26 Jan 2024
By Carl Dodd

Water neutrality: what it is and how you can achieve it

Carl Dodd, damp, ecosystem, energy efficiency, energy sufficiency, heat pumps, KLB – Scottish NZC, low impact, low carbon living, one planet living, organic, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., rainwater harvesting, recycling, reduce carbon footprint, Retrofit PRL, sustainability, sustainable living, water neutrality
Understanding water neutrality In an era of increasing concern about water scarcity and environmental sustainability, the concept of water neutrality has gained prominence. But what exactly does it mean, and how can individuals work towards achieving it? In this Blog post, we'll delve into the concept of water neutrality, exploring its significance and providing practical guidance on reducing water consumption to minimise your water footprint. Water neutrality is a concept aimed at balancing the amount of water consumed, with the amount of water returned to the environment, through conservation and restoration efforts. Essentially, it involves striving to ensure that the…
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12 Jan 2024
By Carl Dodd

How we can all take steps to preserve biodiversity

bees, biodiversity, Carl Dodd, ecosystem, forest bathing, KLB – Scottish NZC, lifestyle transformation, low impact, low carbon living, mindfulness, Nature, Net Zero Carbon, one planet living, organic, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., reduce carbon footprint, Retrofit PRL, rewilding, Shinrin-yoku, sustainability
What exactly is biodiversity? Biodiversity is the diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems. It is declining globally, faster than at any other time in human history. The world's 7.6 billion people represent just 0.01% of all living things by weight, but humanity has caused the loss of 83% of all wild mammals and half of all plants. Biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse is one of the top five risks in the World Economic Forum's 2020 Global Risks Report, too. How biodiversity can help our health Higher rates of biodiversity have been linked to an increase in health. Plants are essential…
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10 Nov 2023
By Carl Dodd

A breath of fresh air: home ventilation and sustainable living

Carl Dodd, damp, energy efficiency, energy sufficiency, heat pumps, housing, KLB – Scottish NZC, mould, Nature, Net Zero Carbon, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., reduce carbon footprint, Retrofit PRL, sustainability, sustainable living
As winter draws in… Although you may feel like closing the curtains tight and shutting all windows to keep the cold air out, this practice could be harming your home - and yourself. It's only natural as the air outside gets colder, to want to cosy-up indoors - but in doing so, we are also in danger of blocking out the fresh air that we need so much. With sustainable living, we often focus on energy-efficient appliances, renewable energy sources, and eco-friendly materials. However, one crucial aspect that is sometimes overlooked is home ventilation. The air we breathe within our…
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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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09 Jun 2023
By Carl Dodd

The importance of energy sufficiency in achieving a sustainable future

Carl Dodd, energy efficiency, energy sufficiency, Heatwave, housing, hydroelectricity, KLB – Scottish NZC, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., reduce carbon footprint, Retrofit PRL, wind power, wind turbine
An introduction to energy sufficiency The term "energy sufficiency" refers to the societal need for access to enough energy resources that don't cause environmental damage. In order to achieve a sustainable future, it is important to become energy efficient and use renewable resources. Many individuals and businesses are now beginning to understand the importance of energy sufficiency in order to achieve sustainability. Achieving energy sufficiency will require a major shift in how we produce and use energy. It is essential that we move away from our dependency on fossil fuels and towards using renewable energy sources that are environmentally friendly.…
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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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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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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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