London’s biggest and best known free green festival wins Best Event at the National Climate Week awards

The awards are intended acknowledge those who are leading the way in tackling climate change through education and innovation, and the London Green Fair was chosen as the leading festival above some stiff competition.

Sinclair Eiloart, Festival Director, said, “It’s a great honour to accept this award on behalf of all the volunteers who work year round to make the festival a reality. Bring on 2012.”

The free festival returns to Regents Park, celebrating its 20th anniversary on the 9th and 10th June this year.

It’s the second award the event has won – in 2007 it was awarded the prestigious Greener festival award for its commitment to environmental excellence. The event has also been shortlisted in the People and Environment Awards for the ‘Community Interest’ category.

Innovative and exciting, yet remaining true to its roots, and still completely free to attend, this year’s show will boast some great new additions as well as the regular features that make the festival so popular. Featuring world music and festival tunes across two stages this year, including the Global-Local stage plus the PEA POD sessions stage (curated by GREEN magazine), plus the speakers and conference arena (with very special guest speakers - last year included Ken Livingston and Jenny Jones!) and a great children’s area containing loads for all ages including free dance classes, free music lessons, storytelling, performance, plus space to chill out and relax.

The BikeFest (a festival of all things bike within a festival) goes electric with support from BEBA (the British Electric Bike Association) and provides an opportunity to test ride and find out all about the latest electric bikes.

Another highlight will be the performance of an 80-piece orchestra from Holland, on both days, in a natural amphitheatre on site, with the perfect backdrop of lush Regent’s Park. Not to be missed. Plus a unique outdoor theatre performance scheduled daily.

Importantly the event provides a platform for over 100 different community and campaigning groups to reach tens of thousands of people over two days.

It also features a unique selection of green and fair-trade market stalls, providing visitors with a range of products that are not only environmentally sound, but also rarely found in mainstream shops.

The event is organised by dedicated volunteers, supported by a small delivery team, and is set up as a not-for-profit social enterprise. It relies on the support of many local businesses and organisations, community groups and campaigning organisations.

Sinclair Eiloart added “In these difficult times, and in the face of mass commercialization of events, we are delighted to be able to produce this free festival celebrating all that is good and green about London and the UK. Dedicated to access, diversity and inclusion - it’s a unique environmental event, with lots of fantastic things planned to entertain and inspire the whole family.”

The community organisation behind the London Green Fair is still looking for sponsorship – in order to keep the event free to attend for all. Any interested companies can contact the festival director via their website, and stand to benefit from association with London’s leading green event.

The London Green Fair is London’s largest free green event anticipating over 20,000 attendees across two days.

· Venue: The Regent’s Park

· Date: Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 June 2012

· Time: 12noon – 7.30pm

· Cost of entry: FREE

· Audience: Very mixed audience of committed greenies, passers-by, music fans and festival goers; massive appeal to families (excellent free event content and falls on the last weekend of the school half term break); Camden Residents make up around 25%, with the remaining visitor numbers coming from other London boroughs and outside London / tourists

· Supporters: Currently include LCRN, PaperRound, GREEN magazine, Camden Council, The Ecologist, Global-Local, DeepGreen, DaisyGreen, MyGreen Directory, BEBA, Inspired Times

Some Facts:

· The Green Fair has a 19-year history, and has always been held on the first Sunday in June, except for this year, 2012, owing to the Queen’s Jubilee.

· It is London’s largest, highest profile, and best-known environmental fair.

· Its aim is to communicate green issues and inspire behaviour change.

· It attracts upwards of 20,000 people, including a large number of families.

· It is held in The Regent’s Park – one of London’s most prestigious outdoor venues.

· It coincides closely with World Environment Day, and to many, it announces the beginning of summer festival season.

· Organised by committed volunteers supported by a professional delivery team, it receives considerable support from key partners and sponsors, and local businesses, plus grant funding.

· It provides a platform for over 150 local and national campaigning organisations, showcases exciting and innovative green technologies, and works year round to recruit local and national artists and participants to provide a range of relevant educational and entertaining content.

· It is entirely powered by renewable forms of energy including hydrogen, wind and solar.

· In 2008 the event was given one of only three prestigious international ‘greenest festival’ awards, recognising our outstanding commitment to delivering environmental excellence.

· In 2010 67% of visitors said they had learned something new, proving the event does much more than ‘preach to the converted’!

· Last year they gave away over 500 trees to our visitors to help offset the carbon used in the delivery of the event infrastructure – the aim is to double that in 2012.

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Full Disclosure Statement: The GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW received no compensation for any component of this article.

This article is for your information only and the GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW does not (necessarily) approve, endorse or recommend the product, service or company mentioned.

ADAS looking for locations for renewable energy projects on rural sites around Great Britain at no cost to landowners

Environmental and agricultural consultancy ADAS is offering a zero risk development partnership with landowners for suitable renewable energy projects covering single wind turbine, anaerobic digestion and solar PV whereby ADAS will pay all feasibility, planning and development costs.

Upon successful completion of planning, ADAS will install and operate single wind turbines, anaerobic digestion plants and solar PV panels. The landowner will receive a share of the gross revenue from the projects. For single wind turbines this equates to 15 per cent per annum of the gross revenue. For an average wind site this is estimated to be in excess of £30,000 per year.

ADAS is encouraging interested landowners to attend one of its renewable energy events to discuss opportunities with an expert who will assess the land for a range of technologies, free of charge.

Jon Abbatt, Head of Environment at ADAS said: “We will be hosting events around the country in May focusing on renewable energy options on farms.

“Any interested landowners are welcome to attend, presentations will be given during the course of the event on wind energy, anaerobic digestion and solar PV and you will have the opportunity to chat to our experts about getting involved.

The presentations will begin at 1.30pm and will last for approximately 40 minutes. At the Northumberland and Durham events an additional session will be run at 10.30am.

About ADAS

ADAS is the company’s registered trading name and is not an acronym.

ADAS Group is the UK’s largest independent agricultural and environmental consultancy, and provider of rural development and policy advice aimed at the two major issues of our time; securing food supply and enhancing the environment.

ADAS provides independent science-based research, consultancy and contracting services to a wide range of organisations in both the private and public sectors, throughout the UK, Ireland and internationally. ADAS’s core disciplines are focused around the food chain and the interaction of man with the living, growing environment and ensuring its future sustainability. Through Envar the Group provides innovative waste management solutions that deliver value and profit from a range of waste materials. The Group has over 600 staff covering more than 60 specialisms, operating from a network of offices and research sites in England, Scotland and Wales.

For more information see: http://www.adas.co.uk and http://aplus.adas.co.uk

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Derwenthorpe energy centre unveiled

The biomass energy centre will initially provide community heating to 65 new build homes, which will be extended to 540 homes over the coming years. Econergy, a subsidiary of British Gas, are responsible for the design, installation and first year of fuel supply for the complete community heating system from energy centre to the individual houses.

From conception, one of the key objectives for the developers was to achieve extremely high environmental sustainable standards with low carbon emissions achieving Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4 and 5.

To achieve this a communal heating and hot water system consisting of a biomass (renewable wood chip fuelled) boiler together with standby gas boilers and thermal storage vessel, all positioned within a centrally located Energy Centre was chosen. Individual properties are connected to the Energy Centre via a pre-fabricated steel insulated heat mains system.

Heat interface units in each property provide heating and hot water services very much like a more familiar combi gas boiler and include heat meters to facilitate billing. Meter readings are collected automatically via a site wide wireless network allowing the automatic billing of individual customers from a remote bureau.

An underground fuel store to the rear of the Energy Centre accepts tipped deliveries of locally produced sustainable wood chip fuel. Importantly a dedicated access road and vehicle turning area ensures that fuel deliveries are safe, quiet and dependable.

Unlike most Energy Centers, the facility at Derwenthorpe is generously sized, this is because the developers viewed the energy Centre as the hub of the community, not just providing heat but also incorporating community meeting places to be enjoyed by the local residents.

