The Latest

Londoners can repair and double glazing your sash windows

Sash windows are extremely beautiful but the one of the biggest problems that you face with them is when you need to repair them as they can be extremely expensive. In his article we’re going go look at some of the best ways in which you could try and have a little go with sash window repairs at home in London without spending serious money on your property. It would probably not surprise you to know that a complete sash window is now over £2,000 plus VAT and this assumes that you’re only going for a mediocre finish such as a medium range hardwood on her standard double glazed unit.

Affluent and expensive homes in London
Affluent and expensive homes in London

What is sash window repair?

Sash window repair normally means the repair or restoration and potentially refurbishment of the sash window. This can constitute sash window sill replacement, replacement sash cords, replacement glazing, or even could just mean a simple overhaul and potential draught proofing system as well. Whatever sash window repair you required it’s worth looking into little bit of homework because you would be surprised to know that sash windows specialist charge considerably their services which is an extremely significant amount of money, especially when most of us have got a bit of free project time on the weekends and I’m more than willing to do a little bit for our properties and save bit of money in the process.

Damaged window
Damaged window

Sash window sill replacement is actually quite difficult and in all honesty it’s probably better to have a specialist have a go at it. I’ve seen a recent email from a customer that had a look at her sash window repair article but believe that they were incapable of actually affecting this repair even with reading the step-by-step process. Mainly because they simply don’t have the tools required to perform such an intricate repairs. The other reason is of course that when you think about the time of some people which extremely valuable and therefore it would be much better to simply go to work in their profession and pay a sash window specialist to make such repairs on their behalf.

How much does it cost to perform a sash window repair?

“Typical sash window repairs start from around about £220 per window and go all the way up to nearly £1,000 “ London Sash Window Repairs Ltd owner Christopher Gould At the lower end of the range you’re looking at a simple case of a few minor timber splices and repairs to your sash windows whereas the top end of the range you could well be looking at sash window repair, draught proofing and a full decoration and painting service on top of the repairs as well. You might be thinking when you’re spending that much money on a repair that you might actually do better to replace the window itself but surprisingly some people aren’t even in a position where they can replace the sash window because perhaps they’re in a listed building or conservation area where the rules are particularly strict or even in a block mansions where all of the community made the decision regarding the replacement sash windows project. So sometimes even though repair of a sash window seems extremely expensive is actually the only option and normally it is actually a little bit cheaper than replacement anyway but there are extreme cases.

Painting to save money

Where you can really save some money in sash window repairs by painting the windows yourself, in London decorators are charging a fortune. Because there are so many high quality paints out there now for example if you take Dulux or Farrow & Ball these guys are producing paint that’s extremely effective externally and will last for up to 6 years. They even offer such guarantees on their tins and as long as you follow the guidelines on the actual application of the pain itself then you’ll almost certainly going to be valid for that 6 year guarantee. I’ve seen situations with our spray system where paints actually still in good condition nearly 15 years later. I’ve revisited installs and seeing amazing things with paint. Quality is definitely improving but the only issue we have of course is that oil is much better than the water based. The problem is we heading towards a sustainable model where the paint we use is actually environmentally friendly which unfortunately has deteriorated it’s somewhat but that’s a small price to pay for the environment after all. And saving the environment is equally as important to saving money.

Painting to save money
Painting to save money

Just bear in mind before you pick up the phone and call a London sash window restoration or repair specialist you can actually do a few bits to your windows yourself, a mini project if you like. There are plenty of articles and help out there to get you going on sash windows and as long as you got a hammer and a chisel on a few bits and pieces in your toolbox then you’re pretty much good to go on your sash windows.

 

Build A Community Around Your Local Store and Watch Business Soar

One of the best ways to make your local business succeed is to make it an integral part of the community. If you start up a local shop and ostracise the rest, or try to take away business from elsewhere, you will see that negatively work against you. The best thing to do is to welcome competition, as it represents a community. Instead of trying to gain others’ customers, carve a niche market for yourself that you can take advantage of, while other already-established businesses can continue to thrive. You’ll see that you all win when you focus on community instead of the bottom line at the end of the first day or week. Here are some great ways to build a community around your store that will help you and your new business-minded friends.

