Eco Driving

As the debate continues about eco cars v. gass guzzlers it seems we are all going to be ‘encouraged’ to help out a little. From September a new section to the driving theory test will be introduced by the Driving Standards Agency. You will need to know more about efficient driving. The aim is to cut down on carbon emissions and save fuel at the same time.

The Green Interior Sustainable Design

The National Design Academy which is based right here in Nottingham, overlooks the river Trent and is set in the most beautiful and tranquil spot near the Nottingham Racecourse. Just a bike ride away from West Bridgford ( 15 minutes).

They are offering a workshop which will provide a balanced and holistic view on sustainability and sustainable design. It will include advice and information on environmental issues and responsible design. The workshop will offer an overview of architecture, landscape design, interior design and products with eco-credentials. The workshop will help to make informed and appropriate choices for the products and systems we use, strengthening responsibility towards the environment in which we live and those we share it with.

Purpose of Workshop: To offer an approach to interior design which takes into consideration the environment

Aims of Workshop: To develop an understanding of sustainable design; To apply a sustainable approach to interior design

Dates: June 18th, Thursday August 6th, Monday November 9th.
For more information or to book a place on the course £79. However, if a booking is placed by 3pm on 9th June and you quote The Ecolist, you will receive we would discount this total by £10.

The National Design Academy on 01159 1234 12.

Take advantage of the sun

The sun is the most readily available source of heat there is - and the cheapest! So, make the most of it by opening up your doors and windows on hot days to let in warm air that will heat up your home naturally. Hanging your clothes out to dry on sunny days, instead of using the tumble dryer or a radiator, is also a great way to take advantage of the earth’s natural heat source and cut energy usage.

An Eco Team will give you a chance to DO something!

Are you concerned about climate change and environmental issues? If you are, and you’d like to know what else you can do…

Make a real difference! Become an ECOTEAM PARTICIPANT

What’s it all about?

An EcoTeam is a group of 6-8 local people who meet to discover simple, effective changes for a more environmentally friendly lifestyle and is a great way to meet new people in your local area.

Previous members have;

• Cut household bills
• Improved the environment
• Received our newsletter
• Lead a healthier lifestyle
• Visited eco houses
• Made new friends

No-one can do everything - but we can all do something!

Everyone is welcome - It doesn't matter if you’re already very green or not! EcoTeams are easy, supportive and free to residents in Broxtowe, Rushcliffe, Gedling and Nottingham City!

EcoTeam meetings are held locally (usually within walking distance of participant’s homes) and are informal and very friendly on dates convenient to the participants. It takes just five monthly meetings to take the EcoTeam from start to finish. We look at shopping ethically, saving resources, saving energy and traveling wisely and even have a celebration meeting! Every participant receives our information folder which is filled with useful tips, web-links and information. And, if you’d like to be more than a participant, why not receive our one day training to become an EcoTeam Facilitator?

With simple monitoring, you’ll also generate your own ‘before’ and ‘after’ results showing the effect of your more sustainable lifestyle.

For more information on joining an EcoTeam, contact Global Action Plan on: (0115) 9223298 or nottingham@globalactionplan.org.uk

Summer Gathering a Hit

If you were in the West Bridgford area of Nottingham on Saturday you will have seen just how successful the Summer Gathering was, despite the drizzle.

Hundreds of local people turned out to wander round the huge variety of community, sustainable, eco and green stalls. So why are we mentioning it here? Well, apart from being able to get a taste of ‘green’ and eco projects it is worth shouting about because it was organised by a single individual.

So many events are corporate or commercial, organised by masses of people. It makes it difficult to imagine that you could ever do-it-yourself. But you can.

The West Bridgford Summer Gathering was organised by one local individual (the EcoList’s Karina Wells) because she wanted to find a way of celebrating ‘the local community’ and offering visitors a chance to see that there are groups and individuals in the area doing some brilliant (and sustainable) things. Obviously, a lot of people helped out on the day, but this is a clear demonstration that you don’t have to wait for your local council to organise something like this - you can celebrate, inform and do-it-yourself.

Have a look at the website for a list of all the people who took part on Saturday and, if you are thinking of organising something like this yourself, get in touch with Karina (via the EcoList) for some tips and advice.

Share the load in the Shared Garden

The first topic on self sufficiency dealt with today on BBC radio Nottingham was allotment gardening. It is clear that there is a great demand for allotments nowadays and that waiting lists are getting bigger.

