This December I have noticed a severe lack of over the top outside Christmas lights on peoples houses in our area – and whilst the children are disappointed at the disappearance of all the grottos I think it is a good thing. Perhaps people realised that it cost them a small fortune to light their sleighs, snowmen and Santa’s or perhaps it is down to their eco-friendly consciences telling them not to waste so much energy. Both ways the net result is the same and the drain on our precious resources has lessened.

It got me thinking about energy efficient lighting within our homes as well, and looking around the house we still have some old fashioned light bulbs that could do with replacing. It may cost a little more to start with as the bulbs are more expensive, however they do last an awful lot longer and you will ultimately see the difference on your energy bill too. I have decided to do away with other decorative lights too. We have fairy lights on some of our bed frames which we can do without, and I have decided to create a romantic mood with candles instead – they still look really pretty. More »

Are you thinking about taking the plunge by starting to use solar energy in your own home? Are you interested in heating your new room from the Wren Bedrooms range of fitted bedrooms by using solar power? Well, if so, you’re not alone. More and more people across Europe and beyond are starting to realise the advantages of using solar energy in place of conventional energy sources.

Let’s take a look at just a few of the benefits for ourselves:

Solar energy, unlike many other forms of energy, is completely free. This isn’t completely true, since you obviously need to pay for the installation in the first place, but once everything is in place, the system will more than pay for itself. Depending upon how much electricity your household typically uses, the time span between initial payout and return on investment can be unexpectedly short.
One clear advantage that is making solar energy a more attractive option by the day is the fact that it is not affected by the supply and demand of fuel. This means that looking to solar energy as an alternative can combat the ever-rising price of petrol. More »

If you want to take a stance this Christmas and give gifts which don’t add to the pressure we already put on the environment then read on for some great home-made and recycled ideas. Think of all that packaging waste you will save – not to mention some money – and friends and family will be delighted to receive something unique and personal which has involved you making an effort on their behalf.

1. Culinary delights. Get busy in the kitchen baking biscuits, making jam or even hand made chocolate truffles – yummy. Box them in something pretty and they will look gorgeous. More »

The best part about decorating your home is that you need not be a professional home interior designer to decorate your home beautifully. All you would need is dedication, aesthetic sense, willingness and skills to do so. If you have that creative instinct inside you, let your home reflect that. A beautiful home is a true reflection of your own personality. Let the walls speak about your aesthetic taste and creative mind.

Photo: fiorazza

Well painted walls do not always add color, charm and your own decorating style to your home without painting the walls. A wall decoration project comprises of things like proportion, balance, scale, texture, variety, color, size and the list is long. Here are a few ways to beautify your home with decorating ideas that are a bit off the wall! More »

In the years when we didn’t give the environment much thought, the most pressing criteria for choosing a family car were the boot space, the number of passengers it could carry and what kind of mileage you got. Today, though, it’s equally important to consider how the car you drive will affect the environment.

Petrol prices are on the rise – seemingly without limit – and so any aspect of a car’s build that will reduce fuel consumption is desirable. It’s a happy coincidence then, that the more eco-friendly cars are often the most fuel-efficient. Fuel efficiency also means that cars with hybrid or biofuel engines produce less harmful emissions, such as carbon dioxide, NOx and particulates. More »

Looking around at a furniture sale, you might be wondering what the best green option is. Sometimes it can be difficult to buy green without spending a lot more money – especially with the amount of cheap furniture around that is manufactured using new woods. The good news is that a lot of the wood used for sofas and chairs today is responsibly forested wood – and that for every tree felled, another two are planted.

However, the cushions on an average fabric sofa for sale today have a bit of catching up to do on the environmentally-friendly front. Pretty much any sofa you think about buying will have one of the following three options under the fabric covering.

Polyurethane foam

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