We've still been plugging away doing what we do, and we've made good progress with the garden this year. We've also just started on painting the exterior of the windows with Holkham Linseed Oil paints. This is the sane stuff we used on the porch a couple of years ago, and that still looks as good as new.
What's really prompted this update is that we got a letter from Ecotricity today advising us of a near 20% increase in our electricity rates. Ouch. So, seeing as we're on a rolling 28 day contract (hats off to Ecotricity for that at least), we got on the phone and made a couple of calls. One of the potential suppliers is an expanding local company called Haven Power. We looked at them last time round, but they failed at the first hurdle, as their sales people seemed to know very little about their own green product. A quick check of their website showed an improved set of information, so we called them, and they do have a 100% renewable product, powered by biomass. This has come in at £400 a year below the increased cost of staying with Ecotricity, so we've switched. As well as being 100% renewable still, we're also supporting a local company and local employment. That's a winner as far as we're concerned.
We've also engaged with the local Transition Ipswich group, and hope to be supporting the establishment of a 'pig club' on a small farm just a few miles away.
Our local butchers and greengrocer are already very good on local sourcing, but as a result of our recommendation, they have both just started stocking the same apple juice as we serve our guests.
Not really an eco thing, but some news hot off the press. Instead of closing down when we want (read 'need') a weekend off, we're going to be letting Lattice Lodge as a whole house on a self catering basis. Fingers crossed!
Cheers,
Martin and Mosaic.
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