ecolocal.com

Locavore by suttree

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 09:17:53 GMT

If anyone here has an iPhone (and lives in the US) then this looks like a very handy tool: http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2009/03/20/review-locavore-for-the-iphone/ "Locavore [..] tells you what’s in season in your area, how much longer it’s in season for, what’s coming into season, and what’s grown in your state, pulling fruit and vegetable availability from the NRDC" If you an iPhone, or iTunes installed, here's a link for more informaiton!

Work bias within eco living families - research by ecosrights

Tue, 12 May 2009 12:09:44 GMT

I am a student at Glasgow University researching whether adopting an ecofriendly lifestyle creates more work, and if it does, whether males or females take more of the burden. That is, basically looking at who does what within greener homes as compared to non-green homes. It would be fantastic if you would help me with my dissertation on this topic, especially if you are interested in finding out whether a greener lifestyle means more or less gender equality. Please take a few minutes (no more than 10) to anonymously complete the survey below. I hope to gather enough feedback to post my findings on the site as well. Living an eco-lifestyle isn’t easy – washing nappies instead of throwing dirty ones away; spending time and energy searching for organic/ local/ in season produce; cooking from scratch instead of instant meals, walking or catching the bus instead of using the car, etc. So when a couple or family start taking on this lifestyle, who is it that spends that extra time and energy to make the household ‘greener?’ Are some people wearing the (now trendy) label of ‘ecowarriors’ without really putting the work in; or can they go more environmental in ways that don’t create extra drudgery? Perhaps some people in the household are more committed than others. Since the 1980s, second wave feminism and a huge increase in ‘working women’ studies () have looked at the sexual division of labour in the home. They have repeatedly found that women still do more than their male partners, despite women earning more and working as many hours as men. While research shows that the amount of time women spend on housework has reduced over the years, () are men increasing the proportion of chores they carry out; are some jobs just not being done; or have labour-saving but energy-hungry devices eased the burden? If an eco lifestyle does increase the amount of time it takes to complete many tasks (whether due to increased preparation, more work maintaining something, more time spent travelling without a car), is there an unequal gender division involved here? As well as completing the survey, any comments/ feedback/ ideas are very welcome. Thank you

Fossil Fuels and economic growth - From the Green Providers Directory by jane

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:37:44 GMT

The following has been provided to us by Dr Gary Robertshaw at the Green Providers Directory. It's a thought provoking piece about the link between economic growth and the use of fossil fuels. Have a read through and add your comments at the end... The debate surrounding the extent to which the burning of fossil fuels leads to climate change misses a more fundamental point. That is, fossil fuels are an inherently finite resource. This resource is dwindling at an accelerating rate as economies such as those of China and India expand rapidly. Fossil fuels will run out. Maybe not in the next 10, 20 or 30 years but they will run out. As the scarcity of fossil fuels grows there will be increasing conflict between nations to secure their supplies in an effort to maintain their carbon-dependent economies. At the same time, there is an inexorably growing human population, destruction of rainforests, depletion of natural resources and plummeting biodiversity. Clearly, this situation cannot be sustained in the longer-term.
Yet our capitalist system is based on the principle of economic growth - growth that is heavily dependent on fossil fuels and unsustainable practices. Just look at recent events; governments are terrified by anything that threatens economic growth – pouring billions of public money into failing financial systems. In addition, many economists see growth not only as desirable but as essential. They claim it lifts the poor out of poverty, feeding the world’s growing population, supporting the costs of rising public spending and stimulating investment and technological development.
The dilemma is how can we square Earth’s finite resources with the fact that as the economy grows, the amount of natural resources needed to sustain that activity must grow too. I am clear in my conviction that economic growth in its current form is unsustainable. We need a new paradigm that limits (or reduces) the global population, a meaningful shift away from fossil fuels to renewable energy, increasing energy efficiency and the adoption of more sustainable lifestyles. This will require courageous, co-ordinated and global government policies that ensure we don’t use up resources faster than the world can replace them.
Many will dismiss this as a utopian ideology. But isn’t it a utopian ideology to carry on blithely down a path that will ultimately lead to catastrophe? Yes, it will require a new world-view and radical changes but I think we have several grounds for optimism. Firstly, sustainable economies are more stable – whilst growth may be lower than in traditional economies it will be more durable in the longer-term and less volatile. Secondly, the shift towards a sustainable economy would create new opportunities, jobs and greater stability. Thirdly, the potential for conflict between nations is reduced as our dependency on fossil fuels reduces over time. Finally, there is a growing recognition (albeit begrudgingly) amongst governments that the current situation is unsustainable and the mood seems to be shifting from one of cynicism and self-interest to one of genuine commitment to tackling the problem. The prospect of a truly sustainable global economy, fuelled by renewable energy sources coupled with a stabilised human population and harmonised with biodiversity is an ambitious yet achievable goal. But it’s a goal that requires a re-appraisal of the current meaning of economic growth.

