In most countries, oil is the main fuel source used for transportation. However, this use has lead to a dependence on imported and expensive oil for many countries around the globe, and with oil supplies in decline the move to more renewable and sustainable resources is essential. Oil prices have been fluctuating for decades, and in recent years have risen steeply with prices expected to continue fluctuating, especially due to the fact that the vast quantity of reserves are in politically volatile areas, such as Iran and Iraq. These future increases will particularly adversely impact low income households ‘for who transport accounts for a higher proportional share of household income.’ [1]. Oil discovery has also decreased, with more oil currently being produced than discovered. Recent oil field discoveries such as in the Gulf of Mexico are only a fraction of the volume of previously found locations in the middle east.

Peak oil, a theory widely popularised by US geologist M.K. Hubbert, is ‘…the point in time when oil production reaches its maximum annual rate, after which the annual production rate declines each year.’ [2]. Many geology and supply experts predict that the worldwide peak in oil has either occurred, or will happen in the next few years. Since oil is a finite resource, a move to renewable or sustainable fuel sources is essential, especially ones with a lower carbon content than oil. However, over time society has become so dependant on oil that many alternatives are in their early stages, and need more research and funding to make them competitive with petroleum products.

One major issue that needs to be addressed in the move from oil to more sustainable fuels is consumer preferences. Information detailing the available and soon to be available alternatives is essential, as a lack of information can lead to market failures, which ‘can be caused by insufficient and incorrect information’ [3]. Confusion and doubt over the reliability and costs of new fuels and technologies can lead to public distrust and unwillingness to convert to them, while many consumers are also unaware that options for more fuel efficient cars exist, or even that different vehicles emit different levels of pollutants. Both education and information are essential to help facilitate a move to new technologies and fuels. Try Energy Saving Warehouse’s Lesto Survey to learn about new technologies

Maturity and reliability of fuel sources and technologies is another issue to be addressed. For instance, hydrogen is the most abundant element in the the universe and can be separated for use in fuel cells from other elements by one of three processes: thermal, electrolytic or photolytic [4]. While photolytic processes are still under development, both thermal and electrolytic processes are available commercially. However, costs are still high, and often fossil fuels are required as the input energy for the separation process. There are also some major barriers to the use of hydrogen fuel cells, such as the storage of hydrogen, transport infrastructure, refuelling facilities and cost [5]. While hydrogen fuel cells will likely be a part of the transport sector in the future, there needs to be currently available bridging technologies or fuels to help facilitate the current move from oil.

Infrastructure must also be considered when looking at alternative fuels or technologies: will current engines need to be modified? Are there appropriate transportation and fuel storage facilities? How will recharging stations work? The market for electric cars is steadily growing, however ‘EV charging both in the home and in the public realm is an area that requires careful consideration with regards to regulation’ [6]. Governments and private investors must be willing to invest in the high capital costs that this change in infrastructure will bring about.

Other major issues include the cost of the technologies or fuels, which would be expected to become competitive with oil, or even cheaper, as oil stocks decline and the price rises. Regulatory issues also need to be examined, specifically governments roles in supporting alternative fuels or technologies, such as through subsidies, tax breaks or a range of other policy options, such as to: ‘Implement mandatory fuel economy standards and/or low and zero emission vehicle requirements’ and to ‘Ensure building codes for new or renovated sites (residential, commercial, industrial) to support EVs by requiring dedicated electrical capacity and parking spaces’ [7].

Finally, one highly divisive point in the debate over biofuels is the use of food crops for transport fuel, especially in developing countries where food shortages are already a very serious problem. While using crops instead of fossil fuels reduces emissions during the driving phase, a careful balance needs to be maintained to ensure that crops grown as biofuels are not diverted from those who need it most. Resource availability can vary widely from location to location, with some geographic regions ideally suited to growing large volumes of crops, while other regions may be unable to sustain the growth needed to produce sufficient quantities of fuel. A large amount of water is required to grow biological feedstock, with present volumes seen as unsustainable to increase production of crops. It has been estimated that growing corn as a biofuel results in the equivalent input of 283 gallons of water per mile driven in a car, compared to 0.17 gallons for grain, and only 0.04 for petroleum [8]. Hot and dry regions such as Africa, Southeast Asia and Australia simply do not have the water resources to produce the required volumes of crops to become a viable alternative to oil, though future scientific advances in irrigation and farming practices may help to reduce water requirements.

While there are a range of issues that must be addressed when considering a move from oil, the move is necessary for the long term sustainability of the transport sector, and to reduce carbon emissions and fossil fuel use on a global level. Many transport alternatives such as biofuels and hydrogen fuel cells have great potential, but require more time, money and research to be competitive with oil

References

[1] + [2] CSIRO. 2008. Fuel for Thought- The future of transport fuels: challenges and opportunities. http://www.csiro.au/files/files/plm4.pdf

[3] Dunstan, C., Usher, J., Ross, K., Christie, L., Paevere, P. (2011). Supporting Electric Vehicle Adoption in Australia: Barriers and Policy Solutions (An Electric Driveway Project Report). Prepared for Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), by the Institute for Sustainable Futures, UTS: Sydney. Page 3.

