Category: Household
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How low can the energy of a building become? The concept of the Passivhaus has put this to the test. A Passivehaus (Passive house in English) are buildings that can maintain constant temperature with minimal heating and cooling. These building are considered the gold standard in energy efficiency because of the way they are designed…
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Solar panels are an important part of the strategy of getting to Net Zero by 2050, but are they right for you? Solar panels are getting increasingly popular in Britain with 1.5 million homes having already installed them. The best way to view solar panels is that it is a way of improving your finances.…
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Heatwaves are going to be much more common in the future. Europe has struggled with heatwaves this summer with temperatures staying between 35-40 degrees Celsius. Around the world in Asia and Americas, there are places reaching 50 degrees Celsius. It is inevitable we prepare to live and work in prolong periods of intense heat. An…
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One of the biggest problems causing climate change is the amount of food wasted. We make enough food for each person in the world to consume 5000 calories, yet billions go hungry. A staggering 25-30% of food produced is wasted globally along the process from crop to fork to landfill. It is estimated that food…
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Have you heard the phrase ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ and wondered what it meant? The phrase refers to the waste hierarchy of waste management methods. It is best to reduce the amount waste first through prevention and minimisation. The next best method is to reuse existing products to extend their lifecycle. These approaches are better than…
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Biodiversity, the variety of plant and animal life in our environment, has declined in the UK by 19% since 1970 and one in six species in the UK face extinction. On top of this, there has been a 74% drop in populations worldwide in mammals, bird, fish, reptiles and amphibians since 1970. Every effort we…
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Recycling properly is not easy if you don’t have some facts at hand. Here are a few easy rules to remember so you are recycling what you can. Do not scrunch up plastic bottles Do not flatten or scrunch up plastic bottles before you put them in the recycling bin. The reason why is because…
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Surveys suggest most people are confused about how to recycle. Surveys of the British public show up to 80% of UK households do not recycle things that could be recycled and 55% are ‘very unclear’ about what can and can’t be recycled. Because of this, it is assumed that only 50% of items that could…
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We often hear that it is necessary to get a heat pump in our homes to reach Net Zero by 2050. This is true according to the Climate Change Committee, as they hope at least 80% of homes have a heat pump by 2040. But public opinion is mixed on heat pumps, and only 10%…
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We produce 50 tonnes of electronic waste globally each year. On top of this, over 80% of electronic goods are not recycled. What should you do with the electronics in your home? Smartphones Avoid getting upgrades on your smartphone and changing it regularly. If you do change your smart phone, choose one that is second…