As well as making sound environmental sense the system is expected to be cost effective and residents can look forward to making substantial fuel cost savings. It is anticipated that the potential cost savings per property will be approximately £500 per annum compared with the average home in the UK and with a carbon footprint of just a sixth of the typical average home.

In the first phase 64 houses are being connected heated by a single Turbomat 320 kW wood chip boiler and one Buderus GB402 620 kW gas boiler. The heating plant within the Energy Centre will eventually comprise of two Froling TM320 wood chip boilers and four Buderus 620 kW condensing gas boilers to serve the full 540 homes. In order to maximize the efficiency of the biomass boilers, reduce fossil fuel consumption and to maximize the income earned under the government renewable heat incentive, a 36,000 liter thermal buffer was specified to maximize the utilization of the wood boiler and minimize start-stop cycles for the best possible seasonal efficiency.

The Energy centre includes multiple heat meters to record heat production by wood and gas boilers and heat export to the mains, as is required for accreditation under the Renewable Heat Incentive which the scheme will qualify for.

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FLIGHT OF THE PARASITES

According to the World Malaria Report 2011, there were about 216 million cases of malaria and an estimated 655,000 deaths in 2010. Malaria mortality rates have fallen by more than 25% globally since 2000, and by 33% in the WHO African Region. However, most deaths still occur among children living in Africa where a child dies every minute from malaria.

CIWEM believes that as resistance to drugs develops the medium term focus needs to be on better water management strategies.

As the climate changes, mosquitoes responsible for malaria will spread, by accessing warm high altitudes, in places once free of the disease. Recent models and scenarios have estimated that 260–320 million more people will be affected by malaria by 2080 as a consequence of new transmission zones.

Access to core anti-malaria interventions will not altogether eliminate the mosquito vector or malaria parasite. CIWEM believes that malaria has gone beyond being just a health issue and that it is an environmental management issue that affects where and how people live.

Intensified irrigation, dams and other water related projects contribute importantly to this disease burden by providing sites to breed. Water management has received far less attention compared to other control measures but as mosquitoes are becoming more resistant to pesticides and drugs are becoming less effective, finding water management-based interventions is becoming an increasingly important alternative. Better management of water resources reduces transmission of malaria and also other vector-borne diseases such as Schistosomiasis.

World Malaria Day on 25th April marks a critical moment, and CIWEM calls on countries, communities and NGOs to show leadership in prioritising malaria, increasing their health budgets and in improving water and sanitation systems. Effective environmental management strategies are going to be key to managing some of major health problems such as Malaria, particularly as our climate is changing.

CIWEM’s Executive Director, Nick Reeves, OBE, says: “Tackling malaria is an incredibly important objective, failure to do so helps to perpetuate poverty and loss of productivity, at a time when the climate is changing and the habitations of these parasites spread. Building water management strategies into health plans for Malaria is essential, without them the disease will never be properly tackled”.

The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management, CIWEM, is an independent professional body and a registered charity, advancing the science and practice of water and environmental management for a clean, green and sustainable world. www.ciwem.org.

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UK regulator publishes first Smart Grid Evaluation Framework

The UK energy regulator Ofgem (Office of the Gas and Electricity Markets) has published the first Smart Grid Evaluation Framework, to provide energy companies with a methodology for assessing the value of new smart grid solutions.

The framework has been produced for The Smart Grids Forum, established by Ofgem and DECC (Department of Energy and Climate Change) in April 2011, to provide leadership to the power industry on the implementation of smart grids.

Dave A Roberts of framework co-authors EA Technology said: “This is the first work of its kind in the UK and an important step towards understanding the circumstances in which it is in the interests of consumers for the industry to invest in smart grids, rather than conventional network solutions.”

The framework has been developed by power network consultants EA Technology in partnership with Frontier Economics. It provides a methodology for assessing the likely value of smart grids under different scenarios and over different time frames. It also highlights the key factors which drive the benefit case for smart grids and provides initial results produced by the model.

The Smart Grids Forum, which has also published its first year report, was established because there is a broad consensus that the transition to a low carbon energy system will have significant impacts on UK electricity distribution networks. In particular, the electrification of heat and transport, and the task of integrating intermittent generation, will bring new challenges for Distribution Network Operators (DNOs).

It is expected that by introducing more intelligent monitoring and control into distribution networks and engaging the demand side, the cost of meeting these challenges will be reduced, compared with more conventional solutions.
Initial findings suggest that, smart grid solutions could provide a significant net benefit to the UK, even in scenarios with a lower take-up of low carbon technologies. The majority of these benefits will be in terms of reduced requirements for distribution network investment.

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BROCKHOLES NATURE RESERVE WETLAND PROJECT, WINS WITH A BIRDIE!

CIWEM are pleased to announce that CIWEM Living Wetlands Award 2012 has been awarded to Brockholes Nature Reserve, in Lancashire. CIWEM’s Living Wetlands Award was co-founded in 2002 /3 with RSPB and recognizes multi-functional projects that demonstrate the sustainable use of wetland habitats.

Brockholes is a 106-hectare site made up of former gravel workings located in Central Lancashire within reach of the city of Preston. It offers a major opportunity to sustain and further develop a high value biodiversity asset which is accessible to large numbers of people, many of whom live close to the site in areas of high social depravation.

Since the site’s purchase in December 2006 by The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside, the reserve has managed to proactively protect some key UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) habitats and species.

Brockholes nature reserve is very much at the leading edge of the widely accepted need to bring wildlife and people together in a way that meets long term targets in sustainability.

CIWEM’s Director of Policy, Justin Taberham said: “The Brockholes project was particularly recognised for its high level of visitor attraction, excellent BREAM visitor centre, and its high potential for increases in BAP species. All 5 judges were very impressed with the entry which was unanimously voted as the winner amongst some very high quality contenders”

CIWEM also commended the ‘Hambrook Marshes’ project entered by the Kent Enterprise Trust for its uniqueness in involving different social groups, particularly the unemployed and disadvantaged in society, and the ‘Severn Vale Living Landscape’ project entered by Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust for its impressive linkages and long term vision.

The Living Wetlands Award will be presented at CIWEM’s prestigious Annual Dinner and Awards Ceremony on 17th May 2012. The prize fund this year was donated in memory of Dr. Rick Leah, Aquatic Ecologist.

The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management ( CIWEM ) is an independent professional body and a registered charity, advancing the science and practice of water and environmental management for a clean, green and sustainable world.

The CIWEM Living Wetlands Award recognises multi-functional projects that demonstrate the sustainable use of wetland habitats. The prize consists of the Mance Memorial Trophy (a specially-commissioned bronze trophy of a snipe), publicity for the winning scheme, a framed certificate and a cheque for £1,500, which should be used to fund the delivery of further UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) targets, publicity of the project and/or related education. The Award will be presented at CIWEM’s Annual Dinner in May 2012.

The prize money this year was kindly donated in memory of Dr. Rick Leah - Aquatic Ecologist.

Judges included Seb Buckton, Transition Stroud; Rob McInnes, RMWE; Dr. Adrian E. Williams, APEM; Dr. Tom Barker, Liverpool University; and Justin Taberham, Director of Policy, CIWEM.

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This article is for your information only and the GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW does not (necessarily) approve, endorse or recommend the product, service or company mentioned.

Can’t wait, won’t wait

On World Earth Day, the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental management (CIWEM) believes it essential that this year’s Rio + 20 Earth Summit must be as defining as its 1992 forebear, or more so.

Without a dramatic change in stance from key global political players, prospects for a sustainable future are bleak as the environment sinks down the political agenda and the green movement struggles to provide solutions and leverage appropriate with the scale of the challenges faced by humanity.

After expectations for the Copenhagen climate talks in 2009 were hugely inflated, only to broadly disappoint, commentators have warned that expectations of the landmark meeting should be tempered in order to avoid similar disappointment at the outcomes. Yet CIWEM believes that the need for action has never been more urgent. Without dramatic changes to governance and the priorities around which many societies throughout the world function – based on perpetual growth and consumption in a world of finite resources – climatic tipping points are likely to be reached, vital species populations crash and essential ecosystem services lost.

