BBC Worldwide, has launched BBCGreen.com, a consumer lifestyle website for people interested in how they can change their impact on the environment.

BBC Worldwide is using its considerable expertise in these areas to create a new, thematic outlet for a clearly defined target audience.

The new site gives simple and practical advice on living a greener life that will make a difference to both the environment and your wallet.

As well as offering regular editorial features such as ‘Where does your recycling really go’ and ‘Do food miles really matter’, BBCGreen.com also gives users access to its unique Green Action Plan.

The Action Plan enables you to see how different actions compare and discover what really does make a difference.

The advice on BBCGreen.com is based on facts and expert opinion and covers areas such as food, travel, home and finance, which are central to living a green lifestyle.

Will Watt, Publisher, BBCGreen.com, said: “A large proportion of the UK population want to be Green, but are confused and not sure where to begin.
Our aim is to give them the best possible start with day-to-day advice that makes a greener lifestyle manageable, practical and affordable.”
“We don’t campaign on green issues, we simply want to help and inspire people who are looking for easy-to-follow advice.”

Join BBC Green today and you could win a luxury trip to Paris for two.

Web: http://www.bbcgreen.com/content/home

It isn’t always easy being green - whether it’s driving 20 metres to grab a pint of milk, because it’s just started raining, or sneaking up the thermostat so you can sleep with the covers off.

So have some fun this spring, by confessing all those eco-sins and lighten your conscience with The Green Confessional; you can bare all to Together.com’s online priest and have the chance to win a fantastic prize:

They are giving away a Brompton bike, cutting edge Voltaic solar backpacks and some sexy Wattson energy monitors.

Here is a selection of perfect ways to atone for your eco sins – just check out the saintly deeds below, now easier than ever to follow through:

Saintly Deeds

1. Switch your bulbs to low-energy ones.
2. Recycle an old mobile phone.
3. Switch to a green energy tariff.
4. Do a home energy audit.
5. Make sure your loft is fully insulated.

Confess here:
Web: http://www.together.com/feature

Together.com is independently approved by The Climate Group, which is an international charity dedicated to working with big business and government to help solve climate change.

Climate change can seem like an overwhelming problem, however doing something, even a small something, can help reduce emissions and your impact on the climate.

The Together Community believes that reducing emissions should be easy and have partnered with some top household brands, to produce a great range of products and ideas to help you do just that:

• From low-cost eco car insurance and budget energy-saving light bulbs, to free energy-saving kits and simple household tips, to help you save energy and money; each solution, idea, tip or tool on their website has been chosen because it really can make a difference.
• Some are easy.- some are a challenge, but even if you commit to just one or two, you’ll be well on your way to saving a tonne of CO2.
• If you join in today, you can use the website to add-up all the CO2 savings you’re making – every day!
• You can also join the website Community – and show people what you’re doing; share tips, keep track of your savings and get inspired by the ideas.

Don’t stand on the sidelines. We’re in this together and only together can we hit our targets and make our efforts count.

Web: http://together.com

Together.com is a consumer engagement campaign, which has helped UK households reduce CO2 emissions by one tonne over three years.

Many of the UK’s favourite brands are united behind the campaign to provide millions of customers with a growing range of new products and ideas that make it easier to reduce their CO2 emissions.

Switching to energy saving light bulbs would save UK households £1.2 billion every year; almost two thirds of the UK’s consumers are still in the dark, about how much money switching to energy saving light bulbs could save them.

The National climate change campaign Together.Com has released research revealing that 30 million people across the UK are unaware that they could shave £55 off their annual energy bills by replacing their inefficient bulbs. (At a time when household bills are rising steeply)

Statistics compiled by Together suggest there are still around 440 million light bulbs in the UK that could be switched to energy saving ones, which would cut nearly 5 million tonnes of CO2 from the UK’s annual footprint, equivalent to taking nearly two million cars off the road each year.

This month Together.com has helped bring about an unprecedented series of initiatives that will result in an estimated six million energy saving light bulbs going into Britain’s homes, including Tesco’s current buy-one-get-one-free promotion across their entire range.

Visit the website to discover quick and easy things you can do TODAY to help fight climate change. Best of all, you can save money and track everything you do to see the difference you’re making – live!

Web: http://together.com

UK residents are being recommended to take Powergen’s Energy Challenge, which can cut up to £160 a year off their energy bills* and reduce their carbon footprints. (Takes just 15 minutes.)

Powergen, which is part of E.ON, one of the UK’s leading power and gas companies, is asking people to take the simple challenge by visiting their website.

The Energy Challenge site provides an-online-shop that enables people:

• Obtain a personalised energy efficiency report for their home.
  The report details how much money and carbon could be saved by installing recommended energy saving measures, which are tailored for their particular properties:
• Save energy and cut bills, via a virtual tour of an interactive house, which illustrates energy saving tips for each room.
• Track their energy consumption online.
• Buy discounted energy saving appliances and measures.

The three simple steps to taking the £160 Energy Saving Challenge are:

1.Go to the website below. Ensure you know what type of heating system you have, the amount of insulation you have and where it is and details of any benefits you receive before you log on.

2.Fill in the survey.

3.View the results, which will show you how much money and carbon dioxide you could save, by taking the measures recommended for your home.

Web:  http://www.powergenchallenge.co.uk.

