Have you ever heard the phrase At the Flick of a Switch? If you haven't then you'll still be able to grasp a feeling hidden inside the language of a simple, quick, immediate change. And today, in an era categorised by days that aren't quite long enough and the time you have flashing out of and back into night, it seems that what the majority of everyday people look for is a clear, concise Yes/No switch for just about everything: Should I drive to work today - No. Should I buy organic - Yes. Is fairtrade necessary - Yes. Can my carbon contribution really make a difference - Yes.

So why is it when we are faced with the decision and ask ourselves Will I benefit from a Green Energy Tariff, knowing the answer instinctively is yes, the lights still don't come on?

Of course, whether they do or don't is ultimately up to you; but here we have compiled a quick guide to some of the short-circuit questions that might have left you in the dark for quite some time, and, hopefully, have you charged-up enough so when the power does come back on it will be from a Green supplier.

Which Supplier?

Switching to a green energy tariff is something entirely for us to decide. Whether your options include a package from one of the 'Big Six' British energy companies or something specialised from a tailored utility provider that suits your needs a little more, the fact of the matter is there's a large onus on society to engage themselves with climate change - and specifically, combating it. And without any guiding legislation to shepherd the public into a Green future, it seems to be a troublesome trip from doing nothing into taking those first steps. But don't fear; the wide world of sustainability has no direct route save renewable energy.

Thankfully the energy market has been coerced into setting-up-shop along the way. Almost every energy company now offers a 'green' energy alternative. But the word 'green' is interpreted and adapted by each supplier. This is why it is vital to ask yourself What is it I need from an energy supplier, and how do I want it?

Suppliers source electricity in a variety of ways: they may choose to generate their own clean electricity entirely from renewable sources; they may also offer an offsetting policy where for the amount of electricity your needs use up, the supplier will contribute an equivalent amount back into the energy grid; and some follow initiatives that look to support eco-friendly community projects or make donations on your behalf to help further renewable energy research.

These are the basic ways in which a tariff can officially raise up a Green banner. And they are worthwhile, sustainable projects. An active involvement in the renewable energy industry is better than none at all. However, the more specialised utility suppliers will often outgun some of the national household names. After all, a wise man once said that the loudest shout is a whisper.

Green energy tariffs from companies such as Ecotricity and Good Energy will offer a 100% renewable electricity package. So if you are enthusiastic about the environment, they are undeniably top of the leader board.

But what we recommend here at EcoSwitch is taking a look for yourself. Research the green energy market, it won't take long. Soon you'll see quite clearly that there are hundreds of options suitable to you and your need, and signing up will save you time, money, and perhaps your enevironment in the long run. And it's all as easy as the Click of a Button or the Flick of a Switch.

Posted under Articles, Electricity Generation, Gas & Electricity, Uncategorized

The Times of London reported today of a new deal between a small, UK-based tidal energy company, Atlantis Resources, and the government of India, in a plan which hopes to harness the energy of the seas around India for the first time.

The Western Indian state of Gujarat have given the contract to Atlantic Resources, and in particular the Gulf of Kutch and the Gulf of Khambhat (both in the Arabian Sea) will be investigated for their energy-producing potential, owing to the extreme daily tides that act within those areas. If successful, the initial study could lead to millions of pounds being pumped into tidal energy.

India is struggling with a power deficit in the face of a rising population and growing economic weight. The need to increase its power production is set against its appearance at the Copenhagen Summit this December, where India hopes to bring positive environmental goals and actions to the table and promote itself as a progressive nation.

India has already established itself as a word-leader in wind power, and has instigated a $19 billion development plan for solar energy. According to indiaenvironmentportal.org, India’s National Solar Mission intends to have a 20 Gigawatt capacity for solar generation by 2020- and 200 Gigawatts of power from the sun by 2050. To put this in perspective, at present the entire world’s solar generators can generate approximately 14 Gigawatts of solar power.

Despite India’s progressive approach and active measures for renewable power sources, the large population and distribution of wealth means that its energy deficit needs to be countered urgently: up to 400 millions are not connected to the energy grid.

Also, India currently imports 70% of its oil and has only a small bank of coal reserves that it uses to generate electricity. According to reports, India will become one of the three major consumers of energy in the world by 2030, third only behind China and the USA- these measures are part of a much-needed plan to become self-sufficient and sustainable as a country.

The environmental need is also recognised as being essential: the Times quotes the McKinsey report, conducted by consultants for the project, in saying that India is likely to produce 6.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent gases in 2030, compared with 1.6 billion at present.

