Green Tipster

Green Getaway

It's the time of year when one's mind starts to drift off and dream of laying by a pool, ipod gently caressing your mind and an alcoholic fruity something to sip under a cool parasol...sigh.

My wife and I have been thinking about our own holiday plans so when Dez (with a z) from Clapham wrote in to test my skills re his own summer getaway strategy I thought this would be a great opportunity to check out our options at the same time. Dez (with a z) said:

Hey GreenTipster

I care about the planet but I need a rest. I am knackered from working hard and I need a break. Can I reconcile my ethical standards with having a holiday? What are the options? Will send you a postcard I promise.

Thanks in advance

Dez (with a z)

Well Dez (with a z) the good news is you do have options.

The assumption that one has to rest by dragging oneself halfway round the world at massive cost, financial and environmental, is a bit odd for a start. If you really want to lie in the sun and soak it up by a pool then get a map and find the nearest sunniest spot that involves the least amount of travel and investigate further. If you live in the South of the UK why not get the train to Nice...lovely sun, lovely food and wine, great markets. Not cheap but gorgeous. And very close compared to the Maldives for example.

But don't for a minute think you have to do nothing to relax and recharge. Your brain needs a rest and as the saying going: a change is as good as a rest. So why not think a bit off the wall and give yourself a treat by doing and experiencing something that is new and exciting? Let's face it - egg, chips and beans on a cheap lastminute package deal to somewhere foreign where the locals speak english is hardly worth the bother. Even traipsing off to Thailand these days rarely means escaping the CNN and Burger King global trail. Know what I mean?

I recommend checking out Responsible Travel for some awesome ideas for greener holiday ideas here in the UK and abroad, the Guardian Travel Site Green section and the Surefish Ethical Travel section for plenty of advice and info on the options out there.

Me? Well this year Mrs Tipster & I have pretty much decided, due to economic constraints (ahem, we have a kid and are skint), that we are going to stay at home and spend our money on babysitters, nights out in Cambridge and London and generally hanging out as a family etc.

Would love to hear your holiday plans and ideas folks?

Until next time

Keep it green

Al

Local, organic or fairtrade?

Another week and another great question. This time from Louise. Take it away Louise:

Hi Al,

I'm not sure there IS a definitive answer to this question, but it's one my partner and I struggle over endlessly! Which is better to buy: Fair Trade or organic?

Thanks for your input!

Louise

This is a great question and one I get asked a lot. Not sure there is a definitive answer though. And it gets murkier when you also include the local option too.

For example: would you pick the locally grown non-organic apples, the organic apples from the other side of the world or the Fairtrade & organic apples from the other side of the world?

Personally I would choose the locally grown non-organic apples.

Local wins for me because food miles, and the carbon emissions they produce, affect us all immediately with regard to Climate Change.

Next come the ethical option, i.e. Fairtrade or fairly traded, as that directly affects and improves the lives of generally less fortunate others.

Last for me is the organic option as that predominantly affects my own body first and then others and the environment in general where the produce was grown albeit to a lesser degree than ethical or local selections affect the bigger picture.

I am sure many would swap the latter two around and it is certainly murky and subjective.

How do you like them apples? Organic, Fairtrade or local?

Until next time...

Keep it green...

Al

Get green for going green

Got a great question for you this week...one that tested and challenged me so I really enjoyed answering it. Keep 'em coming folks.

Angela O writes:

Can you enlighten us on what grants etc the Government have on offer in our area (Hertfordshire) which in effect can help us to become greener individuals? I have heard that there are grants for re-tiling your roof with solar energy tiles. I have also heard that if your house is not insulated too well you can apply for help from your local council if the existing insulation or build of your house is below current regulations.

Right, well here is what I discovered. Now I happen to live in Hertfordshire myself so a quick look at the local council shows me that they offer a small grant if you are willing to try real nappies and I recommend giving it a go. We tried it and whilst it did not work for us (and no doubt many 'dark greens' will be quick to condemn without knowing our story) it will work for many so is well worth a go.

But going green goes way beyond nappies of course.

I happened across this Energy Saving Trust link on the fab MoneySavingExpert website which threw up a whole range of grants available to me personally due to my postcode. The search on the EST site is dead easy and full of practical solutions.

The grants available to me cover a variety of home improvement grants including grants for improvements to our cavity walls, loft insulation, boiler, heating/renewables (see LCBP below) & appliances.

But the one that really stood out was the LCBP or Low Carbon Buildings Programme.

The Low Carbon Buildings Programme 'provides grants towards the cost of renewable energy technologies including solar PV, wind, hydro, solar thermal, ground/air/water heat pumps, bio energy, renewable CHP, Micro-CHP and Fuel cells.' The LCBP has its own website @ www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk

The programme started 1 April (and they ain't foolin') 2006 and will run over three years. The LCBP replaces the DTI's previous (Clear Skies and Solar PV grant) programmes. Phase One is open to householders and other groups in the UK (but not the Channel Islands and Isle of Man).

The goal of the programme is to 'demonstrate how energy efficiency and microgeneration can work hand in hand to create low carbon buildings.' Sounds good to me. Applications are subject to the following criteria:

• Rolling first-come-first-served basis
• Energy efficiency measures before you are eligible to apply
• Levels of grants staggered depending on technology

The grants cover a maximum £3,000 per kWp installed, depending on the method used, and go up to a maximum of £15,000 subject to an overall 50% limit of the installed cost (exclusive of VAT).

The technologies covered include:

• Solar PV
• Wind turbines
• Small hydro
• Solar thermal hot water
• Ground/water/air source heat pumps
• Bio-energy
• Renewable CHP
• MicroCHP (Combined heat and power)
• Fuel cells

Well worth diving into folks if you have any home improvement plans and even just to see what your options are. Three other sites worth checking out include EthEco, Green Insulation and SolarSavers.

Hope that helps and inspires you to go green...any other ideas or links folks?

Until next time...

Keep it green...

Al