The refurbished basement of a late Georgian, early Victorian town house in North London has won the prestigious National Home Improvement Show (NHIS) award. It was the first time the award had been made and was so successful that it’s to be repeated in future years....
According to energy minister, John Hayes, the government is backing a campaign by industry and consumer groups urging householders to stock up now on heating oil Buying oil as soon as possible before the onset of severe weather can mean a cost saving when demand is...
Seven cities across England are to share £12m to help them kick-start the Green Deal in their regions. The cities – Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield – have put forward ambitious proposals to lower their carbon emissions and...
Domestic electricity prices were 5.5% higher, including VAT, in real terms than in the same period last year, whilst domestic gas prices were a staggering 13.0% higher compared to last year, according to Energy Trends the DECC statistical publication. It covers...
An exciting collaboration between South West Water and researchers from Birmingham City University and the University of Leeds is exploring innovative approaches to funding the restoration of peatland on Exmoor and Dartmoor. Funded by the Natural Environment Research...
Virtually everything you need to know about refurbishing or renovating your home – indoors or outdoors – can be seen at London’s Olympia this weekend 28 – 30 September. Also there are lots of things to consider if you are thinking of building a new place to live. So...
Funding provided by the UK’s leading fuel safety charity, The Gas Safety Trust, has helped a group of school children from the Midlands to produce a short gas safety film aimed at educating vulnerable families in the local community about the dangers of carbon...
Laura Knox, said to be a shopaholic, film fan and would-be marathon runner who likes to socialise, has joined the permanent staff at the Bathroom Manufacturers Association. She has taken on the new role of BMA membership development executive. A university graduate,...
One of the UK’s leading brand strategists, Peter Cross, is the key note speaker at the Annual Bathroom Conference on 9 October in the Crowne Plaza Heythrop Park, Enstone, Oxfordshire. He is a business partner of retail guru, Mary Portas, and will call on his...
Only 21% of respondents have heard of Green Deal according to an important survey by the National Home Improvement Show. The research raised some serious questions especially around the government initiatives to roll out energy efficient products into private...
The Get Britain Building lobby has launched a Jobs and Growth campaign, aimed at getting the economy moving. Get Britain Building campaigners firmly believe that the only option left for Government is to build our way out of recession. They argue the simple but...
The consumer magazine Which arranged a special Green Deal question and answer session with Ed Davey, Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change that can be seen in full on the DECC website – www.decc.gov.uk/greendeal The government is said to be close to...
Over the next twelve months, LABC aims to place building regulations firmly on the agenda for the general public and government. LABC represents local authority building control departments in England and Wales, with over 3,000 professional surveyors and support...
The government’s ‘temporary’ rules regarding dropping home extension planning permission is confusing homeowners who are possibly considering progressing this sort of work. In an attempt to help raise the fortunes of the construction industry, wavering planning...
Part P of the Building Regulations, which aims to protect all home improvers from unsafe electrical installations, continues to draw important attention. A new document is due to published in October. Meanwhile the ongoing work of the Electrical Safety Council (ESC)...
Many roofs collect moss, some more than others. Its removal, of course, may make a big difference between a roof providing first class cover - or not! Unprecedented numbers of householders, however, have been contacting the National Federation of Roofing Contractors...
Solar PV and biomass power will play an important role in boosting our energy security and tackling climate change, according to Energy Secretary Ed Davey. This came as proposals to provide certainty for investors and pave the way for construction of new plant powered...
As old-fashioned light bulbs are finally phased out, the sight loss charity Thomas Pocklington Trust together with independent consumer research charity, Ricability (Research Institute for Consumer Affairs), have published an essential guide to buying energy saving...
A couple of thousand miles from where scientists fear there’s major melt of the Arctic ice cap, is the Mackenzie River basin. It not only holds enormous Canadian national significance but also global importance due to its watershed's impact on the Arctic Ocean....
Thousands more householders up and down the country will be eligible for up to £6000 from 12 September under the government’s Warm Front This is when new regulations come into force providing government grants to people in poorly heated or insulated homes to pay for...