Synthetic wood is a relatively new kind of material that is created from a mixture of man-made polymers. It mimics the appearance, weight and feel of real wood, and can be sawn and shaped in the same way that wood is. As such, it is an excellent material from which to make window shutters. Aside from costing around a third less than hard wood (which is expensive due to the time it takes to grow, the relative scarcity of supply and the problems in sourcing it ethically), its durability means has some unexpected green benefits over real wood.

Shutters as energy-saving accessories

No matter what your shutters are made from, they can save you money and reduce your carbon footprint by lowering your energy bills. Originally all shutters were functional – designed to be opened and closed to protect windows from the elements: heat, cold or wind. Currently, there is a fashion for decorative external shutters, which isn’t a bad thing in itself, except that their considerable functional benefits cannot be enjoyed. However, operational shutters are once again growing in popularity, and are now available in synthetic as well as real wood.

Window shutters keep heat in as well as unwanted heat out, depending on the season and climate. Some houses have internal shutters, though external ones tend to be more effective. With a good set of heavy curtains, they can significantly reduce energy bills and therefore household carbon footprints as well.

Synthetic wood and plastic or real wood?

Wooden shutters have to be made from hard wood, as soft wood would quickly rot and have to be replaced. The scarcity of supply means that hard woods are more expensive, and have a correspondingly greater impact on the environment. They grow slowly, and so sustainable sourcing is a problem. One reason why the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) was established was to ensure wood is acquired ethically. Illegal logging is a particular problem for hard wood supply.

Even hard wood is not indestructible, and requires regular repainting and treatment to prevent it from degrading and rotting thanks to repeated exposure to sun, wind, rain and ice. This treatment inevitably involves the use of chemicals which are harmful to the environment and are themselves based on petrochemical products.

This is where synthetic wood and plastic window shutters can prove counter-intuitively green. Although there is an environmental cost to their manufacture, as there is with any plastic product, this is offset by their durability (longer lifespan), lower needs for maintenance and the use of other oil-derived paints and chemicals.

Weighing the alternatives

Shutters come in all kinds of materials, each with different properties. They have different life spans, varying maintenance requirements, and different embodied energies (the amount of energy involved in their manufacture). When comparing wooden shutters with plastic or synthetic wood shutters, you are in some ways comparing apples with oranges, since the benefits and problems relate to sustainable logging practices, as well as carbon footprint and chemical use.

However, even a brief survey of the relevant information demonstrates that the picture is more complex than might initially be assumed. Wood is a natural but not inherently green material, and plastics can be less harmful to the environment when a long-term and holistic view is adopted; especially since some kinds of plastic shutters can be recycled when you are finally finished with them, whereas wooden ones will be fit for only the fire.

Consequently, if you are considering purchasing new shutters, it is worth thinking carefully about the material you want to use as well as the ongoing environmental benefits and costs associated with this.

This article was supplied by Simply Shutters Ltd., who are members of The Guild of Master Craftsmen and suppliers of high quality decorative external shutters.

(Image by Matthew Hine, CC by 2.0, via Flickr)

Top Tips for Reducing your Food Waste

Have you ever thought about the food waste you create and what happens to that waste once it’s taken away by the bin men?

Food Waste Crisis

Did you know that on average people from the UK throw away 7.2 tonnes of food waste every year, which all ends up in landfill? So why are we throwing away so much food rather than recycling it and what can we do to reduce the amount of food being placed in landfill?

Make Less Food!

It may sound ridiculous but one sure fire way to reduce the amount of food you produce is to simply make less. With the current obesity epidemic and the rising cost of food, we could all benefit from eating less. If you find there are always leftovers when you cook that don’t get eaten at a later date then why not simply start cooking smaller amounts at meal times? Plan your shopping carefully and try not to make impulse purchases, that way there’s much more chance that the food you buy will get eaten.

Sell by Dates

One of the major issues contributing to food waste is the prevalence of use-by dates and sell-by dates and the confusion surrounding what they mean. In fact, many people end up throwing away perfectly good food because they don’t understand what these different dates mean.

