‘Wig Wags’ as they are nicknamed, mainly for their unique flashing patterns, are being used between the runways and taxiways, to safely guide aeroplanes and other vehicles. Photovoltaic solar panels have been installed, along with batteries to store the electricity harvested, and maintain lighting 24/7. The batteries are able to hold up to 120 days worth of electricity, without any solar charge, which is a huge amount of electricity to keep running for that period of time.

This legislation will make it necessary for homeowners to publish the energy efficiency rating of their property before it is sold, according to Mortgage Introducer.

This will mean that homeowners, who are thinking about installing double glazed windows and doors, will have a house that is visibly more attractive to buyers.

Wayne Stevens who works for The Energy Portal welcomed the news, saying that it will be a chance for the energy efficient homes to stand out from the crowd.

I personally believe this could make these houses more likely to sell as in the long run they would be cheaper to run with electric and gas bill prices slightly rising at the moment.

Wayne also said “We urge homeowners to find out how their property is rated regardless of when they plan to sell. This would give residents time to make any necessary changes, such as installing insulation or double glazing.”

Channel 4 presenter on The Home Show and architect George Clarke recently advised mortgage holders that double glazing will hugely reduce household fuel bills.

Anglian Home Improvements specialise in Double Glazing and high quality replacement windows and have been trading since 1966. For more information visit our website. 

The majority of us in this day and age, are putting in extra effort to reduce our carbon footprints, be it through recycling, growing our own fruit and vegetables or walking to work. Well even royalty are getting in on the act now.

Prince Charles has been given permission to have  32 photovoltaic solar panels put onto the roof of Clarence House. With this permission he will be able to generate up to 4000 kW-hours, which is enough to power an average home. It was a bit touch and go whether he would be able to install solar panels, as Clarence House is a Grade 1 listed building, but with the help of a parapet hiding them from their neighbours in The Mall, Prince Charles has got a thumbs-up. It’s nice to see The Royal Family getting involved in being ‘green’.

Prince Charles ready to start installing

However, Prince Charles has been reducing his carbon emissions further in many different ways. He was stated saying we should bathe less, taking a five minute shower instead to save water and money on our energy bills. If an average family of four replaced one bath with a five minute shower we could save between £5 and £15 a year. Not a massive amount of extra cash, but it’s definately a small way for us to make a difference.

Not only that, the Prince has installed energy efficient boilers into Clarence House saving him more money (not that he needs it) and increasing his ‘green’ credentials. Furthermore, his cars no longer run off petrol. His Range Rovers are powered by biofuel, using second hand cooking oil and more astonishingly his Aston Martin is run off bioethanol from wine! To me that sounds more expensive than petrol? Apparently not. The EU has strict rules on the amount of wine which can be produced, any excess is not allowed to be sold on the market, so instead it has turned into an environmental fuel.

Prince Charles has been doing an outstanding job to reduce his carbon footprint, keeping his household carbon neutral for the last 3 years. This has caused a reduction in carbon emissions by 4% and an increase of 22% in the use of renewable energy. I would love to be able to do this, so if the Prince of Wales can make these lifestyle changes, then I am going to have to make a bigger effort myself. He is really leading by example, as now Oxford town hall has made plans to turn it into a “green power station”, by fitting solar panels onto it.

I wonder if he will get an Anglian Home Improvements installation of solar panels?

Anglian Home Improvements, helping to raise energy efficiency in peoples homes since 1966.

The contest which ran from January to the beginning of May became known as the Climatic Challenge and money was put in every week by the entrants with half of the total going to the winner, and half to the winners’ chosen charity. The percentage loss was used as the calculation to decide the winner.

The eventual winner of the Climatic weight loss challenge was  Andy Shreeve who lost 17.7% of his body weight, in preparation for his next objective of giving up smoking, he is apparently also growing his fingernails for the same reason. Well done Andy, and he generously gave his personal share of the winnings to the runner ups’ charity.

Runner up was Eddie Eke who had been the early favourite, with a 13.76% loss.

£144 was raised for charity, Andy chose Quidenham hospice as his chosen charity and Eddies went to the RNLI.

On Thursday 27^thMay a representative from the RNLI came to collect the donation, unfortunately the Quidenham representative could not attend.

A total of 179 lbs (nearly 13 stones) or 81.36 kilos in Euro weight was lost during the challenge.

Thanks to all those who took part and donated money to charity.

Anglian Home Improvements, formerly known as Anglian Windows. Helping support local communities since 1966.

