Herb Farm Cottage and Herb Farm House are both situated on our certified organic herb farm on the Welsh Borders, with stunning views of the Black mountains. In a peaceful and secluded spot just outside the village of Eardisley on the Black and White Village Trail, the area is excellent for local walking and bird watching. Walk amongst the herb fields and find out about the organic herbs we grow and the products we make from them. If you are interested, you can visit our Herbfarmacy shop in Hay on Wye, eight miles away. Herbfarmacy organic skin care products are Soil Association certified and are handmade in small batches on site at our herb farm. From our shop we also offer Herbfarmacy Natural Beauty Treatments and Holistic Therapies. http://www.organicholidays.co.uk/at/2983.htm

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

When you buy something that is set to benefit you over a period of years, you want to make sure you can trust the company you are buying it from. With regards to solar PV, it is important to make sure that your installer is MCS certificated.

What is MCS certification?

Good question! MCS stands for Microgeneration Certification Scheme and registered companies have to prove their commitment to quality and pass a set of rigorous assessments. The scheme is recognised in many countries all over the world and is universally known as something that marks a company out as being of a very high standard.

How does the MCS certification benefit me?

Getting your solar panels installed by an MCS registered company means that you are guaranteed immense quality and a very high standard. Because it promotes quality assurance, customers can rest assured in the knowledge that their installer is committed to excellent quality and results.

One solar PV installer that is MCS certificated and better than the rest is The Energy Conservation Group.

Who is The Energy Conservation Group?

The Energy Conservation Group is a solar PV installer based in the sunny county of Dorset. They are passionate about providing customers with installations of the highest quality. Because they choose the components very carefully, they can offer an amazing 12 year guarantee on their installations. This shows their commitment to quality and excellent customer service.

TECG will also monitor your installation and

notify you of any issues immediately.

They do not forget you once they have installed your system and will be there for help, advice and reassurance when you need it.

Contact them now at http://www.tecg.co.uk.

The Energy Conservation Group is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Children get an exciting opportunity to learn from a new education game developed to inspire children to work with electronic circuits that could lead to a great new invention. Designed to work alongside the national curriculum Invention Stimulator does exactly what it says on the tin.  Teachers love the hands on practical approach and have seen some brilliant projects in ICT, PSHE, science and D&T emerging from children in key stages 1 to 4; 7 to 16 years old.

Invention Stimulator is a practical educational game that uses CD software to allow children to drag and drop components to design electronic circuits. The  World Bank award winning Their program is downloaded to the micro control unit provided that is then integrated with the various electronic circuits and actuators. A range of sensors, relays, motors is provided with the game which can be extended by adding additional items sold individually.

The components and control unit are completely reusable allowing the kit to used in multiple designs. The aim is to teach children about electrical circuits and the range of possibilities that this entails. Working with national curriculum it allows teachers to use the equipment as a primary and secondary teaching resource covering science,  ICT, PSHE and design and technology lessons. The comprehensive lesson plans and worksheets are just the start. The number of project possibilities range into the 1000’s limited only by the children’s imagination.

Already there have been a few patents registered such as a soap dish dispenser that squirts soap when you put your hands underneath it, and a pet food bowl that ahs a opening a closing lid which opens when the pet approaches it and closes as it moves away. The best recommendation comes from the teachers using Invention Stimulator who have seen their classes engrossed for the duration of the lesson. And with seven levels of projects the versatility of this highly practical teaching resource is enormous.

Keen 2 Learn is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

First published on the YouGen blog.

For many, fireplaces are the embodiment of the British household, with the hearth taking pride of place in the home. With the advent of climate change awareness, people are looking to reinstate period features such as these, whilst using an appliance that is efficient, economical and environmental.  This explains why wood pellet stoves are enjoying a growth in popularity; but what should you be looking for as a potential buyer?

1. Temperature Control
One thing we love about pellet stoves is their controllability. You can set the temperature with a precision approaching that of a gas or oil heating system. Unlike most traditional room heaters, pellet stoves have an electronic thermostat which can be set with an impressive degree of accuracy.

