Make your own electricity! A great idea, especially when you look at your latest bill. Perhaps you can even feed it back to the grid, making them pay for electricity you produce. The People strikes back. It is also eco-friendly. Well, is it?

Micro generators fitted to a roof or wall mounted on private houses have found some buyers over the last few years, partially due to subsidies through the UK government’s Low Carbon Building Programme, and then some more in 2006 when DIY-chain B&Q launched a campaign, selling the Windsave 1000 (a 1kw mini wind turbine) for £1500. It was a package and included installation, feeding the electricity straight into the building’s standard ring mains supply for 230 Volt. Plug-and-play, the way we like it today. Since no batteries were involved it was a matter of use it or lose it, the electricity generated. These types of units are referred to as SWTGS (Small Wind Turbine Generator system). The idea of having your own SWTGS with a SSEG (Small Scale Embedded Generator) does sound sweet.

The trouble with this model -and many of its competitors- is that there is so much, well for want of a better word, trouble. It especially when they are put up in an urban setting. They are, first of all, not reaching the amounts of electricity that they claimed to produce. One example comes from Donnachadh McCarthy, famous for having the greenest home in England. He calculated that in its first 3 months, his turbine had powered one energy-saving bulb for around three hours a day and had created a total of 1.6 kWh. This equals more or less 20p worth of electricity. In three months. At that rate, for the Windsave 1000 to cover its 2006 sales price, it would take one thousand eight hundred years. Which means that there are only 1797 to go? The internet, on blogs and forums, is littered with similar stories. On the one hand the manufacturers claiming that it will cut your electricity bill by 30% which almost certainly it will not unless you live on a hill or in the middle of a large field with consistent, strong winds for it to produce 1000kWh per annum.

The Windsave 1000 nominally generates 1kW at 12 metres per second wind (27mph), and starts generating power as soon as the wind is over 4 metres per second. Turbulent wind and lower wind speeds result in far lower power outputs.

For it to produce enough energy to become carbon neutral, or whichever criteria fits best, it is probably not thousands of years but far of the map all the same. Small horizontally orientated wind powered generators in urban areas forced to use erratic winds simply does not work. Under these circumstances it will spend most of the time chasing the wind, not harnessing it.

We will be presenting different models in our new Eco Build directory. In the right conditions, the right wind turbine does a good job.

Posted under Eco Build, Gas & Electricity, Product Innovations, Renewable Energy

I know what your thinking; “What has my lifestyle got to do with being eco-friendly?”

The answer; a lot.

The way that we live our lives can be altered so that we are living in an eco friendly way, for example, why drive to work when you can walk (if your place of work is close enough of course)?

A lot of people have outside lights either by their front door, in their back gardens or possibly in both, and a lot of these people have these lights on even when they are not outside, because “they look good”, which basically means that it is a ‘fashion statement’. If you’re not outside, turn the lights off, they are of no benefit to you.

Driving; a lot of people enjoy driving big cars, especially in the United States, but driving a small, energy efficient car is less polluting and not to mention cheaper. This benefits both your bank account and the environment.

It is estimated that 5 to 15 per cent of household electricity consumption worldwide, is wasted on stand-by mode. Over £150 million worth of electricity is wasted each year in the UK by simply keeping televisions and DVD players on stand-by. If we could eliminate this waste, we could close over one in 20 electricity power stations in the UK.

When you go shopping, like a lot of people, I’m guessing that you use new plastic bags every time that you go. But it is estimated that nearly 750 billion plastic bags are used worldwide every year. The vast majority of these end up in landfill sites. Buying a reusable one involves a small initial financial cost, but it eliminates that mountain of used plastic bags that accumulates in the back of our cupboards. Added to this, shops such as Marks & Spencers and Aldi charge you for the use of their plastic bags and Tesco take away club-card points for every bag that you use.

Drink tap water, not bottled. The difference in taste; not alot. As a whole, the human race like a drink with them on trips to the shopping centre or in the car, but if you use the same bottle, you could eliminate the waste of plastic in your household. But the number of people that drink water from bottles, added with the number of people that DON’T reuse the bottle, and just tend to throw the bottle away, is astronomically high. Recycle these bottles, either by reusing them yourself or putting them in the recycling bins. Or better yet, drink tap water and add ice to the drink.

