Fitted kitchens have come a long way as installers and designers have included more and more innovative storage ideas as well as colours to choose from, cabinet designs and of course fitted appliances.
If you're disabled or a wheelchair user, that doesn't mean that you have to miss out on a great looking, functional kitchen yourself.
Nowadays, there are fitted kitchen companies that have their own design teams for bespoke projects designed exclusively for your particular disability needs, including appliances like ovens, hobs, dishwashers and fridges that can all be accessed by wheelchair users.
If you would like to find out how much a new fitted kitchen, designed especially for disabled access, could cost you, then visit Disabled Kitchens .org, (based in the UK), where you can get an instant online quote from the comfort of your own home without the need for a salesman to call.
Thursday, 28 August 2008
Friday, 22 August 2008
Did you Know? - planning permission for loft conversions
Did You Know?
At the moment you don’t need planning permission for a loft conversion, provided it does not exceed 15 per cent of your property’s original living space. Every house is currently entitled to a certain amount of “permitted development”. The only exceptions so far are listed buildings and houses in conservation areas, so if you are unsure, it’s still best to check with the local planning office.
Every conversion does currently need Building Regulations approval, which you can get from your local building control department before you begin the conversion.
However a recent Government White Paper unveiled by Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, outlines changes in the system which could mean that all loft conversions will now need authorised planning permission. So if you are thinking about converting your loft in the near future, it’s probably best to contact your local planning department before you begin, to check that you comply with the new regulations.
You can get an instant online quote for a loft conversion at Loft Quoter - click here to get your online loft conversion quote now.
At the moment you don’t need planning permission for a loft conversion, provided it does not exceed 15 per cent of your property’s original living space. Every house is currently entitled to a certain amount of “permitted development”. The only exceptions so far are listed buildings and houses in conservation areas, so if you are unsure, it’s still best to check with the local planning office.
Every conversion does currently need Building Regulations approval, which you can get from your local building control department before you begin the conversion.
However a recent Government White Paper unveiled by Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, outlines changes in the system which could mean that all loft conversions will now need authorised planning permission. So if you are thinking about converting your loft in the near future, it’s probably best to contact your local planning department before you begin, to check that you comply with the new regulations.
You can get an instant online quote for a loft conversion at Loft Quoter - click here to get your online loft conversion quote now.
New Driveway Legislation being introduced
New Driveway Legislation - How to… replace your driveway according to new legislation
With the average household in Britain currently owning two or more cars, it’s no surprise that we are constantly striving for that elusive extra parking space – in the garage, on the driveway, we even concrete over our front lawns to give us an extra space! Keeping the car off the road also significantly lowers insurance premiums, so most families make sure their driveway is as usable as possible. Homeowners in larger cities with unused off-road parking are even renting spaces out! This benefits both the homeowner – spaces can be rented for as much as £3500 per year – and the car-owner, who has the advantage of a guaranteed, safe parking space and cheaper car insurance!
Remember, you can get an instant online quote for your paving and driveway projects at PavingQuoter - click here.
Adapting your driveway at the moment is relatively easy – you don’t need planning permission, you can use whichever materials you like and you can concrete over the front lawn without any trouble. However that’s all about to change.
As of autumn this year, homeowners will require planning permission to replace their driveway or pave over the garden unless porous materials are used. This is all to combat the high flood risks which hit Britain last year – 55,000 homes flooded and, according to government figures, impermeable materials, such as concrete and tarmac, prevented the rain from soaking into the ground and exacerbated the problem. According to the London Assembly, London has already lost the equivalent of 22 Hyde Parks in “green space” as a result of people paving over their gardens. However if the necessity of extra parking really does outweigh your need for green, here are five top tips to replacing your driveway according to the new rules:
1) Gravel
Gravel is by far the cheapest porous material to use on your driveway or garden, and it’s also the one that best keeps your garden looking like a garden. Gravel costs as little as £2 per square metre and comes in many different colours depending on the quarry it’s from. Choose whichever colour you like best and lay the stones onto a permeable membrane to stop weeds going through. If you still want some planting in your garden, work out where your car will go and add “planting pockets” in the membrane. In these you can place hardy plants that will survive if you accidentally drive over them! Try things like bugle, creeping jenny and thyme. You could also try planting berry trees around the edge of your garden where hopefully you won’t crash into them! These are especially hardy and able to cope with the fumes and heat from your car, and will add instant colour. If you are feeling exceptionally green, you can even buy recycled gravel, which is a by-product of the ceramics industry.
