The inaugural People and Environment Achievement Awards (PEA awards) have extended the
date for completed nominations to 14 January 2011 due to increased interest from all sectors
of the green and environmental arena.

As the awards gather pace, the organizers have also just announced that they will be planting a
tree for every entry received with charity partner Project Green Hands, as well as signing up
new partner Green & Blacks, whose co-founder Josephine Fairley is one of the judges.

With the nomination date extended to take account of the Christmas period and renewed
interest in the New Year, the awards event on 2nd March 2011 will see all ten category winners
rewarded with an individual prize each including a £5,000 watch, organic wine hampers and a
luxury treatment package.

Launched to celebrate practical, engaging initiatives taking place in response to sustainability
challenges, the PEA Awards are open to individuals or groups who have made a difference in
the community, or shown inspiration, innovation and perseverance in their various sectors.
The PEA Awards are being launched by the publishers of the quarterly publication GREEN, in
conjunction with Evergreen Events and are also sponsored by World Energy Research, Isklar,
Kyocera and Aquados Simply, Birds Eye and Gigaset.

PEA Award judges include GREEN’s Editor and Chair of the judging panel, Tony Juniper along
with Josephine Fairley, co-founder of Green and Blacks; Richard Hammond, founder of
greentraveller.co.uk; Rebecca Hill, international marketing director of National Geographic; Leo
Johnson, co-Founder of Sustainable Finance and organic entrepreneur Jo Wood.

Enter online or download a form from www.peaawards.com

Other supporters and partners include: Luscombe, Arjowiggins, Gina Conway, Book of Green,
Eco Connect, daisygreenmagazine.co.uk, Ethical Junction and Eurydice PR, Cad & The Dandy
and the Soil Association.

Adrian Troop, Sales & Marketing Director for Nu-Heat Underfloor & Renewables believes that the conclusions of the Energy Saving Trust’s (EST) heat pump field trials serve to underline Nu-Heat’s existing procedures and policies. He assesses Nu-Heat’s capability in response to these conclusions.

Design

When the report was made public in September the Trust’s Head of Business Development Simon Green commented that the trials showed that heat pumps ‘are very, very sensitive – it is imperative they are designed to heat the relative load; if they are undersized or oversized, then the efficiencies are significantly reduced.’ ‘Nu-Heat works tirelessly to ensure that maximum heat pump efficiency is achieved through good design and an understanding of the technology,’ says Adrian.   

Nu-Heat designs and supplies complete packages ready for installation after establishing the most suitable system for each individual project. The first stage of the design process is to correctly size the heat pump by assessing the heat loss through full heat loss calculations. With a wide range of heat pumps available, including ground source (GSHP), air source (ASHP) and exhaust air (EAHP), Nu-Heat can specify the most appropriate model.

Requirements for the installation of ASHP are relatively simple – in essence space outside by a wall where they can be sited and space inside for the other system components. As a rough guide, installation of a GSHP requires space approximately 2.5 times the internal floor area of the property. If there is insufficient land, vertical boreholes can be drilled, dependent on ground and geological conditions. The heat pump needs to be housed inside with the other system components.  

Ethical selling

‘Nu-Heat takes a strong ethical stance,’ says Adrian, ‘and where it is obvious that a heat pump will not work efficiently, such as in a badly insulated older property, we will explain why it is not a suitable solution. The most important issue is the quality of the building in terms of insulation. Ideally the building heat loss should be 35 – 40W/m² – and if this isn’t achievable then a heat pump is not likely to work efficiently.’

In such a case, Nu-Heat will offer alternatives for installers to suggest to the customer, such as a condensing boiler partnered with underfloor heating (UFH), enhancing the efficiency of the boiler and giving a degree of fuel savings. Even for a well-insulated property, a GSHP might be the ideal, but the budget could indicate an ASHP as a cheaper but still effective choice.

