Why is it that people starting renovation projects have “so much to think about it is difficult to know where to start”? I am yet to meet a self-builder undertaking a new build that makes that complaint. Maybe the answer is that renovation is not treated with the same consideration and respect as a new build.

The essential first step is to plan and cost the renovation in the same way as a new build would be. So many renovations start work on the day the property is purchased, with a fixed budget that is simply the amount of money available, regardless of how much is needed.

A YouGen visitor has asked what energy efficiency measures should be considered in the renovation of: An 1840s brick, solid wall construction house. Current heating: a rayburn for hot water plus economy 7 night storage heaters. It’s off mains gas, has a south facing roof, and land which offers potential for wood supply and maybe a wind turbine. The windows are single glazed with rotten frames. Currently no insulation at all. 

To plan properly the renovator first needs to understand how the building was designed to work. For example, does it have breathing walls, where are the air bricks, is there ventilation in the roof space, what are the ‘must-do’s’ (rotten window frames), what are the no-no’s? The fact that this may be more a refurbishment than a renovation does not make the planning and budgeting any less important.

The 5 key steps, in order of priority, are: 

1. Energy conservation

Insulation and draught proofing. This means working out the heat load in the same way as for a new build and planning the insulation and air-tightness to meet the desired consumption figure. This is not as easy as it would be for a new build as the U-values of each element (wall, window, roof, etc.) need to be calculated.

2. Windows & Doors

To replace or not. Replacement double-glazed windows are not necessarily essential and consideration should be given to alternatives. Secondary double-glazing can be more cost effective and give more flexibility. The decision will impact on the overall heat load and will feed back into the calculations.

3. Heating system & controls

A gas or oil boiler over 10 years old will probably need replacing but so will the control system. Good controls that allow the temperature and timing of heat delivery to each room are essential to a good system. In this case the night-storage heaters will have to be replaced (woefully inefficient) and a new distribution system installed as well. 

4. Heating distribution

Radiators, skirting heating or underfloor heating. The decision on this will influence the decision on the primary heat source (oil or gas boiler, heat pump, solar or biomass). Underfloor heating will allow any primary heat source as it operates at very low temperatures. Radiators generally need very high temperature water and essentially exclude heat pumps. Skirting heating can be cheaper and easier to install than underfloor and some (Climaboard) will take low temperature flow. 

5. Renewable energy options

This will relate to the site and the demand from the house. Once all the other issues have been decided on (and the heating system is likely to incorporate some renewable heat technology) the requirement can be calculated more accurately and the budget needed arrived at. 

The 6th step, is to feed all these decisions back into the plan and work out the budget, and maybe go through the whole process again.  

The authour of the this blog first published on YouGen was Tim Pullen,  eco-editor for Homebuilding & Renovating magazine, author of Simply Sustainable Homes and founder of sustainable property consultancy WeatherWorks and YouGen Energy Expert.

For more information on energy efficient or renewable energy, please visit the YouGen website.

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Treat your children this Christmas and save 20% off all children’s organic clothing and organic baby clothes at Globalkids.

Globalkids also has all their eco friendly fleeces and organic hoodies at half price!

Globalkids are an ethical family business passionate about organic and fair trade products. They specialise in providing a unique range of beautiful organic baby clothes, unusual hand made organic baby gifts, organic baby skin care plus fun and sometimes quirky fair trade toys, books and games for children of all ages

Globalkids is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

As Christmas fast approaches this is the ideal time to start getting your home ready for the big day. With the whole family coming for Christmas dinner and inviting your friends round for Boxing Day drinks, your home needs to be in tip top condition to receive the increased number of people heading through your front door. With this in mind Myakka have the ideal solutions to your many Christmas quandaries.

If you are expecting a large number of people around for Christmas dinner then the Mallani Extending Dining Table may be the ideal solution. With two leaves which slot on either end of the table this table grows to comfortably seat eight to ten for dinner.  For every day use the table seats four to six and the leaves can be stored separately. If your large family dinners are the norm for you and your dining room is proportioned to fit,  then the Mallani Large Dining Table may suit. This table accommodates eight comfortably so is ideal for that big Christmas day celebration as well as every day dinners. Some may prefer a more intimate dining experience and the Mallani Small Dining Table would be the perfect solution. Seating four to six people this table is excellent for everyday family dining and welcoming friends for more formal occasions.

If you are looking for some clever storage to tidy away some of your prized possessions,  then we have a number of solutions which might  help. If you are overrun with books then we have a variety of different sized units which will sit comfortably in any room of the house.   

