Further to our article on Pilkington’s new energiKare glass on 10/12/07:

There follows a ten-step guide, to help you make some simple changes to your home and implement more energy efficient practices, to reduce your CO2 output. (Courtesy of the Energy Savings Trust and Pilkington Glass)

1. When replacing windows, look for those carrying the Energy Saving Trust’s Energy Saving Recommended logo along with the Pilkington energiKare™ branding ; assuring you of high levels of energy efficiency, with a quality name you know and trust.

2. Install cavity wall insulation. It’s clean, cheap and easy to do and could reduce CO2 emissions by 750kg and slash 15% off heating bills.

3. Install 270mm thick loft insulation. A home with no current insulation could save up to £110 a year on heating bills and 1 tonne of CO2 per year.

4. Turning the thermostat down by 1°C, could cut heating bills by up to 10 percent and save around £40 per year.

5. Use energy saving light bulbs; just one can save £100 over the lifetime of the bulb - and they last around 10 times longer than ordinary light bulbs.

6. Upgrade to a new energy efficient condensing boiler, which could convert up to 90% of its fuel into heat.

7. Washing at 300C rather than 400C can save approximately 40% on energy consumption.

8. Don’t leave appliances on standby and remember not to leave appliances on charge unnecessarily.

9. Always wait for a full load and use the economy programme on appliances, such as washing machines and dishwashers.

10. In the winter close curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows.

Pilkington energiKareTM is suitable for use in any external windows of a house and is widely available from local and national window companies.

Web: http://www.pilkington.co.uk/energikare

Tel: (01744) 692 000

Evo-Stik has put the seal on bathroom and kitchen cleanliness with Anti-Germ, the first antibacterial tile adhesive, grout and sealant range.

Even though you clean your kitchen and bathroom surfaces rigorously, it’s impossible to get to the grime that lurks in the gaps and cracks between your tiles – unless you replace it regularly, or do a deep steam-clean - who does that?

Even worse, that pure white surface sealant you used to finish the job
becomes a breeding ground for ugly black mould and home to bacteria within days of application.

However Evo-Stik’s new Anti Germ range of white and translucent sealants for kitchen and bathrooms, and all-purpose tile adhesive and grout, offers a solution; the first products of their kind that kill germs — and go on killing them.

Anti-Germ destroys MRSA, E.Coli, Salmonella and other bacteria that can cause serious diseases, especially in the young and the elderly.

Even better, these long-lasting products perform as well as other products on the market in every respect, but cost no more.

Evo-Stik’s Neil Morrell said: “Customers are getting increasingly worried
about the germs that infest the surfaces in their home and while they use
household products that kill surface germs, they can’t get into the grout
or sealant, so germs still have a breeding ground.”

“Anti-Germ puts the seal on any job by continuing the antibacterial properties deep into the gaps and cracks between tiles.”

Follow this link to test how clean your kitchen and bathroom is:

http://www.anti-germ.co.uk/game.html

As cash-strapped consumers struggle to cope with rocketing prices and rising costs of living, Together – the UK’s largest climate campaign, has launched a new Savers’ Guide at www.together.com, which reveals easy ways for people to save money and the planet.

The new guide shows that an average UK household could save up to 3 tonnes of CO2 and up to £1,144 per year on household bills.

The savings can be made by simple everyday consumer actions, including switching to low energy light-bulbs, washing at 30 degrees, installing home insulation, switching to green energy tariffs and not upgrading mobile phones.

Together is publishing the new Savers’ Guide, to mark its first anniversary since being launched a year ago.

This successful campaign, is backed by some of Britain’s major high-street brands including, B&Q, Barclaycard, British Gas, BskyB and Marks & Spencer, etc, who aim to make it easier and cheaper, for people to tackle climate change.

In just a year, voluntary corporate efforts pledged under the campaign, have helped British consumers save half a million tonnes of CO2, (equivalent to taking 195,000 family cars off the road for a year) and over £100million on household bills.

David Hall, Director of Together, says, “People can save hundreds of pounds a year by making greener everyday choices. The ‘green’ penny is definitely dropping for British shoppers, who are feeling the pinch from rising living costs.”