When we cut the grass a lot of people throw the grass clippings in the bin. But if we throw the grass clippings on the grass, and leave them to decompose, it will improve your lawn AND prevent you from adding to the waste in our landfills.

Posted under Gardening & Outdoors, How To's & Guides, Lifestyle & Fashion

This is an interview-based article about a natural buildings construction company called the Natural Building Company, showing there is no need to complicate things. A Norwich-based 27 years old, ex-linguist and now builder, Matt Muldoon opened up shop in the middle of a global financial meltdown. Building is always struck hard and early in economic downturns and the notoriously conservative construction industry, that in many countries has come to a standstill if not worse, is not kind to daredevils. But Matt has faith. Last year he completed his first project on his own; an extension to a small house with strawbale walls. He radiates a quiet conviction with what he does and what he says about it; behind it all lies a sound and nuanced outlook. When it comes to natural building materials he says:

I don’t want to argue that natural materials are a good thing per se; but I do want to explain their advantages, and also the contexts in which these advantages apply – there’s no point in super-insulating a building if you’re only going to keep tools in it and wood is not sustainable if it’s shipped half way round the world. [But] common to all natural building materials is their low embodied energy.

There you are. It is easy to get caught up in a back-to-the-old-ways some times, but our world oder has tweaked the systems a bit too far, things are not always what they seem. He is right of course. For example, what would amount to a very modern and green building in itself, can turn out to be the opposite if to build it a house has to be torn down. First of all, the time it will take for the new structure toreach break-even in terms of energy saved compared to the effect of a qualitative refurbishment. Settling for a smaller intervention using locally sourced materials can often be more efficient than elaborate supposedly energy-efficient hi-tech structures and components. In the green building trade there is, a little ironically, both limewash and greenwash. To clarify that statement, limewash is a traditional way of ‘painting’ walls white, greenwash is a cynical way of ‘painting’ a company green, the first makes it sustainable and the second is about making it look sustainable. What Matt Muldoon does is build simply and sustainably, period:

A final point to make (whilst trying not to promote natural buildings as some kind of greenwashed eco-lifestyle-concept) is that many people derive enormous satisfaction from being in a building whose components have an obvious link to the surrounding world. People are pleased to know that the earth walls encircling them were dug from the ground beneath their feet, that the straw keeping them so snug was grown a few fields away, or that the trees holding up the roof inside have descendents growing outside.

2009 will prove a crossroads for much of society and among the choices will be to opt for locally sourced and sustainable everything, from carrots to houses. Provided that people will want anything built this year, chances are that Muldoon’s skills and designs may be the avenue of choice for many of these projects. When asked how he would respond to a prospective client, his answer is a humble but confident assurance that every project needs to be analysed for its particuliarities and deeply in tune with its context.

To check out The Natural Building Co., click here

We will publish four posts on natural building materials authored by Matt Muldoon as the first in our up and coming directory of building sevices, components and materials.

Posted under Building Services & Suppliers, Companies, Eco Build

I know what your thinking; what has lifestyle got to do with being eco-friendly?

A lot of people enjoy driving big cars, especially in the United States, but driving a small, energy efficient car is less polluting and not to mention cheaper. Perhaps we do not even need the car at all. The way that we live our lives can be altered so that we are living in an eco friendly way, for example, we should ask ourselves can we walk or bike to work or school. Many of us can.

A lot of people have outside lights either by their front door, in their back gardens or possibly in both, and a lot of these people have these lights on even when they are not outside, because “they look good”. It is estimated that 5 to 15 per cent of household electricity consumption worldwide is wasted on stand-by mode. Over £150 million worth of electricity is wasted each year in the UK simply keeping televisions and DVD players on stand-by. If we could eliminate this waste, we could close over one in 20 electricity power stations in the UK.

Drink tap water, not bottled. Apart from the fact that tap water in many parts of the world is drinkable, it is delivered straight into our homes eliminating the use of trucks to ship brightly labelled Spring Water. The number of people that drink water from bottles is astronomically high, so many of them not recycled, not reused; simply chucked away in the bin. Forgive me if I am wrong but when you go shopping, I am guessing that you use new plastic bags most of the times and if so, each time you do, that would be one or two of nearly 750 billion plastic bags used worldwide every year, the vast majority ending up in landfill sites. Buying a reusable one involves a small initial cost, but it eliminates that mountain of used plastic bags that accumulates in the back of our cupboards.

