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Archives for January 2017

How Electric Fires & Stoves Are Making Greener, More Sustainable Heating for Homes.

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Stoves and electric fires are fundamentally very different in their overall design. However, in recent years, both have made huge advancements in design to make them both sustainable heating sources for a home.

In this article we look at both electric fires and stoves, for the simple reason that in some homes a wood burning stove is not an option, and electricity is the only power option – this can be especially true in new build housing developments.

Electric fires – One attractive feature of electric fires, is that they are very simple to use. Simply plug in, switch on and warm up. Many electric fires nowadays require a very low level of energy, meaning they are very cheap to use. Allowing you to heat your home for less, and being more environmentally friendly at the same time.

Unlike gas fires, electric fires do not need an annual inspection either. Electric fires can be fitted in such a variety of places in the home. Many such fires have a side heating design, allowing you to place a fire below a wall mounted TV or very close to the floor.

Another benefit of electric fires, is that there is no water involved, like with a traditional central heating/radiator set up. As a result there is no wasted heat through pipeworks, or the associated inconvenience and cost of pipe blockages. An electric fire is classed as 100% efficient. This is because 2kW of electricity is used to product 2kW of heat in a home.

Wood burning stoves are good – but they cant achieve this level of efficiency, although they are taking large strides in becoming more fuel efficient.

Wood burning stoves – In recent years, wood burning stoves have made advancements in efficiency, to make them cheaper to run, and more environmentally friendly. In comparison to a traditional open fire, a high efficiency, wood burning stove is around four times more efficient. An open fire is about 20% efficient, while a high efficiency stove is around 80% efficient. With an open fire, 80% of the heat produced is wasted – usually disappearing up the chimney. With a wood burning stove, this figure is only 20% – the other 80% goes directly on heating a home.

The result of advancements in wood burning stoves means less wood needs to be burnt for the same heat output, saving money and helping contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable way of heating a home.


Below are some tips to ensure maximum efficiency when burning wood:

  • Ensure you only burn well-seasoned wood. Wood with excessive moisture will contribute towards chimney congestion, increase the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning, and chimney fires. Burning unseasoned wood will also product a poor, inefficient heat output.
  • Ensure your chimney and stove is cleaned on a regular basis by a qualified chimney sweep.
  • Burn the best wood you can afford. Below is a list of some of the best woods.

 

Ash – Ash is regarded as one of the very best woods for burning. Ash produces a steady flame and a good heat output. Unlike other wood, ash can be burnt when green, but like with most wood burns at it’s very best when it is dry.

Beech – Like ash, beech burns very well. However, it does not burn well when green due to it’s much higher moisture content when live.

Hawthorn – This type of wood has a slow burn rate, and a good heat output.

Rowan – Similar to hawthorn, rowan has a very good heat output that burns slowly. Rowan is also know as Mountain Ash.

Thorn – Thorn produces very little smoke, which makes it an ideal wood where excessive smoke could be an issue.

Yew – Slow burn and produces a great, intense heat. Burning yew also produces a pleasant scent, which makes it stand out a little more over other woods.

Filed Under: Money Tagged With: homes

5 Apps to Feed Your Frugal Lifestyle and Help You Save More

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If your family is struggling to save money, it’s time to recruit your smartphone to help achieve your financial goals and get more disposable income each month. There are plenty of apps around that can make a frugal lifestyle much more convenient. Today’s apps allow shoppers to get the best price around and to make smarter decisions when spending. This way, you and your family can start having fun with innovative smartphone tools while also spending less. Try out these five recommended apps if you want to reign in your family’s budget this year.
1. RetailMeNot
While most people know about the popular coupon website retailmenot.com, which can help you find deals for your favorite shopping sites and brands, fewer consumers are aware of the company’s useful smartphone app of the same name. The app version of the website has improved functionality that sends you coupon notifications based on your geographic location. You can see the best deals and offers when you’re out shopping or doing errands, meaning you’ll never miss a great price again.
2. Flipp
Going to the grocery store each week used to mean spending hours of your time beforehand to look through dozens of newspapers and circulars for the best sales and coupons. Then, it was your job to clip each possible savings opportunity and remember to bring your coupon box with you on your trip to the market. With the app Flipp, this process is made much easier by giving you virtual access to all of your area’s circulars in one spot. Now, you can simply use your smartphone to save and shop smarter.
3. RedLaser
Shopping for big ticket items or other household supplies may have you comparing prices between online retailers and your local store. You can save time by downloading an app called RedLaser. All you need to do is scan the item’s barcode while you’re in the store, and the app will pull up pricing information from online retailers and local suppliers. This way, you can get the lowest price fast.
4. GasBuddy
Everyone knows people who go out of their way to save a few cents on their car’s gas fill up. Instead of driving around and searching for the best price, let convenient app GasBuddy do the work for you. It will show you where the best price per gallon is in your area, and you can plan your route more efficiently. While you’re at it, you can even get some better car insurance rates too by contacting your local insurance agency for a better deal.
5. Mint
To see how all of these savings are impacting your family’s bank account, you’ll need a financial tracking app like Mint. This useful tool can remind you when bills are due and even help you make online payments. You can also get beneficial financial advice about your current spending habits and debt. After a few months of following sound strategies, you can also see how your credit score is impacted.
Make this year a great one for your family by truly committing to the frugal lifestyle. See how these popular apps have helped many families like yours save hundreds of dollars or more each year.

Filed Under: Money Tagged With: frugal lifestyle

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