Homeowners are choosing luxuries over safety, warns WaterSafe

Posted on by Posted in Health and Safety

watersafe-luxuriesBritain’s hard-up homeowners are choosing to spend their limited spare cash on luxuries while scrimping on safety, according to a new study carried out by WaterSafe.

The study revealed that, despite the economic revival, 87% of Brits still have less disposable income than five years ago and are faced with an average of £222 less a month. As a result, 68% say they’ve had no choice but to put vital maintenance on the backburner for at least a year, while 12% haven’t had any done work on their home since 2010.

More worrying still, 50% of respondents admitted they would put off having any faulty work within the home fixed for as long as possible due to the cost involved.

In stark contrast, however, while cash-strapped consumers may be scrimping on safety in the home, it seems they are still able to maintain their creature comforts. When it comes payday priorities, 69% of homeowners think it is important to use any spare money to treat themselves rather than investing in home repairs. Thirty-nine percent would rather splash any cash set aside for the home on holidaying, a further 29% would prefer to use it on eating out and 24% would spend the money on beauty treats.

On a national level, those polled admitted that their top 10 financial priorities for spending any spare cash are:

  1. Going on holiday
  2. Eating out
  3. Beauty/Pampering treatments
  4. Going to the pub
  5. Buying new clothes
  6. Getting a new car
  7. Cigarettes and alcohol
  8. Presents for family and friends
  9. Chocolate
  10. Entertainment products.

WaterSafe’s Julie Spinks said:

“Our survey results are very concerning,”

“As the economy gradually picks up, it is easy to see why homeowners would prefer to spend their limited spare cash on treating themselves. However, safety in the home and addressing essential maintenance should be a priority and cannot be compromised.

“If a plumbing issue, for example, is left unattended, homeowners not only run the risk of unsafe water posing a danger to their family, but the issue could escalate, leading to thousands of pounds in essential repair work.

“Our message is simple: always address plumbing issues straightaway by calling in a professional plumber who is properly qualified and registered with WaterSafe.”

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Government announces new auction system

Posted on by Posted in Renewable Energy

government-auction-renewablesThe Government has announced which technologies and companies have won low carbon energy contracts in the new ‘Contracts for Difference’ auction for renewable energy.

Contracts for Difference are the new support mechanism for nuclear, CCS and renewable energy introduced by the Coalition Government to replace the main support for large-scale renewables, the Renewables Obligation.

The auction, held earlier this year, required ‘established’ renewables to compete with each other directly for a share of £50m for the next year (and an additional £15m for later projects).

Solar Trade Association has said the results are disappointing for solar but not surprising as solar could very soon be competitive with fossil fuels without subsidy.

Solar has only won five contracts – with only two to be built the coming financial year and three in the next. Onshore wind has won 15 contracts.

Solar Trade Association CEO Paul Barwell commented:

“Unfortunately this result is as disappointing as we predicted. The soon to be cheapest and most popular renewable – solar power – has lost out in a complex auction scheme that favours big players and genuinely established technologies.

“It is likely that very few solar companies even submitted a bid for a contract. The problem is that it was just far too much of a risk for a small or medium sized solar company to even put in a bid for a Contract for Difference. The system was a bit like asking first time buyers to put down on deposit on a house, without knowing whether they were going to be able to buy the house at the end of the process – and with the risk of losing their deposit.”

The Association for Decentralised Energy said more work needs to be done to ensure policy design allows all technologies and investors to participate on an even-playing field.

Association for Decentralised Energy director Dr Tim Rotheray said the design of the scheme currently makes biomass CHP almost uninvestable, preventing many potential projects from participating in today’s auction, limiting the options for industry to invest in their future competitiveness.

Mr Rotheray added:

“For industrial sites which use large amounts of heat and power, highly efficient biomass CHP is one of the few options for delivering emissions reductions, cost savings and improved competitiveness.

“Developing new policies can be a challenging process and the auction shows Government needs to support industrial competitiveness by improving certainty for biomass CHP schemes in future allocation rounds.”

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Loft in space with Schmidt

Posted on by Posted in Bathrooms and Kitchens

SchmidtA combination of Loft, Arcos and Twin ranges were used by Schmidt to demonstrate how it could design and fit out a contemporary loft space.

The design brought into play varying height wall units and a free-standing island unit with offset breakfast bar.

Essentially the apartment is an open space living area and kitchen and the Schmidt designs have drawn the two together with the distinctive finishes – Arcos Twin in the chocolate brown woodgrain Maverick colour.

The mid-height and floating wall units in Loft Moody Blue tie in with the open shelves and décor panelling in the lounge and the internal linings of the open shelving in the island.

The lighting in the bottom shelves of the wall units offers a focal point as well as a practical light source. The island itself meanwhile, features modern drawers and sliding doors on both sides to offer a degree of extra storage in a limited architectural space without any clutter exposed.

The Ceramic Silex worktop combines with the chunky split-level breakfast bar.

www.schmidt-kitchens.com

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ISG wins two German fit-out schemes

Posted on by Posted in Construction

ISG-GermanyISG has won two new schemes in Germany for a multinational software and hardware business.

The projects in Frankfurt and Stuttgart follow on from the fit-out of its HQ in Berlin.

In Frankfurt, ISG will undertake the complete fit-out of the fourth floor including a reception area, single and open-plan offices, conference rooms and a relaxation zone with kitchen.

The team will also carry out the fit-out of the client’s new Stuttgart office in April under a four-week programme. The work includes the installation of the glass partitioning system, sunshade and darkening systems, extensive joinery works and conference rooms.

In both offices, ISG will co-ordinate the companies directly commissioned by the customer for security, media technology and information technology. This will require careful logistical planning as the project timescales are very short.

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Installer rewards available from Sentinel and Ideal Boilers

Posted on by Posted in Heating, Plumbing Industry News

Sentinel-and-Ideal-BoilersWater treatment specialist, Sentinel, and boiler manufacturer, Ideal Boilers, has teamed up to reward installers with £5 worth of Installer Connect points every time they register a Sentinel Eliminator filter alongside an Ideal boiler from the February 23, 2015.

This offer means that installers can accrue significant reward points to redeem against a wide range of personal and work related offers, from high street vouchers and gadgets to branded workwear and training courses. Installer Connect members can also benefit from double points when using Ideal’s online Marketing Toolbox.

Earning reward points is easy; installers simply need to login to the members’ area of Ideal’s Installer Connect website, and then register the Ideal boiler and Sentinel Eliminator filter. What’s more, filter warranty registration is included automatically in the scheme, as are free Gas Safe notifications, making the process quick and easy.

Daniel Cheung, UK trade marketing manager for Sentinel, said:

“Professional gas engineers know that boilers need to be protected from corrosion and limescale in order to prolong system life and maintain optimum efficiency. Sentinel’s Eliminator filter has been designed to be leak-free with dual seals, and removes magnetic and non-magnetic debris from system water. This includes installation debris that magnetic-only filters can’t capture, so is ideal for protecting newly installed boilers. By fitting the Eliminator with new Ideal boilers, both the heating system and installer is treated, so it’s win-win.”

Carrie Young, head of marketing at Ideal Boilers, said:

“Administering water treatment is essential when fitting a new boiler, so we’re delighted to partner with Sentinel. It means installers can not only be confident in knowing that the high efficiency, reliable Ideal boiler they’ve fitted will be protected from harmful circulating debris, but also benefit from some fantastic rewards on the Installer Connect loyalty scheme.”

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