Green Guide 2012 by Karl Smallman

greenolive guide 2012press the

1 2012

green guide

The happy, smiling faces of a low-impact life

Why Arsenal really are a load of old rubbish! Want to carbon offset? Beware of the cowboys Hurrah! UK fruit costs triple the price of Spain

green guide 2012

Letter from Contents the editor Green news

Eloise Horsfield, Green Guide 2012 editor

News in brief....................................................... 4 Fruit boost............................................................ 5

Carbon offsetting – is it a con?.................... 6

Herbal remedies................................................ 8 Holistic kinesiology.......................................... 9

One-way ticket to desertification............... 10 Regenerative agriculture............................... 10-11

Sunseed, our green dream............................ 12 Where does your rubbish go?...................... 16

Green escapes.................................................... 18-21

Homeowners v environmentalists............. 24

Business/finance

Alternative medicine

Gardening/agriculture A very warm welcome to the Green Guide 2012. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to edit the fifth edition of the Green Guide, brought to you by the Olive Press. In times of continuing recession, it is a worrying truth that caring for our planet is one of the first things sacrificed by those suffering financial difficulty. Green businesses throughout Andalucia are feeling the strain as their clients, although eco-conscious, are forced to go for options which might be cheaper in price – but environmentally-speaking can cost the planet dear. This year’s Green Guide is about helping you make little changes towards becoming more green, and keeping the cogs of those allimportant green businesses turning. Because we all must play a part in securing a better future. Not only has the Green Guide proved that shopping at your local Spanish greengrocers is greener and will save you money, but our guide to carbon offsetting on page six will help you decide how best to counterbalance your carbon footprint – without getting conned. A quick read of our recycling feature on page 16 explains how simply choosing the right bin can make life easier for those doing their utmost to ensure your rubbish does not end up spending the next hundred years in landfill. And finally, we hope the various speakers already living low-impact lifestyles, be it biofertilizer pioneer Eugenio Gras (page 11), herbal expert Sue Rodgers (page 8) or the ground-breaking team at Sunseed (page 12), will inspire you to make those little changes to ensure your lives are a little bit more sustainable. Things are changing…slowly. Go on, have a read and discover what you can do to contribute to this vital change to our planet. Oh, and don’t forget – you can keep up to date with all the latest environmental news at www.greenguidespain.com. Yours, Eloise FRONT PAGE PIC: Bolonia beach locals by Jon Clarke

For Green Guide enquiries, contact The Olive Press on 951 166 060 or admin@theolivepress.es

Sustainable living

Green places to stay

Illegal homes scandal

4 News in Brief What a choker!

ARSENAL BOTTLE IT

Spain has the highest natural air pollutants in Europe, according to a European Environment Agency study. This is partially down to desert dust brought from neighbouring Africa, and due to forest fires which produce harmful smoke particles.

Natural killer A natural palm weevil killer designed by an Alicante biotechnology company is about to hit the market. Beauveria Bastiana is a native fungus which destroys the burrowing beetle and - unlike chemical solutions - does not harm other plants and insects.

Junk in the sea A US education site has produced an eye-catching chart highlighting pollution in the world’s oceans. Around 3.5 million tons of rubbish float in the Pacific, with 260 species feeding on plastic, often mistaking it for plankton. See the chart here: http:// tinyurl.com/cmweyyf

Chestnut protest A natural history society in Galicia is protesting against a new AVE line which will mean bulldozing a chestnut grove containing two thousand trees – many of them centuries old. The group says the tracks are ‘not technically justified’ and that the Environmental Impact report did not mention the wood.

green guide 2012

NEWS

When it comes to business, all too often ethics and the environment are overlooked in favour of netting big profits – and fast. Thankfully a new professional network in Malaga province will recognise the good work of green-minded companies and encourage them to share and grow. RedVerSo* is a non-profit association encouraging members to work together and costing just €10 per month. “Society is facing a series of unprecedented crises in its modern history: financial, economic, industrial and environmental – the

Arsenal football club have unveiled their new away kit - which is made using up to 13 recycled plastic water bottles. The striking purple and black hooped strip is being promoted by the club as its ‘most environmentally friendly to date’. “This kit is different to last season’s and I’m really excited to wear it,” said midfielder Alex Song. “I might do something with my hair to match.” Fans took to Twitter to voice their opinions on the kit, with one rival supporter Tweeting: ‘I’ve always thought they were rubbish anyway.’ The new kit goes on sale from August 9.

Green networking Celebrating the birth of a brand new sustainable business group

result of an unsustainable development model based on the misuse of social and natural resources,” RedVerSo vice-president Phil Speirs

GM guidelines lead to ‘Frankenstein’ fears The use of genetically modified animals to make so-called ‘Frankenstein foods’ could soon be a reality around Europe following the publication of an EU directive. The guidelines provide details on how to examine the risk posed to the environment by genetically modified fish, insects and animals. But critics fear the document, published by the European Food Safety Authority, will pave the way for widespread farming of GM animals. “The EU is set to open the floodgates not only to expand the import and growing of GM crops but also to approve GM insects, fish and meat from GM farm animals,” warned GeneWatch director Dr Helen Wallace. “Rules on GM imports will be relaxed, and risks to the environment ignored.”

explained. “The aim of RedVerSo is to promote good business practice,” added Speirs, who also edits Andalucia’s natural living magazine La Chispa. “There are two basic elements behind it. The first is a business network, designed to strengthen local networks and enable members to participate in monthly meetings and other events. “The second element is educational and social, aiming to create a platform for promoting green business, ethics and ideas. “We welcome any business in Malaga which is ethical and has clear eco-holistic intentions.” For more information, see www.redverso.org * La Red de entidades por una economia Verde, Solidaria y por el bien comun (Network of companies working for a green, socially equitable economy)

green guide 2012 EXCLUSIVE: It costs nearly three times more to buy fruit and veg in the UK than Spain, discovers Helen Pierpoint It’s official! Spanish greengrocers are streets ahead of UK supermarkets when it comes to fruit and veg... and NOT just in quality. Green Guide 2012 has discovered that the prices in Spain are usually half and often up to a third of the cost of shops in the UK. To our delight, €10 turned out to be more than sufficient for one kilogram of 10 different fruits and vegetables at a local greengrocer in Arriate. For the exact same purchases in a UK supermarket you’d have to fork out at least €25 – and that’s at Asda, a store known for its low prices. The same shop at Sainsbury’s would burn a hole in your pocket to the tune of €27.82! But the cost of buying fruit and veg in the UK is not just financial – it is also environmental. In travelling thousands of

NEWS/SURVEY

Fruit boost

BUY LOCAL: Greengrocer Pedro Montesinos and (right) the price lists tell it all

miles to eventually find its way into UK supermarkets, produce gobbles up more of our depleting oil resources, adding to climate change and adding travel costs to the price tag. What’s more, harsh chemicals are often applied to keep the produce fresh and make it

Biodiesel breakthrough

An exciting new scheme to convert used cooking oil into biodiesel has been launched on the Costa del Sol. The aim is to sell the biodiesel back to town halls as a more economical means of refuelling their vehicles. It follows an agreement between the Western Costa del Sol Association and environmental firms Urbaser and Grupo Phoenix-BioGreen, using the urban waste recycling plant at Casares (see feature page 14). “It should bring great economic and environmental benefits,” said association president Margarita del Cid. Another 40 containers are to be added to the exising 73 currently used to collect cooking oil along the coast. A further 100 bins will also be installed at hotels and restaurants.

appear more attractive. Andalucia, with its mammoth 2,800 hours of sunshine per year, has everything you need to make a summer salad, cold gazpacho soup or freshly squeezed orange juice.

