05 Dec 2025
By Carl Dodd

Electric cars are going the distance

2025, affordable warmth, air pollution, air quality, biodiversity, Carl Dodd, circular economy, decarbonisation, diesel, ecosystem, electric vehicle, emissions, energy efficiency, energy sufficiency, Environment, EV, EVs, green sector, heat pumps, housing, hybrid heat pumps, lifestyle transformation, low impact, low carbon living, motorhomes, Nature, Net Zero Carbon, new homes, petrol, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., rechargeable, reduce carbon footprint, Retrofit PRL, solar panel, sustainability, sustainable living, transport, van life
Sustainable technology is leading the way There's a new spark of good news in the world of sustainable technology - and this time, it's about how long our vehicles are lasting. A recent study published in Nature Energy has found that electric vehicles (EVs) nearly match petrol cars in lifespan and comfortably outlive their diesel counterparts. On average, electric cars now last 18.4 years, compared to 18.7 years for petrol models and 16.8 years for diesels. For years, one of the quiet reservations surrounding EVs has been longevity - particularly the durability of their batteries. Would electric cars stand the test of time, or would early adopters…
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21 Nov 2025
By Carl Dodd

Why Lüften brings relief in the midst of winter

2025, affordable warmth, air pollution, air quality, Carl Dodd, circular economy, damp, draught-proofing, energy efficiency, energy sufficiency, Environment, floor insulation, heat pumps, housing, humidity, lifestyle transformation, loft insulation, low impact, low carbon living, Lüften, mould, Net Zero Carbon, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., reduce carbon footprint, Retrofit PRL, sustainability, sustainable living, ventilation, weatherproof
Keeping warm and staying healthy: why we need a winter ventilation rethink The UK is in the grip of freezing temperatures, with overnight lows falling well below zero. Windows are shut tight, draughts are blocked and everyone is trying to keep the heat in. It's an understandable instinct as heating costs are high, and homes lose warmth quickly. But, while closing everything up feels sensible, it brings a dangerous consequence: damp, condensation and black mould. As we heat our homes but reduce ventilation, indoor air becomes humid and stale. Hidden moisture settles on cold walls and windows, and, in the…
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07 Nov 2025
By Carl Dodd

How on-demand transport will support an ageing UK population

15-minute cities, 2025, affordable warmth, air pollution, air quality, banger economics, bangernomics, bangers, Carl Dodd, damp, draught-proofing, electric bike, electric vehicle, emissions, energy efficiency, energy sufficiency, Environment, EV, EVs, floor insulation, housing, lifestyle transformation, loft insulation, low impact, low carbon living, mould, Net Zero Carbon, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., reduce carbon footprint, Retrofit PRL, sustainable living, tenants, tiny homes, transport, ventilation
Designing cities for the future: the changing cost of independence The way we move around our towns and cities is going to change dramatically over the next 20-25 years. Ageing populations, technology shifts, climate pressures and rising costs will reshape not only how we travel, but how our neighbourhoods function. For millions of people, mobility is more than a practical question - it is the foundation of independence, dignity and community life. For years, the sustainability debate has been dominated by discussions about vehicles: EVs, emissions standards, charging infrastructure, and the decline of the combustion engine. Yet the real transformation…
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03 Oct 2025
By Carl Dodd

Government targets to restore our native forests could be delivered 81 years late!

2025, air pollution, biodiversity, Carl Dodd, decarbonisation, ecosystem, energy efficiency, energy sufficiency, Environment, forest bathing, lifestyle transformation, low impact, low carbon living, mindfulness, Nature, Net Zero Carbon, one planet living, organic, peat restoration, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., reduce carbon footprint, rewilding, Shinrin-yoku, sustainability, sustainable living
Hardcastle Crags, Hebden Bridge (13th July 2025). CREDIT: Wild Card Wild Card: their powerful petition A huge show of public support is continuing after it was revealed that Government targets to restore native forest could well be delivered 81 years late... unless urgent action is taken now. A petition calling on Forestry England to fulfil its commitment to bring back the nation's "ghost woods" - ancient woodland sites felled and replaced by timber plantations in the 20th century - has been signed by over 120,000 members of the public. The milestone was reached less than three weeks after the launch of the petition,…
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19 Sep 2025
By Carl Dodd

Celebrating PRL’s 18 years of green innovation and sustainability

2025, affordable warmth, air pollution, Carl Dodd, decarbonisation, energy efficiency, energy sufficiency, green sector, hospitals, housing, lifestyle transformation, low impact, low carbon living, Net Zero Carbon, new homes, one planet living, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., reduce carbon footprint, Retrofit PRL, schools, sustainability, tiny homes, tiny houses, water neutrality
The PRL Pioneers This autumn, PRL marks a significant milestone: 18 years of pioneering in both the public and private sectors. Since its inception, PRL has been an innovator, creating retrofit solutions that address the evolving needs of buildings, large and small. Its mission: to provide solutions that enhance efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and support sustainability goals. PRL and the Public Sector: Innovation for the greater good The ambition was always to work within the public sector for the greater good. The projects are always challenging, and are designed to help society as a whole have options that are more…
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05 Sep 2025
By Carl Dodd

