]]> http://mhsgroup.org/2012/01/another-compost-give-away-11th-march/feed/ 0 http://mhsgroup.org/2011/12/16-carbon-reduction-this-year/ http://mhsgroup.org/2011/12/16-carbon-reduction-this-year/#comments Thu, 15 Dec 2011 21:37:21 +0000 Carajenkinson3 http://mhsgroup.org/?p=1371 Continue Reading]]> The first 26 households in our 100 Homes Project have reported a 16% reduction in carbon emissions, compared to last year.

We launched the 100 Homes project eighteen months ago to help homes outside the Low Carbon Zone reduce their emissions.We’ve been working with an initial set of 50 households, mostly in Muswell Hill, but some in Fortis Green and Alexandra.    Each household had a detailed ‘baseline’ carbon footprint performed in Summer 2010 and over the last year have attendedworkshops on energy saving through behaviour change, boilers and insulation,solar renewables, sustainable food and sustainable transport.

After one year we requested updates on each household’s carbon emissions (the ‘first year snapshot’).  On the down-side we were only able to get detailed updates from 25 participating households – one of our findings so far is that many people do not keep track of their energy bills and don’t know their annual energy usage.  On a more positive note, the households that did provide updates had made real savings in their carbon emissions.  Overall there was a 16% reduction in carbon emissions, with air travel reducing by 35% and car travel by 26%.  On energy use (gas and electricity) the reduction was less marked – just 4% – however last year’s cold winter meant that nationally 15% more energy was used to heat our homes – so
it’s quite impressive that the 100 Homers reduced their energy use.  Another piece of good news is that participating households are implementing measures to reduce their energy usegoing forwards.  A third have installed new boilers (many through our Low Carbon Buying Group – see below), a third have boosted their loft insulation and 28% replaced windows.  So we should see even better results on home energy use in our follow up snapshot in Summer 2012.

If you’ve not yet completed your first year snapshot survey you can still do so at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9YVWDSL

Compost Giveaway Day Sunday 30 October
In the Ally Pally Paddock Car Park (10am to 3pm)
Yes, Farmers Market will be humming and Springfield’s Sue Dawson will be first in the queue.

What is Sustainable Food and Farming?

A process of building alternative systems of food production, processing, manufacture, distribution, retail and consumption that:

• Are less energy-intensive, using energy and resources more efficiently and minimising pollution, waste and carbon emissions
• Reduce damage to the natural environment and enhance biodiversity
• Are socially equitable ensuring fair trade and decent working conditions
• Support animal welfare and protection of species
• Promote healthy and nutritious food
• Provide security through increasing local control and boosting local economies

Key tips for low-carbon, healthy and sustainable eating:

1) Eat more plant-based food – especially seasonally grown, local and organic fruit and veg, whole-grains, nuts and seeds, and pulses.

2) Waste less food and reduce packaging – up to 30% of what is brought home is wasted so only buy what you need. Learn useful recipes for making use of leftovers.

3) Eat less meat and dairy – grazing livestock are ruminant, producing large quantities of the greenhouse gas methane, and factory-farmed beef are fed on soya resulting in mass deforestation. This is an inefficient way to produce food as more energy is used to feed and maintain livestock than is provided as food. A healthy diet can be maintained by reducing the amount of meat eaten per meal and the frequency of meat meals.

4) Eat less processed food – as they tend to be more energy and resource intensive to produce and often contain high levels of sugar, fat, salt and artificial additives.

5) Where available, buy food that meet a credible certified standard– such as Marine Stewardship Council for fish, Soil Association Organic Standards, free range meat, ‘wholesome food’, Fair Trade or RSPO for palm oil to ensure products meet a high standard.

See the Livewell Campaign on WWF www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/campaigning/food_campaign/livewell_2020/

 See Sustain www.sustainweb.org

The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity.

We had a sustainable transport evening at CUFOS on 14 June 2011 and the star attraction was the Spencer-Ivy electric bike that was displayed by its inventor Va Hua, who lives in Colney Hatch Lane. This is, in appearance, a conventional bike, not to be confused with the modish Boris Bike, and handles as such. But it also has a battery-powered booster that can be engaged to get you up steep hills. It made its debut in Muswell Hill last year when various model cyclists were being photographed for the website. The unofficial Marshal of our Low Carbon Zone, the Zone Ranger, was also in attendance; and he compared it favourably to a yearling quarter horse.

One of the bikers at our meeting on 14 June was electric biker Emma Goold from St James’s Lane [Emma of the Five Hills] who rides her powered bike to work in Swiss Cottage every day. She says it is so much easier and cheaper than struggling there and back by car or public transport.

Regrettably HRH Prince Charles was unable to make our meeting on 14 June but Va Hua received an invitation to demonstrate the bike for him at Clarence House. As can be seen HRH found the steering tricky but provided a good opportunity for the photographers. On their website www.spencerivy.com he is titled The Prince of Wheels! The price? Think £2K (discounts for Royalty).