When we cut the grass a lot of people throw the grass clippings in the bin. But if we throw the grass clippings on the grass, and leave them to decompose, it will improve your lawn.

Posted under Gardening & Outdoors, House & Home, Lifestyle & Fashion

No wonder why our planet is suffering from the jeopardy of climate change whilst carbon dioxide is being discharged uncontrollably into the atmosphere. However, this situation can still be tackled. We can alleviate the emission of CO² by reshaping our lifestyles. For example, switching to a genuine green electricity company such as Good Energy is exalting an act of respect and responsibility towards Mother Nature.

The green electricity company Good Energy

Established in 1999, Good Energy has become an icon of success in Britain. Passionate about the environment, the company can be acclaimed for the eloquent task operated, that of encouraging individuals like you and me to use green electricity instead of the conventional electricity originating from coal, gas, nuclear and others. Green electricity releases 0% of C0² gas; therefore it is unquestionably sustainable in environmental terms.

What is unique about Good Energy and the green electricity it supplies?

Good Energy is the sole 100% renewable energy supplier across Britain. It supplies energy from wind turbines (92%), sun (1%) and running water (7%). For each unit of green electricity they sell, they purchase one unit of green electricity deriving from the renewable sources. With reference to the Times Online review on the 50 Best Green companies, Good Energy hits a 97% green score, especially due to its mastering of the environment! You can access this information in detail here online.

Unlike other electricity companies which offer green tariffs as supplementary, Good Energy sources and sells only 100% green electricity. Amazingly, Good Energy responds to the electricity demand of its customers without offending our environment.

Having researched the market, below I have outlined from a customer’s spectacles, the reasons I would switch to Good Energy:

* My wish is to dwell in a healthy environment; hence my trust should lie in a green electricity company which has nature at heart.

* Good Energy is the shining future of electricity in Britain; as a lover of nature I would rather pay my bills to a green electricity company offering a genuine sustainable solution for climate change.

*Accessing the best green tariff available on the competitive market.

* My concern about my carbon footprint leads me to opt for a 100% renewable energy company which guarantees no involvement in coal, gas or nuclear.

* Becoming a client of a high profile company which, from experience, has excellent customer service.

Relative to the finite condition of coal, gas and oil, their prices will keep on fluctuating and the impact will result in the continued rise of electricity prices. Unlike the trend, sun, water and wind are everlasting elements therefore there is more stability regarding green electricity prices from Good Energy.

Eco switch believes that there are people like you and me who care about nature and who want to abate the sources of climate change. Please visit the Good Energy website and I wholeheartedly encourage you to switch free of charge to the genuine green electricity supplier.  Once you have tried it for yourself, don’t forget to communicate the reasons to choose Good Energy to your family and friends.

Do not worry; Good Energy does not change your meters or pipes. The only difference is the name of your new Green electricity supplier (Good Energy) and the 100% renewable source of your electricity consumption.

Together we can make a difference so thank you for helping create the change we need.

Posted under Gas & Electricity, House & Home, Renewable Energy

Time is flowing, yet the sun is still at rendez vous! Amazingly, current technologies and engineering bodies have not given up on the sun but are boosting the utilisation of solar power in every possible dimension. A priori, powering our gadgets with a shot of sunlight is amongst the most ethical and environmentally friendly resolutions we can encounter.

The Solar Centre is a remarkable online business conveying success and purpose. It offers the largest selection of solar products accessible on the market. The company understands that the use of solar energy addresses the problematic limitation of fossil fuels which are costly to find, extract and produce. In the same run, the usage of solar products undermines the emission of carbon dioxide and Global Warming.

