Have you ever had an old tennis ball that’s unusable? Maybe a dog’s gotten to it. Or maybe you just don’t have the energy for a quick game of tennis anymore. What ever the reason I’m urging you not to just toss it away with the rubbish.

In an attempt to help research and the preservation of harvest mice in Leicestershire and Rutland old tennis balls are being reused to give little homes for harvest mice.

The county council, worried about dwindling number has took it upon themselves to use hundreds of old tennis balls making a small penny sized hole for the mice to make it home sweet home.

The reason for the decrease in number is apparently due to changes in farming methods leading to the destruction of their homes.

The project is believed to be one of the biggest of its kind ever run in Leicestershire.

County Council wildlife expert, Helen O’Brien, said: “Little is known about the creatures’ current status locally so we need people to look in tall grass and fields and send in their information.

“The data will help us track numbers and tell us where we need to focus our attention to safeguard their future.”

The balls, donated by a local tennis club, are available for surveyors to distribute and monitor.

If you want to get involved why not go to the county council’s environmental resource centre in Birstall on June 14th.

The BuilderScrap.com team have been out and about in recent weeks. We’ve been having conversions around the nature of the building industry and what is ‘green’. The Definition of a Green Building etc. Having researched, searched the web and trade papers… this seems to give the most complete list, with factors we consider to be instrumental and appropriate.

Green building is the practice of creating structures and using processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building’s life-cycle from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation and deconstruction. This practice expands and complements the classical building design concerns of economy, utility, durability, and comfort. Green building is also known as a sustainable or high performance building.

Impacts of the built environment:

* Siting
* Design
* Construction
* Operation
* Maintenance
* Renovation
* Deconstruction

Consumption:

* Energy
* Water
* Materials
* Natural Resources

Environmental Effects:

* Waste
* Air pollution
* Water pollution
* Indoor pollution
* Heat islands
* Stormwater runoff
* Noise

Ultimate Effects:

* Harm to Human Health
* Environment Degradation
* Loss of Resources

Green buildings are designed to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment by:

* Efficiently using energy, water, and other resources
* Protecting occupant health and improving employee productivity
* Reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation

For example, green buildings may incorporate sustainable materials in their construction (e.g., reused, recycled-content, or made from renewable resources); create healthy indoor environments with minimal pollutants (e.g., reduced product emissions); and/or feature landscaping that reduces water usage (e.g., by using native plants that survive without extra watering).

We agree… but let us know your thoughts!