Carbon Labelling

Video (Only Availabe to UK Residents)

Since 2001, Walkers have been working with the Carbon Trust to improve their environmental performance through reduced energy consumption and carbon emissions. As part of a project which started in 2005, the two organisations teamed together to map out the carbon footprint of a bag of Walkers Cheese & Onion crisps.

So how exactly do you measure a carbon footprint of an individual product? Well to calculate the footprint of Walkers Crisps the Carbon Trust looked at the key stages in Walkers supply chain from sowing potato and sunflower seeds, to getting the crisps on the shelves, to finally disposing of the packet. From this they calculated the energy consumption directly involved in each of these stages, and converting this into the resulting amount of carbon emissions. The results from each were then accumulated to give an overall figure.

The final result equated to 75g of CO2 per 34.5g of Cheese & Onion crisps. Walkers plan to calculate the carbon footprint of all their products.

"We wholeheartedly believe that taking action to raise awareness of carbon as an issue is the right thing to do and are committed to reducing the carbon footprint of our products. We hope this will empower people to make more informed choices about the products they are buying."
Neil Campbell, Walkers Crisps

It is always a pleasure to see an international market leading brand focus on how it can improve its environmental impact, the implementation of energy saving initiatives throughout the supply chain will benefit the company through proportional cost savings. The fact that they have implemented a concept from the Carbon Trust, known as the "Carbon Label" which in order to carry the stamp the brand must make a solemn promise to reduce their CO2 emissions, has been mildly discussed in the UK already (that products should be marked with details of its carbon footprint or to a lesser extent if they were imported by air). Hopefully we will see other brands follow Walkers, Boots (Organic Shampoo - 148g) and Innocent (Smoothies - 294g) lead by mapping out their environmental impact and displaying it on their products, allowing consumers to make informed choices next time they shop, because it is what 66% of consumers want according to research conducted amongst 1159 consumers from across the UK by GfK NOP during October 2006.

As part of their partnership Walkers and the Carbon Trust have reduced the carbon footprint per pack by 33%. Maybe next time you see a bag of Walkers they won't say "70% less saturated fat", they might say "33% less CO2 emissions".

Life Style Green Show

Opening my electricity bill this morning I was greeted with a voucher for the LifeStyleGreen Show to be held at the Kings Hall in Belfast from Saturday 15th September to Sunday 16th September. LifeStyleGreen, is a not-for-profit green living magazine established in June 2004, based in Ireland. Published quarterly, they target the consumer and all businesses who service green living, harnessing this collective power to further the campaign.

LifeStyleGreen Show is the first dedicated green lifestyle show in Ireland and will showcase some of the best local and international green companies. The Show will be sub-divided into defined sections to cover all aspects of a greener lifestyle from organic food to ethical fashion; from green business to transport with about 100 stalls in total. One confirmed sponsor Northern Ireland Electricity has over 10000 energy saving bulbs to giveaway at the "Your Energy" section. This could prevent 1 900 tonnes of CO2 over the bulbs life time.

A downloadable "2 for 1" ticket is available on their website. Further information on the event will be released early next month. Businesses interested at attending the event can book stalls by downloading an application form.

LifeStyleGreen, Kings Hall, Belfast
Saturday 15th - Sunday 16th September 2007, 10am - 6pm
Entry Fee: £5 (Adults), Free (Children Under 16)

Green Labels: Product-Specific Labels

As well as the more general ecolabels, there are green labels which apply only to specific types of products, for example paint or textiles.

Volatile Organic Compounds Label
These labels indicate the relative content of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) in paints and associated products. VOCs cause air pollution and may be harmful to human health.

The industry and retailers have agreed wording and standards for the use of this voluntary label. More information is available from the British Coatings Federation. There is no standard logo, but many retailers use the form of logo shown here, which was developed by B&Q.


Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Label
The Oeko-Tex Standard 100 is an international certification system for textiles and clothing, covering all stages of production. Labelled products are tested by independent institutes for an extensive range of harmful substances based on the latest scientific findings and legal regulations. All parts of labelled articles must meet the defined requirements.

Green Labels: World Labels

There are a number of schemes which focus on providing good livelihoods for people and protecting ecosystems and biodiversity in the places where the products come from. Here are two examples that you are likely to come across.

The Fairtrade Mark
The Fairtrade Foundation awards the Fairtrade Mark to products that meet international Fairtrade standards. These include long-term trading contracts and a price that covers the cost of sustainable production and living. Farmers and workers' organisations receive a premium to invest in social and environmental projects benefiting their communities.

