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GROWTH OF MARKET FOR E-BIKES

Greta Jonyniate | 31.08.11

As the world’s population grows and the roadways become more crowded, electric bikes are becoming an increasingly popular eco-friendly transport solution for short distance travel. The latest report from Pike research anticipates that the global market for electric two wheeled vehicles including: e-bikes, e-scooters and e-motorcycles will grow 9 per cent through to 2016. By the end of this year alone there will be an impressive 30,000,000 e-bikes on the streets worldwide. It seems incredible that, despite the global electric-bike industry being at virtually zero ten years ago, today it is an $11 billion market.
 

So, how did this trend start? As The Times reports, it all began in China where there are now an estimated 120 million electric-bikes, up from only a few thousand in the 1990s. “They are replacing traditional bikes and motorcycles at a rapid clip and, in many cases, allowing people to put off the switch to cars,” the article says. Beijing and Shanghai are swarming with e-bikes as The Economist reports, “the (Chinese) government wants to encourage electric bicycles to curb the pollution and congestion created by other vehicles…The authorities are also trying to make e-bikes themselves greener: manufacturers are being compelled to invest in lighter materials and to replace lead-acid batteries with lithium ones.”

It's no wonder that India, Asia’s other upcoming economic juggernaut, which had virtually no sales until two years ago, is also expanding at an incredible rate and could surpass Europe’s in the next year. “The growth has been tremendous in the last two years,” says Naveen Munjal, managing director of Hero Electric, a division of India’s largest bicycle and motorcycle maker. Indian Entrepreneurs are also challenging the development and mass production of the electric bike components which should reduce the production cost of the bike and ultimately the cost to the customer.

Yet, these exotic electric two-wheelers remain the most popular in European countries with Germany and Netherlands leading the way. Pike research forecasts Western Europe as having the largest market for two wheeled vehicles with 1.941 million vehicles for CAGR of 17.3% between 2009 and 2016. Interest in the U.S. is also increasing; an estimated 200,000 electric-bikes were sold last year.

As for the UK, electric bicycles are becoming extremely well-liked being that they are a sensible, eco-conscious, and less costly mode of transportation. The recently formed British Electric Bike Association (BEBA) is predicting dramatic growth for the e-bike market this year, with further sales acceleration in the years to come. Halfords, Evans Cycles, Tesco and Argos are all selling and promoting e-Bikes in the UK while BEBA is about to start a major promotion of e-Bikes to independent bike dealers. BEBA secretary and co-founder Mark Loveridge said that “sales jumped from 15,000 in 2008 to over 20,000 in 2009” and the trend does not appear to be stopping there.
 

Julia Hailes, an environmental consultant and writer, has recently had an opportunity to trial two electric bikes herself: a mountain bike (Haibike eQ Xduro FS) and a more sedate upright bike (Koga). She has been using the bikes mainly for pleasure when exploring the beauty of Somerset’s countryside, without having to worry about being out of breath whilst trying to tackle this extremely hilly region. With three teenage sons, she has also found that the bikes are great as part of her family routine too.

For those who want to hear more about how did Julia get on with using e-bikes watch this space as we will feature the full Julia’s review soon.
 

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ECO PLACES TO STAY

Greta Jonyniate | 11.08.11

If you fancy an eco getaway here are a few of our favourites to tempt you into holidaying in the UK ...

The Treehouse, Somerset, England

This is a truly unique getaway which might fulfil that childhood dream of having your own treehouse. Exorbitantly luxurious, with a six foot master bed with Egyptian cotton linen, cedar hot tub, and a plasma TV with sky and freeview channels, the Treehouse is situated on a small farm overlooking fields, where you can watch lambs, chickens and ponies graze. There’s also a large, safe enclosed garden for the children to play.

So if you are wondering, what makes The Treehouse a green treehouse...

• Plants a native hardwood tree for each booking made, working with a local tree planting service on the Quantock Hills.
• Constructed totally from wood, with cedar shingles on the roof.
• If clients bring their own bikes to the railway station, the Treehouse will pay for a taxi to Halse.
• Works with local suppliers and buys all the hamper products from local farm shops and the Taunton farmers market.
• Uses organic toiletries such as a hot tub that runs on a natural seaweed enzyme.
• Has a wood burning stove in each property and all wood is seasoned and sustainably sourced.

For more info  click HERE 

The Scarlet, Cornwall, England

If living in a treehouse is not really your thing, what about a gorgeous hotel built to the highest eco standards, overlooking the sea on the Cornish coast? This eco hotel is a great escape for grown-ups to eat, dream and play in peace.

