One area of the home where a lot of heat gets lost is the front door. Depending on how busy your home is, with kids coming and going all the time, front doors can be forever being opened and closed letting the heat escape and allowing cold draughts to get in. Of course, we all need a means of getting in and out of the home, but many front doors, especially in older homes, are letting heat escape even when they are closed.

Under door draught excluder

Because front doors are external and face the elements, the wood is very susceptible to expansion and contraction. Over time, this stretching and compressing of the wood can mean many front doors no longer fit as snugly as they once did. As a consequence, many front doors allow cold air to filter through the gaps, while heat from the house is seeping out all the time.

While fitting a new front door can be costly, a cheaper solution is to use under door draught excluders and draught excluder tape, which can seal up all those gaps around the door. This type of draught proofing doesn’t impinge on the opening of the door, but will ensure when the doors is closed, heat and cold air doesn’t get past the door.

The Eco Flap Letterplate

Another problem with front doors is the ubiquitous letterbox. Letterboxes are gaping holes where heat can stream out. Most letterboxes do not close snugly enough to prevent heat escaping and cold air getting in. Fortunately, letterbox plates provide an inexpensive solution for preventing heat escaping and cold air getting past the letterbox. They affix to the inside of the door and still allow the postman to deliver letters, but ensures the letterbox closes snugly after use.

Eco friendly doormat made from recycled car tyres

Front doors can also be responsible for making hallways and passageways damp. By allowing people to traipse water through the home, over time, this moisture can dampen wooden floors and make carpets mouldy. Wt floors also can lead to dirty floors and on wooden floors become a slip hazard. So, to make sure your front door remains dry a good quality front door mat will help soak u moisture, protect the carpet and floor, and make sure your hallway isn’t a slip hazard.

New Laws to Make Washing Powder more Eco Friendly

Eco balls - alternatives to washing powder

The EU has introduced new laws to curb the amount of harmful chemicals in washing powders and tablets. All washing powders and detergents, including those for the dishwasher, will have to be virtually phosphorous free from June 2013. Phosphorous in washing powders have a harmful effect in the environment, affecting aquatic life by getting into waterways and seas.

Alternatives to traditional washing powders and detergents have been available for some time. Eco balls are one such product that contains no phosphorous or other chemicals and cleans clothing just as effectively as powders and tablets.

Windpower Reaches Record High in the UK

The UK’s wind power generation has hit a landmark in capacity, says RenewableUK, the trade association representing the UK’s renewable power industry. Wind turbines up and down the country now generate enough power to supply electricity to 3.5 million homes.

In total, the UK has a capacity for over 6 gigawatts of energy and it is hoped as more wind farms are built, more and more people can benefit from this renewable energy source.

Hydrogen Vehicle Evaluation Takes Place

With the many downsides to using electric vehicles, namely the long recharge time and the short range of most electric cars, many experts in eco motoring are looking to hydrogen fuel cells as an eco friendly alternative to petrol for powering the next generation of cars.

Hydrogen fuels cells convert hydrogen energy into electricity. As hydrogen can be filled up just like petrol, it makes it just as practical, but the main benefit is that the only emission produced by hydrogen cars is water.

Now, a groundbreaking has been launched to ensure the UK is well positioned for the commercial rollout of hydrogen vehicles. The new programme – UKH2Mobility – is evaluating the potential for hydrogen as a fuel for Ultra Low Carbon Vehicles in the UK and is developing an action plan for an anticipated roll-out to consumers by 2014/15, ensuring that enough hydrogen refill stations will be present to accommodate these next generation low carbon vehicles.

Whether you spend time in the gym, go jogging, or play sports such as squash, wearing the right clothes is important for working out. The wrong clothing can lead to excess sweat, make you feel overly hot and lead to unpleasant smells. They can also impinge on performance, especially if the clothing doesn’t stretch to accommodate your movements.

All sorts of sports clothing is available and most of it is produced with manmade fibres such as nylon. While nylon is stretchy and able to accommodate the movements from all sorts of sports, it does have some downsides, such s not being very comfortable and feeling quite sticky when you get sweaty.

Bamboo baselayers

Natural Alternative

Bamboo is a completely natural and sustainable alternative to nylon for sportswear. As bamboo is fast growing (actually one of the fastest growing plants on earth) it is completely sustainable with an entire field of bamboo able to replenish itself in a matter of weeks. This makes bamboo a really eco friendly clothing material.

