May 24th, 2010
Who doesn’t love to go shopping? I for one am a closet shopping fan and love the excitement of getting home with some new treats, but my thoughts do go to shocking amount of plastic bags, wrapping and packaging I am also carrying around that is just going to get thrown away.
Going deeper than just the plastic bags and packaging are the embedded emissions which is the carbon that goes into producing, making, transporting the product. These embedded emissions are within a large majority of products, invisible to the eye at the till paying for them but something you cant change. However…….
There are many ways I, and many other shopping lovers can be carbon conscious when out buying something nice. 10:10 the group working towards reducing carbon emissions by 10% in 2010 and who have got the backing of the new government have produced a helpful hints and tips guide for those wanting to reduce their carbon-shopping-footprint.
10:10 have five simple rules for energy efficient shopping starting with; 1) Dont Be Cheap, if you buy something cheap you normally end up having to replace it or buy another one. The old adage of ‘you get what you pay for’ applies here too, so choose quality over quantity. 2) 2nd Hand Treasures, a form of recycling, bought and used by someone else can be re-used and loved by another. 3) Buy Efficient, check the energy efficiency label on all products to check it wont drain you dry when plugging it in at home. 4) Think About Wood, when having to buy any wood think of reclaimed wood, as it is carbon-emission friendly and can be better quality than the new stuff. And finally 5) Sit Back and Relax, home delivery options when buying online are the best bet as the overall emissions of the delivery truck and all it is transporting is spread out out among several people while you in your car collecting the new bed is all down to you.
For those of you who would like to know more about their shopping and how far things have to go to get in your basket have a read of How Bad Are Bananas: The Carbon Footprint of Everything written by Mike Berners-Lee. For all up to date news and info on 10:10 and their on-going project go to www.1010global.org
Tags: 10:10, carbon conscious, carbon emissions, Carbon Footprint, embedded emissions, shopping | Posted in Carbon Footprint, Recycling, carbon emissions
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April 26th, 2010
There is a plan in the pipeline to change the UK clocks to allow for another hour of daylight throughout the year.
The initiative that has been put together by 10:10 has launched and already has the support of both the Labour and Conservative parties. 10:10 are working together with ROSPA (royal society for the prevention of accidents) and have created the Lighter Later campaign and it is believed that it will result in reduced energy consumption, fewer accidents and improved health.
By changing the clocks to GMT+2 in the summer and GMT+1 in the winter and gaining an extra hour of daylight will reduce the daily demand for electricity. This adds up to be ½ million tonnes of Co2 being prevented and moves the UK 10% closer to the reduction in carbon emissions.
However, this is not a new story as changing daylight hours has been planned and tested before but didn’t succeed. Whereas workforce productivity increased and energy was saved it is said that there was an increase in traffic accidents in Scotland. It will be felt that this is a detrimental prospect for Scotland as during the winter months it is very dark and would mean school children are getting to school in the dark mornings.
I feel it is a divided front on how the public feel in this matter. Would changing the clocks really guarantee an extra hour of daylight? Of course it wouldn’t. Just by changing the clocks does not come with a written promise of more sun. But the concept of helping to reduce energy used in homes and potentially reduce the risk of accidents is one to be considered.
Go to the website to sign your name on the list to speak out for “give me more sunshine”.
Tags: 10:10, clock change, GMT, government support, Lighter Later Campaign, ROSPA, time change | Posted in Life Change, Politics, carbon emissions
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September 3rd, 2009
This is brilliant! Finally an environmental grassroots movement that gets everyone involved, engaged and empowered to actually do something, no matter how small, to effect climate change and make a difference. Finally a reasonable time scale, not some distant date 10:10 and finally, some Action!
It’s a shame that the people are having to lead the government by the nose on an issue as critical as climate change, especially when they are supposed to have our best interests at heart, but perhaps I am being naive. Ken Livingstone phrased it neatly when he reflected that many of the Labour party “are afraid of losing a Daily Mail reader in Chipping Sodbury.”
10:10 is all about individuals and institutions making a difference by making a personal vow to cut carbon emissions by 10% in 2010, be it turning down the heating, eating less mass produced meat, using the car less and the bike more, whatever it takes. I personally take my hat off to Franny Armstrong and everyone involved in getting this campaign off the ground.
Join up now and add your voice to the thousands calling for change!
Tags: 10:10, 10:10 launch, Climate Change, Franny Armstrong, Tate Modern | Posted in Climate Change, Life Change, News, Sustainable Energy
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