Environment Archives - Property Revolutions Limited

05 Dec 2025

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…

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…

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…

17 Oct 2025

By Carl Dodd

Retrofit and decarbonisation: it’s time to rethink the route to scale

affordable warmth, air pollution, air quality, Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP), biodiversity, carbon sequestration, Carl Dodd, circular economy, decarbonisation, ecosystem, emissions, energy efficiency, energy sufficiency, Environment, green sector, heat pumps, housing, hybrid heat pumps, lifestyle transformation, low impact, low carbon living, mindfulness, Nature, Net Zero Carbon, new homes, one planet living, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., rechargeable, reduce carbon footprint, Retrofit PRL, rewilding, shading, sustainability, sustainable living, tenants, ventilation, water neutrality, weatherproof

Retrofit with purpose: rethinking decarbonisation and design Across the UK, the call for mass retrofit grows louder by the month. Buildings account for around 40 per cent of our carbon emissions, and if we are serious about meeting net zero targets, large-scale retrofit is non-negotiable. Yet despite the ambition, the path we are currently paving could make true scale impossible. From May 29, 2025, new rules in England require all new Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) installations to comply with the MCS 020a standard, but the new rules will not come into effect until May 29, 2026. From this date, all air source…

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,…

18 Jul 2025

By Carl Dodd

The Green Register: leading the way in sustainable construction

biodiversity, Carl Dodd, climate resilience, ecosystem, energy efficiency, energy sufficiency, Environment, green sector, greenwash, greenwashing, Heatwave, housing, lifestyle transformation, low impact, low carbon living, Nature, Net Zero Carbon, one planet living, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., reduce carbon footprint, Retrofit PRL, sustainability, sustainable living, tenants, the green register

Building a Greener future In an era of rising climate concerns, resource constraints, and urgent calls for environmental action, the construction industry has emerged as both a challenge and an opportunity. Responsible for nearly 40% of global carbon emissions, the built environment has immense potential to shift from being part of the problem to becoming a cornerstone of the solution. At the heart of this transformation is a growing community of professionals committed to sustainable, high-performance building - and one organisation that has consistently championed this mission for over two decades is The Green Register. Now, with Property Revolutions Limited…

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…

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…

02 May 2025

By Carl Dodd

Greenwashing gets costly: why UK regulators are cracking down

Carl Dodd, emissions, energy efficiency, energy sufficiency, Environment, food, green sector, lifestyle transformation, low impact, low carbon living, mindfulness, Net Zero Carbon, one planet living, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., rechargeable, recycling, reduce carbon footprint, Retrofit PRL, sustainability, sustainable living, up-cycling, waste less food

What is greenwashing? This is a personal bug-bear of mine, as PRL prides itself on zero tolerance of companies that greenwash. We are living in an era where sustainability has become central to consumer choice, corporate strategy, and public trust. In the midst of this, a dangerous trend has flourished in the shadows: greenwashing. It's the practice of exaggerating or fabricating a company's environmental credentials, and until now, firms have largely got away with it - facing minor penalties or none at all. I am very glad to say that is going to end. UK regulators have begun to gain…

17 Apr 2025

By Carl Dodd

Finland ahead of schedule on coal phase out

affordable warmth, air pollution, Carl Dodd, ecosystem, electric vehicle, emissions, energy efficiency, energy sufficiency, Environment, EV, green sector, heat pumps, hydroelectricity, low impact, low carbon living, Net Zero Carbon, one planet living, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., rechargeable, reduce carbon footprint, Retrofit PRL, solar array, solar panel, sustainability, sustainable living, wind power, wind turbine

Finnish company P2X Solutions' commercial green hydrogen production at its facility 'Green power' in Finland has more than doubled since 2020 The recent closure of a coal power plant in Finland brought the country to the brink of a full coal phase-out - four years ahead of schedule. Power utility company Helen officially decommissioned its Salmisaari plant in Helsinki on April 1st, dropping coal to a less than 1 per cent share of the country's energy mix. Alongside reducing emissions and increasing energy independence, it says the switch is also helping it to cut customers' electricity bills. "We have been…