Archive for CO2 emissions

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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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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Method eco-friendly cleaning products

September 23, 2008 · Filed under CO2 emissions, Carbon Dioxide emissions, reduce carbon footprint · Tagged , , , , ,

It has to be said that cleaning is not on my list of favourite things to do.  I also find that standard cleaning products leave me sneezing and not feeling my best.  We have all heard of Ecocover eco-friendly cleaning products but in the past they have been associated with being a hippy.  The bottles aren’t inspiring but the products do the job.

 

However, a revolution is occuring in the world of eco-friendly cleaning products.  With all things ethical and green becoming more mainstream and ‘cool’ it was only a matter of time before the world of cleaning products was addressed.  One day not so long ago a box of Method cleaning products turned up on my doorstep.  Prior to this I had heard that the likes of Madonna and Gwenyth Paltrow were using Method’s products.  Part of me thinks that possibly Madge and Gwennie don’t do their own cleaning but thats by the by!

Method cleaning products are the brainchild of Americans Adam and Eric.  They are now bringing their fabulous range of products to our shores.  A quick read of their website shows that the products are 100% natural.  So natural in fact that you can drink them without burning away your oesophagus and requiring the services of your local A&E Department.  Method are definately ethical and green in their approach to their products.  Their packaging is made from recycled materials and the products aren’t tested on animals (because they think it’s mean!!) 
Method
So I opened the box and was pleased at the minimal amount of packaging.  Good start.  The bottles also looked really good.  Stylish, trendy and excellent colours.  In fact they didn’t look like cleaning product bottles at all.  To be honest you wouldn’t mind leaving one of these out on your unit- much better looking than Domestos and you are showing off your eco-credentials!  They also smell lovely- grapefruit, eucalyptus, mint.  They smelt so fresh I was almost tempted to drink it (which I didn’t, although I could have safely done so.)  Ok so Method products are aesthetically pleasing but do they work?

Despite the fact that I usually don’t excited about cleaning this was an exception.  On went Stevie Wonder’s greatest hits and off to work I went.  All in all I was extremely impressed with all the products I tried.  The house was clean and smelt fresh and not at all chemically.  Will I keep buying Method products?  You bet.  I’ll be checking out the whole range.

If you want to get your hands on Method cleaning products the full range is on sale at BigGreenSmile. Click on the picture to get taken to the site. Alternatively you can check out Method’s own website here.

Eco-friendly cleaning products have become cool and trendy thanks to Method.  They also work extremely well showing that you don’t need chemicals to keep your house clean.  No wonder Madonna and Gwyneth are fans ( and they don’t have to worry if Lourdes, Moses or Apple go snooping in the kitchen cupboards and help themselves!!)

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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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Eco-clubbing?!

July 17, 2008 · Filed under CO2 emissions, carbon footprint, carbon neutral, ethical fashion, reduce carbon footprint · Tagged , , , , , ,

  Last week saw the launch of the world’s ‘first’ eco-club in London.  Surya is an environmentally sustainable club run by the so-called Dr. Earth and is in Kings Cross.  Green really is the new black as the green revolution moves into the world of clubbing.  Is eco-clubbing going to be the next big thing?

  So how do you make a club green?  Well the club is powered by wind turbines and solar energy and generates enough electricity to pass on to its neighbours.  With rising energy prices this will make Surya very popular!

  Alongside alternative energy the club has low flush toilets, eco-friendly air conditioning and a rather exciting dancefloor.  According to Dr. Earth the dancing motion will help generate electricity!  This is due to a mixture of quartz crystals, ceramics and some interesting technology.  So now even dancing can be responsible and green!!

    The indoors is also kitted out with recycled and eco-friendly materials.  For example there is a Biro chandelier.  They even sell organic wine and beer.  Not sure about the spirits or mixers though…..

  It seems that ethical and green issues are really in the limelight at the moment.  People are concerned about their carbon footprint and being carbon neutral.  If Surya can convince it’s guests to make even the smallest of changes to reduce their carbon footprint this could make a big difference to the environment.  Hopefully eco-clubs will eventually become the norm as opposed to a unique selling point.

  We’ll be bringing you information on ethical fashion so you can have a complete eco-clubbing experience!  You can check out ethical fashion at Adili.

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Eco Libris

July 14, 2008 · Filed under CO2 emissions, Carbon Dioxide emissions, carbon footprint, carbon neutral, reduce carbon footprint · Tagged , , , ,

The founder of Eco Libris recently contacted us and told us about his business. We had a look and it sounds like a great idea. Here is some more information about the site:

More than 20 million of trees are cut down annually for virgin paper used for the production of books sold in the U.S. alone. What Eco Libris want to do is to raise awareness to the environmental impacts of using paper for the production of books and provide people and businesses with an affordable and easy way to do something about it: plant one tree for every book they read, sell or publish. Customers also receive a sticker made of recycled paper for every book they balance out saying “One tree planted for this book” and can later display these stickers on their books’sleeves. Publishers can use the logo in their cover designs to indicate one tree is planted for that book.

Eco Libris have partnered with three highly respected US and UK registered non-profit organizations (SHI, AIR, RIPPLE Africa) that work in collaboration with local communities in developing countries to plant the trees. These trees are planted in high ecological and sustainable standards in Latin America and Africa, where deforestation is a crucial problem, and planting trees not only helps to fight climate change and conserve soil and water, but also benefits many local people, for whom these trees offer many benefits and an opportunity for a better future.