2. Self-Ignition
Most pellet stoves will have the ability to self-ignite, turning themselves on and off as required. This is not done by the owner, but instead via an inbuilt computer that regulates its operation. This means that the stove functions independently, with minimal user intervention needed.

3. Fuel Feed System and Burn Time/Duration
Pellet stoves are fed from an integral fuel hopper (see image) by a motorised feeding screw which supplies fuel to maintain the small fire that heats the room. The size on the stove’s integral hopper in relation to the rated heat output of the stove will determine how often the appliance needs refilling. This is commonly referred to as the burn time and is sometimes quoted for the stove’s full output (the shortest burn time) and the stove’s minimum output (the longest burn time). In reality, the frequency of refilling will lie in between these two figures as heat demand will vary on a daily basis.

Some systems allow for this integral hopper to be filled automatically from a larger main store of fuel. Sensors in the appliance tell an auxiliary feed system that it needs topping up and it is then refilled accordingly. External fuel stores do require additional space so may not be suitable for everyone. However, this does mean that refilling is done automatically with larger stores holding enough fuel for a whole season.

4. Efficiency
As with all solid fuel appliances, greater efficiency means lower running costs and reduced environmental implications as well. You should always look for an appliance that is going to deliver the efficiency you require.  A typical pellet stove will operate at a gross efficiency of around 80%. We have a guide where you can compare the efficiencies of various appliances.

5. Storage
If you are planning to invest in this stove type, then you should be aware that correct storage of pellets essential. Pellets will absorb lots of moisture from the surrounding air and from damp on floors and walls. Bagged or loose pellets should be stored in an environment that protects against this. Wet pellets will damage appliances.

First published on the YouGen blog. For more information on renewable energy, please visit the YouGen website.

About the author: Laurence Jones is an energy expert at YouGen and marketing support officer at HETAS

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First published on the YouGen blog

Q: Can you use air source heat pumps for heating domestic hot water?

A: If you are reading this and looking for a quick answer, it’s yes!

For those of you who would like a little more information here we go…

Just because you can use a heat pump, should you?

Well, of course, while the sun is shinning a solar thermal  panel will produce domestic hot water far more efficiently than a heat pump, but obviously in the mid winter months you will probably need some additional heat source and using your heat pump will be far more efficient than using many other heat sources such as electric immersion heaters or oil boilers.

Required temperature

We normally bathe or shower using water around 38C to 42C and most air source heat pumps will have no problem in supplying this sort of temperature.

Word of caution

There is however, as always, a slight snag!

Let me try to explain the reason for the snag (if you’re not interested in the reason miss the next few paragraphs and go straight to the paragraph headed safety precaution).

The domestic hot water (DHW) is normally heated through some kind of heat exchanger allowing heat to be transferred from the heating water into the DHW. One way of doing this is to use a “tank in tank” – see illustration. Here the DHW tank is surrounded by the space heating water and therefore absorbs heat from the space heating water through the walls of the inner tank.

Given that many heat pumps (although there are of course exceptions) are only be able to supply water at a maximum temperature of around 50C the domestic hot water will have to be stored at below 60C.

What’s the problem?

Well what’s the problem I hear you saying?

You have already told us that we bathe around 40C so why does it matter that the water is stored at a temperature lower than 60C?

Well none … it it wasn’t for a bug or bacteria called Legionella. This bacteria breeds in warm water and if inhaled (in the tiny mist droplets you get in a shower for example), can cause a potentially fatal disease called Legionella disease. So to ensure every one is safe, we like to kill off this bug, which is possible by increasing the temperature of the water to over 60C. (At this temperature the bacteria dies within two minutes and at a even faster rate at higher temperatures!).

Safety precaution

Therefore, to keep every one absolutely safe, most installers will arrange for the DHW to be heated once a day to above 60C, usually by an immersion heater on a timer.

Given that the heat pump should take the temperature to over 45C, the DHW only has to be heated by a temperature rise of 15C.

