08 Mar 2024
By Carl Dodd

Net Zero Carbon homes are gaining in popularity

affordable warmth, biodiversity, carbon sequestration, Carl Dodd, circular economy, creativity, energy efficiency, energy sufficiency, housing, KLB – Scottish NZC, lifestyle transformation, low impact, low carbon living, Net Zero Carbon, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., rainwater harvesting, reduce carbon footprint, Retrofit PRL, sustainability, sustainable living, ventilation, water neutrality
Built to last As a background to Carl Dodd's personal Scottish border NZC build (based on an adapted traditional vernacular design), we wanted to write about the concept of Net Zero Carbon homes, and explore why you could consider building one, discuss the benefits of living in such a home, and provide practical tips on making your current home more energy efficient. (c) Carl Dodd / PRL - KLB - Scottish Net Zero Carbon New Build (on-going) If Carl's build has inspired you to build your own sustainable home, or make energy-efficient upgrades to your existing home, every step toward…
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29 Dec 2023
By Carl Dodd

How to make 2024 a greener year

biodiversity, carbon sequestration, Carl Dodd, circular economy, energy efficiency, energy sufficiency, food, forest bathing, furniture, lifestyle transformation, low impact, low carbon living, mindfulness, Nature, Net Zero Carbon, one planet living, plastic, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., rainwater harvesting, recycling, reduce carbon footprint, rewilding, Shinrin-yoku, sustainability, sustainable living, up-cycling, waste less food
A New Year brings a whole host of lifestyle opportunities The New Year gives us all time to reflect on our lifestyles and consider how we can make positive changes for the planet. Green New Year's resolutions not only benefit the environment, but can also lead to a healthier, more sustainable way of life. In this Blog, we'll explore a variety of creative and impactful resolutions for 2024. These are my New Year Resolutions for 2024: 1 - I would like to re-do my Carbon Footprint using the WWF Carbon Footprint Calculator (https://footprint.wwf.org.uk) - and review my Net Zero Carbon…
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05 Dec 2023
By Carl Dodd

How to have a ‘greener’ Christmas

Carl Dodd, Christmas trees, circular economy, creativity, food, low impact, low carbon living, mindfulness, Nature, Net Zero Carbon, one planet living, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., recycling, reduce carbon footprint, sustainability, sustainable living, up-cycling, waste less food
Have yourself a merry green Christmas... As the festive season approaches, the joy of Christmas often comes hand-in-hand with excess and waste. However, it's entirely possible to enjoy a merry Christmas while being mindful of our impact on the planet. In this Blog, we'll explore creative and eco-friendly ways for us all to have a green and sustainable Christmas. Food preparation Mindful meal planning: Plan your Christmas meals carefully to avoid overbuying. Estimate portion sizes and create shopping lists to minimise food waste. Local and seasonal ingredients: Choose local and seasonal produce. Not only does this support local farmers, but…
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06 Sep 2023
By Carl Dodd

The many benefits of choosing to live in a tiny home

Carl Dodd, circular economy, energy efficiency, housing, lifestyle transformation, low impact, low carbon living, mindfulness, Nature, Net Zero Carbon, one planet living, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., reduce carbon footprint, Retrofit PRL, sustainability, sustainable living, tiny homes, tiny houses
The draw of tiny home living In an era characterised by environmental concerns, economic realities, and a growing desire for minimalism, the concept of tiny home living has gained remarkable popularity. Tiny homes are compact, efficient living spaces that prioritise functionality, sustainability and a simplified lifestyle. For those considering a shift towards this unique way of living, the benefits extend far beyond the reduced square footage. Embracing sustainable living through tiny homes Sustainability is at the forefront of global consciousness, and tiny homes provide an ideal platform for putting eco-friendly principles into action. Tiny homes inherently have a smaller carbon footprint due…
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24 Aug 2023
By Carl Dodd

