Furnaces could no longer emit "dark smoke" and households were offered grants towards the cost of converting their coal-burning grates to smokeless fuel.

BBC: News, London

Bin Sulayem dismissed concerns about the cost of converting the QE2 into a working hotel, though he declined to say who was paying.

MSN: Queen Elizabeth 2 now planned as floating hotel in Dubai

Figures are also sought for the cost of converting the more specialised dairies so they could process and package milk for sale to "middle-ground" retailers.

BBC: New move in dairy inquiry

Further, the rising cost of energy makes converting municipal and industrial waste into advanced biofuels or combusting it to produce electricity an increasingly economic option.

FORBES: WSTE Not, Want Not

Cells made with monocrystalline wafers are more efficient at converting sunlight into electricity, but they also are more expensive because of the difficulties and cost of making the wafers.

FORBES: Suntech's Bid To Outshine Solar Rivals In Cost and Performance

Glasgow lost replacement Paul Burke to the sin-bin, Sweeney converting the resulting penalty, with the Blues determined not to suffer the second-half collapse that cost them dearly against Ulster last weekend.

BBC: Cardiff Blues 38-6 Glasgow