Energy Advancements Must be Sustainable
April 29, 2009 by Tal Potishman
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Recent years have seen noteworthy improvements in the UKs energy efficiency. Although the low carbon economy progress is significant, increased efforts and more solutions will be required for many years. Sustainable development in this area is expected from the gas and electricity markets, and this must be accomplished with a consideration towards the impact on consumers.
Gas and electricity projects related to energy conservation and lower greenhouse gas emissions must meet Government requirements year after year. Power stations combined with industries and residences contribute 66% of the UKs carbon dioxide emissions. Programs piloted by the gas and electricity sectors in 2006 and 2007 resulted in an emissions decrease of 4%. These programs concentrated on coal to gas conversion and renewable energy projects.
Total energy consumption in the UK has decreased each year since 2005, with a 3% reduction in 2007. A 3% drop in electricity usage and 4% drop in gas usage were reported. In order to meet Government guidelines, the gas and electricity sectors must continue to accomplish improved energy efficiency each year.
One of the most difficult challenges for the fuel markets is to balance the move toward greener energy with the financial burdens placed on customers. Fuel prices have reached some of their highest levels in recent years, and some consumers have struggled to keep up with the escalating costs. This comes in the midst of one of the shakiest economic periods in recent history. Statistics reveal that in 2006, 3.5 million UK households were in fuel poverty, and 2.75 million of these were classified as vulnerable households. Fuel poverty households spend greater than 10% of their total income on fuel to keep their homes warm. Final reports of fuel poverty households for 2007 and 2008 have not been finalised, but estimates are that the increases in fuel poverty households were .7 million in 2007 and .5 million in 2008.
Ofgem, the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets, works with the Government and the gas and electricity markets to achieve the sustainable development targets established by the Government. Ofgem regulates the gas and electricity sectors to ensure that consumers are protected from unfair practices. This agency is particularly interested in helping fuel poverty households and has a goal of eliminating fuel poverty by 2018. Ofgem drives low carbon initiatives and facilitates projects aimed at meeting carbon dioxide reduction.
The gas and electricity sectors have achieved positive results from their efforts in the past several years to save energy, protect the nations supply of fuel, reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and lower energy costs. Ofgem has played a large role in the energy sectors reaching and exceeding low carbon goals. Concentrated effort and further innovations are needed, however, in order to meet the Governments targets for continual improvement.
Gas Safety Rules You Need to Know
April 12, 2009 by Tal Potishman
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There are many dangers associated with gas appliances and flues, but an alarming number of UK residents do not know this. Two of the most common causes of carbon monoxide poisoning are gas appliances or flues that are not installed or ventilated properly.
Since carbon monoxide (CO) does not have a smell, colour, or taste, it cannot be identified easily. People exposed to carbon monoxide may experience fatigue, pains in the chest or stomach, and vomiting, and sometimes the carbon monoxide can cause death. Tests that detect CO in the bloodstream need to be performed within four hours of exposure to the poisonous gas for an accurate diagnosis.
HSE (Heath and Safety Executive) commissioned carbon monoxide research at the University of London and received disturbing results. Almost one-fourth of homes surveyed had at least one defective gas appliance, and nearly ten percent of the homes were at high risk for deadly levels for carbon monoxide. About half of the residents were not aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. Without knowledge of the safety rules for gas appliances, consumers put themselves, family members, and any visitors to the home at risk for illness, paralysis, and even death. Over 60% of fatalities from incidents involving carbon monoxoide poisoning are caused by residents taking an inappropriate action or not taking any action.
One of the most important gas safety rules is to use a CORGI-registered technician for any gas appliance installation, repair, maintenance, and safety check. A CORGI-registered technician will have the skills, competency and knowledge to safely perform any gas appliance work. Your gas appliances need to be checked every year by a CORGI-registered installer, and your flue needs to be cleaned thoroughly by a professional chimney sweep annually.
The area around the gas appliance or flue must be well ventilated so the gas can burn completely. Keep objects off the appliances, do not block vents, and make sure there is plenty of fresh air circulating through the room. Poor ventilation is one of the most prevalent causes of residential carbon monoxide poisoning.
Any gas appliance that is not working properly should be turned off promptly. To bring fresh air into the area, open all windows and doors. If you know how to turn off the gas supply line, do so. Indications that a gas appliance needs to be checked are pilot lights that do not stay on, a yellow-orange flame, and noticeable soot and stains on and near the appliance. The National Grid on the Gas Emergency (0800 111 999) and HSE Gas Safety Advice Line (0800 300 363) can answer your questions about gas safety.