But bamboo has other advantages for sportswear too. It is just as stretchy as nylon, but is far softer on the skin when worn. Bamboo feels more like cotton and it has some unique properties too. Firstly, bamboo allows the air to penetrate through the fibres, this helps keep you cool when working out and also allows your skin to breathe, preventing bad odours and stopping you feel too sweaty.

Bamboo polo shirt

Secondly, bamboo has antibacterial properties too, which further prevents smells and odours when working out. It’s also kind to the skin as it is hypoallergenic, so won’t cause irritation. Bamboo also has natural UVA protection, so is fine for working out in the sun.

All sorts of clothing is available made from bamboo. From bamboo yoga wear, leggings, baselayers and aerobic outfits, to men’s shirts, shorts, t-shorts and even bamboo socks. Bamboo is ideal for training socks as it keeps odours at bay and stops the feet from sweating so much.

When it comes to getting a new car, thinking eco friendly is high up on most people’s agenda. Not only are eco friendly cars better for the environment, emitting less harmful gases out of the exhaust, but also eco friendly cars provide more mileage for each gallon of petrol, saving money, which considering the high cost of petrol these days can save a fortune on travel costs each month.

When it comes to buying an eco friendlier car, there are three basic options:

All Electric

Recently, many car manufacturers are producing electrically powered cars. These range from family hatchbacks to more sportier cars, capable of high performance. Electric cars are powered by electric motors, which are recharged, usually overnight, providing a range of up to 100 miles between each recharge.

Nissan Leaf electric car

Electric cars do have some fundamental disadvantages, though. Firstly, the lack of recharge points in the UK could mean if you run out of power a long way from home, it may be difficult to find somewhere to recharge the car. Secondly, the recharge time can take over eight hours, which means that if you run low on energy half way through a journey, it will be a long time before you can get going again. Because of these disadvantages, electric cars are used primarily by people commuting short distances in cities such as London.

Hybrid Cars

Cars such as the Toyota Prius are known as hybrids. This is because they have both a conventional petrol powered engine and an electric motor. Unlike all electric cars that have to be recharged by from the mains, hybrid cars use the kinetic energy from the cars brakes to recharge the batteries and provide enough power for the electric motor. When travelling around town, they can run completely on the emission free electric motor, while on motorways use the conventional engine.

Toyota Prius

This combination of petrol and electric means typically that a hybrid car can travel over 50 miles for each gallon of fuel. However, for people that do a lot of motorway travelling, where the braking system is not used very frequently, hybrid cars are not really any better at fuel consumption as some petrol or diesel models.

Economical Petrol and Diesel

For many people, the most practical economical form of motoring is to buy a small petrol or diesel powered car. Diesel is typically has higher mileage than petrol, but modern petrol engines are getting becoming more and more economical. Some small family hatchbacks are capable of 60 miles to the gallon, and you can even get models that do over 80, which is far better than hybrid cars.

The key to economy with conventionally powered cars is to go for a small car with a small engine. Even if you have a large family, many small cars can comfortably seat two adults and three children.

With the amount of energy we all consumer, any device that can replace conventional power with a more renewable source is welcomed to help alleviate the climate change and enable us to live a little more eco friendly. Renewable energy gadgets are those devices that take their power from a sustainable source and don’t produce emissions that are harmful to the environment.

Renewable energy gadgets can take their power from the sun, the wind or are even water powered and plenty of these devices can replace conventionally powered items around the home.

Solar Powered Chargers

Solar powered chargers are devices that can recharge many of the electrical gizmos we all possess these days. Mobile phones, laptops, tablet computers and MP3 players can ll be recharged using a solar powered charger.

Solar chargers vary from complete systems capable of recharging virtually every conceivable gadget, to solar powered laptop rechargers, and compact solar powered chargers designed to recharge mobile phones.

Solar Laptop charger

Solar powered mobile phone charger

Wind Powered Gadgets

Handheld wind generators

Wind power can also be used as a method of recharging gadgets. Handheld wind generators that can be worn on the arm, mounted on a car or bicycle handlebars are capable of recharging phones and other gadgets using only the power of the wind.

You can even get wind powered lights for kids bikes that provide a novel way of introducing children to the benefits of renewable energy.

