As an eco interior designer, I am thrilled by the in-roads being made by the building industry with stronger and stronger building codes, moving all of us closer to a zero carbon housing stock. The benefits of optimum insulation and low energy heating options are clear and if adopted globally could help to save us from ourselves. The innovations are exciting and just keep coming – I can’t wait for next week’s Ecobuild to check out what has happened in the last 12 months.

As an eco interior designer, I am worried about the in-roads being made in the building industry towards air-tight housing that provides this optimum insulation and minimal heat loss. Has anybody considered the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in this new building style? By now, we are more or less aware of the chemical cocktail building up within our homes. Many of us are aware of the term ‘off-gassing’, the process by which chemical compounds and VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) evaporate from items in our houses such as paint, wood stain, varnishes, plywood, carpets treated with pesticide and stain repellent, upholstery treated with FR treatments such as bromide and MDF containing formaldehyde. The list goes on and the cocktail remains untested.

Many of the chemicals in everyday building materials and furniture have been tested alone but every home has a different mixture and the cumulative effects of those have never been tested.  However, the symptoms of the off-gassing have been recorded by experts as “puffy red eyes, watery eyes, runny nose, congestion, coughing, full blown asthma, skin irritation, rashes, itching and hives” (Dr Clifford Basset, Vice Chairman of Public Education Committee of American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology). Brominated FR treatments and some carpet pesitcides and stain repellents have been proven to be persistent and cumulative; many are hormone disrupters and some even carcinogenic.

A recent experiment and now best-selling book ‘Slow Death by Rubber Duck’ written by Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie, looks at the effect living in a normal home with everyday products can have on toxic levels in our bloodstream. The results are more than a little worrying.

In our enthusiasm and drive to move closer to energy efficient and air tight housing, let us not forget that we also need to remove the chemical threat from our living environment. It is time to move over or rather move back to natural building materials and to look at how we decorate our homes. It is a personal challenge that any private individual can undertake. The solutions are out there but until regulations are in place will large developers really change the products they put into their housing estates or flats?

Gecco Interiors Limited is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

A one day conference with lectures, stalls and exhibitions.

This years theme: Connecting buildings and landscapes

A day of ideas and information for anyone concerned with buildings – those who design them, build them, live in them or work in them.

Saturday 20 March 2010

Brighton Permaculture Trust is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Wewow limited have announced
plans to launch a unique product design competition in the coming months. 
Following the success of wewow’s ‘WOW’ range of eco-friendly media
packaging products, the Bradford-based company are looking to encourage
students, graduates and budding product designers to develop innovative,
‘green’ packaging solutions for the optical media industry. 

Managing Director Stuart Jones
commented; “wewow is a market-leader in the CD/DVD eco-packaging arena
and we are keen to work with the very best design talent to spark new
packaging ideas and concepts that benefit our clients and the environment.” 

The competition will be launched
in September 2009 to mark the launch of their specialist ‘green’
packaging arm – weEco.co.uk.  weEco will showcase a wide range
of environmentally friendly packaging solutions and seeks to encourage
the industry to consider other card-based options as opposed to the
ubiquitous Jewel/DVD case. 

The winning designer will work
with wewow Ltd. to develop and commercialise their ideas which will
hopefully spawn a new range of eco-packaging solutions and change the
face of the optical media industry forever! 

Universities, colleges and
individuals who are interested in participating in the competition should
contact wewow by emailing competitions@wewow.co.uk

   T-shirt is an introduction to the cotton industry, and how our use of
such a common piece of clothing impacts people all over the world.   

   T-shirt is one of the small books in the Trigger Issues series, whose focus is given as ‘One small item – one giant impact’, and the giant impact of the t-shirt is skilfully revealed in this guide. Troth Wells takes us on a whirlwind tour of the beginnings of the t-shirt itself, through the history of cotton farming and its links to slavery, leading very nicely to the issues surrounding the trade today. In eighty-eight pages she manages to convey a wealth of background information that left me wanting to find out more.

