YouGen is calling on people who already generate renewable energy in their home to share their experience so others can learn from it. As a reward, everyone who rates their their supplier on the website will be entered into a monthly draw to win a GEO Minim Home Energy Hub.

“Prices for renewable energy installations such as biomass boilers or solar hot water panels vary enormously,” said YouGen founder Cathy Debenham. “ I know from experience that it’s really difficult to evaluate quotes that can vary by over £10,000. Many people give up and stay with conventional products.

“Most people who have installed renewable energy at home have a story to tell. The YouGen website aims to capture what they’ve learned to make it easier for the next wave of microgenerators. At the heart of the site is the ability to rate your installer, so people new to the market can find one they can trust.”

The need for a service such as this has just been confirmed by research from Oxford University (http://bit.ly/5yFYHg) which shows prices for wood-fuelled boilers varying from just over £3k to £16.5k, and solar hot water systems prices varying from £1,000 to £8,000.

From December 2008 YouGen will enter everyone who rates their installer / supplier on the site into a draw at the end of each month. The winner will be sent a GEO Minim Home Energy Hub worth £39.50.

“We’re delighted to be able to offer a Minim as the prize in our monthly draw,” added Cathy. “One of the difficulties that most of us have with our energy use is that we don’t understand it. We chose to work with GEO as their energy meter was found the most effective and easy to use in recent research by the Centre for Sustainable Energy.”

“The Minim Home Energy Monitor makes energy relevant to you,” said James Rankin, marketing and UK sales manager at Green Energy Options. “It makes energy visible by showing you, in a snapshot, how much electricity you are using currently and over time, and it displays this in an easy to understand way. It will also indicate when you are using more electricity than normal alerting you to potential wastage so that you can take action to stop it. The Minim uses a ‘speedometer’ to indicate how much electricity is being used as well as showing consumption in £’s, KG’s of carbon and kWh’s.”

Rating a supplier on YouGen is quick and easy. Companies are scored out of five in five categories: service, product knowledge, explanation of how to use the product, value for money and whether the product meets expectations.  They can add comments and are asked if they would use the company again.

“In such a new market, it’s often not possible to ask a friend or colleague for recommendations,” said Cathy Debenham. “Recommendations on YouGen aim to plug that gap, and help people to choose their supplier.”

YouGen is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

The Big Green Guide (www.biggreenguide.co.uk) has launched a Cut the Christmas Carbon Campaign and is inviting businesses and individuals to sign up.

As part of the campaign, we’re inviting people to give us their best green tip for Christmas. These will be published on the site and one will be picked from the hat to win £20.

The campaign page on our website gives details about how to green your Christmas and cut waste this festive seasion. We’ll also be adding advice and tips for the 12 Days of Christmas.

And we’ve got ourselves a special present for Christmas – the site is being professionally designed and the new version should be available in the New Year. (Until then, apologies for its poor layout!)

We hope to make the site self-financing through google ads and affiliate links and that will allow us to improve and update it more often.

Your green tips for Christmas are needed now – closing date is December 15 – so visit www.biggreenguide.co.uk and give us your

The Big Green Guide is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Add your travel tip for the chance to win a signed print from award winning wildlife photographer Andy Rouse

Tourism Western Australia and responsibletravel.com are creating an insider’s guide to Western Australia (WA), including the best sustainable tours and places to stay and travel secrets from locals. As part of this we are searching for the best travel tips and photos from anyone who has travelled in Western Australia to be part of this online guide.

The best tip or photo will win a place in the guide and a signed print of their choice from world renowned wildlife photographer Andy Rouse, who had his first taste of Western Australia earlier this year. His tips on visiting Western Australia’s Ningaloo Reef will also be part of the guide. The runner up will win a signed copy of Andy’s Living Landscapes book.

Western Australia might be Australia’s largest state, taking up almost a third of the country, but in many ways it is also the most undiscovered. Geographers are still mapping islands off the northwest coast; scientists are still discovering new species of flora and fauna and traditionally tourists headed east. This means its 12,500km of pearly-white coastline, rugged outback and lush forests teaming with rare wildlife are unspoilt and travellers can often experience the extraordinary scenery all to themselves.

The insider’s guide, which will launch on 9th November, highlights the best natural and cultural experiences in Western Australia, from camping in national parks and swimming with turtles at Ningaloo Reef to learning more about the aboriginal heritage which surrounds the ochre and black stripped domes of the Bungle Bungles. It goes beyond a normal guide with video and podcasts featuring insider tips from locals on where to go and what to do.