The Myakka  Mallani Mini Bookcase is a popular bookcase with lots of room for all your books as well as a handy drawer which makes ideal storage when space is limited.  If you have a little more space as well as an abundance of  books then the Mallani Large Bookcase or Mallani Tall Bookcase may be the perfect library solution.  With capacity to take more books then we can imagine this is ideal for even the most prolific book lover.

First impressions are always important so with this in mind your hallway needs to be in tip top condition. The Mallani Storage Seat is the ideal piece to tidy your hall and create a welcoming entrance. This popular item is now available in a smaller size for more petite rooms as the Mallani Single Storage Seat.  If you are looking for somewhere to store your house keys so they can always be found then a console table may be just what you are looking for.  Narrow enough to sit in the hall without taking too much space but with enough storage to ensure that everything is in its place, we have a number of options including a Mallani Large Console with three drawers and two slated shelves, a Mallani Petite Console as well as a Khimsar Console Table and the classic Thakat Console Table which are all smaller two drawer versions.

Having somewhere for guests to put their drinks or having a table to place a bowl of nibbles on is essential over the busy festive period.  We have a selection of  nests of tables or occasional tables which might be the perfect solution. Nests of tables are as versatile as they are handy as they neatly store away when not in use.  An occasional table provides a great option for a more permanent solution and can be used for anything from holding a lamp or plant, to perfectly presenting a bowl of nibbles.

Don’t forget to finish your home off with cushions , kilims and accessories to create the ideal look.  

Myakka is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Myakka have a great Christmas treat for you this November with up to an amazing 12% off your order. Simply enter the promotion code YIPPEE at the basket page to claim your discount.  

The discount works on a sliding scale so the larger your order the larger your discount. Simply spend over £100 to receive an 8% discount, £250 and over  for a 10% or £500 and over for a 12% discount on your order. The order value excludes the delivery charge. This is a great opportunity to get your home ready with hard wood furniture for the festive season or to make a start on your Christmas shopping with fair trade gifts for friends and family.

The special offer expires on the 30^th November so shop now to save and for guaranteed Christmas delivery on all items (stock permitting).

The offer is only available to use once per person and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or promotion.

                                               SHOP NOW>>

Myakka is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Our family owned pension is situated just 20 metres from the sea in the small village of Loviste on the Peljesac Peninsula. We offer comfortable rooms and apartments in quiet surroundings with a private beach. We provide a complimentary organic breakfast. Our restaurant offers a variety of Dalmatian specialties all prepared in a traditional way, using fresh fish and crabs, olive oil, and vegetables all grown in our own garden. Our pasika [farm] is not far from Loviste. The main part of the produce grown there is used in the restaurant, for example dried figs, tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, eggplant, zucchini, Swiss chard, watermelons, melons, olive oil, etc. The entire production is eco-adjusted. No chemical fertilizers are used and the produce is GMO free. http://www.organicholidays.co.uk/at/2918.htm

Organic Holidays is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Marketing and Publicity Assistant
Fixed term contract until 31 March 2011
£20,000 per annum

Schumacher College’s successful course programme is developing fast. We are looking for an experienced marketer with a commitment to communicating our work to new and established audiences.

You will be undertaking a range of marketing activities to ensure that the attendance on College courses and programmes is 100% on target and supporting publicity of Schumacher College activities as widely as possible and effective research into new avenues for promotion.

You will have excellent marketing and organisational skills and experience of working in a demanding communications environment. You will have the ability to work independently with a range of marketing tools, including those online. Your experience of successfully delivering on tight marketing strategy will be used on a day to day basis.

To apply please visit the Dartington website http://www.dartington.org/about-the-trust/job-opportunities

Schumacher College, Dartington is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

The use of insect repellents is fascinating throughout the animal kingdom and is thought to have been around for millions of years. Both primates and birds have used naturally occurring repellents during periods of increased biting insect activity. The repellents range from the use of fruits or leaves to the oils secreted by other insects such as millipedes.

Native Americans used root vegetables as either an ointment or fuel for fire to deter insects. Apparently, the use of fringed sagewort was also highly commonplace and believed to be so effective at repelling mosquitoes when burnt that wild horses would shelter in the smoke as well. This led to the natives using it as a means to attract horses in.

This practice of burning fuels is carried on today and is common in all areas of the world where biting insects are a problem. From burning coconuts and papaya leaves in the Solomon islands to a mango wood and ginger leaves in Papua New Guinea, it may be crude but it certainly makes a difference.