According to the government department that sets use-by and sell-by dates, products which are past their use-by date should not be eaten. Food with a best before date can still be eaten but may have lost some of its quality. However, eggs are the exception to this rule and shouldn’t be eaten after the best before date. If you want to increase the life of your food then buy products that are almost out of date, freeze them and then use within 24 hours once the product is thawed.

Why Bother Reducing Food Waste?

When you throw away food, as well as wasting it, you’re also wasting the energy that went into production, packaging and transportation of that food. In addition, rotting food left in landfill produces methane, which is harmful to the environment. Not to mention that throwing away food is a waste of money. In fact, the average UK household wastes up to £680 per year on food which is never eaten.

How Do I Recycle my Waste Food?

Inevitably all households will produce some food waste, so what can be done to ensure that the food doesn’t end up in landfill? Most UK councils now offer good recycling services and will provide different types of bins or containers for different types of recycling. If your council has not provided you with a box or bin for food waste then find out if it’s a service that they offer. If your council doesn’t offer food waste recycling then start campaigning to get the service provided. Alternatively, you could start a compost heap. It’s easy to do and the food waste you put on your heap will help create rich compost for growing.

(Guest post by Lucy)

(Image by sykicktb, via stock.xchng)

If you have Dish Network, you’ve got another option: Planet Green.

Planet Green is the channel to watch for programming to inspire your inner ecologist. A member of Discovery Communications Inc., Planet Green has a variety of programming that can inform you on ways to become more ecological and can motivate you to do more for the environment.

Afraid going green is going to be extreme? Start by watching Wa$ted, with Annabelle Gurwitch. Annabelle and her team will provide you with some great tips that you can put into action right away. In each episode, she visits various homes and businesses to help them tackle their eco-waste and bring them to a greener, leaner place.

If you need some green inspiration for your home, check out Greenovate. Each week, you’ll see some amazing eco-makeovers that not only help homeowners save on energy costs, but also increase the value of their homes. Watch as Greenovate visits a variety of living spaces, big and small, and provides you with the ideas you can use to improve your space.

Perhaps you need some green inspiration for your taste buds? On Emeril Green, Chef Emeril Legasse provides healthy and tasty ways to eat for a sustainable planet and a sustainable you. Each episode focuses on a theme around healthy living, sustainability, or other green ideas, and he gives you some great recipes along the way.

Part of helping to maintain a sustainable planet is to cut back on waste, but can you do more than just recycle? Watch Stuff Happens with Bill “Science Guy” Nye as he explores what happens as we use the stuff in our lives and how it impacts our environment. In each episode, he provides some great tips for reducing your carbon footprint, helping to preserve the environment for ourselves and future generations.

Along with the shows that give you practical information, there are also some great inspirational shows that can help motivate you to do more for the environment:

• In 2007, Greensburg, Kansas was devastated by a deadly tornado, which destroyed 95 per cent of the town. In the series called Greensburg, watch as the town is rebuilt as a model green community. From tragedy, this town has decided to inspire the nation with a message of sustainability and triumph.
• You leave your home for a day out with friends and you come back to Mark Durden-Smith standing in your empty house. Call the police? No, you’re just on an episode of Gutted. On the show, hoarders have a choice, cash payment or all their stuff back. Watch as home owners decide, take the cash or get that June 1983 issue of Newsweek back?
• Some great environmental shows are on Planet Green too. Heli-Loggers follows extreme loggers in British Columbia on their dangerous job of extracting wood from a forest they are also dedicated to environmentally sustain.
• In the Alaska Experiment, ten ordinary people, NOT experienced outdoorsmen, try to survive the fall and winter in Alaska while being challenged to hike through the Alaskan terrain every few days.
• The Florida Everglades is a rich, American treasure being one of the last natural reserves in the United States. Protecting it is the job of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, and the show Operation Wild follows an FFWC team as they work to protect the Everglades.

With Planet Green, you’ve got a great resource to inform and inspire you to be a little greener. Check it out on Dish Network and keep bringing those bags to the grocery store.

