The runners-up in Home all have prizes coming their way. Congratulations to them all for their fantastic green efforts.
Alex nominated his Mum as he thinks she's a true pioneer of 'green' living. As children, Alex and his brothers and sister would regularly join her on 'Get-a-Grip on Litter' campaigns – which would see them wandering around parks in Brighton wearing ridiculous plastic capes picking up litter! They've always had a compost bin in the house; recycling is routine; and they all love their bicycles. Alex has sometimes felt she goes too far – rather than flushing the toilet the normal way she uses a bucket to scoop out old bath water! However she has instilled in Alex and his siblings a sense of duty to the planet, and for that he wants to thank her.
Andrew was nominated as he has an energy-efficient home, has never driven a car because of fuel emissions, and has walked or ridden everywhere for 38 years! He donates money to replant trees, and has reclaimed land from building companies that have dumped materials and made it into a wonderful community area as well as space for a football pitch – all because one little boy got his ball stuck. It took him months to reclaim and level the area safely for no reward and it is now maintained by local residents. Since then, unfortunately, Andrew has become disabled, but is definitely William's true green hero.
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Andy was nominated by his friend Alasdair who describes him as a "Green Hero". His house is adorned with solar panels and other carbon offsetting features. He is also an entrepreneur who has opened a successful business which helps individuals and businesses reduce their energy consumption whilst working with them to allow them to generate their own energy supply. Andrew is committed to his vision of helping individuals within the UK reduce their carbon footprint and, as such, Alasdair didn't hesitate to nominate him as a Team Green Britain "HERO"!
Anna was nominated by her husband Stuart who describes her as his wonderful wife who cares very much for the environment. They live in a council flat with no garden and she runs a large allotment so that she can grow all their veg – which she works very hard at. Anna also insists on recycling EVERYTHING! Including old clothes. She is also part of the British Antarctic Expedition where she will be the first British woman to cross Antarctica in 2011, and she will be touring all the local schools bringing the plight of our ice caps and global warming to their attention. Green Hero for sure!
Barbara was nominated by John who says she's a wonderful person, so energetic and busy with her garden (together with husband, Ed) where they have many varieties of fruit and vegetables. They are nearly self-sufficient in these, as a lot is preserved. Barbara is Secretary of Christian Ecology Link and helps to promote 'Green Thinking and Action' all over the UK and further. She is often seen on her bicycle and she generates electricity via 14 PV panels on the south-facing roof of their house – also solar water heating. Her cheerful disposition and warm hospitality make her John's 'GREEN HERO’!
Over the last 18 months, Bob has set up an organisation to help his entire village go green. He has created something special called Lache Garden Village – he was nominated by Kristine who thinks it's superb, a fantastic effort and that he deserves a medal. He has created allotments; is putting in place training so that everyone knows how to grow their own food; he has raised funds to put in a greenhouse; and he is looking at all the green spaces in the village where you can plant fruit and veg.
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Ken nominated Bone Dry who operates a dry organic carpet-cleaning company. They do not use hundreds of gallons of water or detergents, but a completely plant-based organic system that absorbs the dirt. The waste can then be composted. Thus saving a valuable resource (water) and stopping damage to carpeting such as shrinkage and mould.
Bryan was nominated by his wife Carol because he's single-handedly planted some 19.8 acres of a variety of trees in their fields which now bring in both wildlife and have helped to change the scenery in their village.
David and Catherine were nominated by Mark for what he describes as a simple idea and a couple of people brave enough to give it a go – an inspiration to anyone who has ever wanted to do something practical about recycling. The Cambridge Woodworks is an alternative to conventional skips and ensures waste wood is recycled. Mark hopes they go from strength to strength as they really deserve to succeed.
Celia is her daughter Jessica's green hero, because she's passionate about environmental issues and has researched the subject so she knows the facts. She very rarely uses her car; will no longer fly; has insulated her house; has replaced her boiler with one that’s more efficient; and grows her own veg on her allotment. She is also part of the High Wycombe Transition Town movement and works hard to educate people on the small changes they can make to lower their carbon footprint. Jessica feels she's a real hero who deserves recognition for her energy and commitment to green issues.
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Chris was nominated because in spite of working 16-hour days as a teacher and, more recently, an education consultant, Chris has been recycling the household waste for over 20 years and composting all suitable food waste. He has recently planted a vegetable patch and has been growing fruit trees and bushes for two decades. This dedication also extends to the local community; since 2006, Chris has been heavily involved with the Nettleham Woodland Trust, responsible for the purchase of land nearby and the creation of a wood and nature reserve.
David loves to recycle everything and hates anything that can be recycled to be thrown away. He takes all the bottles etc to the dump, and puts them in the proper bins. Jeanette nominated him and doesn't always understand why he does it but describes him as happiest when he is recycling. Which is why she voted for her greener-than-green husband.