The Mark appears on a wide range of certified products, including coffee, tea, fruit, cotton and footballs, and composite products like biscuits which include a minimum percentage of Fairtrade ingredients.

The Rainforest Alliance
The Rainforest Alliance has worked for over twenty years with foresters, farmers and tour operators to ensure that their goods and services are environmentally and socially responsible.

Its certified seal of approval appears on products including timber, paper, bananas and coffee which have been grown or made sustainably.

Green Labels: Fuel Economy Label

The UK Fuel Economy Label for all new cars can help you choose a vehicle which is fuel efficient and gives out fewer carbon emissions. It is similar to the European Energy label. By choosing a fuel efficient car, you can help tackle climate change.

The label shows how much carbon dioxide a car emits. Carbon dioxide is the main greenhouse gas responsible for climate change.

The label also gives estimated fuel costs for 12,000 miles and the Vehicle Tax for 12 months so you can see how much these will cost before you buy. Lower carbon dioxide emissions mean lower Vehicle Tax and lower running costs. You can also find out more about vehicle emissions and petrol costs for the majority of cars available in the UK at VCA Car Fuel Data.

The label has been introduced voluntarily by the car industry under the auspices of the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership which was set up with Government funding. Members include car companies and environmental groups.

Green Labels: Energy Labels

The energy labels shown here focus on products which make the best use of energy, and so perform well while saving on running costs and helping the environment. Reducing your energy use helps tackle climate change. I have just installed a new freezer to replace my two old ones, this will save me about £75 a year and 365kg in CO2 emissions.

All European manufacturers and retailers must tell you about the energy efficiency of household electrical fridges, freezers, washing machines, tumble dryers, washer-dryers, dishwashers, air conditioners, ovens and light bulbs. Products are generally rated from ‘A’ to ’G’, with ‘A’ being the most efficient (‘A+’ and ‘A++’ for the most efficient fridges and freezers). In addition many labels will also include the annual energy consumption of the product based on normal usage. An example of an energy label found throughout Europe is shown above, for a more detailed explaination on each of the sections contained on an energy label visit the Energy Saving Trust.

Energy Saving Recommended logo
The Energy Saving Recommended logo endorses products that are amongst the most energy efficient available. The scheme is managed by the Energy Saving Trust. The wide range of products covered includes appliances like washing machines and refrigeration, light fittings, gas and oil boilers, insulation, hot water cylinders and glazing.



Energy Star logo
The Energy Star logo means that the energy consumption of an appliance is below an agreed level in ‘stand-by’ mode. The logo appears on some types of office equipment, such as computers, monitors, printers and fax machines. Within the EU, the Energy Star is a voluntary labelling scheme and its use is controlled by an agreement between the USA and European Community.

Green Labels: Timber Products

A number of labelling schemes cover timber products. Examples of two of the schemes you are most likely to come across are shown below.

The Forest Stewardship Council
The Trademark of the Forest Stewardship Council indicates that the wood used to make a product comes from a forest which is well managed according to strict environmental, social and economic standards. The forest of origin has been independently inspected and evaluated according to the principles and criteria for forest management agreed and approved by the FSC.




Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes
The PEFC Council (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes) is an independent organisation whose logo provides an assurance that its certified wood and paper products have been independently audited as coming from sustainably managed forests.

Green Labels: Ecolabels

Ecolabels usually cover a wide range of environmental impacts, across the lifetime of a product, from production and use through to disposal. Some, like the European Ecolabel, shown below, apply to many different types of product.

European Ecolabel
This is an official Europe-wide award for non-food products that minimise impacts on the environment. Products must be independently certified, and have to meet strict criteria for all the main environmental impacts across their whole life cycle. In the UK products with the Flower label include kitchen rolls, toilet tissue, paints and clothing.




Some countries or areas also have national ecolabel schemes. For more information on Ecolabels in your country or region visit the Global Ecolabelling Network. Two examples of country specific and regional labels are shown below.


Nordic Ecolabel
Nordic Swan in Scandinavia








German Ecolabel
Blue Angel in Germany

Green Labels: Organic Produce

Organic farming requires farmers to operate to a system based on ecological principles and imposes strict limits on the inputs like artificial chemical fertilisers and pesticides that can be used.