Web: http://together.com

It isn’t always easy being green - whether it’s driving 20 metres to grab a pint of milk, because it’s just started raining, or sneaking up the thermostat so you can sleep with the covers off.

So have some fun this spring, by confessing all those eco-sins and lighten your conscience with The Green Confessional; you can bare all to Together.com’s online priest and have the chance to win a fantastic prize:

They are giving away a Brompton bike, cutting edge Voltaic solar backpacks and some sexy Wattson energy monitors.

Here is a selection of perfect ways to atone for your eco sins – just check out the saintly deeds below, now easier than ever to follow through:

Saintly Deeds

1. Switch your bulbs to low-energy ones.
2. Recycle an old mobile phone.
3. Switch to a green energy tariff.
4. Do a home energy audit.
5. Make sure your loft is fully insulated.

Confess here:
Web: http://www.together.com/feature

Together.com is independently approved by The Climate Group, which is an international charity dedicated to working with big business and government to help solve climate change.

Climate change can seem like an overwhelming problem, however doing something, even a small something, can help reduce emissions and your impact on the climate.

The Together Community believes that reducing emissions should be easy and have partnered with some top household brands, to produce a great range of products and ideas to help you do just that:

• From low-cost eco car insurance and budget energy-saving light bulbs, to free energy-saving kits and simple household tips, to help you save energy and money; each solution, idea, tip or tool on their website has been chosen because it really can make a difference.
• Some are easy.- some are a challenge, but even if you commit to just one or two, you’ll be well on your way to saving a tonne of CO2.
• If you join in today, you can use the website to add-up all the CO2 savings you’re making – every day!
• You can also join the website Community – and show people what you’re doing; share tips, keep track of your savings and get inspired by the ideas.

Don’t stand on the sidelines. We’re in this together and only together can we hit our targets and make our efforts count.

Web: http://together.com

British Gas is commited to cutting emissions and helping their customers to be more energy efficient; they are launch partners in the ‘We’re in this Together’ campaign, which has the same aim.

Cut energy bills by up to a third, average savings of £175 and half a tonne of CO2 every year.

How does it work?

Energy Savers Report is a quick, free and effective service:

• It only takes a few minutes to fill in a simple online questionnaire about your home.
• Enables you to understand your homes energy efficiency performance, cut your energy use and save money.
• The report calculates your home’s current energy rating and suggests practical ways for you to reduce your energy use
• You receive a personalised summary of the simple measures you could take, to reduce your energy consumption and how much money you would save.
• Awards your home a current and potential rating on the familiar colour-coded A to G scale.

1.7 million people have already completed their own Energy Savers Report; each one is unique and contains a range of solutions to suit every budget.

91% of those people who filled in the report, found it useful in helping them understand how to save energy and money.

Everyone in the UK can now complete the free Energy Savers Report.

Complete your free questionnaire now!

Web: http://www.britishgas.co.uk/energy-efficiency/energy-savers-report.html

The National Self Build & Renovation Centre is to host its second Self Build & Renovation Show at the Renovation Centre, just off Junction 16 of the M4 next month, (Thursday 6th – Sunday 9th March 2008).

The show is offering a unique practical learning experience for anyone interested in building their dream home.

With a shortage of the right kind of affordable homes and uncertainty in the existing property market, ‘doing it yourself’, whether self building or renovating, to create a home that is compatible with individual lifestyles’ is becoming more appealing and is a very realistic option for many people looking to get on, or move up, the property ladder.

• This year’s show offers visitors:
  Lots of instructive seminars; product demonstrations, and presentations.
• Visitors can get to grips with a selection of the newest technical gadgets, professional tools and accessories from leading suppliers, including Festool, ITW and Skil.
• Sample the latest in kitchen cooking ranges and appliances from AGA and Britannia.
• Learn about finding land, arranging finance and buying materials from self build and renovation experts.
• Book one-to-one sessions with CAD designers and take part in practical skills workshops in plastering, bricklaying and tiling, with Trade Skills 4U.
• There will also be an exclusive launch of ‘Tommy’s House by Potton Homes; a new eco-friendly timber frame package range, inspired by Tommy Walsh’s eco house, which he built for £60,000 in 60 days.