Greengrocers are far greener than Spanish supermarkets, which import fruit and veg And, from our study, it appears greengrocers are far greener than Spanish supermarkets with Mercadona – although cheap – often importing fruit and veg from as far afield as Asia and South America. And the price is almost exactly the same, with the supermarket basket costing just 13 cents cheaper than the greengrocer. And as local Arriate greengrocer Pedro Montesinos explained: “My produce will be far fresher and our fruits are sourced from Malaga, Almeria and Granada. And I pick it up myself.”

1kg of € Tomato.................... 2.47 Cucumber............... 2.98 Red pepper............. 8.58 Aubergine............... 2.08 Courgette................ 2.01 Galia melon............ 0.62 Watermelon............ 1.24 Orange.................... 1,87 Lemon..................... 2.49 Onion...................... 0.94 TOTAL................ 25.28

GREENGROCER 1kg of € Tomato.................... 1.20 Cucumber............... 1.20 Red pepper............. 1.40 Aubergine............... 1.20 Courgette................ 1.40 Galia melon............ 1.00 Watermelon............ 0.56 Orange.................... 0.90 Lemon..................... 0.90 Onion...................... 1.00 TOTAL................ 10.76

1kg of € Tomato.................... 1.00 Cucumber............... 0.59 Red pepper............. 1.85 Aubergine............... 1.00 Courgette................ 1.19 Galia melon............ 1.10 Watermelon............ 0.56 Orange.................... 0.90 Lemon..................... 1.49 Onion...................... 0.95 TOTAL................ 10.63

6 Every time we flick a light switch, turn on the TV or drive our cars we add to our own unique ‘carbon footprint’ – a permanent mark on the environment created as we pursue energyintensive lifestyles, heavily reliant on fossil fuels. But as public awareness of global warming increases, so does the desire to find ways of counteracting the negative effect our lives have on the environment. For those not yet ready to sacrifice the comforts of modern life, carbon offsetting appears to offer an ideal compromise. Effectively a way of paying someone else to take responsibility for your pollution, carbon offsetting involves buying credits which are later used to ‘compensate’ for carbon emissions. One credit bought is equivalent to one metric ton of carbon dioxide emitted, with the money raised often used to fund renewable energy projects such as wind farms and forestry schemes. And it is big business. Worth a staggering €107 billion last year, carbon trading is the fastest-growing commodity market in history. It all started following the G8 Summit in 2009, when some of the world’s biggest polluters agreed they needed to drastically

BUSINESS/FINANCE

green guide 2012

Carbon offsetting is it a con? James Bryce advises on how to avoid the carbon cowboys

reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. A target was set to reduce emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 in order to prevent two degrees Celsius of global warming. At the time, a worldwide average of 4.48 tons of CO2 was being emitted per

of investing in a carbon trading scheme? Well, broadly speaking there are two markets for carbon offsets, ‘compliance’ and ‘voluntary’, with the former relating to the corporate sector and governments, and the latter involving investments by

The best way to check a scheme’s authenticity is to ensure it has VCS accreditation person per year – a figure which needed to drop below one ton in order to meet the ambitious G8 target. But while there is certainly no shortage of people looking to reduce their impact on the environment, how can the wellintentioned be sure where their money is going? And what are the pitfalls

individuals. There are then two categories of carbon credits – voluntary emission reductions (VERs) and certified emission reductions (CERs), with individuals far more likely to be offered VERs. While the Financial Services Authority (FSA) does not regulate the sale or trading

of carbon credits, it warns consumers to be wary of VER schemes claiming to be ‘certified’. It adds that VERs – typically used by firms based overseas – are no guarantee of authenticity and are not recognised by any UK financial compensation scheme. The UK recently replaced a ‘quality assurance scheme’ with ‘approved carbon offsetting’ in an effort to regulate the industry, with firms required to meet strict criteria. Outside the UK, the best way for consumers to check a scheme’s authenticity is to ensure it has verified carbon standard (VCS) accreditation, which ensures carbon credits are trustworthy and have real environmental benefits.

green guide 2012

BUSINESS/FINANCE

Despite these measures and the overall prevalence of legitimate firms, the industry is becoming an increasing target for dodgy traders looking to con well-meaning investors. Indeed, the FSA reported a ten-fold increase in the number of complaints received about carbon trading schemes between July and September 2011 and lists them as one of the top scams to watch out for this year. To give some perspective to the rise, more than 100 firms have been reported in the past 12 months compared to just six ever prior to June 2011. In one case, blacklisted firm MC Expert Consulting tried to get one man to invest thousands of euros in carbon credits, promising returns of 40 per cent over eight months, and 600 per cent over five years. Another company, CarbonTrace Solutions, persuaded an elderly lady to purchase €4,000 worth of carbon credits. “We are concerned that an increasing number of firms are using dubious, high-pressure sales tactics and targeting vulnerable consumers,” warns Jonathan Phelan, head of the unauthorised business department at the FSA.

Be savvy! Questions for your carbon offsetter 1. Where will my money go exactly? 2. How much of my payment goes on administrative costs? 3. How much does it cost to offset per ton of carbon? 4. How can I be sure your company is legitimate?

“We suspect many of these firms are essentially overseas boiler rooms simply selling a highly dubious new investment product and jumping upon the green/eco-friendly bandwagon. “We strongly recommend that consumers seek advice from an FSA-authorised independent financial adviser before getting involved in the carbon credit trading market.” Naturally, the best way to reduce your carbon emissions is to try to avoid creating them in the first place. So next time you think about getting in the car for the five-minute drive to the shops, why not consider walking instead.

