Carbon Footprint

Two weeks ago I finally got around to using my birthday present from my 'big' birthday last year - a session driving a Ferrari F360 and Porsche 997. I had a great time being coached on racing driving technique whilst driving a couple of 'supercars'.

Okay, so this doesn't sit very comfortably with being green, or does it? I think it's fair to limit extreme use of fuel to one afternoon every few years (or even decades!) and thoroughly enjoy the experience whilst trying to be as energy efficient as possible the rest of the time. After all, we all need the occasional binge, be it with chocolate, a fast car etc, dont we?

So I'm not going to offset the carbon I burnt in the Ferrari & Porsche. There's a huge issue with offsetting and the companies that are cashing in on the eco-guilt - does spending a few pounds here and there to offset really help the planet? The answer seems to be no, it may get rid of your guilt and line the coffers of the offset companies, but it does little for the environment. As for me, I'll keep limiting the energy (including embedded) that I use, in what we do at Hillside and in life in general. And as for the Ferrari & Porsche, if we still have oil in another 40 years maybe I'll have another 'binge'!

Building Regs

It's been quiet on the blog but we've been busy. Our buildings regulations application has been lodged with the council and is (hopefully!) being reviewed by Building Control. This means we should have approval and/or comments within the next couple of weeks.

Meanwhile discussions with the builder are frustratingly protracted with a firm price and start date long overdue - but we keep chasing....