I was very impressed with how detailed the research was, yet the
book was easy to read and kept a sense of momentum right from the
start. I got a vivid impression of Wells’ passion for the subject, and
how relevant the issues raised are for today. I found that there was a
nice balance between statistics, such as in chapter 4 where we learn
how much of the world’s cotton supply each of the main competitors has,
or in chapter 2 where the explosive growth of the cotton trade due to
the Industrial Revolution is outlined; and narrative. I was
particularly intrigued by the development of the t-shirt from its
origins to today’s wardrobe staple, but equally fascinated by, for
example, Charles Ball’s account of slavery in the late eighteenth
century. Another section that I must highlight is also in chapter 2,
when Wells details the role of the East India Company in the
colonization of India. I actually felt slightly sickened at this point,
because it seemed to me to foreshadow the power of the corporation in
the world today. I do not know if this was intentional or not, although
I suspect so, and I do believe that it is an important point to make.

   
T-shirt is not a book for those wishing to do serious or extensive
research into the issues highlighted, such as slavery or exploitation
or the history of cotton; but then, it doesn’t pretend to be. It is,
however, a book that should be used frequently to start discussions, to
raise awareness of the issues facing workers in the garment industry
today, to remind people of the consequences of their shopping choices,
to promote the fair trade movement, and I could go on and on. I know
that I frequently read parts aloud to my husband, and that he was
almost as engaged in it as I was. T-shirt is also an excellent resource
if you need a quick fact, or to loan or give to a friend to start them
thinking.

    T-shirt  is excellent value for money. Although
it is a small book, this is actually one of its virtues as it means it
is easy to loan around and makes it more likely that people will take
the time to read it. The text is broken up by boxes containing
statistics, facts or ‘bonuses’, such as the account by Charles Ball
mentioned above, and this also makes the book less intimidating than it
might have been, without interrupting the flow and pace of the writing.
I highly recommend it to anyone with even the vaguest interest in the
subject.

Rebecca Brown

Forget double glazing, triple glazing should be the new standard!

Award-winning
sustainable building products supplier Green Building Store believes
triple glazing should become the standard choice for windows and doors
in the UK to help combat climate change. Triple glazed windows are
around 30% more efficient than double glazed and can significantly
improve the energy efficiency of homes, saving money on energy bills
and reducing CO₂ emissions.

As part of Green
Building Store’s commitment to promoting ultra low energy building
design, the company has switched its own Yorkshire based Ecoplus
window production to focus on triple glazing and, from 1st June 2009,
will be making argon filled triple glazing more affordable by offering
it at the same price as double glazing¹. Currently,
buildings can lose 10-25% of their heat through windows but this can be
considerably reduced by using energy efficient glazing. Ecoplus argon
triple glazed windows have a window U value of 1.0 W/m²/K,
which is 50% better than the requirements of current building
regulations. They are also Forestry Stewardship Council certified (FSC
Pure) in redwood or oak, as well as being hand finished using natural
paints and borate based timber preservatives.

Already
commonplace in regions with colder climates, such as Scandinavia,
triple glazed windows are also popular in countries such as Germany and
Austria where low energy buildings and Passivhaus² design
are encouraged. Chris Herring, Director at the Green Building Store
said, “In order to fight climate change we urgently need to improve
energy efficiency standards in UK buildings but necessary energy saving
measures also need to be made affordable. By increasing our production
capacity and absorbing the extra costs of triple glazing we hope that
this will allow more people to consider ultra efficient windows and
doors as a viable option when designing and refurbishing buildings.”

Green
Building Store has just won a Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Sustainable
Development 2009 for providing ‘cutting edge sustainable products’ and
for its ‘pioneering approach to sustainability’. As well as making
ultra efficient timber windows and doors, the company supplies:
water-saving sanitaryware (toilets, taps, showerheads etc); Passivhaus
products (windows, ventilation, airtightness products etc); and natural
building materials (sheep’s wool insulation, natural paints and
finishes etc). For more information, go to www.greenbuildingstore.co.uk or ring 01484 461705.