The use of the word “organic” is controlled by law and can be used on food products only if they are produced according to regulations, and farmers and processors must be certified by an approved organisation. In the UK the following are approved organisations capable of certifying produce as organic; (For Addresses & Telephone Numbers)

Organic Farmers and Growers Ltd
Scottish Organic Producers Association
Organic Food Federation
Soil Association Certification Ltd
Bio-Dynamic Agricultural Association
Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association
Organic Trust Limited
CMi Certification
Quality Welsh Food Certification Ltd
Ascisco Ltd

As well as the standards set out in regulations for organic food there are private standards used by authorised bodies for other products like textiles, cosmetics, wood products and composts. Compliance with these standards is dealt with under general consumer protection law.

There is no requirement to display a logo, but the certification number must be used in the labelling of certified organic products (eg “Organic Certification: UK 1”). The main picture includes two logos used by the Soil Association and Organic Farmers & Growers certification organisations.

Green Labels: Food

These are examples of food labels that focus on environmental aspects of food production.

Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF)
The LEAF Marque is about Linking Environment and Farming. It is one of the approaches to farm management that gives you the choice to buy affordable food produced by farmers who are committed to improving the environment for the benefit of wildlife and the countryside.





The Marine Stewardship Council
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has set an internationally recognised environmental standard for sustainable and well-managed fisheries. It is based on healthy fish stocks, a thriving marine environment and effective management. The MSC logo appears on over 80 products in the UK retail and foodservice sector.

Green Labels: Recycling and Packaging

There are symbols which show you that an item is made from recycled material or that it can be recycled when you have finished with it. Buying recycled products, and recycling your waste helps to save vital resources and energy.

Plastics
Plastics often carry a number inside a Mobius Loop. View our post "What do the Numbers on Plastic Mean?" for more information on plastic logos.

The Recycling Symbol
This symbol, called the Mobius Loop, simply means that a product or part of it can be recycled where facilities are available. The inclusion of a number shows the percentage of recycled material that has been used to make the product.





The Green Dot
The Green Dot is a registered trademark. It means that a financial contribution has been paid to an authorised packaging recovery scheme. The UK is not a participating Green Dot system country, but you will see it on things which have been imported.

Debate Over Patio Heaters Gets Alot Hotter Than a Patio Heater

As Summer passes us by one garden product is generating huge amounts of controversy due to its inefficiency and really downright uselessness. Today the Energy Saving Trust will launch a campaign urging retailers to stop selling patio heaters, this comes amid fears ownership of domestic patio heaters is set to double from 1.2 million currently to 2.3 million in the near future according to the Green Barometer. The Green Barometer is the first national index to track the general public attitudes towards green issues.

“We are calling for responsible retailers to re-consider the sale of patio heaters in light of the substantial amount of carbon emissions they produce.
Philip Sellwood, Energy Saving Trust, Chief Executive (Visit Philip's Blog)

This call follows on from growing criticism of the product. In February 2006, a fact finding mission to Dublin's Temple Bar area by Members of Parliament warned that the smoking ban could lead to a growth in the use of patio heaters as way to keep punters who smoke as comfortable as possible.

"What an extraordinary sight greeted me when, with a number of my Parliamentary colleagues and several members of the Dail, I visited a number of pubs to find that all of them fell into one or other of two categories. Either the entire perimeter area was covered with patio heaters and armchairs so that anybody who wanted to go into the admittedly smoke-free pub had to fight their way through a tangible fug of nicotine-soaked air to get into the damned place in the first place, which makes something of a nonsense of it,"
Stephen Pound, Labour Ealing North, Member Of Parliament

At that time Desmond Turner, MP for Brighton Kemptown, called for a complete ban on patio heaters. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The use of patio heaters accounts for about one million tonnes of CO2 emissions a year, which immediately cancels out, for instance, the savings made by government changes to vehicle taxations." In a rare occurrence of cross party support Liberal Democrat environment spokesman Norman Baker agreed that patio heaters were a "waste of resources" and "doomed to failure", before adding "Patio heaters are an absurd invention. It is ludicrous that people are trying to heat the open air, as well as being irresponsible in the light of the climate change challenge we face. Instead of reaching for the gas canister people should reach for another jumper instead"

Six months later in September 2006, Martin Horwood a Lib Dem environment spokesman suggested at a conference fringe meeting that inefficient products such as incandescent bulbs ans patio heaters, stating "What about patio heaters? That is a luxury that can easily be taxed extremely heavily."