What makes the Scarlet a Green Hotel?

• Electricity supplied by eco-friendly Ecotricity
• Biomass boiler that runs on sustainable woodchip heats the hotel
• Grey water is treated then used to flush the toilets
• Evacuated tube solar water heating harnesses the sun's energy to heat the pool

More info click HERE

The Geo Ekopod, Bodmin Moor, England

Not a fan of camping? Well you might change your mind after a night or two in one of these smooth white bubbles. The Ekopod project has brought contemporary luxury to the area without damaging its protected wildlife, creating a completely unique “glamping” experience.

What makes Ekopod a green accommodation? 

• Efficient wood-burner for clean heating
• Solar power used whenever possible
• Unique and extremely efficient structure
• Can collect guests arriving by train
• Food is seasonal and sourced within a 30 mile radius
• Constructed locally by Albion Canvas & all furnishings sourced locally too

More info click HERE 

The West Usk Lighthouse, Newport Gwent, South Wales

Are you always on the lookout to experience something new? What about a night in a real lighthouse, near Newport Gwent, with impressive views across the Severn and the Bristol Channel?

What makes The West Usk green?

• Low energy light bulbs. The hosts are very conscious of the need to conserve energy
• The building has secondary glazing & fire doors to help to keep heat in
• Hosts compost & burn items that they don't need. They separate rubbish to make sure they can be recycled
• The water is metered. Rain water is saved in tubs for plants & vegetables
• Buy local products, even when shopping in the large supermarkets. Hosts serve organic food as much as they can, especially milk & eggs
• Support local charities & local events. The hosts enjoy conservation & have spent half a lifetime restoring an old lighthouse!

More info click HERE

Tremeer Farm Yurt Holidays, Corwall

If you are a big fan of the beautiful English countryside then you will love this traditional Cornish family-run farm nestling in a quiet un-spoilt valley a mile from some of Cornwall's most idyllic beaches and close to the Fowey River. If you are looking for a relaxing and memorable holiday this farm is a wonderful location.

What makes Yurt farm green?

• Offer the ultimate camping experience, providing the wonderful feeling of ‘getting back-to-nature
• Have an authentic fire pit where you are welcome to have campfires, toast marshmallows or even cook your evening meal over an open fire
• Enjoy the freedom of being able to collect eggs from the farm's free range chickens or make friends with piglets

More info click HERE

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5 Unique ways to use solar power

Greta Jonyniate | 04.08.11

It might seem crazy, but solar energy has been harnessed by humans since the ancient times: the Greeks and Romans used magnifying glasses to burn the sails of enemy ships, the ancient Chinese used concentrated solar power for heat energy and Native Americans used hot springs as renewable geothermal sources for cooking and healing. 

So many centuries have passed and yet we are still learning new ways to use what Mother Nature has given us. Whilst roofs with solar panels might not surprise us anymore (although we would like to see more of them!), here are a few inventions which we put together just for a bit of fun.

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The Ecologist profiles Greenhouse in its August Green Business section

Greta Jonyniate | 04.08.11

We are truly proud to be featured in our most favourite publication and be recognised as a green business. 

"Anna Guyer has made a name for her company by only taking clients with impeccable green credentials and refusing to ‘greenwash’ big brands... She knows her brand, her business, and her clients inside out, and has a real enthusiasm for her work – representing those businesses for whom being green isn’t just a marketing trick but a central part of their work."

Read the full article HERE

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Thinking outside the box: five ways to feed your brain

Matilda Lee | 23.05.11

Australia’s Climate Change Commissioner Tim Flannery points out in his new book Here on Earth that modern humans' brains have actually shrunk by 10 per cent relative to our ancestors. The theory behind this is that living in a society based on a division of labour means having other people do things for us that we once had to do ourselves- from catching our food, to making our own shelter and tools and defending ourselves. Today we live pretty much in a comfort zone compared to our ancestors, but is there a case for diversifying to ensure we don't lose our ancient intelligence? Can we nurture our shrinking brains?

1. Work with your hands
Matthew Crawford wrote a wonderful book called The Case for Working with your Hands: or why office work is bad for us and fixing things feels good. The gist is this: while many of us lack the skills to fix or even understand the most basic technologies and have convinced ourselves that office life is the only type of job worth doing, each of us could be one of the countless thousands actually unsuited to office work and missing out on a rewarding and independent lifestyle working with our hands.

Sian Berry, former green party candidate for London Mayor, manages to combine both office work and getting her hand dirty and has written a great book called ‘Mend it’  which takes you step-by-step through many household fix-it jobs. There is great satisfaction (mental, physical, philosophical) from being able to control the many things that dominate our lives –fixing a bike, a leaky tap, mending clothes, building a fence, and so on.

