Just, don't tell Seinfeld.
It’s official. Peeing in the shower is a good thing.
Of course, come a certain age try stopping.
I think I may need to add a Prof's Poser here... can we add yellow waters to our grey waters? I think they end up in the same waste water system.
Thursday, August 06, 2009
BAN - Rise of the quangos
A wee while ago my door knocked and a young lady stood there with a leaflet.
'Did I know about the energy savings grants?,' she asked. I had to say I knew of some, but not this one.
And hence I was seduced into a process, culminating in a visit from a surveyor, which resulted in... zippy. Because the house was old, and complex...and.. and, I did not qualify.
Despite this, I was still fairly onside, as it seemed a commitment of funds in areas I can endorse, namely proactive doing.
But now, thanks to a twitter link, I am looking at this (read the comments for a reality check the Brain-strains behind this one will never have):
Ban sales of poorly insulated homes, says Energy Saving Trust
And hence I am thinking not so much of a bonfire of the quangos, as promised, but a Hydra of them. Limitless numbers of offices, people, boards, pay, pensions, perks, comms budgets consuming bazillions all just stopping things. What a lovely metaphor for the age.
And hence I propose the next, and ultimate of them all: BAN - Ban All Now!
'Did I know about the energy savings grants?,' she asked. I had to say I knew of some, but not this one.
And hence I was seduced into a process, culminating in a visit from a surveyor, which resulted in... zippy. Because the house was old, and complex...and.. and, I did not qualify.
Despite this, I was still fairly onside, as it seemed a commitment of funds in areas I can endorse, namely proactive doing.
But now, thanks to a twitter link, I am looking at this (read the comments for a reality check the Brain-strains behind this one will never have):
Ban sales of poorly insulated homes, says Energy Saving Trust
And hence I am thinking not so much of a bonfire of the quangos, as promised, but a Hydra of them. Limitless numbers of offices, people, boards, pay, pensions, perks, comms budgets consuming bazillions all just stopping things. What a lovely metaphor for the age.
And hence I propose the next, and ultimate of them all: BAN - Ban All Now!
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
CATEGORY - RESEARCH
There comes a time when you knowing it is great is not enough.
And your Mum agreeing ain't always the best way forward either.
ARTICLES
via RE:tie -
And your Mum agreeing ain't always the best way forward either.
ARTICLES
via RE:tie -
CHARITY
Charity is good. Charities are... mostly. But some are more than others.
Stay informed.
charitynavigator.org
fakecharities.org -
intelligentgiving.com
ARTICLES
Telegraph - Charities want a bail-out: they shouldn't get a penny - brutal, but does raise issues about what constitutes a 'charity'. A lot do seem almost like quangos, being little more than funded mouthpieces for government policy. And, like 'not for profits', I do often look at the calibre of the senior 'management' and wonder at the remuneration.
greenusesforwaste - NEW - Interview With a Charity Shop Worker - when you do engage, it's worth knowing, from the horse's mouth, what works best.
CHARITIES
There are good ones. I'll need to start listing those I rate... or get told of.
Stay informed.
charitynavigator.org
fakecharities.org -
intelligentgiving.com
ARTICLES
Telegraph - Charities want a bail-out: they shouldn't get a penny - brutal, but does raise issues about what constitutes a 'charity'. A lot do seem almost like quangos, being little more than funded mouthpieces for government policy. And, like 'not for profits', I do often look at the calibre of the senior 'management' and wonder at the remuneration.
greenusesforwaste - NEW - Interview With a Charity Shop Worker - when you do engage, it's worth knowing, from the horse's mouth, what works best.
CHARITIES
There are good ones. I'll need to start listing those I rate... or get told of.
CATEGORY - Composting
It is important to note that this cannot be divorced from other options, such as Food Waste Disposal which, as you'll gather can be a rather heated debate.
However, as one currently on his 3rd council composter (big rural garden), wherever I lay my scraps, that's my loam.
Articles
Guardian - Bin it! - A view. This, however, is not the best motivational kick off, IMHO: 'Do you still chuck out your kitchen scraps? Shame on you.'
Guardian - Emptying organic rubbish can damage health, say doctors - I share because it is relevant and a new part of the topic debate, but it is littered with a load of 'coulds' and 'some says', and had no real conclusions or counter explanations, so read in that context. It all comes across a tad 'scare story' to me.
Guardian - Compost organic waste - No mention of the piece above, oddly. Must be another department.
Beverage Daily - Green packaging still facing barriers to growth - Interesting to note the realities of some eco-alternatives being touted
Indy - Man died after inhaling spores of garden fungus - OK, I have noted and rather cranked an eyebrow at this before. Now it seems worth taking a bit more seriously.
Guardian - Man dies after inhaling fungal spores from garden compost
My Zero Waste - Is cornstarch plastic packaging (PLA) compostable or recyclable? - A worthwhile investigative journey by a fellow blogger. I have added a few comments of my own, resisting the temptation to opine that M&S's mighty PR/CSR team seems less than savvy and good mainly for trotting out soundbites.