2) Bricks
Brick-paving is still an option under the new driveway regulations, as long as you use permeable bricks. These are fitted in an interlocking style that allows rainwater to penetrate through the gaps in the brickwork and soak into the ground. Permeable bricks need to be laid by professionals and cost upwards of £15 per square metre. Brick paving arguably takes away the feel of a garden from your home, but you can add colour by placing pot plants around where your car will go. For pots, it’s easy to add colour all year round – plant things like petunias during the summer months and replace these with hardier plants such as pansies throughout the winter.
3) Recycled driveways
As well as recycled gravel, there are other “green” ways to replace your driveway. Cellular paving is made from hexagonal cells of recycled plastic which you fill with an aggregate, such as resin-bonded gravel or any other aggregate of your choice. The cells usually come in green, but there are other colours available at an extra cost. You can lay cellular paving yourself from £60 per square metre or getting it laid professionally will set you back £100 per square metre.
4) Keep the grass!
If you really do love your garden, but need that extra parking space, you can simply keep your front lawn and park on that. However if you don’t reinforce the grass first, you could end up with a quagmire in front of your house! There are solutions available to reinforce your lawn so that your car can drive on it with ease, without sinking and without ruining the grass. Grass reinforcement is made from plastic and is easy to lay, though you do have to take the grass up first! Then lay the reinforced plastic sheet underneath the lawn and you’ll be ready to park over it in a few hours. There are also concrete underlay options available, but these will obviously take longer to dry before they can be used! Plastic grass underlay costs from £17 per square metre.
If you do want to keep your existing grass and garden pretty much as it is, but still need the extra space for the car, you can lay paving slabs in strips where the wheels of your car will go. This makes a track in your lawn so that your car can be parked on it without leaving tyre marks! However you have to make sure you park precisely and that your wheels don’t leave the paving slabs.
5) Finishing touches
Even though you may think you have turned the front garden into a car park, there are still ways to keep it looking like a garden. As well as “planting pockets” in gravel and pot plants around the car, you can also add other touches to make sure you still have some plants and greenery. Try leaving “holes” in the paving, by leaving circular shapes unpaved. Fill the circles with soil and plant decorative trees or topiary in them – obviously making sure that they will not grow so big that they block the driveway or their roots will damage the paving! Choose small evergreens or topiary bushes that will remain miniature.
You could also build a pergola over the car so that it will stay hidden and your garden will still look pretty. To climb over the pergola, plant variegated ivy or beautiful florals such as honeysuckle, hydrangea, clematis or passion flower. If you don’t want to build a pergola, you could also consider putting a trellis up the front of the house and planting a climbing plant to grow up that. This way you are not missing out on some green in your garden!
If you are still not convinced by using a porous material on you driveway, consider that non-porous materials increase rainwater run-off by 50 per cent, which then has to flow into drains, which could overflow and flood. Non-porous materials also stop rain from soaking into the ground, which makes the ground dry and can cause subsidence. But don’t let this put you off having a driveway – off-street parking can add thousands to the value of your property and is a useful, safe space for your car. Just make sure you are sticking to the new laws and using porous driveway materials!
Don't forget, you can get an instant online quote for your paving and driveway projects at PavingQuoter - click here.
With the average household in Britain currently owning two or more cars, it’s no surprise that we are constantly striving for that elusive extra parking space – in the garage, on the driveway, we even concrete over our front lawns to give us an extra space! Keeping the car off the road also significantly lowers insurance premiums, so most families make sure their driveway is as usable as possible. Homeowners in larger cities with unused off-road parking are even renting spaces out! This benefits both the homeowner – spaces can be rented for as much as £3500 per year – and the car-owner, who has the advantage of a guaranteed, safe parking space and cheaper car insurance!
Remember, you can get an instant online quote for your paving and driveway projects at PavingQuoter - click here.
Adapting your driveway at the moment is relatively easy – you don’t need planning permission, you can use whichever materials you like and you can concrete over the front lawn without any trouble. However that’s all about to change.