[4] + [5] U.S. Department of Energy. 2005. Hydrogen and Our Energy Future.http://www.hydrogen.energy.gov

[6] + [7] Dunstan, C., Usher, J., Ross, K., Christie, L., Paevere, P. (2011). Supporting Electric Vehicle Adoption in Australia: Barriers and Policy Solutions (An Electric Driveway Project Report). Prepared for Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), by the Institute for Sustainable Futures, UTS: Sydney. Pages 20 + 56.

[8] Biofuel.org.uk. Disadvantages of Biofuels – Water. 2010. http://biofuel.org.uk/water.html

Food makes up a large part of our everyday lives, whether it’s dropping by the shops on the way home from work, searching for new recipes online or preparing a home cooked family meal. However, many of us are happy to sit down to a meal without thinking of the impact our food has on the environment, and whether our diet is sustainable. A recent report by WWF found that the growing, producing and importing of food in the UK is responsible for a staggering 30% of our CO₂ emissions [1]. The UK’s climate makes it necessary to import certain foods from around the world, which is causing one of the largest environmental impacts: the clearing of huge tracts of land and rainforest for cattle grazing, and for the production of commodities such as soy and palm oil. Not only does this clearing release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, it also has devastating consequences for the animals whose habitats are destroyed.

There are a number of ways that you can make your diet more sustainable, while also reducing your shopping bills, and getting to experience fresher, tastier produce, without having to make any major changes to your lifestyle:

Buy Food in Bulk

Food packaging contributes heavily to the life cycle emissions of food items, with individually packaged items also requiring more space for transportation. Buying food in bulk reduces the amount of packaging that is produced and that ends up in your shopping trolley, which in turn reduces the amount of direct packaging that ends up in landfill sites. Bulk food can also be packed more densely for transportation, reducing the amount of vehicles on our roads.

Check out some fair trade products on Energy Saving Warehouses’ shopping portal which you can buy in bulk.

Eat Seasonally

Growing fruit and vegetables out of season can require high levels of fertilisers, heating and other artificial inputs, which can be vastly reduced by eating food that is in season. As well as the environmental benefits, fresh seasonal produce tastes better and is often cheaper than buying the same produce out of season [2]. Try blackberries, courgettes and runner beans in September, or potatoes and red cabbage in November when they are at their freshest and tastiest. Buying produce in season reduces the need for importing and its accompanying environmental impacts. Websites such as Eat Seasonably provide in depth information about what to grow and buy when, in an easy to understand format, such as the Eat Seasonably Calendar [3].

Shop at Farmer’s Markets

Instead of buying all your produce at supermarkets, try visiting your local farmer’s market to see what is available there. Not only are you buying local, seasonal produce, you also cut down considerably, if not completely, on packaging. Produce will not have been transported far, and many sellers are now organic, so you don’t have to worry about the effects that pesticides and fertilisers are having on the quality of your food, and also on the ecosystem. You can often find added extras, such as cooking demonstrations and a wider variety of produce than many supermarkets have to offer.

Most farmer’s markets are held at weekends, and may be fortnightly rather than every week, so make sure to check when your local one will be there.

Pick Your Fish and Cuts of Meat Carefully

Meat is one of the most inefficiently produced food types – raising cattle and other animals requires large amount of land, water and grain. On average it takes 6kg of plant protein to produce only 1kg of meat protein [4]. Cutting down the amount of meat in your diet is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint, and can also help to improve your health. Try replacing fattier cuts of meat with leaner cuts or fish, or even with vegetarian alternatives, such as Quorn or vegetables themselves. Websites such as Part-Time Carnivore provide forums for those wishing to reduce their meat intake to find like-minded people who live in the same area, and gives you statistics of how much CO₂ and land you have saved, even by having just one meat free day a week [5].

When buying fish, try to make your choice a sustainable one, by looking for Marine Stewardship Council certified seafood. The council has conducted extensive research into the the impacts on fish stocks and the environment of fishing, and aims to promote sustainability through all stages of the process.

Plan Your Portions

Food waste is a major issue in the UK – over 7.2 million tonnes of food and drink are thrown away each year. Not only does food waste have an environmental impact, it also costs households on average £680 a year [6]. By reducing the amount of food you throw away, you reduce your carbon footprint and also your shopping bills.

One way to reduce your waste is by planning your portions. By knowing what and how much you will eat over a certain time period, you can make sure that you buy enough food to create your meals without having platefuls left over. Simple tricks like keeping a shopping list in the kitchen to plan for meals or freezing leftovers can help to make your food last longer. Try using an online portion calculator such as Love Food Hate Waste to help work out how much of each food type you need for a range of different meals [7].

