 50mpg if I do. It surprises me how many cars flash past (I’m not a crawler btw) well over the speed limit, seemingly mindless of fuel consumption.

Some dual carriageways near to me have reduced speeds to 50 for environmental reasons where they run alongside housing estates, which I think is admirable.
Better for the environment and fuel conservation BUT
bit tricky taking lessons on fuel consumption from Branson!

That's very interesting Farzanah. I think, rather than just leaving it to the government to reduce the speed limits, we should all be asked to drop our speed for the sake of Ukraine. I'm sure someone could come up with a clever phrase.