FORTHCOMING NATIONAL TV
BBC’s Countryfile Sunday 26th April 2009
Channel 4’s Grand Designs Wednesday 29th April 2009
Also appearing at Channel 4’s Grand Designs Live, Excell Centre, London 1st May 2009
In 2003 Ben Law captivated the nation by building his woodland house on Channel 4’s Grand Designs – it has been repeated many times since and been voted the best ever Grand Design programme. Presenter Kevin McCloud said Ben was a born designer and  that his was the most watched (over 5 million viewers) programme of the original series. Kevin loved the project so much that he has written the foreword to this book!

Full of stunning colour photographs, this is a visual guide to how Ben built his outstandingly beautiful home in the woods. It is also a practical manual and the story of a man realising a lifetime’s dream to build one of the most sustainable and beautiful homes in Britain.

The Woodland House gives details of the evolving design process, the identifying of materials, costings, project management and the actual building. It proves that low cost, low impact and high aesthetics can go hand in hand and that it is possible to build green and to build affordably. The first hardback edition has sold over 10,000 copies and this new, edition has a seven year update of his home, with additional photographs of its extension.

What the Press have said about The Woodland House
“The quaint wooden house in Prickly Nut Wood is no fairytale concoction – it is an icon of the movement to combine ecology and ethics in design.” The Guardian
“A fascinating chronicle of a dream. It’s to the point, with clear photography links and information.” Good Woodworking
“Ben Law’s home has become an iconic and inspirational example of how to live lightly but with style.” www.0footprint.org
“This book is well organised, very readable, with beautiful pictures and useful appendices including organisations, resources
and technical drawings.” Agrofoestry Research
“An inspiring story. A valuable tale of an extraordinary home.” Smallwoods
“Full of stunning colour photographs, this is a visual guide to how Ben built his outstandingly beautiful home.” Permaculture Works
“A great read for those interested in the idea of self build projects.” Design4Design.com
“One of Grand Designs most popular builders.” Grand Designs Magazine
“Superb photos of the building process and finished house accompany the text.” Building For A Future
“One of the more inspiring tales on Grand Designs, the series that charts the highs and lows of self-buildrers.” The Times

The Author
Ben Law is an innovative woodsman of 20 years and a woodlands expert held in the highest regard and author of two other
titles, The Woodland Way – A Permaculture Approach to Sustainable Woodland Management and The Woodland Year.

The Publisher
Permanent Publications is one of the UK’s leading publishers of information concerning all aspects of sustainability. Queens Award
winners in 2008, they have been publishing for 16 years and have an essential backlist of titles encouraging self-reliance.
ISBN: 978 1 85623 044 5 PAGES: 104pp SIZE: 250 x 220mm BINDING: paperback
ILLUSTRATIONS: 107 colour photographs, 10 line drawings and 3 tables. PRICE: £14.95
Ben’s books and the complete backlist are available from:
Permanent Publications, The Sustainability Centre, East Meon, Hampshire GU32 1HR, UK
Tel: 01730 823 311. Email: tony@permaculture.co.uk Web: www.permaculture.co.uk
Distributed by Central Books (www.centralbooks.com) Tel: 0845 458 9911

Introduction to self-building an Earthship - A two-day course
This course is for anyone thinking about building their own home and anyone interested in learning about Earthships. It is suitable for complete beginners, as well as those who are familiar with Eco-building and want to know more.
15th-16th September 2009 – NOW TAKING BOOKINGS

For full details and bookings please visit:

www.brightonpermaculture.co.uk

Introduction to self-building an Earthship – A two-day course
This course is for anyone thinking about building their own home and
anyone interested in learning about Earthships. It is suitable for
complete beginners, as well as those who are familiar with Eco-building
and want to know more.
12th-13th September 2009 – NOW TAKING BOOKINGS
For full details and bookings please visit:
www.brightonpermaculture.co.uk

The Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards 2009 launches with support from Paul Theroux

Nominations are now open for the Responsible Tourism Awards 2009
organised by responsibletravel.com and sponsored by Virgin Holidays.
The Awards celebrate tourism ventures around the world that make
positive contributions to conservation and the economies of local
communities.