Richest look set to produce 13x more transport emissions by 2035

15-minute cities, 2025, air pollution, air quality, bangernomics, Carl Dodd, decarbonisation, electric vehicle, emissions, energy efficiency, energy sufficiency, EV, EVs, housing, lifestyle transformation, low impact, low carbon living, motorhomes, Net Zero Carbon, one planet living, petrol, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., reduce carbon footprint, Retrofit PRL, sustainable living, transport, van life
Photo Credit: Kyle Bushnell Calls for policies that tackle flying and private car use Transport emissions in the UK are not just an environmental issue - they are a question of fairness. A new report from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) reveals a stark inequality: by 2035, under current government policies, the richest Britons will be producing 13 times more domestic transport emissions than the poorest. And, when international travel is included, the gap grows to 22 times. This isn't simply about carbon footprint - it's about who can access the benefits of mobility, and who bears the…
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15 Aug 2025
By Carl Dodd

Why the UK’s new-build towers are becoming summer ovens

2025, air quality, Carl Dodd, climate resilience, climate whips, draught-proofing, floor insulation, heat pumps, Heatwave, housing, humidity, London Climate Resilience Review, low impact, low carbon living, new homes, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., Retrofit PRL, shading, sustainability, sustainable living, tenants, Urban Heat Island, ventilation, weatherproof
Life inside a heat trap As we discussed in a previous Blog Post, groups of tall buildings are prone to the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect - which happens because materials like concrete and asphalt absorb and retain heat. A recent headline caught our eye. It refers to what happened last June when a warning was stuck to the window of a flat in Leaside Lock, East London, reading: "DO NOT BUY THESE FLATS. TOO HOT." The photo has been shared over half a million times: Picture Credit: Aidan Sheehan Twelve months later, after the UK recorded its second-warmest June and…
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04 Jul 2025
By Carl Dodd

On the brink: why climate resilience can’t wait

2025, affordable warmth, air pollution, air quality, Carl Dodd, climate resilience, climate whips, damp, decarbonisation, draught-proofing, Droughts, ecosystem, emissions, energy efficiency, energy sufficiency, Environment, Floods, green sector, heat pumps, Heatwave, housing, humidity, hydroelectricity, KLB – Scottish NZC, lifestyle transformation, London Climate Resilience Review, Nature, Net Zero Carbon, one planet living, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., rainwater harvesting, reduce carbon footprint, Retrofit PRL, rewilding, shading, solar panel, sustainability, sustainable living, tenants, Urban Heat Island, ventilation, weatherproof, wind power, wind turbine
The UK's weather is no longer just 'unpredictable' The UK's relationship with weather has long been one of mild fascination, but the days of gentle unpredictability are fading fast. We are now firmly in the age of climate disruption - and it's getting worse. From overheating cities to flash floods, droughts, wildfires, and infrastructure failures, the UK is no longer insulated from extreme weather. These events aren't 'one-off's' either - they're part of a volatile new normal. What we are seeing are climate 'whips' (hydroclimate whiplash) - sudden swings between extremes, such as torrential downpours following long dry spells, or…
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20 Jun 2025
By Carl Dodd

Bangernomics: putting the older car economy in the driving seat

2025, banger economics, bangernomics, bangers, Carl Dodd, diesel, electric bike, electric vehicle, emissions, energy sufficiency, Environment, EV, EVs, green sector, hydroelectricity, KLB – Scottish NZC, lifestyle transformation, Net Zero Carbon, one planet living, petrol, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., rechargeable, reduce carbon footprint, sustainability, sustainable living
Become part of the practical transport philosophy 'Bangernomics' - the art of running inexpensive older cars, is for some a lifestyle decision that balances cost, practicality and even nostalgia. For others, it's simply the most viable financial option. The term, coined in the early 1990s by motoring journalist James Ruppert, reflects a growing counterculture within the automotive world. A key criticism of Bangernomics is the carbon cost of running older petrol or diesel cars. While EVs are designed with emissions standards and tech that reduce pollution, older vehicles may have failing or outdated systems. Pre-2001 cars, in particular, can struggle…
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06 Jun 2025
By Carl Dodd

The UK is helping oil and gas workers switch to green energy careers

2025, energy efficiency, energy sufficiency, green sector, heat pumps, housing, hydroelectricity, Net Zero Carbon, one planet living, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., solar array, solar panel, sustainability
The winds of change Around 90 per cent of fossil fuel workers have skills that are relevant to the clean energy transition. The winds of change are indeed blowing across the UK, as it embarks on an energy transition that is both good for the economy and essential to curbing climate change. Homegrown wind and solar are taking over from fossil fuels, but it's important that workers aren't left behind. Job losses are occurring in the oil and gas industry at an astonishing rate, with some reports indicating potentially significant reductions in the workforce. A report by Robert Gordon University suggests that the UK could lose…
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