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

UK residents are being recommended to take Powergen’s Energy Challenge, which can cut up to £160 a year off their energy bills* and reduce their carbon footprints. (Takes just 15 minutes.)

Powergen, which is part of E.ON, one of the UK’s leading power and gas companies, is asking people to take the simple challenge by visiting their website.

The Energy Challenge site provides an-online-shop that enables people:

• Obtain a personalised energy efficiency report for their home.
  The report details how much money and carbon could be saved by installing recommended energy saving measures, which are tailored for their particular properties:
• Save energy and cut bills, via a virtual tour of an interactive house, which illustrates energy saving tips for each room.
• Track their energy consumption online.
• Buy discounted energy saving appliances and measures.

The three simple steps to taking the £160 Energy Saving Challenge are:

1.Go to the website below. Ensure you know what type of heating system you have, the amount of insulation you have and where it is and details of any benefits you receive before you log on.

2.Fill in the survey.

3.View the results, which will show you how much money and carbon dioxide you could save, by taking the measures recommended for your home.

Web:  http://www.powergenchallenge.co.uk.

* £160 average annual saving achieved by implementing measures identified from 5,121 customers who completed energy efficiency surveys between 1/3/07-12/9/07. This survey has been accredited by BRE.

Deane Direct specialise in home storage solutions and supply both solid and mirrored wardrobe door kits, to enable you to make 100% use of available space; the doors are tailor-made for self assembly and adapt to most room shapes and sizes.

You can choose from two striking ranges for your new wardrobe:

The Metro Collection as seen here, which features 3 or 4 panel doors with cool aluminium door-frames that slide like a dream; then choose two elements to make up the doors from mirror, solid wood colour panels or coloured glass, or

The Heritage Range, a favourite with Deane’s clients, with one-piece doors made from a variety of wood or metallic colour frames, then add your choice of mirror, matching solid panels or coloured/frosted glass.

Help and advice is freely available with planning and design, at the comprehensive and simple to navigate Deane Direct website, which provides simple instructions on how to measure, and calculate your precise requirements.

Web: http://www.deanedirect.co.uk
Tel:   (01329) 827817

Climate change, CO2 emissions, thermal efficiency, carbon footprints and recycling are all hot topics on today’s environmental agenda.
 
Following the recent Kingspan Group acquisition of Potton Homes, the company will now offer a range of contemporary house designs, featuring smart eco-options, to provide first class environmental efficiencies for both self builders and developers alike.

Potton the leading UK self build company, is best known in that market for it’s award winning range of Tudor style Heritage house designs.

Potton’s timber frame packages already comply with the Government’s building regulations for thermally efficient homes, however, this year Potton will be increasing it’s eco-offering with products from the Kingspan Group.

As market leader in environmental building and insulating systems, Kingspan can provide Potton with new and exciting options for creating contemporary house designs that are not only faster to build, but include a range of unrivalled environmental efficiencies.

Kingspan’s TEK building system which uses SIPS (Structural Insulated Panel Systems) and their Kooltherm products, will enable Potton to offer designs with additional versatility and enhanced energy ratings that make them environmentally friendly and cheaper to run.

Other eco-options will include rainwater harvesters, water recycling units, mechanical heat recovery systems, solar panels, water recycling units and pollution control.

For further information on Potton and their new range of Renaissance house designs visit:

Web: http://www.potton.co.uk
Tel:  (01767) 676 400

The Newbury Homebuilding & Renovating Show at the Newbury Showground on 23rd and 24th June is a must for homeowners wishing to source the right products and services to convert, extend, renovate or build their house.

If you are motivated to create a dream home that reflects your personality, the Newbury Homebuilding & Renovating Show offers a one-stop shopping opportunity as the Show plays host to over 120 exhibitors and offers a wealth of advice and information from the experts, to enable you to find the right products and services.

Worried about finance or how to assess a property’s potential?  These are just two of the subjects covered in the comprehensive programme of free seminars running every day of the show.  Tickets are issued on a first-come-first-served basis, so get there early to avoid disappointment.

A real attraction is the Master classes, offering specialist advice and the chance to have one-to-one discussions with the experts; each day has a different focus - Self-Build Day on Saturday and Eco Build Day on Sunday for environmentally conscious homeowners.

TV personality and Editor-in-Chief of Homebuilding & Renovating magazine, Michael Holmes with his team of professionals, will host Ask The Experts sessions, giving visitors exclusive access to experts in the field, saving consultancy fees of up to £100 a hour!

Tickets are £5 in advance or £8 on the door.

For more information and tickets, visit:

Web: http://www.homebuildingshow.co.uk
Tel: (0870) 906 2002.

Over 20,000 people build their own homes in the UK each year, accounting for one in eight of all new homes and more than the largest commercial house builder.

Self built properties are estimated to be worth 30% more than their build cost. For example, if a property costs £250,000 to build, including land, materials and labour, the approximate market value of the property would be £325,000.

A recent survey carried out for BuildStore by YouGov revealed that we are a nation of self builders at heart including:

42% of people are interested in building their own homes and would like to build from scratch.

42%  would incorporate Eco products - wind turbines and solar panels in their own homes.
 
44% blame cost as the main reason stopping them from building their own home; however on average, building your own home can result in an instant profit of around 30% and self built properties are VAT exempt thus reducing the cost.

26% say they lack the knowledge or don’t have the skills to build their own home, which is why Potton run free Self Build Workshops and Seminar Programmes.

Survey by YouGov, December 2006. Sample size - 2,142 UK adults.
 
For further information on building your dream home visit:

Web: http://www.potton.co.uk
Tel:  (01767) 676 400