The issue of sustainable development is high on the global agenda and SUDS can help towards this movement (Butler and Parkinson, 1997). SUDS, or Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems are a sequence of water management practices and facilities designed to drain surface water in a manner that will provide a more sustainable approach than what has been the conventional practice of routing run-off through a pipe to a watercourse (SEPA,2014). There are a number of practices which can be undertaken in the movement towards more sustainable water systems:

-mitigation of accidents that may result in pollution incidents

-reduction in pollution incidents

-reduction in polluting materials

-Water harvesting

Facilities may also be constructed to help contribute to SUDS which include permeable surfaces, filter strips, swales, detention basins and wetlands for example.

Permeable surfaces

Permeable pavement systems (PPS) are suitable for a wide variety of residential, commercial and industrial applications. They can act as a technology for pollutant control contain surface run-off from areas such as roads or parking spaces where contaminated water may infiltrate into the soil (Scholz and Grabowiecki,2007).

Filter strips

Filter drains or filter trenches can be used beside roads and other impermeable surfaces, but should be avoided at busy road junctions or where rainwater can become heavily contaminated. Filter drains allow the run-off to soak away into the surrounding soil. Filter drains are filled with stones or gravel. This stone fill collects particles and helps to prevent pollutants from entering groundwater (NIEA,2014). Furthermore filter strips are easy to construct as well as having low construction costs (Susdrain, 2012).

Swales

Swales integrate stormwater management into urban structures and creates new structures such as bioretention swales (Lloyd, 2001; Kazemi,Beecham and Gibbs,2011) Bioretention swales harvest stormwater, whilst filtering it through to an engineered soil media. This wastewater can be stored for reuse or discharging downstream (Melbourne Water, 2005; Kazemi,Beecham and Gibbs,2011). Their maintenance can be incorporated into general landscape management and these systems are inexpensive as well (Susdrain, 2012).

Detention basins

Detention basins are surface storage basins or facilities that provide flow control through attenuation of stormwater runoff. They also facilitate some setting of particulate pollutants. They provide the advantages in that it can cater for a wide range of rainfall events and they are simple to design and construct. However there is little reduction in run-off volume (Susdrain,2012).

Wetlands

Wetlands are vegetated water bodies that use methods of sedimentation and filtration to provide treatment of surface water run-off. Furthermore they aid in providing high aesthetic, ecological and amenity benefits therefore potentially adding value to local properties (Susdrain, 2012).

Urban planners should therefore consider the use of SUDS in their development programs as they are able to reduce runoff volumes, enhance water quality, often provide an attractive habitat therefore producing a world in which many people have a better quality of life (Susdrain,2012).

References

Butler, D. and Parkinson,J.,1997. Towards sustainable urban drainage. Water Science and Technology. Vol 35 p53-63.

Kazemi,F., Beecham,S., Gibbs,J.,2011. Streetscape biodiversity and the role of bioretention swales in an Australian urban environment.  Landscape and Urban Planning. Vol 101, p139-148.

Lloyd, S., 2001. Water Sensitive Urban Design in the Australian Context, Synthesis of a Conference Held in 30–31 August 2000, Melbourne Australia. Melbourne, Cooperative Research Centre for Catchment Hydrology.

Melbourne Water, 2005. WSUD engineering procedures: Stormwater. CSIRO Publishing Melbourne.

NIEA,2014.Sustainable Urban Drainage systems. (online) Available at: http://www.netregs.org.uk/library_of_topics/water/sustainable_urban_drain_system/filter_strips_and_filter_drain.aspx. Accessed on 6^th July 2014.

Scholz,M.,and  Grabowiecki,P., 2007. Review of permeable paving systems. Building and the Environment. Vol 42, p3830-3836.

SEPA, 2014. Sustainable Urban Drainage systems.(online). Available at: http://www.sepa.org.uk/water/water_regulation/regimes/pollution_control/suds.aspx. Accessed on 6^th July 2014.

Susdrain.,2012. SUDS’. (online). Available at: http://www.susdrain.org/delivering-suds/using-suds/suds-components/retention_and_detention/Detention_basins.html. Accessed on 6^th July 2014.

