Private Firework Displays To Be Banned?

Following a number of years of firework-related disasters the New Zealand Government will be looking to revise their stance on whether or not private displays will be permitted. Every Guy Fawkes fire fighters and fire fighting resources are stretched beyond capacity due to consistent irresponsible usage. Not only are numerous casualties reported every year, but many bush fires break out all over the country. The RSPCA has been lobbying against private firework sales, expressing concern at the way animals fearfully respond to the noise and lights.

So, the future of private fireworks, in New Zealand at least, does not look fantastic. This year was geared up to be a trial period with the ultimatum, behave or else. As we have seen in the news, there have still been incidents and these could weigh in the favour of a ban, with only council operated displays being allowed.

Personally I think it’s about time a ban comes into effect. The number of fires that have ravaged our native bush is a price far too high to pay, think of all that air pollution as well! After this years accident (during a professional event) involving three young children receiving burn injuries, one major super market chain has decided to cease selling fireworks and others say they may follow the lead.

Do you think it’s time for a change or do we stick with tradition?

Product Review: Recycline Preserve Razors

To give them their correct (and unweildly) title - Preserve Razor Recyclable by Recycline - are recycled razors. While with their bright colours and plastic handles they look like disposable razors, they are in fact anti-disposable razors and while light and similar to say a Bic razor, the blade pops off and you can add a replacement. In fact you can buy just the blades separately here as well which fit some other manufacturers’ handles.

The come in a pack of four which may seem over the top, but I know how grubby handles can get over time so I’ve just stored the rest away from when I need them. Well, two of them - the other has gone to my girlfriend (see later).

So what’s different about these razors? Well the handles are made from 100% recycled plastic - mainly from yoghurt (or yogurt if you like) pots and once you’ve finished with it you can recycle it again. The manufacturer says anywhere who takes type 5 plastics will recycle it or they will do it themselves, www.recycline.com provides address labels or you can request envelopes to send them back in and they’ll make them into picnic tables. Lovely. Same with their toothbrushes and tongue cleaners (my tongue is fine thank you very much). No mention of the actual blades though.

But the important thing with a razor is whether it works or not. And here’s the thing, I have a beard. It’s only a short one though so I considered shaving it off to test it. I have only had the beard for 18 months and have shaved it off twice so do have considerable experience in shaving, but there’s the itchiness involved with growing it back and I didn’t fancy it. So I cheated instead.

The test for men
Well not cheated exactly, but shared the wealth and asked someone else to do it. Rob duly obliged. Happy to have something for free and willing to give almost anything a go, he shaved to his heart’s content. And you know what? He loved it. Shaving is a solitary pursuit but I was there before and after his first shave. He has two razors he uses normally - a flashy one with a metal handle and expensive blades, and a rigid disposable one which he uses more often. While the Preserve razor looked more like the disposable one but bigger, it was much lighter than the ‘proper’ razor so I was interested to see which he preferred. And I was surprised with the results.

He loved the Preserve one. In fact, he said it was the nicest shave he had ever had! And “I only cut myself once, and that was my fault”. Not sure what he was doing but it’s good to hear. Despite being made of one piece of (recycled) plastic, the Preserve razor offers a lot of flexibility and comfort. Even disposables have the soothing strip on these days, but this seemed a bit better and cut with ease.

After five minutes of Rob talking about it, I thought maybe he’d had too much and was tempted to take it away from him. But razors need to be used over and over so I left it with him to get a longer-term opinion. And he still likes it a few weeks later. One happy customer.

The test for women
Legs this time. While I could have tested this myself, I’m not a cross-dresser or a cyclist, so left this to the girlfriend. Sadly she wouldn’t let me take pictures to put up but I assure you she did use it. I know this because she cut her knee open and I had to get up off the sofa to see what all the noise was about. However it turns out it was user error, rather than the razor’s fault, and the rest of her legs were silky smooth.

She’s used it a few times since and likes the fact it’s light and shaves as well as her well-known brand multi bladed razor and as it’s better for the environment she’ll be using the other wones too.

Thanks again goes to Nigel’s Eco Store for supplying them, you can buy the razor and spare blades here and just the blades here if you’re in the EU. For the rest of the world, try Drugstore.com.

Will Driving At The Speed Limit Save The Planet?