All accommodation and tours featured are selected on the basis of a rigourous responsible travel policy and ability to offer a distinctive travel experience that benefits the local community, while sustaining the area’s natural and cultural heritage.

Christie Lord, Tourism Western Australia’s UK Marketing Manager added: “Tourists increasingly want more authentic and locally distinctive holiday experiences. We want to bring together insider knowledge from locals with advice from other travellers to help tourists to discover Western Australia’s best experiences. Whether it’s the best snorkeling spot on Ningaloo Reef or an amazing local restaurant, it’s about having an unforgettable experience which also benefits local communities and supports conservation.”

To enter, got to the competition page on IKnowAGreatPlace.com, add your tips and insider knowledge or upload your favourite snaps. When choosing tags, make sure you include Western Australia competition under ‘Select activities’. If you are not already a member, registering is free and easy. Closing date for competition is midnight on Friday 5th November 2009. Entries will be judged on originality and insight.

http://www.iknowagreatplace.com/ offers:

• Forums – find answers to your questions from travellers and locals


• Tips – swap ideas on great places to visit and great things to see and do


• Photos – upload albums and inspire others with great images of your travels


• Diaries – record your travel tales and stay connected with family and friends whilst on the road


• Travel companions – meet people to travel with on your next adventure

Friday 25th September is the final deadline for
entries into the 4th annual Green Awards for excellence in
communicating sustainability

21st September, London - Organisations wanting to
demonstrate their commitment to communicating sustainability have until
Friday 25th September to enter the media and marketing industry’s
fourth annual GREEN AWARDS^TM.

Whether you’re a company, government body, charity, or individual
campaigner, the Green Awards offers you a golden opportunity to
demonstrate how you’ve used creative communications to push social,
environmental and economic sustainability.

The GREEN AWARDS^TM recognises excellence in 16 categories from Best
Green International Campaign open to global entrants to Best Green
Campaigner for individuals and small groups championing sustainability.

This year, the judging panel of 25 sustainability and communication
heavy-weights will be pushing the standards of green marketing even
further. Peter White, Global Sustainability Director, P&G and chair
of the UK judging panel, commented: “Keeping the focus on
sustainability in a downturn is tough, but essential. The GREEN AWARDS^TM
2009 allow us to celebrate those who have achieved this – through
creative excellence”.

Previous winners include Nokia, Marks & Spencer, UNEP and Green
Thing. This year’s keynote speaker will be Jonathon Porritt, Programme
Director of Forum for the Future and Chairman of the UK Sustainable
Development Commission.

The 2009 GREEN AWARDS^TM are open for entries until 25th September. To apply visit www.greenawards.co.uk and download an entry form.

25th September new deadline for entries into the 4th annual Green Awards for excellence in communicating sustainability

14th September London -
Organisations wanting to demonstrate their commitment to communicating
sustainability now have until Friday 25th September  to enter the media and marketing industry’s fourth annual GREEN AWARDS^TM.

Whether they’re companies, government bodies, charities, or individual campaigners, the Green Awards
offers a golden opportunity to demonstrate how entrants use creative
communications to push social, environmental and economic
sustainability.

The GREEN AWARDS^TM
recognises excellence in 16 categories from Best Green International
Campaign open to global entrants to Best Green Campaigner for
individuals and small groups championing sustainability.

This year, the judging panel of
25 sustainability and communication heavy-weights will be pushing the
standards of green marketing even further. Peter White, Global
Sustainability Director, P&G and chair of the UK judging panel,
commented: “Keeping the focus on sustainability in a downturn is tough,
but essential. The GREEN AWARDS^TM 2009 allow us to celebrate those who have achieved this – through creative excellence”.

Previous winners include Nokia,
Marks & Spencer, UNEP and Green Thing. This year’s keynote speaker
will be Jonathon Porritt, Programme Director of Forum for the Future
and Former Chairman of the UK Sustainable Development Commission.

The 2009 GREEN AWARDS^TM are now open for entries until 25th September. To apply visit www.greenawards.co.uk  and download an entry form.

Hemp Table Napkins (Plain and Embroidered) http://www.organic-ally.co.uk/hempnapkins.html (trade enquiries welcome)
Organic Cotton Lawn Hankies (Handmade, Plain or Embroidered) http://www.organic-ally.co.uk/lawn%20hankies.html
At great introductory prices.

COMPETITION
Last
chance to design your own llama- inspired t-shirt with the winning
entry receiving their own bamboo t-shirt handprinted in
vegetable inks by Ecoco. What a great activity to wile away wet
summers days- creating llama-styles! To enter send your own t-shirt
design to info@llamarama.org
or contact us for a postal address. Closing date for entries is 18th
September 2009.

