Sunday, 30 August 2009
Wednesday, 11 March 2009
Sick of being green washed?
(Part one)
Recently Barbie has been accused of it, Shell and BP deny claims that they do it but it seems like all and sundry are jumping on the green bandwagon to sell their products.
“Green washing,” is the combination of the words green and whitewashing. This term was created by environmentalist Jay Westerveld who coined the phrase when examining the ‘so called’ environmental towel policy at hotels around the world. Today, it is becoming ingrained into modern language as global warming remains top of the planet’s agenda. The term describes efforts, mostly in business, to create the impression that a company is implementing practices meant to improve the environment when it is not really doing so.
Bemoreeco.com is constantly being sent products to review from green companies so we always do a green wash check to see if a product can live up to it’s so called environmental credentials:
How many air miles has it done?
Where, how and what has it been made of?
Is it packaged in an environmentally friendly way? (I can’t name all the times when we have been sent items in bubble wrap or copious amounts of unnecessary packaging!)
Back in December 2007, environmental marketing firm TerraChoice released a study called “The Six Sins of Green washing” which found that more than 99% of 1,018 common consumer products randomly surveyed were guilty of green washing. Out of a total of 1,753 environmental claims made, with some products having more than one, only one was found not guilty of making a false or misleading green marketing claim.
A good example of a company doing it right is Ribena, with all their bottles made from recycled plastic and the juice itself being produced under ethical conditions in the UK. Marketing Manager for Ribena, Rachel Harris states, “We are committed to making the supply chain for Ribena as environmentally friendly as possible, from the way we grow our blackcurrants to the packaging in which the products are wrapped.” Ribena’s cap- and label are not recyclable but they are honest about this and state this is something they are looking at.
Here at Bemoreeco.com we feel that packaging for products should contain recycling information so people can make informed choices when it comes to purchasing. Check out this great example of clear and concise recycling information on this OWL wireless electricity monitor.
In part two of this article, we question whether some energy services are as green as they state they are!
Recently Barbie has been accused of it, Shell and BP deny claims that they do it but it seems like all and sundry are jumping on the green bandwagon to sell their products.
“Green washing,” is the combination of the words green and whitewashing. This term was created by environmentalist Jay Westerveld who coined the phrase when examining the ‘so called’ environmental towel policy at hotels around the world. Today, it is becoming ingrained into modern language as global warming remains top of the planet’s agenda. The term describes efforts, mostly in business, to create the impression that a company is implementing practices meant to improve the environment when it is not really doing so.
Bemoreeco.com is constantly being sent products to review from green companies so we always do a green wash check to see if a product can live up to it’s so called environmental credentials:
How many air miles has it done?
Where, how and what has it been made of?
Is it packaged in an environmentally friendly way? (I can’t name all the times when we have been sent items in bubble wrap or copious amounts of unnecessary packaging!)
Back in December 2007, environmental marketing firm TerraChoice released a study called “The Six Sins of Green washing” which found that more than 99% of 1,018 common consumer products randomly surveyed were guilty of green washing. Out of a total of 1,753 environmental claims made, with some products having more than one, only one was found not guilty of making a false or misleading green marketing claim.
A good example of a company doing it right is Ribena, with all their bottles made from recycled plastic and the juice itself being produced under ethical conditions in the UK. Marketing Manager for Ribena, Rachel Harris states, “We are committed to making the supply chain for Ribena as environmentally friendly as possible, from the way we grow our blackcurrants to the packaging in which the products are wrapped.” Ribena’s cap- and label are not recyclable but they are honest about this and state this is something they are looking at.
Here at Bemoreeco.com we feel that packaging for products should contain recycling information so people can make informed choices when it comes to purchasing. Check out this great example of clear and concise recycling information on this OWL wireless electricity monitor.
In part two of this article, we question whether some energy services are as green as they state they are!
Tuesday, 16 December 2008
Wipe your bottom on newspaper....
.......and nine other great New Year resolutions
Ok, I am only joking about that one but i want to help you become greener in 2009! Check out our top ten New Year resolutions to help you conserve the planet and the cash in your wallet this New Year.