This is a guest article by Ruben Corbo, a writer for the website Broadband Expert where you can find Dish Networkin your area and compare prices on different deals for your mobile broadband needs.

 (Image by Dave Lindblom, CC by 2.0, via Flickr)

Paul Withrington of Transport Watch spoke about the UK government subsidising electric cars to motivate people to go this route: “The government should re-examine their assumptions and should not encourage this until they have decarbonised the generating industry. At the moment, it is nuts. If you bought an electric car now you would be looking at generating the same amount of carbon or more.”

The electric car itself is an excellent idea, but only if you are charging the batteries from a power source that is not responsible for releasing carbon gasses.

According to GM, as reported by CNN Money, the GM Volt (their electric car model) will cost “less than purchasing a cup of your favourite coffee” to recharge. This sounds amazing, I must admit, as fuel prices seem to increase every second week. This depends on the cost of electricity where you live, of course. In some cases it might not be more economical to drive an electric car and even if it is, you cannot feel better about your carbon footprint.  Withrington said that if China were to replace all their diesel powered transport with electric vehicles, they would double their existing carbon emissions from coal fired power stations which is their primary source of electricity.

The concern is that only a quarter of the energy that was initially created in a fossil fuel power station reaches the electric car as a lot of energy “leaks” along the supply chain and that most of the energy we use comes from these carbon-releasing power plants. There have been plans to have batteries from electric cars feed electricity back into the electric grid, as they can charge if the car is fitted with a regenerative braking system. This system would only be effective for cars that drive in traffic and have to stop and start a lot. In fact, EVs are not effective for long distances at all as they have to be charged for a few hours before they are able to drive again.

All of this points to the fact that we still have to find a sustainable, carbon-free power source to replace the use of fossil fuels.

And what about biofuels? Adding plant-based fuel to the fossil fuel supply seems like a good idea, but research and practice is showing that this is also not the answer. At least according to the environmental group Friends of the Earth’s executive director Andy Atkins, who says: “Until ministers can do their sums properly and prove that growing crops for fuel actually cuts carbon, the Government should stop biofuels being added to UK petrol and diesel. Trying to cut emissions by adding biofuels to petrol is like trying to cut down on beer by lacing your pints with vodka.”

The Renewable Energy Association (REA) represents renewable energy producers and promotes the use of all forms of renewable energy in the UK. Their spokesperson, Clare Wenner, said: “We really have been able to demonstrate that UK biofuels can make the grade on carbon savings and being produced sustainably”. The catch is that the UK relies heavily on imports and the sources of these biofuels are often cited as “unknown” so there is no way of knowing if they are sustainable. The UK government is being blamed for not properly researching the sources and the true efficacy of using biofuels.

Until a sustainable electricity source is implemented, the only answer is to use engine technology to create cars that are smaller, lighter and that use less fuel. Finding ways of making public transport more alluring and accessible is also a step in the right direction.

Withrington’s research is available at http://www.transport-watch.co.uk/transport-fact-sheet-5c.htm

(This is a post by our new intern Elizabeth Smit)

(Image by Department for Communities and Local Government [Open Government Licence v1.0], via Wikimedia Commons)

What kind of sectors can I look forward to working in?

There are many sectors and industries you can work in, all of which can be categorised as environmental. You could be a preservationist, a renewable energy specialist, an environmental engineer or even a lecturer who advocates environmental responsibility. The list is endless.

What courses are currently on offer?

We’ve put together a list of the best and most interesting environmental courses offered in universities throughout the UK this year. The courses range from urban environmental design (for those people looking to protect and preserve major cities) to recycling and the science behind it. The key is to find the right pathway that you find most interesting and compelling. Each course listed below is accompanied with the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) number and code, so you can locate it on the database should you want to apply!

What are my study options?

Most universities offer three-year degrees with full time classes – however you’ll notice that some of the universities offer “year out” schemes where you can go and experience another culture or city as part of your environmental degree to widen your knowledge. If doing a course full time is not an option for you, it is worth enquiring whether universities offer part-time alternatives. Most do, so be sure to ask.