References

[1] WWF. Food. 2013. http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/changing_the_way_we_live/food/

[2] Eat Seasonably. What is it about? 2013. http://eatseasonably.co.uk/what-to-eat-now/what-is-this-about/

[3] Eat Seasonably. Seasonal fruit and vegetable calendar. 2013. http://eatseasonably.co.uk/what-to-eat-now/calendar/

[4] WWF. Food. 2013. http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/changing_the_way_we_live/food/

[5] Part-Time Carnivore. Part-Time Carnivore. 2013. http://www.parttimecarnivore.org/

[6] Love Food Hate Waste Scotland. Shopping List Tips. 2013. http://scotland.lovefoodhatewaste.com/content/can-i-have-writing

[7] Love Food Hate Waste Scotland. Food Portion Size – Portion Calculator. 2013. http://scotland.lovefoodhatewaste.com/portions/everyday

The importance of Sustainability and Sustainable Development is widely acknowledged. Companies, governments, and all kinds of establishments demonstrate their ambitions day by day to show that they are keeping up with ‘trends’, not only because it is known that the current rate of consumption cannot be kept up in the long-term, but because they have ethical responsibility for people and the planet (CIWEM, 2012).

However, according to the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM, 2012) people feel threatened that such new ways would create worse quality of lifestyle, decrease their country’s economic competitiveness and political power. It is said that it is due to the misconception that Sustainable Development is considered a factor that slows ‘normal’ development. This is a highly controversial issue, as people are getting mixed signals, they are told that efforts are maximised to create a better, greener, even happier economy, but at the same time this change is being delayed as sustainability is viewed as a ‘luxury’, an approach for which governments lack the financial coverage, and therefore, the restoration of previous (before the current financial crisis) consumption rates enjoys priority (CIWEM, 2012). This mentality almost certainly will not do two things: make things greener, and inject sustainability into the mainstream.

Its importance is highlighted by the Stern-review that clearly states that the longer real actions take, the bigger price (monetary price) we are going to have to pay for the consequences.

The good news is that businesses have the power to help normalise green values, which could even be an opportunity create brand-loyalty (Guardian, 2013a).

For instance, Patagonia, an outdoor clothing store came up with the slogan ‘Don’t buy this jacket’. What is more surprising (for us, consumers) than hearing that we should not purchase a certain product? This clever idea is a win-win however, as consumers cannot help but investigate what is behind such a twist and give their attention and time, and on the other hand, they are likely to learn a lesson about sustainability and the appreciation of owning a new product – especially young people (Guardian, 2013b). Levi’s took a different, but equally unexpected approach towards sustainable education: the company is telling people that it is often unnecessary to wash their favourite pair of jeans, and therefore having them decrease the carbon footprint of maintaining their clothes (Guardian, 2013a).

But it is not only their products that matter. Businesses have the power to ensure that the other companies they work with care about the long-term consequences of their actions: they can fit the ones that have similar ambitions into their supply chain.

Most importantly: companies have access to the mainstream and can therefore change it.

If you would like to buy more sustainable products for any part of your daily life, take a look at Energy Saving Warehouse’s range, which are all accredited to the highest environmental standards.

References

HM Treasury (2006)‘Stern Review: The economics of climate change’ (report) [online] Available from: http://mudancasclimaticas.cptec.inpe.br/~rmclima/pdfs/destaques/sternreview_report_complete.pdf

CIWEM – The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (2012) ‘Mainstreaming Sustainability’ (report) [online] Available from: http://www.ciwem.co.uk/policy-and-international/current-topics/sustainable-development.aspx

Guardian – Sustainable Consumption: why brands should take the lead (2013a) [online] Available from: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/sustainable-consumption-brands-take-lead

Guardian – Young consumers hold the key to sustainable brands (2013b) [online[ Available from: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/young-consumers-key-sustainable-brands

Introduction

Over the past decade concern has grown over the environmental consequences of fossil fuels, this has influenced the recent interest in biofuels (Hill et al. 2006).  Ambitious  policies that promote biofuel use and production have not only been set by the EU, but by the USA and China as well (Soimakallio and Koponen, 2011). Biofuels are produced from processed food crops, other plants or animal products and agricultural or organic wastes. Crops grown specifically for energy uses rather than food or feedstock’s, are known as second generation biofuels, these are in development and not currently available for commercial use (Rowe et al. 2009). First generations biofuels are produced from processed food or feed crops, these are used today. Have brought conflict over growing crops for food, growing crops for fuel and protecting the environment.

What advantages are there to using biofuels?

Europe has few crude oil reserves and is highly reliant on imports to obtain fuel, 98% of transport in the EU is entirely dependent on fossil fuels (IPCC, 2011). Rising oil prices improve the cost competitiveness of biofuels helping them enter the market, providing a viable alternative for oil (Hill et al. 2006). European leaders see domestic biofuels as a more secure and sustainable option, providing incentives for more biofuel usage.

The aim of biofuel usage is to help combat climate change by reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that are currently released with the burning of fossil fuels by increasing its share of renewable energy (Banse et al. 2011). The majority of biofuels reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 30% when compared to fossil fuels combustion (Scharlemann and Laurence, 2008). When biofuels are blended with petroleum fuel or diesel they can improve air quality, especially in urban regions, as they generally bring a reduction in sulphur, particulates and carbon monoxide (Worldwatch Institute, 2006).