At the Solar Centre, which is, in my opinion the Alibaba’s cave for solar products, you can find:

* Solar gadgets such as solar powered torches, solar powered wind turbines, solar picture frames, solar shavers, solar radios and even solar insect killers

* Solar chargers

* Solar toys

* Solar powered calculator

* Solar panels

Eco Switch’s primary purpose is to inculcate to you the optimistic future of solar products, powered entirely by the sun’s rays. Below I will highlight the description and importance of both solar panels and solar charges:

SOLAR PANELS and SOLAR CHARGERS:

Solar panel: A solar panel is a device which collects energy from the sun. It is segregated into two categories: solar photovoltaic which uses solar cells to convert sunlight into electricity and solar thermal which uses solar energy to heat water or other types of fluids.

Solar panels can be domestically installed, therefore unveiling an ideal alternative to electrical energy sourced from oil, gas, coal and nuclear. When we assemble all the globally existing solar panels together, guess the outcome? They save an equivalent of 35 million tonnes of carbon dioxide gas each year! Fascinating, but we must even forge further!

Solar charger: The solar charger imbibes the power of the sun which then undergoes storage until further use. The functionality of the solar powered charger, albeit located in the middle of nowhere or experiencing bad weather condition, is not affected. It is highly efficient for cars, boats, etc… and most importantly, extremely energy efficient!

It is clear that the majority of us leave our mobiles to charge all night unnecessarily. When we consider the average of 16.6 Billion charging hours which are wasted in Britain, topping with the amount of electricity going down the drain, don’t you agree that it is a seducing opportunity to begin using solar chargers instead of electrical ones?

Available at the Solar Centre is the solar Freeloader charger which chargers several devices, including mobiles phones, digital cameras, gaming machines, iPods and so on! It is a must-have device handy device which can be used at any time.

Solar products can be funky, stylish, handy and ‘cost cutters’. Visit the website http://www.thesolarcentre.co.uk/ for more ideas on the umbrella of solar products available to you.

Posted under House & Home, Renewable Energy

What is Green Energy?

Green energy is all about the production of 100% renewable electricity which typically originates from wind turbines, solar panels and hydro. Its paramount purpose is to combat the emissions of carbon dioxide with zero tolerance vis a vis the involvement of fossil fuels. Good Energy and Ecotricity are lucent examples of green energy suppliers. Doubtlessly, they are conquering the market by offering competitive prices and having the environment at heart. By switching from a conventional energy supplier to a green one, you are also proving that you care for the environment.

What about Green appliances then?

Green appliances have grown in importance and popularity as they stand out to help customers like you and me and above all, the environment. Rooted in their design, they operate similarly to ordinary appliances, with the exception of being energy efficient. They save you money and tackle the problem of climate change as less CO2 is released.

Below is a list of greeny stuffs one should begin to consider:

Green Energy is the Best! It is Anti-CO2 and it makes your bill smile too J

• Apply to a Green Energy company such as Good Energy which supplies 100% renewable electricity. Read our article on Good Energy to understand how it rescues our planet.
• Even conventional energy companies such as EDF offer green tariffs.
• You can install your own domestic wind turbine and/or solar panel depending on your location. Why depend on coal and oil when you can benefit from wind and sun?
• Switch your normal light bulbs to eco ones which utilise 80% less energy and once switched on, they shine as brightly as ordinary bulbs. Your bill will drop significantly.
• We encourage you to buy the Energy Saving Recommended Green Appliances as they are the most energy efficient appliances available on the market. For your information, this brand is a government body that certifies green appliances which ecoswitch.com is currently reviewing.
• Check for the Energy Saving Recommended Green Appliances logo on the products before you buy.  
• Make the switch to an energy efficient dishwasher which saves 40% of energy. It lowers both your electricity and water bills. Among the most popular ones is the Whirlpool ADG 7560 model.
• Choose an Integrated Digital TV (IDTV) instead of a standard one as the former saves you money on your energy bills.
• Order a green kettle as it can reduce your electricity bill by 20%.
• Eco fridges and freezers are designed to reduce emissions of CO2 and alleviate the use of electricity by 60%. The result will reflect on your bills too.
• Cut your energy consumption by 1/3 when doing your laundry by buying a green washing machine instead of an ordinary one.
• An Energy Saving Recommended printer uses about 25% less power when being switched on and 40% less in sleep or standby mode when compared to a normal printer.
• Instead of a desktop buy a laptop, or even better, an eco laptop such as Asus, MacBook or Sony. Desktops might be cheaper in price but they use ten times more energy than laptops.
• Cooking is a passion for most of us. Why not enjoy cooking whilst using less energy with an A/A energy rated oven such as the Leisure LEVC66W 50cm Double oven or the Leisure 100cm CM101FRKP Dual Fuel Range Cooker?
• Did you know that cooking in a microwave saves more energy than in a conventional oven? How more efficient will your cooking time be if you use an microwave oven such as the Whirlpool AMW510.
Now that you know the tricks, stop thinking that you were born to pay excessive bills. Make your money worth it and be gentle to our environment!

