Ideas for Greener Living

  • Sustainable Dorset

    Rather than reinvent the wheel and make a new list of ways to go greener we have included links to Sustainable Dorset’s website that already have comprehensive information and ideas on sustainability

    https://www.sustainabledorset.org

    Live Sustainably

    How to reduce plastic waste

    Here are some ways to save plastic, from Sustainable Dorset website

    More than 8 million tons of plastic are dumped into our oceans every year! Packaging accounts for just over 40% of total plastic usage. Over 100 billion plastic beverage bottles are sold in the U.S alone each year. Annually approximately 500 billion plastic bags are used worldwide each with a “working life” of a mere 15 minutes.

    Here are some simple ideas for you to adopt to reduce your plastic usage and waste:

    • Take your own bag to the shops

    • Drink tap water and carry it in your own stainless steel bottle

    • Don’t buy body scrubs – those tiny beads are usually made of plastic

    • Choose fruit and vegetables that are not wrapped in plastic

    • Don’t use ‘single use’ plates, knives, forks etc. wash up after you eat

    • Wherever you can, choose liquid products that can be re-filled rather than bought new etc

    • Refuse plastic straws in your drinks, try stainless steel or paper

    • If you can’t find an alternative to single-use plastic, make sure you recycle it

    • Don’t celebrate with balloon releases, the chances are the balloons will land in the ocean, choking seabirds, turtles and marine mammals

    • Use crystal deodorants – they last far longer, are more effective and some even come with no plastic packaging at all

    • Use good old-fashioned soap – it works as well as liquid soap and lasts longer

    • Buy butter wrapped in paper instead of in a plastic tub

    Here are some Plastic Free Home Tips from Friends of the Earth

    Non-toxic home cleaning

  • Use a shorter washing cycle

    As well as using a lower temperature, make sure you wash your clothes on the shortest cycle. This will use less water too.

    Wash Your Clothes on 30

    Wash your clothes at 30 degrees compared to a higher setting uses around 40% less energy. This is because your washing machine has to work longer to heat up the water to a hotter temperature.

    Dry Your Washing Outside

    If you can, avoid using the tumble dryer and hang your washing outside to dry. If you don’t have access to outside space, use a clothes airer in a well-ventilated area with access to a window.

    Fill up your washing machine

    Always wash your clothes when you have a full load, this way you won’t waste energy by doing lots of cycles. However, do not overload your washing machine, otherwise you risk your clothes not being washed properly.

    Spend Less Time in the Shower

    Cutting the time you spend in the shower will slash both your water and energy bill. You will save money on energy as you are heating less wate. Energy Saving Trust says keeping your shower time to four minutes could save you £70 a year.

    Swap the Bath for a Shower

    Swapping a long bath for a four-minute shower just once a week could save you £12 a year on your energy bills according to the Energy Saving Trust. You could also save an extra £7 on your water bills.

    Change Your Shower Head

    Swap your shower head with a more efficient one to save around £55 on your gas bill and £45 on the water bill for a family of four.

    Turn Off Taps

    Be careful to make sure all taps are off when you’ve finished having a bath or shower. The same applies when you’re brushing your teeth. Do not leave the tap running.

    Use Your Dishwasher More Efficiently

    Uswitch says there is “no absolute proof” to determine whether a dishwasher is more energy efficient than washing by hand. \If you do have a dishwasher, make sure you are on an Eco setting and wait until you have a full load. Empty your machine regularly to avoid having to re-wash items

    Don’t Overfill the Kettle

    It is recommended that you only fill the kettle up with the amount of water you need. As well as saving water, you will save energy as your kettle will have to work less hard as it boils for less time.

    Keep Your Hob Clean

    A dirty hob with burnt on food and grease will use more energy as it will take longer for the heat to come through. Always remember to give it a good clean to help lower your bill and cooking time

    Use a Slow Cooker

    Slow cookers cost 5p – 6p an hour to run sa opposed to ovens which can be 86p – 96p an hour. Slow cookers can be used for stews, soups, roasts, cakes and baked potatoes.

    Use a Saucepan With a Lid

    Using a saucepan with a lid helps save you energy as you’re trapping the steam an heat in as you’re cooking. Cooking with lids on uses roughly 10% less energy that cooking without.

    Use the Microwave

    USwitch says the microwave is generally the most efficient way to heat up and cook food. This is because it is always quicker and smaller in size compared to an oven. Always make sure your food can be microwaved first by reading the label!

    Bulk Cook in the Oven

    If you are using the oven, try to make maximum use of the space – and the energy you are using – by cooking as much food as possible in one go. This also prepares you for the week ahead, as left-over portions can be frozen or chilled for later, then warmed up in the microwave.

    Free or Cheap Appliances

    You can check for free or cheap energy-saving appliances on the Save Water Save Money website
    click here

    Click here for South West Water Advice

    Heating and Lighting Tips

    ALWAYS PUT YOUR HEALTH FIRST AND DON’T AVOID SWITCHING THE HEATING ON IF IT COULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO YOU.