1. Cleaning without toxic chemicals is a wonderful way to turn your home into a healthy and healing place to be in the New Year. Unfortunately, over past decades the ever-expanding store of home cleaning products has included a number of dangerous weapons, loaded with strong, artificial colours and fragrances and harsh cleansing agents like bleach, ammonia, alcohol and more.. There are a great range of green cleaning product ranges such as Ecover, Clearspring and Bio D that are as effective as the traditional chemical laden products you find on supermarket shelves. And don’t forget multi buy and bulk options to save you even more money.
2. Try eco appliances around the home –as well as doing a great clean they can cut your energy bills. For instance, check out the new Ecolectric PerformAir 1000w Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner for a spotless and healthy carpet. This bagless upright is light, easy to carry, gets into places you wouldn’t imagine and has a huge 4.2 litre capacity for less frequent emptying. As well as being packaged in recycled and 100% recyclable materials, it has an economical 1000w low energy motor leading to a 50% energy saving, helping to reduce your energy bills but without compromising on performance. It is a great vacuum cleaner!
3. Every household in Britain produces more than a ton of waste annually, almost 80 per cent of which is buried in landfill sites, polluting ground water and producing gases that contribute to climate change and global warming. You may already recycle the waste you produce, but what about not producing it in the first place? Try and buy in bulk! http://www.ecotopia.co.uk/ sells many products in bulk quantities to save you money and reduce packaging by refilling old containers.
4. Shun at least one non-green product all year. Make it something that you really like, but can live without it but would purchase if it were more eco-friendly. You can always write to the company that manufactures this product and tell them why you now choose not to buy it
5. Not so fantastic plastic! Stop drinking bottled water. Drinking tap water reduces your carbon footprint, landfill rubbish and saves you money. Need water for the gym – buy a reusable bottle!
6. The best resolution to make for the earth is to use the car less or get rid of it altogether. Walk, bike, use public transit or car share. The emissions and money saved will be immense!
7. Make one day a week a meat free day! Meat farming produces enormous amounts of greenhouse gases. Sticking to vegetables once a week would have more beneficial effects than reducing car journeys.
8. Grow your own to beat the credit crunch. Make sure the only crunch you feel is the bite of your home-grown vegetables next year with Ecotopia.co.uk’s range of grow your own seeds, tools and accompaniments . As well as tasting great, you could save money, get fit, do your bit for the environment and be super-trendy all at once.
9. To make it easy to switch off chargers and electronic equipment when you’re not using them, get a standby buster to switch off all your machines and equipment. It will help you save electricity and money! Check out ecotopia’s range of energy savers here.
10. Use energy saving lightbulbs
Ok, I am only joking about that one but i want to help you become greener in 2009! Check out our top ten New Year resolutions to help you conserve the planet and the cash in your wallet this New Year.
1. Cleaning without toxic chemicals is a wonderful way to turn your home into a healthy and healing place to be in the New Year. Unfortunately, over past decades the ever-expanding store of home cleaning products has included a number of dangerous weapons, loaded with strong, artificial colours and fragrances and harsh cleansing agents like bleach, ammonia, alcohol and more.. There are a great range of green cleaning product ranges such as Ecover, Clearspring and Bio D that are as effective as the traditional chemical laden products you find on supermarket shelves. And don’t forget multi buy and bulk options to save you even more money.
2. Try eco appliances around the home –as well as doing a great clean they can cut your energy bills. For instance, check out the new Ecolectric PerformAir 1000w Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner for a spotless and healthy carpet. This bagless upright is light, easy to carry, gets into places you wouldn’t imagine and has a huge 4.2 litre capacity for less frequent emptying. As well as being packaged in recycled and 100% recyclable materials, it has an economical 1000w low energy motor leading to a 50% energy saving, helping to reduce your energy bills but without compromising on performance. It is a great vacuum cleaner!
