Lifelong diver Rob Stewart set out to create a wildlife film about the group of animals he is most passionate about – sharks. His intention was to dispell the myths surrounding these wonders of evolution and to educate viewers about how slight the risk of being attacked by sharks really is. In doing so he hoped to reduce the unwarranted persecution these shy animals suffer right around the globe.

His filming trip took him around the world to capture sharks in some of the most breath-taking natural environments including places like Costa Rica and the Galapagos Islands. However it was these two particular biodiversity hotspots that the whole project began to change beyond all recognition…

In Costa Rica Rob Stewart uncovered fishermen operating illegally within the protected marine park, using long-line fishing to catch not just fish for food but of course a variety of other types of marine life thanks to this wasteful, non-specific way of capturing fish. Some of their capture included his precious sharks.

Digging deeper, Sharkwater changes from a pure wildlife documentary to a detective hunt and adventure movie as Stewart discovers more and more fishermen catching sharks – and realizes to his surprise that many of them are deliberately targeting these endangered sharks for their fins.

Shark fin soup has apparently grown in popularity tremendously over the last few decades and it seen as a sign of wealth in China. Whilst the fin provides no real flavour – just texture – shark fin is becoming an ever-more valuable commodity. And with it’s value comes corruption, and protection from some unlikely places.

Through the course of the film we follow Stewart’s investigations and he tries to learn more about the trade. He films undercover. He gets involved with organized crime and crooked governments and at one point even has to outrun the machine-gun toting Costa Rican police as they try to arrest him for his investigations during a hair-raising boat chase in true James Bond style.

While many of us are aware of the basic issues surrounding sharks being caught for their fins this film does an excellent job of explaining not only how much of it is illegal but also just how barbaric the process really is. Watching a fisherman drag a shark onto his boat with a huge hook through it’s mouth, cutting it’s fins off while the creature is still alive and then throwing it back into the sea, finless, unable to swim and just waiting to drown is one of the most moving pieces of footage I have seen in a long time. To see an alpha predator like this reduced to nothing was truly shocking so be prepared if you’re of a sensitive disposition.

That said, I felt this film managed to be many things. Moving, certainly. But also fascinating, exciting and beautiful at the same time. For anyone who cares about the marine environment and the creatures that live there Sharkwater is a movie well worth getting your hands on.

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If you care about the environment then I have no doubt that you’re aware of all the benefits surrounding solar power. However the major weakness surrounding installing solar panels in your home is principally the cost of a bespoke solar PV system.

That said, even if you have minimal cash to invest in your environmentally friendly lifestyle there are a number of ways that anyone can at least bring a little solar energy into their life. And while in an ideal world we’d all rely totally on renewable energy sources I hope you’d agree with me that swapping just a little bit of your energy use from non-renewable sources to sustainable, renewable solar power will help to reduce the use of fossil fuels and the production of climate changing gases like carbon dioxide which can only be a good thing.

In this article then I’d like to investigate four simple and very cost-effective tips that you can use to significantly reduce your dependency on non-renewable energy sources.

Renewable Energy Suppliers

Possibly the easiest method of all for switching to renewable energy is to ring up your current utility company and ask if they offer a “green tariff”. If they do then make the switch and if they don’t then move your account to a provider that focuses their efforts on renewable energy production.

This whole change can be done over the phone in a matter of minutes so there really is no reason not to take action. The only concern that some people have is that these companies who generate electricity through wind turbines and solar panels normally do charge a little more than suppliers utilizing non-renewable technology. However when you also implement some basic energy saving tips around your home it’s still entirely possible for your home electricity bill to actually go down rather than up when you focus on the environment.

Solar Powered Gadgets

Did you know that one can now buy all sorts of electrical devices with solar panels built into them? Whether that’s a solar flashlight, a solar-powered battery charger or a solar fan there is an ever-growing list of solar-powered gadgets that can be purchased, and which in turn will reduce your energy bill and bring a little renewable energy into your life.

Solar Panel Kits

If a full-blown solar panel installation is out of the question for you then it’s worth considering the next step down – principally a stand-alone solar panel kit as sold by many green suppliers. These kits normally include a professionally-produced solar panel together with full instruction for it’s use and all the wiring, fittings and accessories necessary to produce your own solar power at home without all the expense and hassle of hiring a professional solar installer.

Home-Made Solar Panels

While a full-blown solar installation may set you back thousands of dollars, were you aware that there is a growing trend of DIY solar panels? As it turns out, building your own solar panel installation isn’t actually so hard, and by using basic equipment available on Ebay, in DIY stores and from specialist green suppliers it’s entirely possible to build your own solar panel setup yourself for a few hundred dollars.

Even better when you combine intelligent energy saving tips with your own home-made solar panels some people have found that they were able to become completely “off grid” and produce all the energy they need from renewable energy sources alone. And that’s something worth getting excited about. If you want to learn more about how easy it is to build your own solar panels on a tight budget then please click here.

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Sometimes saving the planet and saving your money align perfectly and reducing the electricity you use around your home is a perfect example of this. Clearly the less power you use the less that your utility company is going to charge you. In addition when you reduce your energy needs you’ll also cut down on the greenhouse gases that are released in the production of most domestic electricity or will perhaps even allow you to go one step further and become completely sustainable by using only renewable energy sources such as solar panel kits in your home.