Prolific travel writer Paul Theroux is supporting this year’s Awards:
“In the past, awards were given for Best Meal, Best View, Most
Grovelling Staff, Biggest Ballroom, or whatever. It’s encouraging that
tourism organisations and individuals are being rewarded for doing
something that is ethically right or supporting a position that will
help the planet. That’s the greatest lesson of travel: it is a very
small and easily bruised planet.”

The Awards are now in their sixth year and are the most prestigious of their kind in the world, with 13 categories receiving a total of over 1,900 nominations in 2008. Partners include The Telegraph Media Group, Geographical Magazine (the magazine of The Royal Geographical Society), BBC World News and World Travel Market.

This year sees the introduction of an annual theme for the Tour Operator category which focuses on ‘cultural engagement’ of local cultures and communities for 2009.

Justin Francis, founders of the Awards and MD of responsibletravel.com said:
“This year will be one of great change for the travel and tourism industry as the global economic situation alters the way we think about our holidays. It is therefore more crucial than ever before that responsible tourism remains high on the agenda and that tourism ventures, destinations and travellers around the world continue to ensure that local communities and environments do not become the forgotten voices. We urge the travelling public to join us in uncovering and nominating those passionate innovators who are leading the way in responsible tourism.”

How to nominate
Nominations should be made online at www.responsibletourismawards.com or by post to responsibletravel.com, Pavilion House, 6 Old Steine, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1EJ, and include the name and contact details of the nomination, plus up to 200 words on why they should win a Responsible Tourism Award. The category of entry should also be specified (see notes to editors).
Nominations close on: Monday 15th June 2009

Win a safari holiday!
Those individuals who nominate a category winner will be entered into a draw to win a once in a lifetime eight day safari holiday for two to Kenya (including flights) courtesy of Gamewatchers Safaris and Porini Camps – a 2008 Award winner. Full details can be found on www.responsibletourismawards.com

- ENDS –

Notes to editors
For more information on the Responsible Tourism Awards visit www.responsibletourismawards.com

For stories and quotes from last year’s winners click here or email krissy@responsibletravel.com.

Images of last year’s winners and the presentation ceremony are also available upon request.

Responsible Tourism Award categories
For full details of the criteria for each category visit www.responsibletourismawards.com/categories.html:

Best tour operator for cultural engagement – sponsored by Tourism Western Australia *New title and criteria*
Best large hotel / accommodation – sponsored by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
Best small hotel / accommodation – sponsored by Discover Dominica Tourism Authority
Best in a mountain environment – sponsored by World Expeditions
Best in a marine environment – sponsored by Tourism Fiji
Best cruise or ferry operator
Best low carbon transport & technology  
Best for conservation of wildlife & habitats – sponsored by South Australian Tourism Commission – *New title and criteria*
Best for conservation of cultural heritage – sponsored by Jamaica Tourist Board
Best for poverty reduction – sponsored by PromPeru
Best volunteering organisation – sponsored by Kenya Tourist Board
Best destination – sponsored by Conservation International
Best personal contribution – sponsored by Tourism Ireland

For details of this year’s sponsors visit
http://www.responsibletourismawards.com/aboutsponsors.html  

The judging panel
The judging panel for the Responsible Tourism Awards 2009 is chaired by Harold Goodwin, Professor of Responsible Tourism Management at Leeds Metropolitan University & Director of the International Centre for Responsible Tourism, and includes:

Justin Francis, Managing Director, responsibletravel.com
Graham Boynton, Group Travel Editor, The Daily Telegraph
Fiona Jeffery, Chairman, World Travel Market
Graeme Gourlay, Publisher, Geographical Magazine
Tricia Barnett, Director, Tourism Concern
Andrew Cooper, Director General, Federation of Tour Operators (FTO)
Debbie Hindle, Managing Director, bgb communications
Sue Hurdle, Chief Executive, The Travel Foundation
Neel Inamdar, Conservation International
Ian Reynolds, former Chief Executive of ABTA & Trustee of The Travel Foundation
Keith Richards, Head of Business Development and Consumer Affairs at ABTA
Dr Rebecca Hawkins, Considerate Hoteliers Association

