Green Power

Powering homes contribute over 25% to the national carbon-dioxide emissions. There are now a number of different Green Energy providers that enable you to source your energy efficiently.

Draining

We like tips that prevent you a) having to use un-natural materials, and b) prevent you having to wander down to the shops to spend your cashish. Here's a gooden:

You pour a cup of baking soda, followed by a cup of white vinegar, down the drain, you can unblock your sink! Plug the opening with an old rag or a stopper and let it bubble away. After a few minutes, rinse with hot water and repeat if necessary. A great alternative to those harsh chemicals!

MPs

By writing to your MP and letting them know your opinions you are actively taking part in democracy. Remember its their job to represent their constituents views in parliament, including yours! So if you've got a little gripe about something, from global warming to speed bumps, drop them a line, I'm sure they'll be ecstatic to hear from you.

www.writetothem.com is a quick and easy way to find out who your MP is and write to them.

The power of Beer

Beer, long known as an excellent lubricant... of the mouth and mind (or so you believe at the time). However, there are a number of other interesting uses that have come to light on Tiptheplanet recently.

Hair

Put some life back into flat hair with some flat beer. Before you get into the shower, mix 3 tablespoons beer in 1/2 cup warm water. After you shampoo your hair, rub in the solution, let it set for a couple of minutes, then rinse it off. We don't vouch for not smelling like a pub however.

Meat

Who needs powdered meat tenderizer when you have some in a can? You guessed it: Beer makes a great tenderizer for tough, inexpensive cuts of meat. Pour a can over the meat, and let it soak in for about an hour before cooking. Even better, marinate it overnight in the fridge or put the beer in your slow cooker with the meat.

Polish your jewels!

Get the shine back in your solid gold (i.e., minus any gemstones) rings and other jewelry by pouring a bit of beer (not dark ale!) onto a soft cloth and rubbing it gently over the piece. Use a clean second cloth or towel to dry.

Clean wood furniture

Have you got some beer that's old or went flat? Use it to clean wooden furniture. Just wipe it on with a soft cloth, and then off with another dry cloth.

Make a trap for slugs and snails

Like some people, some garden pests find beer irresistible -- especially slugs and snails. If you're having problems with these slimy invaders, bury a container, such as a clean, empty juice container cut length-wise in half, in the area where you've seen the pests, pour in about half a can of warm, leftover beer, and leave it overnight. You're likely to find a horde of them, drunk and drowned, the next morning.

Remove coffee or tea stains from rugs

Getting that coffee or tea stain out your rug may seem impossible, but you can literally lift it out by pouring a bit of beer right on top. Rub the beer lightly into the material, and the stain should disappear. You may have to repeat the process a couple of times to remove all traces of the stain. (Please note that we are not liable for damage with this one!)

White not green?

Did you know that turning the taps off when you brush your teeth can save up to 5 litres a minute? If the entire adult population of England and Wales did likewise, this could save a total of 180 mega litres a day – enough to supply nearly 500,000 houses. 

Eat away your footprint

By far the most important non-CO2 greenhouse gas is methane, and the number one source of methane worldwide is animal agriculture. Methane is responsible for nearly as much global warming as all other non-CO2 greenhouse gases put together, being 21 times more powerful a greenhouse gas than CO2. About 85% of this methane is produced in the digestive processes of livestock (i.e. farting cows). An additional 15% of animal agricultural methane emissions are released from the massive “lagoons” used to store untreated farm animal waste, and already a target of environmentalists’ for their role as the number one source of water pollution in the U.S. The conclusion is simple: arguably the best way to reduce global warming in our lifetimes is by going vegetarian, or strictly speaking, by going vegan... (See however also Cow power)

Girls worst nightmare

Since the film Blood Diamond was released, there has been lots of talk of 'conflict diamonds' ad the various perils of buying and/or giving diamonds. For more information about where to get them, and what to be thinking about, check our 'Guilt-free Diamonds' page

Fishy Business

Make sure you keep track of which fish you should/should not buy

Bananas

To clean leather shoes, rub with banana peel (the inside of the peel), then wipe and buff with a cloth. Just be careful where you put the skin when you've put your shoes back on!

What airlines can do to limit emissions

On the operational front, airlines can:

• employing single-engine taxi procedures during normal operations and selective engine shutdown during ground delays
• reducing and measuring more accurately onboard weight while redistributing belly cargo
• tankering extra fuel on certain flights to avoid refueling at more expensive locations - but this increases emissions
• cruising longer at higher altitudes and employing shorter, steeper approaches

[edit]

In terms of planning for fuel usage, airlines are:

• optimizing flight planning for minimum fuel-burn routes and altitudes
• working with FAA to change en-route fuel reserve requirements to reflect state-of-the-art navigation, communication, surveillance and wind forecast systems
• employing self-imposed ground delays to reduce airborne holding
• modernizing their fleets with more fuel-efficient airplanes
• investing in winglets to reduce aircraft drag and thereby increase fuel conservation
• redesigning hubs and schedules to alleviate congestion
• advocating expanded and improved airfield capacity
• using airport power rather than onboard auxiliary power units (APUs) when at the gates
• changing paint schemes to minimize heat absorption (which requires additional cooling)
• altering the location in which fuel is purchased (i.e., to avoid higher-priced west coast)
• pooling resources to purchase fuel in bulk through alliances with other carriers