The role of the environment movement has never been more important, yet it is failing to sell the message sufficiently well to make decision makers prioritise the environment and its crucial role in a more sustainable future for humanity. In this context, it must pull out all the stops to convince leaders that action and outcomes from Rio must lead to marked change in how the global community responds to the environmental crisis.

CIWEM Executive Director, Nick Reeves OBE, says: “This year’s World Earth Day slogan is ‘the World won’t wait’. This couldn’t be more accurate. The world won’t wait for humanity to change. One thing we can be sure of is that life on Earth will continue in some form or other, with or without humankind. We have the opportunity to adapt our value systems and behaviour in order to prolong our stay on this planet but we are running out of time to do so. The recent evidence on the plight of bees and their importance to our agricultural systems worldwide is just one indicator that time is running out for us to moderate our impacts on the planet’s supporting services. The environmental movement has achieved great things in the past half-century, but the challenges we face are huge political mountains beyond the reach of individual campaigns. The big NGOs and others must rediscover the radicalism of their youth and engage more concertedly with the conjoined issues that make them uneasy, such as population and consumption growth.”

The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) is an independent professional body and a registered charity, advancing the science and practice of water and environmental management for a clean, green and sustainable world www.ciwem.org.

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Full Disclosure Statement: The GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW received no compensation for any component of this article.

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AOC Announces Energy-Efficient 50 Series Monitors at Staples

AOC’s Energy-Efficient 50 Series Monitors Now Available at Staples Retail Stores Nationwide

AOC’s slim 22- and 24-inch LED monitors ideal for home and office environments, offer impressive features and image quality at an affordable price

Fremont, CA – April 2012 : AOC, a worldwide leader in monitor display technology, today announces the eco-friendly 50 Series of LED monitors is available at Staples office superstores nationwide. The 50 Series includes two high definition, energy efficient displays – a 22-inch model (e2250Swdn) and a 24-inch model (e2450Swd). Suitable for both office and home use, the Energy Star and EPEAT Silver-certified monitors offer ultra-low power consumption and use 50 percent less energy than CCFL displays.

The 50 Series is able to display 16.7 million colors and boasts a 5ms response time for ultra-smooth transitions. With a 1920 x 1080 resolution and 20,000,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio, the LED Backlit monitors also produce superb visual details, clarity and distinguishable colors. Along with excellent image quality, the 50 Series offers a sleek look with a 15mm-slim profile, a fine textured black finish on the back and base, and a high gloss bezel.

“The 50 Series offers general purpose, entry-level commercial LED monitors that are perfect for businesses, home offices, and even dorm rooms,” said Robert Velez, AOC Marketing Manager. “The monitors provide great value, while allowing you to get the most out of your system’s visual output.”

The 50 Series streamlined appearance is complemented by user-friendly design. The versatile monitors are VESA 100mm wall mount compliant, meaning that they can be used on a desktop or conveniently mounted on the wall to save space. The 50 Series also includes easily accessible digital inputs that are rear-facing for direct insertion, a placement that is much more convenient than the more common downward-pointing ports. The monitors’ iMenu option allows the user to change settings using only the keyboard and mouse, so that it is not necessary to reach up to the screen to adjust contrast, brightness and other preset modes. Other bonus features include embedded Screen+ software that divides the screen into four self-contained work areas for improved productivity, and an Eco Mode that helps to reduce energy costs and environmental impact. The monitors also include an eSaver feature that lets the user preset power conservation modes for the display when the PC is not in use. The monitors’ Power Saving Mode uses 50 percent less power, and Standby Mode uses only 0.1w.

Series Specifications
• Widescreen LED Display
• 1920 x 1080 resolution
• 20,000,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio
• 16:9 Aspect Ratio
• 5ms response time
• DVI-D with HDCP inputs
• Kensington security slot for added protection
• 3 year limited warranty

The 50 Series and every AOC monitor are manufactured to meet the most stringent green standards. Along with being mercury free, the packaging for the monitors is made from recycled materials. In addition, AOC’s industry-leading LED display technology allows for a powerful and crystal clear display while minimizing power consumption. The 50 Series is available now for $149.99 (e2250Swdn) and $179.99 (e2450Swd) at Staples office superstores nationwide.

About AOC
AOC is the world’s largest manufacturer of LCD/LED monitors and HDTVs. With more than 60 years of design and manufacturing experience, AOC has earned a reputation for selling user-friendly, technologically advanced monitors, TVs and multi-functional displays. Every aspect of AOC’s global business focuses on the development of products that fit seamlessly into consumers’ digital lifestyle. For more information, please visit us.aoc.com.
Connect with AOC on Facebook at Facebook.com/AOCAmericas and on Twitter at Twitter.com/aocusa.

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Full Disclosure Statement: The GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW received no compensation for any component of this article.

This article is for your information only and the GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW does not (necessarily) approve, endorse or recommend the product, service or company mentioned.

Real Bread lovers say ‘not in my loaf!’

The Real Bread Campaign, GM Freeze and the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union delivered an anti-GM wheat pledge from more than 350 bakers, millers, farmers and consumers from around the UK to Defra.

This was accompanied by a letter to Caroline Spelman MP, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, expressing deep concerns about the testing of GM wheat at Rothamsted Research in Hertfordshire.

Chris Young of the Real Bread Campaign said: ‘The Real Bread Campaign finds ways to make bread better for us, better for our communities and better for the planet. We cannot see how GM technology fits with any of these aims.’

Pledge signatories stated that they:

• Will not buy GM wheat or any products containing GM wheat

• Will not use GM wheat in our businesses

• Do not want GM wheat or the risks it brings to our food chain and countryside.

• Want the money being spent on testing GM wheat to be used for non-GM agricultural research.

People wanting to read and sign the pledge can do so at www.gmfreeze.org/actions/24/

A march on Rothamsted Research has been organised by www.taketheflourback.org for 27 May.

Ian Hodson President of the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union said: ‘Our members feel that there are too many unknowns and risks associated with GM food. We believe the health and wellbeing of people should be put before profit, and people have the right to know what's in their food. GM foods should not enter the food chain until it is proven beyond doubt there are no associated risks. GM crops have been heralded as the future by some, but previous experience tells us that such promises need to be very carefully scrutinised to before allowing them to enter our environment and food chain.’

GM Freeze published a review of research projects showing how farmers can manage their farms to attract predators and parasites of aphids to make ensure the pest never reaches numbers that would reduce yield from wheat crops. This can be found at: www.gmfreeze.org/publications/briefings/127/

Pete Riley from GM Freeze added: ‘This is the beginning of a campaign to ensure our staple foods, such as bread, remain GM free. From what we’ve seen so far, shoppers who don’t want to support the GM industry should go local – we’ve had a great response from local bakeries saying they won’t use GM wheat, but bigger companies have so far been much more reluctant to confirm this with us.

GM wheat would have a profound impact on the food chain because of the constant threat of contamination from seed to plate. Research in this country shows that we don’t need to use GM to control aphids in wheat if our farm management encourages the many species of insects and spiders which naturally control them. This approach simultaneously provides habitats for other wildlife, like pollinators and farmland birds, making our farms healthier places.’

Leonie Nimmo from Ethical Consumer commented; ‘Open air trials of GM wheat threaten to eliminate the right of consumers to choose non-GM wheat products. GM crops have been proved to contaminate non-GM sources time and again. Supermarkets are well aware that British consumers have rejected GM crops and that the more GM food is in circulation the harder it is to guarantee uncontaminated supplies. They need to respect the wishes of their customers, not only to keep their supply chains GM-free but to pressurise the government to halt these trials.

Consumers have shown no desire to eat GM crops in the past, which is reflected by the lack of GM products on sale in the UK’s retailers. Supermarkets need to respect the wishes of their consumers and keep GM wheat out of their supply chains.’

Part of Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming, and funded by the Big Lottery Fund’s Local Food programme, the Real Bread Campaign is helping the rise of additive-free local loaves, and finds ways to make bread better for us, better for our communities and better for the planet.

This press release is presented for your information only.