I still concern myself with what these things end up as. Dredging up my old science, ‘matter cannot be created or destroyed’, so you have to end up with something. The question is what… and where.
In a worst case (IMHO) you end up with a plastic soup, that may not choke a turtle but still doesn’t sound great in the water table. And I have to ponder what gasses are given off during the process too; I doubt they are always benign, GHG-wise.
I’ll have to revisit my little investigation a few years back at the time of the plastic bag bans.
Frankly reuse is optimal, but I would say that, and concede it is not always practical (though I am pondering how bulk schemes may work for certain products, and indeed one is being trialled by ASDA).
Which brings us back to effective recycling. Trouble is, that means sensible coordination and cooperation between manufacturers, retailers, LGAs and… the public. Not working out so well so far.
If we are to have these breakdown-style products ‘in the mix’ they do need to be separated and delivered to appropriate processing facilities… just as one should any other recyclate. However, the plethora of options countrywide, from pack types to disposal systems, coupled with all the competing label systems, does not seem designed to encourage an already less than motivated public to act in complement.
I am having a rather unique ‘problem’ with my waste plastics, which I retain to find uses for, in that some I have stored are indeed breaking down, which makes them useless to me. Hence I am having to train up on the various labelling options to split them out. Frankly, embossed black on black doesn’t help this much, especially as at my age my eyesight is no longer what it used to be.
Also worth noting this one in complement to my own : Biodegradable plastic bags carry more ecological harm than good
plasticsnews - European Bioplastics distances itself from oxo-degradables
planetgreen - 75 Things You Can Compost, But Thought You Couldn't - Well if this doesn't deserve a slot here, I don't know what does. Just... verify first!
Information
The European Bioplastics position paper on oxo-biogradable plastics
Greenusesforwaste - NEW - Can Used Cooking Oil be Put into Garden Compost?
Suppliers
However, as one currently on his 3rd council composter (big rural garden), wherever I lay my scraps, that's my loam.
Articles
Guardian - Bin it! - A view. This, however, is not the best motivational kick off, IMHO: 'Do you still chuck out your kitchen scraps? Shame on you.'
Guardian - Emptying organic rubbish can damage health, say doctors - I share because it is relevant and a new part of the topic debate, but it is littered with a load of 'coulds' and 'some says', and had no real conclusions or counter explanations, so read in that context. It all comes across a tad 'scare story' to me.
Guardian - Compost organic waste - No mention of the piece above, oddly. Must be another department.
Beverage Daily - Green packaging still facing barriers to growth - Interesting to note the realities of some eco-alternatives being touted
Indy - Man died after inhaling spores of garden fungus - OK, I have noted and rather cranked an eyebrow at this before. Now it seems worth taking a bit more seriously.
Guardian - Man dies after inhaling fungal spores from garden compost
My Zero Waste - Is cornstarch plastic packaging (PLA) compostable or recyclable? - A worthwhile investigative journey by a fellow blogger. I have added a few comments of my own, resisting the temptation to opine that M&S's mighty PR/CSR team seems less than savvy and good mainly for trotting out soundbites.
I still concern myself with what these things end up as. Dredging up my old science, ‘matter cannot be created or destroyed’, so you have to end up with something. The question is what… and where.
In a worst case (IMHO) you end up with a plastic soup, that may not choke a turtle but still doesn’t sound great in the water table. And I have to ponder what gasses are given off during the process too; I doubt they are always benign, GHG-wise.
I’ll have to revisit my little investigation a few years back at the time of the plastic bag bans.
Frankly reuse is optimal, but I would say that, and concede it is not always practical (though I am pondering how bulk schemes may work for certain products, and indeed one is being trialled by ASDA).
Which brings us back to effective recycling. Trouble is, that means sensible coordination and cooperation between manufacturers, retailers, LGAs and… the public. Not working out so well so far.
If we are to have these breakdown-style products ‘in the mix’ they do need to be separated and delivered to appropriate processing facilities… just as one should any other recyclate. However, the plethora of options countrywide, from pack types to disposal systems, coupled with all the competing label systems, does not seem designed to encourage an already less than motivated public to act in complement.
I am having a rather unique ‘problem’ with my waste plastics, which I retain to find uses for, in that some I have stored are indeed breaking down, which makes them useless to me. Hence I am having to train up on the various labelling options to split them out. Frankly, embossed black on black doesn’t help this much, especially as at my age my eyesight is no longer what it used to be.
Also worth noting this one in complement to my own : Biodegradable plastic bags carry more ecological harm than good
plasticsnews - European Bioplastics distances itself from oxo-degradables
planetgreen - 75 Things You Can Compost, But Thought You Couldn't - Well if this doesn't deserve a slot here, I don't know what does. Just... verify first!