This means that the majority of the heat energy is supplied by the heat pump for that one hour, and all of the energy, assuming it is not being used for heating, for your DHW requirements can be supplied for the rest of the day by the heat pump.

Controls

So by a very simple control scheme we can ensure that your DHW is perfectly safe.

If you have read the previous blogs you will know that the higher the water temperature the heat pump is required to produce, the lower its efficiency.

With this in mind I recommend that you make sure your installer includes controls that only require the heat pump to supply high flow temperatures when there is a DHW demand.

For the rest of the time, when only space heating is required, the controls should then allow your heat pump to run at a lower temperature and thus at increased efficiency levels.

Conclusion

With a purpose made storage vessel, or cylinder, and the right controls it makes perfect sense to heat your domestic hot water with a Heat Pump especially if you link in a complimentary solar thermal panel.

First published on the YouGen blog. For more information on renewable energy, please visit the YouGen website.

About the author: John Lightfoot is an energy exper at YouGen and also director at Thermal Energy Ventures Ltd.

YouGen is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

First published on the YouGen blog

Q: I just received a call from Anglian (0845 296 9668) who were offering an incredible 40% discount on their products. They were claiming you don’t need direct sunlight for solar PV, only daylight and that PV can be placed on a north facing roof. Is there someone who I could complain to, as I know that less aware people would believe their mis-selling.

A:  It’s interesting that this question came in on the same day that Which? published it’s latest investigation into the sales of solar panels. Anglian was one of the companies it names and shames.

Your first port of call for dodgy sales techniques for solar panels and other renewable energy technologies is the REAL Assurance Scheme Consumer Code, which all MCS accredited installers must sign up to. This covers all aspects of the installation before, during and after the contract. Mis-selling, and offering discounts if you sign-up on the day are both things that are covered in the code.

There is a section on the website about how to complain. You can either download a pdf form, or fill in an online form. There’s a rather convoluted flow chart on the page which shows you how your complaint will be dealt with.

There is currently a small loophole that allows sales companies to sell on behalf of MCS accredited installers without being members of REAL. This loophole is about to be closed. It is still worth reporting mis-selling by these companies to REAL, although they probably don’t have as much power over companies that aren’t a member of the scheme.

If that doesn’t bring you any joy, you can report the company to trading standards: enter your postcode here to find your local branch.

Misleading advertising can be reported to the Advertising Standards Authority, but I’m struggling to find an equivalent for dodgy telephone selling. So give REAL a try, and do let us know how you get on.

First published on the YouGen blog

About the author: Cathy Debenham, Founder of YouGen – Renewable energy made easy.

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Paul Testa Architecture is me, Paul Testa.  I have always been an active outdoor person.  This gives me a social & physical appreciation of our environment.

This strongly influences my other passion; for Architecture and the built environment.  I am especially interested in the way buildings are procured and made; the nuts and bolts of the process. I have always seen the technology of building to be something that can enhance buildings and the built environment functionally, aesthetically and environmentally.

I work closely with my clients to produce designs that closely meet their project requirements.  I take the values of good design, good value, long term flexibility and environmental sustainability to produce healthy, flexible and useful buildings and places in which people enjoy living and working.

I am regulated by the architects registration board (arb) and am an active member of the AECB in Yorkshire as part of my aim to promote sustainable building.  I am also an associate design tutor at the Sheffield School of Architecture and teach environment and technology to both undergraduate and March students.

If you are interested I write regular news updates and short articles on sustainable construction and sustainable issues on my website news page.  I am always keen to connect with likeminded building professionals, designers and potential clients.  If you want to chat or ask a question, please get in touch.

Paul Testa Architecture is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

ESSENTIAL TRADING SHOWS HOW TO

MAKE LOCAL FOOD WORK

Bristol-based wholefood wholesaler Essential Trading is hosting two briefings for co-operatives to show how to make local food work.  The briefings will be held on Thursday September 29, at Essential Trading’s Fishponds HQ.