Full Disclosure Statement: The GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW received no compensation for any component of this article.

This article is for your information only and the GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW does not (necessarily) approve, endorse or recommend the product, service or company mentioned.

Ecobuild unites global sustainable built environment community with over 57,000 attendees

Extensive exhibition featuring more than 1,500 world-leading organisations

Free to attend comprehensive educational programme featuring high profile politicians, cutting edge industry experts and renowned commentators

Ecobuild, the world’s leading event for sustainable design, construction and the built environment brought together more than 57,000 industry professionals from 20-22 March 2012 at London’s ExCeL. Over the three days visitors explored the products, services and innovations from more than 1,500 exhibitors including world-renowned organisations, Schueco, E.ON, Saint-Gobain, BASF, Kingspan, Vaillant, and Worcester Bosch. In addition to the industry’s heavy-weights, visitors were also able to explore up and coming companies in the exclusive entrepreneur’s zone, Green Shoots.

Running alongside the extensive exhibition, visitors were able to attend more than 130 free of charge conference and seminar sessions featuring a host of high profile politicians, cutting edge industry experts and renowned commentators. Well known names on the programme included: Jack Straw, Michael Portillo, Kevin McCloud, Monty Don, Janet Street Porter, Alan Johnson, Jonathan Dimbleby, Mark Prisk MP and Sir John Armitt. The success of the comprehensive education programme was clearly evident with many sessions having standing room only.

James Blue, portfolio director, Ecobuild says: “Ecobuild has proved once again that it’s the meeting place for the sustainable built environment community. Ecobuild is about sharing ideas and best practice, sparking debate and discussion and learning about the most current regulations and legislation. The event could not have come at a more critical time for the built environment sector.”

Ecobuild’s feature-rich show floor meant that visitors were able to gain vital information, advice and practical experience across a number of areas. The Practical Installer feature provided live demonstrations designed to help installers take advantage of the growing demand for micro-renewable technologies whilst Renewable Heat Focus illustrated the practical and financial benefits of the Renewable Heat Incentive to the marketplace. The Biodiversity Pavilion featured a series of practical talks and demonstrations to help designers and planners incorporate biodiversity and meet new regulations whilst Fabric First helped visitors understand how building fabric improvements can interface with each other to achieve theoretical performance levels on site. Solar Hub showcased a range of solar innovative systems and Renew gave practical advice on achieving one of the most important aspects of achieving an energy efficient building, a highly insulated, air-tight building envelope.

UBM, the new owner of Ecobuild is looking to further develop and enhance the event to ensure it maintains, and grows on, its position as the must-attend event for everyone in the sustainable design, construction and built environment industry. UBM already has a strong stable of products within the built environment including the leading brands, Building, Property Week and BD as well as RESI, Building Future Education and Sleep Europe. Blue says: “Our experience and existing products within the built environment mean that we’re in a strong position to grow Ecobuild and to continue to provide the industry with an event which encourages debate, discussion and innovation.”

Ecobuild 2012 was hailed a success by visitors and exhibitors alike.

Rebecca Cope, marketing manager at Reynaers says: “We’ve seen a significant increase in the number of visitors to our stand from last year and certainly more architects and contractors, a key target market for Reynaers. We’ve already had some really positive project enquiries and the scale and number of live projects being discussed with us as a direct result of Ecobuild seems to have increased considerably versus last year.”

Deborah Bird from Schueco says: "Ecobuild 2012 was a vibrant event and we were delighted to be the lead sponsor. Visitors were good quality and they had a genuine interest in what Schueco had to offer. Constantly evolving, Ecobuild proved to be a must attend event for the entire industry."

Linda Vieira, International Sales Director at Secil Argamassas says: “Whether you are established in the UK market or not, Ecobuild is a must do! Although Secil Argamassas’ presence in the market is still quite recent, we soon felt the need to be in what is the largest construction show in the UK. We are focused in R&D for the sustainable construction market, which is growing rapidly each year all over Europe. Therefore, it made sense to be at Ecobuild. This event has allowed us to experience, first hand, the market needs and the huge potential of green materials. There is a growing environmental awareness, increasingly better informed. The British consumer is more and more concerned with energy efficiency issues, but also with the impact and sustainability of the materials used in the construction of their homes. Ecobuild has allowed us to retrieve valuable information that will allow to better plan for sustainable growth in the UK Market.”

About UBM Built Environment
Ecobuild (acquired by UBM in July 2011), is organised by UBM Built Environment, the UK’s leading B2B information provider serving the construction, interiors and commercial property communities. Its leading brands include Barbour ABI, Building, Building Design, BSEC, Decorex International, Interiors UK, Property Week, The Sleep Event and KBB. With a team of over 300 based in London, Ascot, Chester and Abu Dhabi – plus links with UBM operations from Sao Paulo to Shanghai – UBM Built Environment has revenues of over £30m+ and a proven track record of delivering high-quality products and services for customers, led by award-winning commercial leaders and editors.

UBM Built Environment is part of UBM plc – the global leader in business-to-business information and services – serving 70 professional communities in 40 countries.

This press release is presented for your information only.

Full Disclosure Statement: The GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW received no compensation for any component of this article.

This article is for your information only and the GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW does not (necessarily) approve, endorse or recommend the product, service or company mentioned.

WONDERBAG: The cooking revolution that is taking the world by storm

WONDERBAG, the cooking revolution that is taking the world by storm will make its show debut at Grand Designs Live 2012

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

Grand Designs Live sponsored by Direct Line, the UK’s leading contemporary leading home show, is no stranger to launching and showcasing ground-breaking innovations and eco designs. This year, as host Kevin McCloud returns with the show to London’s Excel on 5-13 May 2012 for its 8^th year, visitors will see the debut of the Wonderbag in the show’s Grand Food section – a clever and environmentally friendly alternative to home slow cookers that is causing quite the stir in culinary circles!

The Wonderbag has only been available online to date so Grand Designs Live 2012 will be the very first place that consumers can see the invention in action and purchase it on the spot!

About the Wonderbag:

Wave goodbye to your space-hogging, electricity-guzzling slow cooker and welcome in Wonderbag, an electricity-free, super-stylish and incredibly cheap alternative which will not only slow cook fantastic tasting food, but is also guaranteed to brighten up any British home.

Add a pop of colour and super sleek design to your kitchen with Wonderbag, an insulated draw-string, fabric bag in which people can cook anything from hearty stews or spicy curries to delicious rice and soups. Unlike conventional slow cookers which are often left plugged in for anything up to 8 hours, when using a Wonderbag you simply bring the food to the boil on the hob and then place the pot directly into the Wonderbag and leave to cook.

Wonderbag’s clever insulating design allows food that has been brought to the boil to finish cooking without using any additional energy. As well as significantly reducing C02 emissions, replacing your traditional slow cooker with a Wonderbag will ultimately help you to leave home without keeping the electricity on.

The beautiful array of stylish, new designs makes the Wonderbag a stunning gift for any food lover or for those who lack the time needed to prepare a healthy, restaurant-quality meal. And for eco-lovers, each Wonderbag used can save the planet a staggering half a ton of CO2 each year.

With a price tag of just £30, it’s the perfect penny-saving alternative to expensive electric slow cookers. For more information on Wonderbag please visit www.nb-wonderbag.com

Get the Wonderbag at Grand Designs Live 2012

The UK’s leading contemporary home show, Grand Designs Live London, sponsored by Direct Line, is hosted by TV’s design guru Kevin McCloud and is the perfect show for consumers who are seeking inspiration and expert advice for everything from home redecoration to renovations or even full scale self-build and eco projects. The show, based on the Channel 4 series, will play host to over 500 exhibiting companies across six dedicated sections: Grand Build sponsored by VELUX, Grand Interiors sponsored by Dulux, Grand Kitchens sponsored by Miele, Grand Bathrooms, Grand Gardens and Grand Technology.