    Turn Lights Off!

    It sounds like an obvious one but we are all guilty of this. Turning the lights off when you leave the room will save you around £20 a year on your annual energy bills according to Energy Saving trust.

    Switch to LED Light Bulbs

    Energy Saving Trust says you save between £1 and £4 per year for every traditional or halogen bulb your replace with an LED. While it would cost you in the short-term to replace every bub – approximately £145 for the average household – you could save £40 per year.

    Bleed Your Radiators

    Make sure you’re getting the most from your central heating by bleeding your radiators at least once a year. Bleeding your radiator involves getting rid of trapped air inside that causes warm water to stop circulating around your radiator. To do this you need a radiator key (which can be found at your nearest DIY store and a something to catch any water.

    Try Foil Behind Your Radiators

    You can buy sheets of reflective sticky-back aluminium foil from RKL Tools for £7.50, which works by bouncing heat back into the room. Some online hacks claim you can replicate the same effect with regular foil but there isn’t enough evidence to back this up.

    Only Heat the Room You’re Using

    It might sound obvious but don’t waste money by heating rooms that you’re not using. Go round your home and make sure your radiators are switched off in any room that isn’t occupied.

    Fix Any Draughts

    Check the windows and under the doors for signs of cool air entering your home. If the cold is coming in then you’re wasting money trying to keep your home warm. You can make a cheap draught excluder for your doors with old jumpers and socks or invest in a rug to stop cold air escaping through the floor. Foam draught excluders for windows can be bought from RKL Tools starting at £2.99 for a pack.

    Move Furniture Away From Radiators

    Rearranging your furniture might just help to reduce your energy bill. Move furniture away from radiators so that heat can circulate more freely.

    Buy USB Gloves

    If you are healthy and looking to just warm up your hands, research from MoneySavingExpert has found that heated USB gloves are one of the cheapest options. It estimates that USB gloves cost less than 1p per hour to run, with an up-front cost of roughly £5.

    Close Your Curtains

    Keeping your curtains shut in the evening reduces heat loss by up to 17% according to researchers at the University of Salford. Line your curtains with a thick liner. Blinds may keep the heat in but to a lesser degree. In warm weather, do the opposite and keep your curtains open for longer. This will keep the sun coming in, thereby making your home hotter for longer.

    Click here for OvoEvery Guides

  • Toilet paper – the one product that the majority of us use just once and flush away – is becoming less sustainable, according to research.

    Analysis from Ethical Consumer magazine found that major brands were using less recycled paper than in 2011, while only five of the nine major supermarkets (the Co-op, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose) offered an own-brand recycled toilet paper. The large-scale use of virgin paper contributes to unnecessary deforestation.

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/05/toilet-paper-less-sustainable-researchers-warn

    Think of alternatives to super market bought toilet paper!

    https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/home-garden/shopping-guide/toilet-paper

    https://uk.whogivesacrap.org

    https://www.thecheekypanda.co.uk

  • Save money and energy in the garden by:

    • Making a home made compost bin. The compost is good for pots, flower or vegetable beds, and saves collection and processing of waste. http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/basics/techniques/soil_makecompost1.shtml

    • Collecting rainwater with a simple diverter on the downpipe. This gives you pure water for the plants but also saves money on the water bills

    • Growing your own vegetables. Why not try a few in a tub or make a special bed for them if you have the space? It is so rewarding to pick what you have grown yourself. It is good to know how things grow and is good for you!

    • Taking your own cuttings and saving seeds is very easy and provides new plants for free!

    • Swapping plants, cuttings and seeds with friends and neighbours. It’s fun and builds friendship – and it is free!

    • Make your own fertiliser from nettles soaked in water for a couple of weeks. Smelly but it works!

    • Grow your own herbs in a tub outside the back door.

    • Composting

    • Take your garden waste to the church compost

    https://wellgardening.com/the-science-of-composting/

    Ever thought about foraging? 

    Now is a good time to explore our country side…

    https://www.wildfooduk.com

    https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/things-to-do/foraging/

    https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/foraging

    Conserve Water

    An estimated 50% of all household water usage is wasted. It goes down the drain while we wait for it to warm up, so why not collect it and use it in the garden or for watering houseplants? In an era when our fresh water supply is diminishing due to pollution and drought, it’s important to conserve all the water we can, as well as learn about and put to use greywater recycling practices. Here are 120 ways to conserve energy!

    https://www.ovoenergy.com/guides/energy-guides/120-ways-to-save-energy.html

  • LEAP

    LEAP (Local Energy Advice Partnership) is a FREE home visit scheme to assist residents throughout Dorset with free energy advice, energy saving devices, along with access to other improvements like heating upgrades, insulation, free appliances and replacement boilers.

    Are You Eligible for Leap Advice?

