Profiles

Dubbed an 'eco queen - the queen of green' Penney Poyzer, from West Bridgford, has been head hunted to present a new programme looking at consumer consumption.

Penney jokes: "I'm a strict headmistress... I go in and treat people a bit rough if they are doing crimes against the environment."

But seriously: "I go into a variety of households, it's just not families, we've also got students and a gay couple, but they're all serious wasters."

In this new eight part series on BBC 2 Penney challenges households to become more eco-aware by getting back to basics, a course of action which she promises will also save them money and improve their sense of well-being.

For example the gay couple... "Were addicted to power showers, didn't wash their clothes together because if you did the romance was gone and they were chucking out about fifteen hundred quids worth of decent clothes... but they actually turn into the eco-warriors of the series."

Don't leave yer lights on!

She's a bit worried about the show changing her life. She really likes her life. But the series does have it's bonuses.

"One of the things I'm most excited about is the fact that I have got a book coming out. That's a lifelong ambition. I've literally, since the age of eight, wanted to have a book published, and it's happened."

The programme has already been sold down under. However, there might be a conflict of interest.

"It's quite exciting but I'm a bit worried about the air travel... you'll have to plant a lot of trees to compensate for that!"

Seriously, Penney does practice what she preaches. Just take a virtual visit to her ecohome (in West Bridgford when not in cyberspace). The house is a showcase of green features including worms in the toilet system.

Penny Poyzer stars in No Waste Like Home. It's an eight part series with the first programme being aired on BBC 2, 20:30 - 21:00 on Thursday, 18th August 2005.