bemoreeco

This is the final part of my BemoreEco Winterproof guide so take comfort though in my credit crunching tips to help you winterise your home – protecting you and your investment. 

8. Make your own fuel out of Junk Mail and Newspapers

Try a log maker to make your own fuel. A logmaker enables you to recycle your waste paper into fuel. Logs will burn as well as wood for up to an hour at a controlled rate in a fire grate or woodburning stove. Help conserve forests, reduce landfill and save on heating costs by using newspaper, junk mail, shredded paper, cardboard, wood chippings, and wrapping paper as fuel.

9. Fix any faults and do repairs on you home

December is usually one of the wettest months of the year, so it pays to ensure that your property is in good condition, fixing any loose roof tiles or putting flood prevention measures in place, if appropriate. Clear any gutters or drains.

10. Think Gardens

After the first frost, spread a layer of mulch on flower beds to protect the plants during freeze-thaw cycles. Clean tools to prevent rust. Leave appropriate leftovers for the birds and provide a warm bed for the night for any resident wildlife with a habitat.

Oliver Heath is famous for transforming homes up and down the Country on Changing Rooms. Sara Hobbin chats to the award winning eco designer and presenter of Discovery TV’s Dream Homes.

So Oliver, where did your passion for design and eco chic come from? Who inspires you?

I grew up in Brighton playing every summer on the sea shore which gave me a passion for the sea. At 18 I became a windsurfing instructor and taught people how to respect nature in order to take care of them selves whilst at sea. These experiences and lessons added to 6 years at architecture school (Oxford Brookes and the Bartlett, University College,) combining my passions for the environment with those of the built environment. I became interested in the ideas of architecture and design that worked with nature rather than constantly struggled against it – and so the birth of Eco Chic.

I am inspired by a number of designers many of whom work with the recycling of materials and find ways of creating contemporary and beautiful products, such as Lisa Whatmore at Squint Ltd.

Why ‘go’ eco?

Eco at home means that you will be creating a space that costs you less to run as you’ll be using less resources, it will be a more comfortable place to live in, contain less toxins and have a smaller impact onto the environment. In my eyes everyone wins, so why wouldn’t you do it.

You have pioneered the phrase ‘urban eco chic’. What does it mean to you?

Urban eco chic is an aspirational style that combines the functionality that we need to reduce our footprint with the sense of style that we need in order to make it part of our lives. After all we are emotionally led beings, and good design can inspire, and raise the emotions – so we need to first fall in love with eco design – the practicalities of the style inherently make sense to all.

What are the principles of it and how can we achieve it in our homes?

There are 3 principles that need to be in balance to create the contemporary style that is as good to live with as it is for the environment – these are Technology, Nature and Vintage. Its a style that balances form and function so that homes are eco friendly, and express character and identity.

1.Technology
Technology is an exciting area that is constantly developing; becoming smaller, better, faster and importantly more efficient. Embracing all that technology has to offer will allow us to make our lives less wasteful, more efficient and to gather more of what occurs naturally around us – such as renewable energies from the sun, wind earth and sea.
Technology not only refers to high performing appliances but also to cutting edge materials, be they new low impact materials, natural or even recycled.
We must trust that developments in technology are key to helping us reduce our impact on the environment and to combat climate change.

2. Nature
Nature is an essential component to our lives and one we sometimes take for granted. It should be remembered that we are not master of nature but part of it.
 
Interaction with nature is a grounding force in our lives, it quite literally brings us back down to earth, and reminds us that we are still part of the natural world. Think about the vibrancy of the smell of freshly cut grass, the textural feel of the bark on a tree, the flicker of the flames in a log fire-  these all raise simple but sensual primeval emotional responses in us, that are essentially very comforting. Like us, natural materials often improve with age and use, developing a sense of character unique to themselves and their experience, adding individuality and a certain richness to any home.
The use of natural materials not only brings textural sensuality to the home, but also allows us to choose sustainable and naturally renewable materials – ones whose impacts onto the environments, if responsibly managed will have a reduced impact on the environment. Better for for, better for the planet…………. brilliant!
 
3. Vintage
The term vintage is an umbrella term that opens us up to the glamorous worlds of the antique, the ingenuity of reuse, and even the excitement of flea market finds. It’s about making the most of what we already have produced, and finding new ways of using them – offering a new lease of life for an item that someone else may well have thrown away. The pleasure of vintage is all about invention – putting a new spin on an existing object – be that through repositioning, framing, grouping or remaking.
 