Commercial heaters are larger and used more often and with nearly 60,000 pubs, 25,000 restaurants and many thousand more hotels, clubs, cafes and bars in the UK, the potential for growth in CO2 emissions from heaters used by the hospitality sector compounds the domestic problem. Each commercial patio heater generates 2.2 tonnes of carbon dioxide on average per year, the equivalent to driving a car for over 6,000 miles. Each domestic patio heater emits 50kg of CO2 per year based on annual usage of 21 hours. With the growth of the industry and more powerful patio heaters this figure is sure to increase.

In June this year London Mayor Ken Livingstone said "Cutting out wasteful use of energy is the most important way in which we can cut emissions in the short term. We need to call a halt towards this trend for wasting energy in this way." At the same time the London Assembly Greens released statistics suggesting the CO2 output of London could increase by more than 20,000 tonnes a year when the ban came into force on 1 July.

Having a quick look online at a leading UK store, I found several brands of patio heaters, the ones I found were electric, and used between 11 and 13kWh, the equivalent to;

1 000 CFL bulbs
4 household kettles
39 televisions
8 household ovens, or
12 household microwaves


That equates to a cost of about £1.21 to £1.43 an hour in electricity costs and 5.7kg - 6.8kg of CO2 emissions per hour of use. In an evening that could work out to be an expensive garden party. Businesses that offer patio heaters are not only incurring huge financial overheads from using these devices, which ultimately will be passed on to the consumer who benefit very little from their use. Having had the unfortunate opportunity to be eating al fresco at an Italian restaurant recently I was subjected to two patio heaters next to my table, I was cold before they were turned on, I was still cold after, in all honesty the product is irrational, the concept delusional and in practice useless. It's like turning the heating on in your house only to open all the windows and doors, or cooking in an oven with the door open. Maybe the solution is before us, rather than gas and electric patio heaters maybe we need more conventional and environmentally friendly biomass patio heaters at least that way they are carbon neutral.

So before you go and splash out a few hundred pounds on a patio heater, think of the long term costs to your pocket and the environment.

Picture: London Under Water

Whilst this picture may be from the imagination of Richard Doyle, after the events of previous weeks throughout England it may not be that far from reality. With this year having been the wettest Summer on record more than 387mm (15.2in) of rain fell in England and Wales. This compounds research from Newcastle University last year which suggested that rain intensity has doubled in the UK over the last 40 years due to climate change.

"If the trend continues, which is likely, this suggests we will have an increase in flooding over the coming years which has major implications for flood risk management"
Dr Hayley Fowler, Newcastle University

The image depicts iconic central London landmarks such as the Houses of Parliment and the London Eye essentially in the Thames. The image is from the aptly named film "Flood" which will be released in August.

Freezing Electricity Consumption

Our household has one under counter fridge in the house, a fridge freezer and an under counter freezer in the garage, both are over ten years old. For about a week I have been contemplating purchasing a new tall freezer to replace those that are in the garage, as an environmental and financially sound idea. Today I ordered a Hotpoint RZA54G graphite tall freezer with an energy rating of A, from the product specifications it should use approximately 257kWh per year. Using statistics I researched previously, due to the age of the appliances I have they could use up to four times the energy as the new energy efficient models. Thus I believe the new purchase could prevent me using 750kWh a year and 380kg of CO2 emissions through electricity generation (even though I am on a green tariff, but the less green energy I use, the more for someone else). Assuming my calculations are correct, the freezer will have paid for itself in less than four years through reduced electricity consumption.

Find energy saving washing machines, fridges, heating, lighting and televisions.

But the purchase also poses another question, what to do with my old appliances, as fridges are covered by WEEE, they need to be recycled in a controlled manner, as they always should even before WEEE. Curry's, a leading UK electrics retailer recently launched their free delivery and recycling service with a purchase of A rated energy efficient appliances over £249. Tesco also offer a collection service for an additional fee to that of the appliance, approximately £12.

However a phone call to your local council maybe all that is necessary for a free-of-charge collection of your unwanted bulky household items for recycling. My local council offers this service, however demand is often high and you may need to wait several weeks before collection. Find your Local Council.

My local council area, Lisburn City Council recycled 42.68 tonnes of fridges and freezers between January and March 2006.

Lush Protest Packaging in the Nude

Leading international high street retailer Lush have gone onto the streets in the UK stripping off to protest against unnecessary packaging of products, the UK nude protest is part of the stores worldwide campaign in 55 cities. Staff from Lush stores around the UK wore only a white apron with the words "Ask Me Why I'm Naked" emblazoned across their fronts covering their most intimate parts.

