Eco Friendly House And Garden

I recently went into a new pet store and found a massive ’exotics’ department – fully heated and lit up!

Now I have nothing against insects, spiders, lizards, frogs and snakes, but if they are not endemic to your home country – you need an awful amount of electrical equipment to keep them ‘comfortable’.

For example, a basic exotic pet tank (lizards, terrapins and snakes) would need a heat pad on virtually all the time to replicate the temperature of their home country; lighting to replicate the natural sunlight; a hygrometer to monitor the humidity; and possibly even a water pump for water loving species.  All powered by your electricity supply.

Compare that to a rabbit which needs none of those things listed above at all – and even eats your left over fruit and veg for you!

Should we be thinking about how much energy our pets take to keep alive?  Or should we just compare them a new gadget or some great new clothes – can we treat them as a personal choice?

The Dilemma:
I know that everyone has different tastes and that there are many people out there who loves exotic species, but should we reduce the availability of these to consumers who just want to ‘try one out’.  Those people who think a snake would be great, buy all the stuff, and then lose interest after a few months.

That snake could have been wild caught, or bred abroad and imported by plane.  The transportation needs to be monitored for all the things listed above essential to the survival of each specific species – and then it needs to be kept in these same ideal conditions until their sale.  This would explain the huge section in this pet store filled with exotics - with added light bulbs and heaters!

If there was less demand for these animals as pets, they would be less of a drain on resources.  I know that the pet store and the pet owner are prepared to pay for that energy, but should your country be creating all this energy to keep your homes warm and your transport network running, only for it to be used to keep a tiny spider warm?

Also, if your pet is from another country, then it’s quite possible that their food supply is too.  Most exotics that need heating are carnivorous – so you will need to feed them either live insects and other bugs (which also have to be kept warm before feeding), or frozen birds and rodents (which obviously need to be ‘cooked’ before feeding).

I suppose you could liken keeping an exotic pet to buying exotic fruit from overseas. 

But, shouldn’t you be buying local instead?

Are you serious about saving energy in the home?  Are you thinking about constructing an eco friendly house or other property?

Then maybe you should consider a holiday to Wales!

Over the first weekend of June 2009, there is the Greener Homes and Buildings Show – pitched as ‘..the UK’s one stop shop for green building solutions’.

Or, ‘cartrefi ac adeiladau gwyrdd – siop un stop am atebion i adeiladu gwyrdd’.

Wales is already the home of the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) in Powys – as well as one of the most amazing scenery and adventure landscapes!  So why not combine a visit to this region with a trip to the show?

What’s There?
Well, all of the seminars from last year are available online at this years website: Greener Homes & Buildings so you can see if the topics covered will suit your needs this year.

Whether you are renovating an existing property or building from scratch, there will be something for you to learn here.  With over 25 companies exhibiting and many professional seminars taking place over the weekend, you are sure to come away all the more knowledgeable about your interests.

CAT will be there to answer your questions, offer advice and products as well as details for their year-long programme of sustainable living and green building courses to continue your learning.

What Else?
The show takes place in the Royal Welsh Showground in central Wales, so you are in prime position to explore the beautiful landscapes of the Cambrian mountains, Snowdonia National Park and the Brecon Beacons.  All great reasons to show why we are trying to live more sustainably and preserve these landscapes!

Visiting such areas of outstanding natural beauty also makes us realise how we can seriously influence what happens to the land – no matter how great its size. 

What we do to change our lifestyles and the way we build and use our homes can prevent local, national and global changes that are for the worse – and shape them for the better.

What Now?
So, book your tickets for the show before the 15th of May to get and early bird discount and pay just £6 entry.  Kids under 16 go free!

Then, get online and find accommodation for the long weekend or the whole week and start planning your adventure!  Don’t be shy – if you are saving the landscape – you may as well go and enjoy it!

What Are The New Light Bulbs All About?

There has been much debate in the news about the new CPL light-bulbs that are being forced upon us by the government to lower Carbon Emissions.