Essential will be joined by Alison Belshaw from Sustain (the alliance for better food and farming) and Bonnie Hewson from The Soil Association who will share their valuable insight and advice.

Two sessions are being held:

• 10.00am – 1.00pm      Whole Food Co-op Briefing
• 1.00pm – 2.00pm        Networking lunch for both groups
• 2.00pm – 5.00pm        Fresh Food Co-op Briefing

The Programme includes:

• Introduction to Essential Trading: its heritage, ethics and work with co-ops
• Wholefood co-op buyers’ guide to buying fresh food
• Fresh food buyers’ guide to buying wholefood
• Tour of Essential Trading HQ and warehouse
• Demonstration of the online ordering system
• Guidance on promoting a co-op, increasing and retaining customers
• Case study talk by a successful fresh food or whole food co-op

“Entering our 40^th Anniversary Year on September 16, 2011 means we have four decades of experience and knowledge to share with co-ops,” explains Eli Sarre, marketing manager for Essential Trading. “Over those 40 years, the whole food and co-op markets have grown remarkably.  We still think there’s a lot more to come and our briefings will help equip co-ops with plenty of tools to make local food work.”

How to register

A maximum of 30 delegates per session will be set to ensure each person can receive personal advice and discussions.  To register for the morning or afternoon session, email eli@essential-trading.coop or call 0117 9430 809.

For more information or to speak to Eli, contact:

Katherine Selby, Katherine@prworkshop.co.uk 020 8657 4422

Essential Trading, Unit 3 Lodge Causeway Trading Estate, Fishponds, Bristol BS16 3JB

Essential Trading Co-operative Ltd is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Bristol-based wholefood producer and wholesaler Essential Trading is celebrating its Ruby Anniversary year from September 16, 2011 to September 2012.

A variety of themed activities and promotions will run throughout the year, culminating in a celebration in September 2012.

“The last 40 years have seen the wholefood market grow exponentially,” says Eli Sarre, marketing manager for Essential.  “Back in the 1970s health food stores were novel and the foods they stocked relatively limited,” she explains.  “But now, through education, a distinct rise in vegetarian and vegan diets, growth in free-from diets and the shift towards organic and ethical foods, we have a strong and thriving industry.  It has been most gratifying for Essential to see the changes and improvements down the decades, and we are looking forward to seeing what the next 40 years will bring.”

“Essential supplied organic and fairtrade food long before it was trendy to do so, for ethical reasons,” says Eli.  “The last few decades have seen significant turning points and boosters for our market.  Of particular note were the F-Plan Diet in the 1980s that encouraged people to eat more fibre and less processed food and Gillian McKeith created a massive demand for pulses,” she recalls.

Despite the supermarkets moving into the ethical, organic and wholefood markets in the 1990s, Essential has stayed true to its values and supplies only the independent health food trade.  This helps retailers retain many unique lines that they know customers cannot find elsewhere.

Essential adheres to a strong code of ethics that runs through its business, employees and suppliers.  It actively supports organic and fairly traded goods and continues to call for the banning GM crops.  It currently carries over 6,000 products as a wholesaler including over 100 of its own Essential branded goods.

www.essential-trading.coop

For more information, contact:

Katherine Selby, Katherine@prworkshop.co.uk; 020 8657 4422

Essential Trading Co-operative Ltd is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

For generations, the Walch family is a farming family from Lech. We work with much enthusiasm and hard work to preserve and maintain our beautiful mountain scenery. Our organic farm is located at an altitude of 1500m and produces milk and beef. We also have horses and sheep. Pension Juliana is situated in a quiet sunny position on the outskirts of Lech in the hamlet of Stubenbach. Our pension has six double guest rooms and three apartments sleeping two or four [€100-€295 per night]. You can book them with a breakfast buffet of organic products, or without. In the winter season we offer evening meals on Saturday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Also in the winter season we offer guests complimentary coffee and cake. http://www.organicholidays.co.uk/at/2982.htm

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