Information
The European Bioplastics position paper on oxo-biogradable plastics
Greenusesforwaste - NEW - Can Used Cooking Oil be Put into Garden Compost?
Suppliers
It's alive, I tell you... ALIVE!
Just opened the post and... ta-da!... fresh from the Junkk studio the latest RE:tie prototype from those lovely folk at JIIC. No, it's not quite a work of art ready to grace your love's finger, but they do lots of other nifty stuff too!
I have a good feeling about this one. Thanks to British Library Inventor in Residence & mentor Mark Sheahan of Squeezeopen it addresses some moulding issues at manufacture, and I think there is definite potential for getting support from the greater accessibility support market.
Seeing it 'in the flesh' and using it with my big paws, I now realise it could be even smaller and still work, hence saving plastic. And the slot could be narrower for a tighter sideways fit on the tie as it pulls through, but then again we could use some 'give' and more hole means less plastic.
Certainly some shavings for savings yet. But now it is time to look at a short run in the actual material. Anyone know of a moulder who does not demand first born but might accept pints of blood?
CATEGORY - Green Q&A sites/sources
Another day, another ever-evolving list 9as found, or told about), kicking off with:
GENERAL (with specific categories often)
Junkk.com - Answers - actually a bit optimistically definitive that heading. But we'll give it a heck of a stab, mind. And if we're stumped, we might know a green-whizz who knows. Failing which, we have the whole Junkketeer community. And then... Google?
Grist - Ask Umbra
The Guardian - Ask Leo & Lucy -
The Times - Environment/Green and confused - Send you [sorry, I just had to leave that in] eco-dilemmas to greenandconfused@thetimes.co.uk
SPECIFICS
Waste
Greenusesforwaste - does what they say on the URL
GENERAL (with specific categories often)
Junkk.com - Answers - actually a bit optimistically definitive that heading. But we'll give it a heck of a stab, mind. And if we're stumped, we might know a green-whizz who knows. Failing which, we have the whole Junkketeer community. And then... Google?
Grist - Ask Umbra
The Guardian - Ask Leo & Lucy -
The Times - Environment/Green and confused - Send you [sorry, I just had to leave that in] eco-dilemmas to greenandconfused@thetimes.co.uk
SPECIFICS
Waste
Greenusesforwaste - does what they say on the URL
'Could' news
Green failures 'may hit taxpayer'
Now, there's a thing.
I am always intrigued, in matters fiscal, who constitutes the benefactor and beneficiary when it comes to 'government' largesse vs. taxpayer funding/penalty.
Nothing like a target to obscure real, tangible, and probably actually worthy aims.
Anticipate a flurry of half-baked box-ticking initiatives to extricate bonus-addicts from holes soon.
Addendum - Asian giants put the West’s targets for solar energy in the shade - 'East is East and West is West, stick it where the sun don't shine, 'cos we have the best'. Next... NZ challenges Saudi on Hydro, Chicago challenges my back yard on wind. I think this is how international 'negotiations' go, right. I feel a bit sorry for Lapland if they are in the 'West' (it's a biggish expanse), at least for half the year.
Now, there's a thing.
I am always intrigued, in matters fiscal, who constitutes the benefactor and beneficiary when it comes to 'government' largesse vs. taxpayer funding/penalty.
Nothing like a target to obscure real, tangible, and probably actually worthy aims.
Anticipate a flurry of half-baked box-ticking initiatives to extricate bonus-addicts from holes soon.
Addendum - Asian giants put the West’s targets for solar energy in the shade - 'East is East and West is West, stick it where the sun don't shine, 'cos we have the best'. Next... NZ challenges Saudi on Hydro, Chicago challenges my back yard on wind. I think this is how international 'negotiations' go, right. I feel a bit sorry for Lapland if they are in the 'West' (it's a biggish expanse), at least for half the year.
PING, and, with luck, no pong
Taking e-life into hands here. 3rd (and last) test of social posting networking service http://ping.fm. Now my blog, having tried character limited outlets such as twitter and LinkedIn. Let's also see what it does with a long URL:
http://ping.fm/03qUd
If this all works, I am impressed!
Currently, twitter has worked; LinkedIN MIA, though I may be looking in the wrong places.
There is also a danger of overlaps, so sorry for any duplicates until I suss out the default settings.
ADDENDUM
Looks promising, and a definite time saver.
I do not that, of course, you do not get a Title added ( I have now done so, manually), or any Labels (ditto). Easy to follow up.
I think I'll let it simmer awhile on the few tests (Blog, twitter & LinkedIn) to see what happens over the net 24hrs by way of duplicates as the automated aggregators do their thing.
Newsnight - Send your questions for the Twitter CEO -
How on earth do I manage all the deluge of tweets I get now I am, often as a courtesy, following those who follow me in addition to he just plain worthwhile? I see Yoko Ono manages. Do she have a horde of 'people', cloning tech, a time machine... or is just a very polite, awesomely multitasking lady who needs no sleep?