DISCOVERY: Sue leads a herbal walk near Lanjaron

For thousands of years, natural remedies made of plants and herbs have been used to treat common ailments successfully. While the World Health Organisation states that herbal remedies are the most widespread form of medicine on the planet, much of that knowledge has been lost in many developed countries in favour of chemically-produced medicines. This despite the fact that plant-based remedies are cheap and considered to be less harmful to the body – usually with zero side effects. There are a number of herbal remedies that you can keep in your family medicine chest to treat many of today’s common ailments.

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

Really wild Digestive complaints The digestive system can be disrupted by a number of factors including poor eating habits, drug use – prescribed or otherwise – stress, excessive caffeine, alcohol and emotional turmoil. While TV adverts might encourage us to take antacid pills to ease symptoms by blocking the secretion of acids, this only stores up problems for us in the long term. After all, stomach acids are essential to the proper functioning of our digestive system. Herbs and spices have

been used for thousands of years to ease the symptoms of digestive upsets without chemical intervention. Peppermint Drunk as an infusion, peppermint is particularly good at helping the symptoms of indigestion, flatulence, nausea and vomiting. Fennel seeds Chew to dispel wind, griping pains and colic Slippery elm when mixed with water and drunk, this can help ease the discomfort of gastroenteritis, diarrhoea, reflux and acidity.

green guide 2012 Susan Rodgers on herbal remedy cures, which can help indigestion and ward off stress Stress Stress is the number one ailment of modern Western society, often bringing with it its ugly sisters, depression and insomnia. Instead of turning to caffeine or alcohol, try some great stress-busting herbs to help you relax. Lemon balm This freshsmelling herb not only lifts the spirits, but calms anxiety, panic attacks and nervousness. Take as an infusion or tincture. Vervain Drunk as an infusion, vervain relieves tension headaches, depression, nervous exhaustion and stress St John’s Wort Proven to relieve the symptoms of mild depression (but must not be used in conjunction with other medication).

Coughs and colds Few of us get through winter without a cold of some kind. Luckily there is a huge variety of herbal antibiotics that can help you nip any cold in the bud without having to resort to expensive pills from the chemist. Generally speaking, colds to be caught early to boost the immune system and stop symptoms becoming more serious. Garlic This is the number one natural antibiotic. It works for chest infections, colds, flu, and ear infection. Take in food, or make a cough syrup Sage Drink as an infusion to alleviate sore throats, laryngitis, tonsillitis and other mouth complaints Echinacea This is a truly excellent immune booster which will help your body fight infection. Take a course of tablets or drops in water to shorten the length of cold and flu the natural way Please note, it is important not to self-diagnose or medicate without first seeking medical advice.

See www.selfsufficiency4u.com for more herbal remedies

green guide 2012

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

All-round solution Holistic kinesiologist Eleonora Barrios Contreras explains the principles behind a natural therapy that originated in the US in the 1960s but is still relatively unknown in spain

What is holistic kinesiology? A comprehensive technique that uses information stored in the muscles to identify imbalances in the body. These are then treated using Bach remedies, acupuncture, homotherapy and other therapies. It is sometimes referred to as ‘muscle testing’.

What ailments can it treat? It can treat any type of problem. People come to me with skin problems such as eczema, digestive problems, migraines, viruses, cancers, depression and insomnia... and I should point out that kinesiology does not diagnose or treat symptoms – it addresses the underlying problems causing them. How does it work? Firstly you have to lie down and place your arms above your head. I compare the length of your arms and monitor your body’s response to certain stimuli. By activating your neurotransmitters, I can identify

whether your problem is structural, emotional, chemical or related to energy flow. What happens next? I ask your body a series of questions and monitor its response. I ask it what treatment it needs and it chooses. It is all about what your body is asking for. How long does treatment take? It can take any length of time – six months, two months, a year. Children’s bodies heal quickly, partly because they are more active. Adults take longer because their bodies have become ‘polluted’ by life, their experiences, and their issues are deeper set. How much does it cost? One session costs €35, plus the cost of the remedies. What are the benefits? It helps your entire being, and enables you to gain a better understanding of yourself and improve your health.

Call Eleonora on 952 190 871 or email her at herbolariosantaclara@gmail.com

10 By Jamie MacDonald Today the weather is hot, and dry, and on the next door finca a huge tractor is disc-harrowing the land. An environmental disaster is being repeated. Since the Moors were thrown out, many Spanish have failed to understand how to deal with the land and as a consequence, one of the most delicate and endangered environments in Europe is being desecrated. No-one doubts that dry grasses and wild flowers are a fire hazard, and understandably people are worried about fire in the high summer and autumn. But to tear up the land like this, turning it to dust – which even as I write, is being whipped up by the wind and carried away – is unforgivable. When the autumn rains come, there is nothing to hold the soil together. It will wash into streams and be gone forever. Paradoxically, the Spanish know that what they are doing is bad. Books on olive production show photos where each tree is standing on its own mound of earth, sometimes a metre high – scenes which are only too common round the Serrania de Ronda, where I live.

GARDENING/AGRICULTURE

green guide 2012

One-way ticket to desertification

WRONG AND RIGHT: Ploughing (left) wastes fuel and leads to soil erosion What we are really seeing is millions of tons of fertile soil eroded from between the trees. And soil cannot be replaced, even in many lifetimes. Our local soil, terra rossa, was laid down in the Jurassic limestone and has leached out over 80 million years as the rock has dissolved. Look at the simple implement the Spanish use for managing the soil, the mattock. It cuts the weeds, and at the same time tears the roots out along with the soil.

Every time the mattock is used, the amount of soil diminishes.

When the rain comes, water can flow down the tiny gap at the side of every rootlet And what is done with the weeds? They are burnt. How many Spanish do you know with a compost heap? It is just not customary behaviour.

Introduction to regenerative agriculture: A friendlier way of farming our land Conventional agriculture is one of the biggest threats to our planet. It leads to soil degradation, deforestation and water shortages, and creates a no-win situation where the more we use agrochemicals, such as pesticides and fungicides, the more we are reliant on damaging chemicals to rectify the situation we have created. Regenerative agriculture offers an alternative that works with nature rather than against it. It uses permaculture principles to ensure the holistic management of the resources available in any farm or country garden, big or small. Biofertilizers, produced using microorganisms from native flora, strengthen the soil and plants and allow them to fight off invasions with their own resources and without the use of expensive toxic substances. Keyline design works with the natural shape of the land to maximise water use, and appropriate machinery encourages soil regeneration. In short, regenerative agriculture enables farmers to produce more yield without chemicals, while benefitting their land, their community and their planet. “The way I see it, farmers do not actually own their land – they merely own the right to look after it,” said biofertilizer expert and teacher Eugenio Gras (see Q & A on page 11).

