Long time no post... becoming pregnant rather halts the whole 'weight loss' thing.
Although I'm now due in 6 or so (so could be 10, lol) weeks, and currently weigh 'just' 72 Kgs (which given that I started this pregnancy weighing 65kg is, um, interesting :0 ).
But on with the things for the blog :-) Here be 20!! ways that you can make a little green difference to your home right now (OK, so in the morning...) Some of them I've listed before, but they bear repetition!!
1. Switch to low-energy lightbulbs. Compact fluorescent bulbs use up to 80 per cent less energy than incandescent bulbs and last up to 15 times longer. LED bulbs use even less :-) (my whole bathroom is lit with less than 5W, and if anything that's too bright)
2. Turning your thermostat down by 1 deg C can save up to 10 per cent on your annual heating bill.
3. Never leave your personal computer or monitor on when not in use - they burn a huge amount of energy.
4. Turn your television off at the wall when not in use. A television on standby is still using 80 per cent of its power. OK, so some now use less than that, but its still get with the programme time and turn things off. Right off!
5. In winter close your curtains when it starts getting dark to reduce the amount of heat escaping through your windows. In Summer keep them and the windows closed in the day to cut down on the amount of heat your home absorbs, and get them open when its dark/cooler windows and all for a good blow through. Remember to get up early enough to have everything shuttered again before anything south facing is in full sun (if you are going to be in all day do the south in the am and early afternoon, and remember to also close up the rest of the directions as the sun moves round. Passive solar is really important for reducing the need for heating in the winter, but you need to keep temps down in the summer to avoid the need for fans and/or air conditioning!)
6. Air leakage wastes an enormous amount of thermal energy. Seal all leaky doors and windows.
7. Save water by putting a flush saver, or even a brick, in your loo cistern to reduce the amount of water used with each flush.
8. Replacing an ageing central heating boiler with a new condensing type could cut your heating bills by more than 20 per cent.
9. Your hot water does not need to be boiling, so make sure your cylinder thermostat is set at 60 deg C. Even better, set it down to 40 deg C. Its still going to be plenty.
10. Next time you upgrade your fridge or freezer make sure you get an energy-efficient model. An “A++” rating denotes the best energy efficiency. Try this for your washing machine as well - get one with a lower water use programme, and use it!
11. Urban water run-off from paths and patios can be stored in a sustainable drainage system which helps prevent flooding in main sewers and drains.
12. Use water butts to store rainwater for use in the garden. It can even be filtered and used in the house for flushing loos and in your washing machine.
13. “Grey water” from your bath and shower can also be filtered and re-used in the house or garden.
14. Solar hot water heating is one of the most cost-effective technologies available. Once installed, up to 70 per cent of your annual hot water requirement can be met by this technology.
15. Solar photo-voltaic (PV) panels generate electricity from sunlight. Although a whole-house system is an expensive option, small panels can be used efficiently to power certain appliances such as water pumps and lighting circuits. There are links to some fantastic DIY articles at treehugger.com and off-grid.net
16. If your windows need replacing, make sure you fit new double- or even triple- glazed units. Double glazing can cut heat loss through windows by up to 50 per cent.
17. A third of all building heat is lost through walls. Cavity wall insulation is easy and cheap and even solid walls can be insulated either indoors or outside. Come the summer cavity insulation can help prevent heat coming in as well.
18. Increasing the depth of your loft insulation to at least 20 cm could reduce heat lost through your roof by 25 per cent.
19. Use a compost bin and reduce the amount of kitchen rubbish you send to landfill.
20. Most metals, glass and plastics can be recycled and most local authorities have a collection scheme. Make sure that you segregate and recycle all these materials. And give them a rinse as food waste in the recycling cuts its value considerably. (although don't use a running tap - small washing up bowl and a soak and scrub is by far the better way to do this).
