If our homes are responsible for 25% of the UK's contribution to global warming and we've taken all measures possible to adequately insulate the building, what else can we do? Simply turning things off - unnecessary lights or standbys can save pounds in a year; likewise turning the heating thermostat down a degree or two. Silver foil attached to the wall behind radiators helps to reflect out all possible heat. Remember to put lids on saucepans, make sure flames just cover the bottom of the pan, and change to energy saving bulbs. Don't boil a whole kettle full of water for only one cup of tea!
Garden and DIY products are enjoying growing markets thanks to TV programmes, but do we really need a makeover? In 2002 Gloucestershire County Council had to find an extra £300,000 to deal with the disposal of fridges, and as one councillor noted, the tragedy was that most of them were in good working order. When it is necessary to buy a new fridge, washing nachine etc. look for the energy rating label. This will tell you how energy efficient the appliance is. Cheaper machines are usually less energy efficient so in the long run they will prove to be more expensive to run.
Much of what we consume focuses around celebrations or rituals - Christmas, birthdays, weddings and funerals. There are plenty of alternatives to ending up with mounds of used wrapping paper, discarded trees and wilting flowers. Gifts of local art, a subscription to a magazine, a ticket to something special, sponsorship of a tree through an organisation like the Woodland Trust have a much more lasting impact.
Avoid buying flowers out of season and buy seasonal plants instead - this cuts down on air miles travelled. Most of the funeral directors in the Forest will accomodate the wishes of people who want a willow, cardboard or bamboo coffin, although there is no woodland cemetery in the Forest as yet. Transport for weddings and funerals could be by horse and carriage, or an LPG limousine!
A life-choice that can really make a difference to the environment is that of using cotton nappies rather than disposables. Personal hygiene is another ad man's dream. We spend more and more on keeping "clean", but what does this actually mean? Mostly using lots of chemicals and disposable paper products that we flush away or dump in the bin for someone else to deal with.
Gardens
There are plenty of things that can be done towards making a garden truly environmentally friendly. For new fencing, or garden furniture, make sure it's local or complies with FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) standards. Look out for signs advertising free manure, many people who keep animals are only too glad to give it away. There are many organic remedies for pest control, or try and use natural methods juggling with species. If you encourage frogs and toads into the garden they will be effective slug controllers. Broken egg shells surrounding the plant or beer sunk in the ground are other methdos and long planks of wood laid between rows of vegetables are a magnet for slugs during the day - catch them all in one go by inspecting the underside of the plank in the middle of the day. The more diverse the mix of plants, animals, insects and birds in the garden, the more chance you stand of keeping everything in balance. Collect rainwater from roofs in butts to keep you going during dry spells.
Cut flowers for weddings or funerals. Small family run business since 1934. Vegetable and bedding plants. Open all year.... more
Give something different. Chickens, goats, a teatime rave, trees, seeds, eye tests, pigs, vets bills, support village literacy groups, olive oil for peace, filtration systems for poisoned water, bees, horse drawn ambulances. The choice is yours.... more
Catalogue of gift ideas mostly focusing on help directed to the developing world. Teach a teacher for £24, sack of seeds £10, health check-ups £6. These are all presents requested by people living in some of the poorest communities of the world.... more
Horse drawn carriages for weddings (a landau or Claredon) and a hearse for funerals driven by pair or team of horses.... more
Send a friend a tree for an anniversary, Christening, commemoration, congratulations or thank you including fruit and nut, native species, ornamentals.... more
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During their life-time, the average British citizen goes through twelve washing machines, ten refrigerators, eight stoves, six microwaves, five heating systems, three dryers and two freezers (Green Futures).