Archive for carbon footprint

As Lewis Hamilton becomes F1 World Champion can the sport ever hope to go green?

November 2, 2008 · Filed under CO2 emissions, Carbon Dioxide emissions, carbon footprint, reduce carbon footprint · Tagged , , , ,

Firstly congratulations to Lewis Hamilton on his great achievement.  Despite not being a fan of F1 it was a great race.  Seeing how much fuel the cars use and being sponsored by companies such as Shell it made Ethical and Green wonder about how green the sport could ever be and what effect this would have on driving as a whole.

It has been estimated that 20 cars emit around 9,150 kg of carbon emissions per race which is quite staggering!  So that’s the cars.  What about all the lighting, power cables, tourists who travel from all over the world….When you add it up the carbon emissions of an F1 race are HUGE!!

We all know that a huge amount of money is invested into F1 so if they go green the investment into new technologies could benefit us all.  Max Mosley, president of the International Automobile Federation is keen for the sport to cut down on it’s carbon footprint and this season F1 cars had to have some biofuel in their tanks.  Practice laps have also been dropped to stop wasting fuel.  This is great but what next?

Well next season clean technology systems to harvest kinetic energy from deceleration and to capture heat from machines engines will become mandatory. Hotels in cities where the races are held should also stand up and be counted.  For example the Singapore Freeport skylounge at the Fullerton Hotel built a solar canopy to offset half the energy it used to entertain its 250 guests during the Singapore Grand Prix.  Wouldn’t it be great if other hotels took part in this.

It’s great to see that F1 racing is taking onboard it’s responsibilities to the planet.  However, in a sport where efficiency isn’t a priority it will be interesting to see how the proposed changes to the sport will be received by the makers of the cars.

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Energy Saving Week

October 20, 2008 · Filed under Carbon Dioxide emissions, carbon footprint, carbon neutral, reduce carbon footprint · Tagged , ,

Today marks the start of Energy Saving Week being run by the Energy Saving Trust.  This campaign aims to help the British public save energy, reduce their carbon footprint and save money!

Energy Saving Week is being supported by the model Helena Christiansson and Aliesha Dixon to name but a few.  As Karen Lawrence, head of advice, at the Energy Saving Trust explains:

“Climate change is arguably one of the most important global issues now affecting millions of UK households. It is no longer just a Government problem to be tackled on a policy level, but something everyone is thinking about on a daily basis. We’ve all been asked to change certain daily habits: dustbin-days have gone topsy-turvy as councils re-think their recycling programmes, major supermarkets now charge shoppers for carrier bags forcing us to think twice before using plastic bags.”

We’re constantly being shown targets and timelines - telling us what the nation has to achieve and by when - to help fight climate change. But how on earth are we expected to fit an eco-rich lifestyle into our time-poor lives? Energy Saving Week - 20th to 26th October - is the perfect opportunity to discover your Green/Life Balance. We’re urging people to take time to make time to change their households’ habits to help fight climate change. It doesn’t take long to get things started - there are lots of things you can do in just ten minutes.”  From the Energy Saving Trust website.

There is also a less than thrilling diary by Joan Ruddock MP about how her week is going trying to save energy.  Yawn!!

Click here to get more information and see the Energy Saving Clock.  Alternatively you can call 0800 512 012 for energy saving tips and advice.

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Christmas with SKY

October 20, 2008 · Filed under CO2 emissions, carbon footprint, reduce carbon footprint · Tagged , , ,

This Christmas if you want to enjoy films on TV in High Definition you might want to take a close look at Sky’s latest offer.  SKY is the only multimedia company to be totally carbon neutral so why not invest in their box.

 

Sky are currently offering their Sky+ HD box for half price.  So you can combine reducing your carbon footprint with saving those all important pennies.  It’s worth a look!

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Who’s enjoying the credit crunch?