Now, take a look at the English hoe. It slides just under the surface and cuts the plant at the roots, leaving it in position to maintain its structure then to rot and contribute to fertility. If they would only mow the wild flowers and grasses, as I do on my plot, the perennial roots would be left in place to anchor the soil, and provide what is called ‘reverse capillary action’. When the rain comes, water can flow down the tiny gap at the side of every rootlet. Water also flows down the natural tunnels made by voles and by ants and beetles and cicadas, which can all survive if their habitat is not destroyed by harrowing. The result? I can walk on my land a few days after heavy rain, when the next door plot has pools of standing water, and deep gullies on the steeper areas. The academics know all this. It is studied in universities in Spain and beyond, and UNESCO write learned articles on it. They describe in detail how to manage land, both flat and on slopes. They show how using the discarded olive leaves as fertiliser increases the yield. But it seems no one is listening. Is it too late for change ?

green guide 2012

GARDENING/AGRICULTURE

Eugenio Gras, Mexican expert in regenerative agriculture, tells us about his green lifestyle

Community over consumerism

What can the developing world teach the West about our planet and how to treat it? Humility.

What steps have you taken to make your life greener? I am vegetarian and therefore my food production uses a fraction of the land needed for a meat eater. I collect rainwater on my roof in Mexico and re-use it. I grow my own vegetables and produce my own solar energy. And I hardly create any rubbish – I put out just one bag for every 30 my neighbour does. And there is no organic waste in my rubbish because I have my own compost heap. I also have a composting toilet. What advice would you give to someone wanting to make their life greener? Value community over consumerism, participate in a local cooperative and consume local products. Buy directly from producers, shop in markets instead of supermarkets and produce your own food. How do you keep yourself mentally balanced faced with your busy schedule? Simply by loving what I do. How do you avoid chemicals in your everyday life? I don’t need chemicals, so I don’t buy them.

You travel all around the world giving lectures. How do you approach the issue of flying, given that air travel is widely known to pollute the planet? For starters, it is more economically and ecologically viable for me to travel somewhere than for 100 farmers to come and see me.Also, I am showing conventional farmers (those who use agrochemicals) how to become socially responsible, economically and ecologically viable, as well as more productive. Every time one of them realises they can make the same amount of money – or more – without polluting their land and poisoning the food they are producing, then hundreds more hectares are being regenerated. What changes would you like to see within the next 10 years in the way humans behave towards their planet? I would like to see an awakening, a change in the way we perceive what we see around us. For us to understand that we are Earth’s children and that it is a huge responsibility to be born on this wonderful planet. We must be caretakers in the evolutionary process.

www.mashumus.com

SUSTAINABLE LIVING

Our green dream Eloise Horsfield spends a weekend at Sunseed, an environmental education centre, celebrating 25 years of sustainable community living High in the hills above Sorbas, Almeria, a group of green warriors beavers away from dawn till dusk in the semiarid desert, slowly gathering key skills for a low-tech, sustainable lifestyle. Working days start early around 6.45am in summer - with a leisurely lunch and siesta followed by more slog in the afternoon. “We might have a reputation as a load of hippies but we work bloody hard,” says assistant co-ordinator Martin Hyams. Created in 1986 with the aim of finding solutions to desertification in Spain, Sunseed has gradually developed into a respected education centre. This hands-on centre offers visitors (up to 20 volunteers at a time) a taste of a low-impact, community living and the perfect opportunity to discover ‘appropriate technologies’. Apart from an understanding of drylands

management and ecoconstruction, visitors get a good idea of how solar energy and water recycling work. Sustainable business student Natasha Azizi, from Texas, explains why she chose to spend four weeks at Sunseed. “I wanted to learn more about how things were produced,” says the 25-year-old. “Every day I feel so fulfilled.” Australian international studies student, Gabriella CorboPerkins, 19, adds: “The great thing is you spend 90 per cent of your time here outside.” While many volunteers are students in international studies or environmental science, a recent survey found the average Sunseed volunteer to be in fact a little older at 34, and female. A tour of the grounds reveal stylish and clean composting toilets, plus a reed bed filter system which treats all Sunseed’s dirty water until it is ‘cleaner than that found in

green guide 2012

HANDY: ‘Humanure’ from composting toilets and a local view

the river’. “Water is the hardest thing to process because if you don’t do it properly, you risk contaminating the land,” explains chairman Paul Freeman.

heat both homes and food. Gases released from burning wood work their way through a labyrinth of tubes in between bricks, which slowly absorb and retain the energy for hours. The result is a system

Hayboxes keep food warm and cool, without the need of a fridge Down in the arboretum, a variety of trees is grown to test their ability to improve dry, mineral-depleted soil – like carob, whose roots are so long they bring up essential moisture from deep underground. Back at the main building, hayboxes keep food warm and cool without the need of a fridge, and solar panels ordain the roof, providing all Sunseed’s hot water and electricity and even channeling the sun’s energy to cook dinner for hungry volunteers. One particularly impressive device is the thermal mass stove, which can be used to

10 times more effective than a regular wood-burning stove. “Some of the solutions are so simple,” explains Freeman, adding: “I suppose it’s like an education centre turned holiday camp really.” And, as we take a dip in one of the centre’s glorious natural pools at the end of the day, where sulfate mineral gypsum glistens in the afternoon sun and terrapins enjoy a shady nap under the reeds, I realise in many ways he is right. “You come here to learn something about yourself. People come saying they want

green guide 2012

SUSTAINABLE LIVING

LOW-IMPACT: Volunteers Sarka Voriskova, Gabriella Corbo-Perkins and Natasha Azizi and (right) Sunseed chairman Paul Freeman

to develop their gardening skills, then they see Leo the builder making something and decide they want to get involved in that.

“It’s about hardworking young people making a difference to the world we live in. It’s very simple really; there’s no complicated message.”

Free tours, courses and workshops are also available. For more information see www.sunseed.org

SUN-FUELLED DINNER: One of Sunseed’s many parabolic dish solar cookers

ou may not play the stock market! But 14 what happens there can affect some of the most important things in your life, like your pension, your savings even the amount you pay for your shopping. The worst thing you can do is nothing! Pension funds will tell you to leave your money where it is, of course they will if everybody pulled their money out they would be out of business! Banks will tell you the same and why not while they pay you the minimal per centage return they are playing with your money to get themselves out of the hole that they have put themselves in. IFA’s will tell you this is the best time to buy because the prices are so low, just remember they get paid for every trade you make and there is nothing to say the shares want keep going down or at best take four or five years to start making money! Think about putting a small amount into a project that has a 100 year track record of making their investors money. Not only does the value go up on average of seven per cent a year but the amount of product grows every year as well! What is this fantastic product? One of the oldest traded products in the world: TIMBER It’s well documented that the Great Depression was a time of massive uncertainty with stocks falling by more than 70 per cent. What is less well known is that at the same time, the price of timber went up by 233 per cent. The theme of timber investment bucking the trend continued throughout the other more recent recessions and continues during the 2008 global economic crisis, the stock indices lost by a high percentage of approximately 40 to 50 per cent while the timber index increased by 9.5 percent (Cohn 2011). Timber regularly increases at a higher rate than inflation. In Costa Rica, timber prices were higher than inflation rate by an average of 3.3 per cent between 1910 and 2000 (Costa Rica Invest 2012). This makes timber an excellent way to hedge against inflation. Teak being the most regulated and traded hardwood timber can be compared against any of the main investment vehicles. Forestry investments are classed as an investment alternative asset. It has mainly been traded as a

