Many people are looking at ways to green up their homes – from water reuse and reduction of electricity consumption through to solar panels. Wind turbines are a popular idea however they may not be as great as the marketing blurb would like you to think.

Wind turbines often aren’t particularly effective when used in a residential situation.

- Firstly, buildings cause turbulence and wind turbines dislike turbulence. Wind turbines much prefer smooth flows of air. Unfortunately, buildings redirect wind causing small eddies and different streams and this can lead to a confused turbine that doesn’t perform brilliantly even when the wind is fairly strong.  Read more... (264 words, estimated 1:03 mins reading time)

Not got much space in your garden but want to grow more plants, or maybe you only have a courtyard and would like to grow more things? Vertical Gardening is a way around both of these problems.

Patrick Blanc is probably the most well know vertical gardener. Starting his career in 1994, Blanc has designed vertical gardens for many cities and public buildings and inspiration can be taken from his ideas for use in your own garden.  Read more... (607 words, estimated 2:26 mins reading time)

Composting is the decomposition of plant and other living material remains into a dark crumbly substance, full of nutrients and perfect for adding to houseplants or for enriching soil. Composting is the perfect answer to your kitchen waster and can also help to reduce the amount of rubbish which you throw out.

At it’s most simple, a compost heap can be built as a pile on a convenient spot of ground. If you use this route, it is advisable to have your heap away from the house as they aren’t the most beautiful looking things! You can also build a structure around the bin to help contain the compost and make it look a little nicer. Most materials can be used including wood, pallets and plywood, or you can, of course, buy a commercial composting bin.  Read more... (507 words, estimated 2:02 mins reading time)

Homemade cleaners can be just as effective as those expensive cleaners you buy in the supermarket. Here are GreenUpAndGo.com, we have put together some tips and recipes if you want to try making your own cleaning products.

Vinegar
Vinegar is a great all-purpose home-made cleaning solution. Mix an equal quantity of water with an equal quantity of vinegar and use to clean windows. Make sure you use non-coloured newspaper for a streak-free finish to your windows – and recycle or compost the newspaper afterwards. The same mix can also be used for cleaning floors as the vinegar will help cut through grease and dirt.  Read more... (525 words, estimated 2:06 mins reading time)

Barratt, the UK’s largest house building company, will be building England’s first eco-village according to Yvette Cooper, the UK’s housing and planning minister.

Barratt has won the contract to built the eco-friendly community at Hanham Hall near Bristol. It is expected that the work will take three years to complete ensuring it is finished well ahead of the UK Government’s 2016 target of having all new homes being carbon neutral.

To achieve it’s environmentally friendly status, a biomass combined heat and power plant will operate onsite and will provide energy to the entire 200-home complex. There will also be a rainwater capture system, along with farmers’ shops, a car club and plenty of bicycle storage areas.  Read more... (227 words, estimated 54 secs reading time)

Cleaning products often contain a myriad of chemicals which some believe can be detrimental to both the environment and our own health. So, here at GreenUpAndGo.com, we have put together 6 natural recipes for cleaners which you can use around the home.

1. All Purpose Cleaner
60ml vinegar
1 litre warm water
Mix in a spray bottle, then add
1 tablespoon vegetable based liquid soap
25 drops of your favourite essential oil (this eliminates the strong vinegar scent that can linger after use)
Shake gently before each use

2. Disinfectant
Add 30 drops of tea tree oil to the All Purpose cleaner above.  Read more... (413 words, estimated 1:39 mins reading time)

Sustainable forests are one of the key buzz words currently floating around in the business industry, particularly when it comes to furniture. However, not all products marketed as using ‘sustainable’ wood are particularly eco-friendly and some sustainable woods are more sustainable than others.

Here at GreenUpAndGo.com we have put together a list of points you should consider when buying a sustainable wood product.

What does Sustainable Wood actually mean?
Usually, sustainable wood comes from forests that are carefully managed so that they don’t become clear cut. Sustainable wood can also mean wood that has been recycled from unwanted buildings or furniture. There are a number of different programs which state how sustainable forests should have the trees cut down and their timber used.  Read more... (564 words, estimated 2:15 mins reading time)

The UK have unveiled their first zero-emission house which they hope will become the new environmental standard for all future new homes.

The first house to be unveiled is a two-bed house, insulated so that it loses two thirds less heat than an equivalent standard two-bedroomed house. The house features solar panels and a biomass boiler so that it can produce it’s own electricity as well as water efficient devices and rainwater harvesting.  Read more... (266 words, estimated 1:04 mins reading time)

Five new villages of environmetally friendly homes are planned for construction in the UK and construction firms are being invited to bid for the tenders. The developments are planned as a test bed for five “eco-towns” planned by Gordon Brown. In the UK, 40 million tonnes of CO2 are emitted each year, 27% of which comes from housing and there are hopes that the new eco-friendly houses will help reduce this figure and make all new homes in England carbon neutral by 2016. Already, the British government have announced that the new-zero carbon homes under £500,000 will be exempt from stamp duty from October 2007.  Read more... (200 words, estimated 48 secs reading time)

Green – it’s the issue everyone is talking about. Whether you believe in global warming or not, being green can help your bottom line. By making small changes, not only can you work your way towards a greener house, you can also save money. So what changes can you make?

Heating
Staying warm is important, however you are unlikely to notice if the temperature fluctuates by a degree or two. With this in mind, turn your thermostat down by 1 or 2 degrees. If you want to go one step further, invest in some jumpers and wear them around the house – and only turn the heating on when a jumper just isn’t enough.  Read more... (702 words, estimated 2:48 mins reading time)