The term ‘eco-city’ is a relatively new idea however its concept has existed for a very long time (Roseland, 1997).  In 1987 the Brundtland commission defined sustainable development as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (WCED,1987) and these eco-cities can help towards a sustainable future. In simple terms an eco-city is an ecologically healthy city which incorporates a number of factors (Ecocity builders, 2014);

-An ecologically healthy human settlement modelled on the self-sustaining resilient structure and function of natural ecosystems and living organisms

-An entity that includes its inhabitants and their ecological impacts

- A sub system of the regional, national and world economic system

Case study

Perhaps one of the most avowedly experimental responses taken place on an urban scale in response to climate change are new low carbon cities including that of Masdar City in the United Arab Emirates whereby in 2008 the city embarked on a journey to become the world’s most sustainable city (Bulkeley et al., 2011; Madsar,2012). The city has now started a process of ‘transforming oil wealth into renewable  energy leadership’ and has set long term goals of a transition from a 20^th century carbon based economy into a 21^st century sustainable economy (Reiche,2010). Described as a living laboratory, Masdar City is designed to capture the lessons of developing new technologies  and ways of real living time. On one hand the city itself is characterised by a test bed for a carbon free-lifestyle however the city, developed by the UAE provides space to exploit and develop the clean technology sector (Bulkeley et al., 2011).

Some of the major developments of Masdar City includes the Masdar Clean Energy projects; the concentrated solar project which include Masdar City’s 1 MW rooftop installations has been one movement towards sustainability. Further plans include a 100MW photovoltaic plant as well as carbon sequestration and carbon capture projects (Masdar,2012). However Masdar City is not only focused on sustainability in the region, internationally Masdar Clean energy has developed wind farms in the Seychelles as well as renewable projects in Tonga and Afghanistan (Masdar,2012).

However even though eco-cities seem viable in a world increasingly concerned with global warming actual implementation can be hard to obtain and poses a lot of obstacles with regards to social and economic costs making these cities not as appealing as first thought.

References

Bulkeley,H., Broto,V.,Hodson,M.,Marvin,S.,2011. Cities and the Low carbon Transition. The European Financial Review.

Ecocity builders, 2014. Ecocity definition. (online) Available at: http://www.ecocitybuilders.org/why-ecocities/the-solution/ecocity-definition/. Accessed on 26^th May 2014.

Masdar,2012. Masdar City. (online) Available at: http://www.masdar.ae/en/city/detail/one-of-the-worlds-most-sustainable-communities-masdar-city-is-an-emerging-g. Accessed on 26^th May 2014.

Reiche,D.,2010. Renewable  Energy Policies in the Gulf countries: A case study of the carbon-neutral ‘Masdar City’ in Abu Dhabi. Energy policy. Vol 38 (1) p378-382.

Roseland,M.,1997. Dimensions of the eco-city. Cities.  Vol 14 (4) p197-202.

WCED,1987. Our common future. Oxford university Press, New York.

What will you be doing March 29 at 8.30pm? Having a drink with friends? Having dinner? Spending time with your family? Instead of sitting with the lights on, why not spend an hour by candlelight and support WWF’s worldwide event Earth Hour.

Starting in 2007, Earth Hour asks individuals, businesses and governments to switch out their lights for one hour – at 8.30pm local time, whatever your location around the globe. The idea is to allow those who take part to show they are taking steps to reduce their environmental impact, and for many people it is the first step to making more significant, sustainable changes to their lifestyle.

Last year 157 countries took part, with over 10 million people in the UK alone turning off their lights at 8.30pm [1]. This year organisers WWF hope even more people to join in, with “Amazing Spider Man 2” actors Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone each pledging their support to one of the Earth Hour Blue crowdfunding projects [2].

While not every light should be turned off, for example safety lights, traffic lights etc. [3], you can choose to turn off overhead room lights, lamps, computers and other electronic devices such as televisions, and other similar light sources.

An event like Earth Hour raises awareness all over the globe about the importance of conserving energy and becoming a more sustainable society. Making the focus lighting is highly relevant to this, as typically 7% of a household’s energy bill comes from lighting [4].

There are some easy and quick ways to instantly reduce your lighting costs:

• Use natural daylight – when it’s light outside keen curtains and blinds open to let in sunlight, rather than having lamps on.
• Turn off lights when you leave the room – having lights on in empty rooms keeps your bills higher than they need to be.
• Use sensors and timers so lights go off automatically when they aren’t needed.
• Make sure the bulbs you buy are energy efficient – Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) and Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are both readily available across the country.
• Shop for Energy Efficient lights at https://www.energysavingwarehouse.co.uk/store/Lights

References

[1] WWF. Earth Hour in 2013. 2014. https://earthhour.wwf.org.uk/about-wwfs-earth-hour/earth-hour-in-2013