As of autumn this year, homeowners will require planning permission to replace their driveway or pave over the garden unless porous materials are used. This is all to combat the high flood risks which hit Britain last year – 55,000 homes flooded and, according to government figures, impermeable materials, such as concrete and tarmac, prevented the rain from soaking into the ground and exacerbated the problem. According to the London Assembly, London has already lost the equivalent of 22 Hyde Parks in “green space” as a result of people paving over their gardens. However if the necessity of extra parking really does outweigh your need for green, here are five top tips to replacing your driveway according to the new rules:
1) Gravel
Gravel is by far the cheapest porous material to use on your driveway or garden, and it’s also the one that best keeps your garden looking like a garden. Gravel costs as little as £2 per square metre and comes in many different colours depending on the quarry it’s from. Choose whichever colour you like best and lay the stones onto a permeable membrane to stop weeds going through. If you still want some planting in your garden, work out where your car will go and add “planting pockets” in the membrane. In these you can place hardy plants that will survive if you accidentally drive over them! Try things like bugle, creeping jenny and thyme. You could also try planting berry trees around the edge of your garden where hopefully you won’t crash into them! These are especially hardy and able to cope with the fumes and heat from your car, and will add instant colour. If you are feeling exceptionally green, you can even buy recycled gravel, which is a by-product of the ceramics industry.
2) Bricks
Brick-paving is still an option under the new driveway regulations, as long as you use permeable bricks. These are fitted in an interlocking style that allows rainwater to penetrate through the gaps in the brickwork and soak into the ground. Permeable bricks need to be laid by professionals and cost upwards of £15 per square metre. Brick paving arguably takes away the feel of a garden from your home, but you can add colour by placing pot plants around where your car will go. For pots, it’s easy to add colour all year round – plant things like petunias during the summer months and replace these with hardier plants such as pansies throughout the winter.
3) Recycled driveways
As well as recycled gravel, there are other “green” ways to replace your driveway. Cellular paving is made from hexagonal cells of recycled plastic which you fill with an aggregate, such as resin-bonded gravel or any other aggregate of your choice. The cells usually come in green, but there are other colours available at an extra cost. You can lay cellular paving yourself from £60 per square metre or getting it laid professionally will set you back £100 per square metre.
4) Keep the grass!
If you really do love your garden, but need that extra parking space, you can simply keep your front lawn and park on that. However if you don’t reinforce the grass first, you could end up with a quagmire in front of your house! There are solutions available to reinforce your lawn so that your car can drive on it with ease, without sinking and without ruining the grass. Grass reinforcement is made from plastic and is easy to lay, though you do have to take the grass up first! Then lay the reinforced plastic sheet underneath the lawn and you’ll be ready to park over it in a few hours. There are also concrete underlay options available, but these will obviously take longer to dry before they can be used! Plastic grass underlay costs from £17 per square metre.
If you do want to keep your existing grass and garden pretty much as it is, but still need the extra space for the car, you can lay paving slabs in strips where the wheels of your car will go. This makes a track in your lawn so that your car can be parked on it without leaving tyre marks! However you have to make sure you park precisely and that your wheels don’t leave the paving slabs.
5) Finishing touches
Even though you may think you have turned the front garden into a car park, there are still ways to keep it looking like a garden. As well as “planting pockets” in gravel and pot plants around the car, you can also add other touches to make sure you still have some plants and greenery. Try leaving “holes” in the paving, by leaving circular shapes unpaved. Fill the circles with soil and plant decorative trees or topiary in them – obviously making sure that they will not grow so big that they block the driveway or their roots will damage the paving! Choose small evergreens or topiary bushes that will remain miniature.
You could also build a pergola over the car so that it will stay hidden and your garden will still look pretty. To climb over the pergola, plant variegated ivy or beautiful florals such as honeysuckle, hydrangea, clematis or passion flower. If you don’t want to build a pergola, you could also consider putting a trellis up the front of the house and planting a climbing plant to grow up that. This way you are not missing out on some green in your garden!
If you are still not convinced by using a porous material on you driveway, consider that non-porous materials increase rainwater run-off by 50 per cent, which then has to flow into drains, which could overflow and flood. Non-porous materials also stop rain from soaking into the ground, which makes the ground dry and can cause subsidence. But don’t let this put you off having a driveway – off-street parking can add thousands to the value of your property and is a useful, safe space for your car. Just make sure you are sticking to the new laws and using porous driveway materials!
Don't forget, you can get an instant online quote for your paving and driveway projects at PavingQuoter - click here.
New RSS Feed URL for Home Improvement Quotes Blog
We received worrying reports that not everyone was getting their Home Improvement Quotes Blog updates by RSS and after some careful investigation, it appears that some of you may have cached an older version of our Feedburner feed which took it's source from an even older URL.