Think Energy Ratings

Most environmental scientists agree that the cost to produce a new TV, washing machine or suchlike is quickly offset against the environmental savings to be had when you invest in a new low-energy version. Now clearly swapping all the technology in your home simply doesn’t make financial sense but it does make sense to carefully consider all your options when it comes to replacing any electrical device as it reaches the end of it’s natural life. Get familiar with energy ratings and visit consumer review sites to help you make informed decisions about new purchases.

Discover Energy-Efficient Cooking Practices

Many people use plenty of electricity to cook their meals whether that involves an oven, a hob or a microwave let alone the food processors, mixers, sandwich toasters and other “essential” kitchen gadgets.

Fortunately there are all sorts of ways to use less energy to prepare your meals such as leaving your oven door shut as much as possible to keep the heat in, boiling vegetables with the lids on pans for the same reason and “batching” your cooking so that you use as few electrical devices as possible.

Raw food, one-pan cooking and similar strategies will help to ensure you haven’t got your oven, hob, grill and microwave all going at the same time in order to put together a single meal. Even better, when you do cook, consider making more food than you need so that you can rely on leftovers for a day or two afterwards thus cutting down even more on the electricity you would otherwise have used.

Ditch The Standby

Whether it’s your computer going into “sleep mode” or the “standby” feature on your TV it seems that devices left on standby mode use almost as much electricity as they do when they are operating fully. This means that by leaving your electrical devices plugged into the main – even if you’re not actively using them at that point – can use up a surprising amount of power.

Counteract this issue by either properly turning off and unplugging electrical devices when they’re not in use.

Air Dry Your Clothes

Tumble dryers use huge amounts of power to operate so consider using your dryer as a last ditch resort after days of heavy rain where you have to get your clothes dry now. Otherwise hang your clothes out to dry in the air which will not only save electricity but also help to leave them smelling fresh and clean rather than the stale, stagnant smell that can arise from tumble drying clothes.

Switch Off Your Lights

Firstly ensure you’re using the latest energy-efficient bulbs rather than old-fashioned incandensent bulbs but furthermore only switch on a light if you need it. That means switching off lights whenever you leave a room. The myth of light bulbs using more power when you initially turn them on – so leaving lights on for extended period of time being environmentally-friendly – has largely been dispelled now through careful monitoring of domestic electricity use. If you don’t need them – turn them off.

Laptops Not Desktops

Laptops use considerably less electricity than desktops to do the same job so consider making your laptop your “main” computer and only using your desktop for tasks that require lots of processing power like editing videos. Indeed I am writing this article right now on a small netbook that uses even less power yet serves virtually all my computing needs.

Clean Only Full Loads

Washing machines and dish washers use virtually the same resources whether they contain a single item or are chock-full so try planning ahead so you do only full loads. Not only will this potentially make your life easier because you’re not having to constantly load and unload your machines but you’ll save a considerable amount of power over the course of a few weeks.

Buy An Energy Monitor

When I eat pizza I naturally put on weight. But the weight is added so gently and so slowly that I barely notice it until my jeans won’t do up. Then suddenly I realize how much weight I’ve gained and I immediately start living on salad and running every morning to try and get back to my old shape.

A similar situation can arise with your electricity use. If you don’t immediately see the effects of your actions it’s easy to ignore them or forget about them until the electricity bill lands on your doormat and you’re left screaming “HOW MUCH?!”.

Of the people I know that have invested just a few dollars in a basic electricity monitor almost all of them have been shocked at how much power they use at home and have found it both an educational and motivational exercise to see just how much energy they can save if they try. Furthermore when you actively monitor your energy use it’s far easier to spot those ” energy vampires” when you’re shocked to see the figures going up so quickly as you turn on your hair dryer or desk-fan or whatever.

By monitoring your home energy use you gain a far better understanding of what is using a lot of electricity around your home and it becomes far easier to make educated decisions about what lifestyle or technology changes you need to implement to gain control of the situation.

Discover Pleasures That Don’t Involve Electricity

Our modern society relies on electricity in a huge way to entertain ourselves. Whether that’s watching TV, surfing the net, listening to music or playing video games our domestic energy use goes up massively when we all get home from work and need entertaining. Now I like video games as much as the next person (Mario Galaxy, anyone?!) but it can also be a smart idea to consider hobbies and pastimes that don’t rely on heavy electricity use.

Ask yourself when the last time was that you picked up a book or magazine, whether you might like to spend more time gardening, or learning to ride a horse, or walking in the countryside, or improving your photography. There’s a whole world of options out there that require minimal use of electricity yet are generally more enjoyable and healthier than sitting on your couch staring at a box in the corner of your living room.

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DIY solar panels are within the reach of anyone with a little time and a small amount of money to spend. Whilst full-blown solar panel set-ups installed by a professional installer can run to tens of thousands of dollars when it comes to DIY solar panels just a few hundred dollars is enough to get going. Clearly such a small investment for your own bespoke solar panel installation that can provide plenty of free, clean, renewable energy to use around your home really puts solar energy within easy reach of just about anyone willing to learn a few basic concepts.

When it comes to DIY solar panels there are really four essential pieces of kit that you will need. These are the solar panels themselves, the inverter and the battery. In addition the fourth essential piece of kit – bearing in mind you’re dealing with live electricity here – is a detailed guidebook taking you step-by-step through every element. Besides these main requirements you will also need suitable wiring and a way of attaching the solar panels securely so that they receive the most sunlight possible each day without getting damaged by bad weather.

