Author Archives: admin

One thing we have learnt this week – transparent wood

This week we learnt of a remarkable new material transparent wood. Two groups at the University of Maryland and the KTH institute of Technology in Sweden have developed a see through wood.  Not only that but it can store and … Continue reading

Posted in energy conservation, energy efficiency measures, Energy storage, materials, One thing we have learnt this week, Practical low carbon living, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Ryanair pollutes as much as coal fired power stations

Ryanair pollutes as much as coal fired power stations.  The data comes from the EU emissions trading scheme registry.   Ryanair’s flights in Europe are in the top 10 emitters.  The 9 above are coal fired power stations.  Ryanair pollutes … Continue reading

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One thing we have learnt this week- pollinator losses

A paper has come out this week on UK pollinator losses.  This paper does not directly look at numbers, but instead looks at range an habitat.  The study was based on the work of volunteers between 1980 to 2013.  The … Continue reading

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Coal power is on its way out

Coal power is on its way out.  Not due to any renewable subsidies but because its now more expensive.  And this is the US.  A report there says that currently 75% of coal fired electricity production is more expensive than … Continue reading

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Grass fed artificial meat

I heard an article on the news about grass fed artificial meat this morning.  This was from a group from a University in the South of England trying a new approach.  The artificial meat cells were grass fed but in culture.  … Continue reading

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Diet for the planet

We have just spent a week following the EAT commission’s “diet for the planet” based on a healthy diet that the planet could produce sustainably for a population of 10bn (see here).  Its got lots of nuts, legumes and vegtables … Continue reading

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Lent

Lent has crept up on us all this year perhaps since it is so early (can we please have a fixed date for Easter).  My lent guide book started talking about food.  Its a little known fact that the medieval … Continue reading

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Energy use and stuff

Energy use and stuff, what’s the correlation?  Quite a lot as we put in our book.  Our editor didn’t like the use of the word “stuff”.  He thought it was not descriptive enough.  The problem is  we all know what we … Continue reading

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Bike theft

Bike theft mostly affects the poorest in UK society (or at least in England and Wales).  This is the outcome of the latest survey on cycle theft.  Most people who have their bikes stolen have an income of less than … Continue reading

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One thing we have learnt this week – banning gas boilers

Banning gas boilers and gas cookers from 2025 is the suggestion UK Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has just made.  It has suggested using low carbon energy sources instead and not even connecting he houses to the gas grid.   … Continue reading

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