Liquid biofuels are important as they can be substituted immediately into the majority of transport vehicles. Meaning greenhouse gas savings can be achieved with little monetary investment or time developing new transportation infrastructure, making them a popular choice for governments.

Biofuels have the potential to provide environmental benefits, if they are planted on barren land where the soil has low carbon content, they can sequester carbon into the soil, effectively becoming a carbon sink. Moreover, if planted on this type of land they could increase biodiversity and protect watersheds, as they offer a more diverse and natural environment than other agricultural systems (Karta, 2006).

This is great: So what are the disadvantages?

The burning of biofuels can emit less CO₂ than combustion of fossil fuel, the growth and production stage of biofuels needs to be taken into account. Have you considered your personal carbon footprint? Low yielding energy crops, such as corn ethanol, can have heavy inputs of fossil fuel energy during intensive farming and manufacture and can in some cases increase the environmental impact. CO₂ is not the only greenhouse gas emitted during this process, N₂O is also released, affecting the net greenhouse gas balance (UNEP, 2009).

Increase biofuel usage will subsequently lead to the demand for land needed to cultivate biofuel crops (Harvey, 2011). Clearing native ecosystems is sometimes the most profitable method of obtaining land, causing detrimental effects to water, soils and the regional climate (Tilman et al. 2009).  An increase in ecosystem destruction rates will lead to a rise in biodiversity lost.

If biofuel production continues using the same intense methods of farming as have been used over the past century, it will increase the use of chemicals such as nitrogen, phosphorus and pesticides (Hill et al. 2006). These can enter habitats and aquifers, affecting the surrounding ecosystem, causing issues such as eutrophication. Current farming methods use a lot of water in the irrigation and processing of the crops. Biofuels compete with food crops for land space, this competition drives the prices of food up making it difficult to feed the world poor.

Conclusions

Global population has recently exceeded 7 billion (BBC, 2011), and is still increasing. Demand for energy is rising, and sources suggest that we are reaching our level of peak oil, implying that our reliance on fossil fuels cannot continue (IPCC, 2007). I believe biofuels can be used as a short term substitute. However they should not be considered as a long term alternative to fossil fuels, as it is not sustainable. The development of second generation biofuels, if produced sustainably could provide part of an alternative to fossil fuels, as they produce biofuels from waste products and energy grown crops. Yet they should not be completely relied on, as the impacts of growing the amount of biomass needed to replace fossil fuels would be too harmful to the environment.

If you are interested in finding out about the part other alternative energy sources, such as solar power, have to play in the future of energy supply have a look around the website.

References

Banse et al. (2011) Impact of  EU biofuel policies on world agricultural production and land use. Biomass and Bioenergy (35) 2385-2390.

BBC (2011) Population seven billion: UN sets out challeneges, (Online). Avaliable: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-15459643 . [Accessed: 24/11/2011]

Harvey, M. and Pilgrim, S. (2011) The new competition for land: Food, energy and climate change. Food Policy (32) S40-S51.

Hill, Jason, et al. (2006), ‘Environmental, economic and energetic costs and benefits of biodiesel and ethanol biofuels’, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 103 (30), 11206-10.

IPCC (2011) Special Report on Renewable Energy Soureces and Climaate Change Mitigation: Bioenergy. International Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.

IPCC (2007) Mitigation of Climate Change. Chapter 4.3.1.3. Petroleum Fuels. IPCC Fourth Assessment Report: Climate Change.

Karta, S. (2006) Environmental effects of Bioenergy. Bioenergy and Agriculture: Promises and Challenages, brief 4 of 12.

Rowe, Rebecca, Street, Nathaniel, and Taylor, Gail (2009), ‘Identifing potential environmental impacts of large-scale deployment of dedicated bioenergy crops in the UK’, Renewable and sustainable Energy Reviews, 13, 271-90.

Scharlemann, J. and Laurence, W. (2008) How green are biofuels? Science, 319, 43-44.

Soimakallio, Sampo and Koponen, Kati (2011), ‘How to ensure greenhouse gas emission reductions by increasing the use of biofuels? – suitability of the European Union sustainability criteria’, Biomass and Bioenergy, 35, 3504-13.

Tilman, David, et al. (2009), ‘Benefical Biofuels – The Food, Energy and Environment Trilemma’, Science, 325, 270-71.

UNEP (2009) Assessing biofuels, United Nations Environmental Programme.

Worldwatch Institute (2006) Biofuels for transportation

The implications and impacts from ever increasing greenhouse gases emitted into our atmosphere are profound.  It is the responsibility of scientists and policy makers to find methods of reducing these emissions and increasing the worlds carbon sinks. The oceans are one of the largest natural carbon sinks in the world, absorbing around 30-50% of anthropogenic emissions per year. With this in mind, scientists have come up with a way of potentially enhancing the amount of carbon that can be sequestered by the ocean by using iron to increase the amount of photosynthesis that occurs in surface waters. This method is known as iron fertilisation.

What is the Iron Fertilisation hypothesis?

