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Archive for 'Driving off the grid'

Reduce and reuse in the kitchen

We’re all used to hearing the slogan reduce, reuse and recycle when it comes to waste in general especially man made products. When it comes to eating though, it all seems like such hard work and not necessarily that environmentally useful. A different approach is needed, then? This is an experiment I’ve been running the […]

Living la dolce vita

On the face of it, our lives at the moment should resemble hell. We’re having building work done and have vacated our bedroom but thankfully our son is a grown up and living in Newcastle, so we can live in his old room. Despite the noise (we’re both still working from home), life is surprisingly […]

Retrospective as 2021 comes to an end

Like many, this year has involved some changes health-wise (4 vaccinations, 3 for Covid-19 and one for influenza) and some sole searching following COP26. COP?  Police? No, the climate crisess :D.  For me, this has to be a personal thing.  While governments and business can do their bit to ensure we can’t screw up, there […]

Now winter is almost here

It’s November, news flash, it’s winter! Very few days have peaked at 10°C, so it’s still autumn… Anyway, the heating is definitely on. Which is a great time to get a new EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) done. There’s no reason it cannot be done in the summer, any measurements are done in reverse, rather than […]

What’s your carbon footprint?

COP26 is on in the UK and we are all looking at these leaders for what we need to do. Living in the UK, the average person has a carbon footprint of 13 tonnes a year. Given a population of 67 million, that’s a huge national footprint. So, where do you fit on that scale? […]

Economies of time

It’s a beautiful, sunny Sunday afternoon in early October and I’m sitting in the kitchen with my feet up. It’s the first time today I’ve had a chance to rest and I’d like to explain why. Doesn’t sound in the least interesting! Harsh, but true 🙁 Here’s why I’m writing this. We’re still in the […]

Lying in bed, dreading getting up

Isn’t it a Saturday? Time of fun and joy and more importantly, the weekend? Yes, but I’m listening to the news… Ah, that’s where you’re going wrong! There are a few major takeaways today. Numero uno A couple of weeks ago now, a cable importing electricity from mainland Europe into the UK had a fire […]

Cooking up a steam

Having heard about induction hobs in 2006, they have been on my radar but not something I’ve considered more than a “when I fit my dream kitchen, I’d like…” Our recent forays in the garden and making burgers have brought on a different issue though: how can we do the onions etc that we love […]

Using information to lower your carbon footprint

Sounds great, sign me up! Love your enthusiasm (must say, it’s a little unusual)… Focus! You’re right. Like many, we’re using smart meters and online portals to see what energy we’re using at any one time. Good for us and good for the planet. But not making the most of the collected information that’s out […]

Life off grid

Gas, not electricity. Four weeks ago, we noticed that our boiler light was red and the unit was definitively not heating anything: not the floor or the water which (during the summer) is its sole raison d’etre. Oh dear, we said, how annoying or words to that effect 😮 Still, the sun was shining and […]