Sunday, 28 June 2009
Monday, 10 November 2008
Guilty Secrets - and how to lessen them
Well mine is my car. Its getting used far too often atm (when I added up the bills for November we used nearly £100 worth of petrol...) when rain, stock shifting/collection, and getting to activities 50 miles away in Cambridge come into the equation. Its far too greedy for me to keep it really, esepcially as for journeys of less than 10 miles the engine never gets up to the most efficient running temp., but living in 'land of the car' Milton Keynes means that often the only way is to use it :-(
Although we could stay home :-)
Because we all spend too much time in it, it becomes rather like a mobile handbag. (I refuse to accept that I'm not the only person doing this, along with having a bag anyway that also ends up far too full of 'stuff'.) Stuff leaves the house to join us for journeys, and then never makes it back inside the house. Drinks and things from this place or that get brought out to the car so that we can 'get going'. And the car becomes the 'family' litter bin (very very red face).
So here, for now, is part of the solution to that....
1) Don't allow a build up of apple cores, drinks bottles/cartons, magazines/leaflets/newspapers - so carry a fold up bin, one of those plastic carriers that are still at the back of the draw since you bought nice cloth ones, or similar and make the children cart out all the rubbish etc at the end of each and every journey.
2) Download music, audio books, podcasts and whatever else to an iPod (hey, there is an Apple store here and its our income, shootme for prefering the 'brand' lol) or similar item, and get either an iTrip and/or plugin cradle/device to play out through the existing car speakers. No more piles of CDs ending up scratched/lost/under the seats (well in theory anyway)
3) Nasty smells during a journey... this is where the take-away can be useful! A good strong cup of expresso can absorb a lot of the odurs, and is still good to drink afterwards (although you may need to add a little more hot water to get it back to drinking temperature). Apparently this also works for old 'smoke' but aint no one *ever* going to trying that out in *my* vehicle!!
4) Back of seat storage bags for children - so all the drinks bottles/snacks, games, toys, other journey 'essentials' can go in the pockets and not end up on the floor.... We got some from Lidl about 4 years ago and they are still going OK (although I did have to restitch the bottom pocket on one after a small child decided to use it to wedge their feet in mid journey about 6 months into them being there). Lots of companies sell these now, so I'm not going to suggest anywhere in particular.
5) If you have a boot worth mentioning, then getting storage boxes/bags to keep blankets or whatever in is definately sensible. You can pack your shopping in as well to stop it shifting around. But important note - do not use anything that you cant' fasten down somehow, especially if stiff and if empty. Because should you get rear-ended anything empty will take flight and often full as well. And they go a long way. And your children are likely to be what is hit first.
Although we could stay home :-)
Because we all spend too much time in it, it becomes rather like a mobile handbag. (I refuse to accept that I'm not the only person doing this, along with having a bag anyway that also ends up far too full of 'stuff'.) Stuff leaves the house to join us for journeys, and then never makes it back inside the house. Drinks and things from this place or that get brought out to the car so that we can 'get going'. And the car becomes the 'family' litter bin (very very red face).
So here, for now, is part of the solution to that....
1) Don't allow a build up of apple cores, drinks bottles/cartons, magazines/leaflets/newspapers - so carry a fold up bin, one of those plastic carriers that are still at the back of the draw since you bought nice cloth ones, or similar and make the children cart out all the rubbish etc at the end of each and every journey.
2) Download music, audio books, podcasts and whatever else to an iPod (hey, there is an Apple store here and its our income, shootme for prefering the 'brand' lol) or similar item, and get either an iTrip and/or plugin cradle/device to play out through the existing car speakers. No more piles of CDs ending up scratched/lost/under the seats (well in theory anyway)
3) Nasty smells during a journey... this is where the take-away can be useful! A good strong cup of expresso can absorb a lot of the odurs, and is still good to drink afterwards (although you may need to add a little more hot water to get it back to drinking temperature). Apparently this also works for old 'smoke' but aint no one *ever* going to trying that out in *my* vehicle!!