Pyrethrum oils are another natural insect repellent with a history. Derived from the seed coating of the pyrethrum daisys, genus Chrysanthemum, found in both Persia and the dalmation coast, it is thought that these plants proliferated along the caravan routes of the ancient world into Asia. Popularlised through its inclusion in incense sticks, pyrethrum is now used not only for Hindu or Buddhist ceremony but also as day to day insect repellent.

In its powder form, pyrethrum was used by Napoleon and in World War 2 to protect from lice and fleas. The powder is still the active ingredient in the 30 billion mosquito coils sold each year, which evolved from incense sticks. The trouble is the coils are toxic and you cannot safely be in the same room as them, which, although more expensive, makes incense sticks a better option.

Herodotus, who noted that in ancient Egypt, the oil of a particularly awful smelling castor-oil plant was burnt in lamps, made the first recorded human use of an insect repellent. This observation also included documenting the use of rudimentary bed nets too.

In ancient Rome, it was de rigueur to apply a vinegar concoction, especially on the head and feet to ward away insects. It is thought this would have masked the kairomones of the Romans as well as repelling the insects. Practices also included the burning of herbs such as oregano and black cumin.

In various documentations from other civilizations, the practice of burning things seems rather prevalent. The general idea seems to have been to burn anything that made a smell. Sources have shown the use of fish, snakeskin even feathers. Some cases show the use of asafoetidia, which in old French is known as Devil’s dung for the pungency of its odor. In reality, the fumes would have been highly noxious and wouldn’t have repelled insects especially effectively. However, they have masked the human kairomones and created convection currents strong enough to disturb any homing mosquitoes.

Even more interesting are the observations of primates such as the wedge-capped capuchin monkey in captivity. These captive born primates would pick out of a group of filter papers, the one with the benzoquinones found on the Orthorpus dorsovittatus millipede. This shows them to be genetically predisposed to the utilization of insect repellents and that these are exhibited as an extended phenotype or gene that aids their survival.

It is clear that without insect repellents, many species would not have survived until now and that includes us!

incognito is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Freeset have launched a new online shop and market place for ethically traded products that help women find employment who have been previously trafficked into prostitution. 

Why the change? Apart from the need for a general update we now feature more than bags and more than Freeset it was time to make a complete change and find a new identity that communicated what we were about – hence www.globalseesaw.co.uk.

Global Seesaw is committed to bringing you quality products that are beautiful, useful and ethical. Our products are known for their contemporary design, use of recycled materials and manufactured with love by the women who make them. Our aim is to balance quality products at affordable prices with a business that really makes a difference in the lives of women made vulnerable through poverty, exploitation, human trafficking and prostitution.

We are a social enterprise business that goes beyond fair trade to provide employment for women who have formerly been trafficked into prostitution and assist them in changing their lives.  We employ women to address the global inequality that keeps them in poverty and leads into a downward spiral of prostitution and exploitation.  We go beyond simply paying fair wages, providing a safe, healthy working environment and refusing to employ child labour, but re-invest our profits into the business.  By doing this, we actively invest in the women and their families empowering them to escape poverty and build a secure future.

Whether you are searching for a gift for someone special, a treat or an essential household item, you are sure to find products that are unique, beautiful, modern and helping women to make their future brighter.

Global SeeSaw is the UK distributor for Freeset , Sari Bari and Love Calcutta Arts.

Our existing domain (www.freesetbags.co.uk) will remain online for our custom printed bags but all online shopping is available through our new domain. 

Freeset is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Banish Dry Winter Skin with Skin Blossom

 “It’s that time of the year when we notice skin drying out – but just a little care restores soft, hydrated skin.”

 Cause of dry winter skin

Healthy skin is coated in a thin layer of natural lipids, or fatty substances.  They keep in moisture and leave skin soft and supple. Dry skin is caused when the fatty oils are stripped and skin is exposed.  During winter the low temperatures, low humidity and strong, harsh winds deplete skin of its natural lipid layer and dryness occurs.