Integration

Heat pumps work most efficiently with the lower temperatures of warm water UFH. UFH is core to Nu-Heat’s business, and the company has invested a great deal in understanding all the elements necessary to design a fully integrated system. This can also include solar thermal for domestic hot water. Nu-Heat’s solar design and sizing process uses its own unique calculation package to specify the ideal configuration of cylinder, solar collectors and ancillary components for the project,

One point of responsibility

EST’s report highlights the need for responsibility for the installation to be with one company. Nu-Heat offers total product support available in one place to any installer which is a great help to those considering heat pumps for the first time. Nu-Heat also offers on-site and commissioning support on the complete range of heat pumps, along with technical back-up via telephone and email and comprehensive installation and user manuals. By using one supplier there is assurance that all products and parts are compatible, making installation stress free and uncomplicated. Nu-Heat is also committed to the end user and part of our service is to make sure that customers understand how to control their heat pump system.

Accredited training

The report also flagged up the need for a review of installation guidelines and training. Nu-Heat saw the requirement for well-trained installers and opened a specialist training centre in 2008. Courses in heat pumps, solar thermal, photovoltaic and underfloor heating are NICEIC approved and focus on the principles and suitability of the technology. They cover the different models available, benefits, health and safety and the latest news on government grant funding.

MCS  

Successful completion of a course enables application for acceptance onto the NICEIC ‘Competent Persons’ (CPS) register. Membership of the CPS means that installers are eligible to apply for their own Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) number so they can quote for work as both a competent person and a MCS approved installer. Nu-Heat’s umbrella scheme provides a simple route for installers committed to a business future in renewables to achieve MCS approved status.

‘When a renewables project has the benefit of first rate design, correct sizing and well trained installers a truly energy efficient system can be realized,’ says Adrian, ‘and this is exactly what Nu-Heat is committed to achieving.’

Nu-Heat is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Feelgoodhandbags is delighted to premiere Eco-luxury handbags and accessories from the REVEAL NEW ECO-DESIGNER COLLECTION 

http://www.feelgoodhandbags.co.uk/component/virtuemart/?page=shop.browse&category_id=59

We have a collection of Reveal’s eco-luxury bags.

Reveal create naturally beautiful handbags and accessories which are made with the most innovative recycled and sustainable materials available. Reveal are a socially responsible company designing beautiful products with the environment and animal welfare in mind. Their quote: “Finally, you don’t have to choose between fashion and a better planet – being socially responsible, like fashion, is fun and attainable”.

Discover recycled fashion at its best. This 100% recycled polyester tote is made from melted down plastic bottles which are spun into yarn. This versatile and roomy everyday tote is made for the active woman on-the-go. Stylish quilted design makes it perfect to wear on a lunch date with a friend, day out shopping or a trip to the gym. These fashionable yet Eco-friendly totes from Reveal are sassy and chic. These Eco-friendly totes are sure to give you that extra bit of oomph you always wanted. With environmental consciousness being the order of the day, what could be better than these elegant Eco-friendly totes.

Other recycled bags such as English Retreads and Doy Bags

http//:www.feelgoodhandbags.co.uk

Feel Good Handbags is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

This Christmas the serious ethical issues surrounding the Christmas tree industry are being brought to the attention of the public in the UK. The UK campaign is being lead by Fairwind, a leading fair trade retailer and importer and there are BBC documentaries and news items being aired on TV and radio in early December 2010. MAAssist is proud to be the first UK business, outside of the fair trade community, to financially support this campaign.

Fair Trees® – fair trade real Nordmann Fir Christmas trees

About 5 million Nordmann Fir Christmas trees are sold in the UK each year. But until now, very few people in the UK have been aware of the serious ethical issues behind buying these trees at Christmas. Although they are farmed in the UK and Denmark the seeds for Nordmann Firs are sourced from natural forests, mainly in Georgia.

Harvesting of the seeds in Georgia is carried out by hand under remarkably primitive conditions. The Georgian cone pickers climb up 30 metre high fir trees in order to reach the seeds. Until now, they have worked entirely without safety equipment and in 2004 two workers fell to their death during the harvest. Several accidents happen each year, but despite working in such dangerous conditions the cone pickers are usually paid such low wages that it is difficult for them to support their families.

A Danish Christmas tree grower called Bols Forstplanteskole is changing all of that. Bols source their own seeds from Georgia using fair trade principles, and in 2007 was awarded fair trade accreditation by Fair Trade Danmark – Bols is the only Christmas tree grower in the world with fair trade accreditation. In 2011 Bols will have full accreditation by the World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO). Not only does Bols pay a fair wage and provide health insurance to the cone pickers but proceeds from the sale of Fair Seeds and Fair Trees® are donated to the Bols Xmas Tree Fund, a charitable fund based in Georgia.

