This time of year is often associated with higher energy consumption as the temperatures drop and the heating gets turned up, but making small changes can mean a more eco friendly home that stays warmer for longer and requires less electricity to power it.
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Drains and plumbing can cause the most headaches in the winter months. In order to prepare before the cold sets in we caught up with the experts at Dyno-Rod to answer three of the most frequently asked drain questions.
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Winter weather is here and soon the frost will come. Now is the time to prepare your home for the winter months. Here are the top tasks to be done to prepare for winter.
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The eco credentials of a new rain barrel has earned Studio Bas van der Veer a place on the Green Heroes role. The Green Heroes are a set of products and pieces for the home chosen by television personality Kevin McCloud to feature at the Grand Designs Live events.
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While summer might not be over it is time to start thinking about heating for the winter. If you want to install a fireplace, now it the time to do it to ensure you benefit from the warmth when the cold comes.
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Boost your eco rating and consider installing a compost bin in your garden. Compost is a great natural way to feed your garden and a carbon friendly method of ridding your home from food scraps.
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Homeowners and investors looking to install solar panels need to get a move on if they want to take advantage of the high feed-in tariff rates. The tariff for installed photovoltaic (PV) solar panels on UK rooftops is to be scaled back from the end of July.
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Paul Beaumont, Managing Director of The House of Solar, discusses the financial benefits of the Feed-In Tariff scheme and explains why now is the time to act. He decides if now is a good time to install solar panels.
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A traditional cooker is lovely to use and looks fantastic in the kitchen but they often cost a lot to run. It is estimated that a traditional cooker costs £30 per week to run yet the British love affair with the old utility is not over.
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Backyard beehives have become a popular addition to sustainably-minded home gardens. About one third of the food we eat requires pollination at some point by the little creature we call a bee. Here is how to encourage them in your own garden.
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Taking action to improve your home’s energy efficiency will save you money and lead to a better lifestyle. With some simple changes your home will require less heating, cooling and have a better climate for day-to-day life. We show you how.
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Almost half of all Brits will break the current hosepipe ban with some labeling it ‘pointless’. Celebrity gardener Toby Buckland is warning people to stick with the ban and choose alternative methods for watering the garden.
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There are plenty of draught proofing products on the market which are easy to install and will save the hot or cold air escaping from your home. To save on energy bills we have picked two products which will make a difference once installed.
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Heavy rainfall has led to forecast flooding in some parts of the UK so make sure you prepare. Insurer Hiscox is urging homeowners to take steps to help prevent water entering their property and causing damage.
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Green roofs are an environmentally friendly way to incorporate nature into the design of your home or garden shed. They are relatively unknown by most homeowners but green roofs are a good option both visually and in terms of eco efficiency.
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Earth Day is on Sunday April 22 and is a national awareness campaign to get Brits thinking about their carbon footprint. To mark the day Think Insulation has listed some top tips for reducing the impact of your home and lifestyle on the environment.
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Trade cowboys or rogue traders will offer a way around the new green tax on home improvements, warns an industry expert. The tax has come with a warning that dodgy trades people will take advantage of those looking to save money on eco renovations.
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Conservatories, boilers and new windows will now open homeowners up to a green bartering system. Basically if a home owner wants to build a conservatory they will first have to improve their home’s energy efficiency in return for planning permission.
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Hose pipe bans have now been enforced with more than 20 million people affected in southern and eastern England. But there are eco solutions which allow you to water the garden without breaking the hose pipe ban.
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With the onset of drought in the UK it is time to save water and we like the tips from Tommy Walsh’s website trade supermarket. Consider your household consumption and take advantage of these tips to easily reduce water usage.
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Many of the homes in the UK are old Victorian terrace houses which look stunning but are very energy inefficient. One woman, Sue Wheat, took on the challenge of eco-refurbishing her Victorian home and we caught up with her.
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UK households are ignoring the importance of insulation according to research released by Knauf Insulation. About 45 per cent of households have never considered updating their loft insulation.
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The kitchen is arguably the most important room in the home, but it can also be one of the most expensive to run. However, there are a number of measures you can take to cut your costs and make it much more eco-friendly.
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Not enough people are taking advantage of Government help to heat up their homes. The Warm Front scheme offers heating and insulation improvements to households living on low incomes but is set for up to a £30 million underspend this year.
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As we enter the tail end of winter, at last some good news on utilities. British Gas has announced an average 5% drop in its standard electricity tariff thanks to reductions in wholesale energy prices, to the delight of its five million customers.
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