Now in plain speak - the 'subscribe to this feed' link wasn't working properly so we've recreated the link. The only downside is that you'll have to update your rss reader with the new URL:
feed://feeds.feedburner.com/HomeImprovementQuotes
Sorry for any inconvenience - we hope you enjoy the updated and uprated Home Improvement Quotes Blog RSS Feed experience even more.
Thursday, 21 August 2008
Blinded by the Sun?
Photo Feature - Conservatory Blinds
The summer sun is fantastic but for those of you who just aren’t used to the glare of the sunshine and the sweltering heat, you’ll want a cool space to retreat to at midday. Conservatories are ideal sun catchers but blinds are a great way to transform them into a cool and relaxing space.
You’ll be surprised at the variety of conservatory blinds available so below are just a few examples of how you can decorate your windows and keep your conservatory coolhe summer sun is fantastic but for those of you who just aren’t used to the glare of the sunshine and the sweltering heat, you’ll want a cool space to retreat to at midday.
Conservatories are ideal sun catchers but blinds are a great way to transform them into a cool and relaxing space. You’ll be surprised at the variety of conservatory blinds available so below are just a few examples of how you can decorate your windows and keep your conservatory cool.
Remember, you can get an instant online quote for your conservatory blinds at Blindsquoter - click here.
Pinoleum blinds – available in a range of 17 shades, these woven wood pinoleum blinds soften the glare of the sun, making your conservatory a relaxing and cool place to spend the afternoons, and also provide a traditional, natural theme to the room.
Pleated blinds – the most popular of all the blinds, this contemporary design is available in over 220 colours – so I’m sure there’s a shade in there somewhere for everyone.
Solar R cassetted blinds – 85 per cent reflection means that these blinds, keep the heat of the summer sun out. An added bonus is the cassette system which hides away the retracted blinds.
Alu-Pleat blinds – these blinds are backed with aluminium to reflect the sun’s heat. This means your conservatory is kept nice and cool during the hot summer months but also acts as an insulator during the winter, making it a year-round space, reducing the need for fans or radiators.
Venetian blinds – these are a great way to cut-out light completely or allow it to filter in as you want. This means your conservatory’s privacy is protected while still enabling you to see into the garden.
Remember, you can get an instant online quote for your conservatory blinds at Blindsquoter - click here.
The summer sun is fantastic but for those of you who just aren’t used to the glare of the sunshine and the sweltering heat, you’ll want a cool space to retreat to at midday. Conservatories are ideal sun catchers but blinds are a great way to transform them into a cool and relaxing space.
You’ll be surprised at the variety of conservatory blinds available so below are just a few examples of how you can decorate your windows and keep your conservatory coolhe summer sun is fantastic but for those of you who just aren’t used to the glare of the sunshine and the sweltering heat, you’ll want a cool space to retreat to at midday.
Conservatories are ideal sun catchers but blinds are a great way to transform them into a cool and relaxing space. You’ll be surprised at the variety of conservatory blinds available so below are just a few examples of how you can decorate your windows and keep your conservatory cool.
Remember, you can get an instant online quote for your conservatory blinds at Blindsquoter - click here.
Pinoleum blinds – available in a range of 17 shades, these woven wood pinoleum blinds soften the glare of the sun, making your conservatory a relaxing and cool place to spend the afternoons, and also provide a traditional, natural theme to the room.
Pleated blinds – the most popular of all the blinds, this contemporary design is available in over 220 colours – so I’m sure there’s a shade in there somewhere for everyone.
Solar R cassetted blinds – 85 per cent reflection means that these blinds, keep the heat of the summer sun out. An added bonus is the cassette system which hides away the retracted blinds.
Alu-Pleat blinds – these blinds are backed with aluminium to reflect the sun’s heat. This means your conservatory is kept nice and cool during the hot summer months but also acts as an insulator during the winter, making it a year-round space, reducing the need for fans or radiators.
Venetian blinds – these are a great way to cut-out light completely or allow it to filter in as you want. This means your conservatory’s privacy is protected while still enabling you to see into the garden.
Remember, you can get an instant online quote for your conservatory blinds at Blindsquoter - click here.
eco-homes - go green and save money
Eco-homes - go green and save money
It seems that not a day goes by without some mention of climate change. We all know we should be taking steps to reduce our carbon footprint, but with today's hectic lifestyles, it's hard to know where to start.
But as energy bills, fuel prices and the cost of groceries all continue to rise, there's now an added incentive for making our homes more eco-friendly. Here we show you how you can make small changes that will not just make you feel like you're doing your bit for the environment, but can also save you some serious money!