Some areas of the world oceans are known to be rich in nutrients but have very little growth. In the late 1980’s Scientist John Martin claimed that iron was a limiting factor in growth in these areas and by adding iron he could stimulate phytoplankton growth in surface oceanic layers (Buesseler et al. 2003). Phytoplankton use carbon dioxide during the process of photosynthesis, therefore, by adding iron to oceanic waters and increasing the phytoplankton growth, this would also increase the amount of CO₂ absorbed through the oceans.

What evidence supports the hypothesis?

John Martin needed to prove that iron was a limiting factor in phytoplankton growth. He studied the depth profile of iron throughout the oceans and found that iron acted in the same way as nitrogen and phosphorus, both micronutrients. It has a high surface depletion, indicating that something is taking it out of the surface waters; furthermore iron is regenerated at depth due to bacterial decomposition. This signifies that iron is a micronutrient and can be a limiting factor from growth.

Twelve oceanic iron experiments were carried out to test whether iron enrichment would increase primary productivity in areas of high nutrients but low productivity (Boyd et al. 2007). Buesseler and Boyd (2003) studied three experiments all with locations in the southern ocean. They stated that all of the experiments produced noticeable increases in biomass and associated decreases in dissolved inorganic carbon and macronutrients. Powell (2008) also reported that all 12 experiments reported up to a 15 fold increase in chlorophyll content in the surface of the oceans.

The 12 experiments verify that iron enrichment does enhance primary productivity in high nutrient but low chlorophyll areas of the oceans and therefore iron has a fundamental role in photosynthesis.

However, very little work has been carried out to test whether the amount of carbon taken up in the surface waters during these experiments has been transported down throughout the water column, and sequestered into the seafloor or deep layers of the ocean. If this process is not completed then the carbon will re-emerge later in a different location.

What are the impacts of iron fertilisation?

Iron fertilisation is a popular notion in carbon sequestration as it has been portrayed as a cheap, fast and easy way to mitigate climate change. However uncertainties and doubts regarding this method of geo-engineering have increased dramatically since John Martin first came up with concept.

So far only 12 small scale experiments and computer models have been used to predict the impacts and benefits of large scale long term iron fertilisation. While this is a fairly risk free process of assessing the costs and benefits of this method of carbon sequestration, it by no means can replicate the effects of a large scale experiment.

Creating large scale phytoplankton blooms could change the balance of the oceans food chains and could increase the number of large predators including fish, jellyfish and algae concentrations. The increase in fish and commercially available food could lead to an increase in the world’s fisheries. However some phytoplankton blooms are toxic and could therefore be harmful to the whole food chain, including human consumption.

The fertilisation of the oceans could cause deficits in oxygen or nutrient in far removed areas of the ocean, due to the oceanic circuits. Areas that have been enriched with iron months or even years previously will be lacking in nutrients as they will have already been consumed.

The UN Convention on Biodiversity states that precautionary action must always apply in the face of uncertain consequences. This applies to iron fertilisation experiments in the oceans, and it is now forbidden for any iron enrichment to take place within a countries coastal waters. Furthermore the London Protocol against marine pollution could also apply to the input of dissolved iron as the consequences of this are still mostly unknown.

According to Boyd (2008) the costs of iron fertilisation have been severally underestimated. The amount of carbon that can be absorbed by iron fertilisation in the long run has greatly decreased over the past 20 years by 5-20%. Especially when compared to the amount of fossil fuel emissions that are emitted into our atmosphere, iron fertilisation alone, can be considered to make little difference to the greenhouse gas effect.

Conclusion

Iron fertilisation is an interesting concept of geo-engineering and is successful at drawing carbon out of the atmosphere in short periods of time. However the impacts of large scale experiments, or even the commercialisation of iron enrichment to reduce the effects of climate change, are largely unknown and high in risks. It is unlikely that iron fertilisation will ever occur to the scale that will achieve significant impacts in aiding the efforts to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. However, every little does help in terms of reducing these gases, especially carbon dioxide so why not have a look at our tool to help you consider your footprint?

References

Buesseler, K. et al. (2008) Ocean Iron Fertilisation –Moving Forward in a Sea of Uncertainty. Science Vol: 319. P: 162

Powell, H. (2008) Will Ocean Fertilisation Work? Oceanus Magazine. Vol: 46. P: 10-13

Boyd, P. (2008) Implications of large scale Iron fertilisation of the Oceans. Marine Ecology Progress series. Vol: 364. P: 213-218.

• Some vegetables can be refreshed quickly by putting them into ice water for up to thirty minutes
• Onions and potatoes like cool, dry places and shoud be kept separetely and avoid placing them in the fridge as they will turn bad quicker
• Bananas are best hung up at room temperature as they turn black inside the fridge
• Make sure that vegetables and fruits are not stored in a plastic bag

The latest novelty for keeping food fresh is FreshPaper, a piece of paper infused with herbs and spices. When vegetables and fruits are stored on top of these paper sheets, they can last two to four times longer than otherwise. They can be used anywhere, inside or outside the fridge, in a fruit bowl – the opportunities are countless. The papers work until you can no longer smell their unique maple scent, and they are biodegradable and recyclable, of course.