David was nominated by Ciaran and states he has the greenest low-energy house on the Isle of Wight. He founded their local green think tank/pressure group, and continually finds ways to encourage others and challenge himself to lower his carbon footprint. A true green hero.
Derek was nominated because he makes a difference in home, food and travel. At home he lives on £132 a week; uses low-energy light bulbs; recently insulated the loft – and has foam-insulated walls, double-glazing and a wood burning stove to heat water and central heating. Derek has used only 8 kWh per day of electricity over last 20 months, which is a 20% reduction. He also reduced the amount of water he uses to 8m3 per year and uses rain water to flush the lavatory. In terms of food, he only fills one waste wheelie bin every six weeks and always uses food up unless it’s out of date. Travel-wise, his car was laid up for four months during the winter, so he walks and uses buses and coaches. Therefore he has reduced his car mileage to 3,200 in 11 months when previously he was covering 1,000 miles per month [70% reduced].
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Doreen is over 70 and was nominated by her daughter Frances. She describes her as single-handedly trying to save the world! As well as looking after her mother who is 99 years old, this year she's grown her own veg and fruit, recycles absolutely everything and generates her electricity and hot water with solar power. She has also started a focus group to try to reduce waste going to landfill. She sounds like a hippy type, but she is actually a retired vicar!
Jane nominated Emma because despite the pressures of being a first-time Mum with a full time job, she does everything she can to be as green as possible about bringing up her daughter. She uses real nappies, organic biodegradable baby wipes and good fresh food for Lara, and generally makes sure everything connected with her baby is as green as possible without ever getting stressed or obsessive over it. The child minders she uses while she is at work have adopted a lot of her ways for the other children they look after too, and Emma writes a popular blog where she shares her tips with other parents.
Georgia was nominated by her Dad Mark. She was taught the 3Rs at school – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, but was upset her school were not following the same routine at lunchtimes. So she introduced a carton and plastic bottle recycling scheme, staying in at lunchtime, providing bins and taking the waste to the recycling bins each evening for months. Blue Peter were so impressed with her efforts that they came and filmed her at school and awarded her a green BP badge. Now her school and Local Education Authority have taken on her ideas and recycling at lunch is no longer her sole responsibility. A great achievement for a 10-year-old.
Graham is currently working to develop a community lands trust in Shirebrook in the East Midlands. The project involves developing 80 new sustainable homes aimed at reducing carbon emissions. He is aiming to provide a green housing development where people will aspire to live. He pilots things at home that can be replicated in the development of new housing and is Mark's everyday hero.
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John was nominated by Robert because he has been the focal point for environmental issues in Guildford for many years – working in a voluntary capacity. He successfully ran the Guildford Environmental Forum until recently; got local schools to install renewable energy; made the local council start dealing with climate change; persuaded many householders to look at energy use, waste, food consumption etc; and organised exchange visits with Freiburg in Germany (a model eco-town). A keen cyclist, he is also a leading light in Guildford Transition Town, Friends of the Earth and he helped kick-start the Greening Guildford initiative.
Jurgen was nominated by his wife because not only has he turned a useless bit of patio into a vegetable plot watered by three large butts, but they also no longer flush their toilet with lovely clean water from the mains. He has plumbed in one of the water butts so that when they flush the toilet it pumps the rainwater to the bathroom using either a short or long flush. When the water falls below a certain level it automatically reverts back to the mains until the next downpour. So, by utilising rain water off the roof first, they're doing something for the environment and their bills too.
Karina was nominated by Barbara because she has one of the most ‘green’ ways of life that she knows. Barbara says she's inspirational at organising green events and getting people on board to share her enthusiasm for community-based activities such as sharing skills and resources. She’s hard-working too and involved in local authority events such as the West Bridgford Green Streets, where everyone is encouraged to walk or use their bikes and to recycle. She has a husband and two sons and through her allotment has provided for their nutritional needs and inspired others. She is an excellent role model for healthy, sustainable living.
Kev rescues and sources old furniture and materials people are sending to landfill and turns them into amazing modern, contempory and retro furniture and interior design for the home. All done from his home (a caravan on the top of the beach) in Cornwall, and with no formal training – just a shed-load of imagination and creativity. Since starting in Nov 2009, he has almost completed his own home, and has been offered a place to commission his furniture in a unique shop in Truro as well as several private commission requests. It is his dream to one day turn this hobby and passion into a future career which is why Marianne nominated him.
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Lee was nominated by Hannah because he is really dedicated to doing every little thing to help the environment, he examines all packaging and washes everything that can be recycled before recycling it. But before anything gets recycled, he'll try to re-use it; or if he's given something he doesn't need, he does his best to get it to someone who does need it. He just goes over and above his duty to ‘do his part’ in helping out the planet.
