The HSE has launched their new microsite as a one-stop-shop to help Landlords understand what they should be doing to keep tenants safe.   Being Landlords ourselves and having many Landlord clients, we know how important it is to have happy and SAFE tenants.  We would never live with ourselves should anything happen because we had forgotten or been ignorant in understanding ALL of our responsibilites..   The HSE has launched the site  www.hse.gov.uk/gas/landlords to address the potential lack of information available especially to new Landlords - check it out it breaks down the information into sections so if you are busy you can skip over the things you know and get right to the things you are not quite sure about - we like it and dont forget if you need any gas safety checks to give us a call. 

This blog post is provided by Tom Holden from Green Zone Consultants.  Tom has compiled these 4 simple tips to help save money at home.  For approx a one off investment of less than £100 in total these tips could save you around £550 per year.   Now that is what we call a RETURN ON INVESTMENT.

1.  Water
An aerating shower head reduces the amount of water used without reducing the quality of the shower you get, cutting water and heating costs.  Shower heads start at around £20 and can be fitted in minutes.  Average saving for a 2 person household estimated to be £80 per year.

2.  Heating
By insulating some key parts of your central heating system you could save around £45 a year off your heating bills.  If you have a hot water tank that isn't insulated or any hot water pipes going in and out of it you could be throwing money out of the window.  For a very small investment e.g. £30 and a little time you could have it sorted. 

3.   Electricity
We all know that energy saving light bulbs are more efficient, but how much could they save you in terms of money, and are they worth the extra cost?  For an average 2 bedroom house with just 20 ordinary 60W bulbs, the cost of the electricity they use over a year is around £150.  If all these bulbs were replaced with their energy saving alternatives rated at 11W each the annual cost could be reduced to around £30.  A no brainer when you look at it like that!  And remember energy saving bulbs last up to 10 times longer than ordinary bulbs, yet another reason to swap old bulbs now !!

4.   Car
A major cost for most of us today is fuel for our cars.  With more and more time spent driving on motorways these days, there are a few things we can do to improve fuel econo my. 

Stick to 60mph rather than 70mph, you will notice an increase in fuel economy without adding too much time to your journey

Make sure you are not carrying around more weight than necessary - declutter the boot but remember to keep the spare wheel !!

Look in your manual to find the correct tyre pressure.  Make sure tyres are pumped up to the Manufacturers recommended pressures.  Flat tyres can reduce fuel economy by up to 10%.  Also important to remember under-inflated tyres and dangerous and wear out quicker too.

For more tips on Economical driving visit http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Travel

Take all these simple, cost free steps and you could improve fuel economy by anywhere from 10 - 20%.

Green Zone Consultants specialise in helping people improve their energy efficiency as much as possible with as little effort and outlay as possible!   Tom will prepare a plan for you to work to so you can get started saving money and the environment.  Head to www.greenzoneconsultants.com and book an audit now! 

Quote the code GZC20 when booking to get a 20% discount off any audit - offer ends on the 30th June. 

South Staffs Water and E.ON have teamed up to offer Customers the chance to save money and water - visit www.south-staffs-water.co.uk/SAVE or call 0845 371 1689 (Quoting reference SSW2) to claim your FREE saving pack.  Orders will be despatched after 01st April 2010. 

CPA1 Accreditation is required for Gas Installers to prove and demonstrate their ability and competence with regard to using a tool called a Flue Gas Analyser (FGA)

CPA1 is an extra competence and Safety check over and above ACS gas qualifications to ensure engineers who carry out Combustion Analysis as part of the Installation, Commission, Servicing and Maintaining of Gas Appliances can do so competently and with total regard for Health and Safety which could mean the difference between life and death where Carbon Monoxide and Gas Ommisions are concerned.

The real problem in the gas services industry has been and continues to be that until CPA1 existed there was no 'driving test' to demonstrate that engineers know how to use FGA's correctly.

There are approx 120,000 illegal gas safe workers operating in the UK.. http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/learn/illegal_gas_workers.aspx

Make sure you are GAS SAFE !!

  How to Avoid a Rogue Tradesman

• Do not use companies who insist on being paid in cash or are not prepared to give you an invoice. Your work will not have a valid guarantee and you may be liable to prosecution for VAT fraud.
• Do not use a company who offer to do work privately for 'cash' at a lower price. Again you will not have a guarantee and there is the risk of prosecution for VAT fraud.
• Do not use companies that do not have a verifiable address - If they won't tell you where they are, perhaps they do not want to be found.
• Avoid tradesmen who do not have a land based telephone line - What sort of response will you get from a switched off mobile phone if there is a problem?
• Never use an unknown company that has not been recommended to you.
• Do not employ tradesmen who are not members of the appropriate, reputable, trade association. 
• Never allow any tradesman who does not carry photo identification into your house.
• Make sure you can communicate with your tradesman - He might be cheap, but can he understand what you want him to do?
• Do not employ scruffy tradesmen who drive rusty old vans - Their work will probably be of a similar standard as their appearance.

Spot the signs around your appliances Learn how to spot the signs of a Carbon Monoxide leak around your appliance. Fortunately, although you can’t see or smell Carbon Monoxide it’s easy to identify signs that indicate there may be a strong risk of it being produced. Simply look at your gas or heating appliances. Danger signs include:

• Sooting or staining on or around your appliance
• Excessive condensation in the room where the appliance is installed
• Lazy yellow / orange coloured flames

Carbon Monoxide can also be present in smoke from solid fuel or oil appliances. If you are using a gas appliance that should have a crisp blue flame, such as a pilot light, look out for changes. If it turns to a lazy orange flame, the appliance may not be working correctly.

You are at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning if:

• Your appliance was incorrectly or badly installed
  
• Your appliance is not working properly and efficiently
  
• Your appliance has not been safety checked and serviced annually
  
• There is not enough fresh air in the room due to blocked vents or chimneys and flues
  
• Your chimney or flue is blocked or has not been swept regularly
  
• You allow untrained or individuals not qualified for the fuel or appliance to install or maintain your appliances
  
• There is no audible CO alarm fitted and working in your home
  
  Be Carbon Monoxide Aware www.becarbonmonoxideaware.com
  

THOUSANDS OF TRADESMEN ARE UNKNOWINGLY WORKING WITH ASBESTOS

As the HSE continues to run their "Hidden Killer Campaign", local Asbestos Consultants,
Qube Solutions Services have decided to offer low cost Asbestos Awareness Training.
This is aimed at ALL trades including the employed and self employed, to ensure that local business and trades people are aware of the hazards and risks posed by asbestos containing materials (ACMs) within their everyday working environment and to provide an overview of the legislative measures and controls that the employer must comply with to safeguard them.

Asbestos Awareness Training is a legal requirement to be carried out annually for those persons who are liable to disturb asbestos while carrying out their normal everyday work, or who may influence how work is carried out.

"Thousands of Tradesmen are unknowingly working with Asbetos"
Each week approximately 20 tradesmen die from this hidden killer, upto 3 plumbers, 6 electricians, 6 joiners die weekly from asbestos related disease.

The courses are being run at Centenary Business Centre in Nuneaton.  The next course is on the morning of Wednesday 10th March and takes approximately two hours.  For more information go to www.qube-uk.co.uk