3. Every household in Britain produces more than a ton of waste annually, almost 80 per cent of which is buried in landfill sites, polluting ground water and producing gases that contribute to climate change and global warming. You may already recycle the waste you produce, but what about not producing it in the first place? Try and buy in bulk! http://www.ecotopia.co.uk/ sells many products in bulk quantities to save you money and reduce packaging by refilling old containers.
4. Shun at least one non-green product all year. Make it something that you really like, but can live without it but would purchase if it were more eco-friendly. You can always write to the company that manufactures this product and tell them why you now choose not to buy it
5. Not so fantastic plastic! Stop drinking bottled water. Drinking tap water reduces your carbon footprint, landfill rubbish and saves you money. Need water for the gym – buy a reusable bottle!
6. The best resolution to make for the earth is to use the car less or get rid of it altogether. Walk, bike, use public transit or car share. The emissions and money saved will be immense!
7. Make one day a week a meat free day! Meat farming produces enormous amounts of greenhouse gases. Sticking to vegetables once a week would have more beneficial effects than reducing car journeys.
8. Grow your own to beat the credit crunch. Make sure the only crunch you feel is the bite of your home-grown vegetables next year with Ecotopia.co.uk’s range of grow your own seeds, tools and accompaniments . As well as tasting great, you could save money, get fit, do your bit for the environment and be super-trendy all at once.
9. To make it easy to switch off chargers and electronic equipment when you’re not using them, get a standby buster to switch off all your machines and equipment. It will help you save electricity and money! Check out ecotopia’s range of energy savers here.
10. Use energy saving lightbulbs
Thursday, 4 December 2008
Give bees a chance!
Help fight the decline in the bee population
While Albert Einstein did not say "if the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would have only four years of life left” there is a lot of truth in this comment. I am seriously worried are the decline in the bee population and encouraging people this Christmas to consider that a bee is not just for summer, they are needed for life - Life of the ecosystem.
We are in serious trouble without our friends. Not only are they the only insects that produce food for humans in the form of honey, they pollinate more than 100 crops as well as 90 percent of all flowering plants. We couldn’t begin to duplicate the work accomplished by bees - every bee makes 10 or more flights per day and each flight lasts more than one hour, visiting between 50 to 100 flowers.
So what can we do to help the bee population survive the current climate? It isn't difficult to make your yard, garden or even patio space a haven for beneficial bees. You'll be helping these important insects, as well as bringing more nature to your backdoor.
Ecotopia are now doing some great deals on bee habitats to encourage customers to support these beautiful creatures. Try our wooden Bumblebee Nester at £19.99 or the ceramic nester at £16.59. These nesters are ideal to attract bees to your garden. Check out our other bee homes like the solitary beehive at £19.53, the insect theatre at £29.31 or pollinating bee log at £14.67.
And don’t forget we have a whole host of Burt’s Bees’ Product for Bee lovers!
While Albert Einstein did not say "if the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would have only four years of life left” there is a lot of truth in this comment. I am seriously worried are the decline in the bee population and encouraging people this Christmas to consider that a bee is not just for summer, they are needed for life - Life of the ecosystem.
We are in serious trouble without our friends. Not only are they the only insects that produce food for humans in the form of honey, they pollinate more than 100 crops as well as 90 percent of all flowering plants. We couldn’t begin to duplicate the work accomplished by bees - every bee makes 10 or more flights per day and each flight lasts more than one hour, visiting between 50 to 100 flowers.
So what can we do to help the bee population survive the current climate? It isn't difficult to make your yard, garden or even patio space a haven for beneficial bees. You'll be helping these important insects, as well as bringing more nature to your backdoor.
Ecotopia are now doing some great deals on bee habitats to encourage customers to support these beautiful creatures. Try our wooden Bumblebee Nester at £19.99 or the ceramic nester at £16.59. These nesters are ideal to attract bees to your garden. Check out our other bee homes like the solitary beehive at £19.53, the insect theatre at £29.31 or pollinating bee log at £14.67.
And don’t forget we have a whole host of Burt’s Bees’ Product for Bee lovers!
Tuesday, 25 November 2008
eco appliances
Try eco appliances around the home –as well as doing a great clean they can cut your energy bills.