[2] Earth Hour. Earth Hour & Spider-Man Join Forces to Save the Planet. 2014. http://www.earthhour.org/be-superhero-planet

[3] Earth Hour. Celebrating Earth Hour. 2014. http://www.earthhour.org/celebrating-earth-hour

[4] Energy Saving Trust. Lighting. 2014. http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/scotland/Electricity/Lighting

An article by Page (2011), presented the idea that there may be a ‘tipping point’ or threshold where there is an abrupt change, a possible result could be a shift from one state to another, and for example freezing point is the threshold between ice and water (Hassol, 2004). There is previous evidence of tipping points related to climate being passed, for example the collapsing of the West Antarctic ice sheet, which raised sea levels by 3 meters (Page, 2011), or the 5ºC drop in temperature over Greenland during the period of warming after the last ice age (Hassol, 2004). It is thought that this drop in temperature was due to crossing the threshold of the thermohaline system, resulting in a reduction of currents to Europe and the Arctic as well as impacting temperature on the entire globe (Hassol, 2004). This is very similar, although on a much larger scale, to the Great Salinity Anomaly event in the late 1960s which was thought to have been caused by a change in salinity levels due to a large input of freshwater from the ice in the Arctic Ocean (Schmitt, 1996). Worryingly there is still controversy as to how this event was even was caused, as well as the exact effects of it. This means that if it were to happen again, we will be unprepared.

But will a large scale event like the collapsing of the West Antarctic ice sheet or the Great Salinity Anomaly happen now?

There is increasing worry that something will, and an event like this could cause catastrophic damage. The threat of global warming lies with the increasing temperatures brought about mainly due to human influence, but also natural fluctuations, for example the 2 ºC increase in temperature which followed the last ice age (Jackson and Jackson, 2000). We are already experiencing changes such as the melting of the polar ice caps, with NASA and NOAA data showing roughly a million square miles of sea ice has already disappeared in the last three decades from the Arctic alone (NRDC, 2007). This in turn will have its own direct effects, such as an increase in sea level with an estimated half a metre rise during this century (Holden, 2008; Hassol, 2004), as well as an increase in the albedo effect (The ice reflects around 85-90% of the sun’s rays back out of the atmosphere, keeping the planet cool, however if the ice melts the ocean which only reflects 10%, causing the absorption of the rays which heats the earth (Hassol, 2004)).

By looking into the past we can predict the future consequences of a warming climate, however there are still areas we do not understand and it is these that we will be unprepared for if they occur. The major historical events are linked together with the passing of a tipping point, be it temperature or salinity for example, and so if the threshold is not known we cannot predict if or perhaps when it will happen in the future.

References

Hassol, S.J, (2004), Impacts of a warming Arctic, Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA), Cambridge University Press, Canada

Holden, J, (2008), ‘Quaternary environmental change’ in Holden, J, (ed) ‘An introduction to physical geography and the environment’, Second edition, Pearsons, Essex, p572

Jackson, A.R.W, Jackson, J.M (2000), Environmental Science: The Natural Environment and Human Impact, 2^nd edition, Essex, p349

Natural Resources Defence Council (NRDC), (2007), Climate Facts: Polar Bears on Thin Ice, http://www.nrdc.org/globalwarming/thinice.pdf [01/11/2011]

Page, M.L, (2011), Climate change: What we do know – and what we don’t, New Scientist, 212, 2835, p36 – 43

Schmitt, R.W, (1996), If Rain Falls on the Ocean – Does it Make a Sound? Fresh Water’s Effect on Ocean Phenomena, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, http://www.whoi.edu/oceanus/viewArticle.do?id=2344 [01/11/2011]

It’s getting to that time of year again, yes it may be the middle of October but we find the subject of Christmas all around us. We walk into shops and are met with sparkly lights, decorations and adverts telling us to order in time for Christmas or book our Christmas meal. Have you ever thought about the impact of Christmas on the environment?

Christmas is a joyous time of year for most, turkey dinner, a nice pile of presents and travel to see family. Each families Christmas is unique to them but the concept of gifts and food are constant. It is estimated that a family may spend up to £700 at Christmas but this has a large variance on travel[1].

Christmas has been built up to be the largest consumer event of the year it all adds up with the average UK Christmas having a footprint of 280kg[2] per person, that is equal to;

• 100 loads of washing washed at 40 degrees and tumble dried
•  A single  plane journey from London to Glasgow
• 200 bottles of wine

Though this impact is dependent on a range of factors including travel and overall money spent.

