Energy Special, Series 37, Watchdog - BBC One

Tonight's Watchdog is an "Energy Special" - some excellent advice on things you can do to cut your bills: 1. Insulate ......... (ask us for a quote) 2. Switch ............ (immediately if you haven't done so in the past 12 months) 3. Insulate .......... (we still have grants for many) 4. Switch ............ (and tips on getting the best out of price comparison sites)

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With around 25% of the heat that you pay for being lost through an uninsulated roof and another 33% being lost through the walls it makes GOOD SENSE to insulate your home. KEEP SHEFFIELD WARM is a BBA-approved installer of cavity wall and loft insulation. Contact us today to obtain a quote for your home (0114 2666292 or 07584 513728) - grants available for many properties. (National Insulation Assoc.)

Create Small Fruit Trees with This Pruning Method - Organic Gardening - MOTHER EARTH NEWS

Some interesting info on looking after fruit trees in your garden.

Tesla’s solar roof to cost less than a regular roof – even before energy production, says Elon Musk

Exciting times over at Tesla. 2 or 3 weeks ago they announced a step-change in battery storage. Now CEO Elon Musk has made a statement which, if it follows through, will mean that none of us will have a reason not "to go solar" in the coming years.

www.cchrc.org

We don't normally post stories that are negative to "insulation" products, however whilst out installing loft insulation recently we came across a couple of lads up a ladder painting a house with a clear "paint". Intrigued we asked what they were doing. Having ascertained that they were treating the house with a water repellant "nano-coating" to keep the house warmer we decided to delve a little deeper. It seems that there is a whole industry out there that we were not aware of, using "magic paint" claiming to improve the thermal properties of homes. It is conventional science that saturated substrates transmit heat better than dry ones, so walls where the bricks have become wet through will lose heat faster. However is the solution "magic paint" or good building maintenance? If your walls are correctly pointed, your render is not cracked and your gutters and drainpipes do not overflow your walls should continue to perform as they are meant to, without any special coatings. Independent testing of 2 of these products in Alaska showed that other claims made for "nano-coatings" appear to be unsubstantiated, at best, and difficult to replicate in controlled experiments - see the link. We would advise that if anyone knocks on your door offering a magic solution to keep your home warm, without the use of conventional insulation, you should look very carefully at the claims and do some in depth research before signing on the dotted line and handing over any hard-earned money.

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As the weather takes a turn to the colder, a reminder that Keep Sheffield Warm is BBA-approved as an installer of cavity wall and loft insulation. We have access to grant funding, of up to 100%, that will help you to keep your home warmer - cheaper. Ring us on 0114 2666292 or 07584 513728 for details.

Tips for Buying Organic Produce Here are five easy ways to reduce pesticide residue: Wash your hands for 20 seconds; Cut away any damaged or bruised areas; Wash produce before you peel it; Dry produce with a clean cloth; Throw away the outer leaves. In a recent study the following were found to have the highest levels of pesticide residue and so if you you are going to switch to organic may be a good place to start: Strawberries, Apples, Nectarines, Peaches, Celery, Grapes, Cherries, Spinach, Tomatoes, Sweet Peppers, Cherry Tomatoes and Cucumbers.

NHS seeks to reduce winter deaths as sub-zero weather looms across UK

If you, your friends, family or neighbours need home insulation contact us now (0114 2666292 or 07584 6513728) while grants are still available/ The Stay Well This Winter is encouraging people to wrap up warm and consult a pharmacist as soon as they feel unwell rather than waiting. It also encourages people, particularly those with long-term illnesses or mobility problems, to heat their homes to at least 18C (65F) and to check on friends and neighbours who may be vulnerable. Prof Paul Cosford, director for health protection at Public Health England, said: “With winter on the way, now is a good time to make sure you, and those you know who may be particularly at risk from the cold, are as prepared as possible. If you qualify for the free flu jab, get it now. Also remember that eating a healthy, balanced diet and that staying physically active can keep you healthy.” He added that assistance with heating costs is available to those who might need it. “There are a variety of ways you can apply for help to keep your house warm, such as winter fuel payments, warm home discounts and cold weather payments. If you meet the criteria, register for priority service with your energy and water suppliers. “Try to maintain indoor temperatures to at least 18°C (65°F), particularly if you find it hard to get around, have a long-term illness or are 65 or over. You may prefer your living room to be slightly warmer,” he said. Cold weather increases the risk of heart failure, kidney disease, stroke or dementia, as well as making heart attacks and strokes more likely.

BBC Weather - Sheffield

Snow in the forecast for Tues night into Wed morning - time to wrap up warm folks (and that includes your home...)

Paris climate deal enters force as focus shifts to action - BBC News

11 months on from the Paris Climate Change Summit, the Agreement comes into force. While the Coalition Govt had a reasonably good record on "green" initiatives the last 2 years have been characterised by retreat. Perhaps our Govt will now pick up the baton again to lead by example.

Energy saving: tips & energy myth-busting - MSE

As it's well and truly time to switch on the heating now, that age old conundrum has raised its' head - is it cheaper to leave the heating on low all day or just switch it on when you need it? For the answer to this, and more, take a read of Martin Lewis's money saving site. (Ans: Just turn it on when you need heat.)

Tesla unveiled a hefty upgrade to their Powerpack batteries.

The great bugbear in the solar revolution is a little closer to being solved. Problem: The sun shines during the day, but people tend to switch on the lights at night. Ans: Power storage (and domestic storage just got better). With the Tesla Powerwall (ie very big batteries) you generate power when you can and use it when you want.