GREEN GUIDE - Markham Publishing

CASE STUDY: Eco SolutionsHow to strip off safelyEco Solutions was developed out of a concernfor health, safety and the environment; its rootsare in a company which was once one of theUK’s larger users of solvent-based paint strippers.As a result, in 1995, began the developmentof safe and environmentally friendly alternativesto dangerous solvents that really work.Today, it offers a range of safe yet effective solvent-freecoatings removal products, used byconsumers and professionals alike, without anyof the usual risks that are associated with hazardoussolvents. In addition to solvent avoidance,the products do not contain any caustic orcaustic-based derivatives, have no hazards, andare minimal VOC content (0.000004%) as certifiedby independent laboratory tests.As there were no clean and safe alternative productsavailable which were effective enough, EcoSolutions took a gamble and developed its own inpartnership with Bristol University. This led toworldwide patenting of the technology.Eco Solutions…the Safer Option product rangehas had very enthusiastic reviews in the generalpress, DIY magazines and industry-specific publications.It is one of a few select companies to havereceived the prestigious Millenium ProductsAward sponsored by the British Government,Design Council & CBI. In addition, it is the onlycompany worldwide to be marketing a paintstripper with a CE mark for safety (for use as achildren’s toy in paint sets). Thus Home Strip isre-packaged for the education sector in both theUK and overseas.In the UK Home Strip is available at major DIYstores, including B&Q & Focus. The nail varnishremover is marketed under the name Nail FriendlyVarnish Remover by www.beautynaturals.com.For further details and advice, contact SheilaChivers, Eco Solutions Limited, Summerleaze House,Church Road, Winscombe BS25 1BH.T: 01934 84 44 84 E: info@ecosolutions.co.ukW: www.ecosolutions.co.uk & www.strip-paint.comCASE STUDY: DORSCOHCo-Housing: sustainable community livingDORSCOH: the Dorset Co-Housing Group hasevolved from a deep desire to live more sustainably,and to find the qualities of communitywithout living in a commune. Co-housinghas proved how to do this in Denmark, then inthe USA, and is just starting in the UK. Cohousingis the combination of self-containeddwelling units with a common house, wherepeople can eat and socialise together as muchor as little as they wish, and also share facilitieslike guest rooms, a laundry and children’sroom.DORSCOH is involved in two projects. Six membershave recently bought an old farmhouse, withseven holiday cottages plus disused barns, to createa pilot scheme for around 14 people at ColeStreet Farm in north Dorset. It is also involved inthe creation of a new eco-village for over 200 people,along with a social-green enterprise park,community market garden, eco-hotel and sustainableliving education centre. A potential site isunder negotiation, also near Gillingham. The ecovillageproject is led by The Rural RenewalCompany, a new social enterprise whose aim iscreating mixed-use eco-developments as a catalystfor social, economic and environmental renewal.The founder of both projects is Alan Heeks, whohas a good track record in creating pioneeringsocial and environmental projects. He explains:‘the experience in the USA and the UK shows thatit is hard for potential residents groups to establishco-housing projects unaided. They need theskills, momentum and finance which a suitableprofessional body can provide, and I started theRural Renewal Company to provide this’.Visiting Cole Street Farm, you can sample co-housingfor yourself, along with other parts of the eco-villagevision, such as eco-tourism, small workshop groups,etc. For details contact, Caroline Sharman orGay Ellis on 01747 821929, E: sharmancaroline@hotmail.com or ellis@g-ls.freeserve.co.uk.W: thevillageforest.com & www.ruralrenewal.co.uk136