As well as exploring Kevin’s Green Heroes, sponsored by Daikin (Kevin’s very own personal eco innovations exhibition), visitors to the 2012 show can try their hand at sustainable build techniques with workshops and demos on thatching, cobbing and more, get practical hands-on advice as well as fantastic ideas in the Interiors Theatre, and take part in wider debates on topical issues surrounding homes and design with renowned TV & industry experts at the Grand Theatre.

THE GRAND DESIGN LIVE 2012 ESSENTIALS

Grand Designs Live London sponsored by Direct Line, runs from Saturday 5^th to Sunday 13^th May 2012 at ExCeL London. Book tickets in advance and save £4, book online at www.granddesignslive.com, or call the 24 hour box office on 0844 854 1348 + kids 15 and under go free. Call 0844 412 4650 for further details on group discounts.

Natural Balance is a South African social enterprise that trades in carbon and was founded by Sarah Collins. Three years ago Natural Balance launched the Wonderbag, a heat retention cooker which reduces a family’s average fuel usage by up to 30% in developing countries. Significantly, each bag can prevent the emission of half a ton of C02 each year, even if only used 3 times a week. In South Africa, the popularity of the bags has also resulted in the creation of over 1,000 jobs and Natural Balance is looking to increase this number to 7,000.

Since launching in South Africa in 2008 the Wonderbag has been a phenomenal success there, with over 140,000 units sold to date, and a further 5m units about to hit the streets, making South Africa’s first programmatic (PoA) CDM project being registered by the UNFCCC hugely successful. This year, Natural Balance are preparing for their expansion into Europe and now launching for the first time in the UK.

The WONDERBAG is, basically, a new and funkier take on the old traditional Haybox cooking method and much more convenient.

I hope to be able to obtain a sample of this product and then present the readers with a review in due course.

© 2012

KEVIN MCCLOUD RETURNS TO LONDON WITH HIS ‘GREEN HEROES’ EXHIBITION

Kevin McCloud returns to London’s ExCel Centre between the 5^th – 13^th May 2012 for Grand Designs Live, sponsored by Direct Line, bringing with him one of his self-confessed ‘babies’– the ‘Kevin’s Green Heroes’ exhibition sponsored by Daikin.

‘Kevin’s Green Heroes,’ which reflects Kevin’s own personal interests, is both a showcase and launchpad for a host of products and new eco-technologies that aim to improve housing and our way of living in future,in a move towards everyone becoming a little bit greener!

McCloud comments: “This will be the third year we've done the Green Heroes and from the start I wanted a mix of ideas: radical, environmentally-friendly products from large manufacturers that we should be using more; clever, recycled materials; stuff from small makers and craftspeople; low-energy technologies and brilliant cross-fertilized, creative ideas.”

Here’s a rundown of Kevin’s Green Heroes:

Barley Massey

Barley Massey has been running a multi stranded, sustainable textile design studio and her shop 'Fabrications' in Hackney, East London for 12 years. 'Rethinking Rubbish' in fun, stylish and accessible ways through products, commissions, concepts, events and classes.

Caught Pouffes are quite a catch! Created from an innovative stretch rope developed by Barley Massey from upcycled bicycle inner tubes and inspired by sea fairing techniques, it is knotted over a fabric form made from fabric off cuts and end of rolls. Adding value and beauty to the room you can put your feet up on it or sit on it. www.fabrications1.co.uk

Up

London based design studio Up specialises in Upcycling, using their special technique known as Netching, a unique form of etching that can be used on a variety of different surfaces.

Having been a print designer for the fashion industry, Jo Gibbs from Up became concerned about the damage the industry causes to the environment and wanted more control over what happened to her designs and how they were produced.

She has always made use of discarded materials and objects and 'Upcycled' them by producing new items of the same or greater value. At the centre of her work is a an interest in lace; taken out of context it can be transformed into delicate and refined surface-designs. This process is the culmination of her fascination with etching and masking through use of alternative media. At Kevin’s Green Heroes, reclaimed roofing slates that have been Netched will be on display. This process can be used on a number of different surfaces including leather, wood, and many types of metal and stone etc.

Accoya Wood

Accoya® wood is the result of more than 75 years’ research and development that have brought together a long-established and extensively researched wood modification technique, acetylation, and leading-edge technology to create and make this extraordinary “new wood” commercially available for the first time. Accoya® is the material of choice for exterior applications and can be used for anything from windows and doors to decking, and cladding. Features and benefits of Accoya® wood include class 1 durability, dimensional stability and has a 50 year guarantee. Accoya Wood is FSC and PEFC certified. www.accoya.com

Ecofans

Ecofans® generate their own electricity from the surface of a wood stove and circulate warm air throughout the room, increasing comfort and providing savings of up to 14% on fuel costs.

Researchers from the faculty of Engineering at the University of Waterloo and Caframo collaborated on a scientific study to measure the reduction in firewood needed to maintain comfort with the use of an Ecofan®. The team developed protocol and procedures to measure, evaluate and verify the effectiveness of Ecofans® in reducing the quantity of fuel used. Conducted under controlled conditions, tests were designed to maintain a human comfort level of 22.5°C (72.5°F).

The test facility was constructed as a room within a room. The inner room was set up similar to a living room with a wood stove, a couch, finished floors, ceilings and walls; and the outer room was set up to control the outside temperature, accurately modelling the heat loss from a typical house.

Conducted during the winter of 2010, tests were completed in pairs with comparable conditions and burn rates between wood stove operation with and without an Ecofan®. The representatives from the University of Waterloo have verified the data as being accurate.www.ecofan.co.uk

Hendzel + Hunt

Hendzel + Hut is a vibrant, young design studio based in South London, specialising in the manufacture and design of bespoke cabinets and furniture using reclaimed materials.

The Kirkwood Chair is made using reclaimed hardwood and Victorian floorboards. There are no metal fixings as the chair is joined using traditional jointing techniques. The Kirkwood chair forms part of Hendzel + Hunt's MADE IN PECKHAM range. Hendzel + Hunt have an ethos to create beautiful objects whilst keeping sustainability in mind and therefore the MADE IN PECKHAM range is designed and built using reused, reclaimed materials all from the local area of Peckham, south east London. www.hendzelandhunt.com

JAILmake

JAILmake are a transdisciplinary design and make studio based in South East London.

‘Reseeding Bricks’ are a replacement brick for encouraging arbortectural growth in the city. Each one is hand made and packed in the 1msq 'Brick replacement service' factory in London. The bricks contain a multitude of seeds; from herbs and grasses to wild flowers and trees, packed into clay and soil London bricks, they can be placed in holes in walls or entirely new structures. Over time blooming into pocket meadows. www.jail-make.co.uk

Eco Friendly Tiles

Eco Friendly Tiles is the UK's first CarbonNeutral® tiles and stone company. It sources its distinctive tile and stone products ethically and responsibly, working only with manufacturing partners who share a passion for the built environment and the natural world. As a company,Eco Friendly TIles celebrates product beauty, quality and sustainability and provide architects, designers and corporate clients with innovative, environmentally-approved and exciting products with high pre-and-post consumer recycled content.

At 3.5mm thick the new ‘Super Thin’ tiles are one of the thinnest in the industry, using roughly 75% less raw material than a standard porcelain tile. A two cylinder press is used in manufacturing rather than a traditional mould which results in an 18 minute production time rather than 40, significantly reducing the amount of energy used and carbon produced. Every “Super Thin” product has a substantially low embodied carbon, limiting detrimental effects on the environment both in quantity of raw material sourced and manufacturing processes.

It is light so can clad entire buildings without adding to structural engineering requirements, thereby assisting in keeping embodied carbon of the building to minimum possible and comes in up to 3m x 1m length - some of the largest in the industry. www.ecofriendlytiles.co.uk

Aside from taking a look at the Green Hero products, visitors will also be given the opportunity to meet the products’ designers and have a chat to them about their work.

Sheep Poo Paper

Creative Paper Wales are makers of beautiful handcrafted papers and paper products including the unique and wonderful Sheep Poo Paper™ which is made using fibres recovered from sheep dung.

