Take a closer look at stinging nettles

It might not seem like the most likely material for your next sofa, but stinging nettles are the latest new-starter in the fabric world. Designed by fabric manufacturer Camira in collaboration with DeMontfort University, STINGPlus is made from 75% organic wool and 25% stinging nettles. It's strong, sustainable and biodegradeable and has been called 'the most sustainable material ever'. Given that stinging nettles are also very easy to grow and require no pesticides or fertilisers, it certainly does seem to be pretty eco friendly. My only concern would be that the 'sting' has been removed before you sit on the material!

Lighten up!

You may have seen in the news over the last few weeks that the standard lightbulb as we knew it is no longer being stocked in stores in the UK. Some people are in uproar that they are having to change to low-energy bulbs - as if they dont want to save money on their energy bills...

Oliver has a good point: "I've just changed all my bulbs to CFLs [compact fluorescent lamps] and saved around four-fifths on my electricity bill. It really is quite staggering that so many people are still using Edison's light bulb which was invented in 1879. It's 130 years later and people are still using the same technology – that just doesn't happen in other areas of our home and lives." Can you imagine still keeping a horse and trap when all your freinds are driving the Prius?

When designers were trying to persuade people to the benifits of the low-energy bulbs they came up with stylish and innovative shades that are specifically designed for use with these bulbs. Here are a few examples:

Felt
Made from 100% wool, felt is naturally fire retardent, so an ideal material for lighting design. It is moulded into shape when wet and bound together. It can be moulded into some interesting shaps, and can be cut into as it doesn't fray. The delight shade is a great example of this. However, intense heat can mean the shade loses its shape and can get scorched, so is designed to be used with the low-energy lightbulbs that give off a minimal amout of heat. Most of the energy of the edison bulb goes into heat it gives off - not hugely efficient...

Recycled plastic
Polyproplene is a great material, can be made from 100% recycled plastic and also be recycled at the end of its life - a closed loop system. It is also bendy so can be shaped into great forms for unusual shades. Again, intense heat can affect the shape and performance of the plastic so needs to be used with low energy bulbs.

Paper

Previously a faux-pas because of the fire risk, you can get gorgeous printed shades in recycled paper and card that work perfectly with the low-energy bulbs.

The bulbs themselves have come on in leaps and bounds since they were first developed and now come in stylish shapes to complement your lighting design as well as being available in warmer shades rather than the previous cool white. Try them and see...

And I haven't even touched on the possibiliies of LED lighting...more on that soon...

More good wood

Space saving and an eco design delight? That'll be these gorgeous Pur Magin Chair; there's one chair when you're alone, and four for when you're with friends. A work of art in itself, the chair evolved from a need to be functional and space saving, but also to look good. The four chairs stack together like the layers of an onion (my imagery, I'm not sure it's quite the impression the designers wished to give!), but can all be used seperately when the occasion arises. In my eyes there is only one problem with the 'Magic' chair - it's only available in Canada!

Life in the treetops

Well I never...Treehouses, once the staple of childhood fun, have, quite literally, come up in the world! This week the Guardian uncovered it's ten best green treehouse designs, for the ultimate in stylish eco living in the treetops.

My favourite is this beautiful structure, the eco friendly Yellow Treehouse Restuarant in New Zealand. Perched half way up a 40m Redwood tree, the restaurant is, bizzarely, the result of a project by New Zealand Yellow Pages as all of the materials and services used were souced using the Yellow Pages. The ideal eco restaurant? It just might be. Although it might be advisable to lay off the wine; it's a long way down.

Health in a stylish glass

What were your new year resolutions? Do you even make any?

After the Christmas period of eating and drinking rich and delicious food (Thanks, Mother-in-law!) it is a common time to think about getting into shape. And the best way we know to get beautiful skin and feel energised is to drink lots of water.

Boris Johnson is obviously on our side as he is pushing the London on Tap campaign promoting tap water in London by creating a stylish drinking carafe for restaurants and venues throughout the capital to use when we order tap water. Not only does it taste great, but tap water is also cheaper and has a carbon footprint 300 times smaller that bottle water.

Did you know:

- London’s tap water is rated top in the UK, making it one of the best in the world? It consistently rates highly in taste tests, beating more expensive, bottled alternatives.

- London water is 500 times cheaper than bottled water, and is kinder to the environment, emitting 300 times less CO2 to process than bottled alternatives.

- Tap water is not only good for you, it’s good for London and kinder to the planet.

So here are your action points:

1. Be proud of your tap water, Londoners! Order tap water when eating out, instead of bottled. Do the taste test - and save yourself some pennies!

2. Let us know if you would like us to offer the London on Tap carafe on ecocentric.co.uk by leaving a comment below.

Hello 2009!

A new year, a new leaf. After a long Christmas break of over indulgence many people at this time of year start thinking about ways to change and improve their life. While the financial predictions for 2009 might not be too rosy, there are several things we can do to help our tightened purse strings, as well as the environment. Here's one tip to get you started...


Monitoring our electricity consumption is a key starting point to reducing our energy use and saving precious pennies. The Efergy energy meter, from EcoCentric, is a clever little piece of kit: you attatch the sensors your electric cable and can position the monitor wherever you want, or walk around with it. By transmitting real time information the Efergy shows you which appliances are using the most energy, and by storing your usage info over a period of up to two years, you can chart your progress in reducing your electricity consumption. Genius!