Sustainable living: reducing waste by up-cycling old furniture

Carl Dodd, circular economy, creativity, furniture, low impact, low carbon living, one planet living, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., recycling, reduce carbon footprint, sustainability, sustainable living, up-cycling
Reducing waste in a thoughtful and creative way Up-cycling old furniture is an easy and sustainable way to give your space a fresh look, without breaking the bank, or harming the environment. As our population continues to grow, so does the amount of waste we produce. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce this waste - and help make a difference for the environment. Benefits of sustainable living There are many benefits of sustainable living, but one of the most important is reducing waste. When we up-cycle old furniture, we are giving it a new life and extending its usefulness. This…
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24 May 2023
By Carl Dodd

One Planet Living: How to tread lightly on the Earth

Carl Dodd, circular economy, Heatwave, hydroelectricity, low impact, low carbon living, Net Zero Carbon, one planet living, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., recycling, reduce carbon footprint, Retrofit PRL, wind power, wind turbine
Just how low can you go? How can you have a low impact, low carbon lifestyle, without sacrificing comfort or principles? You can make a start by using the WWF Carbon Footprint Calculator.  WWF: "Our world is in crisis - from climate change to the pollution in our oceans and devastation of our forests. It's up to all of us to fix it…" We all know that we need to take steps towards a more environmentally sustainable lifestyle, but how do we go about this? One answer is 'treading lightly', an increasingly popular philosophy for reducing our carbon footprint and…
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05 May 2023
By Carl Dodd

Damp and Mould: Why education and retrofit are key to eradicating the health scourge of bad housing

Carl Dodd, circular economy, damp, housing, mould, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., Retrofit PRL, tenants
Damp and Mould: two of the most common problems in poorly maintained housing The more people who can live a decent life by being kept out of fuel poverty and out of hospital, the better off the entire country is. Take a look at this Headline: Tackling cold homes would save the NHS £540mn per year, new BRE research reveals Here I examine the causes and health impacts of damp and mould and explore how education and retrofitting can help to eradicate these problems, particularly in low-income communities. Causes of damp and mould Damp and mould are caused by excess…
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15 Apr 2023
By Carl Dodd

Turning the tide on pollution: the future of sustainable plastic management

Carl Dodd, circular economy, Net Zero Carbon, plastic, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., recycling, Retrofit PRL
Why it's essential that we turn the tide Plastic pollution has been a pressing issue for decades now, and it's high time we take action to turn the tide on this problem. As we continue to use more plastic products in our daily lives, it's vital that we explore new ways of managing plastics sustainably. In this blog, we'll dive into some promising solutions that are set to revolutionise how we produce, consume and dispose of plastics. The initial problem The problem of plastic pollution is not new, but it has gained increased attention in recent years as the volume…
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01 Feb 2023
By property01carl

How much should I pay for a plastic shopping bag?

Carl Dodd, circular economy, Net Zero Carbon, plastic, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., recycling, Retrofit PRL
It's an inconvenient fact but… everyone should be thinking like this these days (we live in the plastic age, after all). Every plastic bag that's produced for consumers to carry their goods home should have a price attached. Or, every shopper should be responsible for bringing their own bags into the store with them. Did you know that a reinforced, reusable plastic bag has a lower footprint than a paper one? Many shops have now moved to paper bags, which is progress, but also still a waste, because these get thrown away too, often after only one use. Awareness needs to…
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13 Jan 2023
By Carl Dodd

Mr Angry goes zero! (nearly)

Carl Dodd, circular economy, Net Zero Carbon, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., Retrofit PRL
The biggest picture Well, it was bound to happen! Since the shock of the Russian invasion of Ukraine I've been thinking of ways to reduce the use of gas, as a sign of protest. In February we (my wife and I) curtailed our gas usage quite a lot, and it felt good too, at least we made a token gesture. However, I knew that this protest about an unjust war was not the only problem right now. The big (est) picture is the Climate Crisis. The chaos in our country seems to be omnipresent, and it's also a cost-of-living crisis,…
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