1) DIY Solar Panels

Solar panels are made up from small photovoltaic cells fixed together to form a large, uniform sheet to catch the sun’s rays. Buying solar panels from a shop and installing them yourself is typically a lot cheaper than having a professional installer do the job for you but if you want to save even more money you can buy the individual photovoltaic cells themselves for next to nothing online and then fix these together efficiently to form completed and full-functional DIY solar panels.

2) Inverters

The energy harnessed by your DIY solar panels won’t be in a form that your household appliances can use so in almost every situation an inverter is essential for “inverting” or changing the power into a usable form. Experts in homemade solar panels have found that the inverter is really one of the most important pieces of the puzzle altogether and investing in the wrong inverter really can be disastrous with lots of the power you create being wasted.

As a result don’t settle for just any old inverter when considering DIY solar panels but instead try to buy the best model that you can – even if it means buying a top-notch model second-hand rather than a lower-quality inverter brand new. Indeed as we’re all trying to be as environmentally aware as possible buying second-hand will not only help to save you money and make your DIY solar panels installation more efficient but will also help to “reduce, reuse and recycle” thus keeping more unwanted cast-offs from going into landfill.

3) Batteries

If you want to go totally “off grid” then batteries will be essential to store all the electricity you create before you need it. However some people go the alternative route and like to stay connected to the electricity grid, feeding unused power that they have created into the grid in exchange for an agreed sum of money. Then, should power be needed around the home yet the batteries have gone dead, power it drawn from the grid knowing that the overall effect is to generate additional renewable energy for the grid while ensuring you yourself never run out of power no matter how cloudy the day has been!

A variety of batteries can be used when building a DIY solar panel installation including car batteries and forklift truck batteries and once again these can be bought second-hand very cheaply and then “reconditioned” to make them fit for purpose. Whilst the exact process of reconditioning old batteries is beyond the bounds of this article in our experience many solar panel installation manuals give detailed information about how to perform this simple but effective technique.

4) DIY Solar Power Manuals

Over the last six weeks we’ve been working our way through a mountain of different books on the subject of DIY solar systems looking for the best overall guide around. While the vast majority were useful and well-written many seemed to either be pitched too high (too much physics and math to be enjoyable or even useful for the average person!) or seemed to miss out vital steps, thus making it essential to read a number of these manuals one after the other in order to get an overall informed decision.

Some of the best guidebooks we actually found were available online only in the form of ebooks – which seems particularly satisfying because of course we eco-warriors don’t have to worry about new books being printed in order to learn all about homemade solar panel installations.

After reading through most of the well-known guides my personal favrite is Home Made Energy which you can read more about here.

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Over the last decade or so solar energy has metamorphosed from the preserve of hippies and idealists to the realm of normality. More and more everyday people are seeing the benefits of solar energy and as a result finding ways to include it in their lives – whether that’s going all-out on a bespoke solar panel installation or making small moves in the form of solar battery chargers or buying renewable energy from their utility company.

However solar energy is also a rather emotive subject. Solar panel installers are keen to push the benefits of solar power while other people complain about the costs involved, the appearance of solar panels in a residential area and other downsides to this form of renewable energy.

So what is really the truth: what are the real solar energy advantages and disadvantages; because once you understand the reality from a propaganda-free perspective you’ll be in a far better position to make an informed decision about whether solar power is right for you.

Solar Energy Disadvantages

Seeing as we’re discussing solar energy advantages and disadvantages let’s get the negative out of the way to begin with. And in all fairness there are quite a few that you should be aware of. We’ll be the first to admit that while we’re huge supporters of renewable energy, all forms do indeed have their weaknesses, least of all solar.

Cost

The first major solar energy disadvantage is potentially the cost. A full solar panel installation can take a decade or more to pay for itself in terms of the money saved on your electricity bills. Looking at solar energy from this perspective is probably the largest obstacle for most people when it comes to installation however it is important to note that there are an ever-growing range of solutions.

For example it is possible to start off small, installing only a small solar energy system to supplement the main system in the home and to gently upgrade over time. Another possible solution to this solar energy disadvantage is the growing range of “solar mortgages” being offered by specialist lenders which allow you to spread the cost of installing solar panels over an extended period of time, thus often making them no more expensive than buying non-renewable energy from the grid.

Appearance

There are people – even those with strong values regarding sustainable living – who strongly dislike the appearance of solar panels. By definition solar panels needs to be sited where they are in full sunlight for as long as possible each day an this often means placing them in a highy visible location such as on the south-facing side of your roof.

And of course even if you yourself do not find their appearance a hindrance it may be that other people in your neighbourhood do. Once again though of course there are a small number of possible solutions such as placing solar panels in your garden rather than on your roof to reduce their visibility to your neighbours or through the use of the new aesthetically-pleasing solar panels.

As an example some companies now manufacture solar pv panels that look like normal slate roofing tiles though they are still more than capable of producing solar energy for your home.

Planning Regulations

In many parts of the world it is necessary to receive planning permission before placing a solar energy generating system on your roof so it is well worth checking in your local area before you invest in a new system.

Many of the rules that local authorities foster can seem to make little logical sense but must be stuck to if you are not to receive a fine and/or a demand to remove the panels from your home. Typically the more sensitive the area you live in, the harder it may be to gain approval for a solar energy installation.

Technical Know-How

An often over-looked solar energy disadvantage is that not only the initial installation but also routine maintenance will normally require specialist workers who are familiar with solar pv systems. Whilst the electricity around your home will still function in a similar manner it’s important to remember that the use of batteries to store power as well as the inverter required adds an extra level of technical difficulty to any electrical work you may want done on your home at a later date.