Fairtrade Fortnight by Piccalilly

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:48:05 GMT

As Fairtrade campaigners we are delighted to be involved in the FAIRTRADE Foundation's BIGGEST launch ever on the Sunday 22nd February on London's Southbank! And we feel getting involved is really important to demonstrate our passion for Fairtrade and how we are actively committed to making a difference. We'd love you to come along and offer your support too but also wanted to know what others are doing to promote Fairtrade Fortnight?

Eco New Year's Resolutions by ecosrights

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 21:44:02 GMT

How many of you have set a New Year's resolution for 2009? I bet that a lot of them are about improving your health, finding a new job, getting finances straight, etc. Most resolutions are about doing something for yourself, to improve you. How many of them are about doing something that helps the environment or ethical and healthy living in general? Think about your own resolutions: Get more exercise Well it's clear in this instance that this fits in with the thinking around ecolocal. The key though is how you are going to get more exercise - are you going to go running, walking, gardening etc, or are you going to drive to the gym to work out on electronic pieces of equipment, just to drive home again? Hmm.... Clearly one option is not only greener but cheaper - select a gym that is near enough to home to walk or run, then if you really want to go to classes or to use equipment they have that you can't have at home, use the journey there and back to warm up and cool down. Loose weight There are so many different ways of doing this, and in many instances they are simply quick fixes. I'm a great believer in sensible eating being the way forwards here - increase your fruit and veg intake (including pulses) and decrease the dairy and fat. By doing this you're not increasing the chemicals in your body (unnatural supplements and meal replacements etc) and you can eat food as near to its natural form as possible. Try to buy local and, if possible, organic as well. Even better, shop on foot - the extra exercise will do a world of good and supplement the dieting. Stop smoking Well, I'm not going to say anything about this except - passive smoking and conditions of the people growing the tobacco / ethics of the companies. Stopping smoking has to be a positive thing for everyone!

Homemade Christmas Presents by ecosrights

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:26:57 GMT

For the past couple of Christmases I have tried to make sure that the presents I gave were as eco friendly as possible - some were organic and fairtrade, others were to help people save energy or do something greener etc. I had lots of criteria that i tried to meet, and put lots of it onto ecolocal. This year I thought it was worth trying to gather ideas for homemade Christmas presents... So if you have any ideas, please add them on (I'm sure that you can think of some Blue Peter presents from over the years! I know that's where my ideas often came from as a child). Scented cushions A nice one that can be as "eco" as you like. Use some nice fabric (may be organic cotton, or fun Christmas fabric if it's coming from kids); Cut it into squares (So you've got 2 of the same size. I think I made them about 14cm wide) Place rightside to rightside and sew around 3.5 sides (if the fabric frays a lot it's worth zigzagging the edges first) Then turn it the right way and fill it with a combination of dried lavender and cotton wool (or something else to bulk them out a bit) and sew up the gap. Then have fun with sequins, glitter glue (yes, I'm a great advocate of this stuff even if it isn't green as kids love it), beads, fabric pens, felt shapes... the options are endless so each one can be very different. Homemade sweets Make a selection of homemade sweets (see the How to make Christmas Greener article) and put them into a nice glass jar, then decorate the lid and the jar. Not only does the receiver get some great chocolates, but a nice jar to keep using after the festivities. Personalised t-shirts This one's pretty straight forward and you can get as carried away as you like. Buy plain t-shirts (ideally fairtrade and organic cotton) and then use fabric pens to decorate them. If you're worried that these wouldn't be used, why not use night-shirts? Personalised night wear is always a nice gift. That's just a start... I'll do more soon