Lotti was nominated by Lucy because her green credentials cover everything. She organised a local eco-team (of which Lucy was a member) meeting in her flat where they weighed rubbish; reduced their carbon footprints through less waste; eschewed plastic bags; shopped locally; checked-out energy use; and more. She talks to their local council about the recycling policy which she passionately supports and is an active member of West London Citizens’ Greener Planet Action Team. She uses paper bags or newspapers to line her bins and got her block of flats to use the council recycle bags and bio degradable bin bags for all other household waste.
Luis is 15 years old and was nominated by his Mum Anne who describes him as a green demon around the house and neighbourhood! He's constantly turning off lights; banging on the bathroom door to remind us to take less time in the shower; switching off sockets; pulling out chargers; turning down the heating; asking 4x4 owners to consider their choice of car; using his bike to go everywhere; and trying to organise car-shares amongst his neighbours and friends etc. He is relentless in his quest to save the planet and save us money! Three green cheers to him!
Mark was nominated by his wife Samantha as he has just written and had published a book on Green IT – 'GREEN IT FOR SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS PRACTICE'. He is very passionate about it, and tries to incorporate any green practice into their everyday lives. Therefore he is Samantha's 'Green Hero'!
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Mark was nominated by his partner Janine because he has created his own solar lighting system in the shed; recycles everything possible; makes logs for the fire out of non-recyclable waste paper; has two composters; and is now setting up biodiesel with their neighbour to recycle waste vegetable oil for fuel for both households’ vehicles. He wants to try to create a prototype wind turbine that could easily be attached to a house, and his final aim is for all houses to be mostly self-sufficient with regards to energy production.
Matthew was nominated by Trevor who describes him as an extraordinary man who is extremely driven. He cycles to his work every day and uses a unique water conservation idea to water his garden and supply his beautiful pond. Matthew is very innovative and recently started using a cycle to power an outside choral event in Merton. Matthew is supported by his best friend Chris who is equally responsible for keeping Britain green! Trevor can’t think of two more deserving people to be recognised as they are extremely conscientious and caring of the environment and community.
Michael has spinal osteoarthritis, which is extremely painful. His knees have started to fail him and he has steel rods and spacers in his spine to hold him together, and to hold him up. Yet he is growing all his own fruit and he's growing spuds and all vegs that he can: lettuce, onions, broccoli, carrots, parsnip, two kinds of beetroot, two lots beans, peas, chillis, sweet peppers, three different kinds of mint, sage, chives, rosemary, thyme, oregano, marjoram, two kinds of lemon balm, two different kind of parsnips, three different types of carrots, brussel sprouts, swede Swiss chard, spring onions, mixed lettuce. He is Danielle's everyday hero.
Jon lives in a block of seven flats with Michelle who lives in one with daughter Jess (8), and they are the best of greenies! They’ve completely reinvented the shared garden, growing lots of food for everyone, from rhubarb to tomatoes and peppers, as well as keeping chickens for eggs. Inside the house, they keep energy use to a minimum, and Jess much prefers playing in the garden to watching TV, though she does like Doctor Who. When they go on holiday, they always camp and explore somewhere new in the UK. They really are green heroes, and they make it look great fun!
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Mike is described by Wendy as a recycling zealot. Everything possible is recycled or reused (plastic carrier bags are refused, and plastic bags coming into the house, are washed and reused). Vegetable waste is composted on his local allotment where he grows enough fruit and veg to be self-sufficient for about eight months of the year. He has been instrumental in organising fellow allotment holders to help create wildlife habitats on the site, and pond plants, flowers and trees have been planted at the site as a result. He travels by train whenever he goes to Europe and uses his bike in town where possible.
Nominated by Susan, she describes Nigel as someone who campaigns/lobbies everyday for improving the energy efficiency of homes on an unpaid volunteer basis and he has a great influence on government thinking/policy. He is known to government ministers, and 2,000 politicians, civil servants, CEOs, associations, local authorities and environmental lobby groups etc. In the media, he has been called an environmental evangelist. Because of this, Susan would like to reward for his hard work to make the UK's 26 million homes 'green', because he is a hero for everyone, not just for her.
Patti was nominated by an old school friend, Melissa, because she has dedicated her life to trying to live as self-sufficiently as possible, whilst maintaining a normal family life with her husband and two daughters. A few years ago, they bought an old cottage in Devon, with a little bit of land, and she works the garden and looks after the animals, as well as writing articles for magazines. She has been remarkably inventive in her bartering and re-cycling – Melissa recently heard her asking a friend what the going rate for a haircut might be; and believes there was talk of chickens! Or was it lamb?