Another option is the so-called ‘produce saver’ by reuseit.com. This product can also extend the shelf life of a product three to ten times, by absorbing the humidity and ethylene gas that is released by the ripening vegetable or fruit.

Overall, besides many traditional methods and tips and tricks, novel technology can also help avoid wasting precious food in our kitchens. What’s more they can also support families in developing countries who may not be able to afford the luxury of a fridge . Other environmental aspects to kitchen activities can also be considered, such as the environmental benefit of bulk buying to save packaging, as well as money. Take a look at Energy Saving Warehouse’s range of kitchen supplies to help you consider the environment through your purchases.

The path to a truly sustainable society begins with the objective of improving and sustaining efficiency and safety in all forms of development ⁽⁴⁾

This means that in order to achieve a fully sustainably developed society, this development must affect all aspects of the community or even country and elements such as culture, climate and place are of the utmost importance if this is to be achieved.

• The environment that is been preserved is nothing without the people who live in it just as the people are nothing without the environment.
• Climate change is place based and is directly proportional to culture as well as the environment that surrounds it.
• Development could be said to be the act of expanding and improving on what is and what was. Therefore there should be an improvement of architecture in a place based context and not the other way round.

Sustainable development should therefore be defined by emphasizing the importance and implications of cultural values, and placing ‘cultural values’ as a critical key to sustainable development in third world countries and most  especially in Africa. Development in these countries has always meant an emulation of the western world and loosing identity of who they are, imbibing their ‘sophistication’ as well as their problems. As such mainstream notions of sustainable development fall within the narrow confines of modernization theories of development which prioritizes an image and vision of development scripted in the tenets of Western technological civilization that is often promoted as the “universal” and the “obvious” ⁽¹⁾. What it does is to legitimize so-called modern Western values and to de-ligitimize alternative value systems thereby constructing a global cultural asymmetry between the “West” and the “Rest” ⁽³⁾  .

• The cultural values of an area should be showcased in such a way as to completely eliminate the idea of backwardness especially in Africa.

Poverty is the greatest global issue. It is much more devastating than the impact of climate change. The subject of sustainability of the human race should be the focal point of every major development and sustainable development generally should begin from here. You can start by looking to live more sustainably through sustainable purchases and choices. Achieving sustainability in most of third world countries has been an issue especially when trying to emulate the western world’s form of development, thereby making it very expensive and forgetting the fact that the answer to achieving what we want lies in our identity.

Bibliography

1. Aseniero, G. (1985). “A Reflection on Developmentalism: From Development to Transformation.” In H. Addo. Development as Social Transformation. (London: Hodder & Stoughton): 48-85.
2. Galtung, J. (1996). Peace by Peaceful Means: Peace and Conflict, Development and Civilization. London: Sage/PRIO.
3. Landes, D. (2000). Culture Makes Almost All the Difference. New York: Basic Books
4. Nurse, Keith (2003) “Development: Unthinking the Past” NACLA Journal 37.3: .
5. Odebiyi S. (2010). Sustainable Housing Development in Africa: A Nigerian Perspective. International Business and Management Journal Vol. 1 No. 1. pp. 22- 30
6. 6.       Tyrell R. (2004). Culture Climate Place: A Cultural Perspective of Sustainable Architecture

In times past, spreads of bountiful grass and plants on the roof of buildings were considered to be flights of fancy of avant-garde architects. However, due to a multitude of environmental, social and economic benefits, green roofs are now moving into the mainstream in the UK and worldwide.

Green roofs are defined as any roof structure topped with a layer of soil and plants. The definition is broad – green roofs can stand for anything from a thin layer of turf to lovingly sculpted landscapes such as the one atop the Steinhaus Rogner Bad Blumau in Austria¹. Green roofs used to be widespread before the industrial revolution; however they only came back into fashion after the Second World War. Germany proved to be the pioneers of this technology – in the 70s local councils started to incorporate green roof construction requirements into research and policy and by the early 2000s, 43% of German cities provided incentives for the construction of green roofs. Now, in Munich all flat roof spaces of over 100 square metres are obliged to have a green roof.

Now interest in these innovations has spread around the world². In Copenhagen all roofs with a slope of less than 30° are required to install green roofs. The Singapore Government provides technical assistance and grants to developers in order to meet an ambitious target to create 50 hectares of ‘Skyrise Greenery Areas’ by 2030. The UK has been behind the curve in terms of green roof policy, but recently there have been signs that this is changing. Sheffield city council now expects large developments to include green roofs within new planning applications and they are now strongly encouraged in London, with a target of 5% green cover for the city by 2030³,⁴.

So why has there been such a resurgence of interest in green roofs in recent times? Only recently, researchers and planners have realised the environmental, social and even economic benefits of green roofs, which we explain one by one below^5,6.

1.      Increasing air quality

Plants can reduce the amount of polluting air particles, such as heavy metals and volatile organic compounds from the city’s atmosphere, resulting in fresher, cleaner air. Plants also take up the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, reducing the impacts of climate change.