All their paper is made from recycled materials with processes designed to live up to the highest environmental and quality standards possible. www.SheepPooPaper.com

Packaging Lamp

The ‘Packaging Lamp’ has been designed to effortlessly work as both packaging and product. The lamp uses paper pulp for both its functional durability and its beautiful aesthetic.

The Lamp is designed with a dual use. The main structure of the lamp is constructed from paper pulp and houses all the electronic parts of the lamp in storage, much like an egg box supporting eggs in transit. The bulb, plug, bulb holder and flex are all stored in the central balustrade for storage. The user then opens up the lamp, constructs the electronic components and rearranges them inside to form the working lamp, with no excess packaging to be thrown away; the form seamlessly changes from packaging to product. www.davidgardener.co.uk

Plumen

Plumen is the antithesis of low energy light bulbs as we know them. Rather than hide the unappealing traditional compact fluorescent light behind boring utility, Plumen 001 is a bulb you’ll want on show.

The Plumen bulb uses 80% less energy and lasts 8 times longer than incandescent bulbs, giving you the opportunity to purchase an ecological product with style. It works just like any low energy bulb but it has a lot more presence.

The Plumen 001 is built with beauty at its heart, glowing with the aesthetic of a sculptural object. The forms the glass tubes take are irregular yet harmonious, as the two organic shapes mirror each other to create symmetry. www.plumen.com

Grand Designs Live London, sponsored by Direct Line, runs from Saturday 5th to Sunday 13th May 2012 at ExCeL London. Book tickets in advance and save £4, book online at www.granddesignslive.com, or call the 24 hour box office on 0844 854 1348 + kids 15 and under go free.

About Grand Designs Live…

The UK’s leading contemporary home show, Grand Designs Live London, sponsored by Direct Line, is hosted by TV’s design guru Kevin McCloud and is the perfect show for consumers who are seeking inspiration and expert advice for everything from home redecoration to renovations or even full scale self-build and eco projects. The show will play host to over 500 exhibiting companies across six dedicated sections: Grand Build sponsored by VELUX, Grand Interiors sponsored by Dulux, Grand Kitchens sponsored by Miele, Grand Bathrooms, Grand Gardens and Grand Technology.

As well as exploring Kevin’s Green Heroes sponsored by Daikin, visitors to the 2012 show can try their hand at sustainable build techniques with workshops and demos on thatching, cobbing and more, get practical hands-on advice as well as fantastic ideas in the Interiors Theatre, and take part in debates on topical issues surrounding homes and design with renowned TV & industry experts at the Grand Theatre.

Grand Designs Live is based on the ever popular Channel 4 TV show, Grand Designs, which has gained a huge following in the UK over the last 10 years. TV broadcaster and live show host, Kevin McCloud will be at the London show meeting fans, chairing debates in the Grand Theatre and sharing his Grand Design experiences with visitors.

About EcoVelocity…

EcoVelocity is returning for its second year from 10^th – 13^th May at London’s ExCeL, co-locating with Grand Designs Live London sponsored by Direct Line, for the first time ever. Your Grand Designs Live ticket will allow you access to EcoVelocity so you can enjoy both shows under one roof.

This popular low-carbon motor event will showcase the latest in cutting edge automotive technology from the world’s leading car manufacturers as well as providing the opportunity for you to test drive the newest low carbon and electric vehicles.

The show will provide you with the opportunity to view the current and future options for more environmentally responsible motoring, gain a greater understanding of the technology and processes involved in developing low carbon vehicles and an insight into the benefits of owning one.

Each manufacturer at the event will be running test drives throughout the day giving you the opportunity to try out the latest and greatest low carbon vehicles available on the market today. A 3.5 mile public road with a number of traffic lights and roundabouts will provide a real life driving experience.

The Main Theatre is a new feature for 2012 and will be based at the heart of the show. A series of talks will guide you through low carbon vehicles covering topics such as process and production, how they operate, how they can work for you as well as the future of low carbon vehicles. This is your opportunity to find out more details about the future of eco-cars and to have your questions answered directly from the experts.

Wisconsin Casket Builder Launches Statewide Tree Planting Initiative

Tthe Northwoods Casket Co. has donated trees to the Kettle Moraine State Forest and three Wisconsin communities as part of their commitment to plant 100 trees for every casket they build. Beaver Dam, Sheboygan, and Wonewoc will plant the trees this week during their Arbor Day celebrations.

Beaver Dam, WI, April 26, 2012 : The Northwoods Casket Co. has launched a statewide tree planting initiative by donating trees to three Wisconsin communities and a reforestation project in the Kettle Moraine State Forest. These donations are part of the Beaver Dam-based company's commitment to plant 100 trees for every casket it builds.

With the help of the Department of Natural Resources and local funeral home partners, the company has helped organize Arbor Day tree plantings in Beaver Dam, Sheboygan, and Wonewoc with each community receiving $1000 to pay for trees.

In addition to the community donations, the Northwoods Casket Co. has also funded a reforestation project with the DNR in the Kettle Moraine State Forest Northern Unit in Sheboygan County. According to Patricia Murphy, the Regional Forestry Supervisor, "Northwoods Casket's funding will help plant approximately 10,000 seedlings, or about 10 acres, and will be part of a larger reforestation project scheduled in the state forest this spring." The new stand of forest will consist mostly of cherry and mixed oak trees.

In Wonewoc, the village board will use the donation to achieve its goal of becoming a Tree City USA, something the community has aspired to become for many years. To be a Tree City USA, a city must establish a community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita, organize an annual Arbor Day observance with a tree planting event, and pass a Tree Care Ordinance that establishes a Forestry Program meant to provide clear guidance for planting, maintaining and removing trees from public places. Village Supervisor Lee Kucher commented, "The Arbor Day celebration is the beginning of a new era for Wonewoc. We recognize that trees are valuable assets and this event demonstrates our commitment to establish a tradition of tree planting in the village."

A partner of Northwoods Casket Co., Steve Mitchell of Thompson Funeral Home in Wonewoc has coordinated with the village to help plan the events on Arbor Day. Students from Wonewoc High School will be planting maple trees around the high school softball diamond and throughout the rest of the village. Don Kissinger, the Urban and Community Forestry Coordinator for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, will be on hand to teach students about the value of trees and how to properly plant them.

The city of Beaver Dam will use their donation to plant trees in the city's tree nursery, one of the only municipal nurseries of its kind in Wisconsin. John Nuemann, Supervisor of the Beaver Dam Parks and Forestry Department, started the nursery in 2003 to help keep costs down and maintain a healthy tree population in the city that has been a Tree City USA for 21 years. According to Neumann, "Every $1 spent on a sapling today translates to a savings of $50 or more later when the trees are transplanted throughout the city." On Arbor Day, John will transplant four Japanese Tree Lilacs from the city nursery to an area near the city's newly built police station.

In Sheboygan, local volunteers will plant 400 trees in Maywood Park of varying species including Black Spruce, Hemlock, Tamarack, Cherry, Oak, Cranberry, Ninebark, Balsam Fir, and Hackberry. An Arbor Day Assembly for all school students and staff will take place at Wilson Elementary School on April 27th. Northwoods Casket Co's local funeral home partner, Lippert-Olson Funeral Home, will also participate in the events along with a representative from the DNR. According to Olivia Witthun, DNR Regional Urban Forestry Coordinator who helped organize the events, "This partnership is about planting a legacy. The City of Sheboygan and its residents will reap the benefits of these trees for years to come."

About Northwoods Casket Co. - Founded in 2006 by Jonas Zahn, the Northwoods Casket Co. builds wooden caskets with Wisconsin-grown lumber and distributes them to funeral homes, funeral supply companies, and casket stores nationwide. The company mission is to provide funeral homes and families with a simple, affordable, wooden casket purposefully designed for quality and a low environmental impact. They have more than 100 funeral home partners throughout Wisconsin and the United States and can be found online at http://www.NorthwoodsCasket.com.

This press release is presented for your information only.

Full Disclosure Statement: The GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW received no compensation for any component of this article.

This article is for your information only and the GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW does not (necessarily) approve, endorse or recommend the product, service or company mentioned.

