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Focus on D.I.Y.
by Andy Sneyd |
|  Using the sun to heat water in our homes is building momentumPeople are finally realising the benefits of using the sun to heat water in the home with and recently I heard that a whole housing project is now being built with solar technology for water heating. Believe it or not this project is not here in Spain but in CHESTERFIELD ! No disrespect to Chesterfield but I was under the impression that Spain had a little more sunshine than Derbyshire.
Why do we not see more solar panels taking advantage of this free renewable energy here on the Costa Blanca? The government here in Spain is in the process of changing the law so that new build dwellings and major refurbishments will have to include a large percentage of renewable energy, but why not take advantage of solar power for heating your water – it is not difficult to make your home a little more environmentally friendly at the same time as dramatically reducing the bills.
How does the system work?
Collectors are situated, usually on the roof of the property, and positioned in a way that they capture optimal energy from the sun. These collectors can be flat bed or evacuated tube system (the latter being far more efficient) and heat up the water directly or via a heat exchanger using both the heat and the infrared rays of the sun. The hot water is collected in a storage tank and is then piped either directly to the hot water pipes or into the existing boiler.
This method of water heating will generally pay for itself within 2 to 3 years and, as well as saving you money, will immediately start helping the environment.
Another advantage, especially here in Spain, is that by freeing up the power from the boiler there will be less breaker tripping as this energy can be used elsewhere in the house.
You will find that installations are cheaper than you think and that there are only benefits and no disadvantages with solar. So why not contact us and see what we can do for you.
Call us on 965 865 509 or 630 284 794,
e-mail: info@solec-costablanca.com.
Website: www.solec-costablanca.com |  Change Your Light Bulbs Today to Save Energy and MoneyThe light bulb Thomas Edison invented and made famous may be on its way out in the coming years due to the benefits of energy-saving light bulbs, such as the increasingly popular compact fluorescent bulb or CFL. Low energy light bulbs are one of the success stories of modern times. CFL’s have come along way since their early incarnations. These were bulky and not as aesthetically pleasing as their modern, compact counterparts. Saving money whilst doing your bit for the environment has become so popular these days that everybody seems to be jumping on the bandwagon. Here are some facts that might persuade you it is time to make the change.
An incandescent bulb rated at 100 watts will produce 1200 lumens (a lumen is a unit of light). A comparable compact fluorescent lamp will typically use only 20 watts of electricity to produce the same amount of light. It is not only their energy saving characteristics that are making low energy light bulbs so popular. Their long life span is also a deciding factor when consumers weigh up the pros and cons of CFLs over incandescent light bulbs. Typically, incandescent bulbs have a lifespan of approximately 1000 hours, compared with between 8,000 and 15,000 hours for compact fluorescent lamps.
CFL’s may cost a bit more up front, but can save money over the course of a year. Do your part and switch to compact fluorescent bulbs today. | How to Clean and Care for Outdoor Furniture (ara)Keeping patio furniture looking like new for a long period of time is not difficult. Proper cleaning and maintenance will extend the life of your furniture. Here are some tips to caring for your outdoor patio furniture: * Wash it with a good cleaner at the beginning of the season and then once a week squirt it off with a hose. Both dirt and chlorine will deteriorate patio furniture.
* When cleaning vinyl patio furniture, never use a harsh brush or bleach. The brush may create pores in the vinyl, damaging it and causing it to lose its shape. Plus, the bleach will deteriorate the vinyl.
* Check to make sure that none of the bolts holding the furniture together are rusty. Replace them if they are, and tighten them thoroughly.
* If the paint on aluminum furniture is in poor condition, rub it gently with a piece of fine steel wool or sandpaper to smooth it out. Next, take some standard car-wash polish to buff the furniture back to its original luster.
* Touch up wrought-iron furniture immediately if bare metal is exposed to prevent rusting. A rust-resistant primer on the spots will help the rust from spreading under the paint.
* Wicker furniture will stay looking its best if it is kept in the shade, as the sun tends to dry it out. If the wicker finish is damaged, bring it back to life by using a permanent marking pen that matches the color to blend away the exposed areas. To give a piece a whole new look, spray paint each piece with outdoor spray paint.
* Don’t forget to clean your glass patio table. Remove the glass top carefully, over the grass (so it doesn’t shatter if you drop it).
* Put furniture away for the winter by covering it with plastic, and storing in a dry basement or garage. If it must be kept outside, cover it with a tarp.
So when you’re ready for the first cleaning of the year, you need something gentle and strong to bring your outdoor investments back to looking like new.
|  Bathroom MakeoverFrom time to time, even the prettiest bathroom could use a facelift. Your local bath, home or building supply store has all kinds of products designed to lift the spirits of even the most depressing bathroom, and many of the ideas that follow require no more than a few tools and a free weekend. Firstly clear out everything — everything! — in your bathroom and give the room a good scrubbing. Then throw out or give away anything you don’t use regularly: half-filled shampoo bottles, makeup you’ll never wear, expired medicines. Be ruthless.