“Earth sheltering is the architectural practice of using earth against building walls for external thermal mass, to reduce heat loss, and to easily maintain a steady indoor air temperature. Earth sheltering is popular in modern times among advocates of passive solar and sustainable architecture, but has been around for nearly as long as humans have been constructing their own shelter”.

Wikipeda

This releases heat slowly and keeps comfortable level of warmth throughout the building, while heavy foliage on the roof absorbs the CO2 that is released and turns it into oxygen. Solar panels then provide the building with all its electrical needs.
Architect Jerry Harrall told the publication: “An earth-sheltered building is the only building form that can mitigate CO2.”Since 1997 all the buildings I have designed have achieved zero heating.”

However, according to Michael Holmes, spokesperson for the National Home Improvement Show, take-up of green technologies in the UK is still not what it should be.
He claims that more needs to be done to convince the public of the immediate cost benefits of features such as solar panels.
Other news coming from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) is that local authorities will be allowed to generate income by selling renewable energy:

Anglian Home Improvements, formerly known as Anglian Windows. Providing solar technologies for Britain’s homes in 2010.

Google Earth is a virtual global map containing various geographical information including photos. You can zoom in to see almost any location throughout the world in good clear detail. The original developer of Google Earth was Keyhole Inc and the system was called Earth Viewer 3D.

Since the origination of Google Earth the map has evolved with new technologies incorporating access from hand held platforms such as i-phone accessibility.

On the 14th July the UK Government with Google launched a special Google Earth which illustrates what could happen to the world if the average global temperatures rise by 4 degrees Celsius. The reason for this development is educate and help highlight why people, householders, businesses and communities all need to think of ways of cutting their own carbon emissions:

There are many ways that people can improve their carbon environmental impact. We have the Internet, books other sources of information where “at a click of a button” can access a wealth of information to educate and make correct and good environmental decisions.

The Energy Saving Trust (EST) have created an interactive Energy Saving House which gives homeowners ideas and ways of saving money at home, becoming more efficient and being more environmentally friendly;

Source: The Energy Saving Trust

Areas of suggested improvements also include replacing your windows with more efficient double glazing, also installing Solar Thermal and/or Photovoltaic technology. Anglian has also launched their own “Rough Guide” to Green Your Home and you can request a copy of this and accompanying DVD by clicking here.

Last month Anglian launched their very own solar range and the Call Centre has since seen an unprecedented level of interest from people looking to invest in today’s green technologies.

Anglian Home Improvements, formerly known as Anglian Windows. Raising the standard of Solar in 2010.

Generous weather conditions and over 1000 people created a fantastic day with everyone enjoying a massive range of games, activities and family fun all in aid of local charities East Anglian Air Ambulance and John Grooms Court (Livability).

The event, organised by Anglian’s Lizzi Lundean and Lydia Moy was held in the grounds of the Anglian social club. The Bishop of Norwich, Rt. Rev. Graham James, was joined by Canon Richard Bowett and retired ITV newscaster Michael Brunson to open the event. They represented John Grooms Court one of the charities to benefit from the Fun Fayre.

The giant (well three to be exact) was one of the challenges faced by six teams entering the It’s a Knock Out competition.

As well as donning the huge costumes and then trying to run over a surface that was constantly being moved by their opponents, contestants also ran the gauntlet of slippery slopes, wet sponges, a castle wall and finding socks in a giant washing machine crammed with foam!!

Eventual winners were ‘The Lads’, made up of Darren Gooch, Wayne Morris, Brandon Spinks. Kai Munnery and Matty Daynes.

The bucking bronco was just one of many other attractions which included fairground stalls, crazy golf, bouncy castle and a 24foot climbing wall as pictured above.

Other activities included a fabulous circus skills workshop, some talented youngsters demonstrating martial arts, face painting and stalls selling a range of different items from hand-painted shoes to children’s clothes and Anglian memorabilia  including furniture from last year’s Hampton Court Palace garden show.

The Blog team caught up with  Lizzi Lundean, Anglian’s Events and Incentives Co-ordinator and asked her about the Family Fun Fayre:

All the monies raised will be divided between three charities Broadland High School, the East Anglian Air Ambulance and Livability’s John Groom Court in Norwich.

Anglian Home Improvements, formerly known as Anglian Windows. Supporting people and local communities since 1966.

With this type of housing stock, many of the energy efficient home improvements needed are cost negative that means they pay for themselves over time through savings from lower energy bills due to those improvements.  The pay back period may also be longer than the preferred time the homeowners want to stay within that home. Other barriers that are commonly found is a lack of information, knowledge and understanding or why we should be more energy efficient within our homes.

