YOUR PICTURE OF THE DAY
A serene Ogden Water by Paul Greenwood
blocked. HS2 is approved when it will cause a swathe of destruction, wrecking houses, farm land and ancient woodlands.
Whilst road fuel is taxed at about 60 per cent, aviation and cruise fuel is tax free.
Although our Government is useless, one can take action to reduce one’s carbon emissions.
Unlike politicians, I practice what I preach. For the past 50 years I have had a home with loft insulation, cavity wall insulation and double glazing. I have a large garden and produce quite a bit of fruit and veg, reducing food miles. This year my apple tree has produced a record crop of about 300 organic apples.
I have given a quarter away and my wife and I are eating about 10 per week. The carbon emissions from meat production are high and my wife and I have reduced our meat consumption but finding it hard to completely eliminate meat from our diet.
We do have eight to 10 portions of fruit or veg per day. Our biodegradable waste is composted and spread on the garden.
I try to make clothing last. My suit, for weddings and funerals, is 33 years old and should see my time out. I hate shopping and do not like “stuff ”. However, I have an excellent pair of hiking boots and anorak from our local outdoor shop. There are hundreds of walks in Calderdale and it is much healthier to do one of these than go shopping.
This has been an exceptional year for sunshine and electricity production from my solar panels was a new record. I generated about 3100 KWh which is about equal to our consumption.
Financially, I received more than double my expenditure on gas and electricity. My gas boiler is about seven years old but when it needs replacing I will move to a heat pump.
There are lots of little things one can do.
I have milk delivered in bottles and our shampoo is a solid block. I use peat free compost for my tomatoes and reuse the compost for my runner beans. I collect rain water for use in the garden.
During winter, the rain from two of my tubs is diverted into my pond, which is my contribution to reducing flooding in Brighouse. Going green is good for the planet, can produce financial savings and gives one personal satisfaction in helping others.
‘Going green is good for the planet, can produce financial savings and gives one personal satisfaction in
helping others’