4) Back of seat storage bags for children - so all the drinks bottles/snacks, games, toys, other journey 'essentials' can go in the pockets and not end up on the floor.... We got some from Lidl about 4 years ago and they are still going OK (although I did have to restitch the bottom pocket on one after a small child decided to use it to wedge their feet in mid journey about 6 months into them being there). Lots of companies sell these now, so I'm not going to suggest anywhere in particular.
5) If you have a boot worth mentioning, then getting storage boxes/bags to keep blankets or whatever in is definately sensible. You can pack your shopping in as well to stop it shifting around. But important note - do not use anything that you cant' fasten down somehow, especially if stiff and if empty. Because should you get rear-ended anything empty will take flight and often full as well. And they go a long way. And your children are likely to be what is hit first.
Monday, 6 October 2008
Oh at ruddy last
I've dropped a couple of Kilos and its staying off...
Tea, tea and more tea seems to be the key... I'm sure that this sudden cold spell is helping as well :-)
As for green things... well, I found a copy of The climate diet and D. MaCarthy's book in the libray, so reading of them is continuing a pace.
We've been foraging a fair bit in the last couple of weeks as well. One of the nice things about this area, is the sheer number of apple trees that grow in the urban spaces. And we have a community orchard as well, free for the picking :-)
Although, I suspect I may look like an apple by the end of the month...
Tea, tea and more tea seems to be the key... I'm sure that this sudden cold spell is helping as well :-)
As for green things... well, I found a copy of The climate diet and D. MaCarthy's book in the libray, so reading of them is continuing a pace.
We've been foraging a fair bit in the last couple of weeks as well. One of the nice things about this area, is the sheer number of apple trees that grow in the urban spaces. And we have a community orchard as well, free for the picking :-)
Although, I suspect I may look like an apple by the end of the month...
Sunday, 14 September 2008
Write it down
Write it down again, and watch the calories not going in...
I kept a list yesterday, and a couple of days before, so that I'd have a 'day' to contribute to a thread on a 'site.
And its true - when you write it down you don't eat as much, or as badly...
Yes, I got up late this evening and forgot to start one. I don't think that I've eaten excessively today, but I do know that I've eaten things I've forgotten about.
Tomorrow I find a notebook and do it a little, better....
I kept a list yesterday, and a couple of days before, so that I'd have a 'day' to contribute to a thread on a 'site.
And its true - when you write it down you don't eat as much, or as badly...
Yes, I got up late this evening and forgot to start one. I don't think that I've eaten excessively today, but I do know that I've eaten things I've forgotten about.
Tomorrow I find a notebook and do it a little, better....
Wednesday, 10 September 2008
On the way again
Weight has decided to drop again :-) Yay!
But in the hunt for health I'm back to running (well, puffing around the nearest local park for the moment but YKWIM rofl). And I'm looking for a new pair of trainers, as the old ones aren't really up to the job of keeping my feet happy and healthy.
And there in lies the issue. I don't wear leather. And I'd rather buy/wear non-sweatshop, non-child labour and as locally made as possible. In theory all these are possible as the company New Balance manufactures vegan footwear, and in the UK. ( see their 'site and wares at www.newbalance.co.uk ) Once you get around the issues of my foot size (a UK 4) you end up looking in the childrens section as they don't seem to make womens shoes below a size 5. And there in lies the rub. Can I find a local stockist of their shoes. Oh yes, no problem. In the vegan forms? Yep, tick there. In the childrens range (so as to have my size)? Um, no because apparently children only wear shoes made of leather, so there is no call for them.
Trying to ask NB themselves about this results in my computer falling over as the email form doesn't like by email programme (or possibly vice versa). And today the phone just rang and rang and rang and .etc....
Tomorrow is another day... but for now I'm in the existing pair of trainers. Well, not-consuming is nice and green anyway :-)
But in the hunt for health I'm back to running (well, puffing around the nearest local park for the moment but YKWIM rofl). And I'm looking for a new pair of trainers, as the old ones aren't really up to the job of keeping my feet happy and healthy.