But more than just finding new ways of using old things its about using the sense of style that the object posses, about borrowing from its past to dd to your own. In this way vintage items have the potential to add a touch of glamour to our lives, which is no bad thing. After all why shouldn’t we live like kings just because we respect the environment? Surely a good king (or queen) has a vested interest in protecting the lands they posses?
 
Vintage items also have a softening quality – all those knocks, scratches, wear and tear are something that can’t be simply reproduced, they have the effect of taking the harder edge off a contemporary interior. This patina of age speaks of an experience, and uniqueness that money just cant buy. In this age of mass production we yearn for objects that posses individuality, and character- aspects that in some way wear off onto us, expressing our own identities and curiosities.
 

These 3 corner stones of Eco Chic; Technology, Nature, and Vintage can be interpreted in a number of different ways and can help you solve style and functional dilemmas when trying to create your own eco home and lifestyle.

What is your best eco design tip?

Sustainable living is a holistic way of life – no single change will make a significant enough difference – or simply let you “off the hook”. Of every decision we make we should be asking if there is another realistic way that has a smaller impact on the environment.

Now you have a new baby girl in the family, can you provide me with 5 top eco-family tips?

• Cut down on toxins in your home – use natural paints that don’t contain toxins such as Volatile Organic Compunds – www.earthbornpaints.co.uk
• Lights do get left on – so switch to energy saving bulbs and save 4/5’s of your lighting bills
• Education is key so create a place to grow fruit and vegtables – understanding the care and attention that food needs is key to greater appreciation and awareness of our environment.
• Enjoy using smaller fragments of materials – the patchwork effect creates a more relaxed feel and if one bit gets ruined or broken it can simply be replaced – think complimentary patches of wall paper, mismatched vintage chairs around tables, patchwork quilts etc.
• A home that is well insulated and free from draughts is a more comfortable and warmer p[lace to live (it’ll also cost you less!)

What is your vision for an eco Britain?

One that has a greater community focus, pooling resources and materials, with affordable and efficient public transport systems, and whilst were at it, a realistic grant system that allows everyone to invest in renewable energy technologies and insulation for their homes.

What is your green new year’s resolution?

To carry out an environmental refurbishment of the 1960s detached house that I’ve just bought for me and the family – it’s a great blank canvas, a good size, but ugly so needs a little aesthetic remodeling too!

Oliver appears on Discovery TV’s Dream Homes

Urban Eco Chic by Oliver Heath, Published by Quadrille, £19.99

Make sure the only crunch you feel is the bite of your home-grown vegetables next year with our retailer’s large range of grow your own seeds, tools and accompaniments. You could save money, get fit, do your bit for the environment and be super-trendy all at once.

Check out Ecotopia’s Raised Seed Bed at £29.95.This is an easy and adaptable system for growing fresh produce in the smallest of gardens or large vegetable plots. Constructed from FSC certified cedar, the raised bed is naturally durable and resistant to rot and insect damage. The stackable design offers a multitude of layouts and deeper raised bed options to suit any area and desired produce. The varied height options also accommodate those who would prefer higher beds for greater ease. It features the unique “coppastoppa”, real copper strip which deters slugs and snails from damaging valuable growing produce.

Pack includes comprehensive colour HDRA Organic Vegetable growing and plant guide. There’s nothing like growing your own vegetables – as well as the satisfaction it gives, you have the peace of mind that they’re maximum quality, nutrient-packed, and chemical-free, with that “fresh-from-the-garden taste” at a fraction of the cost of the supermarket. Ecotopia’s carefully selected range of vegetable seeds at £1.85 will provide a bounty of tasty fresh produce all the year round. Choose from a whole range of vegetables including peppers, spinach, tomatoes, radish, rocket and carrots.

By composting your organic waste you are returning nutrients back into the soil in order for the cycle of life to continue and you can save money. Visit Ethical Superstore for a good range of composters. Try the Compost Machine at £44.95 which has been designed to optimise the composting process, providing a well-insulated environment with good ventilation. This ensures the rapid composting of domestic kitchen and garden waste.

The potting shed collection [FSC] at £19.95 from Nigel’s Eco Store contains a Paper Potter for making pots, a Dibblet for pricking out seedlings, an Oak Pot Tamper for firming the soil, a Dibber for creating the perfect space for your seedlings and garden lines to get the professional row!

Be well prepared for a gardening session with this useful plastic-backed jute waist-tying pocket at £8.00 from Simplyfair. With one flap compartment containing twine and five others, there’s plenty of room to have all your equipment within easy reach. 
Handmade by Bangladeshi women getting a fair deal.

Finally water the garden with this funky fair trade Recycled Tin Watering Can at £9.99 from Natural Collection. It’s made from misprinted tin cans, which have been ingeniously shaped to produce this collection of quirky homewares. Because each one is handmade, yours will be unique.