Home electrical wiring for beginners
April 11, 2009 by Larry Angell
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I often get visitors at my site asking about electrical home wiring and different wiring methods and projects. Their main concern is to attempt to do the electrical project or hire it out to professionals.
Because of the housing crash and financial market meltdown, Im observing that many people cant get construction loans to hire contractors to do the home construction for them. I see many people doing the work for themselves out of necessity and not only to save money.
Most homeowners dont have a problem with things like outdoor siding and putting in doors and windows, but they are often doubtful about electrical home wiring.
First of all, the most important thing is safety. If any electrical work is done, you need to make sure that youre not working on energized circuits. The next point is that all home wiring jobs need to be inspected whether its done by you or a professional. This helps assuage the fears that homeowners have wondering if their home wiring projects are going to be a fire hazard to them.
Theres no need to have a complete knowledge of electrical theory to do your own wiring. The most important thing is to know the electrical codes in your neighborhood because they will be the mandatory regulations the electrical inspectors will follow. Looking at electrical diagrams and formulas really helps to understand how to run the electrical circuits.
If you can look at a drawing, photo, or other illustration, you can get a good understanding how the cable is run. There are a few types of cable that are used in home construction. Non-metallic sheathed cable or more commonly called, Romex cable is often used for home electrical wiring.
Romex has different types, sizes and quantity of wires per cable according to the needs of the wiring circuit. Its standard to use 12-2 and 12-3 cable for light switches and outlets. This means that the cable size is a 12-gauge thickness with either 2 or 3 wires in each cable. These types of indoor cables are used on 120-volt circuits which means only one of the wires is a hot conductor.
Certain appliances in the home need extra voltage and so these will have thicker wire and usually two hot conductors. These are 240-volt circuits. Water heaters, clothes dryers, air-conditioners and heating systems will typically use 10-2 or 10-3 cable. This always depends on local electrical codes though.
The big, high-wattage, circuits that use a special cable are ovens and ranges or most common, the oven/range together. These appliances require a lot of electricity and they use a heavy cable called, range cable which is usually two 6-gauge cables as hot wires and one 8-gauge cable as a neutral wire.
The low-voltage systems in home wiring include phone wiring, computer network wiring, and home security systems. These are usually wired with Cat5 cable which is an 8-wire cable designed for communications systems.
Its wise to plan out circuit runs in your home using graph paper or grid paper so you can keep everything to scale. Youll need a good floor plan of your house for drawing each electrical circuit. Youll probably want to make several copies of these plans because youll have many different circuits in your home.
When you have an idea of where to put the electrical circuits, you can plan out the breaker panel box needs. A standard size of breaker panel is a 200-amp panel with a minimum of 40 breaker slots. All the circuits will start at the breaker box with a breaker or fuse.
There will be some dedicated circuits which means only one fixture or appliance can be wired on the circuit. This is always according to the local electrical codes and regulations.
All home wiring electrical circuits will be have to be inspected at different intervals during the home construction process. The electrical inspector has to make sure all codes have been followed. This is a good thing because it helps us feel safe knowing we did the wiring correctly and were not going to catch fire in our sleep at night.
Gas Supply Safety Ensured by HSE
April 7, 2009 by Tal Potishman
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Gas mains and services can pose safety risks to UK residents. Health and Safety Executive (HSE) protects citizens by monitoring how well gas line operators follow regulations. HSE representatives are available to answer questions related to gas mains and services, and the agency supplies publications about established codes and standards.
Both construction workers and homeowners are concerned about the depth requirements for gas mains and services. Gas pipe design and installation specifications are described in the Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996 (PSR), but this does not stipulate how deep gas pipes need to be. Two guides for pipe depth installation are available: HSEs A Guide to the Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996 and the HSC (Health and Safety Commission) publication, Approved Code of Practice and Guidance Design, Construction and Installation of Gas Service Pipes. Gas mains need to be at least 750mm below the ground. Service pipes on private land must be a minimum of 375mm below the ground, and a minimum depth of 450mm is needed for pipes near highways and footpaths.
Homeowners working in their yard and construction workers can inadvertently damage a gas main or service. Regulation 15 in PSR prohibits anyone from damaging a gas pipeline. HSE provides publication HSG47, Avoiding Danger from Underground Services, and information sheet, Avoiding Damage to Buried Services, as guidelines for those planning to work in areas containing gas mains or services.