So what can you do to reduce your Christmas footprint:

- Consider alternative modes of transport to get to family gatherings, if you are spending a few days with relatives consider taking the train or coach for part of the journey, not traveling by car will also encourage you to take less, this is more applicable for traveling long journeys around the UK.

- Try to do all your shopping in one trip to minimise your transport footprint, or if ordering online make use of their gift wrap service and get parcels sent direct to the recipient, as delivery companies are greening up their act to reduce emissions, especially if you order through amazon as they use courier DPD[3] who ensure deliveries are carbon neutral and also send you hour delivery slots to ensure you are at home.

- Each year we each on average receive 2 gifts that we don’t want equating to £2.1 Billion worth of gifts[4]. Create a Christmas gift list for the family to detract from receiving unwanted gifts which will also cut out the journey to take an item back to the shops.

- The tree: real or fake[5], studies have shown that the type of lights used on the tree have a bigger impact than whether the tree is real or fake, ensure you buy low energy LED lights, and if you are buying a fake tree be sure to check where the tree has been made and try to avoid ones made in China. Ensure you properly recycle your Christmas tree, as it can be reduced down into chippings or burned saving up to 80% of the emissions that would be released it was sent to landfill, contact your local authority to find out options available in your area[6].

- Plan food portions, helping you to save money and save resources. Any food leftovers you may have make into pies or stews for the Boxing Day meal. Some great Christmas leftover recipes can be found at http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/christmas-leftovers

- Re-use or recycle Christmas paper and packaging, be sure to check what items can be put in your household recycling bin and for any larger items ensure you dispose of them correctly. http://www.recyclenow.com/ is a great website to look up where items can be recycled and there are some great reuse tips at http://www.rethinkwasteni.org/at-home/reuse/reuse-at-christmas

So this year make your Christmas a happy one for both you and the planet.

Aerosols are everywhere around us, ranging in size from the width of a virus up to the diameter of a human hair [1]. And although we cannot see them, these tiny particles can play havoc with both our health and the climate.

Aerosols are tiny particles or droplets found throughout the Earth’s atmosphere, and are often composed of sulfate, nitrate, ammonium, or sea salt. Aerosols are classed in terms of their size, with different terms used by different scientific fields. They range in size from nanometers to micrometers, and are most commonly referred to as particulate matter e.g PM_2.5 or PM₁₀, depending on their size.

The main natural sources of aerosols are volcanic eruptions, the sea, soils, wild animals and desertification. Aerosols are predominantly formed through natural processes, while roughly 10% [2] are produced by anthropogenic sources such as fossil fuel burning, land use changes, biomass burning, fires, aircraft and ship emissions and increasing numbers of domesticated animals.

Natural aerosols are spread over both land and ocean, while man made particles such as sulphate aerosols are often found in regions downwind of industrialised areas in the Northern Hemisphere, meaning that aerosol influence on the climate can be ‘…highly variable in space and time’ [3], due to winds. Particle cover over developed countries has started to decrease in recent years due to cleaner industrial processes, but there has been a steady increase across Asia, especially China, which has lead to worsening air conditions.

Aerosols impact the climate in two ways: (i) directly, by scattering and absorbing radiation in the atmosphere, and (ii) indirectly by acting as cloud condensing nuclei and so changing the microphysical structure of clouds [4]. Aerosols can influence both incoming and outgoing radiation, though they are most effective at scattering incoming radiation [5], meaning less energy will reach and warm the Earth’s atmosphere, resulting in a global cooling effect. Some aerosols also absorb light rather than just reflecting it, which warms the surrounding atmosphere, but shades and cools the surface below.

Aerosol particles also act as cloud condensing nuclei, which can effect the lifetime and composition of clouds. An increase in cloud cover will lead to more of the incoming radiation being reflected back into space, and therefore not reaching or warming the earth’s surface. A high concentration of particulate matter in the atmosphere will lead to brighter, denser clouds. These clouds are less likely to precipitate out, and will reflect more radiation than clouds formed when there are low concentrations of aerosols.

Due to their direct and indirect effect on the Earth’s climate, the negative radiative forcing (a change in the radiation balance due to the instantaneous release of a certain quantity of a radiatively active greenhouse gas – assuming that no other components of the climate system are affected) by aerosols is to create a cooling effect. Much research has been done over the years to try and identify whether or not aerosols mask the effects of global warming. If aerosols particles such as sulphites were reduced in the future, would the decrease in their cooling effects lead to an even more rapid increase in global temperatures than we are seeing at present? Despite decades of research, the potential magnitude of aerosol cooling is hard to quantify at present due to many uncertainties such as future emissions. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have attempted to try and quantify it somewhat, and came to the conclusion that although these microscopic particles do cause a cooling effect, they do not completely offset global warming [6].

