Over the last hundred years, as the global population has rocketed, so has the rate of environmental devastation. Growth is slowing, but it's still growth: the UN's most likely projection is that today's near 8 billion will be 9.7bn by 2050, and 10.9bn by 2100. It just seems intuitive, then - if we've caused the … Continue reading Is the problem overpopulation?
Category: energy
Home batteries – hope or hype?
If you’ve got PV panels, the case for home battery storage seems obvious: bottle up all that free power generated during the day when you can’t use it, so it’s still available for when the sun goes down and you need it most. Batteries are often marketed as the perfect complement to PV, so much … Continue reading Home batteries – hope or hype?
Talking green energy in the home, with Times Radio
Hugo Rifkind, Times Radio, Saturdays 10am - 1pm Imagine my wife's delight when someone else actually volunteered to listen to me talking about green issues. She got half an hour off on a Saturday morning, and I got an interesting discussion with others far more qualified than me, ranging from the value of solar panels … Continue reading Talking green energy in the home, with Times Radio
What can I do to have the greatest impact?
Photo by Markus Spiske Let's not pretend we can save the planet by rejecting plastic straws or switching our detergent, or even off-setting a 'business as usual' approach. The truth is we've left it too late for any response but the most urgent and far-reaching, involving each and every one of us. 'We are now … Continue reading What can I do to have the greatest impact?
Solar panels – are they worth it?
Our 5.4kW array soaking up the sunshine I'm frequently asked whether I'd recommend PV panels, especially since the incentive of the Feed in Tariff (FiT) was lost in spring 2019. So after about sixteen months of living with ours, this seems a good time to offer a summary. I'll start by saying that, while I'm … Continue reading Solar panels – are they worth it?
Why offsetting isn’t the answer we think it is
Small steps... Offsetting via a reputable organisation is better than nothing, but mustn't impede real emissions REDUCTIONS.Be consistent: if you recognise the need to offset your flying, consider offsetting your other carbon-based activities as well, from driving to heating your home. That way the cost (and raised awareness) will only help encourage the necessary REDUCTIONS.Challenge … Continue reading Why offsetting isn’t the answer we think it is
Toilet paper – One small wipe for a man; one giant smack in the face for mankind?
Small steps... Check the virgin wood fibre content of your toilet paper, eg. via an FSC certification.Try one of the cheaper, more sustainable and more hygienic alternatives to paper, as used by the world's vast majority.If your butt insists on paper, go for a brand made from 100% recycled wood fibre. Photo by Fikri Rasyid … Continue reading Toilet paper – One small wipe for a man; one giant smack in the face for mankind?
Wood – carbon neutral fuel, or climate red herring?
One regular cause of friction in our house is the lighting. My wife would happily light up the entire house even when sitting in just one room, whereas I’m all for the easy wins when it comes to saving energy so walk around turning them off. After all our years together we’ve settled into a … Continue reading Wood – carbon neutral fuel, or climate red herring?
Why worry about saving energy on a green tariff?
Photo by Tim Foster As you'd expect from someone frantic enough to write a blog about the state of the climate and the mass extinction of life on earth, we're signed up to a 100% green electricity tariff. So we used to think that, as long as we could afford the bills, it didn't actually … Continue reading Why worry about saving energy on a green tariff?
But what about China?
Photo by Chuttersnap "The climate fight will be won or lost in countries like China and India, not here in the UK - we're a tiny fraction of the problem and already leading the world in our carbon reductions. So why risk our jobs and economy? Why limit our lives? Why disrupt our cities with … Continue reading But what about China?
Positively Green 