A project like the Shared Garden could be the answer as here we give 20 families a chance to grow their own fruit and vegetables on 6 plots for only £20 per annum.

The Shared Garden project was initiated in October 2000 by Karina Wells and Andy Thomas, both residents of West Bridgford, who have been involved with eco and organic activities for many years.

There are many advantages; the pleasure of working with a friend, sharing knowledge, skills and learning, not to mention the more practical aspects such as running costs, dividing the work load, and covering during holiday periods.

If you want an allotment but the waiting list it too long, you actually don't have more than 2 hours a week you can come down, or you could do with some moral support, why not look at http://www.sharedgarden.co.uk/ this is just one example on how share the load.

For those of you who use Amazon to buy books, music, DVD etc on line, please go through the Shared Garden website, click on 'books' which will bring you to your usual Amazon site. Amazon will donate a small percentage of your purchases to the project's Seed Fund (it won't cost you a thing).

We shall have an open afternoon on Saturday 14th June from 2-4pm, where we can guide you around the gardens, the pecking hen project as well as a plant and refreshment stall.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Earth Hour

Back in February Beccy Spurr, our first ever EcoList prize-winner sent us information about the next Earth Hour event.

Well now is the time - this weekend - so turn off some lights and join in.

How do you draw people's attention to global warming and the massive amounts of power we use every day? - Simple – we all turn off our lights for one hour on March 29th 2008.

The event took place in Sydney last year and now, many more major cities around the world have signed up to ‘do it again’. There is a website, packed full of information, help and ideas on how to take part and you can sign up quickly and simply.

Have a look at the video below, which is also on the EarthHour website and see just what impact Sydney made in 2007.

Already cities from across Europe, North America, Asia and Asia Pacific, including Chicago, Copenhagen, Manila, Melbourne, Sydney, Tel Aviv and Toronto have been named as the flagship participants in the WWF-led event.

www.earthhour.org

Green that Roof

Green, growing, roofs are not new in the architecture field, but this one is a stunner.

The new construction is part of the School of Art and Design at Nanyang Technical University in Singapore. The curved grassy roofs top a 5 storey glass fronted building which nestles in a wooded area of the university campus. Housed inside are digital sound and vision studios as well as a sound stage, recording studios and video post production studios.

There is access to the three interlinked roof areas via steps so that they can be used as a scenic, outdoor, communal area. Apart from looking beautiful and helping the building blend into its wooded environment, the roofs help lower building temperature and also that of the surrounding area. Makes you wonder what the art produced inside is like.

More details on the University website: www.ntu.edu.sg

[Via: Inhabitat]

The Digital Allotment

How about having your allotment inside your computer?

Here at the EcoList we are constantly enthusing about making little steps towards large changes. One of those steps is to “Grow your Own Veg”. Both Andy and Karina, who edit the EcoList, do just that in the Shared Garden Project.

Allotments have changed over the past few years – waiting lists of young people and families are growing across the country and the image of ‘Grumpy old men’ leaning on garden fences is changing rapidly.

Now there is something for the computer literate generation which will help you plan your planting. GrowVeg.com is a new website which allows you to electronically plan where to grow veg, how to rotate the crop, the best way to utilize the space you have and, at the same time, get advice on planting, growing and eating.

One of the GrowVeg.com team is Jeremy Dore. A computer programmer and keen organic gardener who dug up his front lawn in 2004 to plant vegetables. He is the developer of the online garden planning tool – a graphic and very simple to use system.

Take a 30 day free trial at www.growveg.com and if you like it you can extend the service for £15.00 a year.

This might be just the site to engage children and get them more involved in growing their own veg.
[Via Hippyshopper]

British Food

Well, we just had ‘Organic Fortnight’ and now, starting today, it is British Food Fortnight!

Running from September 22nd – October 7th this is a national celebration of all produce ‘British’ and is now in its 6th year. They have a packed website full of details about all the events over the next two weeks and, from there “8 reasons to buy British Food” list, here are a couple:

British food travels less far from farm to shop so regardless of how carbon footprints are calculated it self-evidently has a lower carbon footprint.

Choosing British means supporting British farmers whose work helps to keep the British countryside the way we want it to look: no sheep or cows - no countryside!

So, reduce your carbon footprint, support the British farmers and find some ‘celebratory events’ in your area.

www.britishfoodfortnight.co.uk

How Fresh is That

There is something about fresh organic food – and you can’t get much fresher than picking it, washing it and eating it there and then.