Dynamo Gadgets

Dynamo shaver

Dynamos convert kinetic energy (the power of movement) into electricity. Commonly this involves winding a device up and allowing a clockwork mechanism to provide the enrgy to power the dynamo.

Wind up radios are a common method of utilising dynamo technology but there are other gadgets too A dynamo shaver, for instance, is ideal for the traveller as it means you can have an electric shave no matter where you are.

So many people now have wood burning stoves or are using traditional pen fireplaces, and for good reason. Heating a home the old-fashioned way, using logs, is not only cheaper than relying on gas and electric, but is also more eco friendly – but only if you use seasoned logs.

Seasoned logs are those that have been dried naturally and slowly over time, removing all the moisture. A seasoned log will burn slowly, producing a lot of heat and very little smoke, making them a cheap and eco friendly form of heating. However, seasoned logs bought from the garden centre can be expensive, but there is nothing stopping you from seasoning your own logs and producing your own fuel for the fire or wood burning stove.

Large log store

Log Stores

To season your own logs you are going to need a log store. Log stores are designed to not only keep logs dry and out of the rain, but also to allow the air to naturally circulate around the logs to dry them. Log stores come in a variety of styles, sizes and range in price, but you can get inexpensive stores that do just as good a job as some of the more expensive and ornamental stores.

Once you have a log store, you need to position it in the garden somewhere where the wind can circulate around it. Avoid placing a log store down a passageway or backed up against a building. Ideally, the log store should have at least a yard of space around it to allow the air to circulate.

Log store with tool shed

Seasoning Logs

All types of wood can be seasoned into slow-burning fuel for the fire or wood burning stove. The wood is stacked in the log store and then has to be left. Seasoning does take time. Depending on what time of year you place the logs in the log store, it can take over six months. However, by gathering wood in the spring, stacking it in the log store, by wintertime, you should have a good supply of seasoned wood that will keep you warm throughout the colder months.

Composting is having a renaissance among gardeners as a method of fertilizing the garden and feeding the lawn. Composting is natural and inexpensive, requiring very little other than a good composter, time and a little patience.

Composters can be inexpensive

Why Compost

There are several good reasons why gardeners compost. Compared to the amount of fertilizers and plant feeds available in gardening centres, compost is chemical free, completely natural and free to produce.

Composting is also a form of recycling so can help reduce the amount of waste we throw away. Virtually any organic material can be composted, from kitchen scraps and peelings to grass cuttings and leaves.

Composting is also very satisfying and once you get to grips with it you can learn to make different composts that have different benefits for different plants and areas of the garden.

Composters speed up the composting process

What You Need

The great thing about composting is that you need very little to begin. In essence, all you need is a pile of organic waste which Mother Nature will gradually breakdown into fertilizer. However, to prevent mess, and to avoid attracting vermin, a good composter is preferred by most gardeners. Composters also speed up the process keeping the compostable material at at the right temperature and in the right condition to allow the waste to break down.

Composters and compost bins come in a variety of sizes, shapes and styles so finding one that is right for you take a little research. Some composters are better at speeding up the compost process than others are, but most compost bins are inexpensive.

Composting

Composters come in all shapes and sizes

The great thing about composting is that once you have put the different waste into the composter, nature takes over and begins breaking it down. Microorganisms and fungi feast on the compost, their by-products are full of nutrients such as nitrogen that helps plants, and lawns grow healthily.

Once the compost process has begun, it usually takes a few weeks before you can use the compost on your garden. Good compost has a rich, crumbly texture and is not sludgy or wet. If you find your compost is too moist it’s worth giving it a good stir to allow more air to penetrate the compost, helping to dry it out and allow the microorganisms that produce the compost to flourish.

Loft and cavity insulation are fundamental in helping to save energy and money. Because heat rises, preventing it from escaping out of the home makes your home heating system more effective and efficient. Loft and cavity insulation does cost a fair amount to install, however, due to government rules intended to make gas and electricity suppliers reduce their carbon footprint, you can get loft and cavity insulation installed completely free of charge.

Windows too can be insulated

Loft and cavity insulation work by locking in heat, so you don’t need to have your heating on as much to stay warm. With proper loft and cavity insulation, you can save up to £300 a year on heating costs, and make your home far more energy efficient and eco friendly at the same time.

Loft insulation is fairly easy to install but you do need a professional to do it just to make sure it has been done properly. Fortunately, all large energy suppliers are obliged to offer free loft insulation as part of a government scheme to reduce CO2 emissions called the  the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT).