Some would say that we need forcing as they are more energy efficient than the old incandescent light-bulbs we know and love – but others say that they have some serious down-sides which may take years to sort out!

So, what’s what?

Compact Fluorescent Lamp’s (CFL’s)    
These new light-bulbs are appearing all over the country – and they look odd!  They generally take the form of chunky tubes bent into various square-ish forms and should fit into all standard light and lamp fixtures.  Basically they are a scaled down version of the strip fluorescent tubes you find in kitchens and offices already (the ones that take a while to flick on and can start flashing without warning!).

They are reported to use a lot less power to run than normal light-bulbs and can last up to between 6000 – 15000, up to 15 times longer than the alternative incandescents – apparently making them justify their more expensive price tag!  In theory then, creating less waste after use – and ultimately reduced manufacturing costs as we won’t need to buy them so often.  They are reported to last up to 5 years with normal household use!

Running a CFL light generates less heat than an incandescent bulb, therefore reducing the need for cooling in warmer months – particularly useful in shops and offices where heat can affect products.

In the EU, CFL’s are rated as either A or B in their energy rating system (ie – the most energy efficient in their class), with halogen bulbs getting a D-rating, and the old incandescents getting and E or F-rating!  They are reported to use as little as 20% of the energy of a standard light-bulb – so reducing running costs of offices and retail outlets greatly! 

However, it’s not all good news.  There are many downsides to these new light-bulbs and suddenly the balance of energy-saving and environmental problems clash somewhat!

What’s Not So Hot?
Well, for a start it is believed that LED lighting is the next best thing -  they are safer, brighter, faster, last longer and are more energy-efficient than the CFL’s  – So why are we settling for 2nd best?  Why not just focus on the best one rather than filling the gap with a temporary solution?

Secondly – the CFL bulbs contain mercury.  Now, they report that it is only equivalent to the plastic bit at the end of a biro, but the light-bulbs themselves are only small – so in my book that is still a lot!  And mercury is toxic as we all know. 

Now – there is mercury in the fluorescent strip bulbs already, and we use those all over the place – but these are in our bedrooms and lounges now – and do we want the risk?  The industry is trying to reduce this for the next generation bulbs – but of course, you won’t need those until 2014 will you!

Obviously, if they are used correctly in their fixtures – the mercury will not cause you any risk.  However, if they break in your home, or you throw them in you trash – they can present a ‘small risk’ to your health!  The UK Energy Savings Trust say that this is negligible and mercury is released into the atmosphere when generating the coal-fired energy to power your old wasteful (and your new) light-bulbs.  Basically it’s an equal trade-off for the environment, but a bit more risky for the individual.

Alternatively, Recolight advise that there is a risk to health and that you should wear rubber gloves when handling broken bulbs, not to inhale dust, ventilate the room and most importantly: do not vacuum it up!  Why?  Because the mercury will get blown about the room and some will remain in the filter – spewing out every time you use it afterwards!!!!

Go to Maine’s Environmental Site for a more detailed advice list for dealing with a broken bulb, including washing your hands and face thoroughly and even replacing the carpet if young children or pregnant women may come in contact with it!!  Scary stuff…..

There are not really efficient systems in place to recycle these bulbs once they are spent either, and some experts say the technology to do so is years away.  Current estimations say that up to 75% of CFL bulbs are thrown away in the normal trash – releasing the mercury – and creating more damage than the energy they save!  Experts also advise that you contain your broken and unbroken bulbs in air-tight glass jars while transporting them to avoid mercury release….. 

You can give your bulbs back to a number of stores though for recycling and disposal, including Home Depot and Ikea.  Check the EPA website or your National Environmental Agency for more advice on disposal near you.  Some private companies can collect bulk amounts at some cost to you though.

Finally, they only work at their most efficient if they stay on for longer than 15 minutes at a time!  If you have one in your bathroom or closet that goes on and off within just a few minutes – you can actually shorten it’s lifespan by up to 85% – basically back to where a normal light-bulb would be – except you paid more for this one!

