| 2008 MPG Marathon - Winners |
This week a a number of eco driving teams have been taking part in the 2008 MPG Marathon - a competition to find who can use least fuel over a 411 mile course. The MPG marathon challenges drivers to improve upon the published “combined cycle” fuel consumption figures for their vehicles. 
Tom Symonds from the BBC has been taking part in the MPG Marathon travelling with the AA’s entry (AA’s president Edmund King), but theirs 73 mpg was not good enough to win. This two day Eco Driving mile race ended with first place going to the Toyota Yaris 1.4 diesel at 84.66 mpg and second place to to the Mazda 2 1.4 diesel at 84.58 mpg.
For Tom’ full story <click here>
October 10th, 2008 - Posted in Uncategorized | | 0 Comments
| What toxic skincare ingredients should I avoid? |
These days there are so many products out there which say they are good for you and help you make, look and feel younger, but what is actually in them. Therefore the question you ask are; Which toxic ingredients should you avoid? Should you buy Organic and Natural products instead?
When doing the weekly shop I all ways look at the the ingredients to see what is being added to the food we eat. After a period of time you naturally move over to buying Organic foods instead. I feel that this is the same for skincare products. At present many people buy products with out considering what is in them. We should all take a look.
Information provide by Smartplanet details what ingredients we should avoid. For example a bottle of shampoo might not seem particularly offensive on its own. But in the UK, 93 per cent of women use at least 20 different products every day, according to the Soil Association. Each of those products might contain ingredients that are relatively harmless, but their cumulative effect — also called ‘the chemical cocktail effect’ — is believed by some to be harmful, provoking a variety of illnesses from eczema to cancers, autism and dyslexia.
Susan Curtis at Neal’s Yard Remedies recommends buying natural and organic products to avoid toxic ingredients. It’s worth noting, however, that labels such as ‘organic’ and ‘natural’ are not legally enforced on beauty products.
Susan also advises taking a close look at the ingredients listing. A pocket book guide is one way to help navigate the lists, but don’t automatically despair if ingredients sound synthetic. “There are some chemical names that will occur even in natural and organic products,” says Susan. “For example, a shampoo will have a detergent and a moisturiser, cetearyl alcohol or stearic acid, which are common plant-based emulsifiers.”
Here are Susan’s ingredients to avoid:
1. Formaldehyde,
A known carcinogen
2. Dimethicones
Also anything that ends ‘-methicone’
3. Parabens
Preservatives known to be hormone destructors
4. Aluminium and antiperspirants
They can be absorbed by the body and can cause health problems
5. Talc
A mineral that’s easily absorbed in the body and has been linked to ovarian and prostate cancer
It’s worth remembering the first items on an ingredients list will comprise the bulk of the product, so if they have names that you don’t recognise, look them up on a database such as Skin Deep.
To read the full article at Smartplanet <click here>
October 9th, 2008 - Posted in Beauty, Nature, Organic, Shopping, Tips | | 0 Comments
| Green car roundup at Paris Motor Show 2008 |
The team at smartplanet have been to the Paris Motor Show to have a look to at the top green car debuts.
They have seen the eco cool Peugeot sports cars to the simple hydrogen Ford Ka’s.
Take a look they have even taken lots of pictures which is all ways good news.
If there is anything else which we see and we think you may like it do not worry we will post it.
October 6th, 2008 - Posted in Cars, Transport | | 0 Comments
| Become An Eco Trend Spotter Today |
The team at Eco Trend Spotter are looking for people who love searching the internet and the world for the latest eco gadget, green home idea, or ethical fashion item.
If you are one of these people then we woud love to hear from you. Please send your exciting findings to ideas@ecotrenspotter.com and we will have a look. If the team thinks you have found an Eco Trend spotter item then we revied and publish it on our blog.
To say thank you for all your effort we will give 250 MoreEco points to every item which is submitted and then published. MoreEco is a UK shopping reward site for Eco shopping. They search the internet for the best organic, green, environmental, and natural online retailers and negotiate with them a reward level which can be passed on to the moreeco members.
Once you have chosen your shop click through and then you are then on the retailer’s own site and will be dealing directly with them from that point.
Therefore if you have something to share please send an e-mail to ideas@ecotrendspotter.com
(To obtain your points you will need to have a MoreEco members account. Join today and receive 500 start up points)
October 5th, 2008 - Posted in Uncategorized | | 1 Comments
| Virgin Galactic to monitor climate change |
This sound crazy, but it is true, Mr Branson is trying to be more eco. In an unusual marriage between the pioneers of space tourism and scientists studying climate change, Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic has announced it is to team up with the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to help monitor levels of CO2 in the upper atmosphere.
