Living In The City

When people describe living in the city, one has to realise that they are seeing things through their eyes only. A wonderful experience for one individual may not be for the next. This is why it is so difficult to explain the advantages and disadvantages of living in the city versus settling down in a rural area. At the end of the day, it all boils down to personal preference. If you’re interested in a fast-paced life where something is always happening and the place where you live never sleeps, then the city is ideal for you. Conversely, if you hate noise, congestion and traffic, perhaps a house in the countryside is the best place for you.

One criticism that those who are opposed to living in the city have is that city folk are  not particularly polite. Certainly, the scenes from the recent riots where people stole from injured students made one feel uneasy. And there is no denying that crime rates in the city are higher than in rural areas. However, the perceived unfriendliness of city dwellers can be attributed to the fact that they have little choice. The city moves at 100 miles an hour and being relaxed is not an option. Try taking a walk in the centre of London and you’ll know what I mean. The higher crime rate of a city means that people have to be on their guard at all times.

It’s said that people who live in rural areas are more helpful and that there is a greater sense of community. While this is true to a certain extent, it is also true that privacy is at a premium in small towns. It seems incredible that you have more privacy in a city of 10 million people than in a town of 5,000 or less but it’s true. You could say that the level of privacy you experience is inversely proportional to the size of the place where you live. Some cities may seem cold and harsh yet they still give those seeking solitude the opportunity to be alone with their thoughts.

There is no doubt that living in the city is more expensive than anywhere else but at the same time, you have far greater employment opportunities. If you ever have notions of rising through the ranks of a company and becoming an important businessman, it’s not likely to happen in a rural area. All the major corporations and career options are found in the city. The cost of living may be high but the money earned is equally so in most cases. And when you have money to spend, the city gives you limitless options when it comes to spending it.

If you have aspirations that involve becoming wealthy and you enjoy the thrills and excitement that life offers, then living in the city is exactly what you need. Otherwise, seek a quieter life in a rural area, just don’t expect any privacy, because people living in small towns are omnipotent!

Energy Saving Your Way To A Quality Urban Lifestyle

The average UK household energy bill is rising each year. The six major energy companies in the UK have made no secret of the fact that they are intent on pushing up their prices. The UK Government are also desperate to increase the level of green energy consumed, a process that is not cheap. Things look especially bad for people in the city who will be hit the hardest. However, we are often our own worst enemy with careless energy usage and wastage equally to blame for soaring energy bills. What you need to do is look at your home as a whole unit before deciding on changes to each individual room. This will help you conjure up an effective plan that will save you hundreds of pounds a year.

Did you know that your windows could account for anywhere between 10-25% of your energy bill? You need high quality double glazing or else your energy bill will take a hit. During the summer, heat from outside will penetrate single pane glass and increase the temperature of the home. As a result, you will need to use extra air conditioning. During the winter, heat will easily escape which means that you need to use more fuel to keep the house warm. Double glazed windows with low-e coating and argon gas is the most cost effective solution. Another quick tip is to place a heavy duty, clear plastic sheet on the inside of your window during winter. If the sheet is sealed tightly, less heat should escape.

The process of heating and cooling the home is responsible for more than 40% of your total energy bill. It’s likely that the heating, air-conditioning and ventilation equipment in your city home is quite old and it really should be upgraded. This will not only increase their efficiency, it will also reduce the amount of Carbon Dioxide gas that is created and sent into the atmosphere. It should go without saying that your heating should be as low as is comfortably possible in the winter and the air-conditioning needs to be used as sparingly as you can manage during the summer.

Every city glows with lights at night time but do you have to use traditional light bulbs? Lighting is responsible for more than 10% of your total energy bill and you could save up to 75% off your lighting costs if you use Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs). Each CFL is said to save you £20 over the course of its lifetime. Although they are a few pounds more expensive to buy than a regular bulb, it’s clear that easy savings can be made through them. Always turn off lights when you don’t need them. This includes outdoor lights.

Living in an urban area is expensive enough without having to pay an excessively high energy bill. The above are just three of the dozens of easy energy saving tips you can utilise. Best of all, you can start today. Common sense alone should save you money off your energy bill. 