The Bols Xmas Tree Fund aims to create awareness about and improve the terrible conditions under which the Georgian cone pickers live and work. The Fund provides the cone pickers with Danish-made safety equipment and ensures that the workers are instructed on safety. In addition, the Fund works towards creating proper conditions for workers and their families through financial support for hospitals, schools, books and health care.

MAAssist fundraising

MAAssist will set aside £1 for every claim with value received from 1^st January 2011 for the Fair Trees® project.

MAAssist will also welcome support from any insurance clients who are willing to make a donation to the Fund. In return for such a donation, the insurance client will be able to use the Fair Trees® name in any corporate social responsibility and marketing promotional material.

MAAssist staff will also be carrying out various fund raising activities in 2011.

A team of tradesmen will go to Georgia in August/September 2011 to renovate the local school in the cone picking region of Ambrolauri.

Contacts – further information

If you would like to be involved in the Fair Trees® fundraising activities for 2011, or would like more information, please contact:

Teresa Owen, Fairwind

Email: t.owen@fairwindonline.com

Tel: 0845 196 0256

 or

 Paul Hayman, MAAssist

Email: Paul.Hayman@maassist.com

Tel: 01296 678100

Fairwind

This innovative company is owned and run by Teresa Owen. Fairwind is a thriving online business that is passionate about fair trade and providing affordable, quality fair trade gifts and accessories from around the world.

In 2007, Fairwind was shortlisted for an Observer Ethical Award and is a member of the British Association for Fair Trade Shops (BAFTS) – visit www.bafts.org.uk for more information.

Fairwind sells gifts, home accessories and textiles, jewellery, children’s toys, candles and garden accessories. To see Fairwind’s full range, or for further information, visit www.fairwindonline.com or phone 0845 196 0256.

High-resolution images of all products are available and in most cases also cut-out images – they can be downloaded from http://www.fairwindonline.com/resources.asp.

MAAssist

MAAssist Limited specialises in domestic building repairs on behalf of some of the UK’s largest insurers and property related markets, using its in-house construction company MABuild Limited, supported by a nationwide network of trade professional companies, creating an established Building Repair Network (BRN) and Control Centre function for its clients.

With its niche range of products and services MAAssist has consistently helped insurers and property portfolio managers to materially reduce their claims management, claims settlement and budgeted spend and expenditure, through correct building claims validation and delivery of quality building works.

And MAAssist’s ability to settle and fulfill buildings claims, and offer customers and clients a real choice in their preferred method of claims settlement, enables them to consistently deliver a positive claims experience. For more information please go to www.magroupltd.co.uk

Bols Forstplanteskole

Established in 1989 by Marianne and Lars H. Bols, Bols Forstplanteskole has always been an innovator in the Christmas tree industry. Although both Marianne and Lars were studying at the time, they were excited by the forestry industry and by the challenges of supplying top quality products with the right provenances.

Their first business trip was to Georgia, in 1989, to buy 8 tons of Nordmann Fir seeds. As Georgia was then still part of the USSR, it was a long, tough battle to get the seeds and have them shipped to Denmark. But it was the start of a minor revolution in raising the quality of the Christmas trees coming onto the market. Marianne and Lars were moved by the generosity and warmth shown to them by the Georgian farmers: “Even though they were poor, they invited us in and many of them remain close friends. They were also one of the main reasons why we continue to collect seeds from Georgia.” Another reason for continuing to do business in Georgia, despite the many obstacles, is that the Nordmann Fir seeds obtainable there are simply the best in the world.

Apart from providing a full-spectrum catalogue of plant and trees to a broad multinational market, Bols’ more recent initiatives include organic and fair trade products: www.fairtrees.co.uk

Fairwind is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Launched five years ago the keen2learn online website offering learning resources and educational games and toys continues to grow. Originally aimed at teachers in early years learning in nurseries and primary school, the range has been extended to include secondary schools up to GCSE. Equally important, the site has become a firm favourite for discerning parents wanting access to the educational games used in school to allow them to give greater support in homework and exam revision to their children at home.
 
