Fujitsu’s netbook first to score GreenTech approval
by David MastersEco-conscious gadget geeks will be relieved to discover they can finally buy a netbook without feeling guilty. The Fujitsu M2010 is the first mini-laptop to achieve PC Magazine's “GreenTech Approved” award. Most netbooks have a low energy footprint and easily meet energy consumption requirements specified by Energy Star – so they have to be extra special to achieve Greentech status. The M2010's green specialities include energy consumption 30% below the maximum specified by ...
Supermarkets deny responsibility for rainforest destruction
by David Masters
British supermarkets have denied being “silent partners to crime” in the destruction of the Amazon rainforest. Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Asda, and Marks and Spencer all deny purchasing beef products from cattle raised on illegally deforested land in the Brazilian Amazon. Their denial follows a three year investigation by Greenpeace, which discovered that meat from the illegally raised cattle is “laundered” to an “unwitting global market” by being processed and packaged into convenience ...
All British Homes Should Be Painted White
by Alan HartenBritain's health chiefs have adopted a new philosophy when it comes to cooling down your home that is a bit Mediterranean in nature - paint all homes white. The health chiefs claim that homes that are white will reflect heat, and homes that take advantage of further measures, such as removing metal blinds and replacing them with white curtains, and replacing carpet with wood or tile, will stay cooler naturally throughout ...
Kingston doubles recycling in one year
by David MastersA round of applause to Kingston, which has managed to double its recycling rate in just one year. The London borough recycled 47% of its waste in January-March 2009, compared to just 25% during the same period the previous year. Its total amount sent to landfill in the 2008-09 financial year was 4,442 tonnes, down from 7,363 tonnes in 2007-08. Kingston Council believes its success is due to a new recycling scheme where ...
It’s Belgium, it’s Thursday, it’s veggie diet day
by Alan HartenGhent, Belgium which is approximately 50km west of Brussels, has declared this Thursday to be “Veggie Day” in an effort to highlight both the health and environmental costs of consuming meat on a regular basis. The movement will hopefully influence residents to consider eating vegetarian meals once a week as opposed to meat based meals. United Nations data claims stock breeding generates 18% of the world’s CO2 emissions. The city claims that stock ...
Free range eggs already 60% of the market
by Alan HartenThe organisation 'Compassion in World Farming' announced during its annual banquet that free range and barn shell eggs made up 61% of the total eggs sold last year. On the other hand, standard caged eggs declined by about 3.3% pushing the initiative into effect well before the government ban on battery farm eggs comes into law in 2012. Market research firm TNS stated that sales of free range eggs will continue to ...
MPs offered free lamps to brighten up expenses scandal
by David MastersIn an attempt to brighten up the lives of MPs who've been stung by the recent revelations on expenses, electricals firm RS Components has offered to supply MPs with free energy efficient lamps. The offer comes after the Daily Telegraph illuminated the fact that MP David Willetts billed the taxpayer £115 plus VAT for workmen to replace 25 lightbulbs in his west London second home. The Shadow Secretary of State for Innovation ...
Energy prices turn Brits towards eco-living
by David Masters
Rising energy prices coupled with wallets pinched by the credit crunch are forcing Brits to embrace green living - but only to an extent. More than three quarters (78%) of UK households have become more energy efficient in the last twelve months. Over a third (36%) did so because of the rising cost of gas and electricity. However, just 9% cited environmental concerns as their main motivation for making their home more energy ...
Unplugged Living: eco-friendly and good for the soul
by David Masters
A small but growing number of young professionals in the US are choosing to live 'unplugged' - without a TV or Internet connection. These young adults are unplugging for the sake of their own happiness, carving time out of the virtual world of soap operas and facebook, giving that time to real world things they love to do. With the average American spending three hours per day watching TV or browsing ...
Habitat Heroes website launches for eco-kids
by David MastersA new website for children to meet up and discuss the environment launched earlier this month. Habitat Heroes was set up by Australian mum Sharon Lowe after she struggled to find a child-friendly eco-education website for her seven year old daughter. "The core of Habitat Heroes was formed around values my husband and I wish to instill in our children," Lowe said. "The idea came about from trying to find websites for ...
