Features

bluebellgray: flowers to the people

bluebellgray is something of a phenomenon if speed of success is a measure. Because this 13-strong Glasgow-based textiles and homewares company started its journey just eight years ago as a one-woman show; on  Fi Douglas’s kitchen table to be precise, as she painted some floral designs.

Renewable energy: our futures depend on it

Renewables offer cleaner and safer types of energy, which will reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. So which are the best, most widely used and efficient sources of electricity from renewable sources?

Reasons to make your home green

Making our housing eco friendly doesn't have to cost the earth. While many of us can't afford heat pumps, solar panels or new electric boilers, there are things we can all do to help ourselves and the environment through minimising our energy consumption. Remember, around 30 per cent of the UK's CO2 emissions come from our housing stock.

Look for A, AA and AAA rated appliances

Wooden sheds remain top choice for garden storage

a wooden shed can be very eco friendly and sustainable. Sheds are perfect for storing garden equipment and can even be used as a room to work or exercise in. Make sure it's made from timber sourced from sustainable forests

Are you bored with your doors?

Good doors are worth investing in because doors are an important design feature. And they can be very eco-friendly, being made from sustainable wood or recyclable materials such as glass or metal. Urban Front is a UK manufacturer of solid wood and veneered doors.

 

Deco's A to Z of natural fibres

ALPACA. It's wool taken from the South American llama-like alpaca. It is soft and warm, naturally water-repellent and fire-resistant and has no lanolin, making it suitable for those with allergies to sheep’s wool. There are two breeds, Suri and Huacaya which have slightly different wool. 

Top 4 solutions to make your home more green 

For most of us, it's a mixture of self-interest and altruism that's driving us to make eco-friendly choices in how we live. Perhaps we want to upgrade our homes to reduce our monthly utility bills, or eat less red meat to be healthier... whatever the reason it's hard to conclude that carrying on as if climate change isn't happening is a good move. But you don't have to be an eco warrior to be eco friendly, just start with a few small steps, includin these four top solutions: 

1. Insulate to reduce heat loss

Is your home well insulated?

poorly insulated houses lose heat and cost you money. They're also bad for the environment because they generate emissions

Low energy homes - top tips from Charlie Luxton

For most people, the driving reason behind building a low energy home is about saving energy and therefore money. Undoubtedly the whole abstract idea of saving the planet comes into it but the reality is that it comes down to low bills. I have no issue with this whatsoever...well almost….

Keep warm and save energy this winter

Turning up the central heating is a very expensive and un-eco-friendly way to keep your house warm. With the focus on energy saving measures to cut bills and the nation's CO2 emissions, there are plenty of things we can do to allow us to turn down the thermostat a good couple of degrees even in the depths of winter.
 
Wrap up and keep out the draughts
 

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