Greening your home can save you energy and money as well as making it healthier and lowering its carbon footprint
… proofing around doors and window frames Hot water tank and pipe insulation Double glazing … to your home here . Heating and hot water Fitting an A-rated high efficiency … of the wind to generate electricity. Solar water heating - heat water for your home using …
Forget the chemical depths of your local swimming pool: wild swimming is the more refreshing, natural way to cool off this summer
… Lake Sea Environment Agency Blueprint For Water loch2.jpg Enjoying the great outdoors … so on - nothing beats a cool dip in natural water surrounded by beach or grassy banks and … Whether it's long lakes, downstream rivers, waterfalls or the sea, there are lots of …
Eco detergent or washing at 30°C? Laura Sevier cuts through the greenwash at the laundry level
… make it appear, however: ‘If you ask water authorities today, they’re no longer … waste – they get a far bigger headache from water running off farmland contaminated by … used when washing clothes goes on heating the water. In this sense, Ariel’s ‘Turn to 30°C’ …
Following the closure of some of the UK's most stunning lakes, a dynamic campaign has been set up to stop phosphates from washing detergents causing algal blooms
… North Swim in Cumbria is the largest open-water swimming event in the UK. This year, … of blue-green algae (Cyanobacteria) in the water the swim had to be cancelled. A few … earlier signs were put up at nearby Derwentwater to warn visitors about the presence of …
Laundry giant Unilever's new plan for creating a 'Cleaner Planet' seems to tick all the right boxes. Until, that is, you look at what gets washed down the drained after your undies are rinsed through...
… has been making some efforts in the energy, water and waste department for some time. … cent, waste for disposal by 70 per cent and water consumption by 76 per cent, per tonne of … that place a considerable burden on our water system. When all that foamy water mixed …
An new design of tidal power turbines will generate power at a third the price of current technologies, write Alex Kirby & Oliver Tickell, even at a lower price than offshore wind - without endangering marine life.
… can operate in shallower and slower-moving water than current designs. Kepler Energy , … in the Bristol Channel." Suitable for shallow water, fish-friendly The new Transverse Horizontal Axis Water Turbine (THAWT) will use the latest …
With vast areas decimated by industrial farming, the salad days are over for mass-produced olive oil. Laura Sevier looks at the effect its rise in popularity has had on the European landscape, and at some more sustainable brands.
… hazard (with negative impacts on the soil, water supply and wildlife), and when it comes … groves with few or no agrochemicals, less water and less machinery. Olives are picked … run-off of soils and agrochemicals into water bodies.’ ‘Anywhere in the main …
Clean the most difficult places in a natural,
eco-friendly way. Laura Sevier explains how
… effective cleaning power, the very hot water used in steamcleaning machines kills … bacteria and mould. • For stains, use soda water or make a spot-cleaning solution of ½ cup borax in 1 litre of warm water. Scrub with a stiff bristle brush; …
The Earth is on an unavoidable path towards a 1.5°C temperature rise by mid-century, says a new World Bank report. And as Alex Kirby reports, it could reach 4°C by 2100 unless immediate action is taken - with dire impacts on the planet's poorest people.
… would be severe: failing harvests, shifting water resources, rising sea-levels, and … 4°C of extra heat on agricultural production, water resources, ecosystem services and … and changing rainfall will damage harvests, water supplies and biodiversity. In Brazil, …
It's easy to dismiss 'detox' as a fad, as some product claims are exaggerated. But detoxing, as a practice, has been around for centuries
… Living Ecologist Guide To Detox glass-of-water.jpg It's easy to dismiss 'detox' as a … including a detox brush from Boots, V Water Detox and a 'Crystal Spring Detox patch' … message is: drop 'detox' and have a glass of water, eat a balanced diet and get an early …
It's easy to dismiss 'detox' as a fad, as some product claims are exaggerated. But detoxing, as a practice, has been around for centuries.