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long-term investment where highest returns are the trees in the plantations unti gained after 10 to 15 years depending on the species more favourable. Timber prices a of timber, but some can start the repayment cycle as by supply and demand and a ch soon as three to four years. We even have an eightaffect the investment returns. H year project that gives fixed annual returns starting mitigated by delaying harvestin from the first year. favourable although timber pric Compared to other investments, forestry has the negative four times in the la superior risk-adjusted returns and a low to negative Other risks include insects and fi correlation with other assets such as bonds and management company is in pla stocks. are In relation to the rate und of return, forest has miti ‘Investments into Forestry are one of the a low volatility due On t best performing assets to biological tree stoc in the past few decades growth. Combining insu performing far better forest investment An i than stocks, real estate in a portfolio helps youn and bonds’ reduce the portfolio’s four risk level making it due (Mortimer 2012) an excellent choice wou in diversifying with investments. so, o Investing in forestry has risks, but unlike other regular short-term income. assets, it is easy to mitigate risk factors by leaving Timber has an advantage over o

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green guide 2012

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They say money doesn’t grow on trees – I disagree!

Here, Green Guide talks to Gibraltar’s Forestry Trading boss Chris Bourne about why timber is a stable investment and why it is a great way to do your bit for the planet

Investing in forestry has risks, but unlike other assets it is easy to mitigate risk factors by leaving the trees in the plantations until conditions are more favourable

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since timber does not have to be harvested at the end of the prescribed period. If the prices are poor, the timber can be retained in the plantations until the prices are more favourable, and as the tree matures its value and the volume of timber increases. Regardless of the current global economic situation, as long as the sun continues to shine and the rain continues to fall (two abundant commodities in the rainforest), your money will continue to grow.

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VAL UE A FTE INIT R 15 IAL YEA INV EST RS MEN T

Is my investment at risk from fire? The trees you invest in are all grown as part of rainforest reforestation projects meaning the risk of your investment being wiped out by fire should not be a concern. To put it in prospective, London’s average annual rainfall is just over 27 inches, compared to an average of over 100 inches per year in the rainforest. With humidity levels continually between 77-88 per cent, the forests are even capable of producing their own rain. Is it a stable investment in the heart of the recession? It’s well documented that the Great Depression was a time of massive uncertainty with stocks falling by more than 70 per cent. What is less well known is that at the same time, the price of timber went up by 233 per cent. The theme of timber investment bucking the trend continued throughout the other more recent recessions and continues in the current crisis. Does the market affect my investment? With most stock, your money is susceptible to changes in the market. Investments in forestry are different however, as your money remains as secure as the trees it is invested in. Despite the chaos around you, your investment will continue to grow both literally and metaphorically. Regardless of the current global economic situation, as long as the sun continues to shine and the rain continues to fall (two abundant commodities in the rainforest), your money will continue to grow. How long must I wait to get my return? One of the main concerns of those who are considering investing in forestry is how long trees take to grow. They are concerned about having to make such a long-term commitment. But this is not the case. At Forestry Trading, most of the projects begin repayments after the first three years with some even beginning repayments after year one and then paying annually thereafter. An example is one of our Biodiesel projects; its longest project runs for only eight years and repayments begin at year one with a total repayment amount of 209 per cent at the end of the term.

SUSTAINABLE LIVING

green guide 2012

Where does your rubbish go? Wendy Williams takes a tour of the Costa del Sol’s leading waste treatment plant

Reduce . Reuse . Recycle. Three little words that can make a big difference to the world we live in and the world we leave behind for the next generation. The earth’s natural resources are disappearing and our current lifestyle is leaving its mark on the planet and its climate in a big way. One of the biggest environmental problems we face is the excess waste we produce at home. Put simply, we produce more waste than the planet can cope with. Our planet is not disposable and we simply cannot keep producing goods and throwing them away. But while everyone agrees in theory, not everyone is convinced that going to the effort of sorting out their rubbish and putting it in colour coordinated bins will actually reap any benefits. So why should we recycle? Put simply, recycling conserves natural resources, reduces waste and helps to reduce pollution and energy demand. One of the main benefits is that it keeps rubbish out of landfill sites, which are filled with non biodegradable waste that can stay in its existing form for up to a thousand years. To put things in perspective, it takes 10 years for one tin can to biodegrade and 150 years for a plastic bag. A CD or battery can take as long as a thousand years. Another key reason recycling is important is it takes

less energy to re-use the existing materials than it does to create something new from scratch. And, most importantly, right now, it is also cheaper. Above all, for town halls it is a no-brainer to encourage recycling because it means they save money. Every bit of recycling undertaken means less rubbish for the council to deal with. For recycling is dealt with by third party companies. So what exactly happens to our rubbish once we have put it in those coloured bins? The urban waste recycling plant in Casares, which deals with the rubbish from 11 town halls on the Western Costa del Sol, is keen to promote the ‘three Rs’ (reduce, reuse, recycle) as a way of reducing rubbish. “Recycling is so easy and very useful,” explains Ines Munoz Areales, as she shows me round the site, run by environmental firm Urbaser in collaboration with Ecoembes, which manages the collection and recycling of plastic, aluminium and paper nationwide. “If you look after your habits, you look after the environment,” she adds. The centre is the first step in the recycling process sorting the waste for the recycling agents to collect and transform it into new raw materials. All urban waste from grey and yellow bins is sent there, while paper and glass is sent straight to the recycling companies.