Eco Libris are one year old and in the past year they have balanced out 50,005 books which results in 65,586 new trees that are being planted with their planting partners in developing countries.  What a great result!  Their website is http://www.ecolibris.net 

They also run a blog that is about “books, trees and everything in between”.

The address is http://ecolibris.blogspot.com.  Get involved.

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Prince Charles shrinks his carbon footprint

July 3, 2008 · Filed under CO2 emissions, Carbon Dioxide emissions, reduce carbon footprint · Tagged , , , ,

Those of you who keep up to date with the Royal Family will know that Prince Charles is a keen eco-warrior.  He is committed to renewable energy programs and runs his Duchy business in an ethical and green fashion.

This week in the news it was revealed that Prince Charles has reduced his carbon footprint even further by running his cars on biofuel.  He has reportedly spent £5000 converting his Jaguars, Audi and Range Rover to run entirely on biodiesel.

What intrigued us here at Ethical and Green is the fact that Prince Charles 38 year old Aston Martin has been converted to run on bioethanol from surplus wine!  What a great idea!  Who knows- maybe one day we’ll all be doing this.  Watch this space….

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Green Energy Revolution

June 22, 2008 · Filed under CO2 emissions, Carbon Dioxide emissions, carbon footprint, carbon neutral, green energy, reduce carbon footprint · Tagged , , , , , ,

This week the UK will see a £100 billion renewable energy strategy unveiled.  Yes that is £100 billion.  The EU has set targets for its member states to reach 15% of their energy consumption to be generated by renewable sources by 2020.  As part of this is government is to build 3,500 onshore wind turbines and 7,000 offshore wind turbines.

 

For homeowners who generate their own power there are plans to allow them to sell surplus power to the national grid for a premium price.  What an incentive to get people to install renewable energy sources into their homes!  Although there is a large initial outlay in costs for the installation of renewable energy, eventually huge savings are made and if you can sell back surplus you may even make a profit!  Good news for the planet.

 

However, the government still aren’t doing enough in terms of grants for installing renewable energy sources such as solar panels.  Installation of solar panels cost between £5000 and £10000 which is beyond the reach of most homeowners no matter how eco-friendly they may want to be.  If the government can not offer bigger incentives it will be difficult for them to reach the targets set by the EU.

On the plus side of the green energy revolution using renewable sources of energy would result in a 5% drop in oil use by 2020.  This would significantly reduce the UKs carbon footprint.  Another positive, as pointed out by Greenpeace, is that this would make the UK more self-sufficient in terms of energy production as we would be less reliant on foreign countries.  Our energy bills would also come down in price in the long term which I think we would all agree is needed!

 

It would seem that the UK government has held back or as long as possible to look into renewable energy sources.  If investment had been put in ten years ago we would not be in the position we are now of huge increases in our fuel and energy bills.  You have to admit that it is not a surprise that fossil fuels have gone up in price as reserves run low and countries develop.  The fact that stores of fossil fuels will not last forever is not exactly a new concept.  So why has the government taken so long to act?

 

Long live the green energy revolution!  It has been a long time coming but things are gradually turning in a green direction.  For those of us who can not afford our own solar panels check out the Green Energy page and have a look at what energy companies are doing to go greener.  There is a list of companies that are offsetting their carbon footprints alongside those who are using 100% renewable energy sources.  If we all sign up to one of these tariffs we could make a huge difference to our carbon footprints.

Click here to go to the page.

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Greener driving- how to reduce your CO2 emissions

June 15, 2008 · Filed under CO2 emissions, Carbon Dioxide emissions, Tips for reducing CO2 emissions, carbon footprint, carbon neutral, green driving, reduce carbon footprint · Tagged , , , , ,

A while ago we looked at green cars and how engines are being modified to run on biofuels and alternative sources of fuel.  However, not all of us (me included) have a car that has low CO2 emissions so what can you do to keep emissions lower without having to fork out for a new car?  The obvious answer is to leave the car at home and use public transport or cycle/walk to your destination.  This is great but what if you need your car for work?  Thankfully some companies such as PwC have low CO2 emission company cars but this is not the norm.

 

If you want to reduce CO2 emissions whilst you are driving here are a few tips from the UK Government about driving efficiently.  When fuel prices are so high this is useful for everyone!

  • driving smoothly can reduce fuel consumption - check the road ahead, anticipate traffic and avoid harsh acceleration and braking
  • shift to a higher gear at the right time - shift up at 2500rpm for petrol cars and 2000rpm for diesel cars. A vehicle travelling at 37mph in third gear uses 25 per cent more fuel than it would at the same speed in fifth gear
  • get in and go - modern engines are designed to be most efficient when you just get in and go. Keeping the engine running or pumping the accelerator wastes fuel, increases engine wear and increases emissions
  • switch your engine off if you know you won’t be moving for a while
  • check your tyre pressures regularly - under-inflated tyres can increase your fuel consumption by up to three per cent
  • stick to the speed limits - at 70mph you could be using up to 30 per cent more fuel than at 50mph
  • remove unnecessary weight and roof racks - they increase the weight and air resistance so they increase the amount of fuel you use
  • air conditioning and other on-board electrical devices (like mobile phone chargers) increase fuel consumption, so only use them when necessary
I have read elsewhere on the net that using your air conditioning doesn’t actually affect fuel consumption massively.  If you have any information on this get in touch.
I’ve just taken everything out of my boot (except the spare tyre) so we’ll see what a difference taking on board this information makes to my fuel consumption.
For more information on greener issues you can check out the UK Governments website by clicking here.

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