Check out the new Ecolectric PerformAir 1000w Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner from all good retailers for a spotless and healthy carpet. This bagless upright is light, easy to carry, gets into places you wouldn’t imagine and has a huge 4.2 litre capacity for less frequent emptying. As well as being packaged in recycled and 100% recyclable materials, it has an economical 1000w low energy motor leading to a 50% energy saving, helping to reduce your energy bills but without compromising on performance. It is a great hoover!
I am loving the Morphy Richard's New Ecolectric Toaster from www.ecotopia.co.uk. There’s nothing like great toast. You’ll get it quicker too, thanks to the unique auto-close lid that keeps the heat around the toast, which means less waiting around. ...it helps you do your bit to save the planet Better still, by keeping the heat in, that same innovative feature - the lid - helps use 34% less energy. So you can enjoy your breakfast without eating up valuable resources.
Morphy Richards also do an eco iron and kettle which again save electricity!
Check out the new Ecolectric PerformAir 1000w Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner from all good retailers for a spotless and healthy carpet. This bagless upright is light, easy to carry, gets into places you wouldn’t imagine and has a huge 4.2 litre capacity for less frequent emptying. As well as being packaged in recycled and 100% recyclable materials, it has an economical 1000w low energy motor leading to a 50% energy saving, helping to reduce your energy bills but without compromising on performance. It is a great hoover!
I am loving the Morphy Richard's New Ecolectric Toaster from www.ecotopia.co.uk. There’s nothing like great toast. You’ll get it quicker too, thanks to the unique auto-close lid that keeps the heat around the toast, which means less waiting around. ...it helps you do your bit to save the planet Better still, by keeping the heat in, that same innovative feature - the lid - helps use 34% less energy. So you can enjoy your breakfast without eating up valuable resources.
Morphy Richards also do an eco iron and kettle which again save electricity!
Monday, 24 November 2008
no more shop sarnies!
Would your parents disapprove of your workday lunch costs? Try bringing your lunch in reusable containers a couple times a week to conserve cash and landfill space and you could save over a staggering £500 a year.
The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) claims that throwing food and packaging away rather making your own lunch costs the public £5billion a year. WRAP officials reckon if the food and packaging for take away luches was not wasted it would also save 18million tons of carbon dioxide emissions a year, the equivalent of taking one car in five off the road.
So raid the fridge every morning to make a much healthier lunch from last night’s leftovers and help save the planet!
Wednesday, 29 October 2008
Winterise your home
It’s November and it’s cold. Take comfort though in my credit crunching tips to help you winterise your home - protecting you and your investment. (Image courtsesy of energysavingtrust.org)
1. Beat the drafts
1. Beat the drafts
Worried about the draft? Drafts can waste 5 to 30% of your energy use. Start simple and adopt that old fashioned fixture – the excluder. Place a rolled bath towel or custom-made "snake" across the bottom of leaky doors and windows. Seal all the draughts around windows and doors will keep you warmer and lower the cost of your bills. Your letterbox can let in a nasty draught so fit a nylon brush seal or spring flap.
2. Turn down your water heater
Reduce hot water temperature - Set your water heater to the "normal" setting, unless the owner's manual for your dishwasher requires a higher setting. Savings are 7-11 percent of water heating costs. Insulate the first five feet of pipe coming out of the top of your water heater or the whole length until the pipe goes into the wall if that is less than five feet. Pipe insulation is available from your hardware store. You can also save money by insulating pipes.
3. Insulate, insulate and insulate
It may not be sexy but insulating your home can save you hundreds of pounds. Half of typical home heat loss is via walls, floors and lofts so make sure you insulate these key areas.
4. Reduce your thermostat
Turn down your thermostat - For every degree you lower your heat you'll save up to 5 percent on heating costs. Wear warm clothing like a sweater and set your thermostat lower during the day and evening, health permitting. Set the thermostat back to its normal position or off at night or when leaving home for an extended time saving 5-20 percent of your heating costs.