With the various issues listed above the Government are going to introduce the Green Deal as the scheme to overcome these barriers.

Green Deal would roll out to every householder within Britain to save money by improving their homes through various insulating improvements. Energy companies and high street retail would provide information and guidance to interested households, taking them through the Green Deal process and pay for improvements upfront. Households then recoup the initial investment of money through the various savings they make from reduced energy bills.  

The Green Deal will also assist and help those in rented accommodation. As the tenant normally pays for their own energy usage within the home they would also benefit from improved energy efficient measures. The Government are continuing to look at how to make the Green Deal a successful scheme for people in private and social housing.

Those providing the Green Deal have the option of choosing to form partnerships with local authorities, registered social landlords and social enterprises to offer locally-based solutions.  The DECC (Department of Energy and Climate Change) is looking for early involvement by Green Deal providers ahead of legislation being introduced in the forthcoming Energy Security and Green Economy Bill. Due to the legislation and other changes the Green Deal will not be rolled out straight away.

Source: DECC

For a complete, comprehensive memorandum on the Green Deal please click here.

Anglian Home Improvements, formerly known as Anglian Windows. Raising the standard in Home Improvements since 1966.

Earlier this year a National Window Scrappage Petition was launched by the Glass and Glazing Federation on the official Government e-petition site asking for the following:

“Allow for an improvement to the existing housing stock to reduce Carbon and CO2 emissions and cut household energy bills. The Scheme to be open only to companies who professionally install windows with a C Window Energy Rating or above and who responsibility recycle the existing windows that are removed”

The petition saw support from many people and achieved a staggering 4,468 signatures. Since the petition closed people have waited for an official response from the Government which arrived today:

Government response

To summarise the Government reply it seems apparent that the proposed National Window Scrappage Scheme is not going to happen. It does however seem likely that homeowners maybe able to receive additional funding for energy efficient improvements such as replacement windows through the new Government initiative called the “Green Deal”.

Last month we reported on the several government ideas to improve a homes efficiency. This included details of a speech from Chris Huhme, UK Energy Secretary on the much talked about Green Deal;

“Alongside investment in new energy infrastructure, we need to reduce overall energy demand. So let me now turn to the Green Deal – our way of expanding the energy mix to a fourth resource.

Energy saving is the cheapest way of closing the gap between demand and supply, yet it is the Cinderella of the energy ball. On the near horizon, energy saving will mean smart meters and smart grids that can give consumers control over their appliances – for example ensuring that fridges power down during temporary price surges.

This will take time to develop. But there is also much we can do now. To date we have heard too much talk and too little action.

Britain has on average some of the oldest housing stock in Europe, much of it built in the era of cheap coal – but that’s no excuse. Why have we kept building inefficient homes?  We have been locking in waste, which is why my colleague Grant Shapps, the Housing Minister, is moving quickly to toughen building standards.

Most of the homes we will use in 2050 have of course already been built. That is why we have big plans for the Green Deal. It will be my department’s flagship bill for this first session. Its aim is a radical overhaul of our existing homes to save energy, carbon and costs.

At the moment, we may as well be burning £50 notes outside our front doors. We use more energy per home than does Sweden.  And this waste cannot be ignored, because households account for a quarter of all carbon emissions.

This is another area which can help drive economic recovery. The market is big. There are currently up to 14 million homes in the UK which could benefit from insulation under the Green Deal. We are working on the package for each home, which could unlock tens of billions of spending in the coming years.”

For the full quote please click here: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/Energy_Summit/Energy_Summit.aspx

 For more information on the Green Deal please click here. This is a link to a document produced by the Government called “Paving the way for a Green Deal: Extending the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target supplier obligation to December 2012: Summary of consultation responses and Government Response”.

Anglian Home Improvements, formerly known as Anglian Windows. Raising the standard in energy efficiency since 1966.

There are more activities as well. Listed below is some of the other games and events you can expect to see:

 24ft Mobile Climbing Wall, Bucking Bronco, Sheepdog Handling, Giant jenga/connect 4 and snakes & ladders, 9 Hole Crazy Golf, Archery, Circus Skills Workshop, Fairground Stalls, Bouncy castle, Face painter, Pippa’s pottery, JustSo James – Variety entertainer, Martial Arts Demo AND BREATH..  Beer tent, Hog Roast, Ronaldo’s Ice Creams, Mrs Hood’s donuts & crepes, East Anglia Air Ambulance!

For more information on how you can get involved this Saturday please email blog@angliangroup.com. Entry and car parking is also free.

Anglian Home Improvements, formerly known as Anglian Windows. Supporting local communities since 1966.