On a recent trip out to a somewhat more rural location than my home town, I was quite taken with the eforts the owner of our hired cottage had gone to to make sure the utilities were not squandered away at her expense.  There were various devices in place to ensure the heating came on only when really necessary – there were warm rugs on the floor, wonderfully warm woollen blankets and throws in the main sleeping and sitting quarters.  We noted the discrete requests to turn off all unecessary lights and ensure the cooker and kettles were not switched on any more than standard use.  At first I thought the owner was just being ‘tight’.  However, having commented out loud, I was rounded on by said daughter, who reminded me that we were in the most gorgeous part of the country and it was our duty to save the planet and peak district at all costs!

We hear such a lot about changing over supply companies, the big switch that the government has spearheaded but seems rather slow to be taking off.  There are obviously good reasons to make a switch over to a cheaper company, they never seem able to offer the special low deals to their existing loyal customer base.  If everyone took up the option of switching to another company, either the cheapest of all will be totally inundated by all this new custom, or we will just be doing a dance, swapping to all the same companies, but as new customers, getting their super new deals.

The most efficient way to save money though is to look at the way we run our homes -do we ever look at the efficiency and how we can improve any of it?  The best option is to engage the services of efficient home experts to get this ball rolling.

There is something unsettled about the weather lately.  Not so good for getting out the oak garden furniture.  But when it gets dark it’s often still warm enough to stop outside a while.  At least the outdoor lighting schemes will be well  used.  The week before last we had torrential rain every day and there was a problem with rain not running off the gardens fast enough.  Last week was the opposite – glorious hot sunshine and no rain at all.  So baking that there was talk of folk being careful with water.  No wonder we Brits are obsessed with weather.

When we do have the best of conditions we need to be able to get out into the garden and enjoy.  Garden furniture, patio sets, there are some fabulous combinations to be had these days.  And when it darkens, we lovely lights to illuminate those gorgeous trees and garden features – oh and light up the patio for the Bar-B-Q!!

What do we mean by efficient homes – that is such a good question.  One man’s efficiency is another man’s mean streak.  There is no doubt at all in my mind that we use far too much energy in the wrong areas.  You only have to go for a walk in the evening to see all the lights on in every house on the estate.  Quite often the curtains and blinds are not in place so it is possible to see right in and witness all the goings on – that is one point but also means that the family will be cooler because curtains and blinds compensate for the cold coming off the windows.

To really appreciate all the changes that can be made to make my home more efficient, I can engage with companies that offer this sort of soltion.  Just a case of browsing online to find the help I need.

The spring has arrived at last. . . .  it did seem a long winter this time.  The weather has been totally grim, with at least three major storms disrupting lives and causing absolute havoc.  Mind you, they have not been as bad as some had first feared, which is a blessing.  One of the more worrying aspects of winter storms is if the power is knocked out because of flooding or perhaps a gas main has been damaged.   This is when a new efficient home interior really comes into its own.

When a home is built with efficiency considerations during the design and build stage, it is easy to get the best possible materials in place.  Even the most reasonably priced new housing developments incorporate the best ideas available to the developer and most are able to include some in each design.  There are some very good ideas out there and to get a grip on an efficient home, get browsing.

The house up the road is being completely gutted, refurbished and lots of energy efficient ideas being included.  It is a similar model to my own, a comfortable executive designed 4 bedroomed detached, with integral double garage.  The houses seemed wonderfully modern and efficient to us all when we moved in some years ago.  No one was having ideas about solar panels then.  In fact the only solar panels we knew about were portable ones that geeky folk took away camping, to help keep the leisure battery on trickle feed!

These days though, houses are rated by energy useage and all the estate agents keep a log of the registered rating that is listed with the community charge information.  The newer the house, the better the rating .  For the sake of our grand children we know we have to become more efficient.  it’s just knowing how. Egaging professionals in the business can help a great deal to get our own efficiency under way.

If you plan an outdoor kitchen well, you will be able to use it in the rain also. I find it beautiful not to have kitchen odours in the residence and cooking out of doors is a very good encounter as effectively. Now sign in and generate your account. Finalize your order by logging in to your account. Earwigs are typically confused with cockroaches, but their pincer tail is a certain identification. They are frequently found in the garden due to the moist and damp environment of the garden.

Use as many diverse channels as needed to find or market place your actual estate. You will want to workout each option offered in order to attain the avenues that are open to support you locate the good results you are in search of. There is a wide variety of teak tables and chairs. You can select the style and size that you like. We have been going to have guests in a week time and had to be prepared.

When we were small, in the middle of the last century – wow that feels odd saying that – I can remember seriously bad winters.  We would have days and days of very cold icy weather, and then it would warm up a tiny bit for a day or so and then wham, down came the snow.  I can clearly remember year on year, the snow would be big flakes, fascinating watching it out of the very cold windows we had!  None of the double or triple glazed upvc windows and replacement doors of recent years.  A regular caller at every house was Jack Frost.  He used to creep around covering those cold single glazed windows with thick frost and icicles that would dangle off the window sills, outside and quite often, inside aswell.

None of the efficiencies that are available today were even thought of for domestic properties – gosh how things have improved in just over half a century.

A trip to help care for an ailing relative required me to stay over in her cold, draughty and somewhat uninviting old house.  The house itself is gorgeous, an exciting design in its day.  Unfortunately years of the same family having the house, it had never been updated properly.  In the 1970s an attempt was made to bring some modernity – a boiler was installed iand a handful of radiators fed from that.  The rest of the house had storage heaters.  I don’t recall ever staying there when the heat generated conincided with the times I desperately needed it.

The house has now been completely transformed.  When the aunt died and her sons got their hands on it, they wasted no time in bringing in a home interior studio to discuss their desire to bring some efficiencies into the home.  The result is a constantly warm, easily maintained home that doesn’t cost the earth, literally, to run it.

In January when the last of the long Christmas and New Year festivities have finally drawn to a close, the decs are down, everywhere swept, stacks of cartons, food containers, garbage, has been cleared right away, peace and tranqulity is restored.  This is the time when families often get bored and decide that a room refurb would be fun.  The first burst of enthusiasm lasts for a weekend.  The sheer cost and energy needed then begin to make the idea seem just that bit more tiring than first imagined.

After the summer holidays however, when a break away somewhere hot, or at least calming and restful, has restored some work life balance back into the equation, then is the time to think seriously about updating that lounge and dining area – maybe extending out into the garden space with a hi-tec sun room.  All can be achieved with professional help from the experts.