* £160 average annual saving achieved by implementing measures identified from 5,121 customers who completed energy efficiency surveys between 1/3/07-12/9/07. This survey has been accredited by BRE.

Specialist bathroom retailer Aston Matthews has un-veiled its revamped website which now enables customers to shop online.

The e.commerce shopping option will make it easier for it’s out of London customers, to purchase contemporary and traditional bathroom fittings – anything from a soap dish to a cast iron bath.

To provide the best possible service on larger items, the website offers the convenience of online ordering with the personal attention of an experienced sales team:

Online customers are asked to indicate a time when it is convenient for an Aston Matthews advisor to telephone them, to talk through any technical details regarding more sophisticated items such as a wall hung WC or a power shower.

Director Martin Birch says, “When customers purchase items such as showers or WCs, we want to supply products that are technically compatible and suitable to their requirements; our experienced team will contact customers at their preferred time, to discuss the order and ensure the whole process runs smoothly.”

The updated website offers a wide range of Aston Matthews’ most popular products and provides excellent bathroom planning advice plus technical information.

Web: http://www.astonmatthews.co.uk

Tel: (020) 7226 7220

In response to customer demand The General Trading Company has announced the launch of its first ever transactional website on 1st October 2007.
 
The new General Trading Company website will enable consumers to buy their favourite products in the comfort of their own home, and feature the new seasonal catalogues, which customers can browse and download.
 
The website will be continually updated, with around 500 key General Trading Company products available to buy online including, vintage one off pieces, house wares, china and glass, bedroom and bathroom accessories, stationery and furniture; plus the best selling seasonal products for Christmas 2007.

On the site you will find help buying the perfect gift, choosing from the selection of attractive and unusual ideas for Birthdays, Christenings and there is also an upgrade to their Wedding List service.
 
The website will provide a 24 hour shopping service, including delivery to homes all over the country and expects to provide overseas delivery via the website in the future.

The elegant bottles featured here are priced from £85.  

Web: http://www.generaltradingcompany.co.uk
Tel:  (0207) 730 0411

The Europe by Net website is ideal for furnishing the ultimate, stylish bachelor pad, according to company statistics, which show that it serves an unusually high proportion of male shoppers – 60% male compared to 40% female, enjoy the polished convenience of the site.

The site showcases over 5000 furniture products from top European brands at up to 40% off the UK retail price; choose from over-sized lamps, comfy sofas,  classic leather desks and much more…

Featured here is a gorgeous inlaid desk by Baggio Annico:

This handsome piece in the ornate Louis XVI style, is expertly decorated with rosewood, boxwood, walnut and other woods; the desk features exquisite handmade inlaid motifs of classical cherubs and floral designs.

The desk top is embellished with an intricate circular inlay of finely rendered flowers and vines in a variety of mixed woods – truly an example of skilled artisanship.

Dimensions: 120 x 60 x 78h cm (47 x 24 x 31h in)
Delivery Time: 6-8 weeks.  Priced at £2820.

The Europe by Net website is simple and easy to use and offers a personalised bespoke service for the stressed homeowner and goods are delivered free on orders over £400 to UK addresses.

Web:  http:// www.europebynet.com
Tel:  (020) 7734 3100

Last year the Trading Standards dealt with over 100,000 complaints about second-rate trades people - the shoddy work of rogue builders, plumbers and electricians ranking as one of Britain’s biggest grievances in 2006.

So when you need a trustworthy trades person, how do you avoid becoming a victim? Finding a reliable tradesperson in the telephone directories is a little like playing Russian roulette!

With this in mind, property journalist Alison Cork founded problemsolved.co.uk – an online directory of recommended and vetted trades people.
 
The directory provides information about professionals from 120 trade categories, ranging from plumbers to garden designers; Problem Solved sources its members by public recommendation before vetting them for quality.

The service is free of charge and there’s no need to register – simply enter your postcode and choose a trade to access over 20,000 recommended trades people in Britain.
 
In addition Problem Solved offers a range of interactive services designed to solve even more problems:
 
Ask the Experts - Ask a panel of experts any property related question and have a response within 48 hours.
 
Jargon Buster - Problem Solved offers definitions for technical property-related terms.

Trades People Videos - Ideal for dispelling security concerns, users can view video clips identifying its members.
 
Articles and “How to” Guides - Insider info and practical articles are available for budding DIYers.
 
For details of a reliable tradesperson in your area, visit:

Web: http://www.problemsolved.co.uk
Tel:   (0871) 287 0344 (9am-5.30pm Mon-Fri).

According to a survey of the energy habits of some 5,000 Europeans, the UK has come out top of the European Energy Wasters’ league; the Germans being the most efficient in their energy use, followed by the Spanish.

Here in Britain our most wasteful energy habit is leaving our appliances on standby - which most of us do every day.

Our best habit is to reach for a warm jumper rather than turning the thermostat up - 78% of us claim we always do this. 

The Energy Saving Trust predicts that unless we curb our energy wasting habits we will have wasted £11bn and produced around 43m tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2010, which is one of the main causes of climate change. 

This is Energy Saving Week so the Energy Saving Trust is asking everyone in the UK to make a commitment to save their 20%.  If we all commit to save 20% of the energy we use every day, together we can help prevent climate change. Commit now at the website below!

On their website, every day this week, the Energy Saving Trust will be highlighting a different energy saving measure we can take to do our bit.

Web: http://www.est.org.uk/myhome/energysavingweek/