sustainable living Archives - Property Revolutions Limited

18 Jul 2025

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…

16 May 2025

By Carl Dodd

The solar tipping point: new-build homes to get mandatory solar panels by 2027

affordable warmth, air pollution, air quality, Carl Dodd, circular economy, draught-proofing, energy efficiency, energy sufficiency, EV, green sector, heat pumps, housing, hydroelectricity, loft insulation, low impact, low carbon living, Net Zero Carbon, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., reduce carbon footprint, Retrofit PRL, solar array, solar panel, sustainability, sustainable living, tiny homes, tiny houses

A landmark policy shift The sun is finally rising on a more sustainable housing future in England. The UK government has announced that by 2027, virtually all new homes in England will be legally required to have solar panels installed during construction. This isn't just a nod to greener ambitions - it's a practical, cost-saving, and long-overdue change that could redefine our national relationship with energy. For decades, the conversation around decarbonising the housing stock has been weighted heavily toward retrofitting old buildings. But this policy, which mandates solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for new builds, shifts the focus to future-proofing…

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…

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…

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…

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…

24 Jan 2025

By Carl Dodd

2024 was a chaotic weather year

2025, affordable warmth, air pollution, air quality, Carl Dodd, draught-proofing, ecosystem, energy efficiency, energy sufficiency, Floods, heat pumps, Heatwave, housing, humidity, hydroelectricity, KLB – Scottish NZC, loft insulation, mould, Net Zero Carbon, peat restoration, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., rainwater harvesting, recycling, reduce carbon footprint, Retrofit PRL, solar array, solar panel, sustainability, sustainable living, tenants, ventilation, water neutrality, weatherproof, wind power, wind turbine

The effects of climate change are becoming more evident 2024 was a record-breaking year for extreme weather in the UK. Storms and floods caused an unprecedented level of damage to homes and businesses, leaving many homeowners facing costly repairs and insurance claims. Heavy rainfall, high winds, and flooding were more frequent and severe. With climate risks intensifying, homeowners can no longer afford to be reactive. Instead, proactive measures like retrofitting offer a long-term solution to protect properties against extreme weather. Retrofitting homes with better insulation, flood resistance, and storm-proof features is not just about avoiding damage - it is about…