Category Archives: Practical low carbon living

Lime part 2 – lime mortar

Of all the different types of lime I have worked with, lime mortar has been the easiest to work with and most satisfying.  Lime mortar should be used to point all stone walls.  Whether it is or not is moot … Continue reading

Posted in Practical low carbon living, Slow living, Transition, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

New Year resolutions

Its customary at this time of year to make some New Year resolutions.  I’ve never been a great one for this to be honest, but I think its time with the big climate talks taking place this year to make … Continue reading

Posted in Lifestyle, Practical low carbon living, Slow living, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Community currencies

Community currencies (or local currencies as we called them) are something we covered in our book.  We wrote “The idea behind a local currency (technically speaking, a voucher for legal reasons) is to help build a vibrant local economy, keep … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, Practical low carbon living, Transition | Tagged , | Leave a comment

A few thoughts about Autumn, the season of mellow fruitfulness

Autumn finished last week, its one of my favourite seasons.  I like the change in the colour of the leaves and more recently I have found I like the shortening days. Autumn  is a time to curl up round the wood-burner … Continue reading

Posted in Creation, energy costs, Lifestyle, Nature, Practical low carbon living, Slow living, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

LED street lights

I’ve just returned from a short visit to Birmingham and discovered the city council are replacing all their old street lights with LED street lights.  And not only Birmingham, Liverpool and Warrington are doing the same.  The carbon savings are … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, energy costs, Practical low carbon living, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Energy conservation

As Autumn comes around again I start to think about energy conservation.  There is talk about power cuts in the UK being more likely this winter.  Two nuclear power stations have had to be shut down for repairs and a … Continue reading

Posted in climate change, Economics, energy costs, Intentional living, Practical low carbon living | Tagged | Leave a comment

One thing we have leant this week – Can eating meat save the planet?

Can eating meat save the planet? This is this weeks controversy.  A man called Allan Savory thinks you can have your cake and eat it, or meat and and eat it. He has developed a theory of “holistic grazing”. Savory … Continue reading

Posted in Food, Lifestyle, One thing we have learnt this week, Practical low carbon living | Leave a comment

solar hot water payback

Solar hot water payback is possible.  In the summer of 2008 I was helping man a transition stall when a very posh woman told me that my solar PV system would never pay for itself.  She said should know since … Continue reading

Posted in climate change, Economics, energy costs, gas, Peak oil, Practical low carbon living, Renewables, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

train and bike travel

When I wanted to go away to for a romantic break to celebrate my birthday I jokingly suggested to the other half we got there by train and bike travel only.  Its been a long time since I have taken my … Continue reading

Posted in Cycling, Lifestyle, other, Practical low carbon living, Slow living, travel | Leave a comment

Cycling counter

I was cycling through Edinburgh when I came across this cycling counter.  I hadn’t been that way for a while and was pleasantly surprised.  It looks a bit like TMA1 from “2001: A space Odyssey“.  The cycling counter has two … Continue reading

Posted in Cycling, Peak oil, Practical low carbon living, Slow living, Uncategorized | Leave a comment