Rubbish - what to do with it all! by ecosrights

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 04:38:34 GMT

I've recently been following the trials and tribulations of the Green family in their attempt to achieve a zero waste target in September this year. They've been working at it for just over a month now, and I have to say they're doing really well. It's got me thinking about a few things in terms of what we do with our rubbish and the rubbish we generate. Rather than join them on their crusade (I don't think I'd have full enough commitment from the rest of the household) I thought I'd create this discussion to see wh at you think and make a few points of my own. Of course that's not to say that I've not reduced our waste, it's just I don't think I could go all of the way to 0! What do you recycle now? We're pretty lucky in that we have a fairly comprehensive council operated scheme. We have one bin for: Plastic bottles Plastic bags Paper Cardboard Foil Cans And a box for glass bottles. We also have a well used compost bin. What would you like to recycle? There are two main things for me... more plastic and Tetrapaks. For Tetrapaks, check out their recycling site for local facilities. Some people are lucky enough to get their cartons recycled via the council kerb side collection - in our area there is nothing. I've contacted both the council and Tetrapak recycling and there are no current plans to improve this (I feel letters to local supermarkets are going to be necessary here!) For plastics, I've come across a number of sites that explain the codes, e.g. here (rather wordy, but informative) or here (looks nicer....). But what about.... A comment from my son the other day got me thinking... We were out and he'd just had a bottle of juice. Instead of going and putting it in the bin, he gave it to me to "carry home". Well this annoyed me initially as there was a bin so near by, but then he said "so that it can go in the recycling bin" Ahah..... The got me thinking. How often do we bin things when were are out that could be recycled elsewhere? I know that no-one really wants to be taking loads of rubbish home with them when they go out, but surely it's worth it if you can recycle it. Consequently I've noticed that a number of plastic cartons are the same code as plastic bottles.... in theory that means I should be able to put these in the recycling bin as well. I've emailed the council and will see if they send a list of what is OK and what isn't. It's going to have me peering at items in shops even more now! (I already check for chemicals, various things we avoid due to my son's allergies, organic, source.... and generally how much packaging there is as I'm sure not all of it is really necessary).

Flock, The Eco Web Browser by suttree

Thu, 29 May 2008 05:29:15 GMT

Flock is a modified, improved version of the excellent web browser Firefox. This version should be of great interest to everyone here at ecolocal, since it comes preloaded with lots of great green news. So what are you waiting for? Download it now :D

