With home ownership comes the responsibility of maintaining the fabric of the building to ensure it keeps its inhabitants warm and dry. Our renovation decisions are motivated by what we want to achieve and what is within our financial means. But how do we know the changes we make are climate-friendly too? Deciphering what is …
Peatlands are wetland landscapes formed from the accumulation of dead and decaying plants over thousands of years in the presence of waterlogged conditions. This organic matter is called peat. They occupy 3% of land globally and 12% within the UK. There are multiple types of peatlands, three of which are common in the UK: Why …
I wonder if we take our air for granted? When we go about our everyday lives, how often do we consider if the air we breathe is polluted? We are fortunate in the UK not to have visible polluted air that makes our eyes sting, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t experiencing poor air quality. …
The importance of woodlands Trees have umpteen benefits; biodiversity, climate change, flooding, air pollution, soil and human health (see this blog for more details). Woodlands are home to more wildlife species than any other habitat. The state of woodlands today Woodlands are essential landscapes but have been diminished and fractured worldwide through human-based activities, such …
What is climate change? Climate change is the changes to the usual weather for a particular place. Although the weather varies over time, the rate of warming has dramatically increased in the last 100 years; the average global temperature is now greater by about 1.1 degrees (Feb 22). It is unequivocally down to human-induced activity …
Native woods and trees provide the means to tackle the significant environmental crises of our time. Here are a few key benefits based on facts from the Woodland Trust. Trees and climate change Trees are helpful in: Trees and flooding Extreme rainfall events arising from climate change increase the risk of flooding. Trees help reduce …
Professor Sarah Bridle was originally an astrophysicist, but when she started to think about climate change, her curiosity led her to pivot her research in a new direction – food and climate change. She shared her knowledge on the podcast; here are some highlights. How does food relate to climate change? Food and climate change …
Composting takes materials we often consider general waste and produces a material highly valuable for soil. What is composting? Composting is the break down (decomposition) of organic material such as food and garden waste by microorganisms in the presence of oxygen, providing a nutrient-dense resource for enhancing soil quality. Why compost? How to compost at …
Based on my conversation with Euan McTurk, here are the answers to some commonly asked questions on electric vehicle batteries. What is a battery? A battery is an energy source consisting of one or more electrochemical cells, where stored chemical energy can be converted into electrical energy when needed. It has a negative electrode, an …
Community action is where people come together on a specific project to benefit the locality where they live. Why community action is important for the environment Environmental action can occur at different levels: All levels are valuable. Government policy can speed up change as it affects everyone. However, sometimes they can be behind the curve …