Lighting and Heating
One of the easiest ways to save a bit of energy is to invest in some energy-saving lightbulbs. They've had bad press in the past, as they used to be bulky, ugly and not as bright as ordinary bulbs, but technology has moved on, and they are now available in a range of shapes, colours and sizes. While the bulbs are more expensive in the first place, they last up to 10 times longer than ordinary bulbs, and use up to four times less electricity, so you will quickly make back your money and start saving.
On top of this, it's amazing how much energy you can save just by turning unnecessary lights off. It's worthwhile getting into the habit of switching the lights off when you leave a room - just by switching off one bulb for an hour every day, you'll save enough energy to power a month's worth of telly watching! With the lighting in most homes accounting for 10 to 15 per cent of the electricity bill, this one simple tip could save you up to £25 a year.
There are also several things you can do to save on your heating bills. Consider replacing you boiler with a condensing boiler. Again, this might seem costly upfront, but according to the National Energy Foundation, you would recoup these costs in three to four years. Alternatively, you could insulate your existing boiler for significant energy savings - if we all lagged our hot water cylinders with an insulated jacket, we would save enough CO2 to fill over 4.2million double decker buses! If you have electric-powered heaters, another idea is to fit each heater with its own timer, so that you can heat different rooms at different times, according to use. And if all that sounds too much like hard work, even just turning the thermostat down by just 1°C can cut as much as 10 per cent off your heating bills!
Insulation and Glazing
Now that you've saved money on warming your house, the last thing you want is for all your efforts to go to waste - around half of heat loss in a typical home is through the walls and loft, so it's worth checking whether yours are insulated. If your house was built between 1920 and 1980, chances are yours is one of the eight million homes in the UK that could benefit from cavity-wall insulation. It takes less than a day to install, with minimum mess and disruption, and could save you around £150 on fuel bills, which would make up for the original cost in three to five years. Insulating your loft is even more straight-forward, as it's a job that can be done by a novice DIY-er. Insulation materials can be bought from any DIY store relatively inexpensively, and if you were to put down 250mm of insulation in an empty loft, you'd save £70 to £270 a year.
We couldn't talk about saving energy without mentioning double glazing! However, it can be expensive, especially if you live in a period property and want to retain the original look of the windows. Before shunning the idea though, it is worth bearing in mind that double-glazing should cut heat loss from your home by 50 per cent, and could save you almost £100 a year in heating bills. It is also something that homebuyers often look for, so is a great way to maximise your home's value.
There are several little things you can do to save energy when it comes to heating your home. 20 per cent of heat loss in a typical home is through ventilation and drafts, so invest in brush or PVC seals on the bottom of exterior doors, and perhaps a few draught excluders for other doors around the house. Make the most of natural light by keeping the curtains open while the sun still shines, but as soon as dusk falls be sure to draw the curtains to stop heat being lost through the windows. Also, try to make sure you don't drape curtains over radiators, as this will funnel heat straight out of the windows.
Ways with Water
A good way to save water is to switch to a water metre. Knowing that you’re paying for what you use should make you more mindful of how much water you waste. Your water company will fit one for free and it could save you as much as £200 a year. You could also make the best possible use of the delightful British weather and try your hand at water harvesting. At its simplest level this could just be one or two water butts. They're widely available from DIY stores and garden centres and cost about £30. Simply connect one to a down pipe and use the collected rain to water the garden.
Using rainwater indoors is tricky, but rainwater-harvesting systems are becoming popular. They work by collecting the rain that falls on the roof and putting it to use inside the home. Harvested rainwater can be used for everything except drinking and can reduce your household's mains water consumption by a huge 50 per cent. However, bear in mind that the systems on the market are expensive, so with this tip it would take you quite a while to recoup the initial outlay.
There are several handy gadgets on the market to help you waste less water. You can obtain a cistern displacement device free of charge from your water company. You simply fill it up and pop it in the cistern of your toilet, saving you three litres every time you flush! Also, wherever possible, take a shower instead of a bath - depending on the time it takes you to shower it can use as little as a fifth of the hot water. Even then, showers can use anywhere between six and 45 litres per minute, but by fitting a water efficient shower head you can save water and money.