Composting by ecosrights

Sun, 02 Aug 2009 17:15:47 GMT

Composting is one of the first things that people think of when they think of green living, and many councils now encourage it by having compost bin collections or by providing significant discounts on garden composting bins. It's such an easy, logical thing to do that i think that anyone with a garden should compost and that all new build properties should have a compost bin (along with a water butt). Even flats can compost ... just have a small bin in the kitchen and empty it when you empty the main bin. The issues that I have had with composting over the years are: 1 - I have a lawn that has a lot of bindweed growing in it (oh how I love the overgrown gardens surrounding us!) so have to remove as much of that as I can before cutting the grass otherwise it'll start to grow in the compost bin! (Not what you want in the vegetable patch). 2 - You can't compost all kitchen food waste, only from raw fruit and veg plus tea bags and crushed egg shells. I know that you should really aim not to have any waste from meals ("reduce" being the first of the 3 Rs) but with children around there often is... this goes in the bin! 3 - I'm needing 2 bins... in order to "air" the compost at the bottom of the bin, I end up mixing the fresh stuff into the "composted" waste, which means i have to leave it longer before it can be used. I'm tempted to have two bins at different stages in the process. I'm open to advice here though. 4 - the bin in the kitchen got very smelly very quickly and in the summer attracted lots of fruit flies, so I've ended up using paper bags (these can be ripped up and put into the bin too). 5 - trying to persuade everyone else to use the compost bag in the kitchen. Just today I've come across a great new type of bin that means you can compost all food waste. The Kitchen Composter sounds like a great idea to me as it means you don't have to resort to a wormery to get rid of dairy and cooked waste. But, it's rather large! What's your success rate / issues? Any advice? Is it of any concern to you - are you one of the lucky ones whose council collects all of the compostable items (having said that, I'd still want a bin so that I can use the compost on my own garden). Actually, there's a point, what happens to all of the compost that the councils develop?

Christmas Decorations to make with kids by ecosrights

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:09:26 GMT

One of the great things about Christmas is that kids of all ages can get away with getting covered in glue, glitter, paint etc.... GREAT fun. We're all able to do it to make cards, decorations, decorate paper and make sweets. I thought I'd try to list some ideas of some easy and effective decorations to make..... Snowflakes Take a white sheet of paper, fold it in half, turn 90 degrees and in half again. Then fold it diagonally so that you have a triangle. Cut shapes out of the folded edges and then open it up. This is where the fun begins.... Take the glue, the paint and the glitter and just have fun decorating it. You can always put it onto a disc of silver or gold card if you want to and then it's easier to hang it up on the tree. Chains of snowmen, angels or Christmas trees Again, take plain paper (but this time it can be coloured) that is probably about 12 cm high (makes it a reasonable size) and fold it into concertinas..... Then fold it all in half and draw half of the tree etc on the paper ensuring that the image goes right to the edge as this is how it will all join together. Unfold the concertina and have fun decorating - see how many different things you can use for buttons on the snowmen or tinsel on the trees. Just have fun. (Kids can be really creative here) Glitter shapes I came across this on in an Usbourne book the other day.... Take some slices of bread Cut them into shapes with standard paper cutters Put a hole in the top (potentially with a skewer) of each shape Leave them to dry over night (it may take a bit longer if the bread is fresh. make sure they are left in an open space so that they can dry out) Using poster paint, paint the edges Then mix a bit of glue with the paint and paint one face, cover it in glitter (or whatever you want to use)... let it dry then do the other side. Then all you need to do is thread some ribbon or string through the hole to hang it on the tree. These are just a starter... have fun

Gateway Primary School Christmas Fair 2009 by jane

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:42:55 GMT

please come and support the school on their 10th anniversary celebrations and Christmas fair. Details of opening hours and events to follow, but there will be father Christmas, fun activities for the kids including crafts and face painting, tombolas, raffle and of course Father Christmas.

Weight Loss Success For You by buknuk

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:31:20 GMT

Weight Watchers is actually a really good program for losing weight. I was not sure if it was going to work and I was looking for an easy way to establish eating habits and had heard some success stories, so I thought I’d give it a try. I found that since it’s such a well known program, you can easily find out how many points are in any given meal you want to eat. There are even food items listed for restaurant meals. For me, it was a way to kick start me back into a general healthy eating program. The one thing I don’t like about weight watchers is the emphasis it places on low fat foods. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t expect to eat fatty foods and get thin, but I don’t like taking in all the chemicals in processed foods that are low fat. I refuse to use things like margarine (especially since it’s only 1 fat gram less than butter and at least I know what butter is), salad dressings, and other unnatural non fat items. I much prefer to eat whole foods and make selections of food items that are naturally low in fat. But, as I said, Weight Watchers was awesome to kick me back into a program where I was losing weight. I got really good results. I lost about 10 lbs in a couple of months. After that, I switched to a program that was more geared toward putting on muscle to help me burn fat and that would work better with my desire to eat whole, natural, organic foods. I recommend Weight Watchers to anyone who needs to get started. You should at least try it, you might find you love the results and wish to stick to it as a lifestyle. The author’s wife shared this story with him. You can also learn about a refurbished projector or pc projector at his other internet pages.