2.      Increasing biodiversity of wildlife

If carefully designed with a thick (> 80 mm) soil depth and using species of plants or grass suitable to the local area, green roofs can maintain and increase biodiversity of plants and insects in habitat-deprived city centres.

3.      Reducing the heat island effect

Roofs and roads are dark and so absorb more heat from the sun than green areas. This leads to an increased temperature of several degrees C within cities compared to the surrounding countryside, known as the ‘heat island’ effect. Green roofs can counter this effect by reflecting more of the sun’s rays (due to their lighter green colouring) and by shading and insulating the underlying roof structure. Additionally, evaporation of water from the soil and plants can cool the roof further. Overall, green roofs can lead to a fresher, cooler city.

4.      Increasing energy conservation

Green roofs can lower your energy bills by increasing the roof insulation of the buildings they are placed upon. This can reduce the overheating of under-roof spaces of buildings in summer (meaning that less air conditioning needed) and the heat lost through roofs in winter (leading to a lower heating requirement). Find out about other ways to insulate your home.

5.      Increasing green space and roof accessibility

In many city centres, the accessibility of green spaces is severely limited. If opened to the public, green roofs can provide a way for people to have increased access to green spaces and wildlife. And who doesn’t like a garden with a view?!

6.     Reducing flooding

Conventional roofs are designed to allow rainwater to flow immediately into the drainage system. In severe storms, the sudden rush of water to the drainage systems across a city can lead to overflowing pipes and flooding. The soil and plants on green roofs can hold onto water for a longer amount of time, releasing it slowly into drainage systems over several hours and so reducing the risk of flooding.

7.      Increasing the value of buildings and reducing the cost of energy

Green roofs could even save you money⁷. By reducing air conditioning costs in summer and heating costs in winter (as mentioned in number 4, above), it’s been estimated that green roofs can substantially reduce energy costs over the whole year⁷. Secondly, by adding ‘green credentials’ to their project, some landlords have found that business tenants are more likely to ask to move in and the value of the property may be increased.

Despite all the benefits, green roofs do come with some downsides. They have to be designed carefully to maximise potential benefits; for example by using thick soils (> 80 mm) and native plants. Also, there are costs associated with the installation and maintenance of such technologies. However, despite the downsides, advocates and a growing number of local authorities across the UK, Europe and the world believe that the benefits of green roofs are worth the asking price. So next time you’re thinking of a unique way to brighten up your rafters, or if you’re redeveloping a building and need a fresh idea, why not give green roofs a try? For more information on their history, design and construction take a look at the references below.

References:

1. Green Business Watch. Amazing green roof images. 2013. Available at: http://greenbusinesswatch.org/blog/green-roof-images. Accessed April 23, 2013.

2. International Green Roof Association. 2013. Available at: http://www.igra-world.com/.

3. Greater London Authority. Greening roofs and walls. 2013. Available at: http://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/environment/greening-london/urban-greening/greening-roofs-and-walls.

4. Sheffield City Council. 4 Guideline DES1: Green Roofs.; 2013. Available at: http://sheffield-consult.limehouse.co.uk/portal/spd/designing_for_environmental_sustainability?pointId=d3671818e159.

5. Livingroofs.org. 2013. Available at: www.livingroofs.org.

6. Groundwork Sheffield. The Green Roof Guide. 2011. Available at: www.greenroofguide.co.uk.

7. Groundwork Sheffield. Green Roof Developer’s Guide.; 2011. Available at: http://www.greenroofguide.co.uk/downloads/dev_guide_v3.pdf.

While there is much debate about the environmental impact of keeping pets (e.g. [1, 2, 3, 4]), one way of reducing the energy consumption and effect on the environment of products associated with owning a dog is to buy toys that minimise this impact. Two main aspects to this are choosing toys that use few or sustainable resources in the first place, and finding durable toys that won’t need replacing often. In many cases, these two features can be combined.

Strong plastic toys are often the most durable, and will therefore also cost less and use fewer resources in the long run than cheaper, less sturdy toys that break or become worn out easily. Brands such as Kong, Tuffy’s and Vibram K9 are popular toys specially designed to be durable. Such long-lasting toys can also be specifically eco-friendly; there are plenty of toys now available that are made from recycled plastic materials, often plastic bottles. Additionally, some softer toys may be made using recycled materials, particularly for stuffing and fillings. Soft toys with strong stitching, that can’t be easily destroyed, or that will be simple and safe to repair if they are torn apart, will last longer than less robust, possibly initially cheaper toys. Rope toys made from natural fibres such as hemp are also widely available.

