Going Green Podcast, Video blog and Daily News

  How Battery Storage Systems Can Deliver a Strong Return on Investment (ROI) If you’ve already invested in solar panels — or you’re thinking about it — the next logical question is: “Are batteries worth it?” As someone running a home with 26 solar panels and 50kWh of battery storage , plus charging an electric boat from it, I’ve had plenty of time to look at this properly — not just from a green perspective, but from a financial one too. Let’s break it down. 1️⃣ Time-Shifting: Buy Low, Use High In the UK, electricity prices vary dramatically depending on the time of day. With tariffs like those from Octopus Energy , you can: Charge batteries overnight at very low rates Use stored energy during peak daytime hours Avoid expensive early evening tariffs If you buy electricity at 7p/kWh overnight and avoid paying 28–35p/kWh at peak times, the maths becomes compelling. That difference — multiplied over thousands of kWh per year — adds up fast. 2️⃣ Maximise Your Sol...

  Homemade Food vs Ready Meals – Which Really Wins? We live in a world of convenience. Pop it in the oven. Ding the microwave. Eat. Done. But is that convenience costing us more than just a few pounds? Let’s look at homemade food vs ready meals — through the lenses of health, cost, sustainability, and long-term thinking. 🍳 Homemade Food ✅ The Advantages 1. You control the ingredients Salt, sugar, fats, portion size — all in your hands. No hidden additives. 2. Lower cost per portion A homemade chilli or pasta bake often costs half the price per serving compared to premium ready meals. 3. Less packaging waste Fewer plastic trays, sleeves and films heading to landfill. 4. Better for your health Many ready meals fall into the category of ultra-processed foods (UPFs). Cooking from scratch generally means fewer emulsifiers, stabilisers and preservatives. 5. Teaches skills Cooking is a life skill. Like sailing or repairing a boat cover, once learned, it serves you for de...

 The Big Plastic Count – The UK’s Biggest People-Powered Plastic Investigation Every crisp packet. Every yoghurt pot. Every bit of cling film. What if we actually counted how much plastic we throw away in a week? That’s exactly what The Big Plastic Count is asking households across the UK to do. It’s the UK’s largest people-powered investigation into plastic waste — and it’s coming soon. 🔍 What Is The Big Plastic Count? The Big Plastic Count is a nationwide citizen-science project where households: Collect and record all plastic waste for one week Categorise it (soft plastics, hard plastics, food packaging, etc.) Submit their data Help build a national picture of where plastic is really coming from Instead of guessing, we get real household evidence . And that evidence matters. 📊 Why This Is Important We’re often told: “Just recycle it.” “It’s being taken care of.” “We’re making progress.” But how much plastic are we actually producing at ...

  Does economic growth have to mean rising emissions? For decades, we’ve been told there’s an awkward trade-off: grow the economy or cut emissions – pick one . It’s a neat story. It’s also increasingly out of date. The uncomfortable truth for that old argument is this: several countries are already growing their economies while cutting emissions . Not hypothetically. Not on a whiteboard. In the real world. The old assumption (and why it stuck) Historically, growth did mean more emissions. Industrialisation burned coal, oil powered transport, and cheap energy meant dirty energy. GDP and carbon rose together, so the idea became baked in: prosperity equals pollution. But that logic assumes three things: Energy must come from fossil fuels Efficiency improvements are marginal Consumption can’t change None of those assumptions still hold. What “decoupling” actually looks like Economists talk about decoupling – separating economic growth from emissions. There are two...

Are Pots and Raised Beds the Answer to “I’ve Got the Wrong Soil”? Every gardener knows the moment. You plant something with optimism… and it sulks, refuses to grow, or quietly dies while judging you. Often the culprit isn’t your enthusiasm — it’s the soil . Heavy clay that turns into porridge in winter. Sandy soil that drains faster than a leaky bucket. Chalky ground that laughs at acid-loving plants. So is the answer simply pots and raised beds ? Short answer: sometimes — and very often, yes. Why “Wrong Soil” Is Such a Common Problem Soil type is largely determined by geology , not gardening effort. You can improve it, but changing it completely takes years. Typical UK problems: Clay – holds water, compacts easily, slow to warm in spring Sandy – drains too fast, nutrients wash away Chalky – alkaline, shallow, poor for many fruit and veg Thin topsoil – especially in newer housing developments You can fight it… or work around it. Raised Beds: A Fresh Sta...

  Decreasing Your House Heat Losses: 5 Simple Tips That Really Work Every winter we talk about energy bills, draughts, and why the house feels colder despite the heating being on. The truth is blunt: most UK homes lose heat faster than we can afford to replace it . The good news? You don’t need a full retrofit or a second mortgage to make a real difference. Here are five simple, affordable ways to cut heat loss and stay warmer for less. 1. Stop Draughts Before You Turn the Thermostat Up Draughts are just heat leaks in disguise. Check: Doors (especially older external doors) Letterboxes and keyholes Windows that rattle on windy days Loft hatches Simple fixes like draught excluders, brush seals, and foam strips are cheap, quick, and often pay for themselves within weeks. 💡 If you can feel a draught with your hand, your heating bill can feel it too. 2. Insulate the Loft (Because Heat Rises… and Escapes) Around a quarter of a home’s heat loss can be through an unin...