HSE also regulates the conditions of pipelines according to regulation 13 of PSR. Iron pipes were commonly used in past years, and HSE has mandated that all iron gas pipes that are in close proximity of occupied property be decommissioned and replaced with pipes made of materials such as polyethylene. Because of the size of the existing gas pipe network, a deadline of March 2032 was set to give pipeline operators ample time to complete this project. HSE expects operators to replace any pipes that are known to be a threat to the public immediately.
The Milford Haven Pipeline, constructed by National Grid Gas, is one of the latest projects being monitored by HSE. The agency is making certain that the design, installation, and operation of the pipeline follows all health and safety laws. They are conducting inspections of the project to check for codes and standards compliance and proper use of land zoning plans. HSE will maintain the inspections after the completion of the project to monitor the safety of the pipeline and verify proper maintenance of the lines.
National Grid Gas is receiving direction from HSE for the pipe installation. Land used for the construction of the pipeline must be zoned for pipeline installation, and HSE determines this through calculations using characteristics of the pipe, such as the diameter and wall thickness. HSE uses a quantified risk assessment (QRA) of thermal radiation to make advisements regarding pipeline placement.
Washing the Toilet: How to Know When, What to Do Then
March 28, 2009 by Scott Rodgers
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Far too many people only undertake the task of cleaning the toilet during routine spring cleaning. This is a mistake. The bathroom, expectedly, is a site for messy and unsanitary build-up. Don’t neglect it throughout the year; clean it regularly.
If you see or smell the presence of unclean accumulations around the toilet, you probably need to clean it ” and soon! Use something to remove the buildup, making sure to use a strong detergent.
There are whole lines of cleaners that you can use in your bathroom. You may have heard of several foaming cleaners or cleaners with tilted heads that make cleaning the upper bowl easy. These can make cleaning the toilet much simpler.
Just go to the store and pick up a toilet bowl scrubber and cleaning agent. Combine them and the result will be a shiny, odor-free toilet bowl.
You don’t just want to take curative measures when your toilet gets dirty. You want to make sure you take preventative measures to keep it that way!
You can pick up some additional cleaning products that stay in the toilet for weeks or months at a time and add cleanser to the water slowly and automatically. With each flush, the water partially cleans the toilet. This will keep you from having to clean the toilet as often.
Of course, there’s a small catch. These kinds of cleaning products require weekly or monthly changes, so you can’t just ignore them after you put on in initially. You’ll need to install a fresh product every so often.
Preventative cleansers can put off the next toilet washing, but they cannot ever completely replace it. You’ll need to periodically wash the throne to maintain your clean and healthy bathroom.
While the task of cleaning the toilet may, quite literally, stink, it’s absolutely necessary. Cleaning your toilet regularly and not just once a year can make your bathroom a much more pleasant room. Plus, you make your house much healthier overall!
Bathrooms for People with Special Needs
March 18, 2009 by Tal Potishman
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Bathrooms in the United Kingdom used to be only utilitarian and were built as “one size fits all.” This wasn’t a problem for most United Kingdom residents, but some people found the “standard” settings for bathrooms to be very inconvenient. People who have special needs had a very time using bathrooms that were built for people who did not have special needs.
Bathroom designers and builders understand that people with special needs have different requirements than those who do not. They design bathrooms specifically for people with special needs. These designers understand that people with special needs require bathroom fixtures that can hold a person’s body weight. They understand that things need to be higher or lower and more accommodating than bathrooms that are built form before function.
Typically, a bathroom that has been built for a person with special needs will have a stand alone sink, a toilet with a wider seat that is either lower to the ground (for children with special needs) or higher up for those who have trouble bending their needs or who might need to transfer to the toilet from a wheel chair.
Usually the shower stall in a bathroom that has been built for people with special needs will have a seat or bench installed that can be removed if necessary. If the bathroom features a bath tub, that bathtub usually has jets to help massage the client’s muscles. The tub is either raised up off of the floor to accommodate people with trouble bending or lower and into the floor for those who are shorter or need more space.
A bathroom that has been designed for someone who has special needs will often have quite a few extra support beams built in around the room. These beams usually look like bars and are bolted into the walls surrounding the sink, the shower and/or tub, and the toilet. These beams are installed to help a person with special needs manoeuvre from one part of the bathroom to another and to support them as they transfer from any chairs or crutches to the different areas of the bathroom that the person needs to use.
Many designers feel challenged by bathrooms for people with special needs because the contractors want to accommodate the clients’ needs but they also realize that “non special needs” people might be using the bathroom as well. Accommodating both can be tricky.
