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Climate Change
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Slow food is important for UK food security
Published 2 February 2023Slow food is important for UK food security as it reduces dependence on imported food and drink. By supporting local food producers we can improve our food systems, enhance our biodiversity and reduce our emissions, while at the same time preserving our food history and local traditions. The movement started in Italy in 1989. The […]
Single use plastic: What are the alternatives for takeaways?
Published 26 January 2023The UK Government has announced a ban on single use plastics from October, but what is a small takeaway or restaurant owner to use instead? The answer is one of the many alternatives made out of materials like sugarcane or wood, paper and metal. The next question is whether these materials are a viable and […]
Energy efficiency of homes in the UK
Published 19 January 2023UK housing stock is not energy efficient and that costs both the inhabitants and the planet. Energy inefficient homes cost more to heat. The cost of heating a home with poor wall insulation is likely to add £350 to a bill for the first quarter in 2023 (Resolution Foundation). Residential housing contributes around a fifth […]
Is deforestation a problem in the UK?
Published 9 January 2023The UK government has been calling for more protection for natural environments. They lobby in support of initiatives like 30×30 at COP15. But is deforestation a problem in the UK and will the UK meet the target of protecting 30% of lands and oceans by 2030? Why deforestation matters Deforestation contributes to climate change. Trees […]
Food waste and its connection with the climate crisis
Published 5 January 2023Most UK consumers are familiar with the idea of food waste. They know that wasted food adds to the cost of their shopping. But they are unaware of, or don’t think about, the connection between it and the climate crisis. The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) reports that 4.5 million tonnes of food gets […]
Financing fossil fuels
Published 26 December 2022The main source of carbon dioxide emissions is burning fossil fuels. The ongoing burning of fossil fuels is increasing global temperatures and causing climate change. However gas and oil companies continue to invest in new projects that will increase fossil fuel burning. This has the potential to be disastrous for climate change. Fossil fuels include […]
Water security in the UK
Published 19 December 2022Water is a finite resource. When it is gone, it is gone. That’s difficult to imagine when 70% of the world’s surface is covered in water. But only 3% of the world’s water is drinkable and most of it is held in glaciers and ice caps. “water scarcity is sometimes overlooked …. but it’s going […]
The importance of sustainable agriculture
Published 12 December 2022The majority of UK land is farmed and UK farmers produce more than half the food that we eat. But there is increasing pressure on farmers to produce more food for an ever growing population. And farmers are expected to increase production without damaging the environment (UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology). How can they […]
The problem of voltage instability in renewable energy
Published 5 December 2022Renewable energy, for example from wind turbines and solar panels, is the solution to reducing dependence on fossil fuels. But there is a problem with excess renewable energy: voltage instability. Much of the existing grid is legacy infrastructure. It was originally designed for a one-way flow of electricity to homes from the grid, and not […]
How does ocean acidification affect marine life?
Published 28 November 2022What is ocean acidification and why is it important? How does it affect marine life? Oceans are absorbing increasing levels of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and that makes the oceans more acidic. This is affecting marine life like corals and shellfish. What is ocean acidification? Ocean water is normally ph neutral or slightly alkaline […]
UK Government pledges during COP27
Published 21 November 2022As COP27 ends, we take a look at the pledges made by the UK government during the conference. These include climate change, deforestation and biodiversity, clean energy, zero emission vehicles and nature restoration. The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, announced a package of programs on his handover to COP27 on the first day of the conference. […]
How fast are sea levels rising?
Published 14 November 2022It is ‘virtually certain’ that global mean sea levels are rising (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). The change is also accelerating. Global mean sea levels increased from 1.4 mm per year (1901–1990) to 3.6 mm per year (2006–2015). Sea levels are projected to rise by between 0.43 metres and 0.84 metres by 2100 depending on […]
Awel Aman Tawe & Egni Co-op – Community Renewable Energy Projects in Wales
Published 7 November 2022The only way that the UK is going to be able to meet its net zero targets is by investing in more renewable energy and burning less fossil fuels. Any project that furthers this goal should be encouraged and supported. Blue Patch is committed to renewable energy, with every penny of our surplus income going […]
UK air pollution
Published 3 November 2022The British Medical Association has called on the UK Government to address the issue of air pollution in the UK (Practice Business). In the BMA press release, they state that “It is crucial the Government commits to transitioning to renewable energy sources, invests in clean energy, and transforms urban environments not only to improve air […]
Delicious chocolate fighting exploitation
Published 27 October 2022Most of us are fans of chocolate. A sweet everyday treat that we enjoy. But not many of us think about what goes into the chocolate we eat. We took a look at how Divine Chocolate fights exploitation. “Most people I know love chocolate. Chocolate is something that brings us great pleasure and provides solace and […]
New tech: Hydrogen cars
Published 21 October 2022We’ve been out of the office for the last few weeks at Decorex and the Sustainability Show. One of the advantages to attending events like this is to meet people who are at the cutting edge of technology that will make our world more sustainable. We talked to Riversimple at the Sustainability Show about their […]
Fashion waste & why it matters
Published 13 October 2022The fashion industry in the UK is responsible for a lot of waste. A report by Labfresh, based on 2016 data, found that the UK was the fourth largest textile waste producer in the EU, with over 206,000 tonnes of waste every year. That’s around 3 kilos of waste per person. Of that only 0.3 […]
30 days to go until COP 27
Published 6 October 2022The 27th Conference of the Parties (COP 27) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will happen next month from the 6th to the 18th November 2022. It is the 30th anniversary of the UNFCCC. In their press release on May 9th, they talked about how science tells us we are on […]
UK electricity sources in 2022
Published 29 September 2022Historically the UK has burned fossil fuels to make electricity. How has that changed in 2022 and how can we generate more electricity through renewables? What are the UK’s main electricity sources in 2022? Where does the UK get its electricity from in 2022? In August 2022, the UK imported 2001 gigawatts of electricity and […]
How investing in Solar for Schools helps tackle climate change
Published 22 September 2022In case you don’t already know, Blue Patch invests 100% of its surplus income into renewable energy projects. This month, we are investing in Solar for Schools by buying 500 shares. What is Solar for Schools? Solar for Schools does two things for schools: they provide training on renewable energy to schools using the solar […]
What makes coffee sustainable?
Published 5 September 2022Coffee is a well-loved beverage by many of us Brits. Some of us can’t function without it and we drink a lot of it. But how sustainable is our coffee habit? The British Coffee Association estimates that we drink 98 million cups of coffee a day. 80% of households buy instant coffee and the same […]
How electric vehicles can save you money & help save the planet
Published 1 September 2022Despite a high initial outlay – new electric cars sell for between £15,000 and £150,000 for a luxury model – electric vehicles (EVs) can save you money. And they can help save the planet. Here is how electric vehicles save you money: Charging costs are lower than fuel costs Zero rate vehicle excise duty on […]
What are the benefits of green building?
Published 25 August 2022Constructing an environmentally friendly green building brings benefits to the homeowner for decades afterwards. Green buildings have lower energy costs, are more comfortable, and reduce the impact on the environment around them. What is a green building? A green building is constructed with a focus on environmentally friendly materials and construction methods. The design will […]
Clean energy is a community effort
Published 18 August 2022Thrive Renewables connects people to sustainable energy. They do this in many ways, but principally they allow individuals and businesses to invest in clean energy projects. Other ways that businesses can get involved is through collaboration projects with landlords. For these projects, Thrive funds the equipment for renewable energy on the property. Thrive also supports […]
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