Going Green Podcast, Video blog and Daily News

  Compost: Because Banana Peels Deserve Better Than Landfill ( Or: How to Turn Your Kitchen Scraps into Garden Gold ) There comes a time in every banana’s life when it goes spotty, mushy, and possibly makes a run for the fruit bowl's edge. Most people sigh, wince, and chuck it in the bin. But I’m here to say: No more! That noble banana peel deserves a second act — as compost. And so does your tea bag, your eggshell, and your coffee grounds. Because what most people throw away could be feeding flowers, veg, and even the occasional smug tomato plant. 🍌 Why Compost? Let’s start with some shocking stats: About 30% of the average UK household bin is compostable food and garden waste. If sent to landfill, it doesn’t break down properly – it rots anaerobically , producing methane (a greenhouse gas 25x worse than CO₂). But if composted? You get rich, dark, crumbly goodness that plants love . Compost is the ultimate eco-upcycling. ♻️ What Can Go In the Compost? ✅ ...

  Plastic Fantastic? What to Do with the Tub, the Tray, and the Thing That’s Probably a Yoghurt Lid ( And Why Recycling Shouldn’t Feel Like a Game of Guess Who? ) Plastic is everywhere. It holds our food, wraps our deliveries, cushions our electronics, and mysteriously multiplies in that one drawer everyone has in the kitchen. But when it’s time to throw it out — suddenly you’re in a high-stakes quiz: “Can I recycle this?” “Should the lid go in too?” “Is this clingfilm or... modern art?” Welcome to the chaotic world of plastic recycling in the UK. Let’s make some sense of it — tub by tray by lid. 🥣 Tubs and Pots (The Yoghurt Ones) These are usually made from thermoplastics (like polypropylene), and are often recyclable — but only if: You rinse them (the council doesn’t want your leftover tzatziki). You check your local council’s rules (some are picky). You remove the foil lid — which may need to go separately (and yes, it probably has to be clean too). ...

  The Phantom Load – And Other Gremlins in Your Power Bill ( Or: How Your Toaster Might Be Stealing from You While You Sleep ) Ever checked your electricity usage and thought: “That can’t be right — I turned everything off!” ? Welcome to the world of phantom load — also known as vampire power , standby drain , or my personal favourite: The Gremlins That Never Sleep . Even when your gadgets look off, many are still quietly sipping electricity like a sneaky houseguest making tea at midnight. It’s wasteful, it’s costly, and the worst part? You probably didn’t even know it was happening. 👻 What Is Phantom Load, Exactly? Phantom load is the energy used by devices when they're plugged in but not actively in use . Think: TVs on standby Phone chargers left in the socket Printers that glow faintly at 2am Microwaves flashing “12:00” like a haunted clock Smart speakers... always listening Each device doesn’t use much — but add them all up, and they become the powe...

  Eco Confession: I Want an Electric Car, but My Wallet Just Laughed ( Or: How to Be Greener Even If You’re Still Driving Petrol ) Every time I see a sleek electric car glide silently past me at the traffic lights, I feel a pang of longing. No revving. No fumes. Just clean, quiet smugness on wheels. But then I look at my bank account… and it sighs gently, turns away, and mutters something about “priorities.” Yes, the electric car makes total sense — environmentally, mechanically, even financially in the long term. But in the short term, for many of us, it’s simply not in the budget . So what now? Are we doomed to gas-guzzling guilt until we win the lottery? Not quite. Let’s talk about what you can do right now , with your current car, to go a little greener on the road. 🚗 First: Why an Electric Car Would Be Great Lower running costs – Electricity is cheaper than petrol per mile. No tailpipe emissions – Great for air quality and the climate. Less maintenance ...

  The Grass Isn’t Always Greener – Especially If You’ve Paved It ( Or: Why That Perfect Lawn Might Be Lying to You ) There’s something about a lush green lawn that makes you feel like you've “made it”. It’s the domestic version of a golf course: smooth, uniform, oddly satisfying… and quite possibly, completely fake. But before you swap your garden for Astroturf and ceramic gravel, let me make the case — gently, with muddy boots and wildflowers in my hair — for keeping things a bit more alive . 🟢 The Case For Artificial Grass (Yes, We'll Be Fair) Let’s give the faux lawn lovers their moment: Low maintenance – No mowing, no mud, no worries. Always looks perfect – Rain or shine, drought or downpour. No fertiliser or pesticides – Chemicals begone. So yes, it can be convenient. But like most things that sound too good to be true… 🔥 The Downsides: Where It Starts to Smell a Bit Melty 1. It gets HOT. On a sunny day, fake grass turns into a frying pan. You ...

  Battery Bling: Our 50kW Beast and Why It’s Not Just for Show ( Or: How We Power Our Lives, Our Work, and Our Tea Kettle Without Fossil Fuels ) Most people look at our battery bank and think we’ve gone full Bond villain. Rows of silent, blinking units. Three powerful inverters. Enough capacity to power a small festival. And they’re not wrong — except we’re using it for teaching, editing, music, and toast . Welcome to our all-electric, solar-powered, home-working, content-creating, music-making household . Where everything runs on electrons — and every watt counts. 💻 Why We Need Serious Battery Power We all work from home , which sounds quaint until you do the maths: One computer per person ? ✅ A server for video storage and backup? ✅ Video editing suite ? ✅ Multi-camera film studio with lights, mics, and a switcher? ✅ Synthesisers, Wersi organ, speakers and music production hardware? ✅ Electric cooker, oven, kettle, toaster ? Naturally. Charging the ...