At the very least how can you go through and zap all the 'Good morning's, just brushed my teeth..' to retain in archive just he nifty ones with useful info/links?
Those latter I am finding very useful.
http://ping.fm/03qUd
If this all works, I am impressed!
Currently, twitter has worked; LinkedIN MIA, though I may be looking in the wrong places.
There is also a danger of overlaps, so sorry for any duplicates until I suss out the default settings.
ADDENDUM
Looks promising, and a definite time saver.
I do not that, of course, you do not get a Title added ( I have now done so, manually), or any Labels (ditto). Easy to follow up.
I think I'll let it simmer awhile on the few tests (Blog, twitter & LinkedIn) to see what happens over the net 24hrs by way of duplicates as the automated aggregators do their thing.
Newsnight - Send your questions for the Twitter CEO -
How on earth do I manage all the deluge of tweets I get now I am, often as a courtesy, following those who follow me in addition to he just plain worthwhile? I see Yoko Ono manages. Do she have a horde of 'people', cloning tech, a time machine... or is just a very polite, awesomely multitasking lady who needs no sleep?
At the very least how can you go through and zap all the 'Good morning's, just brushed my teeth..' to retain in archive just he nifty ones with useful info/links?
Those latter I am finding very useful.
CATEGORY - ENERGY
I have a feeling I have duplicated, but will doubtless one day amalgamate if so.
ARTICLES
Telegraph - NEW - Cities at night from space - A picture paints 1,000 words. Here's 21,000. Hard to see how these lights will be removed, or dimmed. The only chance is to make them more efficient and powered in a less polluting manner. Oh, and maybe try and avoid installing more. Fat chance. Pretty, mind.
WOOD
Indy - The Home Ecologist
INFORMATION
Carbon Trust publishes views on Green Tariffs
ARTICLES
Telegraph - NEW - Cities at night from space - A picture paints 1,000 words. Here's 21,000. Hard to see how these lights will be removed, or dimmed. The only chance is to make them more efficient and powered in a less polluting manner. Oh, and maybe try and avoid installing more. Fat chance. Pretty, mind.
WOOD
Indy - The Home Ecologist
INFORMATION
Carbon Trust publishes views on Green Tariffs
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
I don't normally applaud long downloading sites, but...
As sent by my Singapore Aunty:
HEMA is a Dutch department store, similar to IKEA.
Take a look at HEMA's product page. You can't order anything and it's in Dutch, but just wait a couple of seconds and watch what happens. Don’t click on any of the items in the picture, just wait, be patient and see what happens.
This company has a sense of humour and a great computer programmer.
Indeed, and thanks to this viral I watched all the way through.
I really must concoct something for Junkk.com in a similar vein.
HEMA is a Dutch department store, similar to IKEA.
Take a look at HEMA's product page. You can't order anything and it's in Dutch, but just wait a couple of seconds and watch what happens. Don’t click on any of the items in the picture, just wait, be patient and see what happens.
This company has a sense of humour and a great computer programmer.
Indeed, and thanks to this viral I watched all the way through.
I really must concoct something for Junkk.com in a similar vein.
EVENT - CM - Eco Innovate 09
EVENT
WHEN: October 21st 2009
WHAT: Eco Innovate 09, Towerlands Park, Essex
WHAT... MORE?: From blurb - Business-to-business event promoting the use of innovative, environmental solutions. Will showcase products and services that can help businesses become more resource efficient, sustainable and ultimately more profitable.
HOW MUCH: Delegate Ticket
£55 (earlybird until August 28th)
URL: http://www.ecoinnovate.co.uk/index.php
COMMENTS: Possibly a bit for, pricey and B2B for us, but then again....
WHEN: October 21st 2009
WHAT: Eco Innovate 09, Towerlands Park, Essex
WHAT... MORE?: From blurb - Business-to-business event promoting the use of innovative, environmental solutions. Will showcase products and services that can help businesses become more resource efficient, sustainable and ultimately more profitable.
HOW MUCH: Delegate Ticket
£55 (earlybird until August 28th)
URL: http://www.ecoinnovate.co.uk/index.php
COMMENTS: Possibly a bit for, pricey and B2B for us, but then again....
IRONY ALERT - The latest cycling innovation - power assist!
The purr of electronic gears sounds great - if you can get past the price
I am presuming (tried and failed to check via the site, which has to be one of the most indulgent, useless, time-consuming examples I have seen in a while) that these little servos use 'leccy, which is kind of quaint, above the weight, all things considered.
However, as one who can rarely access the highest a lowest gears thanks to poor spanner-technique, and has spent more than his fair time trying to get chain oil off his hands in one's posh frock at a Central London kerbside for much the same reason, I am intrigued as to whether the changing mechanism is different, and better, and if so why a human-powered/instigated version might not be created.
Money and image issues noted.
