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What's the best colour scheme for a wet room?
If you're doing up a bathroom, one of the best ways to make it feel spacious and luxurious is by making it a wet room. This style of bathroom has waterproofed floors and walls and no traditional shower enclosure. Instead, the whole room essentially becomes the shower.
Wet rooms are a popular... More >
Categories: Wet Room Waterproofing
Scottish government won't eradicate fuel poverty this year
Under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001, the Scottish government has a statutory duty to "ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, that people are not living in fuel poverty in Scotland by November 2016."
However, despite a number of programmes put in place to help eradicate... More >
Categories: Thermal Insulation
Fuel poverty households rise to 2.38 million
Despite the large amount of work that has been done to improve the energy efficiency of homes, the number of households in fuel poverty is actually on the rise, according to official figures.
Statistics from the Department of Energy and Climate change indicate that the number of households in fuel... More >
Categories: Thermal Insulation
DECC announces new Fuel Poverty Obligation Scheme
The Department of Energy and Climate Change has announced plans to refocus the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme in a way that will help the poorest households.
The ECO, which comes to an end in March 2017, will be transitioned to the new Fuel Poverty Obligation (FPO) scheme. This is... More >
Categories: Thermal Insulation
UK 'committed' to dealing with climate change
It's been a almost a week since the UK voted to leave the European Union, and while there are a lot of questions that need to be answered about what happens next, the government says it remains committed to dealing with climate change.
Speaking at the Business and Climate Summit, energy... More >
Categories: Thermal Insulation
Manchester to set new design standards for homes
Manchester is the UK's fastest-growing city, and it is working to set new design standards for homes.
With at least 25,000 new-built properties expected to be built over the next decade, it is hoped the new standards will ensure the properties are built to be high quality, and with features to... More >
Categories: Thermal Insulation
Former hospital transformed into housing
A £55 million housing development has transformed the former Barnes Hospital near Cheadle Village into 155 apartments, townhouses and family homes.
The project, covering a 16.5 acre site was carried out by Henley Homes following a £12.5 million funding deal with... More >
Categories: Thermal Insulation
Demand for sustainable homes 'massively underestimated' says survey
There are many things that buyers look for when purchasing a home. Beautiful kitchens, high-end bathrooms and plenty of garden space are all top of the list for most home buyers.
But it seems that something else needs to be added to that list: sustainability.
That's according to a new... More >
Categories: Thermal Insulation
What makes a house a passive house?
When it comes to sustainability and energy efficiency, there are a lot of phrases and terminology that get flung around.
One example is "passive house". This phrase generally describes a home that is extremely energy efficient, requiring little to no energy for heating and cooling... More >
Categories: Thermal Insulation
World Green Building Council announces plans for 'net-zero' by 2050
The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) has announced plans to create a new strategy, ensuring all buildings have a 'net zero' climate impact by 2050.
Earlier this week, the WorldGBC announced a major new project called Advancing Net Zero, which will accelerate the trend towards... More >
Categories: Thermal Insulation
Dunfermline sees new energy efficient council homes
Thanks to Fife Council's Affordable Housing programme some much-needed affordable housing will soon be available in the Abbeyview area of Dunfermline, as well as on Elliot Street.
Work began on both sites in March and the first residents are due to move in during August.
The first homes to be... More >
Categories: Thermal Insulation
Funding cuts could be compromising people's health
A poll of more than 700 nurses has found that patient health is being put at risk by funding cuts. And while we're all concerned about the future of the NHS, it turns out that it's not just the health service's funding that we need to be concerned about.
The survey, carried out by the... More >
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Brighton music venue served with noise abatement order
A pub in Brighton may need to start looking into sound reduction methods - like acoustic insulation - after receiving a noise abatement order.
The Greys in Southover Street is famous for its live music and over the years it has played host to bands from around the world - mostly from the blues and... More >
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Change in flight paths could affect Fife communities
People living in Fife may need to consider installing noise reduction measures for their homes after an announcement that flights paths in and out of Edinburgh Airport could be changing.
According to the Courier, a large part of Fife might soon have flight paths overhead - and the noise could... More >
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Office workers want peace and quiet
When designing offices, more and more employers are striving to create workplaces that combine fun elements alongside more traditional office furniture like desks and chairs.
Table football, bean bags, smoothie stations and even arcade games can be found in many modern offices.... More >
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Living under a flight path can harm your health, according to study
Living under a flight path can be annoying for residents - with airplanes causing noise and distractions throughout the day, and sometimes well into the night. While many people say they eventually learn to block out the noise, it might also be wise to invest in noise-reduction solutions like... More >
Categories: Solid Wall Insulation
More than 1,000 homes to be refurbished
In South Gloucestershire, the next phase of a multi-million pound project to improve the condition and energy efficiency of more than 1,000 homes is set to begin.
Merlin Housing Society has appointed developers Keepmoat to carry out the £2.5 million project, which will include... More >
Categories: Thermal Insulation
6 tips for transforming your basement
While basements are fairly unusual here in the UK, for homes that do have these underground spaces, basements can provide a wonderful addition to your existing living space. Unfortunately, many are dark and damp places that aren't nice to be in.
The good news is that with a bit of work, a... More >
Categories: Cellar Waterproofing
How to create a luxurious bathroom
If you're looking for a way to increase the value of a property or make it more desirable to potential buyers or renters, then the bathroom is an ideal place to start.
Depending on your budget and the current state of the bathroom, doing up this space can mean as little as throwing on a... More >
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