Posted under Electricity Generation, Environmental News, News, Renewable Energy, Uncategorized

Okay, so you've read everything there is to know about microgeneration. You've seen the benefits for your home, environment, and not to mention those bills! Basically, you're in: you are a part of the Green generation. But there's one problem - you can't find that wonderful piece of renewable kit you've been craving. Not to worry. If you are feeling cornered by those last little questions of What's Out There, and What's Right For Me then just think Wind Trap; they'll be sure to stock a solution.

Wind Trap was established in 2005 and is run in partnership by childhood friends Matt and David, who launched the company from their very own barn turned warehouse. In 2006 the Wind Trap guys were invited to join Newsnight's Ethical Man Programme, and with great success have been expanding their energy saving product range ever since.
Runners-up for the O2 Entrepreneurs of the Year in 2007, the Wind Trap Two have continued to expand and develop a long list of new product lines at cut prices to help people like you 'generate and save energy' today.

What sets Wind Trap aside from other eco-distributors is their get-up-and-go enthusiasm, their belief in microgenerational technology and the company’s rapid growth over the past few years. These clear signs of success are warranted not only by their fanatical approach to renewables but also to the wide stock ranges they hold available. Matt and David will be sure to keep their green-fingers on the pulse of this emergent market – so keep an eye open for more innovative and exciting eco-alternatives that these two will surely bring to their shelves this year.

Some of the Energy Saving Products available at Wind Trap include helpful household savers like the Owl Energy Monitor - a great way to keep an eye on energy consumption and help you see your home move towards its zero carbon success; Biobulbs, Eco Balls, Battery Regenerators and other domestic devices such as the Motion Sensor Switch (a ingenious light switch that turns on when you're in the room and off when you're out).
Other, more carbon crunching creations, like the Home Wind Turbine Kit and Solar Powered Lighting Kits, are also on-hand to reduce those bothersome bills, rising electrical usage, and needless energy waste.

They also stock a great and growing selection of microgenerational units to get you generating your own power! There is everything from The Mini Budget Kit, for temporary installation, to more sizeable, permanent solar solutions, such as the Solar Mate 3 Mains Free Lighting Kit.

The team at Wind Trap seems to have thought of it all. And with home delivery, and technical support, it couldn't be easier to get going now that you want-in on something Green, sustainable and beneficial - not just for you and your home; but for your local environment, community and overall efforts to reduce and prevent Climate Change.

For a full list of products and prices, do not hesitate to contact Wind Trap directly on 0845 460 8000 or visit their online store www.windtrap.co.uk - you'll soon see the difference you could make today.

Posted under Uncategorized

Okay, now this is another one of those weird and wonderful greenfingered finds. If you think that you've got it all, seen it all and heard it all before, then the Logmaker is a green gadget for you.

Essentially, what the Logmaker can do for your household is provide it with - yes, you've guessed it - logs! But what for? You may ask. Well, the Logmaker is a green gadget to help you put some of that rotting recycling to direct use in your own home as fuel cells.

By collecting household and garden waste from around your grounds, you can use the Logmaker to provide your log furnace with fuel packs that will burn for up to an hour - depending on their contents.

The following burnable waste can be turned into logs:

• newspaper
• junk mail
• paper shreddings
• cardboard
• wood chippings
• sawdust
• dry leaves
• twigs
• chopped branches
• coal dust
• tea bags
• stones from fruit and olives

The way the Logmaker works its magic is it transforms the waste gathered from around the house into compact, log-shaped blocks, wrapped in a newspaper casing, by simply pressing mulch into burnable blocks. It is the perfect present for the eco-enthusiast who wants to help the environment, reduce deforestation, reduce Greenhouse gases and save money on their fuel costs through the winter months and beyond.

And if you're unsure of the environmental benefits you'll be encouraging, here are some facts provided by DEFRA:

On average each person in the UK produces just over 1/2 a ton of waste every year - that's enough waste to fill dustbins stretching from the earth to the moon and back.
And every year we produce 3% more waste than the previous year.
78% of UK household waste goes to landfill and 9% is currently incinerated. Denmark, The Netherlands, Sweden and Germany dispose of a quarter less of their municipal waste in the same way.
Only 12% of UK household waste is currently recycled, compared with 19% in Denmark, 22% in Switzerland and 40% in Japan.
Paper and card are the main materials in our household rubbish bins. They make up almost 1/3 of UK household waste.
It takes 17 trees to make one tonne of paper.
The amount of paper burned in landfill sites each year would fill 103,448 double decker buses, which if lined up, would stretch from London to Milan.*

The Logmaker retails for around £19.99, and is sold across the country in various distributers.

