Over the last week, I've been adding a large new shop to griinu Compare - this means around 2000 new products! A particular minefield is the plethora of cosmetic and health products. Ingredients are the greatest concern at this point.  But we also want to consider place of manufacture, method of manufacture, working conditions, packaging and social contribution. 

What are they really using?

Trust is a big issue in the modern world and a trusted brand name brings a lot of weight.  Even so, a product described as organic may contain a few organic ingredients but not 100%.  Equally, a product described as natural could contain, well almost anything! To enhance trust, we try to use certifications as a measure.  But does that limit the scope of the products available too much?  Certainly the number of manufacturers with certifications is low compared to the number selling organic or naturally 'branded' products. 

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The amazing thing about LED bulbs is that you can feel the energy being saved - they don't get hot!  Almost 5 years ago, new white-light LEDs were announced.  So today, you'd think we'd be trying to ban compact fluorescent bulbs (ie tuby ones!) let alone incandescent  bulbs (ie old-fashioned ones!). 

Priced Out of the Market...

Spotlights are ideal for LEDs as they tend to be clustered in groups anyway and they do get very hot.  The problem is the cost - we list them here at £8.95 each - here.  A pack is better value but still a significant investment.  You can buy halogen spotlight bulbs for as little as £1.68 each - here.

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With a major review looming (see RFA for more info), I've taken a little look at the biofuels debate.  Biofuels are marred by uncertainty and debate.  The only inevitability seems to be that the decision made will be bad!

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When someone thought of paying farmers not to produce something, people must have thought it was bad idea.  Quite so.  When people get hold of the idea that farmers get paid to do nothing they tend to become somewhat vexed!

Take Two!

Actually we are paying for the privalege of not having vast over-production and we are paying for farmland to be kept in a good state and to provide sustainable habitats for wildlife.  There is a definite grace to killing two birds with one stone. But was the policy really about keeping production down in a time of plenty - and so avoiding bad PR associated with dumping food on world markets or in the North Sea.  Or was it about biodiversity and sustainability?

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Today the Bank of England joined the race to the bottom on the interest rate scale - a 0.25% rate cut - not quite as dramatic as the Fed but then the BoE doesn't have to care about people - only inflation. 

They Sound So Mean! 

But what would they have done if their primary goal had been to keep carbon emissions down?  Let's rename them the "Carbon Bank of England" and have a think.

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Check out yesterday's report on You and Yours (audio).  A planning application for wind turbines in the Humber Gateway has recently been objected to by the Ministry of Defence because it may interfere with a radar installation.  A text report here.

Huh?

So the Ministry of Defence cannot handle interference from stationary, permanent objects?  How can they not be able to find a technical solution to this?  Surely the problem has been encountered before?  What do they do about other similar objects - surely trees are often similar in size and shape and even move in the wind.

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Looking backwards while moving forwards is the way I like to think of the home power station. 

Here's an example 

A brief tour of a Canadian off-grid house and its technology.

No more than a few hundred years ago, almost all energy would have been generated at the place of use - home, factory, school etc.  In the 20^th century, economies of scale and poor technology demanded centralisation.  In the 21^st centry we can look back to the model and apply modern technology to make generating energy at the point of use cheaper and easier.

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The question on my mind today is if the world is over-populated, under-resourced and bursting at the seams, is the most ethical way to live not to live at all?  As with the best dilemmas, I present to you an argument between me and, ... me!

To live or not to live?

The UK's "Ecological Footprint" is on average 5.45 "global hectares" (gha) per person.  The global capacity is 1.8 gha per person.  While I've no doubt different calculations can provide slightly different numbers the trend is clear - we each use more than our fair share of resources.  Death could be seen as the ultimate green action of the hyper-environmentalist.

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Well, well, well.  Eco-towns!

The first barrier to jump is of course "eco".  Firstly, what is "eco"?  Secondly, how can this standard be achieved?  Then you've got to ask the question - would the homes be built anyway - eco or not?  Then you have to consider why the homes are being built.  Finally, you come to the question why are they branded as "eco".

What is Eco?

No answers here I'm afraid.  Perhaps "eco" is in the eye of the beholder.  Whatever it is, there is an implication of sustainability, environmental benefit and quality.   To say the least, it is - or it should be - a high bar to reach.

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