While anthropogenic aerosol concentrations have decreased in developed regions, the rapid increase in industrialisation in developing countries such as China has meant that global aerosol concentrations have remained constant. The cooling effect that these particles create may have in some way acted to mask the effects of global warming, but with so many uncertainties in future emissions worldwide, the part that aerosols will play in the future of climate change remains to be seen.

References

[1] Voiland, A. 2010. Aerosols: Tiny Particles, Big Impact. NASA Earth Observatory. http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Aerosols/

[2] As above.

[3] Andreae, M.O. 1996. ‘Raising dust in the greenhouse.’ Nature 380: 389-390

[4] Penner, J.E., 2000. ‘Aerosols, Effects on Climate.’ In Encyclopedia of Global Environmental Change, edited by M.C. MacCracken and J.S. Perry, 162-167. John Wiley and Sons.

[5] Andreae, M.O. 1996. ‘Raising dust in the greenhouse.’ Nature 380: 389-390

[6] Haywood, J. 2013. Climate Change and Aerosols. The Met Office. http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate-change/guide/science/explained/aerosols

Current research has shown that climate warming is having a large impact on many types of organisms, including insects, with a distribution shift to their preferred microclimates (Şekercioğlu et al, 2012). Warming of tropical areas will increase pressure on certain insects which are at their maximum temperature capabilities. Ectothermic insects, for example ants, in the tropics have been found to be among the most susceptible to climate warming due to their relatively lower warming tolerance than temperate or high latitude species. This is because tropical species are at their upper temperature limits for survival and so have optimal performance temperatures. Therefore, if the temperature rises, the colony may have to employ a range of strategies to overcome temperature stress, for example by adapting to start foraging at different times of the day to avoid extreme temperatures, or by migrating pole-ward to avoid the rise in temperatures (Andrew et al, 2013).

This dispersal of crop pests involves advances at rates of around 1.7 miles per year. This can have large implications to food security and agriculture, with around 10-16% of global crop production being lost to pests already – enough to feed 8.5% of the global population (The Guardian, 2013). Evidence of increasing food insecurity comes from recent studies of corn and soybean yield trends in the central United States. There was stronger than expected effects of a gradual change in temperature with 25% of corn and 32% of soybean yields being affected by temperature variations over 17 years. This was partly due to indirect factors such as plant pathogens, insects and weeds (Seherm and Coakley, 2003). As well as this the new species can outcompete with the native species already present, for example Switzerland has already observed the arrival of the invasive lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis, which has affected the ecosystem balance. It is predicted that there will be an increase in the number of insect species in Switzerland due to climate warming (Vittoz et al, 2013). The migration of insects due to climate change is therefore having an impact on food insecurity and so is a concern for future crop yields and its effect on future generations.

However it is not just food security that is being threatened by the pole-ward shift in insect populations, but the spread of pathogens. Yet the interaction between climate change, crops and pests are complex, and the extent to which the latitudinal changes in pathogens in response to global warming is largely unknown (Bebber, 2013). Climate influences the range of infectious diseases, while weather affects the timing and intensity of outbreaks. This means a long-term warming trend is encouraging the geographic expansion of several important infections, and since 1975 over 30 diseases have appeared that are new to medicine (for example AIDS, Ebola and Lyme disease). Of equal concern is the resurgence of old diseases, such as malaria and cholera, due to changing ecological and climatic conditions as well as social changes. This is because diseases, such as malaria, are carried by vectors (for example mosquitoes), which can be redistributed by climate change. Evidence of this happening in the past comes from fossils from the end of the last Ice Age, which demonstrate that rapid, pole-ward shifts of insects was accompanied by warming (Epstein, 2001).

As well as this, the spread of weeds may be linked to a changing climate. There are various species of aggressive weeds in tropical and subtropical origins which are currently restricted to Mediterranean environments. The future climatic conditions may lead to expansion of their range into temperate regions, for example Itchgrass, Rottboellia cochinchinensis, is currently found in sugarcane plantations in the southern US but a high-CO₂ world may change the photosynthetic pathway and therefore the prevalence of weeds with different plant species (Fuhrer, 2003). This means increased prevalence of certain weeds which could further reduce crop yields and effect agriculture.

