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Smart meters – money-saving gadgets or plain dumb?
What exactly is a smart meter and should I get one?
Domestic CCTV: rights and responsibilities
What do you need to think about when installing CCTV?
Improving the Route to EV Charging
The major changes being mooted already are with the batteries used to store the energy and drive the electric motors.
5 tips to make your home more energy efficient
How to make your home more energy efficienct
Moving On From Gas Boilers
It is widely expected that from 2035, households in the UK will be banned from replacing gas boilers like-for-like
Make the Most of Your EV
Electric vehicles are very expensive, so how can you minimise your expenses?
Shedding Light on Solar Batteries
Are solar panels alone enough to achieve the maximum savings?
Home Safe Home
Staying safe around electricity
Gas Safety in the Home
The importance of looking after gas boilers - particularly as they get older
What is the Future for Renewable Energy?
Renewable energy comes from a source that will not run out in the way fossil fuels will but will be a constant, consistent source of energy for as long as the sun shines, the wind blows and rivers flow
The Evolution of the Light Bulb – From Incandescent to LED
How have light bulbs changed over the years?
LEDs – More Than Just a Light Bulb
LED lights are becoming more common - but what are they?
What’s the Point of an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)?
Electrical installations, in common with most aspects of house building are regulated by standards in order to ensure safety
Ten energy saving tips
Find out how saving energy at home can help your wallet and the environment
EVs - a Turn on or Switch off?
Moving from a diesel or petrol powered vehicle to an electric one is not an easy decision for the average motorist
What is Portable Appliance Testing?
So, what is Portable Appliance Testing (PAT), and who needs to worry about it?
What do electricians look for in an EICR?
So, what is an EICR and what do they do?
Solar panels: a bright investment as energy prices rocket?
Solar panels are in demand as homeowners look to reduce soaring energy bills – but are they worth the £6,000 bill?
Keeping an Eye on Security
There are on average 816 burglaries in the UK every day and of these, only somewhere in the region of 14 are followed by arrests
Home Charging your Electric Vehicle (EV)
How do you charge your electric vehicle at home?
Current Electrical Problems
How do you know if you have an electrical problem?
Pros and cons of biomass boilers
Is a biomass boiler right for your home?
Installing electric vehicle charging points at home
How do you decide on the best charger for your needs?
The Ins and Outs of Electrical Testing
So, what is an EICR or a PAT Test that has become a necessary part of live for many of us and what do they do?
Updating heating in an older property
Creating a cosy environment in your renovation project
Chimneys, stoves and fireplaces: a building regulations guide
If you’re installing a new woodburning stove or renovating a chimney or fireplace, it will need to comply with Building Regulations.
Saving the planet while getting a loft conversion
If you’re already splashing out on a loft conversion, you might consider fitting solar panels to the roof at the same time. You can save money by not hiring scaffolding twice – and avoid double disruption. It is also a very effective way to make your life a little bit greener.
Selling your home with a missing electrical installation certificate
When selling your home you need to provide documentation to prove any electrical work complies with Building Regulations
How to find a good electrician
Are you looking for an electrician to rewire your house? Install a new security system? Or get an electrical safety report? How do you find a competent local electrician with the right skills and experience?
Electrical fires: what to do if you smell burning
Here’s some advice from experts on how to keep your home and loved ones safe from fire.
Electrical safety tips for home working
Remote working means an increased use of electrical devices within the home. We have put together these tips to help keep you electrically safe as you work from home.
Electrical checks for privately rented homes now required by law
New legislation means landlords must have electrical installations in their home checked by an electrician at least every five years.
Solar thermal: a beginner’s guide
What are the pros and cons of this renewable energy source for heating hot water in your home?
Clever little ways to cut your heating bills
Some effective methods of reducing energy, however, require nothing more than modest behavioural changes
What are the alternatives to gas boilers?
Now is an excellent time to consider alternative central heating systems as you will be future proofing your home and adding value.
Yes, you can have a smart home and maintain your privacy
With the rise in Smart Devices - is your home truly private?
Do I need to turn off the power when rewiring my house?
When replacing a bulb, it is common sense to switch off the light – and, if you are working with a lamp, unplug it from the wall. But what about bigger jobs? Is it safe to replace a plug socket without switching off at the fuse box first?
What does it mean ‘to earth the house?’
Not to be confused with an earth home, earthing your house is necessary to keep you and your family safe
Air source heat pumps explained
Air source heat pumps are a greener way to heat your home and can also cut your energy bills
Is there a limit on how many plug points you can have in a room?
When moving house, refurbishing or building an extension, there always seems to be a plug point issue. How many should you have and where should they be? There is no rule that says you must have or must not have a certain number, but here are some top tips to steer you through the conundrum.
Do sellers provide an electrical safety certificate?
Electrical safety in the home is vitally important; faulty wiring can cause electric shocks and fires. But is an electrical safety certificate, necessary to sell a house or flat?
Ground source heat pumps explained
It’s an eco-friendly system that uses pipes buried in the garden to harness heat in the ground. This heat is then transferred into the home to provide heat and hot water all year round.
DIY Safety Tips
The number of homeowners choosing to improve their existing home rather than move is on the increase. Here are some safety tips to help prevent DIYers ending up in casualty.
Smart homes – what are they?
From answering the front door to switching off the lights, the gadgets that turn a dumb home into a smart hub are increasingly popular
Electrics jargon buster
Here’s a handy jargon buster for some common electrical terms.
Fire safety in your home
More than half of accidental fires in UK homes are caused by electricity. How fireproof is your home?
Home electric car chargers: a guide
Home charge points let you recharge an electric car quickly and easily from the comfort of your own home. No more queuing at petrol stations!
Beefed-up fire safety with 18th edition of Wiring Regulations
What are the changes to the Wiring Regulations and how do they affect you?
New homes to be built with electric car charging points
Transport chiefs unveil plans to make it easier to recharge electric cars
Smart Meters
What is a smart meter, how will it cut my energy bills and what happens if I switch supplier?
Are Solar Panels a good investment?
Solar panels cost thousands but can cut your electricity bills and make you money too. Is it worth fitting them?
When is Rewiring Necessary?
Rewiring a home can be a major job and expense. But because of the safety hazards of damaged or deteriorated wiring, it may be essential. So how do you know when rewiring is necessary?
What is an Electrical Installation Condition Report?
There is no legal requirement to obtain an Electrical Installation Condition Report but they are recommended for a number of reasons. Landlords are advised to get rental properties inspected and tested every five years or at the change of tenancy. An EICR may also be suggested for prospective purchasers.
Electrical Problems?
Faulty and old wiring is a major cause of house fires in the UK. Keep an eye out for these warning signs and always seek professional help from registered electricians.
Landlords and Electrical Reports
Landlords have a legal obligation and duty of care to tenants to ensure that the electrical system, such as sockets and light fittings, and all appliances supplied are safe.
Lakanal House - a Case Study
David Ware - Fire Risk Consultancy Ltd
An overview of the Lakanal House fire in 2006
Improving Your Home
Find suppliers who can help you with improving your home
Commercial Queries
Find professionals to help manage commercial property
I'm a Landlord or Tenant
Things to consider before renting a property.
Insurance: Procedures and Opportunities
GRAHAM WOODALL LLB. MSc. FRICS. FCIOB. FCInstCES
The purpose of this paper is to provide a broad outline of the way in which the insurance industry operates, highlighting the personalities and types of insurance that are of particular interest to those professionals primarily engaged in the construction industry
Buying a Home
Things to consider when buying a house.
Selling Your Home
Things to consider when selling your home.