News
Hot-water cylinder programmer: save electricity without giving up hot showers
Gareth Whitcombe
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Electricity prices are climbing, and hot-water bills are rising relentlessly too – yet one often-overlooked small device could quietly make...
News
Recycled Asphalt Driveways: A Climate-Friendly Alternative to Concrete
Gareth Whitcombe
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Many homeowners are now asking whether they really need to pour another heavy concrete slab. The climate crisis, tighter rules...
News
Make Your Tap Shine Again: The Simple Vinegar Trick
Gareth Whitcombe
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The tap only looks shiny on the day it is first fitted. Then everyday life quietly takes over: toothpaste splashes,...
News
Firewood: the simple drying method for almost double heat output
Gareth Whitcombe
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With a few straightforward measures, the heat output of firewood logs can be increased considerably. Anyone heating with wood will...
News
Flax Fibre Insulation: A Sustainable Alternative for Buildings
Gareth Whitcombe
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When building or renovating today, the cost per square metre of insulation is no longer the only consideration. The energy...
News
Showering Less: Why the Japanese “Washing Machine for Humans” Is Changing Personal Hygiene
Gareth Whitcombe
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More lies behind the trend than mere convenience. In many homes, going a full day without showering is now entirely...
News
Bathroom trends 2026: five smart updates without a full renovation
Gareth Whitcombe
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In 2026, the trend is taking a radical turn. Rather than ripping out an entire bathroom, interior designers are increasingly...
News
Pressed Wood Briquettes: Up to Three Times More Usable Heat Than Logs
Gareth Whitcombe
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Many stove owners do not realise that an inconspicuous alternative to logs can turn their stove into a genuine heating...
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Plant-Based Construction Materials: The Construction Material of Tomorrow
Gareth Whitcombe
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When people think of construction materials, concrete, steel and brick usually come to mind. An international research team now argues...
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Why Boiling Pasta Water Damages Kitchen Drains
Gareth Whitcombe
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In countless kitchens, the same thing happens every evening: the pasta is ready, the pot is drained and the boiling...
News
Build a DIY Shoe Rack from Timber Offcuts for Small Hallways
Gareth Whitcombe
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Many flats share the same issue: a tiny entrance, almost nowhere to put furniture and a pile of shoes that...
News
How Much Firewood for 80 to 120 m²?
Gareth Whitcombe
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The gap between the romance of a crackling fire and the actual heating requirement is often considerable. Anyone intending to...
News
Heat pump boiler: 8 electricity cost traps to avoid
Gareth Whitcombe
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A conventional electric boiler has long been regarded as an electricity guzzler. Modern heat pump boilers, often referred to as...
News
ETH Zurich develops living building material that absorbs CO₂
Gareth Whitcombe
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A team at ETH Zurich is developing an innovative building material that is literally alive. Tiny microorganisms within it remove...
News
Seamless wall covering in the kitchen: the Monolith effect for modern kitchens
Gareth Whitcombe
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If you are currently planning a new kitchen or considering an upgrade, you are likely to come across one term...
News
Japan’s human washing machine: the future of showering
Gareth Whitcombe
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Rather than stepping into an ordinary shower, you simply sit inside a cabin, close the door and let a machine...
News
Remove Wall Plugs Without Damaging the Wall
Gareth Whitcombe
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Many people reach for pliers in this situation, wrench the plastic wall plug out with force and are then left...
News
Wood Briquettes: Up to 300 Per Cent More Heat Than Ordinary Logs
Gareth Whitcombe
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Many households routinely rely on ordinary firewood. Yet a closer look reveals a fuel that delivers substantially more heat from...
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Why Desert Sand Is Unsuitable for Concrete
Gareth Whitcombe
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At first glance, it seems like a bad joke: countries whose landscapes consist of endless dunes have sand shipped in...
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Dreame A3 AWD Pro 5000 review: the ultimate robot lawn mower for huge gardens
Gareth Whitcombe
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Four wheel motors, a 360°-scanning 3D LiDAR, two AI-powered cameras, the ability to tackle slopes of up to 80%, and...
News
Sugar to a Mother-in-Law's Tongue: Does It Help the Plant?
Gareth Whitcombe
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Adding sugar to a mother-in-law's tongue has become a popular tip, supposedly encouraging microorganisms in the growing medium and improving...