Whilst not one of our 100 ways to save the planet the UK government’s Commission for Integrated Transport believes that changes to the way we drive can massively decrease emissions. As CO₂ emissions from cars and lorries still outweigh those from air travel by a long way, one possible help for the environment would come from drivers to having to attend state-sponsored lessons in eco-motoring.

A BBC article looked at the difference in CO₂ emissions when driving at 70 miles per hour (the UK speed limit on a motorway) and at 80mph. The results? 33% more CO₂ is produced when driving at 80mph rather than 70mph.

A few simple driving techniques, such as accelarating slowly, judging when the traffic lights will change and slowing gently, can all help to reduce fuel consumption (and emissions) by 25%,saving an average or around £200/$400 a year.

[Via: BBC]

The Fun Green Roundup #6

Salmon sperm
I couldn’t think of an amusing title for this for some reason, but supposedly salmon sperm could be a component in future LEDs.

Andrew Steckl, an expert in photonics from the University of Cincinnati (don’t worry, I had to look up photonics too, it’s apparently the science of generating, controlling, and detecting photons. I should have guessed) says: “Salmon sperm is considered a waste product of the fishing industry. It’s thrown away by the ton. It’s natural, renewable and perfectly biodegradable.” And helps LEDs somehow. Waste not, want not.

What about the pandas?
There’s a glut of bamboo products on the market at the moment for some reason. Probably because it’s fast growing. Life Goggles talked about some of them here.

Green faith
While religion is serious and not ‘fun’ as such, I thought I’d include a couple of developments here. Treehugger reports on not only the first FSC-certified Bible from Christian publishing company Thomas Nelson Inc. but also a solar powered audio bile here - which is useful!

Shower shock
Take short showers or face the consequences!

Solar Vending Machines

Vending machines can be found just about everywhere, except, maybe, where they’re needed most - tucked away on a remote beach or at the end of a gruelling golf-course hole. An Anglo-Spanish firm has come up with a solution: an off-the-grid, solar-powered vending machine that can be placed anywhere there’s adequate sunlight. In the process, Solar Energy Vending (SEV) has greatly expanded the locations that can be served by an industry that matured decades ago.

A big challenge for SEV was developing a refrigeration system strong enough to keep the machine’s food and drinks cool, while powered solely by the sun. Solar panels on top keep the machine’s refrigerator running, and a rechargeable battery provides power at night or during prolonged cloudy periods. A wind turbine can substitute for solar cells in less sunny climes, where hot beverages could make the vending dispensers a popular stop-off along ski runs.

The company has been working on the concept since 2004. Machines have been placed at locations throughout Spain and on at least one golf course in the UK. Besides revenue from sales of food and drinks, the machines are also equipped to display advertising. SEV’s website touts what could be another major enticement for machine purchasers, at least in Europe, saying EEC regulations waive income taxes on profits from the machines since they rely on renewable energy.

SEV’s vending machines join a growing number of devices, such as road signs and emergency phones, that can be placed just about anywhere, thanks to their reliance on solar energy.

[Via Springwise]

Could You Live Without Toilet Paper?

Once again the BBC have an interesting article on a family in New York trying to live without toilet paper, shampoo or other toiletries.

No Impact Man, or Colin Beavan as he’s known, is trying to reduce the amount of toiletries his family uses as part of the latest stage of his involvement in environmentally friendly or sustainable projects around the city.

The first stage of the one-year experiment was to reduce rubbish. The family buys only second-hand goods and takes a hamper to the market. Food is bought every other day from the nearby farmers’ market on Union Square, and put in the hamper without wrapping. The family then stopped using all carbon-producing transport, so they now walk or cycle. They then shut down electricity in the flat - no more dishwasher, fridge or washing machine.

Now they are trying to reduce the amount of water they use, from the 80-100 gallons (303-379 litres) a day used by the average American, down to seven!! The average European uses about 150 litres or water a day, not because they wash less(!) but due to having smaller gardens, small bathrooms, smaller washing machines and so on.

Not everyone wants to go to these extremes, but could you manage it? I’m not sure I could…

More Wooden Products

After writing about bamboo products last week (here), I was pointed in the direction of this lovely wooden computer. Whether it works or not I have no idea, but if someone can speak Russian, perhaps they could go here and let me know. Otherwise just marvel at its beauty.

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