Household Appliances
Now, we're not going to suggest you rush out and replace all your kitchen appliances with those that are more energy efficient! However, the next time you change or upgrade any of your appliances, keep an eye out for products with an Energy Saving Recommended label, as these can be 20 per cent most efficient. Also, fridges, freezers and washing machines all bare an EU energy label which rates the energy efficiency of the appliance on a scale from A to G, with A being the most energy efficient and G being the least.
In the meantime, there are simple steps you can take to start using your current appliances more efficiently. For example, washing clothes at 30 degrees saves energy. Instead of using your washing machine and dishwasher every day, wait until you have a full load - a half load setting uses more than half the energy and water. Fridges and freezers run more efficiently if they are defrosted regularly, and you should also remove dust from the element at the back on a regular basis. Avoid putting food that's still warm into the fridge as it then has to work harder to keep the temperature down, and it's a good idea to make sure the doors are held open as little as possible too.
Even just remembering not to leave appliances on standby can save the average household £37 a year! Electronic goods use 10-60 per cent as much energy when they are on standby as they do when they are in use. To turn off an appliance completely, use the power switch on the appliance itself or turn it off at the plug. Alternatively, for around £30 you can buy a device that will stop your appliances drawing electricity when in standby mode, which will save electricity and increase the life of the appliance by up to 15 per cent. Appliances with a charger, like mobile phones, or an external power pack, such as laptops, will still use power unless turned off at the plug. Many appliances have an LED which lights up when they are on standby. However, some don't, so it is less obvious that they are constantly sat there wasting energy. For example, do you switch your washing machine off at the wall when it's not in use?
Small changes, big savings!
There are lots of little changes you can make around the house that will cost you nothing. In the kitchen, when you're cooking on the hob make sure you match the pan size to the size of the hotplate to avoid wasted energy. Also use a lid on your pan, as this dramatically cuts the energy used. If you have a microwave, always use this to heat small quantities of food as this is much more energy efficient. Kettles are a huge energy guzzler, so make sure you only fill yours with as much water as you need, otherwise you're just heating it up to let it cool back down again. If you have an extractor fan in your kitchen, or indeed in your bathroom, turn it off as soon as it has done its job, otherwise it is simply sucking warm air out of the house.
Drying clothes on the washing line instead of in the tumble drier is an obvious way to save electricity. On rainy days, make sure you separate your load before putting it in the tumble drier – always dry heavier items like towels and jeans on their own. If you have a wood-burning stove, it is worthwhile collecting fallen branches from your garden, or when out for a walk, and using these as kindling. Try to recycle as much of your household waste as possible. By this we don't just mean making the most of your local recycling facilities. For example, a plastic milk bottle with the bottom cut off makes an excellent scoop for dry cat or dog food. Or perhaps use empty wine bottles as candle holders for that restaurant feel! Also, yoghurt pots and empty boxes can be used to store all kinds of things.
So whether you're keen to do your bit for the environment, or you just want to save some cash, there are plenty of things you can do to make your house an eco-home!
It seems that not a day goes by without some mention of climate change. We all know we should be taking steps to reduce our carbon footprint, but with today's hectic lifestyles, it's hard to know where to start.
But as energy bills, fuel prices and the cost of groceries all continue to rise, there's now an added incentive for making our homes more eco-friendly. Here we show you how you can make small changes that will not just make you feel like you're doing your bit for the environment, but can also save you some serious money!
Lighting and Heating
One of the easiest ways to save a bit of energy is to invest in some energy-saving lightbulbs. They've had bad press in the past, as they used to be bulky, ugly and not as bright as ordinary bulbs, but technology has moved on, and they are now available in a range of shapes, colours and sizes. While the bulbs are more expensive in the first place, they last up to 10 times longer than ordinary bulbs, and use up to four times less electricity, so you will quickly make back your money and start saving.
On top of this, it's amazing how much energy you can save just by turning unnecessary lights off. It's worthwhile getting into the habit of switching the lights off when you leave a room - just by switching off one bulb for an hour every day, you'll save enough energy to power a month's worth of telly watching! With the lighting in most homes accounting for 10 to 15 per cent of the electricity bill, this one simple tip could save you up to £25 a year.
There are also several things you can do to save on your heating bills. Consider replacing you boiler with a condensing boiler. Again, this might seem costly upfront, but according to the National Energy Foundation, you would recoup these costs in three to four years. Alternatively, you could insulate your existing boiler for significant energy savings - if we all lagged our hot water cylinders with an insulated jacket, we would save enough CO2 to fill over 4.2million double decker buses! If you have electric-powered heaters, another idea is to fit each heater with its own timer, so that you can heat different rooms at different times, according to use. And if all that sounds too much like hard work, even just turning the thermostat down by just 1°C can cut as much as 10 per cent off your heating bills!
