Northern England will hopefully be a greener place following the announcement of a fourth year of funding for environmental projects by gas suppliers Northern Gas Networks. The energy company launched their scheme this week and are appealing for applicants who feel they can really make a difference in their local area. Funding will be awarded to schools, colleges, charities and community groups with a real focus on making a difference to their local areas and the planet on a whole. Funding totalling £60,000 will be handed out in grants of £5000 to successful applicants and the group with the most novel and effective ideas.
Green Funding Scheme Launched By Northern Gas Networks
Reduce Your Carbon Emissions and Electricity Bills With a Baxi Ecogen Boiler
Homes in the UK are now responsible for over a quarter of carbon dioxide emissions produced each year through consumption of energy used to run our homes. The only way that we can combat this is to use environmentally friendly products as much as possible.
This is where the UK’s leading heating systems manufacturer Baxi comes in. They have developed a way to combine your home’s heating and power called the Baxi Ecogen boiler. This provides efficient gas central heating and hot water but also generates cheaper electricity for the home, through a process known as Micro Combined Heat and Power or Micro CHP. Also allowing you to manage and control how much heat and hot water you use to help reduce your bills and ultimately your carbon emissions, the Baxi Ecogen could be the ideal investment for reducing your home’s carbon footprint.
Alternative Heating and Renewable Energy Systems
In a world that is constantly battling with climate change and oil prices constantly on the up how long before the general public start looking for an alternative to fossil fuels to power their central heating? The sharp rise in interest for alternative fuels and greener homes would suggest that we are now at that point. But which way do you go and how to you choose the best option to meet your needs?
With all the different options available now, there is bound to be one that suits you and your home but finding it is can often be the hard part. It is a good idea to read up on all the available options; there are many websites that give good helpful advice on renewable and alternative energy sources and some have a tool that helps you select the best option. Another option is to get a specialist to come and view your home to advise on the best alternative central heating systems that are going to suit your home and budget.
Danfoss Randall Launch New Underfloor Heating Products
Two new underfloor heating products have been added to the ranges available from Danish international company Danfoss. The products enhance the current heating and cooling equipment supplied by the global manufacturer, one being manufactured by Devi, part of the Danfoss group, and the other under the Danfoss name.
The first product is a high output underfloor heating mat which gives customers a solution to heating rooms with poor insulation such as cellars and conservatories. The electrically powered mat heats up at a much faster rate than other electric underfloor heating products available on the market, and is also suited to installation in smaller spaces such as downstairs toilets, utility rooms and small bathrooms.
The cabled underfloor heating mat is designed to keep the room it is installed in at a comfortable temperature, even in rooms that usually lose heat more quickly due to having cold concrete floors or insufficient insulation. They are also designed with easy installation in mind, being constructed from an open mesh with the heating cable running through it. The mat is simply rolled out onto a tile or concrete floor before being covered with a flexible tile adhesive which a new tiled floor can then be laid on. The mats come with the standard Devi 10 year guarantee and can be teamed up with thermostats from the Devi range for easy temperature control.
Worcester Support Government Boiler Scrappage Scheme
The boiler scrappage scheme, which was introduced by the Government in order to reduce UK carbon emissions enables homeowners in England whose boiler is an inefficient G rated boiler or worse, to apply for a grant of £400 towards the cost of installing a new energy efficient boiler.
Boiler manufacturers, Worcester, who are part of the Bosch group, are backing the Government boiler scrappage scheme by offering a further 12 month guarantee on their boilers.
There are a number of things you can look out for which will indicate whether your boiler is G rated or less:
- gas fired boilers 15 years or older
- oil fired boilers 25 years or older
- a constantly lit pilot light
How to Avoid Burst Water Pipes in Winter
Many of us experience the misfortune of having to call an emergency plumber out in winter for various reasons. Boiler services, boiler break downs and frozen pipes are the main reasons for emergency call outs for an experienced plumber in the winter, but with some forward planning you can avoid these and save yourself the time and expense of calling out an emergency plumber.
The Importance of Regular Boiler Servicing
If you neglect to service your boiler to keep it in good working order this can result in a boiler breakdown and you can end up without hot water and central heating providing warmth in your home. That can lead to some uncomfortable times for you and your family. There are signs that your boiler will tell you, and if you listen to it and catch these early you can overcome the problem and reduce the inconvenience and expense of a broken boiler in the future.
Tips For Landlords: Gas and Electricity Maintenance and Repairs
If you’re renting a property, one of the last things you want to receive is a phone call from your tenants to let you know there’s a problem with your house, but if there’s one thing that’s true in life, it’s that houses cost you money. Whether it’s installing new central heating or electrical rewiring, blocked drains or a jammed window, chances are when you rent out a property, you’ll experience plenty of housing dilemmas.