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SUSTAINABLE LIVING

they are compressed and left to be picked up by various recycling companies. On top of this, of the waste in the grey bins, around 50 per cent can be recycled, while the rest goes to landfill. “And when each of these landfill sites is full we cover them in earth and plant trees on the top,” says Munoz. Interestingly, in as little as six weeks, recycled aluminum products can be sent back to the shops ready to be used again. And did you know 80 tin cans A really rubbish guide can be used to make a wheel When it comes to recycling, lots of people are happy to do their bit but struggle to know rim, 40 plastic bottles can be what goes where. made into a polar fleece jacket The various bins, which seem to come in every colour of the rainbow, have a tendency to and eight cereal boxes can baffle well-meaning punters. And statistics have shown that as much as a quarter of all actually turned into a book? rubbish is going in the wrong bin. Or that 13 plastic bottles go One of the trickiest items to put in the right place seems to be milk and juice Tetra Pak to make an Arsenal shirt? (see cartons, with lots of people wrongly believing they should go with cardboard when page 4) actually they should be put in the yellow bin with the plastics. The good news is that in 2011, To help you on your way, here we offer you a guide to what goes where… Spanish citizens recycled 68 per cent of all their waste. In the 14 years since Ecoembes was launched in 1998, 11.7 million tonnes – the equivalent of 880 football stadiums – has been collected in recycling bins around Spain that would have otherwise ended up on rubbish dumps. Recycling is one of the best, and easiest, ways for you to have a positive impact on the world we live in. So what are you waiting for?

The first step when the rubbish arrives is to remove large objects such as mattresses and furniture. Then the cardboard is removed. After this the rubbish goes into a revolving cylinder with small holes in it so that the organic waste can be separated from the rest of the rubbish. “This is later turned into compost,” explains Munoz. Next the different plastics are sorted out

BLUE BINS This is designed for papel y carton, and is where you should put all types of paper, from magazines to newspapers. It is also where you put your cardboard, including packaging such as pizza boxes. But you should not put any milk or juice cartons here. Kitchen roll with absorbed grease cannot be recycled and bits of metal or plastic from ring binders should also be removed. GREEN BINS This is for recycling glass, from wine bottles to jam jars. Screw tops from jars and bottle tops should be removed. You can also include broken glass – but not drinking glasses, light bulbs, mirrors, windows or anything made from mixed materials.

using modern ‘optical’ technology that scans the materials and recognises the type of plastic. Each of the 90 such plants in Spain separate this packaging into metals, including steel and aluminum, plastics – including PET (used for drinks bottles and food containers), high-density polyethylene and mixed plastic – and finally Tetra Paks. Once all the materials have been separated

Recycling tips YELLOW BINS This is for tin cans and plastic containers, from shampoo bottles to baked beans tins to yoghurt pots and Tetra Paks. You can also include the plastic and metal tops you have taken off your jam jars before throwing them in the green bin. Here is where you put your tin and aluminium cans, as well as milk and juice cartons. Carrier bags can also be thrown into this bin – but it is much better to reuse your bags than recycle them. Please note you cannot put plastic that is not a container (such as plastic plates or cutlery) in here.

GREY BINS This is a catchall bin for organic waste and non-recyclable waste that cannot be put into the other bins. OTHERS Depending on where you live, there are more and more bins springing up including those for clothes and vegetable oils. And keep your eyes out for the ‘ECOMOVIL’, a mobile recycling plant that visits various sites offering endless recycling options!

• Remember: to reduce contamination and improve recycling efficiency, wash and squash! • It is important to scrape out any food remains/ pour away excess liquid. • Rinse the container (use your washing-up water) BUT don’t put it in the dishwasher – there is no need to waste resources trying to save them! • Crush metal cans and squeeze plastic bottles to expel as much air as possible

GREEN PLACES TO STAY

green guide 2012

Green escapes Looking for something a little different? A place where the environment is conserved, not abused? Well, this selection of some of Andalucia’s best green retreats should give you some food for thought

Cortijo la Tenada STRONG STUFF: Owners with a hemp brick Cortijo la Tenada is part of a 150-year-old farm set in breathtaking desert scenery near Nijar, in Almeria’s Cabo de Gata Natural Park. Once dedicated to the cultivation of wheat, almond and olives, today it is a sustainable retreat, with education and relaxation very much part of its ethos. Completely renovated by ecoarchitect firm A granel, the main aim of the building is to beat the hot, dry conditions in summer and cold weather in winter. For this, the cortijo employs big bulk walls made from hemp, lime and soil bricks, while the roof and floors are made with materials that breathe. It also uses ‘thermal inertia’ with

windows designed to catch heat in the winter and shelter it from the sun in summer, while porch and side openings are used to entice western and eastern winds. This, along with split-level rooms, helps to keep a constant temperature of 26°C in the day and much less at night. Energy sources are renewable and water was given particular attention with a rain collecting system and the re-use of grey water. “The bioclimatic design plays a fundamental role in the natural air conditioning,” explains owner and architect Almudena Mateo-Sagasta. “The design aids natural lighting and the choice of A+ electrical goods helps with efficiency.” www.latenada.es

green guide 2012

GREEN PLACES TO STAY Al Lago This charming rural hotel overlooks an azure lake below Zahara de la Sierra in the Sierra de Grazalema nature reserve. It’s a wonderful place to stay with comfortable rooms, but best of all is its splendid restaurant, which has one of Andalucia’s ‘best dining terraces’. Boasting its own organic finca, head chef and owner Stefan (left) uses mostly, fresh ecological produce in his cooking. Www.al-lago.es

Alcantarilla

It has been picked out by the Guardian as a ‘green place to stay’ for its organic vegetable garden and tree planting scheme. The Independent has also praised this stunning guest house near Ronda, installing

it into its ‘Top Six Rural Retreats’ in Spain. It is easy to see why, this beautiful 200-year-old farmhouse has been carefully renovated and sits in a wonderful two hectare garden full of trees and a dreamy 12m-long pool. Www.alcantarilla.co.uk

The greenest hotel on the Costa de la Luz, Casas Karen is situated in stunning Los Caños de Meca just minutes away from unspoilt beaches, pine forests and the Trafalgar lighthouse. All waste from its 11 cottages and straw huts is composted and water is drawn from a well. Massages and yoga can be arranged, or guests can simply relax in a Mexican hammock. Www.casaskaren.com

Casas Karen

20 www.casaolea.com

GREEN PLACES TO STAY

green guide 2012

Casa Olea

Nestled in a sleepy valley in the heart of Cordoba’s famous olive oil belt, Casa Olea manages to be both green and luxurious at the same time. Highly-rated by the UK press and Trip Advisor, it is stylish and extremely well run by its owners Claire and Tim, who have excellent knowledge of sustainability. Heating comes from a state-of-the-art olive pip boiler and most food is local and organic. Rent bikes, go hiking or explore the lovely nearby town of Priego de Cordoba.