Portland Brewery Delivering Beer on Bikes

Craft Beer Brought to City Residents Like Fresh Milk by Old Town Brewing Company

Portland, OR, April 26, 2012 : Today Old Town Brewing Company announced its craft beers will soon be delivered via pedal power. The City of Portland has been named by many publications as the beer and biking capital of America. Now Old Town Brewing Company will offer the two together for the first time.

Old Town Brewing Company was recently launched by its sister company, Old Town Pizza. The famous Portland Pizzeria has already been delivering pizza throughout the city by bike for nearly eight years.

“Portland has already shown a passion for beer and biking. We’re excited to bring the spirit of Portland to local residents, businesses, hotel guests,” said owner Adam Milne.

Available for delivery will be the brewery’s Pale Ale, IPA, Stout, Irish Red, Winter Ale, Porter, and Pilsner along with Old Town’s well-known pies.

Established in 1974 with the opening of its original landmark location in Old Town’s Merchant Hotel building, Old Town Pizza is a Portland legend known for its incredible pizza, cozy atmosphere and bustling happy hours. With two locations and a new brewery, Old Town Brewing Company, the Portland Business has garnered attention from shows like Rachael Ray’s Tasty Travels, The Tonight Show, and The Travel Channel. "An icon, a must, something to check off your To Experience Before You Die list," says Portland Picks.

This press release is presented for your information only.

Full Disclosure Statement: The GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW received no compensation for any component of this article.

This article is for your information only and the GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW does not (necessarily) approve, endorse or recommend the product, service or company mentioned.

Devon Duvets Launches the Self-Fill Natural Woollen Pillow

Devon Duvets has added a unique self-fill pillow design to its collection of British made natural woollen bedding and accessories. The Devon Duvets original pillow features 900 grams of wool to provide a soft/medium tension. For those who prefer a different feel, additional wool can be added or taken away, by hand and at home. Supremely comfortable, each pillow can be tailored to personal preference and contains pure-spun wool for natural bounce, encased in soft cotton.

Perfect Pillows:
Also in Devon Duvets sumptuous collection of pillows is the folding pillow. A simple but innovative design, the two, three or four fold pillows can be folded into a cotton envelope to create a pillow that offers a tailored level of support.

All Devon Duvets pillows are hygienic and can easily be opened up to air or machine washed, ensuring that freshness is preserved for the entire life of the pillow.

Best British Wool:
Independently assessed by the British Wool Marketing Board, only the finest, highest quality wool is graded ‘Platinum Certified’. By using Platinum Certified British fleece wool, Devon Duvets ensures a naturally luxurious British product, which is both people and planet friendly.

A hypoallergenic fibre, wool is clean and healthy to sleep on. Naturally resistant to dust mites and common house insects it is also an ideal for choice for allergy suffers and those with skin irritations.

Devon Duvets pillows start from just £55 – For more information or to order, please visit www.devonduvets.com or call 01803 712 977

Husband and wife team Dick and Pauline Beijen bought their flocks of sheep during the summer of 2008 as the first step into their idea to create high quality, all natural woollen duvets, the challenge being to make a duvet which draped and behaved like a duvet, unlike a woollen quilt. After many months of development work, the latter part of which was filmed by Channel 4 with Monty Don in his series ‘My Dream Farm’, Devon Duvets was born.

The concept of using British wool in duvets and pillows was largely un-thought of at that time and the Beijen’s are delighted that there is now a resurgence of interest in this wonderful, abundant British material.

All Devon Duvets products are handcrafted by professional seamstresses in Devon using all British wool which is cleaned and processed locally. Devon Duvets is committed to creating totally unique and natural pillows and duvets, which are sustainable and have a low carbon footprint; even their packaging and labels are produced in Britain and are sourced locally. Dick and Pauline are very proud to produce high quality, value for money British woollen products from field to customer.

This press release is presented for your information only.

Full Disclosure Statement: The GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW received no compensation for any component of this article.

This article is for your information only and the GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW does not (necessarily) approve, endorse or recommend the product, service or company mentioned.

ENER-G launches Mexico's first landfill gas capture project to power manufacture of Nissan cars

UK renewable energy business ENER-G has partnered with the Municipality of Aguascalientes to open Mexico's first landfill gas capture facility at San Nicolás landfill, Aguascalientes, in central Mexico. • First Mexican municipality to generate clean energy captured from landfill. • £4.4 million investment by the ENER-G group. • Renewable energy from landfill used to manufacture Nissan vehicles. • Project will help Mexico deliver on binding emissions reduction targets and renewable energy generation targets of its new Climate Change Act

Manchester, UK, April 2012 : ENER-G Natural Power and its sister company Biogas Technology are generating clean electrical energy from biogas for use by Nissan at its manufacturing site in Aguascalientes. The power generated is being sold over a long term power purchase agreement with the car maker.

ENER-G's renewable energy project will help Mexico deliver on its bold new Climate Change Act, which will commit Mexico to cutting its carbon dioxide emissions by 30 per cent by 2020, and by 50 per cent below current levels by 2050, and to generate 35 per cent of electricity from renewable sources by 2024.

Nissan is the first automotive plant in Mexico to use electricity from biogas, and it is the first project of its kind for any Nissan manufacturing plant in the world.

The Nissan production site, which makes March, Versa and Sentra cars, receives 2.475 megawatts (MW) of clean energy - sufficient to produce 37,000 vehicles per year.

The £4.4 million investment by ENER-G will reduce carbon dioxide emissions at the landfill site by approximately 90,000 tons per year. This is equivalent to the environmental benefit of 7,045 hectares (17,409 acres) of pine forest.

The 42 hectare (104 acre) landfill site, which is owned by the Municipality of Aquascalientes, receives household, commercial and industrial waste. A total of 3.9 million tons of waste is currently deposited at the site, which has been in operation for ten years.

The two- phase biogas generation project started in 2006 when ENER-G group company Biogas Technology was appointed by the Municipality of Aquascalientes to collect and destroy the biogas emissions by flaring. These emissions comprise mainly methane gas, a harmful greenhouse gas, which is 21 times more damaging to the environment than carbon dioxide.

This was the first project in Mexico to be registered with the United Nations under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), part of the Kyoto Protocol. Under CDM, certified emission reduction credits are provided for each ton of carbon dioxide saved, which can then be traded internationally to offset emissions by large polluters in the developed world. So far, Biogas Technology has delivered 200,000 tons of carbon reduction benefits, equivalent to the environmental benefit of 15,656 hectares (38,686 acres) of pine forest. This has generated significant economic benefits for the Municipality of Aguascalientes..

The second phase of the project involved ENER-G Natural Power installing two 1.6 MW biogas generators as part of a six month build programme. This has involved arranging the sale of electricity to Nissan Mexicana and arranging export to the site over a distance of approximately 20km. The clean electricity is transported via overhead lines through a supply contract with the Federal Commission of Electricity.

Due to the effect of 'thin' air at the high altitude of the San Nicholas site, ENER-G Natural Power was required to install an oversized 3.2 MW system to achieve the desired de-rated capacity of 2.5 MW electrical capacity. The biogas supply is expected to last for at least 15 years.

Hugh Richmond, Managing Director of ENER-G Natural Power, said: "This ambitious project is converting damaging greenhouse gases into renewable power that is benefiting Mexico's successful car industry, providing valuable income for the Municipality of Aquascalientes, and benefiting the environment.

"We are very proud to work with our sister company Biogas Technology to invest in Mexico's next generation renewable technology and to help the government to deliver on legally binding targets to reduce carbon dioxide emissions through its ambitious new Climate Change Act . We have ambitions to build more of these plants in Mexico to match the strong desire and commitment by the Mexico Government for investment in renewables."

Ian Gadsby, Managing Director of Biogas Technology, added: "Over the past six years, we have reduced carbon emissions from the San Nicholas site by more than 200,000 tons, helping to improve the city's environmental performance and generate an income for the city through the CDM. Working with our sister company ENER-G Natural Power, we continue to control and reduce emissions, not only by destruction of the methane gas, but also in producing green electricity which displaces electricity produced by fossil fuelled power stations."           