5. Give your Boiler an MOT
You give your car a regular service and so you should your boiler. Now is the time to get your boiler ready for winter; book a service with a qualified and reputable heating engineer so you can sort out any small faults before they cause a breakdown which can cost thousands. A serviced boiler will also work more efficiently, which can save you energy and money
6. Think curtains
Open windows on the sunny side of the house when the sun is up so that the sun can warm the rooms. Close all curtains when it gets dark.Do not have furniture close to or in front of radiators. If you have deep windowsills, curtains should sit neatly on top of them and not cover the radiator. Use lined curtains to keep the cold out and warm in
7. Heat reflective foil behind radiators
Fit heat reflective foil behind radiators on outside walls to keep the heat inside your home, with the shiny side facing into the room.
Friday, 24 October 2008
gorgeous goodies for Xmas
"Believe You Can" designs fun, colourful and exclusive Fair Trade fashion and home accessories. Founder and designer Louise Birchmore feels "passionatley about Fair Trade and believes in creating modern and innovative products" "Believe You Can" products are all handmade, and wooden items are FSC certified. This wonderful ethical and Fair Trade range benefits the Fair Trade producers business and community through "trade not aid", but also offers products perfect for the design conscious and ethically aware.
Wednesday, 15 October 2008
Have a Green Halloween
This Halloween think of the planet and have a green halloween. Putting together an eco celebration of all things spooky is as easy as having a traditional orange and black one – especially for children.
Here are our top 10 tips to get you started:
Here are our top 10 tips to get you started:
1. E-mail party invites rather than using the royal mail. There are loads of free Halloween themed party invite e-cards around or alternatively make your own out of scrap and recycled products. Try http://www.halloween.co.uk/ for a great selection
2. Serve local, healthy and seasonal October foods at your events. The options are endless. Remember pumpkins are not just decorative items. Make use of all pumpkin parts. After carving a pumpkin, make sure to save the seeds. Bake them and serve them to party guests or feed them to the birds. Pumpkin flesh is great or making pies, soups and even lasagna! Check out www. freerangereview .com to find local food to you! Apples also are at their best this time of year. So make use of the nation’s favourite crunchy fruit. Fill party bowls with several varieties of fresh apples, from granny smiths to pink lady’s. Bake a few apples for healthy, tasty dessert.
3. Use re-usable plates, cups, utensils, napkins and tablecloths. Paper party goods can be expensive and just add more clutter to our nation's landfills. Check out www.ecotopia.co.uk’s extensive range of eco tableware !
4. Make your own costume or buy one at a second-hand shop. An old favourite a charity shop cotton sheet still makes a great ghost. Can't find anything suitable in the house? Try http://www.freecycle.org/ for a great selection of second hand clothes, costumes and materials.
5. Autumn is great so experience nature. Visit a local farm. Pick fresh apples. Talk a long walk outside. Look up at the sky. Notice the moon. Remember, it's Halloween and take this great Bat Torch with you.
6. Give kids a reusable bag instead of a plastic or paper one to collect their goodies. Plastic and paper ones are bad for the environment and can tear easily.
7. Give away eco friendly treats such as organic sweets or fairtrade chocolate.
8. Instead of buying materials for decorations, gather supplies, arts and crafts throughout the year. Reuse and Recycle! For instance:
- Turn old tights into spider-webbing
- Paint foam peanuts (packing materials) and turn them into worms
- Turn old cardboard boxes into tombstones
- Reuse your decorations from the previous year
9. Facepainting? Use organic and eco friendly facepaints! Try http://www.greeneyedfrog.co.uk/Children/Artsandcrafts.aspx
10. Recycle and reuse as much as possible after your party or celebration. Put all costumes, decorations and anything save-able away for next year.
Be safe and have great green halloween.
2. Serve local, healthy and seasonal October foods at your events. The options are endless. Remember pumpkins are not just decorative items. Make use of all pumpkin parts. After carving a pumpkin, make sure to save the seeds. Bake them and serve them to party guests or feed them to the birds. Pumpkin flesh is great or making pies, soups and even lasagna! Check out www. freerangereview .com to find local food to you! Apples also are at their best this time of year. So make use of the nation’s favourite crunchy fruit. Fill party bowls with several varieties of fresh apples, from granny smiths to pink lady’s. Bake a few apples for healthy, tasty dessert.