About the Author: Sara Dobson is a freelance copywriter and currently works for TechnicalSchool.org.

(Image by boogy_man, via stock.xchng)

The inspiration for these houses came from the minimalist design of traditional Japanese houses that consist of traditional post and beam construction. This traditional design can be considered prefab, seeing as they are all standard size and built beforehand. They have a very basic shape and lines, and this is carried through to the design of Mima Architects’ houses.

The houses are made from prefab wooden posts that are then covered in a glazed white shell. The windows are 5 x 10 feet (1.5 x 3m) and run along every side of the house.

These houses are fully customizable to suit the owner’s needs. If you need to make any room bigger or smaller, or perhaps add an extra one, you can do it quickly and easily. The houses consist of 4 x 4 1.5m panels on the floor and on the ceiling, and come with plywood panels that can be easily slotted into the grid of lines to make a new room or create more space for a living room.

The plywood panels can also be used outside the house. If you need a partition or wall to get a bit more privacy, you can easily slot one of these panels in front of the larger windows. Voila! You have a wall were your window used to be. The panels can also be painted in different colours, so you can adjust the walls to suit your mood.

Although the houses are only 36 square meters in size, they are perfect for any new couple starting out that want to buy their first house, or as a bachelor pad.

These houses then are truly astounding. They are eco-friendly, don’t cost a fortune and can be customized to suit any need. Remember those sci-fi movies where people lived in high rise apartments in the future? They were wrong. These houses are the future, and boy, do they look good.

(This is a post by our intern Kristian Meijer)

(Image by seier+seier, CC by 2.0, via Flickr)

Some companies are recognising their moral obligation to reduce the amount of carbon emissions they produce and are looking into ways to make the freight forwarding industry greener.

High Speed Rail

Although the newly confirmed HS2 high speed rail link has been a contentious issue amongst British voters since plans were first announced, the rail link could help the freight industry to improve its environmental record.

Thanks to EU initiatives like the Marco Polo Programme, the UK has received funding to trial the use of freight trains on the railway. Using the rail line to transport freight throughout Europe would significantly reduce the amount of freight being transported by road, which would help cap CO2 emissions.

Environmental Partnerships

The EU have launched the Freight Logistics Action Plan to help European  freight providers address the amount of CO2 emissions produced and to promote environmental sustainability. Many companies now offer a greener service by looking into how they can use renewable and alternative energy sources.

Carbon Offset

In addition to the use of renewable energy sources such as biofuels, some companies are offering customers the opportunity to offset the carbon emissions their shipment produces by funding eco projects like reforestation or methane capture and combustion.

The Future

Professor Sir David King, a former chief scientific advisor, recently predicted that the air freight industry will move away from conventional aircraft and replace them with giant air ships. The Hindenburg disaster pretty much spelled the end of airships across the world but new technology is being developed that could see air ships becoming the favoured form of freight transportation.

Major companies, including Boeing and Lockheed Martin, have been working on designs for massive helium powered air ships which could be launched as freight carriers within the next decade.

(Guest post)

(Image by ibeeby, via stock.xchng)

Secondly, there has been limited opportunity to recycle old doors, windows and other uPVC products due to difficulty and expense, meaning that few companies offered uPVC recycling services.

However, the uPVC recycling industry has grown in recent years and new technology  has meant that it is less labour intensive and cheaper than ever to recycle uPVC, making it much easier to find the right company to recycle products.

How is uPVC recycled?

The problem with recycling uPVC in the past has been that it was quite labour intensive. That’s because products such as uPVC doors and window frames contain a number of different components melded together which need to be separated out before recycling can take place.

Until recently the only way to do this was for recycling company employees to physically separate the glass, metal, wood and plastic that is used to manufacture doors and windows.

Recently, however, recycling technology has advanced and many recycling companies now take old uPVC products, chop them into smaller pieces and then use powerful magnets to separate out any metal. Once any other materials have been removed from the pieces, it is then chopped into smaller parts which are turned into chip granulate, micronised powder or compounded pellets.

What is recycled uPVC used for?