And there in lies the issue. I don't wear leather. And I'd rather buy/wear non-sweatshop, non-child labour and as locally made as possible. In theory all these are possible as the company New Balance manufactures vegan footwear, and in the UK. ( see their 'site and wares at www.newbalance.co.uk ) Once you get around the issues of my foot size (a UK 4) you end up looking in the childrens section as they don't seem to make womens shoes below a size 5. And there in lies the rub. Can I find a local stockist of their shoes. Oh yes, no problem. In the vegan forms? Yep, tick there. In the childrens range (so as to have my size)? Um, no because apparently children only wear shoes made of leather, so there is no call for them.
Trying to ask NB themselves about this results in my computer falling over as the email form doesn't like by email programme (or possibly vice versa). And today the phone just rang and rang and rang and .etc....
Tomorrow is another day... but for now I'm in the existing pair of trainers. Well, not-consuming is nice and green anyway :-)
Tuesday, 2 September 2008
Water, water, water
Rather needed for health. But getting it when out and about can be, um, interesting when you don't want to add to landfill or recycling.
We carry a small Sigg bottle with us - leaves home filled, and gets topped up where we can (there are some shops who oblige, like the lovely Howies in Covent Garden, and many places still have drinking fountains and the like :0 ).
But Sigg are not the only fruit (oh, um, water bottle)... Poddling around the 'net (as you do) I found http://www.wewanttap.com/
Not only will they sell you a reusable water bottle. They also do 'kits' for you to relable bottles already in your posession. Yes its a retail thing. But they are also seeking to push Tap as a brand.
Which is both frugal, and pretty green, in my book anyway.
And if you're drinking water, you aren't getting calories (although there isn't any reason not to add a little something once in a while. Or to use your bottle to carry something else instead.).
We carry a small Sigg bottle with us - leaves home filled, and gets topped up where we can (there are some shops who oblige, like the lovely Howies in Covent Garden, and many places still have drinking fountains and the like :0 ).
But Sigg are not the only fruit (oh, um, water bottle)... Poddling around the 'net (as you do) I found http://www.wewanttap.com/
Not only will they sell you a reusable water bottle. They also do 'kits' for you to relable bottles already in your posession. Yes its a retail thing. But they are also seeking to push Tap as a brand.
Which is both frugal, and pretty green, in my book anyway.
And if you're drinking water, you aren't getting calories (although there isn't any reason not to add a little something once in a while. Or to use your bottle to carry something else instead.).
Monday, 1 September 2008
Leftovers as portion control
Yesterday found me using up filo that I couldn't store on ( see post http://readingandrecipes.blogspot.com/2008/09/recipe_01.html ) and some leftovers from the fridge that were in danger of reaching past edibility.
Anyhow - the reason they ended up as leftovers, is because I was the only person who ate it... the children declaring it 'funny'. 'It' was a rice noodle, tomato and parsley salad. A *lot* of parsley :-) Probably some grated courgette as well. Oh, and a dash each of shoyu, brown rice vinegar and cider vinegar. Really bulky, but low low in calories and fats. It really was yummy when fresh, but yes, the noodles were a bit slimy when freshly made (oops).
But as a packed 1/4 cup portion, wrapped in filo, and baked until crispy and warm; it became something that we all ate happily. Lots of crunchy filo made for chewing, and couldn't be eaten too fast; giving time for those 'satisfied' signals to make it to the brain :-)
Tomorrow though, a decent walk is in order.
Anyhow - the reason they ended up as leftovers, is because I was the only person who ate it... the children declaring it 'funny'. 'It' was a rice noodle, tomato and parsley salad. A *lot* of parsley :-) Probably some grated courgette as well. Oh, and a dash each of shoyu, brown rice vinegar and cider vinegar. Really bulky, but low low in calories and fats. It really was yummy when fresh, but yes, the noodles were a bit slimy when freshly made (oops).
But as a packed 1/4 cup portion, wrapped in filo, and baked until crispy and warm; it became something that we all ate happily. Lots of crunchy filo made for chewing, and couldn't be eaten too fast; giving time for those 'satisfied' signals to make it to the brain :-)
Tomorrow though, a decent walk is in order.
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