Weather Dependence

It goes without saying that solar panel function best in bright, clear sunshine and so on cloudy days they will produce far less electricity. Interestingly modern solar panels are also quite temperature dependent and typically become less efficient at higher temperatures though moisture in the form of rain etc. seems to be less of a limiting factor on the power they can produce.

However once again if you live in an area which is less sunny you may have to think carefully about the amount of renewable energy you can produce as well as how you’re going to significantly reduce the power requirements of your everyday home life in order that s aolr panel installation is a practical solution to your energy needs.

One possible solution to this disadvantage is to install a system whereby your solar installation feeds excess energy into the grid on sunny days where you produce more power than you actually need, and then on cloudier days where you need more energy than your solar panels are producing you “top up” the power in your home from the grid. Doing so means you will never “run out” of energy but are still generating as much of your own as possible which to many people is the ideal situation.

Solar Panel Advantages

Of course solar energy wouldn’t have gained it’s current level of popularity without good reason. Indeed for most people solar panels are the most accessible and practical form of renewable energy available. While wave power, nuclear power, wind turbines and so on all have their advantages and disadvantages they generally aren’t available to the everyday person on the street.

Solar power is different and is within the reach of anyone with a few dollars to spend and a little motivation. So to make this a fair discussion when it comes to the topic of solar energy advantages and disadvantages lets take a closer look at the considerable benefits of solar panels.

Accessible For All

Whilst the initial cost of installing a solar energy system in your home may at first seem like a hurdle when you look deeper into the situation we can all include a degree of solar energy into our everyday lives irrespective of how much money we have to invest.

For example one can now buy solar flashlights, solar powered battery chargers and a range of other household devices powered purely by the sun. Taking it up a notch one can also buy low-cost solar panel kits that will enable you to create power at will with a very modest investment indeed.

When you factor into the equation the number of DIY solar panel books there are on the subject, this low barrier of entry means that solar energy really is the most accessible type of renewable energy of all.

Variety Of Costs

As the solar industry has grown significantly over the last decade or so, so have the range of solutions and with them the prices involved. So while it is possible to invest a similar sum as would pay for a family car, it’s also possible to introduce a small degree of solar energy into your everyday life for the price of a CD.

Being mindful of the advantages of solar power when you’re making decisions about your home, your energy use and the appliances you’re buying can mean that everyone can garner at least a little of their daily energy requirements from solar power.

Financial Incentives

The power of the green consumer market has put pressure on governments around the world to foster and support the use of renewable energy and in many countries this has taken the form of financial incentives for those who install solar energy in their home.

In this way the “payback time” on installing solar panels has been significantly reduced and indeed once the system has been paid for it is even possible for renewable energy producers on a domestic scale to even begin making a profit by feeding their unwanted excess energy into the grid at premium prices.

As a result when considering solar power it is beneficial to investigate all current financial incentives available to you as a means of making solar power even more affordable for you.

Increased House Value

Whilst there is still some disagreement within the industry regarding this factor it seems that overall house-buyers are willing to pay a premium for a home that already benefits from solar energy. In this way when it comes to the advantages of solar energy it seems that paying to install a system in your home can make a shrewd investment by significantly increasing the value of your home if and when you eventually decide to sell it.

Energy Without The Grid

In situations such as sheds, garages, motor homes and caravans where mains electricity may not be readily available, solar power can make a suitable alternative. Many boat owners, for example, install small solar setups on the roof of their boats in order to provide extra energy and charge their batteries in the sunshine.

“Free” Energy

Whilst installing a solar PV system in the first place clearly has costs involved, once that system has been paid for solar energy essentially becomes “free” energy. There are no tariffs or duties payable when you harness solar energy and furthermore the power produced by the sun is in such volume that it would be impossible for us to use it all so there is never a risk of using an “unfair amount” of the suns rays.

Green Energy

Lastly, and possibly most importantly of all of course, the biggest solar energy advantage is that the power produced is “green” – that is the power is renewable and doesn’t produce any climate-changing gases into the atmosphere to generate this power. Solar panels aren’t totally green of course as the manufacturing process itself will likely lead to some emissions but thanks to the lifespan of a typical solar panel overall there will be a significant drop in your carbon footprint as a result of relying on solar power rather than non-renewable sources of electricity.

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When the sunshine is beating down and the temperature is rising it’s understandable that many people flick on their air conditioning. But while your air conditioning might make you feel more comfortable in the short term there’s a gremlin you need to be aware of: one of the biggest contributors to most Westerner’s carbon footprint is the energy used to heat and cool our homes and work places.

And while there are plenty of tools and tips for heating your home in more sustainable way, there is far less information around about how to stay cool in the summer without the use of your air-con.

As well as costing the environment there are of course other disadvantages of air conditioning. Firstly all that power that your air-con unit is guzzling is costing you money. Less air conditioning means smaller utility bills – something most of us would welcome.

Most air conditioning makes noise too when running and while this may not affect many people, some find that the gentle buzzing can be annoying, reducing their enjoyment of conversation, television or even causing difficulties sleeping, especially in cases where the air conditioning is regularly cutting in and out to try and maintain a constant temperature.

Lastly just like artificially heating our homes, air conditioning units dry out the air in our homes which can cause dry skin, sore eyes, sore throats and other cold-like symptoms. In short giving up your air con makes a lot of sense for a whole load of reasons.

