New Green Home Scheme Trial Launched by Government

On the first day of the Copenhagen Summit the government finally chose to launch a new scheme which will help households to cut their carbon emissions.

Homes will be fitted with state of the art technology and devices, including double glazing windows as well as energy efficient boilers and other measures.

Energy and climate change secretary, Ed Miliband, said that the Copenhagen talks will be increasing the pressure on the UK to accelerate its many plans to cut down on emissions.

He added that ‘the UK has taken a lead in putting solutions on the table throughout the [Copenhagen] process’ and that ‘our credibility abroad is based on our ambition at home’.

Households are responsible for about a quarter of all emissions in the UK, and the new trial scheme will be providing loans to help cover costs of going green, such as double glazing. These plans are welcomed by those looking to save money on their monthly electricity bills.

The scheme, Pay As You Save, has just started trials in Stroud, Sunderland, Birmingham and Sutton. It will include roughly 500 homes and will run until 2011.

Low interest loans will be provided to homeowners who wish to install small renewable energy systems. The great news for homeowners is that loan repayments will be lower than the savings that result from installing such measures. Loans will be attached to individual properties, rather than specific owners.

The scheme will be put into place both by local government bodies and private sector firms across the country.

Now is the Time to Protect Your Home Against Winter

Home improvements advisor Rated People have claimed that now is an important time for homeowners to take a look at what needs doing to their property. Making sure it is ready for the winter months means protecting against unforeseen costs of weather damage in future, claim the experts.

Advice given includes to check all stonework (including walls) for any weaknesses, as well as bearing in mind any tress that could potentially fall and damage property or cars.

Checking windows for draughts and cracks will help to ensure that heat is not lost throughout the winter, and opting for a measure such as double glazing can protect against any extreme weather and extreme cold.

It is also important to move garden furniture and external lighting during any period of high winds, and that any tasks should be carried out as soon as possible.

The UK has seen unprecedented amounts of rain in the last month, which is why Rated People also suggest that homeowners check water flowing through the gutters to ensure it’s being taken away from the house and not affecting the foundations.

When it comes to large or complex jobs it is always important to choose a professional with experience, rather than attempting the work yourself. This will mean real protection and value for money over a period of years.

With severe weather warnings becoming the norm, now is the time to make sure your home can withstand it.

17th Century Museum in Abingdon Gets Refurbishment

Plans have been developed to help rejuvenate a 17th century museum and are about to go on public display.

The refurbishment of Abingdon County Hall Museum, located in Market Place, will cost around £3.5 million. It is hoped that this will boost the number of visitors there by 50 percent, taking it from 20,000 to 30,000 visitors each year.

One of the main parts of the plans will include installing a lift that can take visitors to the main exhibition hall from the basement.

The basement is also to be refurbished, fitted with an education centre and café. On top of this, measure such as double glazing windows will be installed to help make the museum more eco friendly.

Curator of the museum, Lauren Gilmour, said that ‘the double glazing windows are a step forward as they will improve the museum’s insulation’ which will make it a more comfortable place for visitors and, more importantly, a safer environment for preserving artefacts.

A grant of £2 million was given to the project by the Heritage Lottery Fund – the rest of the money was raised by foundations and trust.

English Heritage have approved the plans. The original design has been altered due to the lift going to a second floor attic, but it will make the building more accessible.

Work should begin in September 2010 to be completed by December 2011, in time to celebrate the Queen’s diamond jubilee.

Advice for Sellers: Tailor Your Home Improvements to the Demands of Buyers

Rated People has recently urged homeowners who are planning on home improvements to match them to the demands of the market.

This advice comes to help owners maximise the value of their property in the current housing market. This means taking a look at the kinds of renovations that are currently desirable.

One way to find out what’s in demand is to ask around local builders and tradesmen to find out what they are most often being asked to do.

