We all have a opportunity to live cleaner greener lives but some including myself don't make use of all the opportunities available to us to buy more fair trade, eat organically and live greener lifestyles.  Perhaps it is time we made more of an effort. Here in Flitton we are lucky to have an Organic Farm shop and a pub that serves food with locally grown produce. We also have a conversation area at Folly Wood and Flitwick Moor. We even have our own Chartered Engineer specialising in renewable energy as local village councilor , Gareth Ellis. Gareth recently organised  a community event in the village in conjunction with The Big Green Challenge The Big Green challenge is a £1 million fund offered by NESTA to encourage innovative ideas for communities to reduce Carbon emissions by 60%.

After not managing to attend the meeting and on completion of reading John Grants book, The Green Marketing Manifesto, I began to feel a little conscious on what I was doing to help the green Eco Friendly movement to fight climate change. I found myself in the supermarket feeling the need to put the potatoes back. Thankfully I didn't as that week the farm shop was closed. The book by John Grant is an interesting book to read for those with an interest in business marketing. The book focuses on new media and how it can be used in conjunction with the views on the environment, fair trade, carbon footprints and the now important focus on active customer engagement and authenticity as customers become more aware of modern marketing techniques.

Here is a selection of sites I found on the Internet to help with the challenge of Ethical Green, Global Warming, home business and the community;


Saving Energy and Reducing Carbon Footprint


Google UK has a Carbon Footprint Project which has a on-line calculator and community.   The calculator has been created based on information provided from the AMEE engine, and draws on the UK Government's Act on CO2 calculator for its data, calculations and approved methodologies. It has a on-line discussion forum and for tips and practical advice on reducing your carbon footprint to help the environment.  Video clips can be viewed of Taxi drivers, Schools and more who are doing their bit to help the environment. Google even provides sample projects that schools and families can get involved in.

Yahoo also offers green advice at Yahoo Green. Here you can find environmental news, ideas for home and living including an impact and planning section.  You can even get your green questions answered with the help of Yahoo Answers.

The Energy Savings Trust is a web site dedicated to helping us find ways to find energy saving products and improve existing habits to improve our own carbon footprint. The site contains many useful articles on the impact of climate change in the UK and what is being done to help prevent climate change. Lots of interesting facts are scattered across the site including " The average household could save around two tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) a year by making their home energy efficient." A free on-line survey allow you to calculate how much money you could potentially save by making improvements in your home also detailed are available grants.

British Gas is running a campaign pledge today save tomorrow. The site contain idea for being more environmentally friendly and you can pledge with others to perform certain initiatives. Presently there are over 5 pages to choose from with simple tips such as turning lights of and using dirty fish tank water to water the plants with.

MobGas is a new mobile phone application that allows users to see how their daily choices are impacting on climate change. It is a easy to download mobile application that calculates emissions of the three main greenhouse gases  - carbon dioxide CO2, methane CH4, and nitrous oxide N2O based on a diary input from the user. Information is requested on heating, modes of transport and appliances.

The UK governments own climate change site is interesting as it has a whole section on how to communicate information on climate change. It suggest three steps. Firstly learn about climate change, communicate to others and then take action

Actions might include; Next time you visit London or Birmingham consider walking the city. Avoid the car and walk the countryside. share a lift or pick up a pal when you have to take the car. Take a shower rather than have a bath.  Turn of the water when you brush your teeth. Use green products where possible.


Recycling


There are site where you can register at to give goods away Don't Dump That , Freecycle and Recycle. This is how you find homes for those items you just know you shouldn't be throwing away! You could a an alternative try and sell them on eBay. A quote from Don't Dump that suggests "The United Kingdom dumps more household waste into landfill than any other EU state and is now known as the 'dustbin of Europe'." Bedford has its own Don't Dump that Forum. Freecycle is based on the same principle and operated over 75 countries. Bedford ha it own yahoo group from Freecycle which is closely tied to another community group.

RecycleNow is a web site dedicated to all we need to know about recycling, bag reuse, home composting and greener gardening. The site contains tips on about every aspect of recycling you can imagine. You can receive a newsletter full of composting tips and access to a composting adviser.  Again this site offers tips for school projects. I personally had one attempt at composting with a wormery. The worms did their best to escape and eventually did or died in the heat of that summer. Perhaps I should try again.

Wrap works with business and consumer to be more efficient in their use of materials and recycle more things more often. Wrap organises course related to waste recycling.  Details are provided on how to apply and obtain grants form Small and Medium Sized Business in the Recycling Sector.
One of the suggestion is that your company makes the move to using recycled paper.