The first eco-friendly billboard is coming to Times Square, entirely powered by the sun and the wind — but there is one small catch.

“We think if that happens, it’s just fine,” said Ron Potesky, a senior marketing vice president for Ricoh Americas Corporation, the office equipment and document-storage supplier that owns the sign.

The billboard — traditionally called a “spectacular” on the Great White Way — weighs in at 35,000 pounds. It will be 55 feet off the ground at 3 Times Square, wrapping around the northwest corner of Seventh Avenue and 42nd Street.

Fitted with 16 wind turbines and 64 solar panels, the sign will be “a first for Times Square,” said Barry E. Winston, a Times Square billboard consultant not involved in the Ricoh project, who has been a sign expert for more than 50 years.

Wind turbines for the vast sign, which is 126 feet wide and 47 feet high, have arrived in a warehouse in Deer Park, N.Y., where preliminary testing is being done. Construction will begin this month, for a lighting ceremony on Dec. 4.

Full Article & Source:  New York Times Online

Photos: Marilynn K. Yee/The New York Times & Gigante Vaz Partners NYC

Last month we listed the nominations for Best Eco Gadget in The Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards. 

The awards, decided by the UK’s top technology and gadget journalists from online and print, let you the consumer know what the best camera, satnav, music gadget, laptop, software, video game, home cinema device, mobile phone, email device, and eco gadgets are. 

This year it was tougher than ever with the nominations drawn from over 600 products released in the last year with the usual suspects not even getting a look in on some of the categories. 

So who was the winner of the Best Eco Gadget catagory. We can confirm it was Pure for its move to more friendly green practices and packaging. The runner up was Roberts solarDAB radio. Both of these products were spotted by the Eco Trend Spotter team, well done.

Shops which Eco Gadgets can be found by <clicking here>

This is part 3 of my BemoreEco Winterproof guide so take comfort though in my credit crunching tips to help you winterise your home – protecting you and your investment. 

6. Think curtains

Open windows on the sunny side of the house when the sun is up so that the sun can warm the rooms. Close all curtains when it gets dark. Do not have furniture close to or in front of radiators. If you have deep windowsills, curtains should sit neatly on top of them and not cover the radiator. Use lined curtains to keep the cold out and warm in.

7. Heat reflective foil behind radiators

Fit heat reflective foil behind radiators on outside walls to keep the heat inside your home, with the shiny side facing into the room.

Many of us this Christmas will give and receive new gadgets. Some of these with be eco and some not. The question we discussed in the BeMoreEco office was what is the best process of buying gadgets this year. What should our green eco gadget shopping tips be.

Well after some searching we found these Green Gadget tips posted by Plant Green.

Artists are lighting up London’s South Bank with 1200 wind-powered lights as part of a digital arts festival.

The Aeolian tower – which means moved by the wind – is a 15m steel structure located next to Waterloo Bridge. The tower is covered with hundreds of tiny wind-powered LEDs. Each one made of a plastic turbine, controlling circuits and three red LEDs.The designers aim to show how renewable energy can be used to power sustainable art and design. As wind blows over the tower, swirling patterns of light reveal the strength and direction of the breeze.

“We want to visualize the invisible, making people realize that there’s a lot of energy out there that we’re not using,” said Zena Bruges from Jason Bruges Studio, which designed the tower.

The designers chose the location next to Waterloo Bridge because of the complex wind patterns that come off the River Thames and the bridge, said Gabby Shawcross, one of the tower’s creators.The lights need a gentle wind of about 3mph (4.8kph) to reach full brightness.

A 2.5m square panel of lights is also on show inside the BFI delegate centre. Since the panel is indoors, the lights are powered with two industrial fans. These lights are connected to a laptop, which controls the lights so that they can display patterns and messages.

“The result of this could be a low-resolution, wind-powered billboard,” said Ms Bruges.

The team is working with architecture students from the University of Westminster to develop a wireless version of the technology that will allow the lights to be controlled remotely. These lights wouldn’t need power or data cables, so designers could apply them to any surface in any location, said Mr Shawcross.

The Aeolian Tower will be in place from 14 -16 November as part of the One Dot Zero – Adventure In Motion festival at the BFI Southbank in London. 

Source: BBC News

Sara at Bemoreeco had 5 minutes with Gavin Wynne’s Red Robot.  This is what she found out.

Tell us about your business?

Red Robot is a new organic clothing company – we make cool t-shirts and sweatshirts for Men and Women. The designs and the quality of the finished product are very important to us. We are trying to switch everybody on to the brand, bringing organic / low impact clothes to the masses without coming across as too leftfield for the average man in the street.