One area that is really taking off is the ‘green’ property. With many government plans to reduce household carbon emissions each year, those properties that are made to be energy efficient, with measures such as double glazing in the windows, are now becoming more valuable in the eyes of potential buyers.

However, Rated People also advised that homeowners should take care to get the work done properly and hire professionals. More and more people are looking towards DIY measures to save money, but evidence shows that this could cost more in the long run. It’s important that the work is done to standards that buyers would expect.

Sales and marketing director of Rated People, Ottokar Rosenberger, stated that features based on personal taste are less likely to be attractive to potential buyers as projects that ‘increase room or storage space’ such as conservatories.

The Bank of England has recently revealed that mortgage lending continued to rise during the month of October, which means that the buyer market is likely to open up.

Second Wave of Eco Towns Announced by the Government

The Housing Minister John Healey has recently announced proposals for new eco towns, pledging to double the money involved to help local councils.

Four locations were first announced in July as meeting the strict zero carbon criteria. Plans for a further six eco communities have been announced to be built by 2020.

There are strict criteria to qualify as an eco town: a development must have 5,000 homes, at least 30 percent of which should be affordable homes for low incomes. The towns must also contain low-carbon buildings, services, energy and transport.

Earlier in the year, Gordon Brown announced that these town would help to combat both climate change and the national housing shortage.

Government plans mean that 10 eco-towns should be built by 2020. However, these towns will be far smaller than the expansive communities that the Government originally had planned.

The Government believes that eco towns will help to promote sustainable living. New homes in the towns will make use of a number of facilities such as water recycling, insulation, solar panels, biomass fuel, double glazing and green gadgets – this may even include electronic bus timetables on kitchen walls to help advise of public free transport.

Healey stated that ‘we are leading the world with these developments which combine affordable housing with new green infrastructures’.

The Conservatory – Perfect Antidote to the Recession

The recession doesn’t mean that people have stopped wanting to improve where they live. It does, however, mean that it might take a few different measures than you have previously considered. As far as the conservatory is concerned, this could be a good thing for your home and your bank balance!

The conservatory is seeing a rise in popularity thanks to the recession, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing!

Conservatories are perfect for a wide range of homes because:

• They are a great way to improve your home without adding on a complicated extension,
• They give you the extra space you need without you having to move home,
• They look fantastic,
• And they are great for adding value to your property once it does come time to sell!

British weather often puts us off spending time in the garden, and a new conservatory can give you the best of both worlds, allowing you to appreciate your property to its full potential.

And the good news is that you can also make use of heaters to keep your conservatory comfortable all year round. Double glazing ensures that no heat is lost.

Whilst the installation of a conservatory is a large job, one where you shouldn’t try to cut any corners, it is a far more cost effective way of improving your home than any other. No matter what you need to use the extra space for, the conservatory is the perfect setting.

Refurbishment Work Planned At Pattishall Village Hall

Following a survey of residents in the area, a village hall is set to undergo refurbishment work.

Pattishall Parish Hall was seen to be at the top of local residents’ priorities, and as such the parish council have decided to improve the building using measures such as double glazing in the windows, and a new boiler.

Earlier this month the Pattishall Parish Hall Association was also given a grant of £4,500 to go towards the cost of refitting the kitchen, from South Northamptonshire Council.

This is just the beginning of renovations at the hall. In total, the work will cost roughly £300,000 and will also include the toilets as well as an extension to the hall, new flooring, lighting, and double glazing.

Chairman of the Pattishall Parish Hall Association, Iris Illingworth, said that ‘one of the things that people wanted in the village the most was an improved parish hall.’ The plans have been developed to help make the hall ‘a more comfortable place by fitting better insulation and double glazing’.

On top of its grant for the kitchen, the hall was given an added boost from the Pattishall Parish Council pledging £5,000 from 2011 for the next five years. There will also be a number of fundraising events in the near future to raise the extra costs.

Work in the kitchen is due to start in the New Year but a timescale has not yet been announced.