Going Green – Alternative energy sources are needed as gas prices rise Bedford News

Last article by Angela Terry

Angela Terry, green activist and consumer expert, separates climate change fact from fiction and explains here how you can take simple, practical steps to help save the planet. Follow @ouronehome and visit https://onehome.org.uk/ for more advice.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s official poll shows support for renewable technologies is at an all-time high.

Here’s why the British public is right.

New wind farms are needed more than ever. The energy crisis is a gas crisis.

The sooner we switch to renewables, the sooner we can do something about our sky-high bills. The price of wind remained stable. It is our cheapest source of energy, typically costing around a third of what people will soon pay for electricity.

Soaring gas prices are affecting gas and electricity bills as a significant amount of UK electricity is still produced by burning fossil fuels, mainly gas. The war in Ukraine has made gas prices even more volatile, especially since Vladimir Putin is largely funding his military aggression through the sale of gas. Prices will not stabilize any time soon.

Our household bills are set to rise further in October when the Energy Price Cap – the maximum amount suppliers can charge for each unit of gas and electricity – rises again. This will leave more than 14 million people unable to pay their bills, according to Citizens Advice.

The British government has not prioritized onshore wind in its plans to deal with the energy crisis. Many energy experts had hoped that planning restrictions on onshore wind farms would end. Despite their popularity and affordability, this did not happen.

Onshore wind farms are one of the fastest energy projects to get off the ground. If planning restrictions were removed, any energy company could buy wind turbines and install them within months.

Around 600 wind and solar farm projects across the UK are blocked. If they went ahead, they could provide enough clean energy to replace Britain’s consumption of Russian oil within 18 months.

Wind energy is British energy! More onshore wind turbines would make us more self-sufficient. Getting energy from renewable sources is how we increase our energy security and stop our reliance on expensive fossil fuels from countries ruled by ruthless dictators.

As an island located between the Atlantic and the North Sea, the UK has one of the best natural climates for wind farms. Of course, there is no wind all the time. To ensure consistency and manage demand, the green grid is increasingly powered by a mix of sources – such as wind, solar and hydro.

Football legend David Beckham gave his son Brooklyn a $500,000 electric Jaguar as a wedding present when he married American actress Nicola Peltz.

The doting dad had a pale blue vintage Jaguar XK120 that was fully modernized and electrified by the Lunaz luxury classic car converter.

The two-seater is open-topped and features an all-new cream interior.

Of course, Beckham senior may have had a cut, given he invested in Lunaz last year. He owns a 10% stake in the Silverstone-based company.

Replace the air freshener with an open window.

Research from the University of York shows household spray cans release more harmful chemicals into the atmosphere than all vehicles in the country.

Letting in some fresh air is much better for you and your loved ones. And free!

It is even now found in human blood, in our lungs and in the placenta of unborn babies.

As we all know from watching the David Attenborough documentaries, it takes a long time to break down and then create the dangerous microplastics that enter our bodies.

The best thing we can do is try to avoid plastic.

Whenever possible, opt for unpackaged fruits and vegetables.

Bring your own bags to the supermarket.

You can buy reusable organic cotton bags on Etsy or you can simply reuse old plastic bags.

Try to avoid buying anything in a plastic bottle.

Take a reusable water bottle when you’re on the go.

Encourage children to carry their school water bottles on weekends.

Their teeth will benefit from a reduction in sugary drinks!

To-go sandwiches and salads are so convenient, but they’re wrapped in plastic.

If you have lunch at work, challenge yourself to see how often you can make your own.

You will also save a lot of money!

A growing number of refill shops are springing up, where you can refill bottles with products like washing up liquid, washing powder and fabric softener, as well as shower gels, shampoos and conditioners.

You can also take food containers and fill them with staple foods, such as oats, rice, and pasta. Supermarkets are also getting involved.

Morrisons, Waitrose, Ocado and Marks & Spencer have recently joined a refillable grocery partnership.

By the end of the year, they plan to roll out both unpacked in-store options and pre-filled mini bulk containers for home deliveries, which customers will return on their next delivery.

Most takeaway coffee cups are lined with a plastic liner, to prevent them from leaking.

Everyone contributes to the plastic problem, so try investing in a reusable cup.

Once you get used to carrying it with you, it becomes the norm!

Over 1.2 billion meters of cling film is used by UK households each year.

See if you can do without it by covering bowls of leftovers with a plate or storing them in Tupperware.

You can also invest in reusable beeswax wraps. Lakeland has a good selection. Online, you can try the Peace with the Wild eco-shop.

Palm oil is an environmental no-no.

It is a major cause of deforestation and the impending extinction of orangutans.

However, you can buy cookies and cleaning products that contain “Fair Palm” sustainable palm oil online from Traidcraft.

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