*Statistics and waste facts taken from DEFRA (www.defra.gov.uk/) - and Recyclezone www.recyclezone.org.uk/

Posted under Articles, Product Innovations, Uncategorized

If you’ve been walking the streets of London recently, you might have seen more and more silver Toyotas tucked in amongst the ranks of parked motors. It's pleasing to see the Prius hybrid, along with other dual and fully-electric cars, infiltrate the transport norms of urban and sub-urban society.  But while the hawk-eyed may have seen these slowly multiplying series-parallel hybrids, they might not have heard them.

For the electric motors used in these cars are notoriously silent; stealthy, in fact. Indeed it is often touted in associated marketing as a good reason to buy one- less noise pollution for your street when starting the car at 6am, lighter on your eardrums, etc.

But just as speedy cyclists can slice into oblivious pedestrians who cross the road without looking, hybrid and electric cars can be a danger. Cyclists at least have the option of a bell; these cars, at present, have nothing. The silence of electric and hybrid cars has in this way been called into question.

Hybrid cars, running on their electric motors when travelling at low speeds, generally don’t make use of their louder internal combustion engines until a higher speed has been reached (this engine is what charges the internal battery).

The United States Congress is already considering legislation that would require an audible warning being built into electric cars to alert pedestrians of their approach. The English Ministry of Transport is also addressing the issue, drawing up a report to be published by the end of the year. The issue of blind persons, who often use their ears to listen out for approaching traffic before crossing a road, is one of the key concerns. The car manufacturing industry, however, is split on how to approach the issue; Nissan, for example, have been developing a range of sounds that could be added to the vehicle (including a ‘chime’, a melody, and a ‘whir’), whilst other engineers are reluctant to spoil the accumulated development of specialised engineering, decades in the making, which has finally seen the results of their ideal made manifest: a silent and smooth car engine.

One possible solution is the inclusion of a sound-emitting device, stimulated ‘on demand’- a built-in noise-maker that emits a personalised sound (perhaps even one recorded by the driver) when a button is pressed: thus allowing drivers to alert oblivious pedestrians if necessary but without creating an uncontrollable, unstoppable noise for the car that might counteract the benefits of a quieter engine.
A ringtone for your car? Let’s hope that instead we’ll be hearing simulated warp-speed and the soft bleeps, hums and clicks of docking spaceships.

Posted under Cars & Transport, Environmental News, Product Innovations, Uncategorized

Situated in the heart of Brighton's very trendy North Laines, Infinity Foods has established itself as one of the South East's most successful and thriving vegetarian and organic retailers. Priding itself on its bustling and beautiful customer rapport, it all began for Infinity in a small shop way back in the early seventies. Times have changed but luckily for us the atmosphere and buoyancy of the Infinity work team hasn't: they've moved several times since their first premises and have expanded along the way, making room for even more organic essentials. So is it all in the name: does this organic retailer really know no bounds; when it comes to customer satisfaction is this food shop and bakery truly set on Infinity & Beyond!

Okay, so maybe it is a little easy to get carried away. But being a local seasider and visitor to Infinity's open doors its easy to see that the shop has put a smile on many-a-face over the years. On the corner of North Road and Gardner Street it is a delightful store for visitors, regulars and residence of Brighton. An Infinity spokesperson has this to say about the shop:

"Come inside and discover what is probably the largest selection of organic and natural vegetarian and vegan foods in the South East. Our on-site bakery produces delicious hand-made breads daily, we sell a seasonally changing range of organic fruit and vegetables and we stock an impressive array of natural bodycare products."

It's true, Infinity have an incredibly wide stock list with everything organic and all that is essential for wholesome and natural food. Their selection of fruit & veg are all organic, sourced as locally as possible, and seasonally changing too - which adds a nice amount of variety to your cupboards!

"We have close connections with our local farmers built up over many years. Sourcing locally and building strong relationships with nearby farmers and growers has always been central to our ethos at Infinity." They continue

"One of the rewards of this is that at a time when demand often outstrips supply of locally grown organic produce and supermarkets sell tired looking produce, often heavily packaged, we are able to provide our customers with vibrant, freshly picked produce straight from the farm."

And this is simply how it works at Infinity. Their products range from Wholefoods, Groceries and Frozen Foods, to Special Diets, Wine & Beers, all the way over to Houeshold, Gardening and Body Care. Infinity's commitment is to its customers, and this commitment is delivered the only way it knows how: through ethical beliefs. One of the best things about Infinity is that it is a worker's co-operative - a business that is run by, and for, its workers. It is these same workers that uphold Infinities high ethical standards and make sure that they are kept in line with Infinities core principle "We won't change". And let's face it, when a shop's like this, why would they...