Singalong Baby Sign by TracyBaker

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:05:27 GMT

www.babysign.org.uk 0-2 year olds approx Term time only Next set of courses commence in January on a Monday morning in West Kingsdown and Friday mornings in Eynesford. Give your child a head start in language development. Give your baby the most rewarding gift ever – the gift of being able to communicate with you before he can actually speak. Many of you probably use some of the signs with your baby already without realising it. You wave, point, and say all gone with your hands outstretched, shake or nod your head, and clap hands. All we do is build on that and give your baby some more signs to help him to let you know what he is thinking.Parents and babies can come to our signing class from newborn to around 2 years old. . However, from around 6 months babies become increasingly receptive to language, and as a rule babies tend to make their first sign at around 9-10 months old. Signing with your baby is really easy to learn as we sign to nursery rhymes that you already know. I often get asked “will my baby still talk if he signs”. The answer is yes, of course. If you baby crawls he will still want to walk, it’s just the next step. Your baby is desperate to communicate with you. We always say the word as we sign, otherwise your baby will learn only to sign to you. Signs are never used alone and you tend to speak more slowly when you sign, and because you are actively thinking about signing to your baby it actually encourages you to speak to your baby more too. So what are the benefits • Helps your baby communicate with you before he can speak • Can increase baby’s IQ by 12 points • Signing reduces tantrums and frustration • Your baby is more likely to speak earlier and have a larger vocabulary • Babies that sign have a closer bond with their parents and do better at school l• A great way to meet new friends • Can help with post natal depression • Singalong baby sign is really good fun! • Classes are only £5 per session Courses are £5 per session, commence in January and are 11 weeks long and payable in advance. For more information please contact Tracy on 07768 447657 or visit our web site www.babysign.org.uk

The Snowman Scarf - Adult Limited Edition Run by GreenEyedMonster

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:14:03 GMT

The original "The Snowman" scarf for children proved so popular Green Eyed monster thought they would offer the gorgeous item for bigger fans of the classic British animated film. So they are proud to announce that they have a very Limited Edition run of 200 ADULT sized scarves available for Christmas 2009. It is exclusive to Green Eyed Monster and features a signature of Raymond Briggs. It is hand loomed in double layered thickness from fairly traded alpaca wool blend, which is non-itchy and warm and is perfect for snuggling into in wintery weather. The scarf comes with a postcard taken from the classic film and beautifully gift wrapped in box and tissue paper. Size is a whopping : 200cm by 23cm including fringe Children's scarves with matching gloves and hats are also available in pink and blue along with supersoft organic cotton pyjamas from http://shop.green-eyed-monster.co.uk

Eco-Design Christmas Fair 2009 by suttree

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:23:26 GMT

SUSTAINABLE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING MADE EASY Fancy an all-in-one ethical and sustainable shopping spree? Then the Eco-Design Christmas Fair could be the event for you. Now in it’s sixth year, the Eco-Design Fair continues to provide a unique retail platform for designers whose work is centred on sustainability and kindness to the environment. For the discerning customer the event provides an hassle-free shopping experience for those who wish to buy fair and friendly products, without compromising their sense of style. Come along and discover a fantastic range of Christmas gifts and gadgets, home accessories, fashion, footwear, jewellery, lighting, sculpture, books, technology, baby clothes, toys and many more top British and Fairtrade sustainable products. With prices to suit everyone, the Eco-Design Fair offers a rare chance to meet the designer/makers and chat about their challenges and criteria. To add to the festive atmosphere, we'll have a cafe area to rest your weary shopping legs, with organic, locally-sourced food and drink, mince pies and mulled wine. The event will take place on: Saturday 28th November - 12pm til 6pm. Sunday 29th November - 11am til 6pm, Shop 14, Dray Walk The Old Truman Brewery, London E1 Opening Hours: Sat: 12pm-6pm. Sun: 11am-6pm Free entry Full disabled access http://ecodesignfair.co.uk