NEWS
Llamarama
are on tour in the South West this month- come and see us at
Dartmouth Regatta & the fabulous Newlyn Fish Festival. For
details see www.llamarama.org/events.html

HEROES: TIKA RUMI From Desert to Silver Treasure!

Tika
Rumi produce gorgeous fair trade silver jewellery in one of the
poorest areas of Lima. Villa El Salvador was barren desert forty
years ago, and then poor families migrating to the city in
search of a better life began to settle in the desert and make it
their home. Through working together these families fought & won
ownership of their settled lands & in time basic services like
water & electricity. Life is still tough in Villa El Salvador but
the thriving community is resilient and entrepreneurs like Tika Rumi
are creating their own pathways out of poverty.

Tika
Rumi is an association of 10 jewellery makers who produce handmade
rings, pendants & earrings. They are a tightknit community,
sharing their successes & challenges at monthly meetings, and
they have even opened their own shop locally.

You can buy a
lovely selection of rings, pendants & earrings all made by Tika
Rumi at www.llamarama.org/shop/jewellery.html

We
are a compassionate fashion boutique with an ethical-business model
that aims to facilitate an attitude of compassion towards animals,
humans and the environment.

We
believe in the consumer’s voice and, by providing compassionate
fashion alternatives, we hope to educate consumers that their
conscious choice of an ethical product does make a difference in how
people, animals and the environment are treated in the commercial
world.

We
offer a range of ethical fashion accessories for both men and women.
Every product is free from animal ingredients (suitable for vegans).

Come
and visit our stall at the London Vegan Festival on the 6^th
of September and discover our new exciting A/W range of BBoheme
shoes.

Don’t
forget to quote “Ethical Pulse” to get a 10% discount on your
order at the fair!

Have
a look of our website www.bboheme.com
and make sure to contact us if there is any shoes you’d love us to
bring for you at the Festival.

Bobo
has also a shop! Visit our retail showroom at Hydrex House, Garden
Road, Richmond, TW9 4NR.

We’re
open Mon – Fri 9am to 5pm and Sat 10am to 4pm.

Bourgeois
Boheme-Fashion with Compassion

+44
(0)208 8788 388

info@bboheme.com

Don’t
hesitate to contact us if you have any question!

You
can now join us on Facebook -
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Richmond-London/Bourgeois-Boheme/10172084433

The
organic bed linen company, Fou Furnishings, is marking Organic
Fortnight 5-20 September with a competition for budding designers, big
or small.

Fou Furnishings, a 2009 Organic and Natural Products finalist, wants to encourage the next generation to think green.

The
brief: design an image for a child’s duvet cover using any medium
including paint or crayons. The winning entry will be made into your
own single duvet in 100% organic cotton.

Fou
Furnishings is also offering a special Organic Fortnight promotion of
10% off all its bed linen. Unbelievably luxurious, thanks to its high
thread count, the clever company has designed the cover with a special
opening – you will never have to do battle with your duvet again.

Closing
date for both the competition and the 10% offer is 5 October. Send your
design to Fou Furnishings, 12 Waterside Gardens, Glasgow G76 9AL or
email: info@foufurnishings.com

To claim your 10% off all bed linens include the promotional code CompOrg when you post an order, call 0141 644 5211 or shop online at www.foufurnishings.com

DOING IT FOR THE KIDS

Doing It For The Kids is an
exhibition of sustainable play design. The project explores play types, the
importance of play in child development, how toys help mould our kids’ values
and how they impact on the environment. The exhibition will present examples of
sustainable toys and other play resources that inspire designers, educators and
parents to be more critical and creative.

CONFIRMED EXHIBITION DATES

• 100% Design London, 24-27
  September
• Design Event 09 Newcastle, 16-25
  October
• Design & Technology Show Birmingham,
  19-21 November

FINAL CALL FOR ENTRIES

We are currently seeking
entries from designers and toy companies with sustainable toy and play products
in development, about to be launched or already being marketed.

REQUIREMENTS

Please supply an image of the
design and up to 300 words on why it is sustainable, along with background on
the designer/company behind the product/idea (website/portfolio/brochure/CV).

DEADLINE

Entries should be sent to [re]design
by 10 AUGUST 2009. Attachments must be under 10mb.

SELECTION CRITERIA

A diverse range of projects
will be selected to build a rich picture of the possibilities of positive,
greener play. We are looking for examples demonstrating relevance, good design,
positive play values, green materials, eco packaging, and lifecycle
consideration.