We shouldn't forget that companies and individuals can recycle old mobile handsets and ink cartridges . There  are a fair number of sites that offer green mobile solutions;

• mopay.co.uk
• envirofone.com
• actionaidrecycling
• mobilerecycle.co.uk
  
• mazumamobile.com
  
• Recycling Appeal

Before recycling your ink cartridge perhaps you should save on the ink by using the product similar to that sold at  inksaver. Ink jet cartridge can be recycled at Refresh cartridges ad Internet-ink. You can recycle not only your ink cartridge but your computer at HP. At Dell you can recycle and donate a small donation to offset the carbon offset of your equipment based on the energy use of your equipment in order to plant a tree.  If you are a school teacher or parent you may be interested in raiseatree.co.uk a site deigned to educate children on the importance of environmental issues. Here you can watch an nurture a virtual tree.

Envirowise is a web site dedicated to business and offers UK businesses free, independent, confidential advice and support on practical ways to increase profits, minimise waste and reduce environmental impact.


Green Shopping

&Together.com is a charity supported by some major household names including sky, HSB, Marks and Spencers to name a few. The site includes tips and a community but it is has also joined forces with the major household suppliers by suggesting products from their range that can be purchased towards a goal of a more environmental conscious lifestyle that aims also to saves you money.


Ecooutlet is a shopping site designed for green shoppers. This site has some great cardboard play activities for kids, green treats for your pet and some sexy cycling underwear. A percentage of what you pay for your Eco friendly good is donated to a UK environmental charity.  It a great looking site with some unique ad useful stock.

GreenEngland provides a directory listing of green outlets across the UK.

Owe-online also provides a list of green links and a green directory of suppliers some of which sell office products.

GreenerOffers.com has partnered with some of the well known shops including amazon, John Lewis. A purchase from one of the 120 selected online stores,  earns a commission - 50% of the commission goes straight to offset carbon through Climate Care and the other 50% offsets our costs in running Greener Offers.

GoCarbonfree.com offers carbon credits to its customers who can find products advice and offers within the site.

Natural Collection for Eco retail product for the home. Category Winners of the Observers Ethical Awards in 2007

Alotoforgnic.co.uk. Is a directory site of organic products and services

Act on CO2 Gives advice on what car to buy and smarter driving tips.

Perhaps you'd like to consider something new such as rainwater harvesting. Rainwaterharvesting.co.uk is an on-line shop which sells garden water tanks, pump and accessories. There is even a tank size calculator to be sure you collect as much rain water a possible.

But it's not just about being green it's also bout fair-trade and ethical shopping. For a more funky looking web cam why not try United Pepper. The development of these funky looking web cams or usb hub with body made from easily recyclable products ha been supported by Oxfam.  If you take your unwanted M&S clothes to Oxfam you can obtain a five pound Marks and Spencers voucher

Environmental Video Viewing

You tube and video jug have plenty of videos on what we can do and how to do things the more environmentally way. Videos on everything from Green Cleaning and hygiene to clothing and transport can be viewed at video jug. Friends of the earth have their own you-tube channel.



Support local Farmers and Farm Shops


Buylocal.net  Local  Bedford food delivered to your door. Buy Local supply free-range eggs, organic, non-gm and sustainability farmed produce.

Abelandcole.co.uk work with over 60 UK farmers baker ad producers and also provide fair-trade bananas coffee and chocolate. Their van run on 100% vegetable oil and the produce is delivered fresh in recycle-able and/or reuse packaging.

Farmersmarkets.net details dates and locations of farmers markets being held across the UK.

EthicalFood.co.uk provide fruit, vegetable or ethical product boxes which can be ordered on-line for delivery.

Tescopoly.org is a web site which discuss the impact of the supermarket on workers local industry in particular shops and farms.

landheritage.org.uk own and acquire land in order to secure its organic status, creating new tenancies for first generation farmers and young families.




Green Magazines and Organizations

After all that green talk and walking you might just enjoy a Green read ;

• New Consumer, 
• Business Green
• Organic Foodee
• Telegraph Earth
• The Royal Society on Environment
• Ethisphere
  
• Grist
  
• TreeHugger
• WorldChanging
  
• Green Living
  

• Go Green 
• Green Maven
• Greensie
  
• Yamoogle 
• Carbonneutralsearch

Web Page Last updated: June 2008

For more inspiration on what we don't know and should watch this TED video. For something more local to bedford try the Green Business Network and worlwide top stories at alltop