So next time you're down by the seaside, or doing an entirely different sort of surfing, check out Infinity's store and see what's on offer. Or click here for further details.

Posted under Articles, Eco Reviews, House & Home, Lifestyle & Fashion, Uncategorized

In one of the more interesting examples of a government taking a hands on approach towards climate change, the President of the Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed, has announced that this cabinet will very practically show the world how threatening rising sea levels are to his nation, by taking the whole of his cabinet under water in scuba gear, for a cabinet meeting.

The Maldives certainly is one of the countries most radically under threat from climate change. Nasheed argues that rising sea levels could see the existence of his country under a very serious and very real threat; if rising sea levels aren't curbed, he argues, then the nation itself might be submerged.

Hence the under water cabinet meeting.The purpose of the meeting has also been well publicised: to ratify the government's aim to push all nations a the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit to a substantial carbon emissions cut. A spokesperson said of the cabinet meeting that,

"The cabinet will don wet suits and scuba equipment and dive to a depth of six metres, where a special meeting of the cabinet will be convened...They will then ratify a pledge calling on other nations to slash greenhouse gas emissions ahead of the Copenhagen meeting".

No doubt the publicity stunt will attract some thoughtful onlookers, as members of the cabinet are expected to communicate via hand signals and whiteboards. Whether the message will have much impact at the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference, though, remains to be seen.Certainly, Nasheed will hope that it is the first and only time his government will have to resort to zany stunts in order to grab the attention of the world's developed countries and major powers.

No doubt, too, they will hope that any time spent underwater will not be as a catastrophic necessity, and simply always be as a result of choice.

That said, it will be interesting to see if a team of professionally trained scuba-diving politicians might somehow, in some way, come in handy. Let's all hope that there's a time when that can be called upon in earnest, and that its for another humorous stunt.

Source: The Independent

Posted under Uncategorized

Problems with your compost? Discovered an ingenious way to recycle a lampshade? The EcoSwitch forums have been designed for you. The forum contains over fifty different sections, covering all aspects of green, environmental, and eco lifestyles- everything from green printing to car sharing. In a world of billions, each coming to terms in their own way with a rapidly changing planet, the forums have been created to help channel the interests, concerns and inspirations of green-minded people into a strong body of vibrant conference- an area of unlimited discussion, open at any hour.

From the grass-roots activists to the initially curious, whether you want in-depth answers on specialist topics like solar-panelling or simply want to chat about a great eco-film that you've seen, the forums are live and running, dictated by you. Even those on the other side of the fence are welcome- if you're in two minds about the whole issue, then take a rest at 'Sceptics Corner' and open up the debate.

Any question, from the trivial to the gigantic, is welcome. If there's a topic that you can't see mentioned on the EcoSwitch website, then post your question in the forum, and the whole of the internet will be there to assist. Or, if you've got a bee in your bonnet about a particular issue, then share your opinions online. Aside from harbouring an area of learning and a localised web of knowledge, the forums have been designed as a place for mutual support and encouragement: share your projects, your hardships, and your successes.

One of the key strengths of the environmental movement is its bottom-up nature; not since the anti-nuclear movement of earlier decades, with its CND propaganda and student protests, have we perhaps seen such a powerful, aware and eloquent group. But the environmental movement could even be said to surpass these earlier campaigns; its eager adoption by a range of social strata, and its integration (forced and otherwise) into the everyday lives of western citizens has reached a point where the slow build-up has reached a peak in public opinion and in the habits and practices of everyday people. Only in politics, with the struggle of the Green party to gain members of the English parliament, has the environmental movement not yet become dominant; although green issues are ever present in political discussion and in the words of our political leaders, an out-and-out environmental priority of policy remains subjugated to other concerns. The election and leadership of president Obama, however, with his grass-roots following and social networking-aligned election process, followed up by his relatively immediate action on environmental concerns, shows how the ground-up movement of concerned citizens is nevertheless reaching the top of the tree, and shaking the branches, as it were.

It is to the voices of this concerned majority that EcoSwitch wants to lend a platform. The internet, with its many and various portals to community groups and action centres, is a wealthy and near-infinite resource; an acknowledgement of this pre-existing hot bed of discussion and action is here combined with the desire to direct others, perhaps less directly plugged into such debate, into the conversation.