Virgin Galactic has developed a passenger rocket called SpaceShipTwo that will take space tourists for short sub-orbital flights.
When SpaceShipTwo first takes off it rides piggy back to a height of about 15 kilometres on the back of a high-altitude plane called WhiteKnightTwo.
It is the WhiteKnightTwo aircraft that will be equipped with sensors and monitoring systems to measure greenhouse gas levels as the two craft fly through the atmosphere.
Tourist flights to space
A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “These flights are hardly green, but with no other civilian aircraft flying to these altitudes the ability to monitor greenhouse gases in this way is valuable.”
Greener travel
The ETA is a not-for-profit ethical organisation providing motorists and cyclists with carbon-neutral breakdown cover and insurance products. As well as encouraging responsible driving to reduce carbon, the ETA campaigns for sustainable transport.
October 4th, 2008 - Posted in Transport | | 0 Comments
| Guide To Winter Cycling |
Winter is coming and we have been told that this weekend the weather is going to be wet. We all know that cycling and an eco activity and therefore should not keep it as a summer fun activity. Each day my colleagues and I cycle to work and now winter in creeping in the thought does worry us.
To help us with these seasonal concerns our friends at New Consumer have written up a guide to winter cycling. Hopefully these will help you continue to use your bike over the coming months.
Start from the top
Having a cold head is one of the worst things about winter – especially if you cycle. Make sure you wrap up well with a special hat. If you want waterproof protection then think about getting a helmet cover. They protect you from the rain, and most are windproof with reflective strips for added visibility.
Keeping warm
The importance of a good baselayer when cycling in the winter is often underestimated. With temperatures reaching as low as -3c, coupled with strong wind-chills, a good quality baselayer will provide you with thermal protection from the elements. As they are usually stretchy, wearing one doesn’t restrict your movements and the majority of them have moisture wicking properties – as well as being anti-bacterial and odour resistant.
Keeping your fingers warm is almost as important as a baselayer. Most cycle-junkies know the value of a good set of gloves – without them your hands can go numb, ache like crazy and your fingers can freeze – making braking reaction slower.
Stay dry
Rain has to be the nemesis of the cyclist (well… rain and lorries). It’s just miserable. Overshoes are a good idea if you’re going to be cycling in the rain – they’ll keep your feet dry, your shoes protected AND they provide added grip, without restricting your movements.
Match those with a good set of waterproofs and you’ll be well-protected from the elements. It has to be said that when it comes to waterproofs you really get what you pay for, so it’s worth saving up a bit.
Waterproofs should protect you from the worst of the weather, but with rain comes mud. Mud guards are pretty essential if you’re going to be cycling through the winter.
Be seen
In the winter months the hours of daylight shorten dramatically. This means that if you cycle to work, you will no doubt leave home in darkness and arrive in the same way. Making yourself known to traffic is essential to your overall safety, so make sure you arm yourself with some sort of reflective clothing.
In the hours of darkness, good lights are essential. If you haven’t got a decent set yet, make sure you invest in some. It’s illegal to cycle without them, and good quality ones could save your life.
Well I hope that these hints will encourage you to main this eco activity. Take care.
To read the full article of this <click here>
If you do not have bike insurance and would like to purchase a policy <click here>.
October 3rd, 2008 - Posted in Cycling, Tips | | 0 Comments
| Parliament’s carbon emissions ‘among worst in UK’ |
I saw this article in the Telegraph on Thursday 2nd October and found it very interesting that the Government are making us improve our homes, but still need to get their house in order as well. They should practice what they prescribe.
About 18,000 public buildings are being tested for energy efficiency after a new law was passed dictating that their carbon dioxide emissions must be measured.
The measure ranks buildings’ efficiency on a scale where A is best and G is worst. Both the Palace of Westminster, which houses Parliament, and the Bank of England received a G. Between them, they use enough electricity and gas each year to emit 21,356 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
However it was not only older buildings that were found to be energy inefficient. Despite opening only six years ago, London’s City Hall received an E grade. City Hall was described by Foster & Partners, which designed it, as a “virtually non-polluting public building”.
It is now a legal requirement that every public building with an area greater than 1,000 square metres show a Display Energy Certificate (DEC) - similar to the colour-coded charts which come on refrigerators. The Government has promised to make all new public buildings have zero carbon emissions within ten years.