Carlos Lozano de la Torre, Governor of Aguascalientes, said: "With this facility that generates clean energy from methane gas produced by municipal solid waste, we are placing the city of Aguascalientes at the forefront of sustainable development."

Lorena Martinez, Mayor of Aguascalientes, added: "The city of Aguascalientes is proud to lead the way in renewable energy generation and to partner with ENER-G to open the first clean electricity production installation. This renewable electricity will be used to support local industries, such as Nissan."

Armando Avila, Vice President of Manufacturing of Nissan Mexicana, said: "At Nissan we are proud to work with the city of Aguascalientes and ENER-G Natural Power to improve the environment. This project allows us four years to advance the environmental challenges of our program Nissan Green Program 2016 to reduce CO2 emissions."

The biogas generation facility was officially opened by Carlos Lozano de la Torre, Governor of Aguascalientes; Lorena Martinez, Mayor of Aguascalientes, as well as federal, state and municipal accompanied by senior executives of ENER-G Natural Power, Biogas Technology and Nissan Mexicana.

This press release is presented for your information only.

Full Disclosure Statement: The GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW received no compensation for any component of this article.

This article is for your information only and the GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW does not (necessarily) approve, endorse or recommend the product, service or company mentioned.

Rowse Honey fights to save the honeybees with personalised plants on Facebook

Rowse Honey – the UK’s favourite honey provider – are embarking on a very social challenge to make Britain a better place for bees.

Rowse Honey are aiming to handwrite over 5,000 messages on flowers and distribute them to community gardens up and down the country. Members of the public are able to have their own flower planted with their message to the bees written on it from the Rowse Honey Facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/rowsehoney

Honey fans that want to join Rowse, are able to write the bees a thank you message on Twitter or on the Facebook timeline with the hashtag #busybees. Rowse Honey will take that message, handwrite it on a label, and plant it with that person's own bee friendly flower. What better way to say thank you for the honey?

Over the past three years, Rowse have invested heavily into research that identifies the most bee-friendly plants in the UK. Armed with this information they are determined to give back to the BusyBees that work so hard to put honey on our tables. Hopefully the bees will pick up on all the good vibrations we’re sending them, if not at least they have a load more of their favourite flowers to keep them happy.

The campaign was conceived by AnalogFolk with media planning and buying from Zenith Optimedia

This press release is presented for your information only.

Full Disclosure Statement: The GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW received no compensation for any component of this article.

This article is for your information only and the GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW does not (necessarily) approve, endorse or recommend the product, service or company mentioned.

Top Five Uses of Locally Sourced Slate from Wallace International, UK Supplies of Slate Roofing Tiles

Mark Nicholson of Wallace International, one of the UK's leading suppliers of slate, offers us what he considers to be the five best uses of slate. Slate, particularly when locally sourced, is a highly durable and environmentally sound material suitable for various applications.

With global warming staying at the top of the political agenda for a few years now, many people are looking for environmentally sustainable methods and materials when renovating or building. According to Mark Nicholson of Wallace International, sourcing products locally can dramatically decrease the carbon footprint of those looking to improve their homes.

“Slate” he says, “ is one of the greenest products available on the market today; long lasting and one hundred per cent natural, slate can be recycled and tends to outlast the buildings themselves. It is also fireproof, helps lower energy costs and is resistant to degradation whatever the climate conditions”

Here, Mark gives his top 5 tips for using slate around the home and garden.

Roofing

This is the most obvious use for slate tiles. There is something about slate roofing that is really aesthetically pleasing and is available in a plethora of different colours, making it easy to match the rest of the building. Roof slates are tough and durable and are resistant to most weather meaning that repairs and replacements will be extremely rare, providing the ultimate value for money.

Tiling
Slate tiles look particularly good in bathrooms and kitchens and can provide a natural, sophisticated touch to the decor of a house. They are great for resisting staining and chemicals because they won’t react chemically due to their inert qualities, and absorb and hold heat well. They can also be polished and honed leaving you with a glimmering, mirror-like finish.
Although using slate might take a little while longer than buying tiles from the local DIY store, their longevity make them a good prospect for those looking for something that will need no further work in the future.

Showers and Basins
As well as slate tiles, there are also a range of high-quality slate sinks and showers available on the market today, meaning it is possible to match bathroom furniture and fittings to tiled walls.

Landscaping
Slate is immensely popular now with gardeners and landscapers. Slate mulch provides a gorgeous beach like effect in the garden and works well for breaking up borders and large areas of green and is fantastic for framing things like water features. It also works really well for paving purposes and can make a fantastic patio. Again, because of the wide variety of colours available, mulch and paving slabs can be coordinated with a particular colour scheme, matching or contrasting it with garden furniture.

Architecture
Slate is also a great material for lots of fixtures around the home. Again, its durability makes it an ideal material for building things like staircases, worktops and other areas of the home that experience lots of use. It can be polished or left in its natural state for a modern yet organic look.

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Four easy tips on guiding employees to greener energy habits

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

Employees' behavior can make the difference between whether the energy strategy of any business or establishment produces outstanding results or just insignificant savings.

In a report published last year, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy distills five case studies on the subject to offer advice. ACEEE Senior Researcher Shui Bin took a look at the federal "Green the Capitol" program in the United States, the Empire State Building's energy management program for tenants, and programs in Canada at a utility, a government building and a university-owned hospital.

Based on that review, Bin found four elements common to each of the efforts:

1. Leadership Set the Tone. Upper management led by example, set the tone with strong commitments to the programs and solid branding.

2. Programs Involved Strong Teams. In addition to green teams, programs featured a project committee and participation by peer champions.

3. Smart Use of Communication Tools. Programs reached out to their target audience through multiple channels: emails, websites, public meetings, posters and other visual prompts, like stickers.

Often it is as simple as the joke sticker that says “Would the last person to leave please turn off the building”.

4. Use of Multiple Engagement Techniques. Programs connected with building occupants through a variety of techniques to engage interest and motivate employees and tenants toward greener behavior. Feedback, benign peer pressure, competition and rewards were among the techniques used most frequently.

"Most notable is the degree to which the support of upper management, which is strongly stressed in all of the reviewed cases, proves to be critical to the development and success of an energy behavior program in the workplace," Bin said in the report.
Bin also noted that the most successful efforts integrated strong programs focused on behavior in broader, often comprehensive, sustainability projects.
The Green the Capitol program, for example, saw a 74 percent reduction in carbon emissions within 18 months of its launch as a result of combined efforts that included using energy efficient equipment and products, changing the types of fuel used and changing behavior.

But there is also something else to consider and that is the initiatives that often come from the grassroots, from the employees but which are far too often are stifled by management.

Energy savings and greening the workplace in general must be a two-way street and a two-way communication.

The Empire State Building, the site of a much-publicized retrofit and an innovative green leasing/tenant management program, expects to reduce energy use by 31 percent.
Another ACEEE report, which is being released later today, says Americans should "think bigger" in their approach to saving energy.
People tend to focus on individual efforts that are often related to purchasing - such as buying CFL bulbs or energy-efficient appliances - instead of considering that enormous savings can be reaped from broad-based energy-saving strategies with a systems approach, the report notes.

According to ACEEE, the U.S. could reduce energy consumption by more than 50 percent, save consumers more than $300 billion a year, and add nearly two million jobs by 2050 by following "a more productive investment pattern" that includes consideration of industrial processes and improvement to infrastructure.

Much the same would also apply the the United Kingdom and one but needs to look at London, and not just the financial sector, and see how many offices remain lit all night every night and home many computers, etc., remain turned on.

This is an energy wastage that, if tackled, could make it possible to take many of the dangerous electricity generating plant, such as and especially nuclear, off line and close them.

Councils too are major culprits in Britain as to energy wastage when lights are left on in closed down building, for instance, in case someone breaks in, hurts himself and then sues the council for damages.

Don't laugh... that is the reason given and apparently it has happened already. And I always thought that every self-respecting burglar carries a flashlight.

© 2012