Going Green Podcast, Video blog and Daily News

Plug-In Solar is Coming to the UK – Cheap Energy or Just a Gimmick? There’s a quiet little revolution on the way. The UK Government has announced plans to allow “plug-in solar” systems —small solar panel kits you can install yourself and plug directly into a standard socket. No scaffolding. No installers. No £10,000 upfront cost. But before we all rush out and cover the shed roof, let’s look at what this actually means in real terms—especially using what’s already happening in countries like Germany , where these systems are already popular. What Will It Likely Cost? Germany gives us a very good benchmark. Typical “balcony solar” kits there cost: €400–€1,000 (£340–£850) Usually includes: 1–2 solar panels (300–800W total) Micro-inverter Plug-and-play connection Likely UK Pricing Once they arrive in the UK: £400–£1,000 per system is realistic Possibly slightly higher at launch due to: Certification requirements Supply chain differences Early adopter pr...

  Earth’s Thermostat Is Stuck on High You know when you turn the heating on at home, forget about it, and suddenly realise you’re living in a sauna? Well… Earth has just done that. Except no one can find the thermostat. Recent findings from the State of the Climate report show that the planet’s energy imbalance has reached a record high. In simple terms, more energy (heat) is coming in from the Sun than is leaving. And the excess? It doesn’t just disappear. It builds up. Where is all that heat going? You might expect the air to be getting dramatically hotter (and yes, it is), but the real story is happening somewhere less obvious: The oceans. Around 90% of the excess heat is being absorbed by the oceans. They are acting like a giant sponge — quietly soaking up the problem. But here’s the catch: Warm water expands → sea levels rise Marine ecosystems struggle → coral bleaching, fish decline Weather systems gain energy → stronger storms, heavier rain So while it m...

 Radical Gardening – Stop Fighting Weeds… and Start Living With Them There comes a point in every gardener’s life when they stand, slightly out of breath, staring at yet another dandelion… and think: “Am I winning this battle… or is the garden winning?” I’ve come to a rather radical conclusion. 👉 What if weeds aren’t the enemy at all? 🌼 What actually is a weed? A weed is often defined as: “A plant growing where you don’t want it.” That’s it. No mention of “bad”, “useless”, or “must be destroyed at all costs”. In fact, many of the plants we call weeds are: Native species Excellent for pollinators Deep-rooted soil improvers Surprisingly beautiful (yes… even dandelions!) 🐝 The biodiversity bonus Leave a few “weeds” and suddenly your garden becomes: A buffet for bees and insects A mini wildlife reserve A far more resilient ecosystem Clover fixes nitrogen into the soil. Dandelions break up compacted ground. Daisies quietly get on with life without...

  CO₂ and War – How Conflict Can Undo Years of Climate Progress It’s easy to think of climate change as something driven by cars, factories, and power stations. But there’s another, often overlooked contributor quietly undoing years of progress: War. And right now, with multiple conflicts happening across the world, the environmental cost is far greater than we tend to realise. War Is Carbon-Intensive – Very Carbon-Intensive Modern warfare is powered by fossil fuels. Fighter jets burn thousands of litres of fuel per hour Tanks and armoured vehicles consume fuel at staggering rates Naval fleets run on heavy fuel oil Supply chains stretch across continents A single military operation can emit more CO₂ than some small countries produce in a year. And unlike civilian emissions, military emissions are often: Underreported Excluded from climate agreements Hidden for security reasons So the true impact? Likely much higher than we think. Destruction Release...

  Solar Panels vs Farmland… or Are We Asking the Wrong Question? There’s a growing row in the UK: should we really be covering valuable agricultural land with solar panels while food security is becoming more important? It’s an emotional debate. Farmers worry about losing productive land. Environmentalists argue we need rapid renewable expansion. Politicians sit somewhere in the middle trying not to upset either side. But perhaps we’re missing something obvious… Look Around the Supermarket Car Park Next time you visit Tesco, Sainsbury’s, or Asda, just stop for a moment (preferably not in the middle of the entrance road ). Look at the sheer space. Acres of tarmac. Baking in the sun. Doing absolutely nothing useful—except heating up cars and contributing to urban heat. Now imagine this instead: Solar canopies covering the car park Cars parked in the shade (no more scorching steering wheels) Electric vehicle charging built into the structure Clean electricity gener...

  Are We Heading for Drier Springs? What It Means for Your Garden It used to be that spring in the UK meant one thing above all else: mud . Wet lawns, soggy flower beds, and the eternal hope that this would be the week we could finally mow the grass. But things are changing. Over recent years, we’ve seen a noticeable shift towards drier, warmer springs . While not every year follows the pattern, the trend is becoming harder to ignore. And for gardeners—whether you’re growing prize tomatoes or just trying to keep the lawn green—it raises an important question: How do we adapt? What’s Happening to Our Springs? Climate data suggests: Spring rainfall is becoming less predictable Dry spells are lasting longer Temperatures are creeping higher earlier in the year For gardeners, this creates a tricky combination: Plants start growing earlier But water isn’t always there when they need it It’s a bit like inviting guests to dinner… and forgetting to buy the food. ...