25 Oct 2023
By Carl Dodd

Heat pumps: all you need to know

Carl Dodd, energy efficiency, energy sufficiency, heat pumps, housing, lifestyle transformation, low impact, low carbon living, Net Zero Carbon, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., reduce carbon footprint, sustainability, sustainable living
The heat pump grant With the news that the government's homeowner's heat pump grant has been increased to £7,500, we take a look at why heat pumps lower pollution and energy bills. Heat pumps emit far less pollution than gas boilers and can lower bills, but they are expensive to buy - the government is hoping that the scheme will lower the cost of installing a new heat pump, in line with that of a gas boiler. There are 27 million old gas and oil boilers and the aim is to replace 600,000 a year, but the current rate is…
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03 Oct 2023
By Carl Dodd

It’s never too early to winter-proof your home

Carl Dodd, Droughts, energy efficiency, Floods, furniture, Heatwave, housing, lifestyle transformation, low impact, low carbon living, Net Zero Carbon, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., recycling, reduce carbon footprint, sustainability, sustainable living, tenants
  The perfect time of the year to plan ahead There are better ways to keep warm than simply turning up the heating. This is PRLs guide to making your home more energy-efficient. Even though we are about to enter another heatwave (in October!) there has never been a better time to make positive, winter-proofing changes. Draughts You need to find out where heat escapes from - and cold air enters. Places that may let in draughts include windows, doors, floorboards, chimneys and loft hatches. Hold a candle near windows, doors and other areas to see if the flame dances…
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22 Sep 2023
By Carl Dodd

Our 2050 net zero target: watered down or more realistic?

carbon sequestration, Carl Dodd, energy efficiency, energy sufficiency, lifestyle transformation, low impact, low carbon living, Net Zero Carbon, one planet living, peat restoration, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., reduce carbon footprint, rewilding, sustainability
  All change… for now at least As PM Rishi Sunak has recently announced plans to weaken some of the government's green commitments, we take a look at what this means. The new-look plans include a delay on banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars, and policies being scrapped that would force landlords to upgrade efficiency in their homes. Even before these latest changes though, the UK was being criticised for falling behind in its efforts to reach "net zero" by 2050. This date marks a key international target intended to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Mr Sunak…
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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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21 Jul 2023
By Carl Dodd

How rainwater harvesting can help to conserve energy

carbon sequestration, Carl Dodd, energy efficiency, Floods, KLB – Scottish NZC, low impact, low carbon living, Net Zero Carbon, one planet living, organic, peat restoration, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., rainwater harvesting, recycling, reduce carbon footprint
Rainwater harvesting: an eco-friendly practice In our pursuit of sustainability, it is essential to explore innovative ways to conserve precious resources and reduce our ecological footprint. Rainwater harvesting offers a simple, yet effective, solution. By collecting and utilising rainwater, homeowners can reduce their reliance on mains water, which often uses significant energy for treatment and distribution. Understanding rainwater harvesting and its benefits Rainwater harvesting is the practice of collecting and storing rainwater that falls on rooftops and other surfaces. The collected rainwater can then be utilised for various non-potable purposes, such as watering gardens, flushing toilets, and washing clothes. This environmentally friendly…
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11 Jul 2023
By Carl Dodd

How rewilding and peat restoration play a vital part in achieving Sustainability

biodiversity, carbon sequestration, Carl Dodd, KLB – Scottish NZC, low impact, low carbon living, Nature, Net Zero Carbon, one planet living, organic, peat restoration, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., reduce carbon footprint, rewilding
  Two key practices that contribute significantly to sustainability In the pursuit of achieving a sustainable future, it is crucial to explore and implement various approaches that restore and protect our ecosystems. Rewilding involves restoring natural habitats and reintroducing native species, while peat restoration focuses on rehabilitating degraded peatlands. Why rewilding is so important Rewilding plays a vital role in achieving sustainability by fostering biodiversity, improving ecosystem resilience, and mitigating the impacts of climate change. By creating larger and interconnected habitats, rewilding helps to restore natural ecological processes, support endangered species, and enhance ecosystem services such as pollination, water purification…
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23 Jun 2023
By Carl Dodd

How changing your diet can make a difference in the fight against climate change

Carl Dodd, food, low impact, low carbon living, Net Zero Carbon, one planet living, organic, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., reduce carbon footprint, waste less food
Our food's ecological footprint We hope that you enjoy reading our foray into all things food - we appreciate that not everyone wants to change their diet, but we thought we would give you some… 'food for thought'! If you are looking for a way to make a meaningful impact on the fight against climate change, maybe it is time to look at what you are eating. The food we consume has an ecological footprint, starting from the resources used to grow and transport it, through to its carbon emissions during production and disposal. By changing our diets, we can…
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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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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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09 Mar 2023
By Carl Dodd

In praise of wind power

Carl Dodd, Net Zero Carbon, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., recycling, Retrofit PRL, wind power, wind turbine
A new dawn for supersized wind turbines in the UK? Supersize onshore wind turbines that reach twice the height of Big Ben could be built in England if the de facto ban is lifted. The current tallest wind turbine in England is 126.5m at a site in Essex. Bank Renewables, which developed the wind farm in South Lanarkshire, said it would be looking for sites in England if the ban were revoked. The effective ban was put in place in 2015 by tightening planning restrictions in the National Planning Policy Framework. To end the ban, the relevant planning regulations should be scrapped or clearly…
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