Dartford Fireworks 2009 by ecosrights

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:13:55 GMT

Saturday 7th November 2009 CENTRAL PARK, DARTFORD. * Gates open at 5.30pm * Bonfire is lit at 7.00pm * Fireworks 7.45pm sharp Forrests Fun Fair - Charity Sidestalls - Refreshments The price has not been announced yet, but it is normally relatively inexpensive considering the scale of the event. Tickets will be on sale in all of the normal places: CRAFT FRAMES, 21 West Hill, Dartford. (Tues-Sat) Yogesh of LONDIS, 43 Dartford Road CHEF's, Priory Centre, Dartford LIONS HOSPICE SHOP, Spital Street, Dartford ORCHARD and PRIORY Centres on dates to be announced

Dartford Christmas Lights Switch On by ecosrights

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:01:10 GMT

The date has been announced, although there are not many details yet. From the gov website: "This year's Christmas Lights Event takes place in the High Street on Saturday, 14 November where Dartford Town Centre will come alive with fantastic entertainment, strolling performers, and celebrity guests, making sure that Christmas in Dartford is extra special."

Onsen Japanese Vs. American Spa for Skin Care by wiwita

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:34:04 GMT

Americans and the Japanese both live hectic lives, as modern society places stringent demands on members of both cultures. As such, each has developed its own way to unwind. In America, haggard business professionals turn to the spa to relax and melt away stress. In Japan, busy workers visit the Onsen to regain their inner calm. Both the Onsen and the spa have skin care benefits and provide a relaxing way to deal with the cares and concerns of modern life. What Is the Japanese Onsen? The Japanese Onsen is a tradition that has been around since ancient Japan. Since Japan is built on a bunch of volcanoes, there are numerous hot springs on its islands. These hot springs are filled with minerals that seep from the volcanic rock that they must travel through. The water is naturally warm and the minerals are believed to have healing properties. The people of Japan soak in these hot spring baths in order to benefit from the mineral content of the water. Each Onsen has its own unique mineral and this will change the effect it has on the body. The Japanese have been using Onsen water for centuries to maintain beautiful skin. It also has the ability to ease pain and muscle tension. While the Japanese Onsen bath is filled with only hot springs mineral water, the Onsen tradition has spread to other continents where this water is not available. While these baths may be artificial, the water still carries the minerals and warmth that makes it excellent for the skin. Many Onsen combine the mineral baths with traditional spa services, such as facials and massages, to create a total skin care package. What Is an American Spa? American spas are a bit more diverse than the Japanese Onsen. The Onsen focuses primarily on the hot springs bath, but a spa offers a variety of treatments, many of which are focused on skin care. In America, one of the most popular spa treatments is a massage, which does not directly impact the skin. However, most spas also offer facials, body wraps, and salt glows, among other treatments. A facial is the most popular skin care treatment available at an American spa. Facials start with a basic skin cleansing, followed by exfoliation, extraction of blackheads, a facial massage, facial mask, and creams. The facial can be tailored to meet a variety of purposes, including age defense, wrinkle fighting, and a simple cleansing facial. A salt glow is a whole body treatment available at a spa. It, like the Onsen bath, uses the power of minerals. It is basically a salt scrub thsat helps hydrate the skin by combining sea salt with organic essential oil and aromatherapy oils. This mixture is rubbed into the skin and then rinsed off. This is followed by moisturizer, leaving the skin soft and smooth. The treatment is sometimes followed by a body wrap with either seaweed or mud, which helps detoxify and increase circulation. Which Is Better? So is there a better treatment when comparing Japanese Onsen and the American spa? It is hard to say, as both use minerals and water to hydrate and exfoliate the skin. An American spa offers more options to the visitor, but to many the simplicity and natural nature of the Japanese Onsen are appealing. Both will give your skin an added glow and help you reduce your stress levels. The warmth of the Onsen water and the benefit of the scrubbing and massage of an American spa both increase the body's circulation and help remove toxins, which makes the skin look more healthy. If you have the chance to try both, go ahead and do so. You will enjoy the benefits of each and then be able to decide which is the best match for your skin care needs.