When designing these bathrooms it is important to remember that, before form is function. The bathroom needs to be able to support someone who might not get around so well or be very good at holding themselves up. Softer corners are ideal, as is easy to reach support. Look for elements designed to hold weight. Once these elements are in place, creating a beautiful design should be easy!
Make Sure Your Engineers Are Certified
March 11, 2009 by Tal Potishman
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Many residents of the United Kingdom opt for price before professionalism when choosing an engineer to install their gas and heating systems. Cost is important but it is also important to make sure that each engineer you consider hiring is properly certified by the right organizations. Regardless of your repair or renovation budget, making sure that your gas and heating systems are properly installed is of the utmost importance.
Even though readers might not want to believe this, there are quite a few people operating as engineers in the United Kingdom who have not been properly registered with Corgi, the authority for heating and gas engineers in this country. These engineers lie to their clients and tell them that they are registered with Corgi even though they are not. Some of these impostors will even create false Corgi documents to convince clients of their registration!
The most famous fraudulent engineer in the United Kingdom is David Mees. The David Mees story was reported all over the United Kingdom and the more the story was reported the larger his list of ripped off clients grew. David Mees even went so far as to take out advertisements listing a false Corgi number. If a client questioned David Mees’s standing with Corgi, he would tell them that his work need only be inspected by a Corgi engineer. This was a blatant lie.
What is worse is that most of the work done by Mees (whose prices were not cheap) is shoddy and dangerous. In one home his work was so poorly completed that should the tenants have attempted to operate their gas and heating systems, they could have destroyed their home and risked injuring themselves!
Gas and heating systems are volatile and it is important that they be properly installed and that their wiring is up to code. Corgi engineers are required to keep up to date on local electrical codes and standard engineering practices. The best way to make sure that your engineer is registered with Corgi is to simply call the organization and double check your prospective engineer’s status. This can be done by dialling 0800 915 0485.
It is a good idea to check with your local business bureau to find out if any complaints have been filed against the engineer that you are considering for your home’s construction or renovation. You should also ask any potential engineer for a list of references and his work history. If the engineer hesitates before providing either of these, you should seriously consider moving on to the next candidate.
Always make sure that your gas and heating systems are professionally installed to ensure that you and your home are as safe they possibly be!
DIY: How to Be Safe
February 11, 2009 by Tal Potishman
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There are some home based projects that a person should not attempt to do by himself. For instance, a person should not attempt to install his own solar panels. On the other hand, there are plenty of projects that most United Kingdom residents should feel confident about doing themselves. Taking care of your own home repairs and projects has become quite popular in the United Kingdom and has resulted in its own acronym: DIY. Many home owners get great satisfaction out of DIY projects.
If you are interested in Do It Yourself home projects and repairs, you should make sure to practice proper safety at all times. Safety is not something that should be overlooked or “skimped on.” Taking the proper safety precautions will ensure that you are safe from injury and, depending on the project, can even save your life!
The first and easiest way to protect yourself while you work on home-based projects is to wear the proper clothing. Make sure that you are properly protected before beginning any DIY projects. Safety goggles and dust masks are a must. You should also take care to have well-fitting work globes and sturdy, closed-toed work boots or shoes. It is also a good idea to wear long sleeves and long pants that you can tuck into your boots/shoes and gloves. This way you will keep as much of your body covered as possible. Hats are a good idea.
Having the correct tools is another significant way to make sure that you remain safe while doing your own home projects. You shouldn’t try to use a different type of hammer, saw, etc. Unless you have extensive experience in construction and repair, you should not try to improvise. Have the correct tools on hand before you start and follow the project’s directions exactly.
Be respectful of electricity! A lot of DIY projects require the use of a tool that runs on electricity. When you are not using one of y our “power tools” you should take a moment to make sure that the tool is turned off and unplugged. The last thing you want is to turn something on accidentally and hurt yourself! You also want to take care to keep the power tools separated from any “wet” materials you might be working with.
Finally: take your time. Rushing through a job is the most common reason that do-it-yourselfers get injured. Slow and steady is always the best way to approach do it yourself home projects. Taking your time will ensure that you get the results you need and that you aren’t taking any safety risks.
How to Pick the Right Shower Head
February 6, 2009 by Matthew Henage
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The most popular and versatile shower heads are those that are adjustable. Adjustable shower heads can be set anywhere between ultra high pressure streams to relaxing massage to a soft mist. Just be sure that you buy a design that is easy to adjust with slippery hands covered in soap.
