Millions will ration their home heating this winter

Posted on by Posted in Heating

Many millions of the UK’s homeowners will look to ration their home heating during this winter, according to research from home assistance company, HomeServe.

The independent poll of 2,000 UK homeowners revealed that 31% will be rationing how long they have their heating on during winter 2014. In addition, those surveyed said boiler breakdown is one of their biggest winter concerns (11%) with a further 18% stating they will ration which areas of their homes to heat.

And with Christmas less than two months away, ten per cent of homeowners are also expecting to face a heating bill that’s more they can afford, and the same number are expecting to raid their savings to cover the costs of heating their homes.

The poll also shows that Friday October 31 is the most popular day in 2014 for people to press the “on” button on their boilers and home heating (28% of those polled).

Greg Reed, HomeServe’s chief marketing officer said:

“This research shows that people really have to make some tough decisions this winter, a time of year when the UK’s homes work hardest,”

“We’re not surprised to see that boiler breakdown is a source of worry, but we are on stand-by every day to support people if they need us.”

HomeServe is offering consumers a range of handy hints and tips for homeowners experiencing common boiler problems, at: www.homeserve.com/help-advice/boiler-heating/common-boiler-problems.

Greg added:

“Our website has plenty of help and advice for those experiencing boiler problems this winter along with a wealth of information on how to protect the home against the winter weather,”

nationalboilerswitch

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Boris Johnson pressured to control skyscraper boom

Posted on by Posted in Construction

boris-skyscraper-boomDue to the concern about the rapidly changing skyline within the capital, has prompted the London Assembly to pressure Mayor Boris Johnson into rethinking his laissez-faire approach to tall buildings.

Assembly members yesterday unanimously agreed a motion calling for tighter planning. The measures they demanded include:

  • Establishing a skyline commission made up of a panel of design experts to offer advice and carry out reviews
  • Developing more rigorous masterplanning processes, including better engagement with local residents, especially within Opportunity Areas
  • Developing an interactive 3D model of London’s skyline to allow development proposals to be visualised
  • Requiring all developers with proposals for tall buildings to consider other building configurations.

Navin Shah AM, who proposed the motion, said:

“This Assembly notes with concern the revelation earlier this year by New London Architecture that over 230 tall buildings are in the pipeline for development.

 ‘’The London Plan includes policies on tall buildings, but these are not being properly implemented in planning decisions. There are also examples where height limits established by Opportunity Area Planning Frameworks have been ignored.

 ‘’The Mayor of London needs to seriously rethink his approach to tall buildings in London’’

The full text of the motion is:

This Assembly notes with concern the revelation earlier this year by New London Architecture that over 230 tall buildings are in the pipeline for development. The cumulative impact of these developments on London’s skyline is not being thoroughly considered, with the resultant often bland design and irreversible negative impact posing a threat to London’s heritage, character and architectural distinctiveness. 80% of these buildings are residential, mostly luxury flats which will do little to alleviate the housing crisis.

Tall buildings can make a positive contribution to city life and the skyline, but only if they’re in the right places, meet the right needs, and respect the character and identity of the surrounding area. However, the flaws of ill-considered tall buildings have been well demonstrated by the skyline campaign.

The London Plan includes policies on tall buildings, but these are not being properly implemented in planning decisions. There are also examples where height limits established by Opportunity Area Planning Frameworks have been ignored.

This Assembly therefore calls on the Mayor to rethink his approach to tall buildings in London. To protect London’s skyline and arrive at well considered appropriate high rise buildings the Mayor should establish a ‘skyline commission’ made up of design experts from a variety of fields to offer advice on commissioning, have an enabling role and carry out design reviews.

The Mayor should also develop more detailed and rigorous masterplanning processes, including engagement of local residents and stakeholders, especially within Opportunity Areas, and implement a clusters policy. There should be a review of existing protected views with the intention of adding new viewing corridors, as well as a recognition that views from all angles – even if not within a protected corridor – should be a planning consideration. The GLA should support the development of a fully interactive 3D computer model of London’s emerging skyline in order to allow development proposals to be visualised within the context of their contribution to the London skyline. Finally, the Mayor should require all developers with proposals for tall buildings to consider other building configurations.

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Whirlpool launches PowerDry option in new dishwashers

Posted on by Posted in Bathrooms and Kitchens

Whirlpool-PowerDry-DishwasherWhirlpool has launched new top of the range dishwashers for 2014 for both its built-in and freestanding collections.

The Whirlpool 6TH SENSE PowerClean dishwashers have a new PowerDry option, which, says the company will make them the No.1 in cleaning and drying in just one hour – according to internal test results.