October 10, 2008 · Filed under CO2 emissions, Carbon Dioxide emissions, carbon footprint, carbon neutral, reduce carbon footprint · Tagged , , , ,

Here at Ethical and Green we are actually enjoying the credit crunch and the financial turmoil.  For many years now bankers have been gambling away huge sums of money with care free abandon.  Let’s be realistic- this credit crunch isn’t bad luck, it’s been an accident waiting to happen.  And the motivating factor behind it?  Greed.  Greed combined with selfish thinking.  If the financial industry had stopped to think what they were doing and hadn’t been trying to make obscene bonuses we wouldn’t be in this mess today.

 

The reason we are enjoying the credit crunch isn’t because the bankers are suffering.  They have made so much money I don’t think they really care.  The Head of Lehmann Brothers reportedly made $500 million dollars whilst he worked for the company!  No the reason we are enjoying it is because finally people are worrying about money rather than spending it on things they don’t need.

Car sales in the UK have dropped by 20% which is good for the environment.  People are also using their cars less because petrol is too expensive.  This means more people are using public transport to save money.  The downside is that new cars are more environmentally friendly so I hope people aren’t buying second hand cars with worse emission records. We’ll have to wait and see.

 

As we have seen before the credit crunch is encouraging people to exchange clothes and recycle.  People are also using sites such as Freecycle more rather than buying new items.  Some people are also recycling more as it gives them reward points.  There was recently a story in the press about a couple who fanatically recycled so they could fly back in business class from America where they went on Honeymoon!  Great for them and the environment!

In terms of holidays the credit crunch meant that this summer more people had a holiday in Britain as opposed to travelling abroad.  This reduced the holiday seasons carbon footprint.  Some airlines have also stopped flying to particular destinations and are flying less frequently thus reducing the carbon footprint of the aeronautic industry.  Reports this year showed that in the UK camp sites were fully booked!  A truely environmentally friendly holiday.

As oil prices soar so fuel bills rise.  This means that consumers are looking at ways to cut down on their bills by saving electricity.  People are converting to environmentally friendly lightbulbs and turning electrical appliances off as opposed to leaving them on standby.  The government has also brought out grants for home insulation which keep your house warm as well as cutting down fuel bills.  All good for the environment and reducing your carbon footprint!

So there we have it.  Just a few examples of why Ethical and Green are enjoying the credit crunch!  Let us know what you think….

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Electronic books- the future of reading?

September 29, 2008 · Filed under carbon footprint · Tagged , , , , , ,

Electronic books are not a new thing. In fact they have been around for years but have never taken off in the US or UK. However, with the launch of the Sony Reader times might be changing.

The Reader from Sony

 

In the past electronic books have not been popular because they were too different from a real book. The Sony Reader looks more like a book. It is the same size and you can ‘turn’ pages. It is slim and very compact- great for travelling. They have also made the backlighting better so you don’t get too much glare. It’s major features are:

 

  • You can transfer ebooks from your PC to the Reader in the same way you would music to your mp3 player.
  • Sony have teamed up with Waterstones to make sure there is a range of thousands of electronic books you can download.
  • The Sony Reader can store up to 160 books.  If this isn’t enough you can buy extra memory cards.
  • The built-in Bookmark remembers where you finished reading which is pretty clever.
  • You can magnify the text if needed.
  • It is reported to have a battery life that allows you to read 7000 pages which is like reading War and Peace 5 times!  That means that you can take it on holiday and not fear about running out of reading material.
So will Sony’s Reader electronic book take off?  If it did it would cut down on the paper currently used by the Publishing Industry.  However with people like Eco Libris offsetting this by planting a tree for every book you read is it the greenest option?
Ethical and Green are big fans of the Sony Reader and recommend checking it out if you love reading.  With Sony having teamed up with Waterstones this is the first time that an electronic book has been launched with a catalogue of books ready for it.  Sony have also invested in a huge marketing campaign.  Only time will tell how popular it will be but in a society that is now used to music on an electronic format maybe this time we are ready.  Not forgetting the environmental benefits!
The Sony Reader is available for £199 including 100 classic ebooks already installed. Ebooks retail at around the same price as a normal book and there are plenty of titles in lots of categories.  Get yours here.

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Tiny Box Company’s recycled packaging gets Dragons Den backing

September 2, 2008 · Filed under carbon footprint, going green, reduce carbon footprint · Tagged , , , , , ,

Those of you who watch Dragons Den will have seen Rachel Watkyn and Christian Richardson receive backing from Peter Jones and Theo Paphitis. It was an interesting programme in that it brought up the Dragon’s feelings about the environment.

