<<...>> My London flat must be the most rigorously scrutinised property on the planet - in terms of its eco-performance. I've spent the last few months researching and specifying what eco-renovations are to be done - with help from green architect Jerry Tate. But this week, just before submitting an extensive tender document to builders, I had a number of energy specialists give their opinion.  The first was a trio - Sue Welland from Homesun who came with John Parker and Tim Hipperson from Eaga.  They were followed by John Doggart from the Sustainable Energy Academy.  He calculated that my renovations could be slashing carbon emissions by over 60%, making the flat eligible as a Superhome.   See longer blog I've written on this by clicking here -  http://juliahailesblog.blogspot.com/2011/04/eco-scrutiny-of-my-eco-renovation.html  

 

 

 

I went to see Gyles Brandreth at the Octagon in Yeovil.  That morning I heard him on Desert Island Discs.  This morning, he's on Radio 2.  I took a couple of friends with me.  One of them Guido Galante didn't know who Gyles was - he assumed the talk must be about something 'green'.  Anyone who does know Gyles will also know that 'green' is not high on his agenda.  I think he might have referred to it once, in slighly cynical terms.   But he was great fun.  He came on stage in a rather unexciting suit, with no props and no scenery.  But he held the audience throughout with witty anecdotes about his life, people he's met - and being an MP.   My favourite story was about him trying to get publicity during his short political career.   He responded to the letter of a woman who was close to her 111th birthday, arriving with entourage and photographers and a cake, on the day.   But, by the time he arrived, she was dead.  He then discovered that she wasn't about to be 111 but had written to him saying that she was 'ill'!  

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It's brilliant - I'm over the moon!  I now have 20:20 vision again.  I had the surgery just before Christmas.  It was totally painless - although a little frightening.   But I was completely confident in the surgeon - Dr. Dan Reinstein (http://www.londonvisionclinic.com/world-class-expertise/dan-reinstein) from the London Vision Clinic (http://www.londonvisionclinic.com), which he set up.   I've been a contact lens wearer for about 35 years.   And, for me, that meant putting them in every morning and taking them out every night.   Now, I'm wondering what I should be doing once I've cleaned my teeth!   It's also great for reading.  I was just beginning to need reading glasses, as well as my lenses - that meant a different pair of glasses for when my lenses were in and when they were out.  It was quite a rigmarole.  

From an environmental point of view, laser treatment is a good thing.  I kept the waste from using lenses to a minimum, but there are lots of people who have disposables - and the cleaning fluids have to be changed regularly too.  Looking around the London Vision Clinic, I did think there could be some improvements from the environmental perspective.  For a start their letterhead is designed with their logo taking up the whole of the reverse side of the page - so single-sided is the only option.  The lighting too is exrtremely bright, I suspect there could be some energy savings there.   I think they should carry out an environmental review of their practices.

Overall, however, I have to say that the London Vision Clinic has been marvellous. The customer service is second to none.  All the staff are very helpful.  You have someone allocated to you to discuss any issues you may have.  And the surgeon, in this case Dr Dan, is extremely attentive.  The night after the operation I got a text to ask how I was - and it wasn't automated - and there were further texts to check I was OK when I had some light sensitivity problems.  

So I'm starting 2011 with clear vision.  But my eye-sight was not the only thing to get sorted in 2010.  But it has helped me feel liberated and as a result I'm starting the year with a massive clearout.   One of the repercussions is having Lego all over the bathroom floor - it has been washed in preparation for being stored in the attic.  There are also new initiatives on the work front too - I've decided to set up a campaign on E-Waste.  More on that coming soon…

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It's brilliant - I'm over the moon!  I now have 20:20 vision again.  I had the surgery just before Christmas.  It was totally painless - although a little frightening.   But I was completely confident in the surgeon - Dr. Dan Reinstein (http://www.londonvisionclinic.com/world-class-expertise/dan-reinstein) from the London Vision Clinic (http://www.londonvisionclinic.com), which he set up.   I've been a contact lens wearer for about 35 years.   And, for me, that meant putting them in every morning and taking them out every night.   Now, I'm wondering what I should be doing once I've cleaned my teeth!   It's also great for reading.  I was just beginning to need reading glasses, as well as my lenses - that meant a different pair of glasses for when my lenses were in and when they were out.  It was quite a rigmarole.  

From an environmental point of view, laser treatment is a good thing.  I kept the waste from using lenses to a minimum, but there are lots of people who have disposables - and the cleaning fluids have to be changed regularly too.  Looking around the London Vision Clinic, I did think there could be some improvements from the environmental perspective.  For a start their letterhead is designed with their logo taking up the whole of the reverse side of the page - so single-sided is the only option.  The lighting too is exrtremely bright, I suspect there could be some energy savings there.   I think they should carry out an environmental review of their practices.

Overall, however, I have to say that the London Vision Clinic has been marvellous. The customer service is second to none.  All the staff are very helpful.  You have someone allocated to you to discuss any issues you may have.  And the surgeon, in this case Dr Dan, is extremely attentive.  The night after the operation I got a text to ask how I was - and it wasn't automated - and there were further texts to check I was OK when I had some light sensitivity problems.  

So I'm starting 2011 with clear vision.  But my eye-sight was not the only thing to get sorted in 2010.  So I'm feeling liberated and as a result am starting the year with a massive clearout.   One of the repercussions is having Lego all over the bathroom floor - it has been washed in preparation for being stored in the attic.  There are also new initiatives on the work front too - I've decided to set up a campaign on E-Waste.  More on that coming soon…

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I haven't seen all the programmes but I think it's a great idea.  The Big Fish Fight is highlighting fishy problems.  Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall focused on the complete madness of fish discards.  His film showed boatfuls of cod and other delicious fish just being chucked back overboard, dead.  The fishermen apparently have no choice.  They're not legally allowed to land certain fish species because of EU quotas.  Ironically, the quota system is designed to conserve fish stocks.  That makes it even more of a nonsense.  Luckily our fisheries minister, Richard Benyon,  is also contemptuous of the policy and appears determined to change it.  Hopefully, Hugh's Fish Fight - and the other programmes will make it easier for him.   http://www.channel4.com/4food/the-big-fish-fight 

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I love Dr. Seuss.   The Lorax, Green Eggs and Ham, The Pale Green Pair of Pants with nobody in side them, Hortense the Elephant who was faithful 100% - they're all an integral part of my childhood.  Now Marcus Brigstocke has used Dr Seuss's style for a poem on Climate change - and specifically about the inability of the world to do anything about it at Copenhagen last year.   It's a year out of date but still worth listening to. 

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I was amazed to hear that the 2022 FIFA World Cup will be hosted by Qatar.  Apparently the temperature could be over 40C, which might mean wilting members of the audience and some pretty lethargic footballers.   Looking at the Qatar bid website, I've noticed that they're promising carbon neutral air-conditioned stadiums - outdoors!   I'm intrigued.  Air conditioning is generally a big contributor to climate change.  It's not just the energy used but the cooling fluids, which have a very high global warming impact.   But the Qatar website says 'the technologies we are developing to cool our stadiums will also be made available for use around the world'.   Is this a ground-breaking development for air conditioning or a promise that's full of hot air?

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