Posted under Gas & Electricity, House & Home, How To's & Guides, Money & Finance, Renewable Energy

Doing what’s possible to be greener means more than cutting down on the energy that we use everyday, it means cutting back on harmful chemicals too, and that’s a lot easier said than done. An available alternative to traditional washing detergents and conditioners is an innovative product which is designed to ecologically replace chemicals found in traditional washing powders. EcoBalls are an ingenious washing machine aid that will reduce washing-cycle times, keep clothes looking fresh and new, and clean them without the use of harmful chemicals by penetrating deep into the clothes’ fibres.

EcoBalls do away with the need for earth-damaging detergents and offer a new way of washing without conditioners. Just put three EcoBalls in your washing machine instead of using detergent and powder. They work together to produce ionized oxygen that stimulates the water molecules (the way a natural catalyst will) allowing the reaction to penetrate deep into the clothing fibres and lift dirt away. From an ecological perspective, the fewer chemicals that are pumped back into the water cycle, the less likely our everyday domestic activities will contaminate the water which we drink.

EcoBalls ingredients include: Non-toxic solid washing pellets, higher alkyl sulphate, non-ionic surfactant, sodium metasilicate, calcium carbonate, sodium carbonate, sodium tripolyphosphate, cellulose gum.

Using EcoBalls is a natural, environmentally friendly, efficient and cost-effective way to get a clean, fresh, and sensitive wash. The balls themselves are reusable for over 1,000 washes and turn the average cost of each wash to about 3p. The product was voted one of the Ten Best Green Household Products by The Independent for being dermatologically sensitive, environmentally friendly, whilst producing spectacular cleaning results – which means that you can still use your washing machine and lead a more ‘lower impact’ lifestyle.

However, make sure you only buy EcoBalls that display the ® for registered or ™ for Trademark. Unfortunately there are cheaper replicas available on the market, which are still laundry balls and will clean your clothes, but they may contain substandard ingredients such as SLS (sodium laureth sulphate) that can cause allergies and skin reactions to flare and become incredibly irritable.

EcoBalls are manufactured under license of Ecozone (UK) Ltd, who promote a natural lifestyle, environmentally friendly living, and support efficient and cost-effective products. They retail at £23.99 and can be found at www.biggreensmile.com. Best of all, if you are not entirely convinced or just not satisfied with their results, EcoBalls offer a 30 day money back guarantee.

But for the meantime there are a few things we can be sure of: The EcoBalls product itself is not only considerate towards skincare and cleans clothes, whilst being a hypoallergenic, antibacterial, chemical free way of doing your laundry, but it also helps us do that extra bit more to keep the globe a little bit cleaner. The EcoBalls set lasts up to 1000 washes, so you can expect your wastages to be reduced and you will save up to 80% in detergent bills, which is definitely a great combination for saving you money whilst allowing you to be stress-free eco friendly in doing so.

Posted under Articles, House & Home, Product Innovations

After planning permission was granted, construction began.

Now the ‘Good Homes Alliance’ is planning a visit to Cornwall, for an assessment of what is being billed as a ‘zero-carbon village’.

The village’s buildings are being constructed under the protocol of ‘Green Building’, meaning that their production will have to be energy efficient and sustainable.

Indeed the houses are being developed using recovered timber and Cornish slate from local sources, all of which are deemed sustainable themselves. Clay, too, will be one of the main materials used for construction.

There is also a stipulation on the project that carbon emission offsetting cannot be used to achieve the aim; the production and construction of the site must be done with a zero emissions output.