3. Use re-usable plates, cups, utensils, napkins and tablecloths. Paper party goods can be expensive and just add more clutter to our nation's landfills. Check out www.ecotopia.co.uk’s extensive range of eco tableware !
4. Make your own costume or buy one at a second-hand shop. An old favourite a charity shop cotton sheet still makes a great ghost. Can't find anything suitable in the house? Try http://www.freecycle.org/ for a great selection of second hand clothes, costumes and materials.
5. Autumn is great so experience nature. Visit a local farm. Pick fresh apples. Talk a long walk outside. Look up at the sky. Notice the moon. Remember, it's Halloween and take this great Bat Torch with you.
6. Give kids a reusable bag instead of a plastic or paper one to collect their goodies. Plastic and paper ones are bad for the environment and can tear easily.
7. Give away eco friendly treats such as organic sweets or fairtrade chocolate.
8. Instead of buying materials for decorations, gather supplies, arts and crafts throughout the year. Reuse and Recycle! For instance:
- Turn old tights into spider-webbing
- Paint foam peanuts (packing materials) and turn them into worms
- Turn old cardboard boxes into tombstones
- Reuse your decorations from the previous year
9. Facepainting? Use organic and eco friendly facepaints! Try http://www.greeneyedfrog.co.uk/Children/Artsandcrafts.aspx
10. Recycle and reuse as much as possible after your party or celebration. Put all costumes, decorations and anything save-able away for next year.
Be safe and have great green halloween.
Thursday, 25 September 2008
Decorating? Check out local Stroud author Lynn Edward’s Handbook for Eco Paints and Finishes at £9.95 from http://www.thegreenshop.co.uk/.
It gives a comprehensive introduction to the range of natural and eco-friendly, non-toxic paints and finishes available in the UK. The manufacturers of all these products are mindful of the health of our bodies, of our living spaces, and of the wider environment.
Auro Natural paint is available from http://www.ecotopia.co.uk/
Wednesday, 24 September 2008
It's Autumn!
Even though many of us are in denial, there is no doubt about it - it was the first day of Autumn yesterday! Though everyone has been saying that it’s been like Autumn for the last few months as summer has been so wet and cold, there is no smell in the world like that of a proper Autumn. It hangs in the air bringing an earthy smell and hues of burnt orange and gold. This is definately my favourite season!
Check out http://www.moreeco.com/ 's top 5 Green Tips for Saving Energy and Cash this Autumn
1. Save up to 10% on your water heating!
Chances are you can turn down the thermostat on your home’s water heater a few degrees, and still have plenty of hot water for everyone’s daily shower, not to mention the dishes and laundry. Lowering the temperature from 140 to 120 would reduce your water heating costs by 6 to 10%. Give it a try!
2. Get an Energy Monitor
According to the Energy Saving Trust, 8 out of 10 of us Brits do not understand their energy bills or understand what energy rates they are on. Get a closer handle on your home energy use with an advanced energy monitoring device.
3. Unplug Unused Chargers
Even when they aren’t charging anything, plugged-in mobile phone, laptop and other chargers continue to draw electricity. Briton’s throw away about 8% of our annual electric bills this way, wasting millions of pounds. The solution is simple: just unplug them, or plug them into a standby buster and flip that switch when your device has pulled enough juice.
4. Turn fallen leaves into compost
Rake up and shred fallen leaves and add them to the compost bin. Besides autumn leaves, you’ll find other carbon-rich materials in your garden. Look for waste-material that are brown in color such as sawdust, straw and dried grass clippings. Even your teabags, coffee grains and newspapers are great to add.
5. Out with the old and in with the new or freecycled!
Freecycle any of your old summer clothes that you will not wear anymore and help benefit someone else. If you fancy an item for your winter wardrobe check out moreeco’s list of ethical clothing retailers such as Adili, Seasalt, Gossypium and Green fibres and earn yourself points, as well as free carbon offsets on all purchases.