1. Community Fair or Fest

Want to get customers new and old excited about your store, and also earn the trust and assistance of the other stores around you? Organise a community gathering centre around your store, whether it be a music festival for local bands, or a Fall or Spring fest centre around local goods. You can host it at and around your store, and shut down the street and invite all local businesses to have booths. Not only will it clearly bring a lot of families and hipsters to your place of business, earning potential repeat customers along the way, but it’ll show your neighbours that you are indeed about the community. People love other people who genuinely show interest in the community.

2. Welcoming and Professional Signage

The best way to appear credible and reliable and bigger than you are is to be credible, reliable and bigger than you are. Never underestimate the power of professionally designed and printed signage. These days, it’s easy to get such materials online, and a retractable banner stand and a printed sign with your company’s logo can be gotten really easily at places. Not only will these materials drum up business, but if done tastefully, they can contribute to a décor of the entire community in a way that can make the whole are more attractive to locals and those in nearby communities.

3. Movie Night

Most likely your business is not in the market of selling movies. Right? Right. So what better way to attract those who haven’t yet come to see your store than to host a fun night that has nothing to do with your store itself. Show everyone that you love your local community, and host a movie night and show a cult favourite of some sort. Turn your store into a movie theatre for the night: offer free admission and cheap snacks and drinks, and you’ll bring in a lot of people who will feel cool for knowing about the event and for knowing you. It’s thinking outside the box like this that can really turn your business in the right direction.

Social and Environmental Impacts of Constructing Dams

The fundamental objective of constructing dams is to obstruct flowing water for benefit of human communities; flood control, hydroelectric generation and regulation of water supplies in urban areas are the primary advantages of dams construction. However, the construction of dams also affects the society and environment significantly.

Dams and Environmental Risks

The construction of dams poses significant and persistent effects on ecology of aquatic habitats; by transforming the flowing water into stagnant water, storage of water in reservoirs leads to changes in hydrological parameters such as levels of dissolved oxygen. The alteration in river hydrology impacts the ecological balance of the habitat causing changes in species composition and the number of fishes.

Further to changes in river hydrology, changes in river paths associated with reservoir storage blocks migration routes of certain aquatic species such as trout and salmon, leading to their elimination from the habitat.

Social Impacts of Constructing Dams

The most controversial consequence of constructing large dams is the massive displacement of people; as the scale of the dam increases, the scope, duration and intensity of its impact is amplified significantly. In fact, large dams such as three gorges dam in china have been responsible for displacement of large population of people.

The storage of water in reservoirs causes inundation of thousands of hectares of river line lands. In addition to the economic and social pressures of managing displaced people, the water storage in dams and the resulting higher evaporation rates increase the risks of adding salts to farming areas, thus making them unfit for irrigation due to increased salinity.

Further to the inundation of land, if a dam breaks, people and property downstream may be endangered considerably. Such an incident may cause an outbreak of waterborne diseases such as schistosomiasis throughout the local population.

Dams and Seismic Activity

A significant number of large dams around the world have been linked with reservoir-induced seismicity, earthquakes that may occur before and after filling a large reservoir behind the dam. The larger the reservoir and the faster it is filled, the greater the intensity of seismicity. In order to mitigate the risk of seismic activity, the site selected for a dam must not be located in a seismically active area.

Risks of Constructing Dams

Despite the associated benefits, there are several social and environmental risks linked with dams. The construction of dams causes hydrological and ecological alterations to the aquatic habitats resulting in elimination of animal species such as trouts and salmons. In addition, construction of large dams results in displacement of large populations due to land inundation. The seismicity linked with dams can also be catastrophic in some cases.

Early Environmental Curriculum: Teaching Kids About the Different Types of Environmentalists

Environmentalists have created and described themselves by a variety of terms to explain their varying schools of thought and practice. Helping children- and even adults- understand the differences in environmental thought can encourage green lifestyles and increase the number of environmental viewpoints in a classroom.

Naturalists

Because the term “environmentalist” was not yet common, early eco-friendly efforts in the 1700s and early 1800s were marked by naturalists. Naturalists served a dual role as early environmental crusader and pre-modern scientist. These individuals kept detailed journals about the plants and animals that they discovered. They were often great artists and frequently sketched nature in addition to taking samples.

Explorers like Lewis and Clark could also be considered naturalists. During their exploration of new frontiers, they collected thousands of species of animals and plants to send back to the president for further study.

Journals of naturalists became popular among the general public, which encouraged naturalists to write novels based off of their adventures. Blending scientific fact with whimsical fiction, naturalists were able to help the general public become excited about the environment in a way similar to modern movies with environmental messages.

