We are an ngo based in the gambia. we have set up a tailoring project using old clothes - which is proving to be very successful. we have been buying the clothes here - very expensive - can you tell us if any of the businesses that take your waste clothing would be willing to send them to us? we are willing to pay for them/transport as long as it is not too prohibitive. we especially want asian/ethnic clothes but virtually everything can be put to very good use. it is not only creating employment but good tailoring/design training as well and we are also adapting much for use in our childrens theatre companies. any help would be greatly appreciated. many thanks and best wishes
kadi touray

Will add contact form soon - meanwhile contact GreeninBrum

I know that many people are deterred from investing in such improvements by being unsure what to do first? What will work in my house? What will be ‘worth it’? Is there a grant? So, I have teamed up with Parity Projects, who have a tried and tested survey method, an analysis programme and ‘Energy Options’ report. They are independent of any product or supplier, and only exist to help people save energy. Many satisfied customers in London. Parity has won sustainability awards from Guardian, Observer and Building magazine.

Russell Smith, the managing director has turned his own home into a demonstration, saving 60% of water and 70% of CO2 emissions. He will be in Birmingham to do the first survey here - it could be you! Thereafter, I will have been trained to do the visits and surveys in Birmingham and Parity will provide the analysis and recommendations. This is a unique service in Birmingham, as far as I know.

The cost is £300 for a three bedroom, £375 pounds for four bedroom. I think this is reasonable for the work involved and Russell says most people get it back in the first year’s savings, plus avoiding wasting money on inappropriate /expensive mistakes in their house.

Parity website is here. But if you are at all interested please do contact me in the first instance on 0121 449 3977 days and evenings - and tell all your friends!

John Newson Low Energy House - 16th & 17th May 2-4pm (John Newson)

You are invited to visit, learn how he has done this, and hopefully be inspired to save energy at home. John also offers to help house owners to create their own energy masterplan. John Newson does energy surveys 0121 449 3977 With interest rates so low, energy saving measures may now give the best return on savings.

With snow on the roofs of buildings and no sunshine, now is a very good time to see how well insulated your house is. Just go outside and have a
look. You might also notice that snow on the ground close to buildings has melted. Even well insulated buildings leak heat at ground level (our house too) unless the insulation carries on down into the ground. Apparently 1 metre deep is recommended.

Thanks to Oz for this.

So far the Kyoto Protocol has arguably done very little to tackle climate change on a global scale, but is there another way? Oliver Tickell believes there is. The journalist, environmentalist and author of Kyoto2: How to Manage the Global Greenhouse is coming to Birmingham to discuss the Kyoto2 Initiative which proposes a new framework for a global climate treaty.

Jointly organised by Birmingham Friends of the Earth and Aston University, the event will be taking place on Tuesday 17th February at 6:30pm at Aston University Business School Conference Centre and will be introduced by Professor Julia King, Vice Chancellor of Aston University and advisor to the government’s climate change committee.

Climate change guru George Monbiot describes Kyoto2 as “The most intelligent treatment of the politics and economics of climate change I have ever read. Brilliant, clear and unanswerable.”

You can find out more about Kyoto2 and Oliver Tickell at www.kyoto2.org.

Help to spread the word by joining the Facebook event page here.

From the Birmingham Friends of the Earth website.

I like the sound of the “traditional cheeses hand-made just a few miles away at Earlswood”. (And happy to have a debate about organics, veganism, localism and global warming in the comments.)

We are hoping to use sustainable materials, such as hemp or wool as the insulating material. Connected to this we have two questions and wonder if anyone can help:

- Does any of you know of a good place for sourcing these materials? They still seem really expensive from our builder’s first research. We are wondering if any of you already got stuff like this and can help.

- Does any of you know of any grants that are available for using sustainable building material, that are less toxic and can be re-used rather than burdening the landfill if they ever had to be un-done?
Any help, either direct advice or websites to search etc very much appreciated!

From Birgit of BSustained

Basic listings are free, and organisations can go to the site and list their details themselves. Initially we are concentrating on signing up businesses: any business based in the area selling anything which can help to reduce carbon emissions.