Wear Natural Fibres

Whilst many man-made fibres like polyester have practical benefits such as being hard-wearing, easy to iron and resistant to shrinkage caused by overzealous washing or drying, they do suffer from one major problem – and that is that they struggle to breathe.

On hot, sunny days where one is likely to be perspiring it is smart to choose clothes made from fibres that breathe easily, thus allowing moisture to evaporate away from the body, keeping you feeling more comfortable even in warmer weather.

Consider cotton, hemp, wool and linen rather than viscose, polyester and PVC to stay fresh and sweat-free in the heat of the summer.

Actively Create Shade

More than anything else try to block out unnecessary sunlight. This means closing blinds or drapes early in the morning before the sun gets too fierce as there is no point in closing them once your home has already got unpleasantly hot. Doing so will simply help to hold the heat within your house making even less comfortable than if you hadn’t closed the blinds at all.

Heat-reflectors are available to use in car windows on hot days which reflect the suns rays back away from your car rather than turning it into a moving greenhouse.

When it comes to sitting outside in the garden consider growing climbers over a trellis or investing in a large parasol for your patio table so that once again you are out of the worst of the suns rays and thus keep cool.

Lastly while a sun tan may be attractive and fashionable try to stay out of the sun during the hottest part of the day. Cover up with loose-fitting but long-sleeved trousers, skirts and tops, together with using a wide-brimmed hat. Doing so will reduce the heating effect of the suns rays on your skin and of course will also significantly reduce your chances of skin cancer at a later date.

Grow Plants

Studies have shown that as plants absorb water through their roots, channel it up their steps and then release it through tiny pores in their leaves it naturally creates a mico-climate around them that is measurably cooler than the ambient temperature.

In this way filling you garden with beautiful plants – and even extending this into your home with a selection of attractive house plants – can make your surroundings feel significantly cooler without the need of air conditioning.

Build A Pond

Generally speaking outdoor sources of water also benefit from a similar micro-climate as the water evaporates, creating a moist pocket of air that tends to be cooler than their surroundings. But outdoor sources of water such as ponds can also be very beneficial for wildlife giving frogs, newts and suchlike places to live and breed as well as being a source of drinking water for birds and local mammals.

Consequently building a wildlife pond in your garden – particularly in close proximity to where you’re most likely to sit on a balmy summers day – can help to keep you cool, support local wildlife and add interest to your garden as the local wildlife goes about it’s everyday life.

Through Draughts

Opening up a window can of course help to keep you cool in summer because the increased air movement aids water evaporation and helps to push the hotter air out of the window. But even better than opening a single window is to create a “through draft” by opening up two or more windows and ensuring that the doors between these rooms are kept open – with doorstops if necessary to stop the doors banging in the breeze.

By doing so the air will move through your home – getting pulled in through one window and zipping out of another. This breeze can be the perfect tonic to a hot, stale day and even when the air outside is very still the way in which your home warms up in the sun – with some areas being hotter than others depending on the direction of sun and the existing shade in and around your home – a through draught is still a very real possibility for cooling your home naturally and without the use of unnecessary energy.

Ceiling Fans

One final element worth considering is the use of one or more ceiling fans to draw the hot air up towards your ceiling – and away from you – whilst pushing cooler air down to ground level where you are spending your time.

The one downside of ceiling fans of course is that this is the only tip here where some energy will be used. However it is worth bearing in mind that not only is the energy use far less than that used by a full-blown air conditioning unit, but furthermore solar fans are readily available (or can be built from parts by the keen DIY solar panel fanatic) thus reducing your carbon footprint still further.

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For anyone with a garden weed control can be a constant battle. Seeds blown in by the wind, deposited by birds or other animals and of course suckers from weeds growing underground can quickly turn a tidy garden into a weed-filled wilderness.

Now of course weeds do have their benefits; it is important that we put some space aside for our native plants to grow so that they will aid and support local wildlife and the larger environment but for gardeners – especially those growing their own fruit and vegetables – weeds in the wrong place can not only look unsightly but also provide too much competition for cultivated plants. This competition can lead to weak, sickly plants (or even death altogether) as well as making harvesting far more difficult.

In short – despite the benefits of weeds – there are times where weed control is necessary for even the hardiest environmentalist.

Most gardeners of course rely on tried and tested chemicals such as commercially-available weedkillers to keep the weeds at bay but it goes without saying these these weedkillers can be indiscriminate in what they kill. These poisons can and do leach into the wider environment killing other plants and animals as well as souring our rivers and streams.

Those of us who care about sustainability need other solutions – we need chemical-free weed control. And fortunately there are quite a few options available to us…

Weed Control With Mulch

One of the easiest forms of chemical-free weed control is the use of mulch. To the uninitiated mulch is best described as a surface covering for your soil, typically of organic matter. For example some gardeners like to apply a thick layer of straw, barks chips or lawn clippings to their soil.

Doing so has two distinct benefits. Firstly this thick covering of the soil means that unwanted weeds will really struggle to get a foothold because the lack of light makes photosynthesis near-on impossible. If applied after your own cultivated plants have germinated then your own plants should be able to carry on as normal while new seeds won’t be able to get started.

The other benefit of using organic mulches is that of course over time these will rot down, gently and naturally fertilizing your soil. These added nutrients will furthermore help your own plants to grow thick and strong though be aware that the flipside of this means that it will be necessary to “top up” your garden with fresh mulch from time to time.