I am presuming (tried and failed to check via the site, which has to be one of the most indulgent, useless, time-consuming examples I have seen in a while) that these little servos use 'leccy, which is kind of quaint, above the weight, all things considered.
However, as one who can rarely access the highest a lowest gears thanks to poor spanner-technique, and has spent more than his fair time trying to get chain oil off his hands in one's posh frock at a Central London kerbside for much the same reason, I am intrigued as to whether the changing mechanism is different, and better, and if so why a human-powered/instigated version might not be created.
Money and image issues noted.
Recognising the role of the cock-up
A few summers ago, my family attended the Big Green Gathering.
We had a hoot. And yes, despite it heaving down. Again. In 'summer'.
So I was sad to read of its demise.
However, the back story rumbles.
Is the Big Green Gathering another victim of the crackdown on dissent?
A Monbiot piece is rarely worth commenting in (on is different:) as things get polarised very quickly (I see a 'you're a racist' got in pretty quickly), but there are some facts in there.
And by my assessment, I am erring on cock-up rather than anything else.
Which is a pity, as it was no harm at all, pretty fun, and possibly a fair bit of good.
Which is more than I can say for stirring up notions of establishment crackdowns when parties you like fall foul of legislative impositions, especially those often brought in my your mates to support parties you do.
All I will say is that when I read: 'Is it paranoia, or are they really out to get us? Most of the time it's paranoia. Every week I'm approached by people whispering about vapour trails from planes being used to control our minds, free energy devices suppressed by oil companies or missile attacks on the twin towers' at the very least it explains a fair bit. One just has to hop the author is cluey enough to at least chat with others before coming to conclusions based on whispers in his ear form the comfort zone.
We had a hoot. And yes, despite it heaving down. Again. In 'summer'.
So I was sad to read of its demise.
However, the back story rumbles.
Is the Big Green Gathering another victim of the crackdown on dissent?
A Monbiot piece is rarely worth commenting in (on is different:) as things get polarised very quickly (I see a 'you're a racist' got in pretty quickly), but there are some facts in there.
And by my assessment, I am erring on cock-up rather than anything else.
Which is a pity, as it was no harm at all, pretty fun, and possibly a fair bit of good.
Which is more than I can say for stirring up notions of establishment crackdowns when parties you like fall foul of legislative impositions, especially those often brought in my your mates to support parties you do.
All I will say is that when I read: 'Is it paranoia, or are they really out to get us? Most of the time it's paranoia. Every week I'm approached by people whispering about vapour trails from planes being used to control our minds, free energy devices suppressed by oil companies or missile attacks on the twin towers' at the very least it explains a fair bit. One just has to hop the author is cluey enough to at least chat with others before coming to conclusions based on whispers in his ear form the comfort zone.
CASH FOR CLUNKERS. The cars, not the concept?
An interesting follow up on 'scrappage'
Cash for clunkers, signs of life
Especially in the comments. I empathised with this one.
Cash for clunkers, signs of life
Especially in the comments. I empathised with this one.
POOOiNTS to ponder
Polluted Olympics
I share this merely as a prompt to ponder various issues, from 'The Two E's - Economy vs. Environment' to enviROI, especially with things that may be billed as 'green', and even more so at a point in time that may not reflect the totality of impacts.
SIR – Your report (July 31) on the air quality around the Stratford Olympic site paints a stark picture of athletes breathing polluted air, but the residents are already doing so, and there is a solution – now.
The Rail Freight Group has calculated that 800,000 truck movements could be saved in the area if rail freight were used for deliveries of steel, precast concrete and prefabricated building elements, all of which were transported by rail for the construction of Heathrow Terminal 5. Rail could also be used for the removal of contaminated waste.
The rail facilities on the Olympic site are hardly used. The Olympic Delivery Authority could require contractors to use rail, but relies instead on the media swallowing their green hype rather than confronting the facts that, unless they take urgent action, this will be the most polluted Olympics in history.
Lord Berkeley
Chairman, Rail Freight Group
London WC1
Tricky one. There can be little doubt that in terms of emissions, the mere creation of and consequences of this event cannot in any way be viewed as making the world 'greener'.
I share this merely as a prompt to ponder various issues, from 'The Two E's - Economy vs. Environment' to enviROI, especially with things that may be billed as 'green', and even more so at a point in time that may not reflect the totality of impacts.
SIR – Your report (July 31) on the air quality around the Stratford Olympic site paints a stark picture of athletes breathing polluted air, but the residents are already doing so, and there is a solution – now.
The Rail Freight Group has calculated that 800,000 truck movements could be saved in the area if rail freight were used for deliveries of steel, precast concrete and prefabricated building elements, all of which were transported by rail for the construction of Heathrow Terminal 5. Rail could also be used for the removal of contaminated waste.
The rail facilities on the Olympic site are hardly used. The Olympic Delivery Authority could require contractors to use rail, but relies instead on the media swallowing their green hype rather than confronting the facts that, unless they take urgent action, this will be the most polluted Olympics in history.