Earlier in the show Deborah Meaden had shown her thoughts on an ice cream box that she described as having unneccessary packaging and she was therefore out. None of the Dragons invested in the product.

Then up popped up the Tiny Box Company who make packaging from recycled materials. They felt they had discovered a niche market as there were no companies around soley dedicated to using 100% recycled materials (except for the glue apparently!) Duncan Banatyne was scathing about the boxes and accused Rachel of being on a ‘crusade.’ I think Duncan may have revealed his thoughts on the environment with that comment. In fact it would be fair to say that none of the Dragons were overly keen on investing into the company until they heard the background of the company directors. The upshot is that both Rachel and Christian had been delt a few blows and were using this business to try and get themselves back on track. Good on them!

So to the boxes! It was interesting to learn that there was not a company dedicated to recycled packaging. Tiny Box revealed that Google had in fact placed an order for boxes for coorporate gifts. Good on Google for doing their bit for the environment! The Tiny Box Company website is worth taking a look at. They have some statistics from www.wasteonline.com that show the following:

  • In 2003/4 a thrid of UK waste was paper
  • Making recycled paper uses up to 70% less energy than making normal paper
  • Every tonne of paper recycled saves 3000 litres of water

Check out the websites for more information.  Another great aspect of the company is that they are totally committed to the environment.  They don’t have any gimmicks and haven’t gone in for overly flash designs or packaging. In fact when you place an order it will be delivered to you in a re-used box.

 

Next time you are giving a gift think about using the Tiny Box Company- it will help cut your carbon footprint.  Alternatively why not save the packaging you get from gifts and re-use it (possibly don’t give it back to the person you got it from!!)

www.tinyboxcompany.com

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The debate over alternatives to coal heats up

August 15, 2008 · Filed under CO2 emissions, Carbon Dioxide emissions, carbon footprint · Tagged , , ,

As some of you may be aware the UK government appears to see that building new coal fired power stations are the answer to the energy gap.  This has put the back up of many environmentalists.  In a letter to the Sunday Times Robin Webster of Friends of the Earth, Ruth Davis of the RSPB, Keith Allcott of WWF UK and Robin Oakley of Greenpeace UK voiced their opinion.

They point out that the Royal Society, the House of Commons environmental audit committee, both main opposition parties and the world’s leading climate change scientists have argued against new coal power stations.  The authors ask that renewable energy should be used to secure our energy and cut our carbon emissions.  We have already seen how the UK is dependent on coal, oil and gas from other countries so it is important that as an island we are more self sufficient with our energy.

The letter goes on to show that a study by Poyry an energy analyst firm outlines that if the government delivers on its existent commitments for energy efficiency and renewable energy then no new coal or gas stations are needed even on days with wind.  Seems slightly odd then that they would want to build more coal powered stations.  What is the theory behind this?

 

Lastly the writers point out that the government has a stark choice to make- they either ‘push ahead with coal fueled power stations in the face of opposition or they can deliver on efficiency by building a sustainable, thriving, renewable energy industry for Britain.’ We know which way we want them to go…..

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French designer Starck turns to renewable energy

August 12, 2008 · Filed under Carbon Dioxide emissions, carbon footprint, reduce carbon footprint · Tagged , , ,

The French designer Phillipe Starck has turned from more mainstream design to designing items to help the environment.  It would be fair to say he has gone green and has even described his previous work as ‘unnecessary.’

Starck is known for his iconic designs for everything from juicers to hotels.  His focus is now on the environment and Ethical and Green think he is going to have a huge impact.  Next year Britain will see the launch of a designer wind turbine.  We’ll take their word for it that it is in fact a wind turbine as it doesn’t have the classic design that is more windmill-esque!  In fact it looks like something that you could easily have in your garden and make a feature of.  The best thing about the turbine is that it will extremely cheap at £400.  Even better is the fact that it can provide a small house with around 60% of the power needed for heat and light.  Light at the end of the rising costs of fuel?  Critics think you will need five of Starck’s turbines but time will tell…..