Fast-Growing Plants For Weed Control

Another option for chemical-free weed control is the use of fast-growing plants who outcompete the weeds themselves. Clearly this won’t be suitable in every situation but for the environmentally-aware gardener who simply wants to fill their flower beds with color rather than being overly concerned with growing specific plants it is a strategy that can be very effective indeed.

Many plants – especially annuals – grow quickly and thickly and so if sown on weeded, prepared soil they will quickly drown out any slower-germinating weeds before they manage to get a foot hold. They produce such a thick carpet of vegetative plant covering that other weed seeds simply can’t get enough light to germinate and grow.

Liners And Mats For Weed Control

As one of the most important elements in weed control is a lack of light which prevents seeds from germinating the use of various soil liners can also work well. These can range from the act of totally covering a bed for an extended period of time to kill off any and all plants currently growing it thus preparing the soil for planting, up to cutting holes in a weed prevention liner and planting your own cultivated plants in the holes. Between these plants the liner remains intact and so makes it virtually impossible for other plant to gain a foothold.

Burning Weeds

Weed burners can be purchased from many garden centres and hardware stores which resemble small flame throwers. These weed burning wands are normally powered by compact gas canisters which can be replaced. One simply turns on the gas supply, lights the flame on the end of the wand either using a match or, more usually, the built-in ignition system. Then one can simply walk around the garden scorching unwanted plants that will then die and rot away.

Clearly this method can work well on paths and patios but great care must be taken when using the wand in the vicinity of your cultivated plants to ensure that one does not do unnecessary damage to them in the process.

Digging Out Weeds

The last method of chemical-free weed control is clearly the good old-fashioned method of manual removal – actually digging the weeds out of the soil to put them on a compost heap. There are a number of possible techniques here. Heavily weeded areas will need to be dug o ver thoroughly with a garden spade or fork, while once an area has been got under control a regular hoe will keep weed seedlings under control.

Whichever digging method you choose be aware that it is wise to try and remove the roots of the plants as well as the growrth above ground or there is a risk that the plant will manage to regrow surprisingly quickly.

So now it’s your turn: please leave a comment below telling us how you control weeds in your own garden…

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photo credit: Pink Dispatcher

As anyone who has looked into the cost of solar panels will tell you: one of the greatest weaknesses of solar panels for your home is quite simply how expensive they are. I full-blown solar panel installation can set you back tens of thousands of dollars and while you should make your money back reasonably quickly on such an investment it’s more money than most people can easily spare.

Fortunately those of us interested in renewable energy and sustainable lifestyles needn’t despair because it is possible to find cheap solar panels if only you know what you’re doing. By following the proven tips listed below anyone can reduce their carbon footprint and begin producing their own renewable energy on tap.

Shop Around

The first factor to bear in mind when it comes to the cost of solar panels is that not all installers charge the same price. Just like any other tradesman such as plumbers and builders, solar panel installers charge different rates. When you take into account designing and building your solar pv system, the hardware necessary and all the time fitting it getting multiple quotes can be a very smart idea. In doing so you will often find that one solar panel installer is considerably cheaper than another.

As a word of warning, however, don’t necessarily go for the cheap solar panel installer by default. Ask around, seek references and look for reviews online to ensure that their work comes up to standard rather than simply being cheap because they do a poor job.

Investigate Solar Grants

There are a number of government incentives around such as free advice lines, solar grants and loans for installing solar energy in your home. As this field is constantly changing – and varies country to country – if you’re looking for cheap solar panels you’ll need to do your homework to find out what current incentives may be available to you.

Typically environmental charities are a great place to start your search and many will take you by the hand and lay out all the options open to you for installing a solar panel system in your home for less money than you might otherwise have thought possible. Another alternative is simply to contact a number of solar panel installers in your neighbourhood and ask them if they’re aware of any government incentives you could take advantage of because clearly if they can help to reduce the cost of solar panels they’re likely to sell far more.

Buy Second-Hand

Once solar panels are installed in the home they normally stay in place until they need replacing some decades later. As a result second-hand solar panels are few and far between in reality though when they can be found they can significantly reduce the costs of solar panel installation.

Keep an eye on sources such as Ebay, Gumtree and your local newspapers, as well as getting in contact with your local builders merchants and reclaimers in the hope that they will keep an eye out for any systems going cheap and will let you know before anyone else beats you to the opportunity.

Invest Slowly

Individual solar panels tend to be reasonably priced; it’s the cost of a whole system to power your entire home that can be expensive so one further option for cheap solar panels is to invest a little at a time. After all, any amount of energy you can get from renewable resources will be a help to the environment so why not buy just one or two solar panels to begin with?

As you start to save money on your utility bills you can then roll these savings forward into investing in more solar panels and so on over the years until you end up completely self-sufficient in terms of your energy needs.

Buy A Kit

Did you know that some retailers now sell cheap solar panels that you can easily install yourself? Rather than expensive bespoke set-ups with all the effort and cost they involve another way to reduce the cost of solar panels is to buy one of these kits that contains everything you need and then install it yourself.

Typically a solar panel kit will come complete not just with the panel itself but with all the wiring, the inverter, full instructions and maybe even the battery pack that most homes need. Furthermore investing in a solar panel kit like the Sunforce 50048 doesn’t just save you money but also hassle too because you can feel confident that all the various parts you’ve bought were specifically designed to work together properly.