    You may be eligible for the LEAP service if one of the following apply. If you

    • have a low income

    • receive tax credits

    • receive Housing Benefits

    • receive an income or disability related benefit

    • have a long term illness or disability

    Call now on 0800 060 7567 (freephone) to book your appointment or apply online at https://applyforleap.org.uk/apply/

    Or visit the LEAP website to see if you are eligible  https://applyforleap.org.uk/eligibility/

    For more information on support available for energy bills click here https://applyforleap.org.uk/support-available-for-energy-bills/

  • How to Save Water

    By the time you read this it may well have rained and the drought be over. At the time of writing, though, the forecast is for the drought to continue into October. Whether it is wet or dry it is clear that taking water for granted is not going to be an option as the summers get hotter and drier. Becoming much more conscious of how we use water will help conserve this precious life giving necessity.

    So here are some more water and money saving tips.

    In the home

    Have a short shower rather than a bath – and shower less often. Even better, have a body wash using a flannel and just a basin of water.

    Turning off the tap when brushing your teeth can save up to 18 litres a day.
    Mend dripping taps.

    When running the hot tap – collect the cold water in a saucepan or bowl for the garden or pot plants, until the hot comes through.

    Wash fruit and veg over a bowl and use that water for plants.
    Save ‘grey’ water for use in the garden.

    Do the washing up once a day rather than after every meal.
    Only use a dishwasher or clothes washer once full.

    Flushing the loo uses a lot of water. There is no need to flush after every pee!
    Use a water saving device in the cistern

    Consider how often you change your clothes. Could they be worn for another day or two before washing? Washing machines use a lot of water.

    In the garden

    Have as many water butts as your garden will house to save water from the house, shed and greenhouse roofs. Water butts are available from most garden centres and hardware stores with the downpipe diverters. Collect rain water in any container.

    Use a watering can rather than a hose. It is better to water fully around the root of a plant rather than little and often as the little evaporates very quickly and will not reach the roots. Water in the evening when it is cooler.

    Use ‘saucers‘ under pot plants to stop water draining away quickly

  • A one-off payment worth £650 is being awarded to those who claim certain means-tested benefits, including Universal Credit and Tax Credits. There is a £150 payment being made to those who claim certain disability benefits and £300 for pensioners in receipt of Winter Fuel Payments

    Every Home will receive £400 off their energy bills, spread out over six months from October. This money will be applied to your energy bills.

    Check your energy bill carefully!

    You should also read your energy bill carefully to make sure you are not being overcharged. If there is a sudden increase or decrease but you have not change dour usage, get in touch with your supplier.’

    Turn the thermostat down!

    Turning down your thermostat by just one degree could save you around 10% on your energy bill, and you should not feel much difference. The ideal temperature range to set your thermostat to is 18 to 21 degrees.

    Speak to Your Energy Provider

    If you are struggling to pay your energy bills, don’t bury your head in the sand, speak to your energy provider as soon as possible, See what tailored support they have available to you. For example, they might be able to offer a payment plan. It is also worth asking your energy supplier if you are definitely on their cheapest deal. Ask as well what customer-only deals they have.

    Pay your energy bills by direct debit

    Direct debit tends to be the cheapest way to pay your energy bills – and it means you know exactly how much is coming out of your bank each month. However, direct debits are based on the amount your energy supplier thinks you will use over the year, so if they are wrong, then you could end up over paying.

  • Are we in danger of spoiling our village?

    Having moved to Martinstown from a city in recent years, one of the things I valued most about living here was the darkness at night. Needing to take a torch with me when going out in winter was a novelty.

    But it has become noticeable how many more lights have been installed around the village lately; bright security ones, garden flood and solar lights, many of which stay on all night.

    This is a pity for a number of reasons, and members of Green Martinstown feel it is a cause for concern.

    The impact on wildlife

    Light pollution poses a serious threat in particular to nocturnal wildlife, having negative effects on plant and animal physiology,

    altering behaviour patterns and changing predator-prey relations.

    Consider the threat to creatures such as hedgehogs, moths, frogs and toads, owls and bats, to name just a few.

    The loss of our dark sky

    Being able to see thousands of stars and the Milky Way galaxy in our night sky is such a privilege, lost to many living in towns and cities. The natural night sky is our common and universal heritage

    and future generations need to experience it. Here in Martinstown we should not allow artifical light to wash out our starry nights.

    Glare from nighttime lighting can also be a safety hazard.

    The waste of energy

    Over-illumination, even with energy efficient bulbs, is a waste of money and increases our carbon footprint.

    The good news is that light pollution can be reduced fairly easily by shielding lights properly or directing them down, only using the minimum amount of light necessary, and fitting motion sensors or timers.

    We call upon you, our friends and neighbours in the village, to consider whether your lighting is really necessary and if you could reduce the impact of it on the neighbourhood in some way. Please do make sure no lights are unnecessarily left on all night.

    Let’s reclaim the night for ourselves, for nature and for the planet.

    Katie Wilkinson