Lush is one of the few companies that have extensive environmental merits far beyond its competitors. The majority of their products come unpackaged, those that do are minimal and only used if absolutely necessary. All their ingredients are 100% natural and sourced in the country they are produced. Their products are never tested on animals.

Lush co founder Mark Constantine recently presented a Channel 4 documentary leading the public on a revolutionary insight into the consumer power over packaging, the effects, and cost packaging has on our pockets and the environment. You can watch the documentary on You Tube. (Part 1, 2, 3)

On 16th January 2006 Lush was taken to court in the UK by the Environment Agency. The offence was a technical one of not registering under The Packaging Waste Regulations 1997. This action to bring one of the most environmentally friendly companies in the UK on a technicality was not well received by the public.

There have been 3400 new pieces of legislation on average each year for the last 5 years. Lush started in 1995 and the new law came in during 1997 however Lush did not need to register under the Packaging Waste Regulations until the rules were changes in 2000 and to make it even more difficult the Environment Agency only put the rules on their website in 2005. Even allowing for this Lush has always recycled as well as offering packaging free alternatives to your every day products.

As soon as Lush were informed about the regulations they complied and attempted to make good any fees or charges that we had not paid. They say attempted because the Environment Agency tried to stop them so they could prosecute even though Kevin Parsons, Senior Environmental Officer, South West Region said ‘I agree Lush has been open and honest and that the environment has not suffered as a result of their action’.

He also said ‘It is very difficult for local officers as the scope for discretion is extremely limited. It causes us great difficulty in cases such as Lush as it is fully accepted that Lush is a company recycling on a very comprehensive basis.’

The magistrates took some time to discuss matters amongst themselves. They asked when the Regulations first came in as opposed to when the company first registered. The Lush barrister pointed out that there was no liability until the year 2000, which was when the limit came down from £5m to £2m. He also noted that there were two further small points that he had been asked to put forward to the magistrates. The first was to make clear explicitly the methods of recycling had been carried out since well before the year 2000. Secondly, that the Regulations had been placed on the Environment Agency’s website during the course of the last year and not before.

The magistrates retired for all of 15 minutes. They then said that the offences were ‘at the lower end of the scale’ and ‘having taken the mitigation into account’ that the compensation was the penalty.

It's a shame that genuine companies with positive attitudes towards making a beneficial difference to the environment are prosecuted over a technicality where those that flout the law are not brought before the courts.

Picture: Solar Powered Bus Station

Revolve has announced the winners of its photo competition at their website. One image that I liked is titled Ghost Bus, so had to post it here. It pictures Vauxhall Cross Bus Station at night, the second busiest bus station in London, serving around 45,000 passengers per day with 12 bus routes calling at the strikingly designed interchange.

Vauxhall Cross incorporates cutting edge photovoltaic technology to draw energy from daylight, generating as much as 30% of the energy required to power the bus station, enough to light eight three-bedroom houses for a year. The cantilevers on the interchange structure reach out to the sun and will generate electricity for the 24-hour station by turning daylight into power.

In recent times, London's bus usage has increased by 40 per cent with a 5 per cent of drivers switching from cars to public transport. The only shift of its kind in any major city anywhere in the world. After the success of the world's largest fuel-cell bus fleet trial, The Mayor of London plans to introduce 70 new hydrogen vehicles to London by 2010.

Green Gift Ideas

Over the last few months quite alot of people have asked about what gifts they can give that are functional, eco friendly and make an environmental statement. A gift is often a difficult decision at the best of the times, so trying to find a gift which has environmental merits has proven extremely difficult for many. I have scoured the internet and other sources to come up with this eclectic mix of presents at reasonable prices. Whilst the gifts are environmentally friendly, don't forget that they need to be transported via post, so where possible it may be best to try to find more appropriate local suppliers. If you know, sell or manufacture any eco friendly products why not post them here in the comments section or email me the links.

1. Travel Journal - The Green Apple - £24.95 (Manufactured by Haul)
   Totally unique journal made from used australian car plates. The closing tab is made from recycled truck tyre inner tubes, the paper is recycled and the bookmark is made from beer packaging.... pretty eco if you ask me! Ok, so they've had a long journey to get here, but The Green Apple are planting trees to make up for it so the trip will be carbon neutral.
   
