Through this report, I would like to share with all of you the extent of eco-conscious approach and sustainable systems used in the place I have started living since last 2 weeks.

On 18^th Sep, I shifted to Birmingham, UK to persue studies at the University of Birmingham. My parents too shifted with me so we decided to rent a flat to stay together. I am amazed to see the eco- friendly approach considered here for almost everything.

First of all, the corridors, lobbies and almost every place has  motion controlled sensors to switch ON the lights only once someone has come. This is to avoid wastage of energy.

The waste management system is well set up. Outside every house,  Birmingham City Council has placed 4 types of waste bins meant for recyclables like paper , plastic, metal or general household waste or garden and kitchen waste. Residents are supposed to and they actually do dispose of their waste in designated bins which are emptied every morning by Birmingham City Council staff.

There are no lifts at all in our 3-storied house. I live on 2^nd floor but there are many stairs and feels as if it is 3^rd or 4^th floor. At times I used to wonder in the beginning why didn't they provide a lift. I was told by property managers that lifts contribute to additional carbon emissions and waste lot of energy and climbing stairs is a good exercise to keep residents fit and healthy. After knowing that I am delighted to climb stairs for the sake of saving energy/reducing carbon emissions.

Due to the climate (usually very cold) of this region, all houses are supposed to have some sort of heating arrangement to heat their houses. In our building, our flats have storage heaters to heat the house. These storage heaters are the best way to save money as well as protect environment by saving energy as they work on sustainable energy concept.

A typical storage heater is wall-mounted and looks a bit like a radiator. I am attaching it'

s picture here.  It works by drawing electricity over the course of a few hours at night, and storing it as heat in a 'bank' of clay or ceramic bricks( inside the storage heaters) to use the following day. So they work by consuming electricity & charging up at night, storing this as heat and then slowly releasing this stored heat during the following day. The homes having such storage heaters,pick  energy tariff called "Economy 7"-  a tariff that offers much cheaper electricity at night, but more expensive electricity during the day. This means that the electricity used by the storage heater is relatively cheap.

Economy 7 tariff :  This is an arrangement with an energy supplier by which the electricity that a household uses at night is much cheaper than that used during the day – typically about a third of the price. The 7 hours of cheap electricity are normally from 12 midnight until 07.00 in winter, and from 01.00 to 08.00 in summer. That's why it is called Economy 7 plan.

 

If you are wondering why bricks inside storage heaters. It is so because bricks have a high thermal mass - a useful property to make them retain retain heat extremely well and for long.

Houses are double glazed to reduce heat loss/ escape.

We are allowed to use only energy efficient LED lights –again to protect environment.

We have a very nice, well maintained communal garden only for us(the  5 families/residents of this house). We have been given digital access codes which are used to open the door for this garden. From my window, I can have a nice view of this garden which gives me refreshing feel . I feel so much close to nature by being surrounded by trees and greenery all around even on the roads.

Unlike UAE where tap water is unsafe to drink and people have to either buy mineral water or have to have water filteration / purification system at home. Here in Birmingham, tap water is very clean and safe to drink. It?s quality is maintained by rigorous treatment, checks and monitoring. In line with the Regulations, it is must to sample and test the water at Regular intervals. The Quality Inspectors visit 20,000 properties each year at random and check water quality for permissible levels of lead, bacteria or any other contaminant.

Birmingham and infact entire UK encourages public transport. London which is the capital of the UK, is famous for having world's best and one of the oldest public transport(underground trains) system. My place Birmingham has also very well established bus, tram and train system. As my house is just few km away from my university so I travel by bus. Bus passes are given at subsidized price to promote them. Bus stop is 10 minutes walk from my home and there are buses every 10 mins from the bus stop to my Uni.  There is a 'temple field square' adjacent to my bus stop . This square is meant to park your cars. So residents come to this square by cars , park their cars here and then go to their work etc by buses. When I am late, I cycle to the bus stop, park my cycle at the square and then catch bus. I can proudly say that I am and people here are using sustainable transport.

Organic food is easily and abundantly available. More than 90% of the time we are buying and consuming organic food which makes me feel really good.

Whenever you buy anything here, they ask you "Do you want us to pick and dispose/recycle your old appliance in eco-friendly manner?" .

There is so much good to talk about this place but this report is about my new 'sustainable' home. I will try to write another report about environmental practices in the city & country as such.