Just a quick update on how my Eco Guinea Pig Mum is getting on with the Faith in Nature hair and body products she’s been trying.

She says she’s loving the shampoo and conditioner (Aloe Vera variety).

She adds a ‘but’ though… (I was going to say - “She’s got a big ‘but’”.. how awfully rude!!)

The conditioner is making her hair so soft that she can’t do a thing with it! (I have no sympathy.. I’ve inherited her fine fly-away wispy hair, so it serves her right!).

I recommend that she gets herself a big afro perm like she had in the 80’s… it was a great look Barb!!

I’ve had an email from Barbie-Cleaning-Freak. I’m very proud of her for trying all these new things and changing the habits of a life time. If my Mum can do it, anyone can! Over to Barb in sunny Selsey..

“I have started to use your soap powder now [Bio-D's soap powder, I didn't make it or anything], and like it very much. Yes I have only been using what they say on the packet! I have also started to use the bath and shower gel [Faith in Nature], I put one squeeze in the bath and get a good amount of bubbles, but I do not get a very good lather on my sponge I have to put two squeezes on that to get bubbles, well the amount I like. Also not keen on the smell so I will try a different flavour next time [she's got the Tea Tree one, think it's a bit feisty for her relaxing bath time, I'll try her on the Seaweed one next time]. Haven’t tried the shampoo yet. Well that’s my report on the things I have tried, I will need washing up liquid very soon, I think I said I like that very much [Ecover]“

Update on the Update! Mum’s emailed again today …

“I forgot to say yesterday the bubble/ shower gel [Faith in Nature] makes my skin feel nice and soft, I have had a little bit of eczema on my legs and arms, and it does seem a lot better”

“It’s not easy to teach an old dog new tricks, but I want to try to be green” - Barb Hughes, Racheal’s Mum, in a bungalow in Selsey.

Gawd bless her. My mum is a housework obsessive. She can spend all day, everyday cleaning her home, and still thinks there’s lots to be done. She’s the sort of lady that irons her tights, you get the picture! 

Well, the lovely Barb has spent her life bleaching the hecky peck out of anything and everything. She’s a bit of a cleaning product addict. She has a chemical cleaner cocktail cabinet under her kitchen sink in Selsey. Flash, Cif, Bleach, oven stuff, hob stuff, floor stuff. The loo, sink, bath, mirror, shower all have a different chemical solution to keep them clean.

Last week Mum placed an order for a few eco friendly products. “I’ll start with a couple and see how I get on”. She has already been using E-Cloths, and loves them, but hadn’t tried anything else. I took her some Ecover washing up liquid, loo cleaner, and fabric softener (and some MORE e-cloths.. what’s she doing with them all!).

I rang her yesterday for a quick chat about Mum and Dad coming for a visit tomorrow. (1 hour 15 minutes, one flat phone battery, a very red ear, and pins and needles in my phone holding hand!). Anyway, I asked how she was getting on with the Ecover products. She seems really pleased with them because the do the same job as the old chemically products! 

Mum is going to bring over some empty containers tomorrow to get them refilled with green products! She says she needs more Fabric Softener.

Me - “Mum, you can’t have used a litre of fabric softener in 1 week, there’s only 2 of you”, says me.

Barbie - “I do, it’s all gone. I do 2 or 3 loads a day.”

Me - “Glossing over the fact that that is a ridiculous amount of washing for 2 people, you still shouldn’t have used a litre in one week. How much are you putting in?”

Barbie-clean-freak - “I only fill the little tray up to the top, that’s all”

Me - “Mum, you’re only meant to put a cap full in. The little pink cap on the top of the bottle. Just one of those will do!”

So, anyway, she’s bringing her empty bottle back to be refilled. And she’s going to take some more things to give them a try. I’ll report back with how she’s getting on learning a greener, healthier way to clean!  

Don’t be annoying or anything, but things like photo copiers in reception areas. They’re hardly ever used, but left ready to leap into action. The colour printer in an office I work at is rarely needed, but it’s always on. I switch it off, and it’s often several days before it’s been switched back on again. Unnecessary lights left on in offices or waiting areas. If you switch them off, people will switch them on when they need them. Let’s look out for things we can switch off that aren’t being used regularly (don’t irritate anyone!)

We should all now have heard all about not leaving things on stand by, or not leaving mobile phone chargers plugged in and switched on. And switch off the computer (see Local Cooling post to learn how to get this automated for you).

It’s not only sensible in terms of being ‘green’, it also is a great money saving habit to get into. If you’re typical, you probably spend around £100 annually on stand by power alone. I know it’s not a fortune, but if you’re also reducing your carbon footprint, then everyone’s a winner!

I’ve just changed over to Ecotricity for my electricity supply. They supply electricity from renewable energy, mainly wind farms. They promise to match the standard price for each regional supplier, so it needn’t cost much more. I’ve only just switched, so I’ll keep you informed when I get my bills! It’s a great idea though, and such a simple thing. The traditional way of creating electricity from fossil fuels is the UK’s biggest cause of climate change. If you choose to switch to Ecotricity you are taking the single biggest step you can take to reduce your impact on the environment. www.ecotricity.co.uk

1. Don’t let the water run when brushing your teeth, shaving, etc.
2. Fill the sink with water while washing dishes and only use fresh water when rinsing. Minimize soap to avoid extra rinsing.
3. Run your dishwasher only when it’s full.
4. Limit your shower time. Even a one or two minute reduction can save you 700 gallons!
5. Never pour water down the drain if there’s another use for it, such as watering your plants or garden.
6. Set the water level in your washing machine for the size of the load.
7. Always water your lawn or garden during the cool time of the day (at night or early morning) to minimize evaporation.
8. Instead of letting the water run while cleaning your veggies rinse them in a pot with water.
9. Compost instead of using the garbage disposal.
10. Wash your car on the lawn instead of the driveway. The water will help the grass, but don’t forget to use eco-friendly car wash.

More than 30 billion kilowatt-hours of energy is wasted because many of us simply forget to shut down our computers when we’re not using them. If we could just improve the efficiency of how we use our PCs, the savings in energy costs would be over $3 billion dollars! The CO2 emissions from just 15 computers are equivalent in energy terms to the gas consumption used by one car.

Download the 100% Free LocalCooling Application and it automatically optimizes your PC’s power consumption by using a more effective power save mode. You will be able to see your savings in real-time translated to more environmental terms such as how many trees and gallons of oil you have saved.

If you’ve got an older style loo that has only one full flush function, get one of these freebies from Thames Water:

http://waterwise.fortune-cookie.com/domestic/cisterns.asp