ENERGY SAVING AT HOME

April 5, 2022

TOP TIPS TO BEAT THE BILLS

Having finally picked ourselves up from the floor after opening our renewal quote from our household and office energy provider (double the price???!!!) it feels like the right time to write something about small changes that we can all be making around our homes in order to reduce our energy consumption (and the bills too). Not only will it save us all a few pennies (ideally pounds) we’ll be doing our bit for the environment too.

We all know about avoiding the tumble dryer, or taking a shorter shower, or turning the tap off whilst we brush our teeth, so here are a few slightly different options:

1. Swap old halogen/incandescent style bulbs to new LED bulbs. According to Houzz.com the annual cost of powering one single incandescent bulb is £8.76 and a halogen bulb is £7.30. Compare that to an LED bulb which they estimate costs just £0.95 annually to power, it certainly adds up over an entire home. LED bulbs may be more expensive to buy in the short term but consider that they should last an average of 50,000 hours compared to 750 hours for an incandescent bulb or 1500 for halogen, that’s a big difference;

2. Check out www.savewatersavemoney.co.uk to see if there are any (largely free or very cheap) gadgets on offer in your area to reduce your water consumption. There are great options for home and garden. We love the Buffaloo which is inserted in the toilet cistern and reduces the amount of water used per flush. Or why not try a water saving shower head;

3. Stop that heat escaping. It doesn’t have to mean expensive new windows, doors or a replacement roof either. We have a draughty old house and keep as much heat in as possible by hanging heavy, thermally insulated curtains, even at the front door. It makes a world of difference. If you have a fireplace that you don’t use, block the base with an inflatable pillow, or have a cap fitted on the top, stop that heat going straight out the chimney! Another layer of loft insulation is fairly inexpensive and makes all the difference. The less heat that escapes, the less you have to keep the heating turned on to warm up the house. Moneysavingexpert.com reports that each degree we turn our thermostats down we will save around 4% on our heating bill, and if your rates are anything like ours, that’s nothing to be sniffed at;

4. Try turning off appliances rather than leaving them on standby when they are not being used or you are out of the house. The Metro reported in April 2022 that the annual cost of leaving an unused games console on standby is £16.24 a year. It quickly adds up when you factor in other electricals. Leaving one large television on standby will set you back £20.00 a year (consider the extra cost if you have two or three televisions in the house). Even items like digital alarm clocks, microwaves or coffee machines all have a standby power cost attributable. A set of remote control standby plugs will allow you to easily turn off appliances in one go; and

5. Finally, a few little extras. Try using a silicone seal around the outside of a wooden floor to help seal a draught. Reflector panels behind radiators on an external wall will stop heat escaping through the walls and instead reflect it back into the room.

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LIVING THROUGH YOUR RENOVATION

By Katy Esdon • August 4, 2020

We bought our house in Salisbury in July 2015, about three months after we found out we were expecting our eldest son. The house was derelict, and although we are in the industry, actually living on a building site certainly came as a surprise. It has however put us in a great position to dish out advice on the subject. Here are a few of our top tips to living through your renovation: 1. Move out if you can. Not necessarily for the entirety of the build, but definitely for the most disruptive bits. Better still, go on holiday for a few weeks. Sound a bit defeatist? Maybe, but it is the easiest option by far. This is particularly key if your project will mean that you lose the use of your kitchen or bathroom for any time. Our own renovation has been done in stages, some of the time was have lived there, and some of the time we have lived elsewhere, and living away helps keep those stress levels down. Keep visiting site to check on progress of course, but live away if you can; 2. If living away isn’t an option, think about how you are going to cook, wash clothes and clean yourselves. In the depths of winter we had no back wall in our bathroom (or kitchen for that matter, see images below) which made for hideously chilly, and not very private toilet trips. Is it possible to relocate your kitchen or bathroom during the building work? We were able to temporarily relocate our old kitchen to the dining room, at minimal cost, whilst the kitchen was out of action. No such luck with the bathroom, but having a working kitchen at least made the house liveable; 3. Don’t try to do too much yourselves. We took out our own central heating system and re-ran the new pipes (closely supervised) in the interest of saving a few pounds. It was fun, but it took us a long time and without doubt slowed down the whole process. It would have been quicker to pay someone else to do it. Think of this piece of advice especially when it comes to decorating, doing your own painting may seem like an easy, cost efficient thing to do, but the finish you’ll get from a professional job will be worth its weight in gold; 4. In the same sentence, don’t have anything painted until all the building work is finished. Brick and plaster dust get everywhere! The temptation to paint any room as soon as it’s finished is strong, but try your hardest to resist. There is nothing worse than beautifully decorating your front room, only to have brick dust to ruin the whole thing. It will double the job as you’ll have to do it all again. The same also applies to laying new carpets. Trust us, here speaks the voice of experience. Finally (and perhaps most obviously); 5. Don’t bring home your brand new puppy at the same time you embark on a huge extension!! You would think this is a given, but some people (I’m looking only at ourselves on this one) need telling. House training a puppy whilst trying to keep her off of a building site is not easy. Stay away….

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR ARCHITECT

By Katy Esdon • July 1, 2020

I THINK I NEED AN ARCHITECT. WHERE DO I START? Appointing an Architect isn’t an every day occurrence for most people, and it can feel like a bit of mystery as to how to even go about it. Do I go directly to an Architect? Should I approach a builder first? Here are a few of our most commonly asked questions that might help you get started; FIRST OFF, DO I REALLY NEED AN ARCHITECT? Unless your project is very straightforward, it will usually benefit from employing an Architect. Many Architects, ourselves included, offer free initial consultations to run through the services available and this will give you an idea as to what you will require. We offer a full service for projects with a starting budget of around £50,000. You can either approach an Architect directly, or go through a builder. Either route is fine. If you have approached a builder before contacting an Architect then they will be able to give you an idea as to whether you will need an Architect, and may even recommend someone that they have worked with before. WHAT SERVICES IS AN ARCHITECT GOING TO PROVIDE ME WITH? The answer to this question may vary between practices, but will largely follow this format; initial consultation and briefing, design development, planning (if required), detailed design and tender, construction and finally handover. Check out our other Blog posts to see how we work. I THINK I NEED PLANNING PERMISSION. HOW DO I FIND OUT? You will be able to check on the website www.planningportal.co.uk and your Architect will also be able to give you more information. RIGHT, I DO NEED AN ARCHITECT. NOW HOW DO I CHOOSE ONE ARCHITECT? As with so many things in life, a recommendation is worth its weight in gold and asking around friends is usually a great place to start. Couple this with carrying out your own research. Check out Architects websites that interest you and see which have experience similar to what you are looking for. You should also be able to find reviews online to get an idea of past client’s experiences. It is a rigorous process training to become an Architect, and all Architects must be registered with the ARB (Architects Registration Board). RIBA Chartered Practices must meet strict eligibility criteria, are committed to design excellence and customer service. Keep an eye out for these during your search. Once you have made a shortlist of Architects you would like to speak to, do just that, and get in touch. It is important that you have faith in the Architect that you appoint, their design and creative skills, and their ability to see the project through. Ask to see their portfolio of previous projects. It is important that you have a good working relationship with your Architect, and the success of your project will depend on it. HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO COST ME? Architects fees vary depending on the type of project you are carrying out, the location, and the level of service required from them. Fees are commonly calculated either based on a percentage of a total build cost, as a fixed amount, or based on a time charge. Make sure that the scope of work and cost of Architectural services are agreed in writing before your project commences. If there is anything else you'd like to know, then just give us a call.