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If you’re looking to maximise the green credentials of your property, make a call to County Estate Management (CEM). It has just launched its Green Vision system – an audit carried out on properties which assesses the environmental impact of the building, and which finds ways in which carbon emissions from the property can be reduced. Waste recycling, heating, cooling, ventilation, energy management, rain water retention and the purchase of electricity through green tariffs can all help to make your property greener.

Sick to death of being preached at about green living?

Putting a new spin on the term “housedoctor”, Doctor Energy helps treat the problem of wasted energy at its core, tackling each part of the home and offering a wealth of gadgets and ideas on ways to save energy and expense. Draught-stopping chimney balloons (from £15.99), insulating paint (from £9.95 ex-vat for a 500g pack), standby savers (from £18.95) and much more, make Doctorenergy.co.uk well worth a look.

If you are looking to insulate your home in time for winter, especially after our recent cold spell then a great place to start is thinkinsulation.com.

Next time a light bulb blows, stop by a Ryness store. In a bid to encourage green thinking, it is offering free light bulb recycling to all of its customers. And when you consider that the mercury from a single fluorescent tube or light bulb (eg. an energy saving light bulb) is enough to pollute 30,000 litres of drinking water, it does not seem worth risking sending these to landfill.

This week: getting prepared for winter

• If you can’t afford new curtains this winter, add a look of luxury to tired fabrics with tasseled, chord, beaded or rope tiebacks – Collybrook.co.uk has an excellent selection.
• Arrange to have the chimney or flu cleaned. Blocked residue or birds' nests can disrupt ventilation and endanger your health.

Crumpets, a movie marathon and a roaring fire beat a drizzly picnic any day. And with an Indian summer something of a pipe dream, I for one am getting excited about winter. But before you wade your way through a couple of trees in an effort to keep cosy this year, why not try making your own, recycled logs with this 100 per cent Recycled Logmaker from Greenshop.co.uk?

Ever had the sinking feeling that your favourite outfit is in the washing basket with no hope of being clean for the big night out?

Now here’s a company that’s trying to take action against our throwaway culture. Setting a shining example to the ceramic industry, it’s Stoke on Trent production plant acts as a local recycling centre for fourteen other local ceramic and pottery companies, which deliver fired ceramic waste from their own plants for re-processing. Through these efforts H&R Johnson saves a massive 20,000 tonnes of ceramic material from landfill – the equivalent of 52 million dinner plates, or 120 million cups – producing tiles comprising up to 36 per cent recycled material.

There are now fewer excuses for not doing your bit for the planet with British Eco.com, the UK’s premier website for all things green and eco. Not only providing up to date information and news on the green parade, British Eco.com provides a range of eco-friendly products and services for the home, garden and outdoor lifestyle.

Snap up this Bath and Shower Water Diverter from Natural Collection and there’ll be no need to resort to midnight watering raids when the inevitable drought kicks in this summer. Helping you to save money and reduce water wastage, this diverts used water from your shower or bath to your rain butt for later use in your thirsty garden. The device is controlled from ground level by pull cords, and is easily fitted to existing pipework. The Diverter comes with a full fitting kit and instructions.

It’s one thing to recycle but, when it comes to making a significant difference, this Genersys.com Solar Hot Water System with vented 220L twin coil solar hot water cylinder from British Eco wins all the prizes.

If you’re thinking of buying a second home in the country but can’t afford the prices, look up Soutra Timber Frame. A Devon-based company ,  it specialises in timber frames, offering an inexpensive, quick  way  to build an eco-friendly alternative to modern day housing. A two-bedroom house costs from just £44k, and Soutra can also build garages, barns and mansions. An ideal solution for those overwhelmed by soaring land prices.