Conservationism and the Anthropocentric Mindset

Conservationists hold an anthropocentric view, meaning that these individuals view nature as a means for human development. The ultimate goal of the conservationist was to protect the environment so that humans could reap the benefits of well-maintained forests and large game.

From the mid 1800s to the mid 1900s, conservationism efforts grew in both the social and policy realms. Conservationists sought to conserve or preserve aspects of the environment for human use including planted trees for hedge protection, forests for lumber, pure water for drinking, and proper water use for irrigation. For conservationists, preserving nature was necessary to properly use natural resources for the good of humankind.

The creation of a national Arbor Day arose from conservationist thought. With the pioneer-frontier mindset still firmly planted in the minds of Americans, J. Sterling Morton encouraged the public to plant trees. Pioneers needed trees to sustain their farms and livelihoods because of their ability to root soil in place and keep the wind from devastating crops.

In the early 1900s, President Theodore Roosevelt led a top-down conservationist movement. By focusing his political efforts on forest conservation, game protection, water conservation, and reclamation and irrigation, Roosevelt was able to preserve America’s natural resources and increase public awareness of environmental issues.

Despite massive efforts to preserve the natural environmental, Roosevelt was not a preservationist. Roosevelt’s policies established several key national parks, including Yosemite and Yellowstone, yet preserving nature for nature’s sake was not at the top of his agenda. Roosevelt’s policy revealed that the natural resources were meant to be used by humans, thus placing him in the conservationist school of thought.

Preservationism and the Biocentric Viewpoint

Preservationists hold a biocentric view, one that emphasises the protection of nature for nature’s sake. In general, preservationists believe that the Earth’s natural resources should not be managed for human benefit. For preservationists, attempts to conserve the environment for the benefit of humankind are misguided because the conservationists place the individual at the centre of Earth’s priorities.

Instead of creating alarm within the population about their own wellbeing, writers such as Thoreau and Emerson called on individuals to develop a relationship with nature so that the human soul could be spiritually cleansed and at the same time hold a reverence for nature for its own sake.

Preservationism rejected human manipulation of the environment; however, the roots of preservationism advocated for a much deeper look into the environmental cause. Some radical preservationists subscribe to a belief known as “deep ecology.” In its simplest form, deep ecology rejects the man-centre view of conservationism and embraces a philosophy that focuses on the interconnectedness of animals, people, and nature.

Understanding the differing types of environmental advocates can foster a child’s own growth towards an environmentally friendly lifestyle, opening up a world of knowledge and a lifetime of eco-friendly living.

Simple Earth Day Projects for Kids

Each year industrious birds scurry around the forests, meadows and open fields in search of nest building materials. This procedure is all well and good for birds outside the city limits, but for birds that live in or near large cities, nesting materials can be a bit harder to find. Because of this lack of nest building materials bird nests built in suburbs, cities and villages often showcase some very unusual nesting materials.

The upside of using plastic tarp strings is that the bird nests have not deteriorated over the space of several years. The downside, however, is that most birds don’t usually reuse nests and of those birds that do steal other bird nests, most prefer to dislodge nesting birds from new bird nests rather than take over old bird nests.

Nests made out of plastic or other environmental pollutants may take many years to break down. Other problems that may arise include damp bird nests as the plastic will hold in the moisture rather than wick it out the way a normal bird nest might, thereby creating an unfit environment for the eggs and/or baby birds.

Since bird nesting materials can be hard to find, showing a child how to assist Mother Nature by adding additional bird nesting materials to an area where birds live is an excellent yet simple Earth Day project. When human and animal hair and cotton strings and ribbons are incorporated into bird nests, the end result is often quite beautiful.

Simple Earth Day Projects for Kids

For Earth Day projects that a child can complete with little or no effort, ask a child to assist Mother Nature by collecting a few biodegradable items from around the house that would otherwise be discarded. For instance, hair can be collected from hairbrushes, cut in half or fourths, and then dropped outside where a bird will quickly find it.

Cotton

Other items that work well are string, yarn, cotton ribbon or old denim fabrics cut into thin strips. Cotton is biodegrade and does not pose a threat to the environment. To use ribbon, purchase several spools in a variety of colours. Cut the ribbon into two to four-inch lengths and then scatter the strips around the yard. (Because cotton such as found in denim fabrics fray, causing cotton threads to “loop” out of the material, it’s very important that denim fabric or other cotton fabric is cut into small pieces or strips.)