   
2. Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Clipboard - Revolve UK - A5, £8.99, A4, £10.99
   
   
3. "Billy" Stool - Ree Store - £175
   Billy doesn't like to be known simply as a descendant of Annie due to his trolley framework. He would rather be recognised for his innovative use of a satellite dish as the seat fob. Satellite dish can be powder coated or upholstered as required. Manufactured from two redundant items Ree Store offers innovative household items from recycled materials.
   
   
4. A5 Blue Juice Carton Notepad - Remarkable - £2.50
   Made from recycled juice cartons and lined paper.
   
   
5. Eco Kettle - Nigels Eco Store - £34.99
   The innovative Eco Kettle has a unique double chamber that gets you to measure out exactly how much water you want to boil, saving electricity, water, money and time, making it better for the planet... and you still get to have a great cup of tea. That's smart thinking - making the eco kettle one of our favourite eco products, and an essential for any eco friendly kitchen or workplace. Using a kettle to boil more water than you need is the equivalent to powering 300 CFLs unnecessarily.
   

Video: 10 Things To ... Reduce Energy Use

This simple four minute video clip presented by Naomi Cleaver and Kevin McCloud outlines just 10 simple changes we can make to our lifestyles which will see you reduce your CO2 emisssions and save alot of money in the process. Following all the advice and tips in this video could save you in excess of £500 per year. If you want to find out more on any of the tips included in the video just follow the advice and links under the relevant number.

1. The average kettle uses about 3kWh, and is one of the highest consuming devices in the house. A rule of thumb is if you want to boil a cup of tea but there is no marking on the kettle, fill the cup with water and pour into the kettle. Or purchase an Eco kettle.
   
   
2. The Energy Saving Trust advises reducing your thermostat by one degree can reduce your heating bill by up to 10%.
   
   
3. Prepared to be shocked by standby, switch off devices, never leave a device on standby. And unplug chargers when not in use which can have no load usage.
   
   
4. Loft insulation can reduce your household heating bills by 33%, installation costs around £300, but grants are available up to 100% of the cost. Annual savings are £160 - £200, and up to 2000kg of CO2.
   
   
5. Converting to energy saving bulbs can save you 80% on lighting costs and 14% on your electricity bill overall. CFLs should last up to 12 times longer. Bulbs are widely available for as little as 50p. But they are covered by WEEE and should be recycled.
   
   
6. Replacing your boiler to a new condensing boiler could save you a third off your annual gas bill. Grants are available.
   
   
7. Replacing old white goods with new energy recommended ones can reduce your bills considerably. Fridges older than 10 years could be using twice as much electricity, and those over 15 years old up to four times as much. This could be as much as 2kWh per day and 380kg of CO2 per year, it could save you £75 per year in electricity costs too.
   
   
8. Cavity wall insulation can save you a third off your home heating bills. Installation costs as little as £400 and once again grants are available up to 100%. Annual savings are £130 - £160, and up to 1000kg of CO2.
   
   
9. Washing machines use huge amounts of energy, 90% of which is through heating water, by reducing the temperature from 40 to 30, energy consumption will be reduced by 40%.
   
   
10. By walking and cycling short journeys you can reduce your carbon emissions and save money too. Longer journeys can be made in environmentally friendly public transport, where possible avoid air transport. Eco cars could be one way to be green, still have a car and save a lot of money.

07.07.07 Live Earth

In just under an hour the Live Earth concerts for a climate in crisis will begin at the Aussie Stadium in Sydney, Australia. Live Earth will stage official concerts at Giants Stadium in New York; Wembley Stadium in London; Aussie Stadium in Sydney; Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro; the Coca-Cola Dome in Johannesburg; Makuhari Messe in Tokyo; the Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai; and HSH Nordbank Arena in Hamburg.

Live Earth is a 24-hour, 7-continent series of concert events on 7.7.07 that will bring together more than 100 music artists and 2 billion people to inspire a global movement to “Answer the Call” and help solve the climate crisis. Live Earth was founded by Kevin Wall, CEO of Control Room, the company producing the events globally.

Live Earth marks the beginning of a multi-year campaign led by the Alliance for Climate Protection in the US, We’re in This Together and I Count in the UK, and other international organizations, to drive individuals, corporations and governments to take immediate and lasting action to solve the climate crisis. Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore is the Chair of the Alliance for Climate Protection and a Partner of Live Earth.

"By engaging individuals all over the world, Live Earth will drive corporations and governments to tackle the climate crisis"
Al Gore

The ambitious event has generated criticism for the hypocrisy of the carbon footprint of the event and those that will be performing at the events. I have mixed feelings on the event, whilst I agree that the event will have a large carbon footprint, the events are allowing the message of climate change and CO2 emissions to be at the forefront of 2 billion peoples mind, should this empower each individual to install a single CFL bulb this could save 76m tonnes of CO2 emissions a year. However some people will go alot further, and others will simply do nothing, as in business you have to speculate to accumulate.