Insulation and Glazing
Now that you've saved money on warming your house, the last thing you want is for all your efforts to go to waste - around half of heat loss in a typical home is through the walls and loft, so it's worth checking whether yours are insulated. If your house was built between 1920 and 1980, chances are yours is one of the eight million homes in the UK that could benefit from cavity-wall insulation. It takes less than a day to install, with minimum mess and disruption, and could save you around £150 on fuel bills, which would make up for the original cost in three to five years. Insulating your loft is even more straight-forward, as it's a job that can be done by a novice DIY-er. Insulation materials can be bought from any DIY store relatively inexpensively, and if you were to put down 250mm of insulation in an empty loft, you'd save £70 to £270 a year.
We couldn't talk about saving energy without mentioning double glazing! However, it can be expensive, especially if you live in a period property and want to retain the original look of the windows. Before shunning the idea though, it is worth bearing in mind that double-glazing should cut heat loss from your home by 50 per cent, and could save you almost £100 a year in heating bills. It is also something that homebuyers often look for, so is a great way to maximise your home's value.
There are several little things you can do to save energy when it comes to heating your home. 20 per cent of heat loss in a typical home is through ventilation and drafts, so invest in brush or PVC seals on the bottom of exterior doors, and perhaps a few draught excluders for other doors around the house. Make the most of natural light by keeping the curtains open while the sun still shines, but as soon as dusk falls be sure to draw the curtains to stop heat being lost through the windows. Also, try to make sure you don't drape curtains over radiators, as this will funnel heat straight out of the windows.
Ways with Water
A good way to save water is to switch to a water metre. Knowing that you’re paying for what you use should make you more mindful of how much water you waste. Your water company will fit one for free and it could save you as much as £200 a year. You could also make the best possible use of the delightful British weather and try your hand at water harvesting. At its simplest level this could just be one or two water butts. They're widely available from DIY stores and garden centres and cost about £30. Simply connect one to a down pipe and use the collected rain to water the garden.
Using rainwater indoors is tricky, but rainwater-harvesting systems are becoming popular. They work by collecting the rain that falls on the roof and putting it to use inside the home. Harvested rainwater can be used for everything except drinking and can reduce your household's mains water consumption by a huge 50 per cent. However, bear in mind that the systems on the market are expensive, so with this tip it would take you quite a while to recoup the initial outlay.
There are several handy gadgets on the market to help you waste less water. You can obtain a cistern displacement device free of charge from your water company. You simply fill it up and pop it in the cistern of your toilet, saving you three litres every time you flush! Also, wherever possible, take a shower instead of a bath - depending on the time it takes you to shower it can use as little as a fifth of the hot water. Even then, showers can use anywhere between six and 45 litres per minute, but by fitting a water efficient shower head you can save water and money.
Household Appliances
Now, we're not going to suggest you rush out and replace all your kitchen appliances with those that are more energy efficient! However, the next time you change or upgrade any of your appliances, keep an eye out for products with an Energy Saving Recommended label, as these can be 20 per cent most efficient. Also, fridges, freezers and washing machines all bare an EU energy label which rates the energy efficiency of the appliance on a scale from A to G, with A being the most energy efficient and G being the least.
In the meantime, there are simple steps you can take to start using your current appliances more efficiently. For example, washing clothes at 30 degrees saves energy. Instead of using your washing machine and dishwasher every day, wait until you have a full load - a half load setting uses more than half the energy and water. Fridges and freezers run more efficiently if they are defrosted regularly, and you should also remove dust from the element at the back on a regular basis. Avoid putting food that's still warm into the fridge as it then has to work harder to keep the temperature down, and it's a good idea to make sure the doors are held open as little as possible too.
Even just remembering not to leave appliances on standby can save the average household £37 a year! Electronic goods use 10-60 per cent as much energy when they are on standby as they do when they are in use. To turn off an appliance completely, use the power switch on the appliance itself or turn it off at the plug. Alternatively, for around £30 you can buy a device that will stop your appliances drawing electricity when in standby mode, which will save electricity and increase the life of the appliance by up to 15 per cent. Appliances with a charger, like mobile phones, or an external power pack, such as laptops, will still use power unless turned off at the plug. Many appliances have an LED which lights up when they are on standby. However, some don't, so it is less obvious that they are constantly sat there wasting energy. For example, do you switch your washing machine off at the wall when it's not in use?