Emissions from Britain’s public buildings
(The grade reflects the building’s type and size, as well as its emissions)
- Houses of Parliament - G grade - 11,983 tonnes of carbon dioxide emitted each year
- Bank of England - G - 9,373
- Imperial War Museum London - G 3,664
- Imperial War Museum North - G - 1,396
- Natural History Museum - E - 10,026
- HM Treasury - E - 4,122
- City Hall, London - E - 2,255
- Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - E - 1,322
- 10 Downing Street - D - 675
- Job Centre Plus, Goole - B - 67
[Source: Display Energy Certificate]
To read the full article published at www.telegraph.co.uk <click here>
October 3rd, 2008 - Posted in Carbon Footprint, Government | | 0 Comments
| Green Maps |
Since moving its not-for-profit venture online in 1995, New York-based Green Map System has made online maps of sustainable initiatives accessible to keen greens everywhere. Its selection of hand-picked mapmakers in 50 countries are responsible for the site’s 450+ maps, facilitating global sustainability from a grassroots level. Ethical stores, green spaces and recycling sites are just some of the sites the maps help people discover.
The project’s impact will hit a whole new level with the introduction of Open Green Map: a community site that makes the project accessible to all, letting users add new locations as well as exploring the recommendations of others. Participants can bring entries to life with Flickr photos or YouTube videos to support their text descriptions.
The site has also boosted its usefulness with the development of applications for mobile devices.
Users can now upload content the moment they discover it, and log in to find the nearest fair-trade coffee shop or ethical fashion store whilst out and about.
The images we have attached have been taken from UK Green Map and shows A green Map of East Bristol.
For information <click here>
Website: www.opengreenmap.org
Contact: www.greenmap.org/greenhouse/en/contact
October 2nd, 2008 - Posted in Good Green Ideas, Tips | | 0 Comments
| Save Cash & Bulk Buy |
When it comes to the environment, it makes sense that bulk buying is a greener alternative to buying smaller quantities. There is less packaging involved than with traditional retail packaging.
When you buy a large amount of the same product, there is only a minimal amount of packaging involved. Your purse also sees the effects. For example, a 5 Kg bag of good potatoes costs £1.99 at our local Sainsbury’s, about 40p per kilo. But I can buy a 25Kg sack of the same variety for £2.99 at the market or farm shops; that’s only about 12p per kilo.
Other items which you can make substantial savings on are toilet rolls, cleaning products and laundry liquids. You can also join a bulk-buying group, where people band together to buy things at the price that retailers buy them at.
I have found that most of the Eco online retailers also offer bulk buy options on purchase and even sell the 5lt Ecover bottle saving even more on waste.
Click here to see which retailers offer bulk but products online.
October 1st, 2008 - Posted in Food, Shopping, Tips | | 0 Comments
| Mobile phones to track carbon footprint |
This is a great article we saw in the Guardian this week about keeping track of your carbon footprint could become as simple as slipping a mobile phone in your pocket: a London-based start-up company has developed software for mobile phones that uses global positioning satellites to work out automatically whether you are walking, driving or flying and then calculate your impact on the environment.
Carbon Diem’s inventors claim that, by using GPS to measure the speed and pattern of movement, their algorithm can identify the mode of transport being used. It can therefore calculate the amount of carbon dioxide that a journey has emitted into the atmosphere – without any need for input from the traveller.
The system’s inventor, Andreas Zachariah, a graduate student of the Royal College of Art in London and chief executive of the Carbon Hero company, said that Carbon Diem is the world’s first automated carbon calculator.
Because it keeps a constantly updated diary of a person’s carbon emissions, Zachariah said that a user can easily track their environmental impact and, if they choose, modify their behaviour to lower-carbon alternatives.
“We’re facilitating people to make little changes and allow those changes to be noted and registered and possibly shared,” he said. “If lots of people realise we’re in this marathon [in tackling climate change] and we’re not running alone, then we actually think people will be motivated to stick to changes.”
He has tested the software in Nokia and Blackberry phones, using computer algorithms to predict the kind of transport a person is taking. He claims that in tests over the past year, the software was almost 100% accurate in working out when people were on airplanes or trains; it was between 65-75% accurate at guessing when people travelled on buses.
To read the full article <click here>
September 30th, 2008 - Posted in Carbon Footprint, Eco Gadgets, Good Green Ideas | | 0 Comments