Big Carbon Experiment - Families Wanted
Save Energy and Win an Eco-hamper
Gloucestershire residents are being asked to take part in an exciting new energy saving competition. Communities will go head to head in the competition to see who can reduce their energy consumption the most over a 6 month period. Winners will be awarded an Eco Hamper for each household as well as tickets to travel to an International Awards Ceremony in Brussels .
All participants will receive a variety of energy saving gadgets and eco goodies throughout the competition, including energy saving lightbulbs, eco kettles and hot water tank jackets, and will have the chance to win spot prizes of standby saver gadgets, water powered clocks, fridgesaver plugs and wind up radios and torches. Competition organisers are looking for 10-15 households in each of the following areas:· Cam Parish · Stroud Town · Wotton Town · Cirencester Town · Gloucester City · South Gloucestershire · Tenants of Fosseway Housing Association · Tenants of Gloucester City Homes · Tenants of Cheltenham Borough Homes · Tenants of Two Rivers Housing · Tenants of Stroud District Council
To take part or find out more contact the Severn Wye Energy Agency ( www.swea.co.uk) on 0800 512 012. If you are not in one of these areas but would like to be involved, please contact Severn Wye Energy Agency to find out about other projects in your area
Gloucestershire residents are being asked to take part in an exciting new energy saving competition. Communities will go head to head in the competition to see who can reduce their energy consumption the most over a 6 month period. Winners will be awarded an Eco Hamper for each household as well as tickets to travel to an International Awards Ceremony in Brussels .
All participants will receive a variety of energy saving gadgets and eco goodies throughout the competition, including energy saving lightbulbs, eco kettles and hot water tank jackets, and will have the chance to win spot prizes of standby saver gadgets, water powered clocks, fridgesaver plugs and wind up radios and torches. Competition organisers are looking for 10-15 households in each of the following areas:· Cam Parish · Stroud Town · Wotton Town · Cirencester Town · Gloucester City · South Gloucestershire · Tenants of Fosseway Housing Association · Tenants of Gloucester City Homes · Tenants of Cheltenham Borough Homes · Tenants of Two Rivers Housing · Tenants of Stroud District Council
To take part or find out more contact the Severn Wye Energy Agency ( www.swea.co.uk) on 0800 512 012. If you are not in one of these areas but would like to be involved, please contact Severn Wye Energy Agency to find out about other projects in your area
Monday, 22 September 2008
Check out the Energy Saving Trust Website
The Energy Saving Trust are a non-profit organisation that provides free impartial advice tailored to suit you. It's advice can help you save money and fight climate change by reducing carbon dioxide emissions from your home.
Other useful stuff you can find on the site includes:
Great site with some good info!
Other useful stuff you can find on the site includes:
- Guides to grants
- Calculate and reduce your carbon footprint - There are so many ways to reduce your impact on climate change - use our new carbon cutter to create a personalised action plan that suits your lifestyle.
- Simple measures to get started - 10 things you can do today
- Free home energy report
Great site with some good info!
Wednesday, 10 September 2008
Green Loyalty Scheme @ www.bemoreeco.com
Check out this fab green rewards site at http://www.moreeco.com/
What is moreeco?
MoreEco is a shopping reward site that searches the internet for the best organic, green, environmental, and natural online retailers and negotiate with them a reward level which can be passed on to the moreeco registered users.
Once you have chosen your shop click through and then you are then on the retailer’s own site and will be dealing directly with them from that point.
Why use it?
You get loads of green stuff for free and unlike the green rewards site, http://www.moreeco.com/ only uses green retailers and checks out their ethical credentials too. Everyone's a winner!
What is moreeco?
MoreEco is a shopping reward site that searches the internet for the best organic, green, environmental, and natural online retailers and negotiate with them a reward level which can be passed on to the moreeco registered users.
Once you have chosen your shop click through and then you are then on the retailer’s own site and will be dealing directly with them from that point.
Why use it?
You get loads of green stuff for free and unlike the green rewards site, http://www.moreeco.com/ only uses green retailers and checks out their ethical credentials too. Everyone's a winner!
