Environmental literacy articles
Decorations
Karen looks at the items we use to decorate our homes. She offers some suggestions on how to reduce the impact.
This is the second video about the environmental impact of festive traditions. This time, Karen looks at the items we use to decorate our homes. She offers some suggestions on how to reduce the impact. These include changing to low energy lightbulbs and continuing to use old decorations instead of sending them to landfill. She also includes some suggestions for creating new, low impact decorations.
Christmas trees
Some pros and cons of natural trees against their artificial alternatives.
This is the first of three videos in which we explore the environmental impact of festive traditions. This time we look at Christmas trees. Once you have decided that a tree will be part of your celebrations, the next choice to make is the type of tree. Here, we offer some pros and cons of natural trees against their artificial alternatives.
Discuss issues
Ways that you can discuss issues once you have made changes to reduce your own environmental impact.
In this video we suggest ways that you can discuss issues once you have made changes to reduce your own environmental impact. These include questions to ask your friends and family to find out what they know and what action they are taking. You can also find out about climate action groups in your local area.
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Gardening
However big or small your outside space might be, in this video we give some suggestions for how you can help the environment when gardening.
However big or small your outside space might be, in this video we give some suggestions for how you can help the environment when gardening. For example, if you only have a windowsill, hang up a bunch of twigs to provide a shelter for pollinators. Plant choices and composting waste are other ways to garden for the planet.
Investments
Karen suggests some checks that you can make to ensure that your investments do not result in harm to the environment.
In this video, Karen suggests some checks that you can make to ensure that your investments do not result in harm to the environment. The activities of fossil fuel companies and chemical manufacturers have a negative effect on the planet. Our investments could be used to fund these companies so it is important that you ask questions about your investments.
Green spaces
Access to green space is beneficial to our well being.
Access to green space is beneficial to our well being. However not everyone has their own green space. Here Karen explores some ways in which we can experience the benefits of green spaces that are accessible to all.
Leisure time
Our leisure time is important and we need to make the most of it. In this video, Karen explores some options for using leisure time that do not have a negative impact on the planet but are also inexpensive and accessible.
Our leisure time is important and we need to make the most of it. In this video, Karen explores some options for using leisure time that do not have a negative impact on the planet but are also inexpensive and accessible.
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Natural cleaning
Manufactured cleaning chemicals are not always good for the environment. In this video Karen suggests a few of the natural alternative cleaning chemicals that can be used.
Manufactured cleaning chemicals are not always good for the environment. In this video Karen suggests a few of the natural alternative cleaning chemicals that can be used. These options may take a bit more time and elbow grease to work but they are kinder to the environment; cheap and can be just as effective as the branded options.
Net Zero by 2027 – part 9
The first stage is to work out the quantity of greenhouse gases we contribute to the world total and this is the end of that process.
We’ve committed our micro-business to being Net Zero by 2027. This series of videos follows our progress as we work out how to achieve this. The first stage is to work out the quantity of greenhouse gases we contribute to the world total and this is the end of that process. Here, we reveal the revised total that takes into account the adjustments we made after our sense check of the data revealed a couple of issues.
Net Zero by 2027 – part 8
In this video, we reveal the result of our initial calculation and the total mass of greenhouse gases we emit.
In this video, we reveal the result of our initial calculation and the total mass of greenhouse gases we emit. Spoiler alert! It is not a big total, which is both a relief and a challenge. But sense checking the result reveals a couple of minor issues we need to resolve before we reach an outcome that we’re happy with.
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Net Zero by 2027 – part 7
We’re getting close now! Here we are looking at the indirect costs to the business. That is, the things we buy, our use of transport, professional services and software.
We’re getting close now! Here we are looking at the indirect costs to the business. That is, the things we buy, our use of transport, professional services and software. These comprised more than 90% of our expenditure in the financial year 2021-22. For our micro-business, much of the information we needed to calculate our greenhouse gas emissions was relatively easy to find. For other, more complex businesses it will take more time and more resources!
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Holidays
Holidays are beneficial to our health and wellbeing. Apart from the impact of the way we travel to our destinations, there are decisions we can make about the activities we take part in while on holiday.
Holidays are beneficial to our health and wellbeing. Apart from the impact of the way we travel to our destinations, there are decisions we can make about the activities we take part in while on holiday. In this video, Karen looks at how we can all help to reduce the emissions associated with the tourist industry.
Net Zero by 2027 – part 6
More data entry! Now we need to enter details about our gas and electricity use for the business to the online form.
More data entry! Now we need to enter details about our gas and electricity use for the business to the online form. As the business operates from part of our home, we need to make some assumptions and do some maths to work out the proportions of energy costs to allocate.
Net Zero by 2027 – part 5
Now that we are ready to start the calculation of our greenhouse gas emissions, we need to decide which of the calculators we will use.
Now that we are ready to start the calculation of our greenhouse gas emissions, we need to decide which of the calculators we will use. There are many available but, having decided, we explain the information required to set up an account, such as number of employees, turnover and energy use. We also discuss other decisions we need to make so that we arrive at as accurate a calculation as possible.
Net Zero by 2027 – part 4
As a provider of online training materials we expect that our use of computers and other electronic devices will contribute a significant proportion of our emissions.
This is the final video outlining our preparation for calculating our emissions of greenhouse gases. Here, we look at our use of technology. As a provider of online training materials we expect that our use of computers and other electronic devices will contribute a significant proportion of our emissions. It is easy to think that data storage in the cloud has no impact on the greenhouse gases we emit, but all those data centres need a lot of electricity!
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Net Zero by 2027 – part 3
We are calculating our emissions for our financial year 2021-22 and identify that Brexit and Covid-19 had a significant effect.
In this video, we continue to assess our business to prepare for calculating our emissions of greenhouse gases. We look at our use of energy for business travel. We are calculating our emissions for our financial year 2021-22 and identify that Brexit and Covid-19 had a significant effect. Other aspects to take into account are what we spend on goods and consumables for the business.
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Net Zero by 2027 – part 2
Now that we’ve signed up to the SME Climate Hub and made our public commitment to Net Zero, the next stage is to gather information about our business.
This video gives an overview of our operations as a starting point for calculating our emissions of greenhouse gases. Now that we’ve signed up to the SME Climate Hub and made our public commitment to Net Zero, the next stage is to gather information about our business. This includes our key activities, working arrangements, type and size of building that we work in, equipment used and our energy use.
Net Zero by 2027 – an introduction
We’ve signed up to the SME Climate Hub and committed to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions to Net Zero by 2027. We are doing this alongside thousands of other small businesses.
We’ve signed up to the SME Climate Hub and committed to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions to Net Zero by 2027. We are doing this alongside thousands of other small businesses who are making similar commitments but with other target dates. In this series of videos, we are sharing our progress. We’re doing this to help others see what is involved and how we overcome any issues that we come across during the process.
Water use, part 4
It is now later in the day and the ways that Angie saves water during her evening routine are demonstrated as well as how she makes use of the water she has saved throughout the day.
Karen returns to the example of Angie and her family for the last time in this series of Suggestion Box videos. It is now later in the day and the ways that Angie saves water during her evening routine are demonstrated as well as how she makes use of the water she has saved throughout the day.
Cling film
Cling film or cling wrap is widely used as a cover for food. However, as it is not always easy to recycle, it contributes to land fill where it takes a long time to break down.
Cling film or cling wrap is widely used as a cover for food. However, as it is not always easy to recycle, it contributes to land fill where it takes a long time to break down. In doing so, toxic chemicals are released. Some of the ways to reduce its use in the home are suggested here.
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