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

Renewable energy enthusiasts invited to share their expertise (and win a wattson)

The experience and enthusiasm of people who have installed renewable
energy (such as solar panels, biomass boilers or wind turbines) in
their home is at the heart of YouGen’s remit of
helping make it easy for people to navigate a complex new market and
choose wisely.

Research* shows that people have difficulty in finding impartial, informed advice about renewable energy; that 91 per cent look at the internet for advice; and that they want an installer who is knowledgeable, trustworthy, reliable and preferably local. YouGen will use social media to provide a one stop shop for renewable energy.

‘We’re calling on people who have installed renewable energy or made their house more energy efficient to register on the site now, ready for the user-generated section which goes live after Easter,’ says founder Cathy Debenham.  ‘To encourage them, we’re entering everyone who registers before Easter into a draw to win a wattson – the stylish energy meter from DIY Kyoto.

‘Renewable energy is a really confusing market, and most of the early adopters have a story to tell. While their original motivation may have been to reduce energy bills, or for energy security or environmental protection, renewable energy often fascinates people in a way they don’t expect. It engages you with the energy you use, bringing you closer to nature and more aware of its power.’

Companies serving the domestic renewable energy, microgeneration and energy efficiency markets are also invited to register, and they too will be able to add profiles once the user-generated section of the site goes live after Easter.

The YouGen site currently consists of independently researched information, which prides itself in giving practical information, cutting through the jargon and making it easy for people to see if a technology is suitable for their home. The blog has regular contributions from YouGen Energy Experts who are professionals in their field, and are happy to answer questions. It covers energy efficiency as well as renewable energy.

Recent blog posts include:

• Will feed-in tariffs deliver for us?

• Calculators shed light on renewable choices

• Fascinating facts about wood

• Insulation is king

For more information contact:

Cathy Debenham, e: cathy@yougen.co.uk, t: 01395 597879
YouGen – renewable energy made easy – www.yougen.co.uk

sust-it.net, the first electricals energy efficiency website, up for Green Award!

So a billion dollar budget may have helped Obama secure his place at the Whitehouse, but one energy efficiency website, sust-it.net, has proved that you don’t need big bucks to get noticed. 

The site, which helps people save money and reduce CO2 by ranking electrical goods by their running costs, has won a place in the final of the coveted Green Awards for Creativity in Sustainability.

Despite limited budgets and resources, sust-it.net’s honest, comprehensive comparison service has proved such a hit with the public that they are up against three other companies as Best Green Campaigner at the awards, which are announced on Wednesday 12th November.

Recommended by money saving expert Martin Lewis and listed as one of The Independent’s 101 Really Useful Websites, sust-it.net aims to be the first port of call for everyone buying new electrical appliances, in order to check and compare running costs, by the hour, day or even year.

The site gives detailed information on the energy consumption and running costs of almost 3000 electrical products, from DVD recorders to dishwashers. The data not only helps people save money but importantly, helps combat CO2 emissions which contribute significantly to global warming.

The company also campaigns to encourage manufacturers to develop more energy efficient models, with the sust-it.net website featuring a detailed and passionate blog about energy efficiency and blowing the whistle on the less than efficient manufacturers and models.
“Our aim is to provide consumers with all the facts at their fingertips in order to make informed choices. We all need to be more aware of energy usage in our ‘gadget culture’, and manufacturers must make energy efficiency a key selling point.” Says Ross Lammas, the site’s creator.

Should sust-it.net win the Award this week, they are hoping that this will pave the way for future funding and sponsorship to increase the comparison potential of the site and the number of items reviewed.

. . . are not just for Christmas!

*This is your invitation to the Penrhos Open Weekend 22nd and 23rd November*

A weekend of tastings and samples, new products, courses, special events and the organic shop at Penrhos. All with one basic idea behind them ~ Health. Follow this link to learn more. Then come to Penrhos and see.

Is this madness?

On 23rd February 2009, a group of people from the UK, and all over the world, will meet in a remote refugee camp in the Algerian desert, for a 5km amble, or a 10km, 21km or 42km run. This is the alternative Sahara Marathon, now in its 9th year, which takes place to raise funds and awareness of the Saharawi people who live in refugee camps, in exile from their homeland, Western Sahara.

JOIN US! Whatever your fitness level, there is something for you. You don’t even have to run, you can watch the camel races, listen to music in the dunes, and learn the culture and story of the Saharawi refugees, as you stay with individual families.

IT’S ALL FOR A GOOD CAUSE: Participants will be encouraged to fundraise for Sandblast, the only UK charity involved directly in the camps. The Saharawi people have lived in exile for 32 years, ever since Morocco occupied their country, Western Sahara. Sandblast aims to help them find a voice through the arts, and will act as your UK facilitator, and help you make your way to the camps.

To find out more email beatrice@freelancejourno.demon.co.uk or look at www.sandblast-arts.org

Ethical junction member sust-it.net has been short-listed for the Best Green Campaigner category of this year Green Awards for Creativity in Sustainability.

The electricals energy efficiency website works to help people save money and reduce CO2, by providing a way to compare the energy consumption of nearly 3000 electrical products – from Tumble Dryers to TVs. 

VeryPC Fulwood 75% more efficient than Energy Star (and 4x faster than atom)

VeryPC announces the launch of a high performance 16Watt dual- cored media centre PC, aptly named Fulwood (after the prestigious suburb of Sheffield). At over four times faster1 and at almost half the energy consumption Fulwood offers extremely high performance and flexibility while retaining its environmental standing.

Brief specification:
The Fulwood, the size of a mac mini, despite its meagre power draw doesn’t fall short on features, which include an Intel P9500 2.53GHz dual core CPU, 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD, Intel x4500HD graphics, DVDRW, remote control Windows Vista Premium, DVI (with DVI-VGA splitter for dual screens and HDMI adaptor), and surround sound audio (with SPIDIF optical interface Gigabit LAN).

Like with all VeryPC machines the Fulwood is fully customisable. Available options include internal WiFi, internal digital/hybrid TV tuner and internal Bluetooth.

VeryPC hopes the Fulwood will become one of the first PCs to be seen on the new European Energy Star List and the Energy Saving Trust’s Recommended List with impressively low power consumption figures of 16Watts idle for the base model, 19Watts idle with all the available upgrade options, and only 2Watts in ‘sleep mode’. These figures are 75% below the threshold of Energy Star 4.0 category B, which requires 65Watts or less at idle in Windows desktop.

Pricing and availability:
The Fulwood is available to pre-order on a deposit basis, and will be available to purchase online at www.very-pc.co.uk from mid October.

Prices start from £868 (inc. VAT) for the standard model and go up to £1104.5 (inc. VAT). All prices are for the PC only, and exclude monitor, keyboards and mice, and delivery.

Damhead Organic Farm and Shop is celebrating Organic Food Fortnight by offering all visitors to the Organic Farm and Shop in Edinburgh a free cup of organic coffee and slice of organic cake until Sunday the 21st of September.

Damhead is also taking part in the Organic Food Festival in Glasgow’s Merchant City on the 20th and 21st of September.

For further information and instructions on how to get to Damhead log on to www.damhead.co.uk