Gareth Hoyle

Christmas and New Year is a traditional time of giving and receiving, but it is also a time of year that can cause great stress on our planet. One of the best ways that you can care for the environment this festive season is by considering the benefits of renewable electricity for your home.

As the decline in fossil fuels continues and the effect on the environment hits more and more news bulletins with every year, renewable energy types such as wind and solar power are growing in popularity right around the world, including the UK.

Solar Electric Power

Solar electricity is generated by using photovoltaic cells to convert radiation from the sun into electricity.  A photovoltaic cell is made up of one or two layers of a semi conducting material such as silicon. An electricity field is created across the layers when light shines on the cell, allowing electricity to flow. The flow increases with the intensity of the light.

Solar panels are fitted to the roof as part of this process, and they work during daylight hours, with many new houses that are now being built actually integrate such a system in a more seamless manner. Solar power collectors are more useful than is often thought, as they can also function on very cloudy days, which is especially useful right around the year in the UK, and not just at Christmas! Solar power alone is not usually enough to provide for the entirety of a home’s electricity and central heating needs, but it can nonetheless supply a great amount of power.

Wind Power

Another source of renewable electricity for the home is wind power.  The power of the wind is harnessed by wind turbines and used to create electricity. Electricity can be generated in the home with small-scale wind turbines.

Enough electricity can be produced by a small system to power a typical home’s electrical appliances and lights, and the turbines used in such a system are usually referred to as “small-wind” or “microwind” turbines. The wind is caught by the turbines’ large blades and the blowing of the wind forces the blades around, which drives a turbine which in turn generates electricity. And as you’d imagine, stronger winds produce greater electricity.

Make a difference to our planet this festive season by considering the benefits of renewable electricity for your home. From solar to wind, take advantage of the natural resources that don’t negatively impact the environment.

Bella Winterfold frequently writes on the topic of gas and electricity with extensive knowledge in renewable energy.

A big debate has long raged between homeowners across the country about the relative merits of having a bath or a shower in your home. Here, we consider some of the advantages and disadvantages of both baths and showers so that you can make the most informed choice for your own household’s individual needs.

Baths offer the obvious advantage over showers in that they offer the luxury of being able to lie and sit down while you wash. Take a bath, and you have the option of soothing yourself amidst the bubbles, taking a long, hot soak and having the opportunity to temporarily forget about your stresses and strains. This makes a bath very popular with a wide range of people, which draws attention to a further key advantage of having a bath in your home: when the time comes to sell your home, the presence of a bath could even increase the value of your property.

Then, there are the advantages to consider of having a shower in your home. Showers offer you a quicker way of washing yourself, which has made them increasingly popular over the years given our increasingly time pressed lifestyles. After all, when you are struggling to get yourself up out of bed on a morning and have limited time to get cleaned and dressed, you are likely to appreciate being able to switch on a power shower that will allow you to save as much time as possible.

Keep in mind, when you are choosing between having a shower or bath in your home, that you do not necessarily need to have only one or the other. There is nothing to prevent you having a small bath beneath a power shower, allowing you to realise the benefits of having both options. Other options for those who ultimately prefer a shower include a wet room or walk-in shower unit.

Your choice will also depend on your own household’s individual needs, together with what seems most appropriate for the type of property in which you live. If you live in a larger house with two or three bathrooms, for example, you are generally advised to keep at least one bath, as it will be required by any small children who may live in the house either now or in the future. Also keep in mind that showers often use less water than baths, which can make them a strong choice if water shortages affect your part of the UK.

If you have ever wondered why some budget hotels have only showers and not baths, consider the amount charged by their business gas supplier to heat the water for hundreds of baths. Showers can be a more economical choice if they are only used for a few minutes. You can also consider your gas and electricity bills when choosing between a shower and bath in the home.

Bella Winterfold frequently writes on the topic of gas and electricity with extensive knowledge in how to find a reliable business gas supplier.