Big Green Home Show by BuildStore

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 08:23:25 GMT

BIG GREEN HOME SHOW 23rd – 25th October 2009 The National Self Build & Renovation Centre, Swindon For free tickets or for more information, visit www.buildstore.co.uk/green or call 01506 409 616. For any budding self builder or renovator, the choice to build and live ‘green’ can take up a lot of energy! Deciding which methods are ‘greenest’, researching which products will save energy and calculating carbon footprint can be confusing. However, for those committed to a more sustainable, environmentally-friendly and energy-efficient way of living, the Big Green Home Show at the National Self Build & Renovation Centre is a great place to learn about building and living ‘green’. The National Centre in Swindon will host the Big Green Home Show in October (23rd – 25th), aimed at prospective homebuilders baffled by all the eco jargon and green technology. The three-day Show will look at all aspects of green homebuilding and eco-friendly lifestyles, with an array of hands-on demonstrations, leading industry experts and professionals, and an opportunity to see and learn about the latest ‘green’ products and systems. The Big Green Home Show will demonstrate that a green lifestyle isn’t just about putting a giant compost heap in the back yard, or sticking a wind turbine on the roof. Building and creating an environmentally-friendly house requires good planning and budgeting, and it’s important to understand all the different options available. As well as eco experts, visitors to the Show can also hear from people who have built their own eco-homes, tour the EDF Energy Renovation House to discover how to renovate to improve energy efficiency, and check out the latest materials and products to help minimise carbon emissions and reduce energy consumption.

Reasons For Using Organic Products by wiwita

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:59:37 GMT

Ideally, everyone would like to provide the best treatment to their bodies. Everyone knows a healthy diet should be one of the keys to a daily life, for example, perhaps they should consider substituting French fries for a celery stick. In reality, however, many people prefer the “bad stuff” because of its more luscious taste. In addition, society also believes that healthy foods are just plain and unpleasant; does this myth however also apply to organic products such as cosmetics? Do organic products really work less well than synthetic ones? Of course not. In fact, there are two major benefits of using organic products such as cosmetics. Firstly, it avoids the use of chemicals. Imagine, piling layers and layers of chemicals on your face day after day. Certainly, the effect of chemicals might not be immediately apparent; however, if we continuously consume chemicals, it will cause our bodies to deteriorate. The avoidance of chemicals is also perfect for people with sensitive skin; it can help to prevent allergic reactions to the ingredients, thus decreasing blemishes. Secondly, organic products are better for the environment. For many non-organic products, they contain ingredients that are not biodegradable, thus creating an issue for disposal. While some people just throw out the traditional cosmetics, it has proven to be fairly harmful for the environment. Furthermore, as organic products are starting to become one of the popular trends, false advertisers that claims to be “organic” are increasing in numbers. Next time you make a trip to the shopping mall for organic products such as skin care products and cosmetics, make sure you read the ingredients on the packaging. If it contains preservatives, harmful emollients, or colorants, then most likely it is not an organic product. Without doubt, organic products such as organic cosmetics are capable of giving you flawless skin, so do yourself and the environment a favour and switch to organic products!