Renewing dull, dingy and grey grouting can give the bathroom a whole new feel.
Tile grout cleaners can’t always get your tile back to that new-looking condition. Here’s how to make your tile look like it did the first day it was put in.
The first step in grout refreshing is to remove the top surface of the old grout using a tool called a grout saw.
Once you have scraped out all of the discoloured grout, remove the loose material with a vacuum.
Once all of the grout is removed and cleared away, it is time to refill the joints with new, fresh grout. Grout can be purchased in powder form that only requires adding water.
Next, using a grout float, made of foam rubber, spread the grout around the surface of the tile to put grout back into the joints where it has been removed.
While holding the float nearly flat against the surface, press down to squeeze the new grout into the joints.
Once the joints are filled with grout, use the same tool again, but this time tipped at a 45-degree angle and then drag it across the face of the tile at a diagonal. This will scrape off the excess grout from the face of the tile, while leaving it in the joints.
Then take a sponge, dip it in clear water, wring out the excess, and then gently wash off the remaining grout from the face of the tile.
After the tile surface has dried, the thin film remaining is easily removed with a dry paper towel or soft dry cloth.
DO NOT use a damp cloth as it will only dry a powdery white again!
Why not try using a coloured grout to give a whole new look to your tiles?
Continue your makeover by use of accessories to bring new colours and textures into the room.
Let one item take centre stage. For example aqua is a dominant colour. Save it for a bath mat and maximize its effect by choosing softer tones for other items or contrast it with chocolate browns. More vivid shades, used for items like the bath mat, brighten up a room; paler hues, like subdued pastel towels, calm it significantly.
Mix solids, patterns, and textures. A patterned tooth brush holder stands out from the solid colours of the towels, adding visual interest. Arranging a variety of textiles and glass, metal, and ceramic containers all using varying shades on open shelves results in an appealing collage of textures.
Dress windows by hanging complimentary ready-made tab-top curtains, if it is a streamlined look you prefer blinds may be an option for you.
Nothing ruins the look of a bathroom more than inadequate lighting. In many cases, you don’t need an electrician to replace an old lighting fixture with a pretty new one, though if you’re planning to change its location or add fixtures, you should call in a professional.
Add a dimmer switch to give you bright light for makeup, softer light for a relaxing bath.
To finish off the makeover replace your old medicine cabinet with a large, beautifully framed mirror. Replace shower curtains with a shower screen which gives the room a much more luxurious feel. Shower heads and bath and basin taps should be changed for more modern style. You’ll be surprised how much it improves the overall look.
Without any major renovations, just a few small changes designed to give maximum effect for minimum effort giving you a brand new bathroom that you can be proud of. |  Spring CleaningHow can you get motivated to clean when the warm weather is calling you outside? Here are some tips to help take the sting out of spring cleaning. 1. Decide if you would rather devote a full day or weekend to the task, or to spend an hour or so each day until it is done, then pick a time that suits your schedule.
2. If you’re energised by being around other people, ask family members or friends to work with you.
3. Play your favourite music – and crank up the volume!
4. Don’t hold onto items you no longer want or need just because you don’t want to see them end up as landfill. Sell them on eBay or try the new auction site for Spain – www.theauctionplatform.com - offer them to friends or family members, or donate them to charity.
5. Make sure you have the necessary tools on hand. In addition to your cleaning supplies, you will need several garbage bags as well as boxes for sorting the items you plan to sell or give away.
6. Find out how to dispose of hazardous materials such as paints and used batteries in your area, and be sure to schedule a trip to the rubbish tip.
7. If you notice that certain areas are especially clutter-prone, look for containers to hold smaller items and keep them in their place.
8. Rearrange your furniture for a fresh new look.
9. Don’t forget your computer! Take some time to uninstall programs and delete files you no longer need.
Follow these tips and before you know it, you’ll have a clean and organized home and you’ll be able to get out and enjoy the (hopefully) warm weather! | Six Steps to Lower Cooling Bills (ARA) - With hot summer weather just around the corner, now is the time to give your home a “check-up.” Here are six tips from the Comfort Institute to make sure your air conditioning bills don’t blow your cool! 1. Have your duct system tested for air leaks by an AC contractor and then seal them with a brushed on fiber-reinforced elastomeric sealant.
2. Ask your AC contractor to perform an Infiltrometer “blower door” test to pinpoint where your home’s worst air leaks are, such as duct leaks, and also measures how leaky the overall house is.
3. Close your fireplace damper. Shut it now or waste precious cool air all summer long!
4. Replace your air conditioner or heat pump air filter. Most systems need this done every month to ensure safe and efficient operation.
5. Have your air conditioner cleaned and tuned. It reduces the chances of breakdowns in the middle of summer and more than pays for itself through more energy efficient operation.
6. Consider replacing your old air conditioner or heat pump. Just like a car, central cooling equipment doesn’t last forever. | |
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