WOW! ZEDHomes (Zero Energy Developments) do exactly what they say on the tin. By combining innovative design with existing technology, ZED builds self-powered homes and offices that make zero demands on non-renewable energy. All the energy that is required for a ZEDHomes’ developments are met by on-site energy sources, which means they produce more energy than they use. Come on — that is spectacular. I’m also impressed that when they say carbon neutral, they don’t mean offsetting a couple of percent of their carbon footprint by some cheap wind farm stunt. This is real carbon neutrality.
You are stalking tag 'Carbon Neutral Living'
June 5th, 2007
ZEDHomes – 100% powered by renewables
May 30th, 2007
Solar4Schools launched in the UK
This week a new government initiative called Solar4Schools was launched. The Department of Trade and Industry have appointed Solarcentury to supply solar panels to public buildings, including schools, as part of their low carbon building programme. The DTI will fund…
May 30th, 2007
Solar4Schools launched in the UK
This week a new government initiative called Solar4Schools was launched. The Department of Trade and Industry have appointed Solarcentury to supply solar panels to public buildings, including schools, as part of their low carbon building programme. The DTI will fund…
May 28th, 2007
Ochai-de-carbon-neutral – Rufflets Hotel goes green
Apologies if Scots don’t really say this, but they really seem to be amazingly in touch with their environment. The five star Rufflets Country House http://www.rufflets.co.uk/index.html in St Andrews will be certified carbon neutral from the 1st of June. It’s apparently the first official carbon neutral hotel in Scotland. What’s fantastic about their carbon offsetting scheme is that the luxury hotel will invest in the reforestation of the Carrifran Valley in the Scottish Borders. I’m still a tad bemused why offsetting normally entails wind turbines in India when healing the same environment we are damaging seems to make more sense. The reforestation will offset 3000 tonnes a year in carbon emissions, and even though this is a small dent in the hotel’s yearly carbon footprint, they’ve got the right idea. However, what is more innovative about this hotel is that they will harvest rainwater for use in all their loos, as well as for onsite laundry and irrigation for the surrounding garden.
May 25th, 2007
Renewable energy boom for UK farmers?
This week UK farmer’s role in the production of renewable energy was given a high profile boost with the release of an ‘Energy White Paper’, which has been hailed as the most fundamental review of the UK’s energy policy yet. The document outlines how the government plan to deal with our future energy needs, and it highlights the crucial role our farmers will have in the production of bio-fuel crops and small-scale biomass heat and power production.
May 25th, 2007
Silly cow – Ben and Jerry’s battle against belching
Did you know that 99 per cent of methane released by cows is not from their backsides but from their belch-sides? Well, apparently Ben & Jerry’s do. The world famous ice-cream company is bending over backwards, not backsides, to curb their dairy cows’ emissions. They are calling it Battle Against the Belch and claiming to be the first climate neutral ice-cream. Whilst carbon dioxide is thought to be the biggest contributor to climate change, methane apparently has 23 times the warming potential of CO2. If you think this is all hot air and another company milking a cheap eco-stunt, Ben & Jerry’s is investing a minimum of €2.4 million across a five year period to become Climate Neutral.
May 21st, 2007
FA Cup final leaves a massive carbon footprint
The FA cup final at the new Wembley stadium is estimated to have left an environmental footprint 3,000 times the size of the pitch! Each fan travelling to the game and enjoying the culinary delights on offer would have a carbon footprint 10 times as large as the one they would have if they watched the game at home. Based on an analysis of the 2004 cup final by Dr Andrea Collins of Cardiff University, the environmental impact of such an event is massive. The major factors are the fans’ transport requirements and the huge amounts of processed foods they consume.
The environmental problem with processed food is the fact that it is processed. The industrial process of making and distributing the food is causing the damage to the environment.
May 17th, 2007
Eco holidays in eco lodges
Now you have read about Ryanair’s free flight offer and turned away in disgust, you will need an idea for a more earth friendly holiday this summer. Obviously flying abroad is out of the question. Why not stay in Britain this summer? We are being promised a glorious summer this year. You could leave the car at home and take a train to the Yorkshire Dales and stay at one of Dales Holiday’s Eco lodges.
May 3rd, 2007
British asparagus…grab it while you can!
For those of us concerned about food miles, there’s good news this month as good old British asparagus is back on the menu. During May and June you can turn your back on South American incomers, and opt instead for home grown green goodness!
Packed full of nutrients, and not too mention the aphrodisiac qualities, it truly is a super food. If you are stuck thinking of new ways to cook it, check out the fabulous British Asparagus website. It has lots of recipe ideas, along with a map of local growers. Great stuff!
May 3rd, 2007
The low carbon diet — published today
Now I think this is all getting about too American, but carbon dieting is the new buzz-phrase, using our fiendish foe, the f-word, yes “fat” for those of you who can bare to say it, as an analogy for our western-style carbon guzzling culture. The Low Carbon Diet, published today by Short Books Ltd, helps you keep track of your lifestyle’s carbon output in kilograms, and includes a whole bunch of simple and easy ways to cut your carbon sins around the home.
