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…
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04 Apr 2025
By Carl Dodd

A new era for England’s woodlands

air pollution, air quality, bees, biodiversity, carbon sequestration, Environment, forest bathing, lifestyle transformation, low impact, low carbon living, mindfulness, Nature, Net Zero Carbon, one planet living, organic, peat restoration, reduce carbon footprint, Retrofit PRL, rewilding, sustainability, sustainable living
An overview of the Western Forest Initiative The Western Forest Initiative represents a transformative approach to woodland management and environmental sustainability in England. Launched with the ambitious goal of planting 20 million trees by the year 2050, this project aims to counter the effects of climate change while enhancing local biodiversity. The initiative is not merely about tree planting; it encompasses a broader vision for the creation of 2,500 hectares of new woodland, which will serve both ecological and social purposes. One of the primary objectives of the Western Forest initiative is to mitigate the detrimental impacts of deforestation and…
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21 Mar 2025
By Carl Dodd

£180m solar investment for school and hospitals

2025, affordable warmth, Carl Dodd, circular economy, emissions, energy efficiency, energy sufficiency, hospitals, lifestyle transformation, low impact, low carbon living, Net Zero Carbon, one planet living, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., recycling, reduce carbon footprint, Retrofit PRL, schools, solar array, solar panel, sustainability, sustainable living
Massive solar investment Hundreds of schools and hospitals across the UK are set to receive £180 million for solar panels from the government's new state-owned energy company. The first major investment from Great British Energy was recently announced as part of government efforts to reduce the country's planet-warming emissions. The move was welcomed by the school leader's union and NHS providers who said it would also help to manage the "enormous financial pressure" of energy bills. The government also hopes that the project, to provide solar panels for 200 schools and 200 hospitals, will reduce the use of fossil fuels…
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07 Mar 2025
By Carl Dodd

Green sector growth: three times faster than the UK economy

2025, Carl Dodd, circular economy, ecosystem, electric vehicle, energy efficiency, energy sufficiency, EV, green sector, heat pumps, lifestyle transformation, low impact, low carbon living, Net Zero Carbon, one planet living, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., rainwater harvesting, reduce carbon footprint, Retrofit PRL, solar array, sustainability, tenants, tiny homes, up-cycling, wind power, wind turbine
The Net Zero factor New analysis from the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit found that the net zero sector is growing at triple the rate of the UK's economy. This is creating high-paying jobs across the country, while cutting emissions and increasing energy security. Green sectors such as clean energy, EVs, green finance and railways are growing expandingly, with a growth of 10% in 2024 and 9% in 2023. These sectors employ almost a million people in full-time jobs. Green sectors also help balance job distribution, which is often concentrated in London and the South East. Net zero jobs are…
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21 Feb 2025
By Carl Dodd

A turning point in the global climate story?

2025, air pollution, air quality, Carl Dodd, circular economy, ecosystem, emissions, energy efficiency, energy sufficiency, lifestyle transformation, low impact, low carbon living, mindfulness, Net Zero Carbon, one planet living, organic, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., reduce carbon footprint, Retrofit PRL, sustainability, sustainable living, waste less food
EU emissions plummet... and China's may have peaked As the world battled the intensifying impacts of the climate crisis in 2024 - from record-breaking heatwaves to devastating floods - an important, and perhaps underappreciated, trend emerged from the data: emissions in some parts of the world have not only slowed but dropped sharply. This signals that, despite the gravity of our environmental challenges, change is not only possible - it is already underway. In October 2024, new data revealed that greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union (EU) fell by a remarkable 8% in 2023. The drop places emissions across…
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10 Jan 2025
By Carl Dodd

