Comments on: 10 Thoughts about the Guardian’s 10:10

By: Ronnie

Ronnie — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:47:00 +0000

Everyone needs to do a small bit – I think most councils now insist that rubbish is sorted and recyled, and many of them are subsidising wormeries and composters.
Its becoming more and more a way of life for everyone.

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 13:31:52 +0000

I actually received a US/EU patent earlier this year for a water submetering system for apartments that cannot be individually metered. Small meters are enclosed within each plumbing fixture that wirelessly transmit signals to a HUB so that tenants can be billed for their actual water use, and multiple studies have shown they will use less when they are responsible for their own bill. Fuuny thing though, I can’t find a grant or a company with any interest in bringing the system, H20FLO, to market. More money has been spent on the studies than what is needed for the solution. Any ideas ?

By: Matt Waring

Matt Waring — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:55:54 +0000

Hopefully “not having children” is the answer to global warming – no humans is a tad drastic….

By: Sue

Sue — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:54:43 +0000

Re. the landlords thing, there’s a hint this may be on the cards. The DWP put out a consultation document this week talking about the future of housing benefit. One of the big issues for landlords at the mo is that local housing allowance (i.e. housing benefit) is paid direct to tenants, who are then supposed to use it to pay their rent. Unfortunately, not all of them do. Landlord organisations have been agitating for the last 18 monthss or so to change this back to local authorities paying them directly again. The consultation document suggests that direct payments might be restored but the quid pro quo for that would be requiring energy efficiency improvement from landlords. It seems an odd equation to me – I’m all in favour of landlords being required to meet a minimum standard but if you’re going to do that, then just do it – don’t create a two-tier private rental sector.

Of course, as landlords also now have to provide an energy performance certificate with their property (like you get on washing machines) it would be easy enough for prospective tenants to vote with their feet. Sadly I don’t think EPC score is ever very high on a tenant’s list of requirements.

Anyway, that’s quite enough of my job in your comments. /shuts up.

By: dw

dw — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:46:55 +0000

Ha. As you well know, I have no qualms about having a tinkle in the flowerbeds on occasion. I think it comes from living in the country for a while, where it was positively encouraged. You’re right. A bit of me thinks micturting in a urinal or lav, when open soil is available, is absurd.

By: phaude

phaude — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:41:20 +0000

Very true; it really should be terribly easy. For me, however, the best part of this blog is the sentence ‘I live in a town centre location and think pouring urine on my modest garden on a regular basis may not be that clever (although am willing to try)’, which inevitably reminds me of your views about the benefits of fixing nitrates, often, as I recall, merrily burbled from a flower bed late at night. This brings a nostalgic smile to my face.