Old Heating Systems Versus New

If you have an old heating system, it’s likely to be costing you a small fortune due to its lack of energy efficiency. You can spot old boilers a mile away for they will be covered in asbestos and there will probably be a pair of large doors in front of the boiler. New boilers are between 20-30% more efficient that their old counterparts and this will lead to you saving a small fortune. Add in a massive reduction in the amount of Carbon Dioxide emissions and you’re on a winner. Below are some further examples of new heating systems and how they are better than ones we have grown accustomed to.

We have being using fossil fuels such as natural gas, oil and coal for decades and in the case of coal, hundreds of years. They have served the energy needs of the human race for generations but their environmental impact is significant. A number of homes still use natural gas furnaces in their living rooms. This is why the carbon dioxide emissions of natural gas is going to increase to 11 billion tons a year by 2030 according to detailed studies.

An alternative is to use wood pellets which are pieces of compressed wood made from sawdust and other wood which is deemed waste. As well as utilising all the wood gained from felled trees, the CO2 emissions of wood pellets are said to be significantly lower than those of natural gas. And with UK fuel companies intent on increasing their prices to record levels with price hikes above levels of inflation, wood pellets are far less expensive. Indeed, some UK families claim that they spend 50% less on wood pellets than they did on natural gas.

Coal is still commonly used for stoves and is a tangible cost. Basically, you know exactly how much you pay for a bag of coal. We also use oil in our heating systems and again, this is a luxury that is becoming more and more expensive. Oil prices have escalated in recent years and the energy companies increased their rates accordingly. Funnily enough, when the price of oil fell again, the prices did not fall with nearly the same speed. In effect, the consumer is still getting a bad deal and needs to consider alternatives before the energy price increases ensure we all freeze in the winter.

Geothermal heat systems are becoming popular despite their high initial cost to install. It works on the principle that anything which is located several feet underground will be warmer than anything at ground level. A geothermal heat pump uses underground heat to increase the efficiency of your heating system. The pumps use energy and move heat from underground into your home. This system could last up to 25 years.

We can no longer rely on old heating systems because they are not energy efficient and are also emitting huge levels of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Some of the new heating systems may seem expensive, but when you consider the fact that existing energy bills are set to double within the next ten years, new heating systems are worth thinking about.

Old Windows Versus New

As you know, windows are the eyes of your home. And if these eyes are old, saggy and unattractive, your entire home will suffer because of it. However, you also need to combine style with energy efficiency if you are interested in saving money on your energy bill. There is no point in paying hundreds of pounds for fancy new windows if their energy efficiency is no better than an old single pane window. We know that double glazed windows are the best possible solution to the issue of new windows but there are UK homes that still prefer old fashioned alternatives.

Sash windows are seen as elegant and stylish and have been around for centuries. In fact, there are sash windows surviving from 1670 so at least we know they are durable! You will still see sash windows on Georgian and Victorian style homes as well as on old fashioned bars and restaurants. Problems with these kind of windows include their susceptibility to wood rot and the fact that the sliding mechanism has a propensity to break, leaving you unable to open or close the window. Sash windows are also prone to shrinkage when exposed to severe weather conditions.

UPVC windows are a cheaper and more energy efficient alternative to sash windows. As well as keeping heat in during the winter and keeping it out during the summer, UPVC windows are also easy to clean. Compare this to sash windows which are in constant need of maintenance. UPVC windows have a high ‘R’ value and they will never rust or corrode. You don’t have to paint them and they last for 20 years or more.

You need to avoid any form of wooden window but if you look at tens of thousands of homes in the UK, the wooden window frame is alive and well. Think of all the problems associated with sash windows and subtract the aesthetic quality and you’re left with something of a mess. Wooden windows will shrink, warp, bend and rot. They need paint, varnish and lots more TLC. Any energy efficiency gained is lost when the frame shrinks and allows all the heat out in any case.

Aluminium windows have become popular as well and are one of the new breed of windows. Oddly enough, one area where aluminium windows fall down is their lack of energy efficiency. They are great conductors of cold and heat so they are often used in commercial buildings. Aluminium windows are three times stronger than UPVC windows and they are also relatively inexpensive. They are brilliant for reducing external noise and can be decorated and made to look attractive.

Although aluminium windows buck the trend of new windows by being less energy efficient than they should be, it is certain that the days of the old fashioned wooden windows should be long gone. They offer too many problems and are far too expensive for the service they provide. Too much effort is required to keep them in good shape and they don’t offer tight enough security to boot.