What makes the company a great place to work?

With Red Robot being a new and small business there are so many things to be done and so few people to do them – so you just have to roll your sleeves up and get on with things, stretching yourself, often into areas that are not your core skills. You feel you are in the trenches somewhat but it is very satisfying to stick your head out every so often to someone wearing one of our t-shirts, or hearing positive feedback and then the dreaded to do list reappears on the horizon! 

Who do you most admire in the green industry?

We like Howies a lot, Anita Roddick was a groundbreaker in many ways but it is probably the number of “unknown” individuals who making their own small contributions we admire the most. I remember seeing a woman called Jackie, whom I had worked with number of years ago previously in a completely different capacity, having her clothes recycling business showcased on the “Clothes Show” and thinking “Well done”. Little things like that stick in your mind and spur you on.  

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

Sticking on my accountants hat – I have to say making sales. For two reasons: one, it’s time for talking to stop -  does the customer really like the product it enough to put his or her hand in their pocket – it is the acid test; and, secondly, for Red Robot, it provides the basic economic fuel to help us to the next level.

If you could change one thing in the green retail industry what would it be? 

This might sound like a “cop out” but we don’t know a lot of the other green retailers as we are ploughing our own furrow to a degree and are new to the party, so without knowing the other businesses and their agendas and priorities it is hard to comment. If we look at Red Robot, we know we have to prioritise and constrain what we feel we can achieve at this level in order to grow to achieve more at the next level. To many that might be the wrong thing to do, but I am sure a number of businesses are facing these same constraints and are trying to run their businesses accordingly and that may not be to all observers’ satisfaction.

What advice would you give to someone starting out in the industry today?

It would be a tad rich for us to be offering advice to others on their business idea and model as Red Robot is very much on the first rung of the ladder only and has a very long journey ahead. On a personal level I would say “Don’t live to regret not having had a go” this might only translate into the research and due diligence stage to ensure that the idea is actually a bona fide business. The other bit of advice I would give is to take positive strength from your previous successes to help you tackle all the challenges ahead. 

What is your vision for an ‘eco Britain’?

That “Eco Britain” will be the norm as soon as possible.

What is your number one Eco Christmas Idea?

We have a very traditional view of Christmas which should be enjoyed to the full with family and friends, just ensure you keep doing all the normal positive things you do everyday. 

What is the most important piece of information you have ever been told?

It’s a boy! (twice)

If you were prime minister for the day, what one thing would you do?

Don’t get me started; one day wouldn’t be long enough. I think the place to start would be that governments have to deliver their pre-election manifesto when they take office. If I was only given one day I would declare a national “Eco Day” holiday.

Please could you also tell me your top five gifts for Christmas;

• Fuel Gauge Men’s Organic Cotton White T-Shirt -High quality regular fit, men’s white organic cotton t-shirt made by Red Robot. Limited Edition “Here Today / Gone Tomorrow” message print by Red Robot. £17.99 Free UK & Ireland Delivery
• Multi Robot Men’s Organic Cotton Blue T-Shirt - High quality regular fit, men’s skylight blue organic cotton t-shirt made by Red Robot. Limited Edition “Multi Robot Dot” print by Red Robot. £17.99 Free UK & Ireland Delivery
• Robot Dogs Men’s Organic Cotton White T-Shirt - High quality regular fit, men’s white organic cotton t-shirt made by Red Robot. Limited Edition Reservoir Dogs Movie inspired print by Red Robot. £17.99 Free UK & Ireland Delivery
• Robot Hoodie Men’s Organic Cotton Grey Sweatshirt - High quality medium weight, men’s grey marl organic cotton sweatshirt with full length zip and front pocket. Large embroidered logo on the hood and Red Robot appliqué design on the sleeve. £39.99 Free UK & Ireland Delivery
• Fat Cat Women’s Organic Cotton Blue T-Shirt - High quality regular fit organic cotton t-shirt made by Red Robot. Limited Edition “Fat Cat” message print by Red Robot. £17.99 Free UK & Ireland Delivery
• Rainbow Turbine Women’s Organic Cotton T-Shirt - High quality regular fit, women’s cream organic cotton t-shirt made by Red Robot. Limited Edition “Rainbow Turbine Landscape” print by Red Robot. £17.99 Free UK & Ireland Delivery
• Floral Organic Cotton Grey Hooded Sweatshirt - High quality medium weight, women’s grey marl organic cotton sweatshirt with full length zip and front pockets. Large floral embroidered logo on the lower back just above the waist and floral design on the sleeve. £39.99 Free UK & Ireland Delivery