About responsibletravel.com:
responsibletravel.com is the world’s leading online ethical travel company, selling over 3,000 holidays from over 270 specialist operators and 550 accommodations. All the holidays meet specific responsible tourism guidelines and aim to create better places for people to live and to visit. Launched in 2001 with backing from Dame Anita Roddick, the website is for travellers who want more real and authentic holidays that also benefit the environment and local people. The organisation – based in Brighton, England – also campaigns for positive change in the travel and tourism industry.

Contact:
Krissy Roe
krissy@responsibletravel.com  
07717 348 368

In support of fair trade fortnight Purity www.purityStyle.com are giving away this Heart Bead Necklace from Nomads with every order over £45 received between 23rd Feb and 8th March.

Made by the Tara project who work in and around Dehli to get kids out of work and back into school etc through the funds from producing this jewellery from recycled materials. This beautiful necklace is made from glass stone and cotton and is worth £8. See it at Purity

Do you know the best ways of implementing the Code for Sustainable Homes?

Code Consultancy Services will be presenting at this year’s Ecobuild on Wednesday 4th March at 3.30pm in the Hampton Room at the Ecobuild exhibition, Earls Court, London, in a seminar entitled: “How do the Code’s levels translate in practice?”

The free seminar is to help housing firms understand some of the
biggest challenges and quick wins when implementing the Code for
Sustainable Homes. Steven Knight, Managing Director of Code Consultancy
Services, Manchester, will be speaking alongside representatives from
Communities and Local Government (LCG), Bramall Construction, Barratt
Homes and London & Quadrant Group.

The Code for Sustainable Homes is set to be a much-discussed topic at
this year’s Ecobuild. As all new social housing requires at least a
Code Level 3 certification under the Code and by 2011 this will be Code
Level 4, it is more critical than ever that all companies in this
sector gear up with the knowledge they need to fill in PQQ’s
(pre-qualification questionnaires), tender for work and keep a
competitive edge through these recessionary times.

As there are now only seven years before all new homes have to be zero
carbon (reaching level 6 of the Code), it is urgent that firms who
haven’t yet mastered the best way to Level 3 start to gear up fast. The
seminar will report on the experience of hundreds of Code projects to
draw out the key issues and help firms climb their learning curve.

The seminar on Wed 4th March will also reference the critical Surface
Water Run-off section of the Code for Sustainable Homes which has been
completely revised since Ecobuild last year. Many contractors are
finding it hard to comply because projects in the pipeline which were
designed to meet the criteria of the earlier versions of the Code now
don’t meet the mandatory requirements for Surface Water Run-off. “We
urge developers to check very carefully ongoing projects that were
designed more than a year ago to check they still comply with the
latest version,” says Steven Knight.

Steven Knight’s background is as a civil engineer, sustainability specialist and BRE-licensed Code for Sustainable Homes Assessor. He was one of the technical authors on
the Code Technical Guide as an associate for the BRE and worked on the
first BRE Code training courses. His broad experience of the
construction industry comes from working in the UK and abroad in roles
spanning structural engineering, to drainage, site agent, to project
management and new product development in the water industry.

The seminar will also cover areas where greater harmonisation of
standards and requirements of different agencies is necessary to smooth
the process of compliance with the Code. Advice will be on hand to make
it clearer for developers about how to balance the requirements of
various agencies. This is an area which will be of increasing
importance for local authority planning departments in the near future.

Steven Knight says: “We are delighted to be invited to speak at this
high-profile event and are looking forward to sharing our knowledge and
views on the Code for those visiting Ecobuild this year.” Steven Knight
and associates will be on hand to speak to individuals after the event
about their specific queries about the Code.

www.codeconsultancy.co.uk