… Alliance For Natural Health glass-of-water.jpg It's easy to dismiss 'detox' as a … including a detox brush from Boots, V Water Detox and a 'Crystal Spring Detox patch' … message is: drop 'detox' and have a glass of water, eat a balanced diet and get an early …
Alaska's long-standing wild salmon-fishing industry could be under threat from large-scale mining development
… open pit gold and copper mine at their headwaters. As Jay Hammond, former Governor of … salmon fishery in the world, at the headwaters of the Kvichak and the Nushagak Rivers … abundance of pristine and undeveloped freshwater lakes, which are ideal spawning and …
Ecover has developed the world's first ‘eco surfactant' - the beating heart of a cleaning product - that it claims is 'more ecological and powerful' than their old formulations...
… 'eco' products cut down on chemicals in our water systems that can be highly toxic to … have an environmental impact. They require water to neutralise their impact on the water supply, energy for the manufacturing …
Whether it's the old favourite Sarson's, trendy balsamic or the more adventurous rice or wine vinegar, it can be used to clean your house, improve your health and spice up your chips – what makes vinegar so special? Laura Sevier picks 10 of the best...
… and removes mineral buildup such as hard water spots. For cleaning purposes, white … distilled vinegar is best. Use two parts water to one part vinegar for general … windows by mixing equal amounts of water and distilled vinegar in a spray bottle. …
Say sayonara to your standard tea and try a cup of one of the Ecologist’s 10 favourite Fairtrade and organic teas. Laura Sevier puts the kettle on
… tea is sprayed with chemicals that affect waterways and wildlife and the finished … one teaspoon in a glass with some hot water makes for a refreshing brew and gives … damaging industrial monoculture INVESTIGATION Water, water everywhere? You’ve heard of …
Climate change probably caused the savage drought that struck Syria nearly a decade ago, writes Alex Kirby - and helped to trigger the civil war that has so far claimed over 200,000 lives.
… 2015 News Climate Change War Middle East Water Farming syria-poppies-cut.jpg Climate … anthropogenic warming. Government stuck with water-intensive cash crops The government has also encouraged water-intensive export crops such as cotton, …
A cleaner, greener, more ethical approach to outdoor gear, Finisterre swept into UK shops on a surfing brainwave. Laura Sevier meets the team behind the eco-active clothing company
… – but the gear they’re putting on out of the water is expensive, non-durable and not … environmental impact. Finisterre’s line of waterproofs, jackets, hoodies and sweatshirts … fashion Making eco-clothing for cold-water surfers and other outdoor enthusiasts …
More people are turning to eco communities as a viable alternative to urban life. Laura Sevier reports
… technologies for heating, electrical and water systems. Sharing cookers, cars, tools … those that will be needed to navigate rough waters ahead.’ While some new ecovillages are … know as the Living Machine, numerous solar water-heating systems and is now looking into …
A growing number of homeowners are taking the green initiative. Laura Sevier reports
… improvements to the radiators and boiler‚ water-conservation devices (the house uses 60 per cent less water than an average family home)‚ A-rated … “non-eco”. That £5‚000 has reduced energy and water consumption by two-thirds‚ and we’ve …
Try some of the UK's best cuisine, learn from top chefs and debate the future of our food at this annual gathering of food greats in London's Earls Court
… at the show in Earls Court, was Petal, a live water buffalo. Petal, apparently a very gentle … of the crowds. She is part of herd of 2,000 water buffalo from Laverstoke Park Farm in … breed pigs, sheep, chickens and Petal the water buffalo), The Real Food Festival is a …
… toxic heavy metals that pollute the soil and water and damage aquatic life. Add to that the … to reduced soil fertility, soil erosion, water pollution and reduced biodiversity. Then … chemicals that poison farmers, soil and water. In contrast, organic cotton has …
Bright, bold and branded with a logo... It’s time to wear your ethics on your eco t-shirt. By Laura Sevier
… Ekonoiz co-founder Marianne Soisalo. Using water-based ink, she hand-prints the designs … cotton and are printed in the UK using water-based and PVC-free ink. Women’s … and belong to a labour union. THTC now uses water-based inks for the printing process for …
Plants can be much more than a pretty backdrop to life. Read this and you'll never look at a garden in the same way again...
… a bunch of basil or mint in glasses of water on a kitchen window sill. The majority … a remedy can be as simple as pouring hot water over some mint leaves. Wong's book has … contaminating the food chain and our drinking water. As he also points out, swallowing more …