If you want to "Answer the Call" to help the environment, why not try some of these;

• Check your carbon footprint
• Look at our energy saving tips
• Find out more about plastic bags, why paper is as bad, and alternatives
• More information on why a CFL bulb is much better for the environment
• How renewable energy such as Solar PV, Solar thermal or wind power can help lower global carbon emissions (and you can even use renewables for free, almost).
• Improve the efficiency of your home with cavity wall insulation and loft insulation can reduce your footprint by several tonnes per year, and won't cost the earth, it will save you much more.
• How recycling can save huge amounts of energy, whether it's a sheet of paper, a plastic bottle or a steel tin.
• By supporting local produce and using tap water you can reduce food transport.
• Also using environmentally friendly modes of transport can help reduce our personal footprints.

Locations, Times & Headline Acts

Sydney - 0110 BST (1110 local)

CROWDED HOUSE, JACK JOHNSON, WOLFMOTHER, JOHN BUTLER TRIO, MISSY HIGGINS, ESKIMO JOE, SNEAKY SOUND SYSTEM, PAUL KELLY, GHOSTWRITERS , TONI COLLETTE & THE FINISH, BLUE KING BROWN

Tokyo - 0400 BST (1200 local)

ABINGDON BOYS SCHOOL, AI, AI OTSUKA, AYAKA, COCCO, GENKI ROCKETS, KUMI KODA, LINKIN PARK, RIHANNA, RIZE, XZIBIT

Johannesburg - 1100 BST (1200 local)

ANGELIQUE KIDJO, BAABA MAAL, DANNY K, JOSS STONE, THE PARLOTONES, THE SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR, UB40, VUSI MAHLASELA, ZOLA

Shanghai - 1130 BST (1830 local)

ANTHONY WONG, EASON CHAN, EVONNE HSU, HUANG XIAO MING, JOEY YUNG, SARAH BRIGHTMAN, SOLER, WINNIE SHIN, 12 GIRLS BAND, ARTISTS FROM THE POPULAR TELEVISION PROGRAMS “MY HERO AND “MY SHOW”

Hamburg - 1300 BST (1400 local)

CHRIS CORNELL, ENRIQUE IGLESIAS, JAN DELAY, JULI EINENEUERTAG, KATIE MELUA, LOTTO KING KARL, MANDO DIAO, MARIA MENA, MARQUESS, MIA., MICHAEL MITTERMEIER, REAMONN, REVOLVERHELD, ROGER CICERO, SAMY DELUXE, SASHA, SHAKIRA, SILBERMOND, SNOOP DOGG, STEFAN GWILDIS, YUSUF

London - 1330 BST

BEASTIE BOYS, BLACK EYED PEAS, BLOC PARTY, CORINNE BAILEY RAE, DAMIEN RICE, DAVID GRAY, DURAN DURAN, FOO FIGHTERS, GENESIS, JAMES BLUNT, JOHN LEGEND, KASABIAN, KEANE, MADONNA, METALLICA, PAOLO NUTINI, PUSSYCAT DOLLS, RAZORLIGHT, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, SNOW PATROL, SPINAL TAP, TERRA NAOMI

Washington - 1530 BST (1030 local)
GARTH BROOKS, TRISHA YEARWOOD, KIM RICHEY

New Jersey - 1930 BST (1430 local)
AFI, AKON, ALICIA KEYS, BON JOVI, DAVE MATTHEWS BAND, FALL OUT BOY, JOHN MAYER, KANYE WEST, KEITH URBAN, KELLY CLARKSON, KENNA, KT TUNSTALL, LUDACRIS, MELISSA ETHERIDGE, ROGER WATERS, SMASHING PUMPKINS, TAKING BACK SUNDAY, THE POLICE

Rio de Janeiro - 2000 BST (1600 local)

LENNY KRAVITZ, PHARRELL WILLIAMS, MACY GRAY, XUXA, O RAPPA, MARCELO D2, JORGE BEN JOR, JOTA QUEST, VANESSA DA, MATTA, MV BILL

Kyoto (Special Broadcast Event)
BONNIE PINK, MICHAEL NYMAN, RIP SLYME, UA, YELLOW MAGIC ORCHESTRA

