3 minute read
Eco News
NEW GRANT BOOSTS TREE SEED PRODUCTION
Domestic tree seed production is to be ramped up with new Government funding announced recently. The £1.2m Seed Sourcing Grant will boost domestic tree seed production, create green jobs, help meet the increased demand for trees and achieve our ambitious net zero targets.
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The grant is designed to enhance the quantity, quality and diversity of tree seed sources in England. Most tree seed planted in the UK is of British origin, but evidence suggests that British seed sources may struggle to meet future demand across all species and there are known to be global shortages of tree seed. The grant also aims to improve the diversity of England’s seed supply, for example by increasing the range of species and provenances available. This will be crucial for creating diverse and resilient woodlands, which are better able to adapt to future climate conditions as well as emerging pests and diseases.
3 TIPS TO LOWERING VAMPIRE ENERGY
Mark Sait, CEO and Founder of sustainability and moneysaving consultancy – SaveMoneyCutCarbon (SMCC), says that one of the main contributors to high energy bills is leaving devices plugged in. He explains that while some homes can have up to 40 gadgets constantly draining power, some appliances use more energy when on standby than others. Game consoles are the worst energy vampires – leaving them on standby uses almost as much electricity as when you're playing. Research shows that game consoles are costing British households £231 million a year, while TVs and other entertainment appliances account for around 25% of an electricity bill. Here’s three tips you might not have thought of to help lower vampire energy…
1. Charge your phone in the evening, not overnight
A phone charger that is plugged in at the wall is slowly draining power; therefore, if it's plugged in to charge every single night, it is likely adding additional costs to your energy bill. It's good to get into the habit of charging your devices for a couple of hours in the evenings rather than overnight and unplug your chargers afterwards.
2. Use a smart plug
Using smart plugs will provide you with more flexibility and control. For example, if you connect a games console or a TV to a smart plug, you can ensure it's turned off by using your phone – you'll never have to squeeze behind furniture and a mountain of cables just to turn off the switches. You also remove the anxiety of thinking “did I turn the TV off?” when going on holiday by one click on your phone.
It’s worth checking how energy efficient your fridge freezer is – and if it’s an older model, consider replacing it with a C or higher model. The older it is, the more likely that it is not running at optimum efficiency so will be using more electricity than necessary. SaveMoneyCutCarbon, has newly launched its industry-first home app, SaveMoneyCutCarbon Home. The Android and iOS solution provides a personalised view of exactly which products in your home are using the most energy, water and single-use plastic, and subsequently suggests swaps for eco-friendly alternatives.
PERIOD PANTS!
Bodyform has unveiled new styles of its bestselling period pants. The sanitary experts are leading the way for this more sustainable choice of protection, by creating pants that women actually want to wear. Available in five styles, including Hipster, High Leg, Brazilian, High Waist and Bikini, and an array of different designs and colours, period wear has seen a serious upgrade. The period pants offer TriTech performance, which combines moisture-wicking, breathable layers, plus an ultra-absorbency booster for the ultimate protection. They are washable and reusable and with their snug fit and soft feel, they're as comfy as normal pants. Best of all they will retain maximum performance for 50+ washes – representing fantastic value for money and so much better for the planet.
For details see shop.bodyform.co.uk/ collections/all-products
Repair & wear
As its main goal of helping protect the environment and be a leader in sustainability, PO.P has launched ‘PO.P Repairs’ to offer a free repairs service to fix zips and replace broken poppers on PO.P outerwear garments, regardless of when they were purchased. This extends the life of its outerwear to ensure each garment lasts as long as possible.