Hoopoe Yurt

Often touted in magazines, like Vogue, as one of the ‘best retreats in the world’, it is not hard to see why. Beautiful simplicity is order of the day for Ed and Henrietta’s stunning escape hidden in a cork and olive grove with unspoilt views that stretch for miles. Completely zero-carbon you stay in one of the secluded Mongolian-style yurts, which are powered entirely by solar panels and equipped with composting loos, hot showers, and electricity sockets. Surrounded by nature, you wake to wildflowers and hoopoe’s, hence the name. A holiday in one of the yurts lets you return to nature without having to forgo your usual vacation luxuries. Best of all, the hotel’s restaurant serves delicious local foods, much of which comes from their garden. If you’re still not relaxed after a few days, the hotel offers both full-body massages and yoga classes. www.yurthotel.com

Finca la Guzmana

Cortijo El Saltador A large, traditional farmhouse in stunning countryside in the Almeria hills, this is a great base for activity holidays such as hiking and rock climbing. The house uses its own well for water, and electricity is supplied by a large solar panel system. El Saltador offers great views and often has fantastic art exhibitions (see below) and flamenco shows. www.elsaltador.com

It’s one of Ronda’s most popular places to stay. And Finca la Guzmana makes every effort to be as carbon neutral as possible. As well as solar panels, underfloor heating and an olive pip boiler, its owner Peter Macleod, has designed the cortijo with high ceilings to help keep the rooms cool, utilises compost heaps and grows many of his own vegetables. There are also fresh eggs, fox permitting, from his hens. As well as encouraging the use of wicker shopping baskets for guests, he is careful not to plough his olive groves to protect the root system (see article on page 10). www.laguzmana.com

ORIGINAL: Art work in El Saltador’s kitchen

green guide 2012 It is entirely appropriate that her local Spanish newspaper described her as being a ‘Gerald Brenan of the 21st century’. For just like the groundbreaking British author, Lucy Arkwright has been trailblazing her way into the record books, by setting up one of Andalucia’s first entirely carbon-nuetral hotels. Along with husband Angel Millan, she has turned a fantastic Andalucian townhouse into an exciting project for green-minded travellers. After a year of back-breaking work - and the project going 20 per cent over budget - their hotel Posada San Marcos, in Alajar, is finally on track. “It has certainly cost a fortune, but it is starting to pay back,” explains Bolton-born

GREEN PLACES TO STAY

Carbon neutral kip

TRAILBLAZERS: Angel and Lucy in Alajar Arkwright. Carefully renovated using the best quality lambs wool and cork insulation, it also counts

underground geothermal heating, one of the first buildings in Andalucia to install it.

www.posadasalajar.com

The ground source energy system has three separate sources of temperature: the four bore holes that take the temperature from the ground, as well as the house and the pool. It means the hotel is kept at a constant 15 to 17 degrees all year round. It is especially effective in summer as the cool temperature from the pool is used to cool the house, while the warmth from the house is sent to help produce hot water for the hotel and to heat up the water in the pool. It is a clever closed system and it is saving them around 75 per cent off their previous electricity bill.

GREEN DAY OUT

green guide 2012

Trip to the Mayan Monkey chocolate factory

Sweet squeals of delight Buying locally-produced food is a surefire way to help the planet – and at Mayan Monkey in Mijas, you can go one step further by making your own too. Run by chocolatier Eli McCarthy and her IT guru partner, Jason Godwin, Mayan Monkey has established itself as Malaga’s reference point for premium chocolate. The chocolate-making workshop includes an introduction to the chocolatier craft – which dates back to 1900BC – before you design and make three of your own bars.

CAPTION: FUN: Making your own bars

And the kids love it. “Our boys loved making chocolate,” explains one father. “Their laughter could be heard on the other side of Mijas.” All chocolate is made fresh on the premises using top-quality, locally sourced ingredients such as Mijas honey. And of course you can buy chocolate too, with ‘Around the Globe in Chocolate’ taking you on a tasting voyage to the heart of cacao – Peru, Cuba, Tanzania and Java – without polluting the skies on a plane.

www.mayanmonkey.es

N anoTec Nanokleen Ambiente

• Plant-based, biodegradeable cleaning solutions • No artificial perfumes or colourings • Versatile, efficient and competitively priced

...the future of cleaning

For more information, visit www.Nanokleen.es or contact us at info@nanotecambiente.com

green guide 2012

GREEN BUSINESSES

Tasting times ahead When architect Martin Kieninger decided to plant a vineyard at his stunning smallholding, near Ronda, it could only ever have been an organic one. Having spent the best part of two decades working as a sustainable architect, campaigning for the environment and minimising his carbon footprint, he could hardly start bombing his vines with pesticides. “I have always been organic and could never imagine being otherwise,” explains the softlyspoken Austrian, at his fivehectare estate Bodega Kieninger, which has won many awards over recent years. “The difference in taste is obvious and the way things are in society right now, going organic and planting small is the future.” Indeed the month that he bought the estate in 2000 he had it

STABLE: Eco Vida builds a flood-proof house in Bangladesh for every home it builds in Spain

CHEERS: Organic wine maker Kieninger registered as organic and he is also now practically biodynamic – meaning that he picks and plants the vines by the moon cycle. “There is no doubt that more and more wine makers are going to go organic over the next few years. It is the future of agriculture.”

To visit his vineyard, visit www.bodegakieninger.com or call 952 879 554

Industrial strength cleaning - au naturel! Cleaning with conventional products is bad for the planet. The synthetic chemicals they contain are toxic, non-biodegradable and often carcinogenic. These substances eventually go on to pollute rivers and streams, and are consumed by animals and maybe even humans, while the containers they come in end up in landfill. NanoKleen offers completely natural products made from bio-based, renewable ingredients, which are sold in concentrated form - meaning less plastic is used. But unlike other natural cleaning products, NanoKleen actually makes your kitchen floor sparkle and gets rid of grease off your oven and car. And they biodegrade by up to 99 per cent within a month. So, how on earth does a cleaner made of olive oil, coconut oil and potatoes achieve this? “The key to NanoKleen products is that the soap particles are very, very small so they really get in and clean properly,” explains director Abi Dean. “But it’s a trade secret how it works, and nobody else has products like them,” she adds.

For more information and stockists, see www.nanokleen.es

BOGOF… the eco-friendly way!

Building company Eco Vida is tackling global matters on both sides of the planet It’s a rather unconventional ‘buy one get one free’ (or BOGOF) offer. But green builder Eco Vida has pledged just that, offering to build a free flood-proof home in Bangladesh for every energy efficient home it builds in Spain. The homes built for poverty-stricken families are being constructed by charity Practical Action. Set up on flood plains they are a vast improvement on the flimsy wood and corrugated iron homes, which often get washed away in the heavy monsoon rains each year. Built on solid plinths of soil, brick and concrete they are strong enough to withstand floods that kill over 700 Bangladeshis each year, as well as damaging four million homes and wiping out crops. “It’s very gratifying to be able to tackle this problem at both ends,” said Eco Vida director John Wolfendale, who lives in Granada. “We are helping vulnerable people suffering in Bangladesh because of rising sea levels, and at the same time building energy efficient homes in Spain.” Eco Vida’s houses in Spain use passive design and efficient systems to reduce CO2 emissions from heating and cooling by up to 100 per cent.