The PowerDry option from Whirlpool makes clouds of steam a thing of the past when you open the door after dishwashing, and everything, including plastic items, is dry and ready to put away.

The improved performance is achieved by way of a new dual airflow feature and humidity-condensing fan that activates during drying.  This makes it possible to offer a complete wash and dry programme in just one hour.

The new dishwashers, with 6TH SENSE PowerClean and PowerDry option, detect and sense the grime, and automatically adjust the water usage and manage the temperature and length of the programme. This can up to 50 per cent of water, energy and time, in comparison between minimum and maximum consumption on 6TH SENSE programmes.

The ‘A+++’ energy rated freestanding and integrated models are equipped with twenty-eight PowerClean jets situated at the rear of the dishwasher, dedicated to the removal of burnt on food that helps to ensure that pre-washing is a thing of the past. Stacking dishes vertically creates and additional bonus of up to 40 per cent more space in the lower basket.

The new dishwashers offer some of the most flexible loading options available says Whirlpool, due to sturdier baskets that pull out more easily and steadily. The flexi-load system has six foldable areas in the lower basket and another four in the upper basket, which is also height adjustable and removable.

Neil Austin, trade marketing manager for Whirlpool UK said:

“Whirlpool has taken an important leap forward with the PowerDry concept.  We are constantly looking for new ways to make our appliances simpler to use and life easier for our consumers through genuine technological advancements.

The improved drying efficiency on our PowerDry models answers a major consumer requirement and proves that plastic items can be dried in a dishwasher and you can steam ahead without the steam.”

www.whirlpoolcorp.com

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Drop in DIY may lead to a rise in rogue builders

Posted on by Posted in DIY

diy-2A drop in DIY activity among homeowners could lead to a rise in rogue builders, warns the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Brian Berry, chief executive of the FMB, said:

“The news that 41% of homeowners would rather pay for a professional than carry out DIY comes as no surprise – we Britons are working longer hours and many people don’t want to spend what little free time they have battling with shelves and wrestling with rolls of wallpaper, only to wind up with a shoddy finish. Inexperienced DIY enthusiasts can often do more harm than good, so in the interests of domestic harmony and peace of mind, hiring a builder is a good idea.

“However if more people are going to hire a builder – whether it is for simple or complex tasks – they must approach it in the right way and protect themselves from rogue traders. When hiring a tradesperson homeowners should use a recommendation from a friend but if that’s not possible, they should approach a professional trade association like the FMB’ and use its ‘Find a Builder’ service.

“Top tips for homeowners to bear in mind when choosing a builder include the need to always ask at least three tradespeople to quote for the work. Also, rather than opting for the cheapest quote, take the time to talk to the builders’ previous customers – visit one of their recent projects and ask the person who commissioned the work how they found their builder. Once you have chosen your builder, be sure to use a written contract before asking them to start the work. These straightforward checks can make all the difference and will help people avoid any unnecessary stress. After all, that’s the whole point of commissioning a professional to do the work.”

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TOTO presents its latest washlet toilet at IHS

Posted on by Posted in Bathrooms and Kitchens

TOTO-IHSTOTO chose the Independent Hotel Show (IHS) to launch its latest washlet toilet which features the company’s patented self-cleaning technology – a real hygienic benefit for bathrooms that poses obvious benefits for the luxury hotel market.

The Neorest AC Washlet features a toilet bowl coated with a special zirconium coating. The hydrophilic properties of this coating ensure that waste and bacteria are effectively eliminated, making a toilet brush unnecessary, says TOTO.

Once the lid is shut, the UV light integrated in the lid combines with the zirconium coating to trigger a decomposition process of the waste particles on the surface. Prior to the first use, the Washlet sprays the toilet bowl with water. Once the toilet is flushed, the Washlet sprays the bowl with electrolysed water (TOTO’s exclusive ewater+). This water has an antibacterial effect that prevents waste from accumulating.

The flush is the focal point of any hygienic toilet says TOTO. It needs to completely clean the entire bowl without leaving any residue behind. At the same time, it should not produce any spray or mist that could contaminate the surroundings with infectious carriers. TOTO’s powerful Tornado Flush is standard on all WC models. These high-powered jets create a whirlpool of water with strong downward suction, preventing any spray or mist from forming. The rimless design and extremely smooth special CeFiOnTect glaze make it practically impossible for bacteria, germs and waste to accumulate.

An investment in TOTO Washlet and toilets pay off in a very short period of time, says the company. The outstanding quality and high standards of hygiene considerably reduce cleaning and maintenance costs.

http://gb.toto.com/

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