Also, due to their internal workings, you need to buy a specific type to work with dimmer switches, motion sensor and linked systems as they flash or change brightness as and when they please!  They can also buzz and flicker – annoying some people more than others – and they give some people a head-ache!

So, although I will be replacing my old light-bulbs with an appropriate CFL bulb – Roll on LED lighting I say!!

Finding Energy Efficient Appliances Should Be Easy…

It is now easier than ever to find yourself and energy-efficient electrical appliance without compromising on quality or service.

Basically, manufacturers these days are trying to improve the energy efficiency of their electrical items to win your purchase. In Europe there is now the ‘Energy Rating Scheme’ (EU energy ratings from A (most energy efficient) through to G (least energy efficient)and that this is displayed on their and their competitors appliances. And in the US there is the Energy Star rating system doing the same thing.

Needless to say, many manufacturers want you to buy their products – and so they need to make sure that theirs matches up or betters the competition!! All good for the environment and the consumers pocket.

How To Get It Right:
Below are 4 simple steps to make sure that you are getting the best in terms of energy efficiency in your new appliances. They include just the basics – as obviously there are performance and branding issues that are specific to each household – as well as different budgets.

You also need to be aware that more energy efficient models are not necessarily better at washing your clothes or not breaking down all the time! The energy rating schemes only cover energy requirements – not the machines themselves – so you still need to research the products before purchase and read reviews or speak to the sales person in your store or on-line.

1) Research your products in advance.
Make sure that you have decided exactly what you need out of the appliance, for simplicities sake – a toaster that does 4 slices at a time or a dishwasher to fit in a small space in you kitchen, etc.

Once you have narrowed down your options, take a look at customer reviews to check usability and to line it up with your budget. Don’t forget that the price you pay will not always reflect what you get for your money and buying the cheaper model may cost you more in repairs than the slightly more expensive version that has a longer working life.

2) Look for the Energy Saving Logo/the Energy Star.
By checking which of your short-list have been labelled as more energy-efficient can help you make the right choice in terms of reduced running costs for yourself.

Buying a lower rated item in the EU (D-G) may well mean you end up using more electricity per wash – theoretically making the machine/appliance ‘cost more’ over the year:

Cost of Item + cost to run per year + cost of any repairs = actual cost of item to you.

Energy Ratings are now available on many appliances including TV’s, set top boxes, heating equipment and fridges – plus many more. Some items have more than 1 ‘score’ in the EU so make sure you check each one.

3) Ask In Store.
As more and more consumers are wanting to know about ways to reduce their energy costs – retailers are better informed of their options. Staff take training in this area to make sure that they are advising you on the best product for your requirements.

They should be able to explain how the energy rating systems work in your country and for every appliance you are interested in. They should also know how to find out and compare details on all their models – for example showing which perform best on standby and whether certain items come with energy saving features like automatic ‘sleep mode’. Up to 8% of UK TV energy is wasted while on standby!

If you have done your research before you arrive in the store, then you won’t be overwhelmed by the choices available when you get to the shelves – try not to be swayed by appearance if you are serious about energy saving. Wanting that pink version that is D-rated is only a passing phase!!!!

4) Consider Doubling up!
Integrated appliances are the way forward with energy-saving. For example buying a TV with built in digital receiver – only buying 1 product rather than 2. Fridge-freezers and washer-Driers do the same.

• Less raw materials to create – it’s all in one casing
• Less packaging – only one item instead of 2 or more
• Less transport – only 1 item to get to the store/your home
• Less products in total – less plugs and cabling needed
• Less electricity when on standby – only one power source

You may already have the second appliance – but when it is no longer required or breaks down – you then don’t need to replace it!

I hope that these few steps have been useful, and there will be more about appliances coming soon to help you make the better choices for the environment!

PS - cut down on games console usage if you can – they use loads of energy to run! A well used console can add around £160 EXTRA onto your electricity bill!!!

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First things first here – I am not expecting everyone here to have all the latest inventions for saving energy, composting your waste and producing all your own food and energy!