Lord Berkeley
Chairman, Rail Freight Group
London WC1
Tricky one. There can be little doubt that in terms of emissions, the mere creation of and consequences of this event cannot in any way be viewed as making the world 'greener'.
CATEGORY - Funding
Already a lot on blog in this area. Time to pull it together.
Articles
Guardian - Activists slam changes to green grants - Isn't a BERR an irritating thing that sticks to you to spread everywhere? The enviROI of the investment into the department vs. the benefit out would seem... less than optimal.
ps: sub-editors: I don't really feel that I am an activist, nor to I 'slam'. I am a concerned consumer and informed advocate of sensible enviro-practices. Stop waving silly, stirring sentences about!
BBC - Anger over climate change loans - Bit O/T, but I had nowhere else to stick it. Makes you wonder about the value of some paper things get printed on these days.
Grants
The 2008 CIP Eco-Innovation Call has been published - your chance to apply for funding for your eco-innovative pilot and market replication projects this year.
government-grants.co.uk - NEW - plus twitter
Resources
innocentive - have an invention? They may have the money. RE:tie ho!
raisecapital.com - but still, caution all round! Lock down your IP.
Resource Efficiency
Articles
Guardian - Activists slam changes to green grants - Isn't a BERR an irritating thing that sticks to you to spread everywhere? The enviROI of the investment into the department vs. the benefit out would seem... less than optimal.
ps: sub-editors: I don't really feel that I am an activist, nor to I 'slam'. I am a concerned consumer and informed advocate of sensible enviro-practices. Stop waving silly, stirring sentences about!
BBC - Anger over climate change loans - Bit O/T, but I had nowhere else to stick it. Makes you wonder about the value of some paper things get printed on these days.
Grants
The 2008 CIP Eco-Innovation Call has been published - your chance to apply for funding for your eco-innovative pilot and market replication projects this year.
government-grants.co.uk - NEW - plus twitter
Resources
innocentive - have an invention? They may have the money. RE:tie ho!
raisecapital.com - but still, caution all round! Lock down your IP.
Resource Efficiency
Monday, August 03, 2009
CATEGORY - ACRONYMS EXPLAINED
Bit of catching up on the archive required one day.
Addendum: Also decided to add new words/terms as they come up.
AWARENAFF - I have got to the point that if too many more people get on this bandwagon, travlling here and there to show us the damage we're doing... travelling here and there... the end of the world my be more nigh than even they are trying to scare up. See also 'MESSAGE+MESSENGER'.
CoRMLESS - Could, Researchers May, Latest Enviromental Studies Show (or Scientists Say) - pretty much any headline in the MSM regarding climate issues that uses all sorts of one-off science, often by dubiously-qualified 'scientists', or researchers, to whack out a totally alarmist headline, but with the convenient get-out of it actually only being 'may', 'could', etc...
E&EO - Edited (for space and/or often rampant, redundant client-laden unnecessary verbiage) & Eyebrow-cranked (if I think some claims may be a tad over-egged:) Often.
DDAIDDAIS - Don't Do As I Do, Do As I Say - Basically hypocrisy by the establishment, usually political, media, celebrity or, worst of all, green finger-waggers, where there often seems to be a disconnect between what the public is told how to behave and how those doing the telling seem to manage, usually with the only... poor... excuse, of raising 'awareness'. See AWARENAFF.
enviROI - It stands for 'environmental ROI (Return On Investment)', and can be deemed positive or negative.
Essentially is a measure of some environmental product, service or initiative that is applied to try and get to the actual positive result claimed and/or tangibly, provably delivered/deliverable in terms of our kids' futures upon this planet.
It's not always simple, as no one here needs reminding, but with a bit of knowledge, a few pertinent questions and a well cranked eye-brow it is surprising how many PR guys can end up failing to convince. And already I am finding I am in danger of running into conflicting subsets, for instance such as between the immediate and superficially obvious 'good' of a plastic bag ban vs. the possible down sides that are now emerging, at least into the public domain. The spat between the Soil Association and Fairtrade over airmiles is another example. 'Ecology' now in some cases at odds with 'environment', sadly. And both with economy almost inevitably and always, even more so.
Simply put (and I do not intend to get into any debates about global warming, climate change and or the human race's part in it, or not) it tends to be based on what the ground to ground (dig it up, make it, ship it, sell it, use it, maintain it, dispose of it) consequence is in terms of emissions (carbon or otherwise) 'it' will impose. Will it add (bad), mitigate (better than nothing... usually) reduce or prevent any more (good, I hope, almost invariably). Much smarter folk paid a lot more are doing much more complex things with food miles/carbon footprints and all sorts at this very moment I know, but often I don't quite understand or trust them as they can often be rather selective in the parameters, and the provenance of the authors/supporters can also raise an eyebrow too.