Yet there are some benefits, for example there is some evidence that drier and warmer conditions could reduce several crop diseases, for example late potato blight due to reduced plant susceptibility. But at the same time, milder winters could increase other diseases, such as powdery mildew, brown leaf rust and strip rust (Fuhrer, 2003).

Overall the impacts will depend on the extent of the warming, and Vittoz et al., (2013) predict that the threshold of an average global warming of 2 K should not be exceeded in order to avoid catastrophic feedbacks. However there have been signs that small changes in temperatures have already been affecting a pole-ward migration of insects, for example the corn and soybean yield trends in the United States, leading to increasing risks to crop security and public health. So how do we stop this? Energy Saving Warehouse has various simple ways of reducing your carbon footprint, check it out for ideas!

References

Andrew, N.R, Hart, R.A, Jung, M, Hemmings, Z, Terblanche, J.S, (2013), Can temperate insects take the heat? A case study of the physiological and behavioural responses in a common ant, Iridomyrmex purpureus (Formicidae), with potential climate change, Journal of Insect Physiology, Vol 59 (9), Pp. 870–880

Bebber, D.P, Ramotowski, M.A.T, Gurr, S.J, (2013), Crop pests and pathogens move polewards in a warming world, Nature Climate Change, DOI: 10.1038/NCLIMATE1990

Epstein, P.R, (2001), Climate change and emerging infectious diseases, Microbes and Infection, Vol 3 (9), pp. 747–754

Fuhrer, J, (2003), Agroecosystem responses to combinations of elevated CO₂, ozone, and global climate change, Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, Vol 97 (1–3), pp. 1–20

Şekercioğlu, Ç.H, Primack, R.B, Wormworth, J, (2012), The effects of climate change on tropical birds, Biological Conservation, Vol 148 (1), pp. 1–18

Seherm, H, Coakley, S.M, (2003), Plant pathogens in a changing world, Australasian Plant Pathology, Vol32 (2), pp 157-165

The Guardian, (2013), Climate change makes pests move north from the tropics – study, available at: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/sep/02/climate-change-crop-pests?CMP=twt_fd [Date accessed: 03/09/2013]

Vittoz, P, Cherix, D, Gonseth, Y, Lubini, V, Maggini, R, Zbinden, N, Zumbach, S, (2013), Climate change impacts on biodiversity in Switzerland: A review, Journal for Nature Conservation, Vol 21 (3), pp. 154–162

Over the last 20 years there has been an increase in the number of gardens that is being paved over to create driveways, to house our larger and increasing number of cars. A report published last year by the RAC Foundation[1] highlighted this increase estimating that roughly 30% of front gardens have been converted to hard standing driveways, with the biggest loss in London, which sees a loss of  of 3,000 ha of greenery each year, that’s the size of 2 and a half Hyde parks!! Your driveway or garden may not seem like a big plot of land, but it all adds up.

You may ask what is wrong with paving over your front garden;

1. Increased Flood Risk:

You’re are dramatically increasing the flood risk in your area if you pave your driveway, as water can’t permeate through the ground, so instead runs off reaching the main drainage system faster along with every other homes run off, the likelihood of flooding in your area.

2. Loss of Habitat

By removing greenery, you remove habitat and food sources for insects, birds and other wildlife. This over time reduces the diversity and habitat in the area leading to a loss of species.

3.  Visual Pollution

By removing  the greenery around the front of your home, you are adding to creating the concrete jungle feeling, as well as adding to increased urban temperatures in the summer as the black tarmac absorbs more heat than the pre-existing green shrubs.

So if you are thinking of replacing your driveway this summer bear in mind the following:

Planning Restrictions.

There are strict planning restrictions that must be adhered to by many local councils, planning must be sought if you are laying over 5m² of impermeable driveway[2], though not when replacing your drive with a permeable surface for example gravel.

Drainage channels and soak ways are also encouraged, to slow down the run off times of the water, reducing flood risk.

All planning guidance can be found at

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/pavingfrontgarden/

A Call for a Polluter Pays Tax

There have been discussions on charging households with hard standings to pay a tax. This ‘polluter pays’ tax could be imposed to help reduce the burden on society caused by the paving of a private driveway. The tax would internalise the extra costs of responding and dealing with increased flooding or flood risk, set at different levels for the country, the tax would discourage hard paving and encourage the use of more sustainable types of gravel or permeable surface.[3][4]

So overall the best option, if you are converting your front garden or relaying your drive this summer is to pick a permeable and sustainable material, to improve both the visual look of your front garden and to improve your homes environmental footprint. Energy Saving Warehouse offers a number of other ways to reduce your overall impact on the environment.

