May 2007 Archives

If we look at the long list of 'green' improvements we are being told we should make to our lives, there is really only one which has an immediate cost and environmental benefit. This is energy saving, or not wasting expensive fuel. It makes no sense to heat your home and to have lots of that warmth leave through your roof, walls and windows. So it makes sound economic sense to insulate your loft, fill wall cavities (if you have them, there are grants available) and replace old windows with double or triple glazed units. Oh, and draughtproof that door too! This will reduce your bills and carbon footprint, as you'll be able to put your thermostat down by that magic one degree....

There are two main 'environmental' stories exercising the media at the moment and therefore forcing themselves into our consciousness, the delay in the introduction of Home Information Packs and the proposal to change the planning laws. When HIPs are introduced, house buyers will be able to see the energy efficiency rating of the building, and therefore may be able to choose a house which emits less carbon and costs less to run. But most houses will not initially be included as they have less than four bedrooms. Roll-on a sensible and effective system.

One way of 'being green' is to just 'be green' and get on and live a low-impact lifestyle, not using many resources, not creating too much waste by reusing and recycling, using renewable energy where possible, buying local food in season, taking public transport, etc etc.

I wasn't expecting to win. Infact I would have been very suprised to become a City of York Councillor, as with our party's limited resources we targetted just three wards with leaflets and canvassing, and my ward wasn't one of them. But even so, losing an election isn't a good feeling.