http://www.publicarartigos.com.br/ Articles at Publicar Artigos - Mostre seu conteúdo pt-br http://www.publicarartigos.com.br/ingl%C3%AAs/home-and-family/home-improvement/keep-your-home-warm-and-safe-with-our-top-tips.html http://www.publicarartigos.com.br/ingl%C3%AAs/home-and-family/home-improvement/keep-your-home-warm-and-safe-with-our-top-tips.html Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:26:23 -0200
1. Wrap your home in insulation

The best way to keep the cold out and the lovely warmth in is to ensure your home is properly insulated. Heat rises, so be sure to get decent insulation in your loft - at least 270mm is recommended by the Energy Saving Trust. Plus a third of the heat lost in an un-insulated house is through the walls, so see that they're well padded too.

This might sound costly, but it doesn't have to be. You are likely to lose far more money through lost heat over the course of time. Also, energy grants might be available to you, which could help you insulate your home.

Want to know more? Then read our article ‘Don't Get Left Out in the Cold - Insulate your Home'. Choosing the right windows can make a big difference too.

2. Beware of carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide (CO) is silent, invisible to the naked eye, odourless and flavourless... Yet it can cause a wide range of really unpleasant symptoms such as nausea, headaches, exhaustion and vomiting - and can even be fatal. Among other things, CO can be emitted by faulty heating and cooking appliances, so make sure your boiler is in good order, and think about upgrading your old gas appliances. If you're planning to use old-fashioned portable heaters, get them checked by an expert before use. You are much more likely to have a problem with CO if you're using old equipment.

It's always a good idea to keep your home well ventilated. If you have a chimney - especially if you use it for sitting round the fire during the chilly months - make sure it's swept annually by a qualified engineer or chimney sweep. Also think about investing in a European Standard CO detector with an audible alarm.

If you're concerned about CO in your home, or you have any friends or relatives who you may feel are unaware of the risk, it's worth visiting The Carbon Monoxide and Gas Safety Society website. The site is full of information and prevention tips that could prove vital.

3. Get a smart meter

If you want to kerb mounting energy costs, then investing in a smart meter might well be helpful. This is a device which monitors your energy usage, and keeps your supplier informed in real time. In turn, you can log in to the account provided by your supplier, and see how your gas and electricity consumption is going on the web. Handy, eh?

By keeping closer tabs on your energy usage, you should be able to reduce your consumption accordingly. In fact, statutory body Consumer Focus have estimated that you could save as much as 15% off your bills. Plus the fact that your supplier is being constantly updated means that your bills will always be accurate, not estimated.

4. Insulate yourself!

Want to walk around in shorts and a t-shirt? Still in denial that the summer's over? Don't be - embrace the winter! Dig out a nice, cosy jumper, fill up your hot water bottle, and cuddle up close to someone. And chaps - have you thought about growing a beard? You'll insulate your face, and save money you'd have otherwise spent on razors, aftershave and hot water.

5. Switch supplier

If jumpers and hot water bottles just aren't enough, and you really do need to pump up the central heating, you can at least take steps to ensure you're getting your energy at the best possible price. If you've never switched energy tariff, if you're not paying by Direct Debit, or if you're not on an online tariff, then the chances are you're paying over the odds. If you want to find a better deal, why not try comparing suppliers and tariffs. It's quick and easy, and you'll find out in minutes whether you can keep your house nice and toasty without burning up unnecessary cash. ]]> http://www.publicarartigos.com.br/ingl%C3%AAs/home-and-family/home-improvement/choosing-paint-colors-and-other-kitchen-ideas.html http://www.publicarartigos.com.br/ingl%C3%AAs/home-and-family/home-improvement/choosing-paint-colors-and-other-kitchen-ideas.html Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:58:13 -0200
Determine Your Kitchen's Personality

Before you start the often arduous task of going through a paint book, step back, take a deep breath, and then take a look at your kitchen. Ask yourself some questions? Is it traditional, modern, country, etc.? What color is your kitchen now and why is it no longer working for you? Is it because you crave more excitement in your kitchen ideas or do you want to tone it down and make the space more relaxing? Are you tired of playing it safe and want to choose a bold, trendy color or do you prefer to remain neutral? Lots of questions! Not to worry, once you determine what personality you want your kitchen to have, whether it will energize you and make a bold statement or calm you down after a long day, you can get out the color wheel, and let the fun begin.

What to do on your First Visit to the Paint Store

Ideally, you should not purchase anything on your first visit to the paint store, since your initial goal should be to obtain ideas. Once you are able to view the color swatch display, put everything out of your mind and just choose colors that appeal to you, even if you know that tangerine won't work in your house-if it speaks to you, pick it up. Make sure you choose a few neutrals that could work, cool and warm colors, so that you can take the samples home and start the process of elimination. Warm colors, such as golds and reds, act as appetite stimulants and best complement food, although cooler colors can help calm and brighten your kitchen.

Once you're back in your kitchen with your color swatches, try and determine why tangerine appeals to you. Is it the vibrant, cheerful nature of the color that inspired you, or does it make you hungry or inspire you to bake a cake? These inclinations, while they might not lead you to paint your kitchen tangerine, could tell you what you're really looking for in your kitchen color.

Now, start holding your swatches against your flooring, cabinets and countertops, making sure to evaluate the colors in different lights at different times of the day. Then, narrow down your possibilities to 2 to 4 options. It's best to purchase samples and either paint them directly on the wall or paint them onto 8 by 10-inch canvasses found at craft stores so you can hold each sample up in various places and next to more of your kitchen fixtures. Then, choose a color and start painting.

Since kitchens typically have less wall space, a bold color won't overwhelm the room, so take a chance and choose that red or copper color and put it on the wall. Remember, it's only paint. If it doesn't work out, simply repaint. But if it does, you'll thank yourself for your brave color choice. It's all about testing, and more importantly, having fun. Don't forget to take before and after kitchen pictures so that you can fully appreciate your work. ]]>