 

Other designs Starck has for the environment are solar panels, a hydrogen powered boat, ab eco-moped an eco house and an electric car.  With Nissan and Mercedes launching electric cars we’ll have to see how popular Starck’s car will be.

 

As some observers have commented the wind turbine may help cut your carbon footprint long term but what is the carbon footprint of making it?  The design is good but what about the materials?  Where are they sourced from?  Possibly then it won’t be the most ethical and green wind turbine out there.  In fact you will most probably find that it will appeal to those who are fair weather greens and do it more as it’s popular as opposed to being truly eco-conscious.

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SKY is carbon neutral

July 28, 2008 · Filed under Companies going green, carbon footprint, carbon neutral, reduce carbon footprint · Tagged , , , , ,


When we go through companies going green we often talk about what measure companies are taking to go carbon neutral.  However, with Sky there is no need to do this.  This is because Sky is the first media company in the world to be totally carbon neutral.  That’s right since 2006 Sky has no carbon footprint to speak of!!  They did this with the help of a company called Carbon Neutral who are helping companies all over the world become carbon neutral.

It doesn’t stop there.  Sky are also committed to helping their customers live more sustainably.  They are doing this by using the medium of TV by increasing the number of environmental programmes they show.  Sky engineers also gave customers energy efficient light bulbs when they installed various Sky products.

You can also download Sky’s Rough Guide to Saving Energy and Reducing Your Carbon Footprint which shows you how to go carbon neutral and save money.  There are more ways in which the company is helping the environment which you can find by visiting their website.

It’s good to see a company like Sky using their medium of TV and advertising to do something positive for the environment.  It’s even better that they are setting a good example by being completely carbon neutral and still striving to do more.  This makes me feel a lot better now when I sit down to watch TV using Sky Plus.  Not only is Sky Plus (in my opinion) one of the best inventions it is also guilt free now I know Sky is carbon neutral.  The fact you can also get broadband from Sky and do online shopping, therefore reducing your personal carbon footprint is even better.

 

If you want to sign up to Sky in an effort to reduce your carbon footprint and get Sky Digital TV, Broadband, Phone for £26, order online!

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Ethical fashion outfits for eco-clubbing

July 19, 2008 · Filed under carbon footprint, carbon neutral, ethical fashion · Tagged , , , , , , ,

Right.  It’s the weekend.  You are socially responsible and want to be as carbon neutral as possible. You decide to go to London’s eco-friendly club Surya.  But what do you wear?  You feel must wear something ethical and green or the bouncers may not let you in.  There may also be a special someone you want to impress with your caring attitude towards the environment.  The clothes are important.

As we have seen ethical fashion is no longer unfashionable and you can wear ethical fashion brands with pride.  Ethical and Green are here to give you a helping hand in finding the best outfit.

Firstly, the girls.  We found some great dresses such as this one from Peopletree.

Bora Asku Dress  

This is called the Bora Aksu Dress and is available from Adiliand (joy) is currently in the sale.  Peopletree is a well known ethical fashion brand so you can rest assured that your threads will be ethical and green.

 

Another dress we loved is this one from ethical fashion brand Edun.

Requiem DressThe Requiem Dress can be worn by itself or with skinny jeans or leggins.  You can dress it up or down.  Again this is in the sale at Adili.

Hopefully you can see from these pictures that you can be ethical and fashionable!

If  you really want to impress check out British fashion company Quail.  That way you can tell people that not only is your fashion ethical but is also local as all the products they use are from Devon.

 

Next up something for the boys!  We thought these trousers were pretty cool.

Regular Fit Twill Trouser  These were designed by the folk at Adili and also come in a cream colour.  

Sunny T-ShirtThe t-shirt opposite is designed by Organic Stereo.  They are a new ethical fashion company based in Brighton.  Wearing clothing from the UK massively reduces the carbon footprint of your clothes.

All the images are from Adili and can be found in their online shop.  Click hereto be taken to the site.

So there we have it- ethical fashion for eco-clubbing!!  We’ll be bringing you more on ethical fashion brands so keeping stopping by.

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