Small changes, big savings!
There are lots of little changes you can make around the house that will cost you nothing. In the kitchen, when you're cooking on the hob make sure you match the pan size to the size of the hotplate to avoid wasted energy. Also use a lid on your pan, as this dramatically cuts the energy used. If you have a microwave, always use this to heat small quantities of food as this is much more energy efficient. Kettles are a huge energy guzzler, so make sure you only fill yours with as much water as you need, otherwise you're just heating it up to let it cool back down again. If you have an extractor fan in your kitchen, or indeed in your bathroom, turn it off as soon as it has done its job, otherwise it is simply sucking warm air out of the house.
Drying clothes on the washing line instead of in the tumble drier is an obvious way to save electricity. On rainy days, make sure you separate your load before putting it in the tumble drier – always dry heavier items like towels and jeans on their own. If you have a wood-burning stove, it is worthwhile collecting fallen branches from your garden, or when out for a walk, and using these as kindling. Try to recycle as much of your household waste as possible. By this we don't just mean making the most of your local recycling facilities. For example, a plastic milk bottle with the bottom cut off makes an excellent scoop for dry cat or dog food. Or perhaps use empty wine bottles as candle holders for that restaurant feel! Also, yoghurt pots and empty boxes can be used to store all kinds of things.
So whether you're keen to do your bit for the environment, or you just want to save some cash, there are plenty of things you can do to make your house an eco-home!
Revamp your kitchen
Feature - Revamp your Kitchen
Today’s kitchens focus on sleek designs and stylish materials. ‘Slaving over a hot stove’ is a thing of the past with contemporary kitchens and in many homes they are now seen as the perfect place to entertain guests – especially with nifty features like wine coolers, flip down TVs and seating areas.
For an instant online fitted kitchen quote, visit: kitchenquoter.co.uk
Bursts of colour add a bold, contemporary statement without being overpowering or garish. Try bright splashbacks or work surface alongside neutral cupboards and flooring, to add a splash of your own personality.
Modern kitchens now focus on comfort and lifestyle as well as good old fashioned cooking. Using an island as a seating area means you won’t miss out on any of the conversation while you’re preparing dinner for family or friends and parents can also use it to spend more time with their children over breakfast or homework.
Not everything about a chic kitchen has to be black, white, silver and shiny! Don’t be afraid to incorporate a modern kitchen into your style of home – they can be perfectly mixed with natural wood floors and wicker furniture.
Bespoke kitchens not only make use of every little nook-and-cranny, but also keep the overall design as sleek as possible. Walls and ceilings flow into one another when kept the same colour and appliances, such as microwaves, add to the smooth finish if integrated into cupboard space.
Just because the credit crunch continues to dominate the headlines don’t let it stop you investing money into your home. A freshly revamped kitchen can make all the difference to the appeal of a property.
For an instant online fitted kitchen quote, visit: kitchenquoter.co.uk
Today’s kitchens focus on sleek designs and stylish materials. ‘Slaving over a hot stove’ is a thing of the past with contemporary kitchens and in many homes they are now seen as the perfect place to entertain guests – especially with nifty features like wine coolers, flip down TVs and seating areas.
For an instant online fitted kitchen quote, visit: kitchenquoter.co.uk
Bursts of colour add a bold, contemporary statement without being overpowering or garish. Try bright splashbacks or work surface alongside neutral cupboards and flooring, to add a splash of your own personality.
Modern kitchens now focus on comfort and lifestyle as well as good old fashioned cooking. Using an island as a seating area means you won’t miss out on any of the conversation while you’re preparing dinner for family or friends and parents can also use it to spend more time with their children over breakfast or homework.
Not everything about a chic kitchen has to be black, white, silver and shiny! Don’t be afraid to incorporate a modern kitchen into your style of home – they can be perfectly mixed with natural wood floors and wicker furniture.
Bespoke kitchens not only make use of every little nook-and-cranny, but also keep the overall design as sleek as possible. Walls and ceilings flow into one another when kept the same colour and appliances, such as microwaves, add to the smooth finish if integrated into cupboard space.
Just because the credit crunch continues to dominate the headlines don’t let it stop you investing money into your home. A freshly revamped kitchen can make all the difference to the appeal of a property.
For an instant online fitted kitchen quote, visit: kitchenquoter.co.uk
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)