If you are looking for even more flexibility you can select a adjustable shower head that is handheld, providing the ability to move the shower spray around your body. Handheld shower heads are especially useful for the disabled and elderly using a shower seat, and they are also great for bathing children.
Water Pressure and Temperature
Adjustable shower heads are especially useful if you have low water pressure in your home because you can adjust the nozzle for stronger flow. If you don’t know your water pressure you can pick up a pressure gauge from your local hardware store for about $10. Or you can call your local water supplier to ask what the static water pressure is for your neighborhood, which will give you a pretty good idea. The average water pressure for homes is about 45 psi, which is a bit on the low side. The Uniform Plumbing Code calls for water to be delivered to homes for domestic use at 50 to 70 psi. If you are below 40 psi you have low water pressure.
Aerating shower heads are engineered to mix the water with air to increase the perceived strength of the flow, even up to painful skin-stinging levels. There is, however, a trade-off. The aerating function not only makes the pressure feel more substantial, but it also lowers the water’s temperature by up to 15 degrees before it hits your body. So if you like your showers hot and you don’t have the option of safely raising the temperature setting of your water heater, then you should read customer reviews and product descriptions to find a shower head that does well in maintaining a high water temperature.
Hard Water Considerations
White chalky residue on faucets, shower doors, and tiles is a sign of hard water. (If you aren’t sure if you have hard water, the local water company can tell you.) Hard water leaves mineral deposits that, over time, can clog your shower head and divert spray from its intended direction. Some shower heads are engineered with hard-water in mind and advertise anti-hard water features in their product descriptions. If you have hard water, one of the most important things to look for in a shower head is rubbery nozzles that make it easy to whisk away weeks worth of buildup with the tip of your finger. All-metal shower heads don’t usually stand up so well to hard water deposits, and may require disassembly to clean or the use of a straight pin to scrape buildup out of the nozzles.
Rain Shower Luxury
Rain showers mimic natural rainfall with over-sized heads and gentle raindrops falling directly downward. Rain shower heads also tend to come in more luxurious and stylish designs and finishes. Some people report that the rain showers don’t provide enough power with the flow spread out over such a wide head. Because the water falls from directly above, it can be difficult to target the flow where you need it, for example when you need to wash your body while keeping your hair dry. The lack of power and precision placement mean it takes more effort to wash off soap and shampoo. Rain shower heads also sometimes require special parts and are usually more difficult to install.
Finding a Reliable Tradesman
February 5, 2009 by Tal Potishman
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Each and every United Kingdom home owner will encounter a situation in which he or she will be in need of hiring a Tradesman. One man might need to have his roof fixed. One woman might want a new heating and cooling system installed. Tradesmen are in constant demand throughout the United Kingdom and it is very important that all home owners learn how to hire a Tradesman who is reliable.
Hiring a reliable tradesman is important because if the tradesman you hire is not reliable you could end up paying quite a large amount of money for work that is sub-par and that will need multiple repairs. While it is important for home owners to understand that a tradesman needs to be reliable it is also important that home owners understand how to tell the difference between a reliable tradesman and one who is not.
When searching for a reliable tradesman here are some things a home owner should look into before signing any contracts:
*References: There are two main methods of obtaining a Tradesman’s references. The easiest and most obvious method is to simply ask the Tradesman for a list of references that you can contact. If a Tradesman is reliable and does good work, he or she will be able to provide you with a list of people that you can ask for more information and recommendations.
The other way to get references for a Tradesman is to simply ask your neighbours and your friends to find out who they (or someone they know) have used in the past. You should make sure to ask whether or not the reference would hire the person again (and why or why not).
*Professional Organizations: Is the tradesman being considered a member of any professional organizations? Check into the local business bureau to find out what the tradesman’s ratings are and whether any formal complaints have been lodged against him/her.
Many Tradespeople are required to obtain specific certifications and join certain organisations. Check into the trade itself to find out which registrations and certifications are required in your area. Make sure the Tradesman you are considering meets all of the requirements.
Most Tradespeople are required to obtain specific certifications and join specific organisations. Research the trade and find out what is required. Then make sure that each prospective Tradesman you consider meets all of the requirements.
If the tradesperson has been in business for a number of years but has only worked a few times it might be a good idea to move on to someone else. On the other hand, if a tradesperson has a steady history and seems to be working quite often that tradesperson will probably prove to be very reliable.