Build Your Own

The final option for cheap solar panels is to actually build your own setup. Whilst this may sound like a crazy way to reduce the cost of solar panels in actuality DIY solar panels are growing in popularity all the time because the actual process is so simple and an astonishing amount of money can be saved by building a solar panel system yourself.

All that is really needed is the specific knowledge necessary to find all the various parts you’ll need and how to set them up in your home to create a safe and fully-functioning solar PV system. Having read through a number of DIY solar panel guides myself over the last few months trying to decide on the best options to fit solar power to my garden shed my personal recommendation goes to Home Made Energy.

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photo credit: Pink Sherbet Photography

All this talk about how to be eco friendly is jolly exciting until you realize you’re at risk of becoming the local killjoy. The one who wants to eat organic food not some factory-processed rubbish. The one that wants to avoid palm oil, non-sustainable fish, trans fats, pesticides and so on. Being eco friendly, for all the positive things it can do, also risks making you something of a social outcast if you’re not careful.

Making new environmentally-aware friends helps to offset this issue as well as creating another huge benefit: when you regularly rub shoulders with other like-minded eco warriors you’ll find that you’re not only encouraged, supported and motivated by those around you but furthermore you’re able to constantly learn new tips and strategies for being even more environmentally friendly.

In other words not only will you not have to bite your tongue all the time trying not to mention how unsustainable so many people’s lifestyles are but you’ll also be having plenty of fun (and learning a lot) to boot. Win!

Okay, so the theory of making new “eco friends” sounds lovely but where on earth does one begin? With all the thousands of people you pass, interact with and meet each week, how do you pick out (and get to know) the ones who really care about the planet? Fortunately we’ve got eight proven strategies you can put into practice today to start building your circle of green friends…

Join A Local Specialist Interest Group

The world is full of specialist interest groups. From groups that go out and pick up litter from the sea shore, to those who volunteer time to help local wildlife, to those who take part in tree-planting days. Keep an eye on your local newspaper and radio station to see what regular group meetings there are in your local area so you can go along, have some fun and make some new friends along the way.

Join Online Eco Friendly Discussion Forums

There are discussion forums for every interest out there and the green movement is no different. Discussion forums give you a great opportunity to ask any environmental questions you may have – as well as helping out other “eco warriors” by answering any of their questions that you can.

First and foremost, then, discussion forums are an easy way for you to share information and advice. But just as importantly, over time you’ll find certain members appearing time and again and offering great advice and surprisingly some very real friendships can arise from these online interactions. So go and register for a few accounts today and get chatting – it could be the smartest thing you’ll do today!

Volunteer At An Environmental Organization

Big international charities like Greenpeace often have local branches that help with campaigning and raising awareness of environmental issues. Furthermore a number of wildlife and conservation charities use volunteers to maintain wilderness areas and so on. Far more local charities also make full use of passionate volunteers to try and make the world a better place.

Giving some time to these charities – no matter how small – can really pay off for you. Volunteering alone can be a very satisfying thing to do as well as helping you make new friends and providing all sorts of additional opportunities that otherwise might now have come your way.

Visit Local Farmers Markets

There are two kinds of people who flock to farmers markets – food lovers and the eco-conscious individuals trying to reduce their carbon footprint. They’re also “safe” and friendly environments where you almost inevitably end up speaking to other people you’ve never met whether they’re the people selling produce or other customers just like you. Many farmers markets don’t just sell produce but also have stalls for local environmental charities, volunteering opportunities and so on so this is another place where it’s easy to network and meet other like-minded individuals.

Write For Your Local Newspaper

You, a writer? Infact many local newspapers struggle to stay afloat and paying their writers is an expense that many newspapers would like to reduce. Because of this you will often find that submitting an article to a local newspaper – for example one on gardening or on local green issues – may be very well received.

Not only may it get published but if the feedback is good it could even lead to the offer of a regular column. And of course if you provide an email address for readers to contact you with any questions they may have you can quickly become your local “green guru” who thousands of people read each week which provides you with a perfect avenue for making new eco friends.

Try Community Gardening

For many people growing their own food is an important part of their environmental efforts. Whilst not everyone has the time or inclination to get involved, those who choose to grow their own fruit and vegetables often have an inclination towards to preservation of the environment.

Growing food in your own back yard is all well and good but you miss out on one vital element of the whole experience – and that’s meeting other people, many of whom are as interested in being eco friendly as you are. Community gardening allows you to not only grow your own food but additionally to make new friends.

There are a number of ways to get involved in community gardening including getting your own allotment or volunteering at your local city vegetable plot. Keep an eye out in your local press to see what opportunities are available where you live.

Keep An Eye Out For Eco Events

From guided country walks to talks about organic gardening. From craft fairs focusing on reused and recycled materials through to tree planting days whilst there aren’t too many eco events at present the numbers do seem to be growing all the time. Keeping an eye out online at green events pages or subscribing to eco magazines are great ways to stay informed about what is happening in your local area so you can go along and meet new friends who care as much about the planet as you do.

Network On Facebook

We may be a little biased here as we have our own Facebook page but Facebook really is a great place to meet like-minded individuals. By “liking” various environmental pages their latest news and stories will start appearing in your newsfeed, giving you a constantly-updated source of information on how to be eco friendly as well as giving you a chance to make comments, leave feedback and interact with other eco warriors. And if you like the sound of that then I think I can be forgiven for inviting you to join our very own eco friendly Facebook page by clicking here.

