The message from Richmond Council to the people who live in the borough is simple - EAT MORE CHIPS!

Why? Simple, because Richmond Council are converting all of their vehicles to run from waste cooking oil.

The move is expected to cut the council’s CO2 output by 1,170 tonnes per year and will save about £60,000 on the authority’s yearly fuel bill.

In this planet friendly move, all vehicles from refuse trucks to social service buses will operate on 100% cent recycled chip oil! Many other authorities use a combination of diesel/biofuel but Richmond Council will become the UK’s first fully eco-friendly fleet.

Congratulations to Richmond Council!

But what does this mean for businesses and should more businesses be using waste cooking oil to fuel business vans?

A spokesman for Van Leasing company Crusader Vans said “Demand for vans that can run from waste cooking oil has increased in recent months, many van owners have young families and are looking to do their bit for the environment to help protect the planet for their children.”

We know that Vauxhall is leading the way in eco-friendly car technology, it will be interesting to see if this technology is introduced into the Vauxhall Van range.

The car industry is going to go through dramatic change in the coming years and the use of waste cooking oil iss just one initiative that will help it conquer the fact of constantly depleting oil stocks and producing vehicles that will not harm the planets intricate eco-system.

See Richmond Council

Many motorists are realising that going green is not only good for the environment, it is also good for their bank balance. Hybrid and electric cars tend to use far less fuel and are far more efficient than conventional vehicles.

This latest proposal has been made after AviStar Airport Parking offered discounts to Smart fortwo drivers in the United States. Owners of these outstanding little green eco-cars will be given a 50% discount on the daily posted car parking rates at various participating airport parking facilities at seven airports across the country.

Details of how the discount scheme would operate in the United Kingdom have yet to be announced but if you want the cheapest airport parking then the answer is to drive an eco-friendly car.

Added to this new detergents that enable users to wash at much lower temperatures you do have to say washing machine manufacturers and detergent manufacturers are seemingly doing all they can to aid consumers to continue using labour saving devices such as their washing machines.

If you add to this new innovations such as ‘Colour Catcher’ which enables whites and coloured clothing to be washed together you really do have an innovative industry that is working for the good of the planet.

All of this can only be good, washing at lower temperatures saves money with electricity consumption. If you are on a water meter then a washing machine that uses less water in its wash cycle can only be beneficial.

The question is how much further can the manufacturers go to reduce energy, detergent and water consumption within washing machines. And what about the commercial laundry equipment market? Are the major manufacturers doing enough in this arena to ensure that commercial users are also saving electricity and overall energy consumption?

Hertz have also added around 3,400 Toyota Prius Hybrids to their car hire fleet. These are likely to prove very popular with car hire customers who are increasingly demanding eco friendly vehicles that are more fuel efficient and produce lower emissions.

The Hertz car sharing system called Connect is intended to compete with the Zipcar system. Customers can reserve cars online after having signed up for membership which costs $50. Members are issued with an electronic card which they use to unlock vehicles which already have the keys in them. Rental rates begin at only $8.50 per day and include petrol and insurance.

If you are hiring a car - insist on an eco-friendly model as it will not only be good for the environment, it will be good for your pocket as well.

The WhatGreenCar panel of eight judges all voted the Prius as their favourite from the ten contenders for the title. Other models that received commendation included the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic, the Honda insight and the BMW 318d saloon.

The new Mk3 Toyota Prius has come in for some significant praise from the WhatGreenCar reviewer who has pointed out that more developments of the Prius Hybrid technology are in the pipeline that should secure Toyota’s position as the leading provider of Hybrid vehicles.

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Why not take a look at a Toyota Prius leasing deal? These eco-friendly motor vehicles make a great company car.

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Many people looking for a green alternative will resort to using salt water treatment. But they don’t reallise that salt water pools actually create chlorine and they are very sensitive to temperature changes.

One effective alternative is to use a swimming pool ioniser system. These use copper electrodes and a low DC current to put copper ions into your pool water. Algae and bacteria don’t like copper so they are effectively killed off, but the copper levels are low enough to be safe for humans.

So if you are looking for a truly green alternative to swimming pool water treatment chemicals then a pool ioniser system should be just what you are looking for.

Although the UK government has attempted to put a green spin on the recently launched car scrappage scheme some have said that they have missed a valuable opportunity to encourage drivers to adopt more environmentally friendly vehicles.