The Shared Garden Project, a group of 12 families in West Bridgford, Nottingham do just that. Sharing the work (only 2 hours a week) in their 6 gardens, they have fresh, seasonal veg and fruit just when it is ready to eat!.

Allotments are in short supply nationwide – but if you like the idea of sharing the work and already have a plot, why not invite a couple of people on your street to make a mini Shared Garden Project. A good guide is 4 households for a standard 500 sqm allotment if they work 2 hours per week.

Visit the Shared Garden website for details of what they do and how you can do the same.

If you have not got the time or inclination to garden yourself why not think about having an organic fruit and vegetable box delivered...?

Virtual Trees - with Eco Value

Remember the dreaded Tamagotchii?? All those disturbed children lamenting the ‘death’ of their cyber pet because they inadvertently dropped it down the side of the sofa and forgot about it?

Well the world has moved on and you can now own a virtual tree with educational value.

The Raise a Tree website is designed to help primary school children learn about trees, the environment and climate change. You register with the site, get your tree and ‘take care’ of it in its virtual growing environment. As the tree ‘grows’ various situations occur, such as natural disasters which might have an effect on its progress. The website explains that information about these ‘situations’ is provided to help the owner understand what happened. I think we are talking about when your tree dies!!

You can access your tree from any computer, so get your kids involved before you go on holiday for the summer and they can log in and keep an eye on it while you are away. The positive side is that you never have to hunt for discontinued batteries to make it work!

Get green in the garden

Don’t forget you can have an environmentally friendly garden too. By creating a compost heap you’ll be able to produce your own nutrient rich soil using your natural waste, such as left over food, helping to reduce your weekly rubbish quota.

You can also turn your garden green by installing solar powered alternatives, such as garden lights. David O’Reilly, says: “Solar powered garden lights, shed lights and even outdoor garden thermometers are some of the eco-garden gadgets available, which will help you transform your garden into an energy efficient haven without it costing the earth.”


More from the "Top Ten List to create a greener home" on the Maplin's Solar Week website

Solar Advice Day

Maplin Electronics, the sponsors of National Solar Week, are providing an in-store solar advice day for the UK’s army of eco-minded shoppers who want to do their little bit for the environment.

Today’s solar advice day (June 21st), is part of a week-long awareness campaign organised by Maplin, designed to educate consumers about the benefits of both solar energy and the importance of going green in the home. Staff at Maplin’s 124 stores across the UK will also be championing the rights of the eco-friendly consumer by appealing to local customers to sign its petition calling for the government to remove VAT on all energy efficient technology for the home.

The solar advice day begins at 9.00am, with expert staff on hand to answer questions, provide practical, straight forward advice on the advantages of solar energy and demonstrate the latest in eco-friendly technology. You can find your nearest store by using the online store locator.

Celebrate Green Weeks in West Bridgford

On Saturday 9th June the West Bridgford Summer Gathering will take place between 10am - 2pm

Join us (behind the farmers' market in Bridgford Park), to help celebrating Green Weeks and visit the variety of people taking part: Freecycle, Ecoteams, Teddy Bear's Picnic, Craft, Plants, Cakes, Clipper Tea, The Green Box Shop, River Nene Organic Deliveries, Money saving Eco tips, the Vendablenda, Jo Jingles, U3A.

Blue Peter goes Green

The popular BBC children’s’ program ‘Blue Peter’ is about to be renamed ‘Green Peter’ on 29th May. The entire program will be devoted to eco and ‘green’ issues and much of it has been filmed at the Hockerton Housing Project, Nottinghamshire.

The program will look at ways its young audience can help limit the effects of climate change.

"Green Peter won't be a list of scare stories, the purpose will be to focus on what is being done, what can be done, what needs to be done to protect the world the Blue Peter audience will inherit." (Richard Mason, Blue Peter Editor).

This year the program will celebrate its 50th year on TV and this is the first time they have dedicated an entire program to environmental issues. You can watch it on BBC 1 at 5.00pm, Tuesday 29th May.

Eco Schools

They say “start them young” and that is just what the Eco Schools web site is helping to do.

It provides help and information about how schools can reduce their environmental impact and offers advice on education for sustainable development. Schools can enrol in the Eco-Schools programme, and its award scheme so that pupils and staff can work towards three certificates and, at the same time, raise the profile of the school within their local community.