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photo credit: Magic Madzik

Cleaning our clothes, while necessary, is a potential mine-field for the environmentally-aware individual. From the water and power that we use to the chemicals we flush into the water system there are a huge number of improvements that can be made to the “standard” way of washing your clothes to make the whole process more sustainable.

We’ve come up with eight different ways to make your laundry more eco friendly but we’d love to hear your ideas in the comments section below so please leave your feedback at the end so we can be constantly adding to this list.

Keep Specific Clothes For Messy Jobs

Whether it’s painting a fence, mucking out a horse or digging your vegetable plot there are certain jobs where you’re almost certain to get messy. Rather than wearing a different outfit each time, and having to put considerable time and effort into getting it perfectly clean again, why not select an outfit specifically for these jobs that you can clean less often?

Select an old pair of jeans to dig the potatoes in. Choose an old jacket for lugging hay bales around in and so on. Keep this outfit safely in your garage or an outhouse and only bring it out when you know for certain you’re going to be getting dirty. Then as soon as the job is finished, change into your clean clothes and keep your messy clothes safe for their next outing.

Only Wash Your Clothes When Necessary

We live in a world where cleanliness is important so I’m not for one moment suggesting you refuse to ever wash your clothes again or you wear the same pair of underpants for weeks on end but many people still wash clothes far more than necessary. I know of people who will only use a towel once before putting it in the wash. Many people will get home from work, put on their “home clothes”, only wear them for a few hours before bed and put then straight in the wash.

What I’m advocating here is just a little more thought about which items of clothing really need to be washed and which ones can easily be reused without any risk of marks, dirt or smells putting off your family, friends and work colleagues. Simply think before you put anything in the laundry basket and ask yourself if it really needs a wash right now.

Buy An Eco Friendly Washing Machine

Thanks to the “green dollar” manufacturers are being put under ever more pressure to create “eco friendly” equipment and washing machines are no different. There are now models designed specifically to use minimal water and power whilst still attaining the same level of cleanliness you would expect from an older, less efficient model. I’m not suggesting you should go out and buy a brand new washing machine right now but when your machine reaches the end of it’s useful life, consider investing in a new eco friendly model as a replacement.

Use Short Cycles

I have seen washing machines with cleaning cycles that finish after half an hour or so and I have seen other machines that can take over two hours to complete a wash. Unless your clothes are suffering from serious staining or ground-in dirt, most clothes will come out clean and fresh after just a short washing cycle. Take a look at your own machine to see if it has an “eco” wash, an “everyday” setting or similar and try this out for size. I think you’ll be surprised by just how quick a cycle you can get away with and still have clean clothes at the end.

As a side benefit not only will short cycles save electricity but they’ll also save your pocket as your utility costs will go down as well as meaning you need spend less time on your household chores each week.

Use Low Washing Temperatures

Many years ago it was standard to wash your clothes at high temperatures but times have now changed. Washing at cooler temperatures can be just as effective at removing dirt as higher temperatures (with a few exceptions), uses far less power and almost as importantly can extend the lifespan of your clothes meaning you need to buy fewer replacements.

If you have a decent-quality washing machine try lower temperatures of 30-40 degrees as standard and save up any clothes that don’t come up to standard to do just the occasional “hot wash” and give them the treatment they need to bring them back up to their former glory.

Get Rid Of The Washing Detergent

In some ways washing detergents have come a long way. For example many are now suitable for use at low temperatures and can do a surprisingly good job even in small quantities. However we need to appreciate that if you’re using washing detergent – irrespective of the brand – you’re still putting potent chemicals down the drain that risks aquatic life as well as requiring effort and resources to remove at your local treatment plant.

So what’s the alternative to washing detergents? Arguably the most popular choice among eco friendly individuals is the Eco Ball – a natural rubber ball designed to create bubbles in your wash and to repeatedly knock your clothing during the washing cycle. These two effects help to lift even stubborn stains without any chemicals and Eco Balls can be used thousands of times making them incredibly cost-effective.

Air Dry Your Clothes

Tumble drying may get your clothes dry quickly but of course the process also uses a lot of unnecessary energy. In addition it can make clothes stick together, smell unpleasant and indeed these days many garments aren’t tumble dry-able anyway.

So use nature’s own tumble dryer and hang your clothes out on a line to dry naturally. They’ll smell better, iron easier and you’ll save a boatload of money by not using unnecessary power in your home.

Store Clothes Properly To Keep Them Fresh

The main reason people wash their clothes it to remove dirt, stains and smells as a result of everyday wear and tear. But there’s also another less common reason for washing clothes – and that’s because they’ve got musty in storage and need to be “freshened up” before being worn. Rewashing clothes that are already clean is obviously something of a wasteful process but there are things we can do to reduce the need.

Did you know, for example, that using too much washing powder in your machine can leave powder residues on your clothes even after the cycle has finished which in turn can attract microscopic mould spores when your clothes are stored for long periods? This can be a major contributor to “stuffy” clothes but is easily avoided if you use Eco Balls rather than washing powders and liquids.

Another idea is to use scents in your cupboards, wardrobes and drawers to help keep your clothes smelling fresh. Whether you use scented drawer liners or even better just add a bunch of dried herbs the possibilities are endless.

Finally rather than washing clothes to freshen them up, consider just hanging them out on the washing line again to let with wind blow the cobwebs away and make them as fresh-smelling as the day you washed them.

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