Friends of the earth have said that the scheme will undermine confidence in the UK Government’s determination to tackle climate change. The government have actually stated that the scheme is intended to help boost the ailing UK auto industry but a well designed scheme could have made a small but positive contribution toward cutting emissions.

Some other countries, operating car scrappage schemes, have not allowed drivers to exchange cars for bigger, gas guzzlers. Instead, the adoption of more fuel efficient models has been incentivised.

Confusion still exists about the UK scheme and how it applies to commercial vehicles and newly leased vehicles. People are reportedly holding back from committing to the purchase of a new car due to the current economic climate and many businesses would prefer to look at leasing a van rather than buying due to the benefits that leasing can provide.

Now these tips are coming from an experienced water damage San Diego company.

Finding mold is not unusual because it is a common occurrence in nature. The molds you find in nature are part of what we call the life cycle. They are there because they are successful in breaking down organic materials such as leaves. Spores are what reproduces mold and it is also the way it finds its way into our homes and businesses. When spores are blown
onto a wet surface or something that is moist, they aer able to attach to various things and multiply. That is why controlling moisture in buildings is crucial in trying to control mold. Removing mold can be a huge task once it has taken hold. And during mold removal, spores will become airborne, looking for
another target.

Free spores are what also cause health concerns. It is these spores in the air that cause the allergies, the irritations and can be breathed into our lungs. Whatever the spores grow on they can destroy. Mold removal is necessary. You may be able to take on this type of job yourself, but there are some steps you should follow. Now if the area that is infected is less than ten square feet, the EDA does allow you to clean this up yourself. But if the area is larger than this, the suggestion is that a professional be hired to do the removal.

Now if the area is something you feel you can do, make sure to take a few precautions prior to mold removal.First, you must protect yourself from breathing in any mold spores by wearing a device called a n-95 respirator. These do cost between 12-25 dollars in most hardware stores or online. Second, you should put on long rubber gloves.Don’t use bare hand to touch mold. Third, be sure to wear goggles and be sure they don’t have ventilation because this will protect your eyes from the mold spores. Now you are ready to begin to clean. You need to start off by fixing any pipes that are leaking and then scrubbing mold off with a bleach water combo or disinfectants and water
mixture. Following the cleanup, the next thing to do is dry everything. Remember the important key is to control the moisture. If you have not take care of the mold problem, you are most likely going to have the mold return.

Follow these key steps as  they have been gained from years of experience as a mold removal San Diego company.

If you find yourself in a horrible situation of being involved in a natural or unnatural disaster or flooding that brings water damage to your homes, here are some immediate steps you need to take.  The most important thing during a disaster is to make sure you and your family are safe and out of danger.

The aftermath of a flood or any type of water damage is very discouraging because the damage to your home can be extensive.  You might have floor to ceiling damage and everything in between.  When this happen immediately phone a water damage repair company.  You don’t have any time to lose since mold and mildew begins to form within 24 hours.  An experienced flood damage company knows what needs to be done.  Also, make sure your personal and valuable possessions are out of harm’s way from any more damage.

Items that are not in direct contact with the water can still be damaged. This means, until the water and humidity are restored to normal, everything in the house must be removed.  Work with a reputable company that is experienced in a crisis such as this. They can help you relocate your belongings and help you find storage for the same.

The humidity and general unsanitary environment has the possibility of damaging or contaminating most anything in your home.  That is why you want to remove any important items immediately to avoid any further damage.  This includes furniture, carpeting, and any other item of value.  The water restoration company with experience will know which items can be restored and which needs to be replaced.

One thing homeowners don’t like doing is calling the insurance company and making a claim.  But that is exactly what the insurance company was made for.  Report the flooding and any damages immediately.  Let them worry about and paying for a good water damage company.  Do not try to do any cleaning and drying on your own.  By not worrying about trying to save every last penny, you actually will probably save more in the long run by having the restoration done right the first time.  Calling them will help you save more money then you will spend and help get your life back to normal as quickly as possible.

New cars are, on average, are around 15% more fuel efficient than similar models from 10 years ago and harmful emissions are significantly reduced. Conservative estimates suggest that significant savings could be made in CO2 emissions, which is clearly good for the environment.

Another benefit in having an increased number of new vehicles on the UK roads is safety. Modern automotive safety features should contribute toward a reduction in the number and severity of accidents.

Critics of the scheme have argued that the £2000 incentive will encourage drivers to choose more powerful cars than they would ordinarily have considered, leading to higher levels of fuel consumption.

The UK car scrappage scheme is expected to be formally launched in mid May after the auto manufacturers have had time to prepare.