When placing possible nesting materials into the environment, make sure you use biodegradable items collected from the home or from nearby woodlands. In addition to the above mentioned items, any combination of the following materials will be appreciated by the local bird population.

  • twigs or leaves
  • pesticide free grass and moss
  • pine needles and bits of bark
  • cattail and other plant fluff
  • animal fur (as long as the animal has not been treated with any type of chemical for fleas or other parasites

Items That May Be Harmful to Birds and Humans

When it comes to Earth Day projects for kids, however, it’s important that children are educated about the project. A child who thinks he is helping may toss all sorts of potential bird nesting materials outside. However, some items can be detrimental to birds and other animals, as well as to the environment. And at least one nesting material that some birds use can be detrimental to humans.

Household materials that might be harmful to birds:

  • laundry lint
  • cotton from aspirin bottles
  • rubber bands
  • plastic netting or plastic strips
  • lengths of cotton or wool ribbon, string or denim fabric that are wider than one inch and longer than four inches
laundry lint

Woodland material that might be harmful to humans:

  • animal scat
  • old bird nesting materials

Though some birds include animal scat (waste) in their nest building materials, presumably to keep predators away, animal scat contains parasites that can be dangerous to humans and should be given a wide berth. (Some of the parasites found in animal scat can be inhaled within three feet.) Do not add animal scat to the list of nesting materials collected for your Earth Day project. In the same manner, do not collect or touch wild bird nests, which may contain scat and/or other parasites.

Little Steps for Big Green Savings: Lots of Tips for Reducing Your Eco Impact

  • Use cloth napkins instead of paper (Shift Your Habit estimates you can save £70 a year and reduce the amount of trash you produce by 40 pounds with this step alone);
  • Don’t let the water run while you brush your teeth;
  • Practice “selective” flushing (you’ll figure out what that means);
  • Bike and walk more, drive less;
  • Start using rechargeable batteries;
  • Buy refurbished electronics rather than new ones;
  • Make your own foam soap refills;
  • Grow your own fruits, vegetables and herbs;

  • Eat less meat — it’s cheaper and healthier;
  • Repair tears in clothing rather than buying new clothes;
  • Shop at resale stores;
  • Adjust your home thermostat;
  • Switch off — and unplug — electronics when not in use;
  • Read more, watch TV less;
  • Get your books from the public library instead of buying them new;
  • Hold a neighbourhood swap party to get rid of items you no longer use;
  • Buy fresh produce in season, then dry, can or freeze for later;
  • Go vegetarian … or vegan;
  • Take fewer baths, more showers;

  • Shampoo your hair every other day;
  • Run your dishwasher, wash-machine and dryer only when they’re full;
  • Buy a clothesline;
  • Give up your refrigerator;
  • Tear up your lawn and put in a vegetable garden;
  • Plant more fruit trees in your yard;
  • Make your own gifts or buy hand-made local items for giving;
  • Recycle as much as you can;
  • Better yet, reduce your consumption as much as you can;
  • Join a CSA (community supported agriculture);
  • Kick your bottled water habit and carry a refillable bottle with you instead;
  • When you have to buy something, spend your money at the greenest, most socially responsible businesses possible;
  • instil green habits in your children;

  • Turn off the lights when you’re not in a room;
  • Discover the cleaning power of natural products like vinegar, baking soda and borax;
  • Dispose of unused medications in a way that keeps them out of the water supply;
  • Buy in bulk to reduce your consumption of unnecessary packaging;
  • Bring your lunch (preferably in a washable or reusable bag or container) to work;
  • Cook more, eat out less;
  • Get out in nature more;
  • Reduce your consumption of dairy products;
  • Avoid processed foods — they’re usually not only less healthy than fresh, but more expensive too;
  • Learn a skill like sewing, knitting, crocheting or woodworking;
  • Bake your own bread;
  • Use thrift-shop china instead of paper plates for your next party;
  • Buy a hand-powered flashlight/radio;
  • Get a pedal-powered headlamp for your bicycle;
  • Think twice before throwing anything away;

  • Start composting;
  • Save your leftovers for another meal;
  • Always remember that everything you do each day carries both an environmental impact and a personal cost … and never stop thinking about ways to reduce your footprint.

