The Electric Fire Revolution by Keith Barrett

Electric fires were once viewed as being rather old fashioned. Now they seem to be one of the most stylish home accessories around. What's brought about this change in attitude towards the simple electric fire?

If you think of an electric fire as being a little device that sits in a corner of a room, pumping out heat while looking ugly, then it may be time to think again. These appliances are increasingly being seen as a stylish accessory that should be present in every home.

How has this happened? In order to find out more about the story, we need to take a closer look at the way in which properties are heated.

Looking back through the ages of human civilization, it's clear that the most basic form of heating was the open fire. Used for centuries, this was a simple way of heating a home, but it wasn't necessarily the easiest and most efficient solution.

We know that the Romans developed underfloor heating, successfully heating water and moving it around beneath buildings. In more recent decades, the development of central heating systems has led to a transformation in the way in which homes are heated.

Indeed, it's almost expected that a newly built property should include a central heating system, with all that entails. That means that many buildings will have a gas boiler and some radiators, rather than the traditional chimney that was the sign of previous means of heating a home.

Yet, despite these developments, it's clear that many people like the thought of open fires, with their real flames and the cosy atmosphere that they help to generate. As a result of such thoughts, many home owners would like to have a wood or coal fuel stove in their house.

Unfortunately, the lack of a chimney or open fireplace can make that difficult. This is where electric fires can help.

Wall mounted electric fires don't just look good - they also help to solve a problem. Since they don't require a chimney or an existing fireplace, they are a flexible alternative to a real fire.

They can easily be installed in most properties and fix directly to a flat wall. Such a solution is ideal for people who live in newer properties, or in older homes where a fireplace has previously been removed.

The secret behind the growth of electric fires has been this flexibility, combined with the fact that the look so stylish.

An electric fire is a great way to transform any room.

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Broken Glass Safety by Trevor Ambrose

SAFETY TIPS FOR HANDLING GLASS

This is only guides to work with broken glass and should not be seen as the complete safety way to handle broken glass. Every situation is unique and we advice rather to call us to come and check out the situation.

Remember: Broken glass is dangerous and should rather be handled by professionals.

1. Remove people from the area - especially children and pets.

2. Wear shoes at all times after glass is broken in the area.

3. First try to vacuum up broken glass rather than trying to pick it up.

4. Wear leather / thick rubber gloves to pick up large pieces of glass if confident and the glass is still in tack.

5. Wear eye protection to prevent glass pieces from blowing of shattering into your eyes.

6. If raining, try to attach plastic bag to frame where possible, if at all.

7. Do not stand underneath broken glass at any time.

8. If glass door or window has a crack, carefully stick masking tape across cracks.

Some Questions and Answers

Q: Why does some glass shatter and others crack?

A: Depends on the treatment of the glass. Toughened glass (also known as tempered glass) is a type of safety glass that has increased strength and will usually shatter in small, square pieces when broken. It is used when strength, thermal resistance and safety are important considerations. Using toughened glass on windshields would be a problem when a small stone hits the windshield at speed, as it would shatter into the small squares making visibility difficult and it would also be likely that the wind would blow the small squares into the driver and passengers. In commercial structures it is used in unframed assemblies such as frameless doors, structurally loaded applications and door lites and vision lites adjacent to doors. Toughened glass is typically four to six times the strength of annealed glass.

Q: How do I remove broken glass from a carpet?

A: Pick up the larger pieces first and then vacuum over the carpet with a powerful vacuum cleaner. The fragments that are deep down in the carpet will eventually work their way up so you are going to need to be careful, even if you vacuumed. Wear your shoes and kind of "wipe" your feet in that area as it might help some of the glass slivers to "flip" up to the top of the carpet so the vacuum can get it. If you suspect finer pieces of glass is still present in the carpet, make use of professional carpet cleaning services.

Q: What are the different colours for splash backs?

A: Splash-backs can be ordered in any Dulux Colour. For an exact colour match we recommend using Starphire Glass which gives the truest reproduction of any colour. Splashbacks are most commonly seen in Bathrooms, Kitchens, Elevators and Bars.

Q: What is a Polished Edge?

A: A polished edge creates a small chamfer on the top and bottom of the glass giving a smooth and safe edge.

Q: What is a Bevelled Edge?

A: Palmer's Glass can do bevels from 10 to 30mm. A bevelled edge sees a tapering of the glass from the desired width in, out to the edge of the glass.

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Quick and Easy Green Home Improvements by Dan Fritschen

Many homeowners are looking for quick and easy green home improvements. Whether you want to make these improvements for the sake of going green or you want to do some things before placing a home on the market that will make it more competitive with new homes, there are plenty of options.

Joining the green revolution will make your home more comfortable, less costly to heat and cool, and some changes will reduce your water and/or sewer bill. Many of these improvements will also make your home more comparable to newer homes on the market. This might or might not justify an increase in selling price. While these quick and easy green home improvements might appeal to home buyers who have a strong interest in a green home, it might not matter to other prospective buyers when they make an offer. If, however, you make available a record of your utility bills for the last year, showing a decrease in heating, cooling and water costs could be attractive to a buyer.

The top seven quick and easy green home improvements that are also economical are:

1. Switch to energy efficient light bulbs. Compact fluorescent bulbs cost a bit more when you buy them, but they will last years longer and use only a fraction of the energy. Start with the lights you tend to use for the longest period of time - like the kitchen light that is never turned off or the bathroom light the kids just can't remember to turn off. If you are planning to put your home on the market, you might want to start with bulbs in permanent light fixtures.

2. Install insulating/reflective window coverings. Film window coverings are available in several levels of light and UV ray blockage and colors. You can choose different textures and colors depending on the amount of direct sunlight on various windows. The window film is available in most hardware and home improvement stores, and it is easy to install.

3. Install weather stripping on doors and window frames. Weather stripping is relatively inexpensive and it is easy to install on window frames and door frames. It will reduce the amount of heat exchange by sealing up cracks or openings. This will make your home more comfortable, more energy efficient, and more environmentally friendly.

4. Install low flow shower heads and faucets. Most homeowners can install new shower heads and faucets or affordably hire a handyman to do it. These faucets and shower heads use less water without blocking adequate water flow. They will save water and reduce your water and sewer bills.

5. Adjust the float in the toilet tank to use less water. This is a fairly simple adjustment that can be accomplished by most homeowners or a handyman. If you can't adjust it, try putting something in the bottom of the tank that will displace some of the water. Just be sure that what you use won't rust and won't get in the way of the working of the flushing mechanism.

6. Insulate the hot water distribution pipes in your home. This is also a relatively inexpensive and easy job of wrapping the pipes that go from the hot water heater to the various plumbing fixtures (kitchen, bathrooms). Keeping the water warmer as it moves through the pipes will provide warmer water and it will reduce the amount of water you have to run from a faucet while you wait for the hot water to get there.

7. Install insulating or reflective window treatments. Install reflective blinds or shades at your windows. Then be sure to close them at times when the sun shines on them directly or during the warmest part of the day. This will reduce your heating/cooling bills.

Try these seven steps to make some quick and easy green home improvements. The money you will save on utility bills will probably pay for the improvements very quickly.

Copyright 2008 by ABCD Publishing

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