Author: davepickering

Edinburgh reporter and photographer

Desperate dieters in danger: the secret world of online slimming pills

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is working in partnership with Slimming World as part of the Agency’s wider #FakeMeds Campaign to encourage those wanting to lose weight to turn to safe, legitimate and appropriate routes … Continue reading Desperate dieters in danger: the secret world of online slimming pills

Haggis uses most power when cooking St. Andrew’s Day favourites

 It takes 32kWh of energy to prepare a ‘St Andrew’s Day feast’, the equivalent of powering an LCD TV for six weeks

  • National favourite haggis uses the most energy to cook of all dishes analysed
  • New research conducted by Scottish Gas looked at how much energy it takes to make Scotland’s most-loved foods
  • Having a smart meter can help you be more energy savvy during celebrations, and Scottish Gas has installed more than 35,011 smart meters across homes in Edinburgh

St Andrew’s Day is an occasion to celebrate everything Scottish, with music, dancing and (most importantly) food at the heart of all festivities.

New analysis carried out by Scottish Gas has discovered that it would take 32kWh of energy to cook a ‘St Andrew’s Day feast’, including firm favourites such as haggis, stovies, cock-a-leekie soup and cullen skink.

In fact, the energy used to prepare the celebratory spread could power an LCD TV for six weeks, a games console for two weeks and an energy saving light bulb for three months.

National dish haggis was revealed as the item that uses most power to cook of all the dishes analysed, needing 7.8 kWh of energy, closely followed by favourite accompaniment ‘neeps and tatties’, which uses 6.3kWh.

Those with a sweet tooth will be happy to know that desserts use the least amount of energy to prepare, with shortbread and cranachan needing just 1.5kWh and 0.3kWh respectively.

The energy profile of a St Andrew’s Day feast:

Dish Energy needed to prepare (kWh) The equivalent to
Haggis 7.8 Running a laptop (plugged in) for more than 5 days
Neeps and tatties 6.3 Powering a freezer for more than a day
Stovies 6 Running a washing machine for half a day
Scotch broth 5 Using a microwave for 4 hours
Cock-a-leekie soup 3.6 Using an iron for 3 hours
Cullen skink 1.6 Powering a Wi-Fi router for more than 11 days
Shortbread 1.5 Powering an alarm clock radio for more than 30 days
Cranachan 0.3 Powering a cordless phone for over 5 days

Smart Energy Expert, Stephen Cosgrove, who installs smart meters around Edinburgh for Scottish Gas, said: “St Andrew’s Day sees Scots and Scots-at-heart come together to celebrate our national day.  A big part of that is enjoying food that showcases the very best of Scottish culture, so it’s interesting to see how much energy traditional dishes use to prepare.

“Monitoring your energy use may be the last thing you’re thinking about during the festivities, but having an understanding of how much power you’re using when cooking can help to reduce your energy use.

“Having smart meters installed for free can help, too. They automatically send meter readings to your energy supplier so you don’t have to. And they come with a smart energy monitor that shows you how much energy is being used, in pounds and pence, in near real time.”

Scottish Gas has installed more than 415,000 smart meters across Scotland. 

Join the millions of people across Britain enjoying the benefits of smart meters. To find out more visit: www.scottishgas.co.uk/smart

Art installation captures unique ‘energy’ of Scottish community foundation

A new art installation was unveiled last night at a special event in Edinburgh marking the culmination of an ‘artist in residency’ programme designed to embed creativity into business and encourage skills sharing between the sectors. Continue reading Art installation captures unique ‘energy’ of Scottish community foundation

UK Government to host first ever Global Disability Summit

In her first speech as International Development Secretary, Penny Mordaunt today announced she will bring together global leaders and technology companies next year to tackle the barriers that prevent people living with disabilities in the world’s poorest countries from reaching their full potential. Continue reading UK Government to host first ever Global Disability Summit

Prime Minister’s St Andrew’s Day message

Prime Minister Theresa May:

Scotland has a special place at the heart of our precious union of nations.

And today, on St Andrew’s Day, it is right that we should come together to celebrate everything that Scotland stands for and all that Scotland contributes to our United Kingdom and to the whole world.

For that is the breadth of Scotland’s influence.

From the creativity and ingenuity of Edinburgh’s Festivals, three of which celebrated their 70th anniversary this year as some of the world’s greatest arts events – to Dr Richard Henderson who has become the 14th Scot to be awarded the Nobel Prize.

From the UK’s life-saving humanitarian efforts co-ordinated from East Kilbride to the factory in Falkirk making iconic double-decker buses that are sold to Mexico City.

From Scotland’s defence industry, making world-leading warships on the Clyde, to Scottish food and drink enjoyed the world over.

And I am proud that as Prime Minister of our United Kingdom, the government I lead is committed to doing everything possible to support Scotland’s continued success.

That includes investing over £1 billion in City Deals that have backed projects from five new technology innovation hubs and the new concert venue in Edinburgh, to the V&A opening in Dundee next year.

And it is that partnership between all the nations of the United Kingdom that makes us even stronger.

So today, let us take confidence from the contribution that Scotland will make in helping the United Kingdom to secure a bold, confident and prosperous future as a truly global nation.

And to all Scots, wherever you are in the world today, I wish you all a very happy St Andrew’s Day.

Wintry launch at Botanics for nation healthcare campaign

Health Secretary Shona Robison met with schoolchildren to highlight the importance of being prepared for seasonal illnesses at the winter-clad Royal Botanic Garden today. During the event, Ms Robison  encouraged everyone to take a few simple steps to ensure they can take care of themselves and their families and have a healthy festive period. Continue reading Wintry launch at Botanics for nation healthcare campaign

Granton & District CC produce first newsletter

Granton and District Community Council have produced their first newsletter. CC secretary Mizan Rahman launched the four-page edition at Monday’s monthly meeting in Royston Wardieburn Community Centre and he is now looking for feedback on the new publication. Continue reading Granton & District CC produce first newsletter

MP’s fingers crossed for Friends of Starbank Park

Deidre Brock MP has congratulated Friends of Starbank Park on being shortlisted for the Friends Group of the Year Award – the only Scottish park on the shortlist. The winner will be announced at a ceremony at Lords Cricket Ground tonight. Continue reading MP’s fingers crossed for Friends of Starbank Park

New guidance calls for clearer date labels to cut food waste

Simpler, clearer date labelling and storage advice for consumers, could help Scots cut the 170,000 tonnes of food thrown away from Scotland’s homes every year due to ‘not being used in time’. That’s the message from Zero Waste Scotland and Food Standards Scotland, who have welcomed new guidance for the food and drink industry. Continue reading New guidance calls for clearer date labels to cut food waste