Visit www.ecovidainternational.org

24 There are an estimated 300,000plus illegal homes in Andalucia. It is a heated issue which is not going to go away. In the Axarquia region alone 22,000 stand on non-urban land, many owned by foreigners who had no idea their dream homes were built in breach of the law. Where do these homeowners now stand? What about the environmental consequences if left to stand? Here we present both sides of the argument…

THE BIG ISSUE: ILLEGAL HOMES DEBATE

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Homeowners v “We cannot be blamed” Illegal homeowner Phil Smalley, president of Save Our Homes Axarquia (SOHA) Nobody warned us that building on rural land was illegal: not our lawyers, our builders, our town halls, banks, notaries or architects. The land we bought was mostly dry and abandoned and impossible to obtain a living from. And most importantly, it created practically no tax (or IBI) for the town halls, which now earn millions of euros in income from the houses constructed. On top of this, we built our

CAPTION: INNOCENT: Phil Smalley, who represents thousands of illegal homeowners, at his Axarquia house

houses with permission from our town halls - so how can we be blamed? While we now understand many laws were broken, surely those responsible for

giving us permission should be punished – not the innocent homeowners who bought in good faith. This huge problem came about due to mass corruption – and it

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THE BIG ISSUE: ILLEGAL HOMES DEBATE

environmentalists is clear Spain needs to clean up its political and administrative system. A lot of blame should go to the Junta – for as far back as the 90s the ecologists were warning them about indiscriminate building, and yet licences were still being issued as late as 2006. But any property, legally acquired, cannot be declared illegal so many years later. Our legal properties should be left untouchable, particularly if Spain wants to be considered as a safe place to invest. We need to respect what has been authorised and start all over again with a firm control, based on a reliable administration. There are around a million Northern Europeans residing in Spain. Foreign investment via property has been huge in the past two decades, and this trend will continue as long as foreigners can have confidence in the judicial system – the same confidence, in fact, that they have in their own countries.

“Welcome to rural Spain… but please stay in the villages!” Rafael Yus Ramos, coordinator at Axarquia Nature Studies Office (GENAEcologistas en Accion) The rural environment of the Axarquia is for everybody to enjoy – both residents and visitors alike. Sadly too many areas of natural beauty have been spoilt by illegal constructions which should never have been allowed. We therefore ask for illegal homes in protected areas to be demolished. The Junta recognises the presence of 2,000 homes on protected land. However if we apply the Axarquia’s territorial regulation plan (POT) more rigorously, which is supposed to protect the countryside and control urban sprawl, the figure is much larger – around 8,000, we estimate. They cause urban sprawl and increase pollution.

PROTECTED: Ramos and his beloved rural Axarquia

Back in the 1990s we banded together to fight the town halls who had begun to grant illegal licences for homes completely unrelated to agriculture. This gave a green light to Europeans and Spanish urban dwellers, and to the speculative development of the land. Many towns were growing in size by 300 per cent a year – despite our complaints to the Junta and the Environment Department. Now the situation has become unsustainable and nobody is willing to take on the economic and political cost of such a mass demolition of illegal homes. The Junta has instead created an administrative procedure to regulate – ie ‘recognise’ the

Changing the way we build Traditional Spanish buildings are generally of a low quality in terms of materials used, leading to bad insulation and the issue of damp. They are prone to condensation, mould growth and salt marks – even on internal walls – and means they feel hot in summer and cold in winter. Still Headland Construcciones is a modern company driven to improve the quality of such buildings through carefully thought-out methods and the use of quality materials. Using the latest products, it combines energy saving with the need to make life more comfortable – and cheaper. For example, its newly developed external insulation system guards energy already used.

Such is the company’s commitment to the environment, it scooped an award from Cadiz Energy Council for energy saving in 2008. It has gone on to construct many new buildings and continues to refurbish old MODERN: Mark Headland buildings. “This is not only helping in the comfort of its residents, but also in providing the savings in carbon emissions demanded by modern attitudes to the environment and global warming,” says a spokesman.

www.sh-construcciones.com

existence of these 22,000 properties. But this procedure will fail to solve the problem – because the properties will stay standing – and will also send out a green light for further construction. If these homes are not demolished, a precedent will never be set and people will not fear the law in future. Regarding people being made homeless due to demolition, these cases are minimal since the majority of the illegal properties are second homes. In any case, the demolition process is slow and allows time to arrange an alternative residence. If homeowners were granted licences from their town hall, it is they who should compensate them. If it was a mayor or the planning councillor, it is he or she who is individually responsible - and should be reported for planning crimes. If no licence was ever granted, homeowners do not have the right to anything. Above all, while we understand why northern Europeans and Spanish urban dwellers alike - want to live in quiet, rural areas. We just ask them to do it within the region’s many villages where they will be better integrated into local culture and will not be damaging the environment.

green guide 2012

Going underfloor Roger Matthijsen of renewable energy firm ARCOS on the advantages of installing an underfloor heating system What makes you a green company? Underfloor heating/cooling with a heat pump is the most energyefficient way of controlling the temperature of a house. It is twice as efficient as heating with gas, for example. However many people are still opting for traditional air conditioning because it responds more quickly to the user’s needs. Over the years we have developed a

computer-operated system, Arcos Confort, which combines the two methods – underfloor heating/ cooling and air conditioning, to provide a solution which is both comfortable and efficient. How does it work? The underfloor unit does most of the heating/cooling work, meaning there is minimal energy being used. When the user wants to change the temperature, they

WINNING TEAM: Roger Matthijsen and partner Annemarie De Haas change it on the thermostat and the air conditioning kicks in immediately, adjusting the temperature of the room in a matter of minutes while the underfloor unit catches up. Once it has caught up, the air con unit no longer needs to be used. If you have a cold and it is drizzly outside and you feel a bit chilly, you want the temperature to change straight away and not wait hours for it to get a bit warmer. It is the best way to be comfortable in the hot Spanish summer and cold winters, but also use less energy. What other green products do you have? We can install solar panels for electricity or to heat water. We also offer a ventilation system, Aire Confort, which uses the energy from hot air leaving the house to heat the fresh air

coming in. It uses around 90 per cent of the energy which would otherwise be lost therefore saves resources. In summer, it works the other way round. Where can your systems be installed? Our underfloor heating/cooling system is for unbuilt houses and renovations, while our solar power systems and swimming pool heating systems can be installed in any existing property. How much does it cost to install ARCOS systems? It depends on the size of the house, but a 200 square metres the Suelo Confort underfloor heating/cooling system will cost about €20,000 and the Arcos Confort around €32,000. Our Aire Confort ventilation system is about €5,000.

green guide 2012