Sunday, October 19, 2008

Time, and tide, and...

I actually missed all of the originals these letters refer to today:

IoS letters, emails & texts (19 October 2008)

However they serve as worthy reminders to take anything in the world of green you read with a pinch of salt (especially in 'major' media), and avoid coming to any conclusions until you have seen a broad variety of opinions, and then take a wee while to see how they shape up.

ps: all here are put pieces in the jigsaw still

Careful what you wish for

An article which got me on board, at least initially...

Miliband's blueprint for greener homes

And that was despite stumbling over this early on...

'The drive has the full backing of the Prime Minister, who has decided that promoting energy saving should be...'

However, I knew I was in a differnt place when I got here:

10 ways to a more energy-efficient house

Eco hat - sounds good. No link. Google is my friend.

Ground source (or geothermal) heat pump - would prefer more info on this

Air source heat pump - ditto

Hydro turbine - I am a fan, but planning is a zoo

Energy meter - well yes, but while a Wattson is very cute, it is not the only one and about as expsnive vs. others as you can find. London rules showing though?

Triple-glazed window - ROI & enviROI?

Biomass burning boiler - I am tempted, if only to get Mr. Putin off my back.

Underfloor heating - new build? Or dig up my stone floor?

Solar-powered charger - just assess hwo long the panel will last. Most are cheap and don't.

Wind turbine - er.... this option is really under challenge on both ROI and enviROI.

and what you should be doing already

Using energy-efficient lightbulbs - OK

Turning down your thermostat by at least 1C - OK

Switching to a green energy supplier - er....

Making sure your home – including potentially wasteful areas such as the loft space – is well insulated - OK

Turning off appliances such as computers and televisions when they not in use, rather than leaving them on standby - depending on...

Using energy-efficient washing machines and fridge-freezers - er...

Getting a free Home Energy check by logging on to www.energy savingtrust.org.uk - if it helps, go for it

CATEGORY - GREEN NAPPIES

But it's worth sharing other, related stuff as it comes our way:

Articles

Guardian - UK's first nappy recycling plant - Must apply for a job(by). Hey, it's not before time!

Letsrecycle - Firm seeks site for first UK nappy recycling plant

Telegraph - NEW - Nappies: terry cloth more environmentally-friendly than disposable

Times - NEW - Blow to image of ‘green’ reusable nappy - Guess it depends on where you read?

Times - NEW - Washable nappies greener than disposables, suggests report - and, indeed, who

Grants


Information

Real Nappy Campaign -
Women's Enviromental Network -

Suppliers

Junkk.com is of course quite in the... er.. thick of this, via a local relationship with aptly-named Green Nappies.


Anything that gets out of the deep doo-doo that our little future generations can crank out!