2. Get closer to your food
Hunt it, grow it, forage it, bake it...whatever it takes to open up the world of sustenance. Author Shannon Hayes in her interesting book Radical Homemakers extols the virtues of ‘tomato-canning feminists’ and takes readers and would-be homemakers – both men and women – along the path to self-reliance.

3. Get connected to your local surroundings
How connected are you? Getting to know your local area will make you more open to and perceptive of your natural surroundings and aware of the natural cycles of life. The Woodland Trust’s Visit Woods programme can get you in the mood for forest walks.

4. Meditate
James Thornton, founder of the brilliant environmental law firm ClientEarth says that he has been practicing Zen meditation for 25 years and swears it helps prevent burnout. Meditation can be achieved through physical exercise as well - swimming is my personal example.

5. Live wild
We’ll never understand just how difficult our ancestors had it, but learning how to survive in the wild – albeit for a weekend – can be an invigorating and mind nurturing experience. In other words, go camping. Feather Down Farm Days  offers camping on small, sustainably-run family farms. While roughing it you can learn about the people who produce Britain’s milk, eggs, beef, fruit and vegetables...


 

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The most lovely food labels ever, plus this week’s favorite links

Kenneth Hill | 13.05.11

All of us at Greenhouse are really inspired by these biodegradable packaging designs (with built-in seeds!) from young designer Ben Huttley of Bournemouth. He writes:  

"Through experimentation and innovation I have developed a form of packaging that is 100 percent biodegradable and recyclable. If the packaging is discarded it will have a positive effect on the environment due to the seed embedded biodegradable paper. The twine used to secure the product and label is natural cotton and 100 percent biodegradable. The labels themselves have been produced using a laser cutting machine. This eliminates the use of harmful printing ink, as well as giving the packaging an esthetically pleasing organic look and feel. "

Find out more on Ben's blog. 

In case you missed them, these are the stories that caught our attention this week:

A group of businesses, politicians and green campaigners are calling on David Cameron to act in the battle over government's climate change targets, which threaten the UK's future emissions cuts. From Fiona Harvey & T.Macalister at the Guardian http://gu.com/p/2p2ty/tf

Mr. Cameron also got dinged big time by Jonathon Porritt and a group of other environmentalists who said the likelihood of the government living up to the promise made almost a year ago was "vanishingly remote." http://gu.com/p/2zqd2/tw

We loved the tweet from @robintransition letting us know that climate scientists are mad and are now rapping about it! http://youtu.be/LiYZxOlCN10

Vibrant energy flows? Who knew. Very interesting piece from @sustahood on re-imagining and renewing society based on vibrant energy flows http://bit.ly/m9uHSx

3 June 2011 is the deadline to enter the @SoilAssociation Association Organic Food Awards. An expert panel of judges including chefs, restaurateurs, food writers and specialists, celebrity foodies and others will award the best organic products across 12 categories to create greater public awareness of the values of organic production, positive food culture, and the range and quality of organic food and drink available. http://bit.ly/iS55SE

Our media specialist Sophie Rivett-Carnac is a bit obsessed about packaging (ok, we all are) and loved the Sunday Times business story about a new type of corrugated box from DS Smith that provides "the same strength as run-of-the-mill models but with less material." (paywall) http://thetim.es/kXGmbY

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Eco Hero: Kate Andrews

Esther Freeman | 04.03.11

Kate Andrews, and her brother Jamie, are travel enthusiasts who are keen to encourage others to explore the world more sustainably. Set to transform European travel with their train-booking website Loco2, the pair want to show that itchy feet doesn’t have to mean a huge carbon footprint.

How would you describe yourself?
Loco2 is a European rail booking version 2.0, and with a green twist! We want to bring sustainable alternatives to air travel to a wider market and make it easier to book trains across the continent.

What is your mission?
Our goal is to make low carbon travel easier and cheaper, so that more people can make the choice to explore the world in a more sustainable way.

What challenges do you face?
Creating sophisticated rail booking software is a major challenge - we are constantly faced with technical hurdles.

We also face the much more complicated challenge of trying to change behaviours. Reliance on air-travel is endemic in our society. Many people feel that their freedoms are under attack when environmentalists talk about cutting carbon.

What is your biggest achievement?
Personally, my biggest achievement was crossing the Pacific in a 47ft yacht, having had no experience sailing before. And for Loco2, it is being nominated for the Virgin Responsible Tourism Awards 2010. It's good to know that even our modest efforts got a little recognition.



