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Greenlink Berkshire
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The network of community groups committed to the care of the environment, greener living and development of the local economy in Berkshire. |
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Home and Garden
Interested in exploring how to become an environmentally
aware consumer? Then visit
www.greenchoices.org
for lots of ideas on how to make ecologically sound lifestyle choices from
cars to food, holidays to washing. Another website is
www.bynature.co.uk
which offers a wide selection of organic and ethical products and brings
inspiration for a green lifestyle in the 21st Century.
To receive daily tips on greening your lifestyle sign up at Friends of the
Earth website -
www.foe.co.uk/living/tips/
An ethical shopping directory
www.shopethical.co.uk
provides links to ethical goods and services, ethical organisations and
socially responsible traders. See also
www.ethiscore.org the
online shoppers guide from The Ethical Consumer. The Conscientious Consumer,
a section on the RSPCA website, cuts through the confusion surrounding
shopping and animal welfare and tells consumers what labels to look out for:
www.rspca.org.uk/consumers The
Ethical Food Company, based
in Winslow, Bucks, runs an online food shop.
For sourcing reclaimed timber and recycled materials try
www.salvo.co.uk
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Allotments |
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Fed up waiting for an allotment? Then sign up
at
www.maidenheadgardenshare.co.uk - a new scheme launched in April 2010 to
match up people who want to grow with people who have too much garden to
look after.
Another local iniative is
www.carrot-patch.co.uk which is seeking people interested in growing
their own veg on a plot "half the size of a tennis court".
Landshare is the
national scheme set up by Hugh Fearnley-Whittenstall.
Contact your local council on the numbers
below if you wish to rent an allotment.
Maidenhead 01628 798888
Windsor 01753 855173
Reading 0118 939 0900
Slough 01753 875574
Wokingham 0118 978 3185
West Berkshire 01635 42400
More on allotment growing at
www.allotment.org.uk |
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Action at Home |
| Global Action Plan,
which originated the Action at Home programme, was established in the UK in
1993. It has helped thousands of people throughout the country to take
practical environmental action at home, at work and in schools.
You receive five packs over five months -
each contains a step-by-step guide with money-saving ideas and special
offers, children's activities and campaign postcards. The topics are
Reducing your rubbish, A new way to shop, Saving water, Keep on moving and
Saving energy. Visit the website
www.globalactionplan.org.uk/ |
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Composting |
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Don't waste all that organic matter - make a
compost heap! All Berkshire Councils offer special discounts on compost bins. If
you're keen to learn the art of compost making there may be a course happening
near you; try the Local Wildlife Trust who may be able to help.
Visit
www.evergreener.com |
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Dry Cleaning |
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An environmentally friendly dry cleaning service
Byrons of Windsor is at 33 St Leonard's Road, Windsor For £9.99 there is a
free collection and delivery service to dry clean a suit. What's more half the
profits go to charity. Tel: 01753 858275 for information. |
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Energy Saving about the Home |
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Launched in Maidenhead April 2010 The Smart
Energy Co-op (now the Solar Coop) will advise and carry out home installations.
See how you can benefit at
www.smartenergy.coop
The new
Microgeneration Certification Scheme
offers help at
http://www.microgeneration.com
TV Energy - a not for profit
renewable energy agency dedicated to promotion, education, facilitation and
development of renewable energy in the Thames Valley region. Contact:
ian.bacon@tvenergy.org Phone: 01635
817420
Thames Valley Energy Centre,
part of the national network of 52 Energy Efficiency Advice Centres in the UK,
is offering a free energy check to householders in Berkshire, to encourage them
to conserve energy at home.
The
Home Energy Check is a way of assessing the energy efficiency of your home.
By completing this simple questionnaire on-line, you will receive a personalised
report on energy saving in your home plus details of any local grants or
schemes.
Slough based
British Eco
offer a range of energy-saving goods and services for use around the home and
garden. E-mail georgina.holt@britisheco.com
for a 5% discount.
Thinking of installing a renewable energy
heating system? Then check out
www.sprintbio.com based in Princes Risborough.
For environmentally friendly insulation
products check out
www.greenbuildingstore.co.uk |
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Green Energy Schemes |
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One of the easiest things to do is to switch to a
Green Energy scheme
which supports the generation of power from
renewables and helps cut back on fossil fuel emissions. At the same time
conservation and wildlife benefits directly from land purchases in the UK and
other projects to offset the effects of global warming.
RSPB Energy,
in partnership with Scottish and Southern Energy, closed on 31 March 2011.
They have now teamed up with energy comparison partners Green Energy Helpline
and Uswitch. Every RSPB supporter who switches to their energy
product via their website will secure a £28 donation if you switch both gas and
electricity. Visit
www.rspb.org.org.uk/energy and follow the special links. Alternatively
call 0800 634 1606 (Green Energy) or 0800 404 7943 (Uswitch) and mention RSPB to
activate donation.
WWF teamed with green electricity supplier,
Ecotricity,
to help reduce UK's CO2 emissions. For every new customer that signs up,
Ecotricity
will donate ?15 to WWF and plant a native tree in Gloucestershire. Please
switch, it won't cost you any extra, Ecotricity will match the price of your
local provider. Sign up online at
www.ecotricity.co.uk or call Ecotricity free on 08000 326 100.
Energy provider
unite[e],
ranked No 1 in 2001 and 2002 by Friends of the Earth, sources energy from
small-scale hydropower and wind farms across the UK. Find out more at
www.unit-e.co.uk/ |
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