This article is just focusing on energy to get the ball rolling, and will hopefully offer you tips and ideas for those little steps that can help you save money and help the environment save itself!  Don’t forget, that the planet can do just fine with whatever we throw at it and will still be here long after we have gone and taken all the other plants and animals with us – it will never just disappear – it will just adapt.  Think of the primordial soup.

What we are trying to do is save the human race.  We need a planet where the human race can survive, not just an actual planet.  Without certain plants and animals, humans will just fade away.  Without certain weather and environmental factors, humans will not be able to survive.

I know it all sounds a bit dramatic, but science has told us that this is where we are heading, we are destroying the very things we need to survive as we are now.

Your efforts can slow this down, between us we can help reduce our impact on the environment and make the world look a bit less bleak for our children and their children.

Electricity.
Electricity is one of the easiest energy source to save money on.  I know that it is really annoying to lean over the back of the PC or the television to switch everything off, but it all helps.

Valuable resources are used to create the energy you are wasting every time you go away for the weekend and leave appliances in a state where they are drawing electricity – and of course it is costing you money as well.  The energy suppliers don’t give you free electricity to keep the light on you washing machine saying ‘READY’. 

Just because you are not actually using an appliance, it does’t mean it is not using electricity.

Water.
Water is a bit trickier as some people have their certain bathroom routines, and I am the first one to opt for a deep bath, but you are still allowing your wages to flush down the toilet every time you do a full flush for a tiny wee, or leave the tap running for whatever reason (cleaning teeth/rinsing plates or veg/having just filled up the kettle but going over an plugging it it before turning off the water!).  These are just little things but they cost you money.

Gas.
Gas is very wasteful.  Try to avoid all appliances (apart from central heating) that use gas because it just runs up the bills.  I once watched the gas meter when I switched on my gas fire – and rest assured I will never use another in my home – go look at yours!.  I have one tip for saving gas, and that is don’t use it!  

If you are using a gas fire – and creating gas does give off less carbon than the creation of electricity - then make sure that the room it is in is well insulated to retain as much of the warmth as possible (curtains pulled/ door closed/ double glazing/ etc).  That way, whatever heat it gives you is controlled and not wasted.

Appliances.
And it’s not just the energy used to run the appliances that is a concern – what about the energy and resources used to make them in the first place?

Now I know that there are now more energy-efficient products on the market, and you should seriously consider buying these when you next need to buy an appliance, but don’t buy one if your old one is still working well.

The reason?  What are you going to do with the old one?  If you are going to throw it away – that is a complete waste of resources.  The old one will end up discarded on a skip, wasting all the valuable metals and minerals that went into creating it.  By all means give it to a breaker who will be able to reclaim any parts that are still useful and recycle them into other machines.

But you are thinking that you will give it to a charity or another person – and this is the better option, but either way, the machine will still be being used by someone.  It is still going to be using the same amount of energy whoever has it, but you would have spent money (and used further resources) to buy your new one as well. 

And I’m sure that if some mathematician could work out the extra energy you save with your new appliance and compare it to the energy cost of making your new appliance, transporting your new appliance, running your new appliance and the running costs of someone else still using your old appliance – it won’t be a saving.

The message I am trying to pass across here, is that jumping on the band-wagon of eco friendly living before you have eased yourself into the whole ‘circle of eco’ could acutally do you more harm than good.  You may have spent a lot of money or invested a lot of time in a new eco-friendly theory or appliance – possibly having family rows about it all, only to find out from someone else that you could have made a different decision in the first place.

Take your time.
Don’t rush into this whole style of living until you have read up on the issues or have spoken to friends, and have drawn the line about your limits.  Making small, effective changes that suit your lifestyle will last longer and give you more satisfaction than some of the bigger changes that you cannot keep up with and end up giving up on.

For example, if you can easily remember to reuse your shopping bags, do that.  If you don’t have a garden or an allotment it would be pointless to collect your waste food for composting.  If you can easily buy (recycled and/or charity) birthday cards on plain paper with plain envelopes then do so.  If you have 2 or more children however, you probably shouldn’t try to swap your car for bicycles!

Be reasonable to yourself and you will achieve more – and feel better about it too.