It is related, but different to ROI, as it is perfectly possibly to have a good enviROI yet deliver no financial reward. So long as the costs and benefits are understood, and accepted, someone can choose to lose money but do better by the future.
That said, there is of course a lower limit, where one has to wonder if the money is being spent on something seemingly with a good enviROI when it could in fact be invested in something 'better'. This is less serious in the case of the individual, but can apply when deciding between systems, say solar vs. wind or ground heat. However, when one gets to national initiatives such as windfarms, the balance does need to be more carefully weighed. Hence while I am a huge supporter of the principle of renewables, and accept that they will impose extra costs (though not always.. a win-win!), I can remain to be convinced on the enviROI of some. Just because it is green...er, may not mean it's the most sensible choice, even to holding fire a wee while longer.
I seek not to impose this on anyone. I simply am guided by it and share as something to ponder in discussions and debates. As here.
examplist - A more favoured term for 'activist'
FATWa... 'First Against The Wall.. when the revolution comes!'
GOATs - Government Of All Talents - A self-describing description that one feels may be coming to haunt the nanny state that came up with it.
Inspirist - A more favoured term for 'activist'
IYANWUYAU - 'If You Are Not With Us...' - And sadly, I can mostly apply it to those who should be courting such as me, not driving us away by being incestuous, arrogant, know-all numpties.
hectorvists - Especially on social media. Folk who, once they have your email or @name, etc, seem to think a barrage of bans, days, etc will swing you to their way of thinking. Without enough doing in complement... it won't.
MESSAGE + MESSENGER - Simply put, I am off the view that often good messages can be neutered or indeed bigger issues badly compromised by various messengers (usually self-appointed, but there is a large and dishonourable roll call of pols in there) saying, or worse doing something that pretty much shows them to be false prophets. The danger of one small negative tainting many positives cannot be underestimated. I expect green campaigners to be consistent, honest and sincere. And, preferably, lead by example. See 'DDIDDAIS'. That said, I am not perfect, but then I do not claim to be. But I hope I can inspire by waht I do, and only critique when I feel others are leading the cause of sensible environmental practice astray.
Nagvocacy Groups - NEW - Those who are pushing a cause but erring too much on the nag, fine, guilt, scare aspects at the expense of more motivating methods.
NiWiYCGI - 'Niwikki' - 'Nice Work if You Can Get It'
ORFTARFU (one rule for them; another rule for us)
Polishing a Terminally Unpopular/Unpleasant Rationale, Reprobate or Device - Trying to paint a lost cause in glowing terms, despite all evidence to the contrary.
Ptoo! - Pull the other one!
RE:GOOD packaging... Reuse Executions: Great Opportunities Offered Designers
SOSO - Same Old, Same Old
TMTOTH (prn: 'Tumtoth") - Too Much Time On Their Hands
TOCOTA - Two Opposing Corners of the Apocalypse
VRP - Voltaire Revolution Power - The power that can be generated by hooking up M. Voltaire (he of 'I may not agree..' fame, probably) in his grave to a generator to harness the revolutions he turns when so-called libertarians get a tad irony-free in word and/or deed when it comes to others not agreeing with them.
WPD - WooPeeDoo - mainly for press releases or GO3 written diarrhea that tries to create a lot more out of something than it deserves.
Addendum: Also decided to add new words/terms as they come up.
AWARENAFF - I have got to the point that if too many more people get on this bandwagon, travlling here and there to show us the damage we're doing... travelling here and there... the end of the world my be more nigh than even they are trying to scare up. See also 'MESSAGE+MESSENGER'.
CoRMLESS - Could, Researchers May, Latest Enviromental Studies Show (or Scientists Say) - pretty much any headline in the MSM regarding climate issues that uses all sorts of one-off science, often by dubiously-qualified 'scientists', or researchers, to whack out a totally alarmist headline, but with the convenient get-out of it actually only being 'may', 'could', etc...
E&EO - Edited (for space and/or often rampant, redundant client-laden unnecessary verbiage) & Eyebrow-cranked (if I think some claims may be a tad over-egged:) Often.
DDAIDDAIS - Don't Do As I Do, Do As I Say - Basically hypocrisy by the establishment, usually political, media, celebrity or, worst of all, green finger-waggers, where there often seems to be a disconnect between what the public is told how to behave and how those doing the telling seem to manage, usually with the only... poor... excuse, of raising 'awareness'. See AWARENAFF.
enviROI - It stands for 'environmental ROI (Return On Investment)', and can be deemed positive or negative.
Essentially is a measure of some environmental product, service or initiative that is applied to try and get to the actual positive result claimed and/or tangibly, provably delivered/deliverable in terms of our kids' futures upon this planet.