The Future of Retrofit: what to expect in 2025

affordable warmth, air quality, carbon sequestration, Carl Dodd, circular economy, energy efficiency, energy sufficiency, heat pumps, housing, hydroelectricity, lifestyle transformation, low impact, low carbon living, mindfulness, Net Zero Carbon, one planet living, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., reduce carbon footprint, Retrofit PRL, solar array, solar panel, sustainability, sustainable living, tenants, wind power, wind turbine
What lies ahead... As leading UK retrofit specialists, PRL has witnessed significant changes in the industry over the past few years. The urgency of decarbonisation, rising energy costs, and stricter building regulations have all contributed to a rapid evolution in retrofit practices. Now that we find ourselves once again at the start of a new year, it is essential to consider what lies ahead for homeowners, landlords, and industry professionals alike. The drive for energy efficiency We feel that one of the biggest drivers for retrofit in 2025 will continue to be energy efficiency. The UK government's net-zero targets mean…
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20 Dec 2024
By Carl Dodd

Octopus Energy customers to receive £676 in savings

affordable warmth, Carl Dodd, circular economy, energy efficiency, energy sufficiency, floor insulation, housing, hydroelectricity, lifestyle transformation, low impact, low carbon living, Net Zero Carbon, one planet living, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., reduce carbon footprint, Retrofit PRL, solar panel, sustainability, sustainable living, tenants, tiny homes, wind power, wind turbine
New Ofgem regulations lead the way Consumers are celebrating as Octopus Energy announces a new plan that could see customers save up to £676 over two years. This significant step forward is tied to new regulations by Ofgem, the UK's energy regulator, which will mandate energy suppliers to provide "zero standing charge" tariffs, alongside their existing offerings. Starting in January, this shift promises substantial relief, particularly for households that use less energy. Here's what this ground-breaking initiative means for energy consumers - and just why it matters. The lowdown on standing charges Standing charges are fixed daily costs added to…
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06 Dec 2024
By Carl Dodd

AI and its growing role in conservation

air pollution, biodiversity, Carl Dodd, ecosystem, forest bathing, lifestyle transformation, mindfulness, Nature, one planet living, organic, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., reduce carbon footprint, rewilding, sustainability, sustainable living
Futuring the forests The rainforests of South America, despite their immense ecological importance, are increasingly under threat from illegal logging and other destructive activities. Monitoring these vast and remote areas poses a significant challenge. While satellite surveillance offers some capability, it has notable limitations, and on-the-ground patrols are inherently constrained by the sheer size and inaccessibility of the terrain. Enter the drones: equipped with advanced cameras and motion sensors, they provide a game-changing solution. These aerial devices silently navigate through the forest canopy, detecting even the faintest signs of illegal activities. By integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI), data collected by drones…
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08 Nov 2024
By Carl Dodd

Pioneering technology is revolutionising nature restoration in UK forests

air quality, bees, biodiversity, Carl Dodd, ecosystem, forest bathing, KLB – Scottish NZC, mindfulness, Nature, one planet living, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., rewilding, Shinrin-yoku, sustainability
Image: Polly device. (Credit: AGRISOUND. Forestry England/Crown copyright.) Unprecedented insights into biodiversity As climate change and biodiversity loss dominate global headlines, a remarkable initiative in the UK is leveraging advanced technology to combat these crises. Forestry England (FE), the organisation managing over 1,500 woodlands, is spearheading a ground-breaking effort to better understand and restore the delicate ecosystems within the nation's forests. By utilising cutting-edge tools like environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling and bioacoustic devices, FE is achieving unprecedented insights into the biodiversity of these natural spaces. Transforming biodiversity monitoring with eDNA Environmental DNA, or eDNA, has emerged as a revolutionary tool…
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11 Oct 2024
By Carl Dodd

Wildlife Trust project reveals ancient woodlands

biodiversity, Carl Dodd, ecosystem, forest bathing, mindfulness, Nature, one planet living, peat restoration, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., rewilding, Shinrin-yoku, sustainability
Ancient woodlands are rediscovered A two-year project across three counties (Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire) has uncovered more than 1,300 hectares (3,271 acres) of previously unknown ancient woodland. The total area of ancient woodland in the area is now known to be 12,552 hectares (31,016 acres). The woods that have existed since 1600, are packed with a range of forest-loving plant life, fungi, insects and micro-organisations, that make up some 2.5% of UK land (609,990 hectares or 1,507,318 acres). Towards the 'ancient woodland' designation To be designated as ancient woodland, an area would have to have been wooded continuously since at…
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