Tips to banish dry winter skin

Moisturising is important for nutrients, hydration and protection, but does not get to the root cause. We need to care for skin properly and feed it from the inside. Follow our tips for soft, glowing, hydrated skin:

• Heating systems cause dry air so combat this with a good size bowl of water near the radiator.
• Exfoliate skin regularly but gently, to condition and remove dead cells. For the face try a cleansing milk like ours (£4.95/ 150ml) and muslin cloth – remove the milk with a luke warm cloth using small gentle circular movements. Treat your body to dry brushing with long sweeps towards the heart to exfoliate, detoxify and improve circulation.
• Use natural and organic moisturisers like our Skin Blossom Organic Bloom range as conventional skincare can contain harsh chemicals. Organic skincare however, works in harmony with the skin.
• Apply moisturisers morning and night. The best time is after a warm bath as damp skin traps moisture in and open pores encourage nutrient absorption. Our Moisturising Body Lotion (£5.75/ 200ml) is packed with organic plant oils to replenish.
• Faces are exposed more than any body part, so they need extra care. As well as nutrients and hydration, protection is key. Our Nourishing Face Moisturiser (£6.95/ 50ml) is perfect because the masses of Jojoba oil act like a liquid wax to sink in but protect from the wind, rain and pollution.
• Avoid irritating skin with simple changes such as using a non-bio detergent, and switching from a face wash to a milk. Our Gentle Cleansing Milk (£4.95/ 150ml) removes make-up and purifies without stripping, and our Cleanse and Nourish Body Wash (£4.75 200ml) has a delicate lather with orange to comfort and soothe.
• Apply hand cream during the day as constant hand washing strips moisture. Our Care & Protect hand cream is perfect. It’s packed with plant oils and Shea Butter for softness and protection (£5.25 60ml).
• For a nourishing overnight treatment on parched hands, feet and lips slather them in organic coconut oil at bed time.
• Feed skin from the inside by drinking lots of water and eating foods high in good fats like Salmon, Avocado and nuts.

Find out more at www.skinblossom.co.uk

The Skin Blossom Organic Bloom Face and Body range

Gentle Cleansing Milk (£4.95 150ml)

This nutrient rich milk gently cleans skin and removes make-up to leave it soft and comforted. The natural antioxidant blend of vitamins A, B, C and D along with the minerals found in this cleanser nurture and revitalise. Glycerin helps purify without stripping the skin’s natural barrier and hydrating Aloe Vera works with Sweet Almond oil to moisturise and reduce inflammation. Made with 88% organic ingredients and delicately fragranced with essential oils. Suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin.

Nourishing Face Moisturiser (£6.95 50ml)

An anti-oxidant moisturiser that hydrates and nourishes skin. Its rich light texture glides on skin beautifully without dragging. Packed with Jojoba oil to assist with skin rejuvenation and prevent dehydration – so skin stays moisturised throughout the day or night. Jojoba oil combines with Shea Butter and Vitamin E to deliver minerals and anti-oxidant vitamins A, B, C, D, E and F to condition and protect.  Made with 88% organic ingredients and delicately fragranced with essential oils. Suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin.

Care and Protect Hand Cream (£5.25 60ml)

An easily-absorbed cream that leaves hands beautifully moisturised, protected and cared for. The special blend of plant oils fight dryness and work with restoring Shea butter to leave hands in tip-top condition. Made with 92% organic ingredients and fragranced with balancing and uplifting Rose Geranium. Suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin.

Cleanse and Nourish Body Wash (£4.75 200ml)

This sumptuous wash creates a fine lather to gently cleanse skin without stripping nutrients. Suitable for use in the bath or shower it contains nourishing Vitamin E and hydrating Aloe Vera which combine with plant cleansers to make bath and shower time a skin-loving experience. Made with 74% organic ingredients and fragranced with soothing Sweet Orange. Suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin.

 Moisturising Body Lotion (£5.75 200ml)

A caring, non-greasy lotion that leaves the skin soft and supple. A little goes a long way in giving skin the moisture it needs without clogging pores, so skin can function and breathe. The ingredients are packed with plant oils which deliver masses of key nutrients to moisturise, soften and protect. Made with 93% organic ingredients and fragranced with soothing Sweet Orange. Suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin.

Skin Blossom Organic Bloom is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Secluded self-catering accommodation in a refurbished traditional stone built croft house on a certified organic holding with thirty five Shetland ewes. With a new conservatory extension and open plan living area it has underfloor heating from a heat pump and a wood-burning stove. The balcony has twin beds, while downstairs there is a futon sofa. The kitchen corner has a fridge freezer, combination microwave oven, double gas burner, and all dishes, etc. The bathroom has a shower, washing machine and a composting toilet. We have WiFi broadband connection. Organic vegetables, salads and lamb are available in season. Ask to see our authentic ShetlandOrganics fleeces and yarns, made from the wool from native Shetland sheep. http://www.organicholidays.co.uk/at/2917.htm

Organic Holidays is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more