If the above isn’t feasible, invest in some potted plants which can attract bees and local wildlife, as well as improving the look of your front driveway.

If you are interested other simple ways to reduce your environmental impact why not take a look at Energy Saving Warehouse’s range of products to help you along your way?

For further reading see:

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/jul/18/front-gardens-paved-parking-spaces

http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/2011/06/17/new-report-reveals-scale-london%E2%80%99s-garden-loss

Cycling is one of the easiest ways to reduce your carbon footprint, your transport bills and your waistline all at the same time. With ever increasing petrol prices, obesity levels and carbon emissions, there has never been a better time to consider leaving your car at home and hopping on a bike.

Save Money

There are a wide range of bikes for whatever you plan to do: road bikes for dedicated riders, mountain bikes for those keen on an adrenaline rush, or hybrid bikes for a more casual cycle around town. The cost of a bike can range from under £100 for a basic model, to over £2,500 for the latest model of road bike. Other upfront costs can include puncture kits, helmets and a chain to ensure your bike stays safe. However, even including other similar purchases, the cost of a bike is far less than that of a car. And while your car needs regular checks, services and repairs, the only continuing costs of a bike are repairs on potential tyre punctures, and the cost of food to keep its user going! By cycling instead of driving, you cut out your need to purchase petrol, pay road tax, or pay congestion charges around town.

Get Healthy

Adults are recommended to do at least 2.5 hours moderate activity per week, however in the UK only 40% of men and 28% of women reach even this minimum level of weekly activity [1]. Cycling regularly can help to improve your fitness, and reduce your waist size, with studies showing that physical activity can also help your mood by exposing cyclists to more daylight every day. The average commute to work by bike burns approximately 235 calories, which is the equivalent to a bar of Cadburys Dairy Milk. Regular exercise can also help to reduce the likelihood of suffering from diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.

Cut Your Emissions

The most important thing about riding a bike is that it creates zero pollution. Transport is one of the major contributors to CO₂ emissions worldwide, currently making up almost a quarter of total emissions in the UK and causing 70% of air pollution in UK towns and cities [2]. If vehicle use continues to rise at the current rate, then emissions are expected to have risen by 35% from 1990 levels by 2030 [3]. Bike manufacture consumes a fraction of the energy that car manufacture requires, and does not require a constant input of fossil fuels such as petrol. Increasing concentrations of air pollution in cities and towns has lead to a rise in the number of asthma cases, especially in children, so by cutting your emissions you can help to put a stop to the increase in cases each year.

What Businesses Can Do

Businesses can get involved to encourage workers who live within cycling distance to leave their cars at home and make the trip by bike instead. Reduced vehicles at work can help save businesses money by reducing the need for parking spaces, and by creating happier, fitter, and more productive employees. A Dutch company, Waterschap Veluwe, gave free bikes to all employees who lived within 10k of the office [4] which allowed these employees to make the switch to a more eco-friendly form of transport without having to pay an upfront cost themselves. If your office does not have a shower and change facilities, speak to your supervisor or manager about where the nearest facilities may be, or the options for providing one in your building.

London’s Cycle Hire Scheme

Living in London is one of the best places in the UK to take full advantage of reduced cost bike use. The City of London Barclays Cycle Hire scheme has been a great success since it was set up in July 2010 by the then Mayor Boris Johnson, which lead to the bikes being commonly referred to as ‘Boris Bikes’. Bikes were available to members from the launch month of July 2010, and to the general public from the 3^rd December 2010, since which there has been over 22,600,000 cycle hires [5]. Bikes are also a great way for tourists to see the city: on the final day of the Olympics there were a record breaking 47,105 hires on a single day [6].

The process is easy and affordable: hire one of the scheme’s 8,000 bikes from a docking station by following the simple on-screen instructions, ride your chosen bike to your destination, then return in to the nearest docking station, 570 of which are found around the city. Your only upfront cost is a £2 bike access charge, or £10 for 7 days. Journeys under 30 minutes are free, with journey lengths longer than this accruing charges starting from £1 [7]. If your workplace is within the 30 minute free zone, then the 7 day bike access charge could be significantly less than driving daily, or even taking public transport.

Energy Saving Warehouse has a great range of energy efficient cycling products that help you stay safe and seen whilst on the road.