Flight offsetting tool
Found this piece on the www.bemoreeco.com blogsite, which i thought was really useful.
Calculate your flight emissions with this neat tool
This is a handy new tool from Carbon Planet. It lets you enter in your next flight details and work out how much CO2 your trip will cause. Not everyone on the plane, just you. Though it does assume a full flight. As we know, this isn’t always the case.
Anyhow, it’s a good estimate and it even divides between economy, business class and first class.
So try it out before your next trip, then use a CO2 offsetting program to fly carbon neutral.
Also be sure to read the two supplement pdf guides on Greenhouse Gas Flight Emissions and the Myths of aviation CO2.
Calculate your flight emissions with this neat tool
This is a handy new tool from Carbon Planet. It lets you enter in your next flight details and work out how much CO2 your trip will cause. Not everyone on the plane, just you. Though it does assume a full flight. As we know, this isn’t always the case.
Anyhow, it’s a good estimate and it even divides between economy, business class and first class.
So try it out before your next trip, then use a CO2 offsetting program to fly carbon neutral.
Also be sure to read the two supplement pdf guides on Greenhouse Gas Flight Emissions and the Myths of aviation CO2.
Thursday, 4 September 2008
Get a free ecotopia.co.uk reuseable bag by entering 'give me a free bag' in comments box at checkout with any purchase! A cool design means that these bags can be used for more than just shopping and at 24litres (34cm x 22.2cm x 32cm) they are large enough for a wide variety of uses.
*while stocks last
Tuesday, 2 September 2008
I am loving Bags of Change (http://www.bagsofchange.co.uk/) which tackles both ethical shopping and that eco hot potato, the plastic carrier bag.
Instead of reward points, Bags of Change awards shoppers a discount off ethical local and online , sustainable, organic and fairtrade goods when they use one of the hemp and organic cotton bags at a participating retailer.
Great concept and the bags are so funky!
Monday, 1 September 2008
Go free range and save a hen!
Why not adopt some hens, save on the food miles and do something good for sustainability - and give a second chance to some of the 20 million battery hens currently living in dire conditions, with no possibility of exhibiting natural behaviours.
The Battery Hen Welfare Trust website has loads of useful information on the adoption or sponsorship process and the rewards of keeping chickens. A great organisation that works with battery farmers to make positive changes within the industry, they've rehomed over 97,000 hens to date and can count Jamie Oliver and poet Pam Ayres amongst their patrons.
Wednesday, 27 August 2008
I’ve just signed up to the website One Hundred Months which provides a monthly action on helping tackle climate change.
Backed by organisations including Greenpeace, www.ecotopia.co.uk and the good old WI!, it’s based on the conclusion that even using cautious calculations, we have only one hundred months before we pass the climate’s ‘tipping point’ - the point of no return - where the chance to tackle global warming could be far beyond our reach.
The site gives you month by month guidance on doing your bit. The first action is to invite others to join so click here http://onehundredmonths.org/
For more info... read the guardian article http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/aug/01/climatechange.carbonemissions
Backed by organisations including Greenpeace, www.ecotopia.co.uk and the good old WI!, it’s based on the conclusion that even using cautious calculations, we have only one hundred months before we pass the climate’s ‘tipping point’ - the point of no return - where the chance to tackle global warming could be far beyond our reach.
The site gives you month by month guidance on doing your bit. The first action is to invite others to join so click here http://onehundredmonths.org/
For more info... read the guardian article http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/aug/01/climatechange.carbonemissions
tea and coffee
I love filtered coffee and drink copious amounts of the stuff along with my 5 cups of tea a day - fairtrade of course. I have been digging around the internet to see what i can do with leftover coffee grains and tea bags.
First, if you're a tea lover it's better to buy loose-leaf tea or tea bags without strings. Used tea bags can be recycled as compost as can coffee grains. These can be put straight on to the garden or into plant pots
Tea is also good for the skin. Before you recycle it, you can put a tea bag on your face. It can make your skin fresh and even smooth.
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