Archive for reduce 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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Big Green Smile supports Energy Saving Week

October 23, 2008 · Filed under reduce carbon footprint · Tagged , ,

Here is an update from Big Green Smile about how they are supporting Energy Saving Week.

Make Energy Saving a Way of Life With BigGreenSmile.com 

Making a contribution to Energy Saving Week is as easy as going to BigGreenSmile.com, where there are carbon footprint reduction tips and advice on how significant savings can be made in money, energy and time.   

Ben Wigley of BigGreenSmile said, “This event from the Energy Saving Trust is a fantastic way to get people thinking about what they can do to make a difference. We hope that people will visit BigGreenSmile.com and pick up tips about making small, easy changes they can use in the long term to make a positive difference to them, and the world around them.” 

Simple ways to make a difference include:  

  • Wait until you have a full load before switching on dishwashers and washing machines
  • Measure the amount of electricity you are using with the Wattson helping you work out how to reduce it, so saving energy and so saving money
  • Use a solar-powered charger for your mobile or iPod;
  • Use the minimum amount of water required when boiling water in saucepans and kettles use an eco kettle;
  • Try Eco-friendly bulbs which use 25watts of energy but put out a daylight equivalent of 100watts.
  • Using Magno fuel in your car can increase its efficiency and reduce emissions by 15%

 
For full a complete guide on how to save energy and water, simply visit,

http://www.biggreensmile.com/departments/energy-saving.aspx?deptid=ENERGYSAVING and make the change today.   

 

Good on Big Green Smile for supporting Energy Saving Week.  Take their advice and make some changes today!

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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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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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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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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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Compartment recycling bins

August 9, 2008 · Filed under going green, reduce carbon footprint · Tagged , , , ,

Fed up of your kitchen looking a mess because of separating your recycling? Looking for a compartment recycling bin?  Then look no further as Ethical and Green are reviewing some rather nice compartment recycling bins.  True, they might not be the most exciting product out there but they are very practical.

Trento Oko Recycling Bin 33L (3X11L) Stainless SteelOne of the best ones is the 11L Trento Oko Recycling bin that has three compartments.  So that’s one for plastic, one for glass and one for tins.  This one retails for £49.95.

 

 

Trio Recycling Bin 60L (3X20L)However 11L is quite small so if you want something bigger and a bit more trendy looking why not check out the Trio Recycling bin that again has three compartments but holds 20L.  Better for a large family but has a large price tag at £109.95.  Think about saving the environment.  Trio also do a circular recycling bin if you don’t have the space for a rectangular one.  The circular one is also chrome and have three compartments.

All these bins are available at Ethical Superstore.  Follow the signs…..

Alternatively check out Convert Recycling bins that are more affordable and can be stacked on top of each other therefore saving space.  Each unit has a 37L capacity.  Cool!  Check out Nigel’s Eco Store for these, they are a snip at £16.99.  Check the website out at www.nigelsecostore.com

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Big Green Smile for ethical and green shopping

August 5, 2008 · Filed under Companies going green, reduce carbon footprint · Tagged , , , , , ,

Those of us who are interested in buying ethical and green products will no doubt have noticed that more and more online shops are popping up.  This can only be good news for the environment.  One of the latest green online shops is Big Green Smile.

Big Green Smile sell a wide range of green, ethical, recycled and eco-friendly products.  Their unique selling point is that they offer the largest range of water saving products in the UK.  Great if you are on a water meter!!

We checked out the site and found it easy to navigate and packed with lots of info on how to go green and reduce your carbon footprint. We liked the eco MP3 player but are not sure if it will give the iPod a run for it’s money just yet.  Perhaps we’ll have to buy one and give it a go!

 

BigGreenSmile.com work closely with their suppliers to ensure that all products are the most environmentally friendly of their type on the market.  They also have a wide selection of products in almost all categories you can think of.  As BigGreenSmile.com Director Nicholas Buhler says ‘The site allows people to make small changes in the way they shop so they can help protect our planet’ which is a fab outlook.

 

So if you are interested in checking out the site the address is www.biggreensmile.com  It’s worth looking at as there are some tips to help save money in the credit crunch as well as saving the planet.

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