It's not always simple, as no one here needs reminding, but with a bit of knowledge, a few pertinent questions and a well cranked eye-brow it is surprising how many PR guys can end up failing to convince. And already I am finding I am in danger of running into conflicting subsets, for instance such as between the immediate and superficially obvious 'good' of a plastic bag ban vs. the possible down sides that are now emerging, at least into the public domain. The spat between the Soil Association and Fairtrade over airmiles is another example. 'Ecology' now in some cases at odds with 'environment', sadly. And both with economy almost inevitably and always, even more so.
Simply put (and I do not intend to get into any debates about global warming, climate change and or the human race's part in it, or not) it tends to be based on what the ground to ground (dig it up, make it, ship it, sell it, use it, maintain it, dispose of it) consequence is in terms of emissions (carbon or otherwise) 'it' will impose. Will it add (bad), mitigate (better than nothing... usually) reduce or prevent any more (good, I hope, almost invariably). Much smarter folk paid a lot more are doing much more complex things with food miles/carbon footprints and all sorts at this very moment I know, but often I don't quite understand or trust them as they can often be rather selective in the parameters, and the provenance of the authors/supporters can also raise an eyebrow too.
It is related, but different to ROI, as it is perfectly possibly to have a good enviROI yet deliver no financial reward. So long as the costs and benefits are understood, and accepted, someone can choose to lose money but do better by the future.
That said, there is of course a lower limit, where one has to wonder if the money is being spent on something seemingly with a good enviROI when it could in fact be invested in something 'better'. This is less serious in the case of the individual, but can apply when deciding between systems, say solar vs. wind or ground heat. However, when one gets to national initiatives such as windfarms, the balance does need to be more carefully weighed. Hence while I am a huge supporter of the principle of renewables, and accept that they will impose extra costs (though not always.. a win-win!), I can remain to be convinced on the enviROI of some. Just because it is green...er, may not mean it's the most sensible choice, even to holding fire a wee while longer.
I seek not to impose this on anyone. I simply am guided by it and share as something to ponder in discussions and debates. As here.
examplist - A more favoured term for 'activist'
FATWa... 'First Against The Wall.. when the revolution comes!'
GOATs - Government Of All Talents - A self-describing description that one feels may be coming to haunt the nanny state that came up with it.
Inspirist - A more favoured term for 'activist'
IYANWUYAU - 'If You Are Not With Us...' - And sadly, I can mostly apply it to those who should be courting such as me, not driving us away by being incestuous, arrogant, know-all numpties.
hectorvists - Especially on social media. Folk who, once they have your email or @name, etc, seem to think a barrage of bans, days, etc will swing you to their way of thinking. Without enough doing in complement... it won't.
MESSAGE + MESSENGER - Simply put, I am off the view that often good messages can be neutered or indeed bigger issues badly compromised by various messengers (usually self-appointed, but there is a large and dishonourable roll call of pols in there) saying, or worse doing something that pretty much shows them to be false prophets. The danger of one small negative tainting many positives cannot be underestimated. I expect green campaigners to be consistent, honest and sincere. And, preferably, lead by example. See 'DDIDDAIS'. That said, I am not perfect, but then I do not claim to be. But I hope I can inspire by waht I do, and only critique when I feel others are leading the cause of sensible environmental practice astray.
Nagvocacy Groups - NEW - Those who are pushing a cause but erring too much on the nag, fine, guilt, scare aspects at the expense of more motivating methods.
NiWiYCGI - 'Niwikki' - 'Nice Work if You Can Get It'
ORFTARFU (one rule for them; another rule for us)
Polishing a Terminally Unpopular/Unpleasant Rationale, Reprobate or Device - Trying to paint a lost cause in glowing terms, despite all evidence to the contrary.
Ptoo! - Pull the other one!
RE:GOOD packaging... Reuse Executions: Great Opportunities Offered Designers
SOSO - Same Old, Same Old
TMTOTH (prn: 'Tumtoth") - Too Much Time On Their Hands
TOCOTA - Two Opposing Corners of the Apocalypse
VRP - Voltaire Revolution Power - The power that can be generated by hooking up M. Voltaire (he of 'I may not agree..' fame, probably) in his grave to a generator to harness the revolutions he turns when so-called libertarians get a tad irony-free in word and/or deed when it comes to others not agreeing with them.
WPD - WooPeeDoo - mainly for press releases or GO3 written diarrhea that tries to create a lot more out of something than it deserves.
Save planet.. and pocket. Pass it on.
Eco gadgets for the home
Caution: some are silly money, literally.
For instance, whilst stylish, at £99.95 for an energy monitor, right away in this household, it is easy to ignore. And it may be we get forced to install one by the 'leccy companies anyway soon.
As a user I'll endorse Bye Bye Standbye.*
There's also buying something new to 'save', though sometimes the ROI and enviROI numbers can work out.
* A tad dubious about the ad next to it, mind...
IRONY ALERT - Ways to save planet; with FREE plastic bag
Better yet, you get points if you stick it in your hemp jobbie at the checkout.I was tempted, but £1.99 just to find out what was within the wrapper was a step too far.
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