First there were the handy types, devising ways to keep an eye on their electricity usage. But not all of us have the ability, or the inclination to get this involved with our electricity meters. For those who do, more… Read More »Wattson. Elementary my dear.
We’re mopping up the news stories that haven’t had their own featured blog posts at EcoStreet this week. And what a busy week it’s been too. There’s no longer any doubt about climate change, Gordon Brown’s government is threatening our… Read More »EcoStreet’s Eco-radar – 13th July 2007
My Abodo is an interactive online toy for children highlighting how we can change the way we live to save energy and water, and reduce waste. You can shape a house to suit you, and My Abodo will show you… Read More »My Abodo makes green living child’s play
You don’t need to rip out your existing kitchen and start over if you want to give your kitchen a green makeover. There are lots of little changes that you can make to your kitchen to improve its green credentials. In this article we’ll start with the little changes, and work up to a whole new eco-friendly kitchen. So, no matter what your budget is, there’ll be something that you can do.
Starting small means that you won’t find the process of going green so daunting.
By making just these few simple changes you will already be protecting the water table and yourself from exposure to dangerous chemicals, saving energy, saving trees from being cut down, and keeping organic waste out of landfill. But there’s no need to stop there, you’re just getting into the swing of things. Read More »Give your kitchen a green makeover
As part of their “Do a good turn” campaign, Ariel is running a competition on their website to give away an eco-makeover by Oliver Heath, worth thousands of pounds. I’m not suggesting that you buy Ariel, not at all. Please… Read More »Win an eco-makeover for your home
Whether you are planning a complete bathroom overhaul, or just want to make a few inexpensive changes, we can help you make your bathroom an altogether more eco-friendly place.
The little things
The smallest and most inexpensive changes that you can make to improve your bathroom’s green factor is to change the way that you clean yourself. Source and buy natural and organic soaps, shampoos and shower gels. Even the supermarkets are stocking some of these products now, but there are much bigger ranges available from health food shops and online (visit the EcoStreet directory for plenty of options). By using more natural toiletries you are not only ensuring that you aren’t absorbing as many dubious chemicals into your body, but you are also not pouring these chemicals down the plughole and allowing them to end up in our water table.
Secondly, it’s very simple and easy to change the way that you clean your bathroom. Ecover and other eco-friendly cleaning products are available in most supermarkets these days, as well as in health food shops and online (again, you will find lots of options listed at the EcoStreet directory). Many people report a decrease in allergies when switching to eco-friendly cleaning products. To save money and packaging, you can take this a step further and make your own simple cleaning products, or even try microfibre clothes that only need water to do the same cleaning jobs.
Switching to recycled toilet paper doesn’t take much effort. Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Tesco have their own brands of recycled toilet paper, and Nouvelle is widely available too. Referring to yesterday’s blog post, Sainsbury’s have launched a new range of FSC-approved toilet paper.
Saving Water
The bathroom is the place where we use the most water in the home. There are some little tricks that we can use to save water, and some helpful gadgets to help us take that saving further.
I just came across this very useful and informative Friends of the Earth video. VideoJug: How To Clean Your House The ECO Friendly Way
Freecycle: a site for trash to treasure
Freecycle is a website where people give away their used possessions for free instead of putting them out at the curb. This site is truly about someone’s trash, is someone else’s treasure. Freecycle was started in 2003 in Tucson, Arizona to help reduce the waste in Tucson’s downtown as well as to help save the desert landscape from becoming mountains of landfills. Watch their video at http://www.freecycle.org/video.html. It pretty much sums up what Freecycle is about. According to their website as of today, they have 4041 community groups with an international presence in many countries including UK, Australia, Germany, and Canada. I joined my local county group last year, which consists of over 5500 members. The listings were voluminous. Freecycle helps you start your own community group if there is not one already started. Sign up and take a look at what is being offered.
UsedFurnitureFindex: online sale of loved possessions
Groovy Green’s Michael d’Estries’ recent article about UsedFurnitureFindex.com caught my eye. (Visit Groovy Green. It is a fun green website.) Interior Designer Denise Cooperman started this website as a resource for people to sell their loved possessions. She found that her clients did not know how to dispose of their old furniture. Many did not want to sell their furniture through newspapers or consign their pieces.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5l01r2yF9hs] This looks like an interesting new documentary. One to look out for. It will hopefully screen at some festivals and be out on DVD and TV later this year.