Kevin McCloud backs green homes campaign
by David Masters
Kevin McCloud, the architect and designer who found fame presenting Channel 4's 'Grand Designs' show, has pledged his support for a campaign to make British homes more energy efficient. The Great British Refurb campaign, launched this week at the Grand Designs LIVE show in London, is backed by the WWF, the UK Green Building Council, and the Energy Saving Trust. The idea behind the campaign is simple: encouraging householders to make their ...
Which? says recyclables still being dumped
by Alan HartenThere is rising concern about recyclables after the Which? Consumer group released a detailed report that claims 230,000 extra tons of contaminated recycling was placed in landfills last year instead of being processed. A contaminated recyclable is an item that is tainted such as dirty nappies, food, or other similar items. Which? claims that the cost of landfill dumping per ton is £40, costing resident tax payers over £12 million each ...
Flood Forecasting Centre will warn of danger
by Alan HartenResidents who are in imminent danger from incoming floods will have more warning now that the government has opened the Flood Forecasting Centre, after allotting £10 million to its creation. The Flood Forecasting Centre is the result of a recommendation made by Sir Michael Pitt following the deaths of 13 people in June and July of 2007. 44,600 homes were affected by the floods during this time period. According to Pitt, the ...
Tesco and Primark accused of profiting from poverty
by David Masters
Social justice charity, War on Want, has slammed leading British retailers Tesco and Primark for cashing in on the credit crunch by selling cheap clothes made by exploited, overseas sweatshop workers. Employees that make clothes for the two high street firms are paid as little as £13.97 per month, whilst the average workers' pay is just £19.16 per month, War on Want revealed. This is compared to the £44.82 per month that ...
Cancer fears over Johnson & Johnson baby products
by David MastersA major supermarket chain in China has removed Johnson & Johnson baby products from its shelves following allegations that the products could cause cancer. Sales of J&J baby shampoo, soap and lotion have been halted at 3,500 outlets of Nonggongshan Supermarkets Corp. "We have to be responsible to consumers and suspend sales of these products until they are proved safe," said Gan Pingzhong, quality supervision manager at the supermarket. Concern was raised when ...
Defra wants an end to carrier bags
by Alan HartenThe Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said that during 2008 about 9.9 billion carrier bags were given to shoppers in the UK. This encouraged Defra to invent a totally useless statistic saying a continuous row would be sufficiently long to go seven times to the moon and back. On average shoppers use over 160 carrier bags annually. Jane Kennedy, Environment Secretary, said this large number of bags ...
No green Vanity Fair for 2009
by Alan HartenAfter three previous successful years, Vanity Fair will not publish a "green" issue devoted to the environment as it usually does in June According to a report in the Independent, publisher Conde Nast maintains that environmental articles can be found repeatedly so such an issue is redundant. However, a spokesman said Vanity Fair will continue to include environmental pieces, but right through the year, instead of only in one issue. Some see ...
Britain recycles £1bn worth of waste
by David Masters
Britain has recycled more than £1 billion worth of waste since 2003, according to figures released this month by Recycle Now. The UK recycled 30% of its waste in 2008, Recycle Now said, nearly twice as much as five years ago. All the glass, metal, plastic and paper sent by the UK for recycling since 2003 is worth £1.1 billion, with even more money saved in landfill costs. England alone has recycled nearly ...
Many products not as “green” as label states
by Alan HartenThe House of Commons Environment Audit Committee says the government should impose stricter standards on labelling because the manufacturers often overstate the environmental properties of their products. The MPs said that a general system is needed, with autonomous checks, because the multiplicity of labels was perplexing to consumers. The Committee says that carbon data on labels is essential and will become more important as consumers' perception and understanding of embedded carbon increases. The ...
Fujitsu launches world’s first colour e-reader
by David MastersFujitsu has launched the world's first dedicated e-reader with a colour screen. The $1,000 (£700) Flepia features an 8-inch 1024x768 XGA touch screen, and comes with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. An SD card slot offers expandable memory of up to 4GB, whilst its battery provides up to 40 hours of continual use. The Flepia's long battery life is possible because the screen uses e-paper technology, meaning it has no backlight and only consumes ...