In all, the village will contain 6 houses, 19 units – small sections of one larger building – and 13 one or two bedroom apartments.

There will also be communal spaces developed for all those who reside in the village.

A similar project in Bristol is coming to the final planning stages.

Headed by the ‘English Partnerships’, who sanctioned a competition for the contract to build the zero carbon villages, the site is planned to have 150 homes.

Those in contention on the competition’s shortlist are: Barrat homes with HTA, Edward Ware Homes with Acanthus Ferguson Mann Architects, Taylor Wimpey with Broadway Malyan, and Places for People with PRP architects, Artisan H with Feilden Clegg Bradley, and Urban Splash South West.

The winner of the competition – as well as gaining the contract for the construction of the homes – will also win the ‘Carbon Challenge’ award.

Indeed the winner of this year’s award will be the inaugural winner of the ‘Carbon Challenge’.

On top of the Bristol and Cornwall projects, there are plans for another 5 villages nationwide. The move is taken on the back of the recent statistic that 27% of the U.K’s annual carbon emissions come from its households. And with plans to lower Britain’s carbon emissions by 60% come the year 2050, the zero-carbon villages in Cornwall and Bristol could prove to be valuable blueprints for green building and sustainable energy.

The suggestion marks a growing concern for the U.K’s future energy efficiency levels, and one that has included potential plans for electric cars and new solar and wind farms.

Some experts are suggesting that this growing consciousness could spark a boom in employment and finance.

Earlier this month the ‘Environmental change Institute’, situated at Oxford University, predicted that green building would generate up to £6.5 billion for the building market. And – if proposals for the recent ‘Green New Deal’ are accepted and legitimised by the government – green building could create a substantial number of jobs, too.

Many, then, will view the successes and failures of the Cornwall and Bristol zero carbon villages as the first example of the government’s new green agenda. If they are to succeed, it can spur the production of similar sites across the country; failure could mean a rethink of current proposals and systems.

Posted under Environmental News, House & Home

Green cleaning can have many interpretations, but the main aspiration of green cleaning is to use cleaning solutions and methods that keep the environment healthy and safe. There are many ways in which people can take this aspiration into their homes.

For some people, green cleaning means that only use substances like baking soda, vinegar, and lemons to clean the home surfaces. Other people may find commercial cleaners that are healthy for the environment. They want to avoid phosphates, chlorine, artificial fragrances, and artificial colours. Many cleaners that are available on the market now are marketed as being biodegradable.
Other cleaning products may use recycled packaging or donate some of their profit to environmental causes.

You can make certain choices about your cleaning supplies; there is a huge variety of environmentally friendly choices for those who are keen on cleaning green.
If you are interested in cleaning your home with cheap natural materials, then have you looked into using vinegar, baking soda, and lemons?
Because these are cheap and cheerful ways of cleaning your homes, they date back years and years, and would still be used widely if it weren’t for all of the commercial cleaning products that are forced down our necks, which are also quite pricey, especially in comparison to the price of a lemon.

There are many ways you can use these three substances around your home with ease;

Vinegar
adding ½ cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle of your washing machine saves you from buying a separate fabric softener. Vinegar works naturally to soften your laundry and has the added benefit of breaking down laundry detergent very effectively. This means that less detergent sensitive allergies for families that struggle with sensitive skin. Don’t be put off by the smell of vinegar, because the smell disappears when the vinegar dries.

Baking Soda
after you are done working out at the gym with your sweaty stinking trainers put a sachet of baking soda inside them to help absorb the odours until you’re ready to wear them again. Wrap some baking soda in a small piece of cloth like a handkerchief and tie it with some string or use a rubber band. You will have your own homemade sachet to use in your trainers, no need for embarrassing smelly trainers now.
You could even fill the toe of a sock with baking soda and tie it off. Leave that sock in your trainers over night, but don’t wear the sock after wards.

Lemons;
One use out of many, can be rubbing a lemon onto your wooden cutting boards to clean and deodorize onion and garlic smells and kill any bacteria that maybe living on the wood, this also works well on wooden cutlery and bowls. Go ahead and try it, not only does it work well; it makes your kitchen smell lovely and fresh.

Posted under Articles, House & Home, How To's & Guides, Money & Finance, Uncategorized