References

[1] Sustrans. Health benefits of changing your travel. 2013. http://www.sustrans.org.uk/change-your-travel/reducing-your-car-use/health-benefits-changing-your-travel

[2] Cycling Plus. 2011. ‘Five reasons to cycle to work.’ Bike Radar, April 25. http://www.bikeradar.com/fitness/article/five-reasons-to-cycle-to-work-29878/#null

[3] Sustrans. Change your travel for the environment. 2013. http://www.sustrans.org.uk/change-your-travel/reducing-your-car-use/change-your-travel-environment

[4] Dee, J., 2010. Small Business, Big Opportunity: Sustainable Growth. 1^st ed. Melbourne: Sensis.

[5] Transport for London. Barclays Cycle Hire/Key Facts. 2013. http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/cycling/20389.aspx

[6] Barclays Cycle Hire Twitter Account. 13 August 2012. https://twitter.com/BarclaysCycle/status/234952827921903616. Retrieved 25 July 2013.

[7] Transport for London. Barclays Cycle Hire/What you pay. 2013. http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/cycling/14811.aspx

As with any renewable energy source they come with both advantages and disadvantages.  With regards to the environmental advantages provided by biofuels, liquid biofuels can be used as additives and in some cases substitute conventional transport fuels. Bioethanol can also be easily formed from the fermentation of sugar or starch crops ( Fischer et. al , 2009). Studies have  found that substituting biofuels for gasoline can reduce greenhouse gases because biofuels sequester carbon through the growth of the feedtstock.( Searchinger et.al, 2008) Furthermore the use of biodiesel can now be produced through the vegetable fats.

Social advantages are also evident and has been predicted that the introduction of 6000 full-time construction jobs and over 2,000 jobs supplying and operating the plant will be produced from biofuels helping to boost economies (NNFCC,2011).

However disadvantages to the environment can also be an issue. Biofuel use has been suggested to compete with other provisioning services such as timber and fibre, for example the people in Indian Jatropha , plantations have been set up on communal land, displacing household needs as well as resources used to make a living (Searchinger et.al 2008).

Searchinger et.al (2008)  predicted using an agricultural model that corn based ethanol instead of producing 20%  savings nearly doubles the emissions over 30 years and increases greenhouse gases for 167 years. The model also suggested that biofuels produced from switchgrass if grown on the US corn lands, increase emissions by 50%

Water quality is being impacted through the use of biofuels. Biofuel production can affect freshwater ecosystems through over exploitation and degradation through pollution. Some people fear that biofuel expansion will also increase the water demands. One particular biofuel crop, sugarcane has been found to impact the water quality through increasing turbidity, changing the oxygen balance and increased coli levels in some river waters (Gunkel et. al. 2007.)

In conclusion it is evident that biofuels come with advantages and disadvantages to the environment, social and economic factors. These factors need to be considered for successful biofuel use to be in operation that provides more benefits than cons to the community. Therefore it can be suggested that biofuels are a relatively new type of research for use as a renewable energy source and careful consideration needs to be implemented.

Other renewable energy technologies are available and could help you reduce your environmental impact and save money on your energy bills in the future.

References ;

Cornell university n.d.,what are biofuels? Available at; http://www.greenchoices.cornell.edu/energy/biofuels/ . Accessed on 18^th July 2013.

Fisher,B. Turner, R.K,. Morling P. 2009. Defining and classifying ecosystem services for decision making. Ecology and  Economics.,  vol. 68 pp. 643–653

Gunkel,G,.Kosmol,J. Sobral,M,.Rohn, H,. Montenegro,S,.Aurelian.2007. Sugarcane industry as a source of water pollution–Case Study on the situation in Ipojuca River, Pernambuco, Brazil. Water Air Soil Pollution. vol180 .pp. 261–269

IEA, 2009. World Energy Outlook.  Edition. International Energy Agency, Paris. Available athttp://www.worldenergyoutlook.org/2009.asp.  Accessed on 18^th July 2013.

NNFCC.2011 “Advanced Biofuels: The Potential for a UK Industry, NNFCC 11-011″. Available at: http://www.nnfcc.co.uk/tools/advanced-biofuels-the-potential-for-a-uk-industry-nnfcc-11-011 accessed on : 18th July 2013..

Searchinger, T., Heimlich,R. Houghton, R. Dong, F. Elobeid, F., Fabiosa, J., Tokgoz, S., Hayes, D, Yu.T. 2008. Use of US croplands for biofuels increases greenhouse gases thorugh emissions of land-use change. Science vol 39.