Category: Politics

Saving Energy – Practically

At the end of every month, the Climate Change Collective of bloggers take turns writing an article about the environment. I am passionate about blogging about climate issues and saving energy. It is important that we keep raising the issue and share advice for being ecofriendly.

What is this month’s article about?

I loved reading the latest post which is by Cristiana (@crisbranc) and welcome her to our group. The article, How you can reduce your energy consumption and save money by saving the planet, explores many useful ways to make your home more energy efficient.

My Thoughts

I am trying very hard to keep my own house warm and have chosen a house with no gas supply. Electricity, on the whole, is a cleaner form of energy. The use of solar panels, hydro-electricity generation and wind farms is increasing, after all.

For me, I am paying the price, though. The Russian War and dependency of the UK on foreign fossil fuels stifles us somewhat. This has led to inflated prices, with my own electric bill being over £300 last month.

Keeping curtains closed really does make a difference. Using a hot water bottle is also a good way of avoiding heating my bedroom, I have discovered. Clothes are better left drying in the conservatory rather than in the tumble dryer, which is expensive to run.

In A Nutshell

Cristiana has produced a detailed list post with so many helpful tips. These range from reducing the temperature you heat your water to checking your oven is properly sealed. If you can make a few changes to become more energy efficient then you can also save money.

Thank you for reading my brief notes. Please pop over to the main Climate Change Collective post and drop a supportive comment. I also have written a poem about the environment, all about the lack of Snow.

Don’t Forget The Climate Crisis

With politics being so horrendous at the moment, I do worry that some of the BIG issues are taking a backseat. Liz Truss has stepped down and we yet again have a vacancy for a new Prime Minister. All of this squabbling is stopping us progressing with many important matters, including global warming. The Climate Crisis cannot be forgotten.

Energy is widely spoken about as expensive but we need to remember that current sources of energy are largely polluting. We must ensure that our concentration turns in the direction of making us energy efficient and self-sufficient. Surely this can easily be achieved by using the huge profits that oil and electricity companies are making. It could quickly be invested in wind farms, hydro-electric facilities and solar panel fields.

At the same time, high temperatures of around 18 degrees in October is definitely unusual. Daily averages used to be around 10 degrees but we are now seeing warmer, wetter days. All we see on the News is bickering. What we should be seeing on the News is discussion about how we are going to reverse global warming.

This was just a quick reminder that CLIMATE CHANGE is still happening. While leaders argue over tax for millionaires, the world is in trouble.

Polar bears and seals are losing their habitats. People in Pakistan have lost their homes in floods. Forest fires have wreaked havoc once again in America. The situation is definitely worsening.

I hope that we can soon get back to dealing with the things that really matter. The climate crisis should be top of the agenda.

For another of my posts about climate change, check out Global warming affects our lives – fact. Also, please consider following my blog for future similar articles.

Global Warming Affects Our Lives – Fact!

The Climate Change Collective of bloggers

I had a political morning today, meeting one of the UK Prime Minister candidates, where I was able to ask him about environmental policies. Just as I left that meeting, I was happy to see the first post from our brand new ‘Climate Change Collective’ group of bloggers. Brilliant!

Michelle and I originally had a conversation about creating a group for bloggers who wanted to write about climate change from our different perspectives and ensure it remained at the top of readers’ minds. It is great to see we already have a buzzing group willing to get involved and I cannot wait to see what each writer has to say.

Here is the very first article which focusses on how climate change is gradually affecting our daily lives:

Welcome To The Climate Change Collective:

My thoughts…

For me, as a geographer, I have always found it hard to convince people that global warming should matter to them and their lives. Michelle has cleverly outlined how it will specifically affect the retirement industry and discussed the impact air pollution is already having on health.

I look at the very flat Fenland area of agricultural land and market towns that is near where I live and worry about its vulnerability. Britain had a record 40 degrees C day in July, which was predicted to happen in twenty years or so. Meteorologists suggest that their initial timeline is redundant as warming has happened much faster than predicted.

If glacial melting is increasing in a feedback loop which is quite unstable, then the Fens could be under water within the next 30 years, as they were centuries ago, prior to drainage. This would destroy homes and demolish one of the largest arable farming patches in Europe.

That would have a massive impact on my life and the lives of many others. There are so many complex aspects to discuss but I do think people have woken up more to climate education, especially after recent turbulent weather occurrences around the world and a drought in the UK. Let’s hope we can bring environmental concerns to the top of government interests.

We can make a difference by urging politicians to invest in renewable energy and make the transport infrastructure much better. I hope that you have time to check out Michelle’s first post and join in with the conversation about climate change and how it is affecting all of us.