The Self Build & Renovation Show will run between Thursday 6th and Sunday 9th March, at the National Self Build & Renovation Centre in Swindon. Entry cost £10 per adult, or £15 per couple.

Buildstore Ltd has kindly arranged a generous ½ price ticket discount for UK Home Ideas readers, who are invited to log on to the website to book their tickets and enter this code - SBMUKH005, for the discount, on any of the four days of the Show.

Web: http://www.mykindofhome.co.uk/show

Tel: (01506) 409 616

Together.com is a consumer engagement campaign, which has helped UK households reduce CO2 emissions by one tonne over three years.

Many of the UK’s favourite brands are united behind the campaign to provide millions of customers with a growing range of new products and ideas that make it easier to reduce their CO2 emissions.

Switching to energy saving light bulbs would save UK households £1.2 billion every year; almost two thirds of the UK’s consumers are still in the dark, about how much money switching to energy saving light bulbs could save them.

The National climate change campaign Together.Com has released research revealing that 30 million people across the UK are unaware that they could shave £55 off their annual energy bills by replacing their inefficient bulbs. (At a time when household bills are rising steeply)

Statistics compiled by Together suggest there are still around 440 million light bulbs in the UK that could be switched to energy saving ones, which would cut nearly 5 million tonnes of CO2 from the UK’s annual footprint, equivalent to taking nearly two million cars off the road each year.

This month Together.com has helped bring about an unprecedented series of initiatives that will result in an estimated six million energy saving light bulbs going into Britain’s homes, including Tesco’s current buy-one-get-one-free promotion across their entire range.

Visit the website to discover quick and easy things you can do TODAY to help fight climate change. Best of all, you can save money and track everything you do to see the difference you’re making – live!

Web: http://together.com

With colder winter nights and mornings now upon us, many people are boosting their home heating to keep warm, which means that their energy bills and carbon footprint will go up!

Easy and cost effective advice is available from B&Q on how to make your home more energy efficient and lower your bills and your impact on the environment this winter.

Why not consider Solar Panels, which can deliver supplementary hot water directly into your existing hot water cylinder, or integrated with your combi boiler system to help cut your fuel bills – saving you money as well as reducing the effects of global warming.

It’s hard to believe sometimes, but there really is more than enough sun in Britain to support solar heating solutions; they only need solar radiation to work; though performance is improved in direct sunlight.

B&Q are offering a choice of solar panel kits, which are available supply only or supply and fit - for example:

The Solartwin Panel Kit featured here - supply only from £2698 and £3698.00 installed.

RM Solar Two Panel Combi Konverter Kit installed £4998.00.

Surveys for Solar Panel Kits are available at only £25.

More information is available in stores or online at:

Web: http://www.diy.com

Tel: (0845) 8500175

B&Q’s extensive new range of energy efficiency products make it easy to help limit your impact on the environment and make savings on your home energy bills this winter, by taking small steps to effect big changes.

Wrap-up Warm - Over a quarter of your home’s heat is lost through your loft, so insulation makes good sense; with new innovations and buy one get one free on all rolls of insulation, there’s never been a better time to think about insulating your home.

B&Q stocks a variety of loft insulation products including:

The new Eco-Wool insulation (£14.98) is made from 85% recycled plastic bottles, thus doubling its eco credentials.

To save your own time and energy, the Knauf Space Blanket (£13.98) couldn’t be easier to install, as the insulating material is encased in a protective layer, making it easy to roll out. Designed for topping up existing roof insulation, the blanket can be laid over your existing insulation for increased thickness.

The Owl Monitor (£49.84), makes it easy to check the cost of operating your electrical appliances, therefore it helps you make intelligent decisions about how often and when you use them, to save energy and money.

With the Owl Monitor connected, turn on your lights to see just how much energy you consume and how much money it costs – you’ll never leave the spare bedroom light on again!

The LCD display shows just how much and the cost of energy you’re using, plus greenhouse gas emissions produced and temperature and humidity.

Watch this space for more great B&Q energy saving ideas; Let’s Do It!

Web: http://www.diy.com

Tel: (0845) 8500175