What green principles do you live by?
I love the Kenyan proverb - The world was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. It’s about recognising the incredible gift we have and looking after it. It's not ours to trash.

Is organic important to you?
Given the choice, everything that passes my lips is organic, local, water responsible, sustainable and unpackaged.


What one thing do you wish everyone would do?
Fly less of course!


What would you like to pass on to your children?
Less than 300 parts CO2 per million in the earth's atmosphere. That would be an amazing thing to give to my children though ... and my sunny disposition - which I'm sure is genetic!


How can we spread the green message?
With quiet persuasion, and superbly presented sustainable alternatives.  


What cheers you up?
Cheesy jokes. 


Who is your Eco Hero and why?
David Attenborough. He has inspired a generation of people - biologists, palaeontologists, ornithologists, conservationists (and numerous other long-wordists) to research, document, celebrate and ultimately conserve the people, places and the environment. 
 

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Eco Hero: Richard Hammond

Esther Freeman | 18.02.11

Richard Hammond is the complete antithesis of his name sake. As founder of the award-winning website, www.greentraveller.co.uk, he has helped make our holidays greener. He is also the travel editor of National Geographic’s Green Magazine supplement and the co-author of Great Escapes – 500 unforgettable travel experiences.

How would you describe yourself?

Green travel writer and entrepreneur.

What is your mission?

To publicise the huge variety of options now available for more environmentally friendly holidays. In particular, the thousands of wonderful holidays that can be easily reached overland by train rather than by plane.

What challenges do we face?

The powerful airline lobby and the prevailing culture (particularly in business) that still regards flying as ‘cool’ and face-to-face meetings as a necessity. It doesn’t help that train fares to Europe can be expensive and difficult to book.

What’s your next project?
We're working on a really exciting project with VisitEngland that is due to launch during Climate Week, 21-27 March.

Your biggest achievement?

Converting www.greentraveller.co.uk from a blog into a fully-fledged business. The site receives over 40,000 visitors a month, and offers over 250 choices of eco-friendly places to stay. In addition over 25 specialist tour operators offer 1,000 holidays in the UK, Ireland and continental Europe that can all be reached by train.

What green principles do you live by?

I’m a great believer in prevention rather than cure, so I try to encourage reduced packaging rather than recycling, taking the train rather than offsetting, and so on.

Is organic important to you?

Eating food that is grown without the use of man-made pesticides has got to be the progressive way forward. But so, too, is choosing seasonal food grown relatively close to home to reduce food miles.

What one thing do you wish everyone would do?

Check whether it is possible to reach your holiday overland by train. The superfast train service from London St Pancras to the Channel Tunnel means us Brits are now plugged in to Europe’s high speed rail network. It’s a really pleasurable way to reach many destinations on the continent, and you’d be surprised how far you can get.

What would you like to pass on to your children?

To pursue what they enjoy and believe in, no matter what other people say – but not to trample over other people to do so and not to be too crushed when (inevitably) things don’t always go their way.

How can we spread the green message?

By portraying green as the smart, modern, and economically efficient way to live and work.

What cheers you up?

Arriving by train in the mountains, particularly the trip from Toulouse into the French Pyrenees.

Who is your Eco Hero and why?

Nicholas Albery, founder of The Institute for Social Inventions and the London-based Saturday Walkers' Club, which encourages people to head off by train for country walks. I never met him, but I’ve used his friendly, no-nonsense walking guides on numerous occasions and it has always struck me that by encouraging people to leave the urban grit and grind for the rural fresh and wild, he must have stirred the environmental consciousness of a great many people.

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UK Government Threatens Future of Solar in the UK

Sophie Rivett-Carnac | 14.02.11

The government has made a damaging decision to pull the plug on large scale solar feed-in-tariffs, threatening the growth of renewable energy in the UK.

This week, Chris Huhne, Britain’s Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, announced the government would start its first review of the feed-in-tariff scheme for small-scale, low-carbon electricity generation. This news comes earlier than expected and will lead to uncertainty within the UK renewable market, in particular for solar PV.

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10 Green Christmas Gift Ideas They’ll Love

Sally Hill | 07.12.10

As you get ready for one of the happiest and most relaxing times of the year, we hope you'll spend a little time Christmas shopping, but as much as possible among family and friends.

This list provides some gift ideas which are easy to get hold of and won't cost the earth. There's no compromise on quality with these earth-friendly (and people-friendly) treasures.

We figure, if you must celebrate with presents, they may as well be ecological and respectful to the planet - and they're all the more lovely for it.

Merry Christmas!

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