Recycled uPVC can be used to manufacture a variety of products including coatings for swimming pools, shoe soles, hoses, guttering, pipes, PVC sheeting and plastic coated fabrics. In addition, it can be used to manufacture more uPVC doors and windows.

How can I recycle the uPVC in my home?

There are lots of companies that now offer uPVC recycling services in the UK and the US. You can either search the internet to find your local supplier or contact your local council who should be able to point you in the direction of your nearest recycling company.

Although the increase in uPVC recycling is a positive step, there are still thousands of tonnes of old uPVC products going into landfills today, or worse, being incinerated. However, with more and more companies now offering uPVC recycling services the amount of uPVC clogging up landfills or being incinerated should steadily drop over the next decade.]

(Guest post)

(Image By Tucker T (Own work) [CC0 (creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons)

Move the Bin

It sounds obvious, but if the every day rubbish bin isn’t conveniently placed by the kitchen counter and recycling bags or boxes stand in its normal place, people will think twice before automatically dumping the waste in their hands in the nearest trash receptacle.  I’m not saying the bin should be unnecessarily hard to reach, but an extra few steps won’t hurt and could make all the difference to your recycling efforts.

Make Clear Labels

If the various recycling boxes have clear labels stating what materials are and aren’t allowed in each one, people are more likely to use them and recognise just how much can be re-used.  It might be worth putting a sign above the bin too, asking ‘can it be recycled?’ Yes, it’s a guilt trip tactic, but it might just work.

Don’t Limit Recycling To The Kitchen

This is a crime particular, but not unique, to student houses: throwing all bedroom rubbish in a black dustbin bag one evening a week when so much could be recycled if it was habitually carried downstairs.  Old magazines, those cans you drank whilst watching that film last night…it all belongs in the recycling boxes but lack of effort means it often never gets there.  A subtly placed cardboard box upstairs might encourage recycling throughout the house whilst a small bin in the porch or outside the back door can be used for green waste before starting a compost bin in the garden.

Remember Collection Day

As with labelling the boxes, if there is an obvious reminder of when the next recycling collection will take place, people are more likely to get into the routine of putting it out.  This prevents a frustrating build up of cardboard and bottles and could even be a creative way of getting your kids involved with recycling: have a tally chart on the fridge showing which family member put the most bottles in the recycling box each week and you’ll be on the way to a greener lifestyle in no time.

(Guest post)

(Image by ell brown, CC by 2.0, via Flickr)

The museum is oval-shaped and divided into a series of atmospheric open-air ‘rooms’, which exhibit the character of each individual tree. Open-air spaces are a typical characteristic of Enzo Enea’s gardens. Open-air constructions serve to create an individualistic space for trees, where visitors can view the tree from every angle and observe it in its unique habitat.

The trees used in the museum are reclaimed and salvaged trees that have been collected over the years. In order to transplant and preserve these trees sophisticated Bonsai shaping techniques were used. The trees have been framed against a sandstone block, which was constructed by Enea and international green architect Chad Oppenheim.

The museum itself contains approximately 50 trees representing more than 25 varieties, as well as trees that are more than 100 years old. The Tree Museum is also surrounded by another 100 trees and plants, and in total there are more than 2,000 exclusive wood species that Enea has collected in the past 17 years. Some of his most impressive collections are the 130-year-old red Japanese maple, a Saucer magnolia between the ages of 75 and 80 years old, and an 80-year-old yew.

The main building on the grounds is the 2,500-square-meter complex of Enea Garden Design – Enea’s main office. The building was designed by Chad Oppenheim and was built using local lumber, green roofs and geothermal exchange. The complex also features a showroom, classroom and workshop and an exhibition of garden furniture, a library, a museum shop, as well as works of art and design. Due to its truly environmentally friendly style, in 2009 Chicago Athaneum awarded the building with the American Architecture Award.

This is only the tip of the worldwide green movement taking place, and hopefully we’ll be seeing many more green artistic concepts like this one in the future!

(Post by Ivelina Dineva)

(Image from inhabitat.com)