Nominated by Hannah, Pete and Linda manage to grow fruit and veg and keep chickens despite living in a town. Linda spins, weaves, knits, felts and sews. Peter is a dab-hand at making anything out of scraps from skips such as four poster beds and trombone lamps! They use solar panels to heat their water, love free cycle and even reused an old bath as a raised bed! They heat the house using wood burners – collecting wood from friends. One stove has an oven, perfect for making casseroles. Peter and Linda even create their own cordial, wine and gin with wild berries.
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Peter has devoted the last 40 years to environmental causes. Initially as the secretary of West Cornwall Friends of the Earth (1970s). From 1980, Peter has been involved in every sort of environmental work, acting on local planning issues – initially as the planning co-ordinator for West Cornwall Friends of the Earth, then as a Penwith District Councillor where he established a reputation for defending West Cornwall from inappropriate development. Elected as a Cornwall county councillor in 2005, he carried on his exceptional work in the interests of the local and national environment.
The Reeds are Ronald’s everyday hero's because when they were adding an extension to a 18-century cottage they ensured that:
- ground-source heating was installed which involved digging up a paddock to lay 200m of pipe work to draw heat from the ground, and the installation of a heat pump which ensures efficient eco-friendly heat
- installed the highest spec cavity-wall, ceiling and loft insulation and double-glazing throughout
- installed two Velux 'sun tunnels' to capture the natural light and disperse it along the first floor landing so that the need for electric lighting was minimised
- installed wood-burning stoves so that logs can be burned in the winter
- ensured that all the rainfall on the roof of the building is harvested and used in the garden and is also piped to a newly made pond
- dug a new vegetable garden which is now producing potatoes, runner beans, lettuce and more great veggies. Compost is made on site and added to by the local farmer who tips over the garden hedge a tractor bucket load of farm manure
- increased the flock of free range chickens to 10 so as to be self-sufficient in the best eggs you can get
- keep three sheep to keep the grass low, so reducing the need for a mower!
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Ron was nominated by his daughter Cate as he has solar panels on his roof for electric and hot water. Any excess electric is exported into the National Grid. He never leaves things on at home and minimises water consumption. His house has the maximum amount of insulation possible including cavity-wall which he has had for years. He grows his own veg and has an energy-efficient car. He is a volunteer warden on the local AONB – Cannock Chase, where he does a lot of litter-picking and habitat management. He has been doing all this for years and is 77 years old. He installed a love in the environment in his daughter.
Sue has built her business over the last three years and offers the most amazing directories, information, guidance and practical advice on how to be green in all areas of life. She has recommendations from HRH Prince of Wales and Al Gore. Her passion for being, and helping others to be, green is second to none. In her friends opinion, Sue thoroughly deserves this award for her time, energy and sacrifices made in order to make a big green difference.
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Tessa (and her husband Matt), from Cambridge, only use reusable nappies for their eight-month-old son, Archie and were nominated by Emma. Their whole house has energysaving light bulbs; they are avid recyclers; never use their tumble dryer; and Tessa cycles to work. They pay a bit extra to use 'green energy' through their energy supplier, turn all their sockets off and shower instead of using the bath. Matt has recently worked on a project to turn human excrement into electricity and they co-founded a business called Droplet Ltd, an online water-saving device shopping portal, which was active for a year and is currently dormant.
J S Smith nominated Wendy as a green hero because she founded a group called Cheltenham Connect nine months ago. One of the objectives is aimed at exploring ways of helping the community save energy and become more knowledgeable about peak oil issues and sustainability. Cheltenham Connect believes that the long-term stability and resilience of our local community depends upon its ability to adapt to the issues of climate change whilst exploiting the opportunities arising from declining energy supply.
Joan nominated her granddaughter Wendy, because she lives by what she teaches at secondary school. She leads an eco group at school and organised a community eco day at her school to coincide with Green Britain Day. She's gone to great lengths to invite all the community, including getting Joan to take flyers to her bowling club. She lives sustainably and encourages others to follow her lead. When she organises walks to school, she leads by example and believes you should be the change you want to see.
Yad is described as not only Sandra's hero, but the hero of Manchester. He rides his bike every Saturday so he will help save the environment; he uses recycled paper; reuses every plastic bag; separates glass, paper and other litter; and showed Sandra how to save energy and be eco-friendly by switching off electrical items at the plug. He also inspired her to grow her own vegetables and many more things.
Joyce nominated Zoe because she recycles everything it is possible to recycle. She even picks up items from other people's houses if they don't recycle themselves. She is determined to spread the message that it is important to recycle. Zoe has recently started to grow her own fruit and vegetables for her family; in order to live a more sustainable lifestyle. She tries to find ways to save energy in her home.
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