7 Eco-Friendly Green Classroom Supplies: Going Green in the Classroom

With numerous “green” products on the market claiming to be eco-friendly, it can be difficult to sift through all the options to find quality eco-friendly products. With more schools trying to become certified as “green” in order to take advantage of the financial incentives being offered in states like Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and California, finding green school supplies is becoming a necessary task for teachers and administrators.

Going Green in the Classroom

At least nine states in the U.S. are now requiring new schools to meet green-building standards – including Hawaii, Illinois, Connecticut, New Jersey, Washington, and Ohio – with at least three states offering financial incentives to schools going green. With the rising costs of energy, the greening of American schools is part of a larger movement toward increased energy efficient construction in general.

recycling in the classroom
recycling in the classroom

In 2007 the U.S. Green Building Council initiated the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification program which standardises and rates the “greenness” of a building. Standards of design and development for new and existing buildings have been created through the LEED program. Points are awarded according to various criteria including site selection, materials used, water and energy efficiency, and indoor environmental quality.

7 Favourite Green Classroom Supplies

1. Soybean Oil Crayons – Created by two Perdue University students in 1993, soy crayons are made of 85% soybean oil in contrast to their traditional counterpart, which are composed mainly of petroleum derivatives. Some of the advantages to soy crayons include less flaking, brighter colours, less toxic (safer for children), and they are completely biodegradable. Prang a manufacturer of soybean crayons, offers a variety of crayon packages on their website PrangPower.com. Prang’s soy crayons are also available at StubbyPencilStudio.com and a box of 8 crayons costs £1.

2. Eco-Friendly Pencils – GreenLinePaper.com offers “Eco-Writer” pencils made up of 90% P.C.W. (post-consumer waste). Two products featured on their website include Recycled Old Money pencils made from recycled U.S. currency and Recycled Old Blue Jeans pencils made from recycled old denim; each costs £.33 per pencil.

3. Tree-Free Paper – One elementary school with a student population of approximately 600 students could potentially save 78 trees in one school year by switching to either tree-free paper or 100% P.C.W. paper. Companies like EcoPaper offer the ultimate in “green” paper. Their paper products are completely tree-free and come in five “flavours” of banana, cigar, lemon, coffee, and mango. These flavoured papers have a hefty price tag ranging from £12.98 for a 100-sheet ream all the way up to £29.95 for a 500-sheet ream. They also offer a more affordable choice; their Bagasse Sugar paper is £6.99 per 500-sheet ream and is composed of 80% sugar cane waste (sugar cane fibres rather than wood fibres).

4. Refillable White Board Markers – Rated as one of the greenest choices on the market, the AusPen Whiteboard Marker Kit is manufactured by EcoSmart Products. This kit contains six coloured refillable dry-erase markers with six refill inks, which is comparable to 246 disposable markers. One kit costs around £70 but the price tag for 246 individual disposable markers is much higher.

5. Hand Wash/Sanitiser – The convenience of hand sanitisers makes them a popular choice for teachers and parents, but cannot replace the effectiveness of good old fashioned soap and water according to one Perdue University professor. If unsure about the greenness of hand cleaning products, TheGreenOffice.com offers eco-friendly ratings for all products offered on their site, ranging from dark green which is a highly sustainable product to grey which means the product does not meet eco-friendly standards. One can also look for products that are certified by Green Seal or EcoLogo.

6. Earth-Friendly Glue – Many traditional glues used in classrooms are high in VOCs (volatile organic compounds) creating greater risk for “sick building syndrome.” EcoGlue, from the makers of Goop®, is a water-based adhesive which contains less than 1% VOCs. It also comes with almost no hazardous air pollutants, no animal derivatives, and comes in 100% recyclable packaging. Another product on the market called MagiGlue meets green standards and costs around £3.25 for a 4-oz. bottle.

7. Reusable Lunch Containers – Washable, reusable plastic containers are a good green choice for packing lunches, but can be bulky in the average reusable lunch bag. GreenLinePaper.com offers an inexpensive alternative – the Wrap-N-Mat is a washable, reusable cloth sandwich bag that becomes a placemat when opened. It comes in two different designs and costs £6.50 per bag.

Options for Green Classroom Supplies

There are dozens of options out there for finding green classroom supplies. Although some of these products carry a high price, some are quite affordable. Some websites also offer services for green business certification, greening webinars, and sustainability consulting.