Live Earth Antartica (Special Broadcast Event)
NUNATAK

High Powered Gadgets Threaten Energy Savings

In the UK we spend £12 billion a year on new electrical appliances, however the latest technology is not necessarily the most environmentally friendly with some new products being less efficient than old ones. This is mainly due to the growth in sales of hi-tech gadgets like flat panel tvs, plasma tvs and digital radios. In many cases upgrading televisions from cathode ray tube televisions to much larger flat panel televisions has resulted in a three-fold increase in electricity consumption from the device. A similar increase has also been seen in digital radios;

• Digital Radios, 8W
• Anologue Radios, 2W
• Digital Television Radio Service, 100W

By 2020 it is predicted by the Energy Saving Trust that 14 power stations will be needed just to power consumer electronic devices, and gadgets will account for about 45% of electricity used in UK households. Whilst some devices have been criticised in the report other consumer electronics have been praised for their advancements into reducing their energy consumption.

• Mobile Phone Chargers (60 - 80% reduction in no-load consuption)
• White Goods (Fridges, Freezers, Washing Machines)

With the continued increase in purchases on consumer electronics and the need for the latest gadgets our electricity consumption is going to continue to rise, only with a change in attitudes and continued developments of environmentally friendly and efficient products like we have seen in the past decade with CFLs and white goods will we reduce our household energy consumption. Otherwise the progress of the past will have only offset the consumer demand of the future. Here are a few tips from the Energy Saving Trust on why to choose wisely;

• Around 9% of total UK TV energy consumption is from standby alone - so turn it off when you have finished watching and save yourself money.
• The new large flat screen TVs can cost up to three times as much to run as traditional TVs. This can add up to a surprising £90 to a typical household electricity bill every year. Do your research before you buy to make sure you're getting the most energy efficient model.

• The UK's DVDs and VCRs consume nearly £220 million worth of electricity each year and this is expected to nearly double by 2020. This is mainly because they are left on standby, so turn them off at the plug when you're not using them.
• Every year set-top boxes in the UK use around £260 million worth of electricity. Energy Saving Recommended TVs have a built-in set top box, which saves enough electricity to make around 1,800 mugs of tea a year) - and reduces carbon dioxide emissions.
• The latest generation of computer games consoles consume up to an astonishing 180W of electricity - the equivalent of leaving three 60W bulbs burning (and potentially adding £160 per year to the electricity bill). Switch off your games console at the wall when not in use to save money and energy.

Follow these simple guidelines to keep your gadgets energy efficient:

1. Do your research before you shop - There's no need to compromise on functionality to be more energy efficient. Many of the latest and most sophisticated consumer electronics carry the Energy Saving Recommended logo. Find out more about Energy Saving Recommended products
2. Look for the logo - the Energy Saving Recommended logo is a simple and quick way to find the most energy efficient products. You'll find it on a wide range of products from kitchen appliances including washing machines and fridges, heating and lighting to televisions and set top boxes.
3. Ask in store - with energy consumption continuing to rise, the running costs and efficiency of a product are important considerations. Sales staff should have a good working knowledge of the features and benefits of each product so be sure to ask them:
   
   • Whether it is Energy Saving Recommended
   • How much energy the product uses when on standby
   • Whether the product has any special energy efficient features such as automatic standby which powers appliances down if they are not used for a certain amount of time, or screen blanking which allows you to listen to digital radio on your TV without using excess energy
4. Look out for integrated appliances - fewer products means less electricity so buying an integrated digital television, which combines a TV with a digital receiver, is good for both your pocket and the environment.

Video: Clock Off ... Switch Off

This video shows how important energy efficiency is becoming in business. The Carbon Trust works with companies to reduce their energy consumption by over 20%. Businesses can receive interest free loans and grants to reduce their carbon emissions and effectively reduce their costs, making them more profitable and more competitive.

What's in Season from Your Local Farmer in July?

Vegetables
Beetroot
Broad Beans
Broccoli
Carrots
Celery
Cucumber
Peas
Peppers
Savoy
Scallions
Tomatoes
Turnip

In Season All Year
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Lettuce
Mushrooms
Pammphrey
Potatoes
Red Cabbage
Soup Veg
Swedes

Fruit
Blackcurrants
Bramley Apples
Raspberries
Strawberries

Meat
Beef
Chicken
Lamb
Pork

Other
Eggs
Milk
Oats
Other Grains

Please note the above selection of foods is based on what is in season in the United Kingdom.