How to apply

To apply for free insulation from your energy supplier, the first step is to contact them to arrange a survey. The survey should take about thirty minutes and will establish if you need insulation replacement. Not all homes will qualify. Those already well-insulated, council tenants and those living in housing association properties may not be eligible, but the offer is open to both homeowners and those that rent.

If you are eligible, the energy supplier will send somebody round to install your loft and cavity insulation. Some energy suppliers may not offer an insulation service but will pay for third party installer. However, this offer for free loft insulation is only available for a limited period so you need to act quickly and contact you energy supplier for further details.

Other forms of Insulation

Loft and cavity insulation are not the only forms of insulation and ways of keeping heat within the home. Other areas of the home can lose heat and allow cold air in, so once you have adequately insulated the loft and cavities, it’s worth looking at other areas of the home to see what else can be improved.

Insulation for windows

Doors and windows are a good place to start, especially in older homes or those houses without double-glazing. Using draught excluders on ill-fitting doors and insulation film on windows will help retain heat and prevent cold draughts from getting in.

Floorboards too in older homes can allow draughts to get in, so sealing them with floorboard draught excluders will help to retain heat. Other areas worth looking at are chimneys, letterboxes and air vents, which can all be sealed one way or another, such as using chimney balloons and letterbox plates.

Many people decide to get healthier at the New Year. After all that splurging over Christmas, many of us make a New Year’s resolution to lose a few pounds or just to get a little fitter. However, many of the modern methods people choose to get healthier are not that eco friendly.

Gyms for instance, use large amounts of energy to power air conditioning, heating and the treadmills. But keeping fit and losing weight doesn’t have to be damaging to the environment as there are several ways to keep in trim without damaging the environment.

Sleep

One of the best methods to both lose weight and keep fit is to make sure you get enough sleep. As strange as this sounds, research has shown that most of us don’t get enough sleep, and any health regime is far more effective if you get over eight hours a night. Also, by having an early night and not staying up and watching TV you save energy too.

Exercise

Rather than spend all that money and use all that energy at the gym, going for a long walk a couple of times a week can be just as effective at keeping you in trim. By taking a walk outside you are not only getting plenty of exercise, but also fresh air.

Another way of keeping in shape is not to use the car for unnecessary journeys. By walking to the shops instead of driving, you will soon start losing all those pounds and be benefiting the environment too. Cycling is also another great way of getting about and reducing the emissions that driving causes.

Eat naturally

By cooking your own meals and getting rid of all those even chips and convenience foods, you can really boost your health. Fresh food, preferably organic, is far better for you, especially if you make sure you use plenty of fruit and vegetables.

Farmer’s markets are great places to source natural ingredients and organic produce and fresh ingredients are not that expensive, especially when compared to takeaways and convenience food.

Washing clothes and cleaning the house may be a chore that most of us wished we didn’t have to do, but also they are not very eco friendly activities. The energy and water used in washing and drying our clothes, and the chemicals in many detergents and cleaning products have a detrimental effect on the environment. So reducing the effects our laundry and cleaning has on the environment is one way of becoming a little more eco friendly.

Washing Clothes

Eco balls

Most modern washing machines have an energy star rating to indicate how efficient they use energy and water. However, the efficiency of a washing machine can be affected by the way the machine is used. Only half filling the machine, or using too high a temperature setting, will reduce the eco friendly efficiency of a washing machine. Keeping the machine at 30 degrees and making sure you only wash a full load will help make doing the laundry more eco friendly.

The detergents used in the washing machine are also not very kind to the environment, but fortunately, chemical free solutions for getting clothes clean are available. Eco balls use ionized oxygen to remove stains from clothing and can be used time and time again so offer excellent value for money.

Drying Clothes

When it comes to drying clothes, tumble dryers are very power hungry. Drying clothes naturally will not only save a lot of energy, but will also make a big difference to quarterly electricity bills.

Clothes airer

While the British weather is not always suitable for drying clothes outside, using clothes airers will allow you to hang clothes up above radiators to let them dry naturally. Clothes airers will also free up the radiators and prevent them becoming cluttered by strewn clothes over them.

Clothes airers come in a wide range of styles and can be ceiling or wall mounted and are perfect for utility rooms, kitchens and airing cupboards.