Companies producing and selling environmentally friendly dog toys can be found online, and either sell directly, through pet shops, or both. Some products will have more packaging and transportation associated with them than others, but the durability and composition of the toy could outweigh these factors when compared to other products, depending on the needs of the individual dog or owner. Below are a selection of companies providing environmentally friendly dog toys (and in some cases, other products too):

·Planet Dog is a US company with a range of toys, such as plastic balls and bones, made from recycled materials. They are designed to be durable and some of the toys can also be recycled again after use. UK retailers can be found by searching on their website. The products have received good reviews online, particularly in terms of durability, and the company also runs its own non-profit foundation, funded by product sales, to support assistance dogs

·West Paw is another US company that makes non-toxic, recyclable and durable toys. Their products are on sale in the UK, for example from companies such as Pawsability, Stop and Paws (both of which also sell other environmentally friendly dog toys) and Collarways. They also make soft toys from recycled plastic drinks bottles. These toys also get good online reviews

·Becotoys, made by UK based company Becothings, are made from husks left over from farming of sustainably grown bamboo and rice

·Doggie Solutions are another UK based company with a range of environmentally friendly jute dog toys, and also sell other environmentally friendly brands such as Planet Dog

·Surrey-based The Eco Dog Company sells a range of eco-friendly dog toys made by various brands including West Paws

·Natural Dog Store is a UK store which will sell a range of eco-friendly dog products, including toys. It will support a charity working to help Thailand’s neglected dogs and as of November 2012, is launching soon

·Various other online stores also sell toys under categories such as “durable” or “eco-friendly”, and can be found using general search criteria or terms specific to the type of toy required

Additionally, household items that would otherwise be thrown away can be put to use as dog toys. Plastic drinks bottles can be used as temporary or short term toys (remove the lid if it is a possible choking hazard), as can old sports balls and boots, although this is only suitable if the dog is not prone to chewing on other shoes. There are also ideas online for making toys from recycled household materials such as fabrics (e.g. [5,6]).

Have a look at our range of sustainable products to help you reduce your energy consumption across the home.

[1] http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20427313.200-cute-fluffy-and-horribly-greedy.html

[2] http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/nov/13/ethical-living-carbon-emissions

[3] http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/blogs/healthy-food/pets-environmental-impact-47122303

[4] http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/the_green_lantern/2010/02/the_trouble_with_kibbles.single.html

[5] http://www.recyclethis.co.uk/20100914/what-can-i-reuse-or-recycle-to-make-a-dogpuppy-toy

[6] http://www.craftbits.com/project/recycled-t-shirt-dogs-tugga-toy

Transition towns (also known as the Transition Network or Transition Movement) are a grassroots community network with the aim of equipping communities to deal with the challenges presented by climate change and peak oil [1].

The Transition idea first started in Kinsale, Ireland [2] and the world’s first Transition Town was Totnes, in Devon, UK, where work began in 2006 [3]. Transition Town Totnes was founded by Rob Hopkins and Naresh Giangrande, and following successful projects there and in collaboration with Peter Lipman of Sustrans, the Transition Network was established in 2007 [2, 4]. Its purpose is to inspire, encourage, connect, support and train communities and create initiatives that increase resilience and reduce CO₂ emissions [1]; a more detailed description of its aims and activities is available in a document available on the Transition Network website [2]. The network started to grow quickly, rapidly spreading to other countries such as Germany, Australia, Canada, Italy and the Netherlands, among others. The Transition Handbook was published in 2008, followed by further more specific guides [1]. As of November 2012, the projects map on the Transition Towns website shows projects all over the world, with the majority in the UK and rest of Europe [5].

Initiatives cover a wide range of scales, including local initiatives, regional hubs and national support networks, all coordinated worldwide by the Transition Network [2]. Common project areas at a local scale include sustainable food sourcing, reducing transport and fuel usage, minimising household energy consumption, encouraging reusing, repairing and recycling, trading of goods and resources and establishing local currency. Regionally, new and existing initiatives are supported and government and business links are established, while infrastructure, training and business opportunities are coordinated on a national level [2].

Various stages are involved in the creation of a Transition Initiative [2]:

·The initial stage – discussion of the Transition concept between interested people

·The “mulling” stage – the individuals or group involved contact the Transition Network and investigate the materials provided about Transition Towns

·Formal Transition Initiative – the group completes a declaration of intention. This lists guidelines and asks for information about the initiative, and checks that the initiative will be able to proceed successfully. The Initiative then gains formal status.

Anyone interested in starting a Transition Initiative should refer to the Transition Network website to find out what is involved. There are full guides to every stage of the process, including benefits of Transition initiatives [6], getting started [7], building momentum and establishing projects [8], broadening links [9], scaling projects up to social enterprises [10], and the ultimate aim of spreading the Transition concept to a wider stage [11].

[1] http://www.transitionnetwork.org/about

[2] http://www.transitionnetwork.org/sites/default/files/WhoWeAreAndWhatWeDo-lowres.pdf

[3] http://www.transitionnetwork.org/initiatives/totnes

[4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transition_Towns

[5] http://www.transitionnetwork.org/projects/map

[6] http://www.transitionnetwork.org/why-do-transition

[7] http://www.transitionnetwork.org/starting

[8] http://www.transitionnetwork.org/deepening

[9] http://www.transitionnetwork.org/connecting

[10] http://www.transitionnetwork.org/building

[11] http://www.transitionnetwork.org/daring