Recognising the interest in learning resources for use at home, Keen2learn have expanded the selection of educational games and toys. Alistair Owens MD at keen2learn explained. “Many manufactures promote their products as “educational” to improve the attraction to parents. But this can be far from the truth. The discerning voice of the teacher is the ideal judge. If the product is used in school it has been thoroughly proven. Parents using the same product at home can then reinforce the lesson and provide a huge potential boost to their child’s achievement back in class.”
 
Educational games covering early years learning have been extended. Counter Challenge is an example of a new online maths game. Interestingly many of the new products are now sourced from Germany, renown for decades for quality in toy design and manufacture. Alistair Owens explained “Many toys made in the Far East pose huge logistical problems. Delivery times are lengthy at 12 – 16 weeks whereas supply from Germany takes just 2 weeks. The quality and educational function is also far superior, but is it an indictment on our resources that products made the UK are very much in the minority”
 
To buy securely online using credit, debit card or PayPal – the range can be found at http://www.keen2learn.co.uk

Millefiori is an old country property in the hills between the Itria Valley, the Murge Plateau and the Adriatic Sea in south-central Puglia. We have a botanically interesting garden and follow biodynamic farming principles. We produce our own Millefiori organic honey and extra virgin olive oil. Solar energy heats rain water. Located in the middle of trulli country, the house is next to a protected area of olive groves and woods. It is close to the quaint towns of Cisternino, Ostuni, Alberobello, Martina Franca, and Locorotondo. Further south is the Baroque gem of Lecce. To the west is the town of Grottaglie. Thirty minutes to the east is the Torre Guaceto Marine Reserve, with its crystal clear water and isolated beaches. http://www.organicholidays.co.uk/at/2772.htm

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

We have laws, regulations and organisation policies, but they don’t guarantee ethical behaviour. Ethics is personal and rarely simple; it’s about individuals finding, and refining, their sense of responsibility to others.

The public’s perception of what is ethical and responsible is constantly evolving, and not necessarily related to whether the current rules are followed, as many of our politicians discovered to their cost. That’s why Quakers and Business have launched a new development programme, which focuses on the unchanging fundamentals of ethics, not constantly changing rules and regulations.

A deeper consideration of ethical responsibilities helps in various ways;

• To clarify an organisation’s ethical responsibilities
• To establish what it means to lead and manage responsibly
• To embed a sense of ethical responsibility throughout an organisation
• To clarify your personal sense of ethics

The programme provides the tools to consider any aspect of ethics in your professional and personal lives. More information at www.qandb.org/ethicsprog.

Quakers and Business is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Five small individual villas surrounded by olive trees, fields of herbs and fruit and vegetable gardens on our organic farm. The farm is managed using the principles and practice of homeodynamic / biodynamic agriculture. We have designed the accommodation with environmentally friendly building materials and ecological technology. During your stay our fruit and vegetable gardens will provide you with a full spectrum of organic products. There are many walks around the farm. If you wish you can participate in farm activities with us, picking olives, grapes, herbs, fruits and vegetables. Or you can just relax and enjoy our hospitality. The farm is 2km from the village of Gouves in a traditional farming area surrounded by mountains. http://www.organicholidays.co.uk/at/2776.htm

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

Today we launched our new Charcoal People website! It features our natural, eco-friendly bamboo charcoal water filters and our new hand-crafted bamboo charcoal pendants.

We have also added a new blog to the website and Michihiro, founder of the Charcoal People, will soon be blogging about various charcoal-related topics and his own personal experiences with charcoal.

Please come take a look at the site and let us know what you think.

Best wishes from the Charcoal People team.

The Charcoal People is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Are you enjoying being a green builder, but are frustrated about:

• Building code constraints
• Building projects that you don’t value because your clients aren’t willing to think outside the box about what’s possible
• Feeling isolated and alone because you are not getting the connection you want with others who share your values

Are you excited at the idea of:

• Supporting an off the grid ecovillage that is modeling a a new way of life
• Growing in your career as you build critical infrastructure necissary to demonstrate how to live sustainably
• Building friendships with new people who share your values, and support your work in the world

Learn more about the construction we do!

We use a variety of different natural building technologies including:

• Clay plaster
• Adobe floors
• Straw Bale Construction

Get an application:

Go here to get a green building construction career application.

Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more