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...

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!

Eco home on tonight's Dream Homes

Have you been following Oliver's trip round Britain with Dream Homes? Catch another episode with an eco focus tonight on the Discovery Channel. you can wrap those last minute Chrsitmas gifts whilst getting inspiration for your eco home...

Isle of Skye:
Architect Mary Arnold-Forster has bought one of the most spectacular plots in Scotland for just £25,000. Oliver Heath follows Mary’s progress as she designs and builds a house to withstand storms in winter and midges in the summer, and struggles to get building materials to one of the remotest parts of the British Isles.

The ultimate green Christmas 'how-to'

I'm one of those people who (usually) refuses to think about Christmas until the first door of the (divine chocolate) advent calendar has been well and truly opened.

But I also know there are members of my family (Kate) who finished their Christmas shopping in September.

If you are somewhere in between you may be interested in the ultimate guide to having a green Chritsmas put together by the folks down at the Guardian.

Not just their top 10, but a whole alphabet full of ideas. Here are a few of the best:

A is for artificial trees - There is a whole debate about real or plastic trees...maybe even worth it's own blog post/debate...

C is for Candles - Paraffin candles are made from petroleum residue and are no good for your health or for the environment. Candles made from soy, beeswax or natural vegetable-based wax are more eco-friendly because they biodegrade and are smoke-free.

F is for food shopping - Buy local or buy less. Produce bought locally means you will be supporting small suppliers and the local community, while minimising your carbon footprint. Shop at a local farmers' market, or try growing some of your own vegetables where possible (a little bit late this year - though I attempting to grow lettuce on my window sill).

Remeber to take your own reusable bags and buy fruit & veg loose if possible to avoid excessive plastic usage.

L is for lights - Christmas tree lights left on for 10 hours a day over the 12 days of Christmas produce enough CO2 to inflate 12 balloons, so turn them off when they are not needed, and use low-energy LED fairy lights - you can get great half-price colour-changing ones here

Need more ideas? Read the rest of the article here
The guardian gift guide for 2008 will be out soon, so we'll post a link when it's up. In the mean time, check out these eco gift ideas

Oliver's quick tips for saving energy

These simple tips are great for those who don't have the cash to splash. In fact, rather than spending money on being a bit greener, these low-cost eco tips will actually save you money.

• Clean your windows regularly. Dirty ones are depressing, while clean ones let in more light.
• Position white or reflective surfaces, mirrors or light coloured tables near windows to bounce light around. It is amazingly effective.
• When boiling the kettle, only fill it with as much water as you need.
• Use a good quality washing powder and wash at a lower temperature such as 30°C; over a year it will save you an amazing amount of energy.
• Air dry your washing outside to cut out the use of your tumble drier.
• Switch to a green energy supplier who provides power from renewable sources. Simply request to change and they do the rest.
• Cook with the lids on pans.
• Thick blinds or curtains insulate the windows and stop heat loss; look for vintage ones at secondhand shops, markets or online.
• Fit silver foil covered boards (make or buy them) and fit them behind your radiators, they are amazingly effective at kicking heat forward.
• Only use the dishwasher or washing machine when it is full, or use an economy programme. However, modern A-rated appliances are now more efficient than cleaning by hand.
  

More energy saving ideas

Ok, so I promised you some more energy saving ideas following on from the tips from the Energy Saving Trust.

There are lots of simple ways to do save energy which don’t require such a big change or cash injection as a wind turbine or photo voltaics on the roof. Small changes around your home can make dramatic savings on your electricity bill, and help you to do your bit for the environment.


Installing an energy saving monitor will help you see where the biggest waste in your home is. It is really easy to put in and most have a seperate real time monitor so you can simply turn appliances on and off and immediately see the savings or wastage for each. There are a few out there, so have a look into which is best for you.



Did you know…when plugged in overnight, a charger keeps pumping your phone with energy, even when it is fully charged? Even when your phone isn’t attached, if it is plugged in, your charger uses electricity, increasing your bill prices by the minute!

The answer? Solar powered chargers. They use the power of the sun to charge your phone, saving you money off your electricity bills, and dont need bright sunshine, so work at any time of year. And you dont need to be near a plug to top up that battery. Which to get?

The Solio: James Bond gadget of the eco-world. This cool and brilliant solar powered charger uses three solar panels to harness the sun's natural energy. So versatile, the Solio universal charger can be used to power your i-pod, phone, digital camera, blackberry or other PDA's.


The Freeloader: A more compact version also comes with a wide range of phone and gadget tips, and at just £29.95 will make the ideas eco Christmas gift. The experts at SmartPlanet rated this top in their reviews of all the different solar chargers on the market.



We know to turn off lights as we leave a room, and to replace our standard bulbs with energy savers… but we can also go that step further, and reduce our carbon footprint even more by using LED lighting; with a lifespan over 50 times longer, using a fraction of the power of its energy hungry alternative, Light Emitting Diodes last up to 50,000 hours. This versatile technology can be used in all types of lighting from fairy lights to desk lamps.

Energy Saving Week

As if the incentive of saving money wasnt enough to have made us take notice before, the Energy Saving Trust have designated this week Energy Saving Week to encourage us to save energy for the health of the planet, and our wallets.

The aim of Energy Saving Week is simple: to help consumers learn how they can reduce their carbon footprint and show how significant savings can be made in money, energy and time by making a difference. The Energy Saving Trust understand that time and money is something most of us do not have an abundance of.

From 20th - 26th October there will be loads of events and information out there to remind us how easy it is to take small steps to massive effect - just think, if we all took just one of these small step, this would be multiplied thousands of times over to create a massive impact.

Energy Saving Week is the perfect opportunity to discover your Green/Life Balance. We're urging people to take time to make time to change their households' habits to help fight climate change. It doesn't take long to get things started...

Here are lots of things you can do in just ten minutes:

• Start eco-driving sometimes known as smarter driving: check your tyre pressure - under-inflated tyres are dangerous and can increase fuel consumption by up to 3%.


• Call to your local water company to request a cistern displacement device, such as a 'hippo' water saver. Alternatively, fill a plastic bottle with water.


• Contact your bank to tell them you'd like to receive your statements online. Other service providers, such as BT, also offer paper-less billing schemes.


• Mend that dripping tap washer, it could stop up to 5,500 litres of water wastage and, if you're on a water meter, it could save you over £18 a year.


• If you're looking to replace a household gadget or appliance, compare thousands of products and find the best Energy Saving Recommended option.


• Do a free home energy check to see how much money you can save on your annual fuel bill it could be up to £270 a year.

Enough to be getting on with?
We'll pop back with some more ideas later on in the week incase you are sat twiddling your thumbs...