With your help, we can create an environment where green culture is blown wide open. The discussion and dialogue that we need to articulate and develop our thoughts, to create new ideas, and to engage with the world and move society in new directions, is the world's strongest weapon- and this weapon consists entirely of people like you. The forum is here for you anytime you need it- just click www.ecoswitch.com/ecoforum. Welcome to the discussion!

Posted under Uncategorized

As you are well aware, solar technology is triumphantly out from the dark corners of the science labs and is beginning to pop up in all manner of places, in all manner of forms. So much so, that, possibly, one of its first steps out into the big wide world of usability - the lamplight - has become almost archaic through its once thought modern innovation. Since the emergence of micro-paneling and PV cell film development, there has been an upsurgence in solar gadgetry and accessories: everything from solar rechargeable mobile phones, to summer tote bags that power all the gizmos you can carry inside the bag. But here at EcoSwitch, we don't pick-and-choose one over the other; we're a huge fan of all that is solar synchronizable, and we're proud of where it started from. That's why when Glowstar announced "A Revolution In Lighting", we were over enamored to see that what stood in its wake was a rural lamplight.

But, wait! Let's not do Glowstar's design injustice. This, after all, is not just your average lamplight. Practical action has been undertaken to ensure that this seemingly simplistic light can make the very most out of the energy it can harvest.

The brainchild of a British non-profit consultancy called Intermediate Technology Consultants (ITC); the product, after trials in Kenyan homes, was initially launched in 2000 with the hope of providing cheap, reliable, ecologically friendly lighting that can run without relying on mains power, batteries or kerosene fuel. Since teaming up with Sollatek, a UK based company who specialise in solar and electronics manufacture, ITC have made the Glowstar available in the UK and throughout the developing world.

Some of the applications and benefits you'll get from purchasing a Glowstar include; an emergency light; garden and shed lighting; uses for camping and boating. The durable design has included an 'emergency function', so when a power cut strikes, the Glowstar automatically turns on and brightens the potentially dangerous situation.

The light also doubles up as a mobile phone charger and has been fitted with an output socket, sufficient to supply power to a small radio; so it could fit nicely into any kitchen, conservatory or outhouse.

The two modules - Glowstar GS5 and the Glowstar GS7 - are available in three power specifications: 5W (25W GLS), 7W (40W GLS), and 9W (60W GLS), with full-charge times varying. Its operating temperature is -10C to + 45C. So you can be safe in the knowledge that they'll be no unexpected malfunctioning here in Britain. The units are reasonably lightweight - 2.4Kg for the GS5 unit and 3.3Kg for the GS7 - which makes them practically ideal for camping trips and the like. And their simple design lets you sit them on any shelf without turning feel of the room into a den or bunker.

Glowstar's low cost solar lantern has been specifically designed to make solar energy more accessible. ITC's initiative projects also support good causes by giving away 10 units a month to worthy applicants.

The lamp can be found online, or you should visit the Glowstar website directly www.glowstar.net for further information.

Posted under Uncategorized

Climate change  and Environment chair at the Grantham Institute, the London School of Economics' home of environmental research, Nicholas Stern should be qualified to make a few assertions about the upcoming Copenhagen Climate Change Conference.

Interestingly, then, his comments in today's Guardian are particularly encouraging; he argues that the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit is the perfect place for the world's developing nations to summon a voice, and a voice that will be heard loud and - perhaps, some will argue for the first time - very clear.

Stern wrote that,

"This week's summit on climate change at the United Nations in New York has given a strong boost to the negotiations over a major international treaty, but there remain a number of major obstacles that must be overcome before the crucial meeting in Copenhagen in December.

China, India and Japan, along with the private sector, all made positive and significant contributions at the summit.

Hu Jintao, the Chinese president, made specific commitments on curbing the growth in greenhouse gas emissions as China continues its extraordinary economic growth. While the president promised a reduction by a "notable margin" rather than a specific figure, there is no doubt that the cut will be significant. And the environment ministers of both China and India made important and constructive proposals for how their countries will reverse deforestation.

This was the kind of leadership I had hoped to see at the summit – organised by Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary general – with developing and emerging countries showing that they can tackle climate change while continuing their efforts to reduce poverty. But we still have a long way to go before we can be sure that a strong agreement is in place for Copenhagen".

Whilst Stern warns that an agreement might still be far away, his vision of a diplomatic community that truly represents the interests of the UN as a body - and not simply of the major, long-standing developed powers - is a promising one indeed, and is further weight to the idea that a new environmental framework will come alongside a new, more democratic diplomatic framework.

A welcome change indeed.

Source: The Guardian

Posted under Uncategorized