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Heat pumps do bring down energy costs

Researchers at the Energy House 2.0 research facility at the University of Salford, working with housebuilders Bellway and Barratt Redrow and construction solutions manufacturer Saint-Gobain UK & Ireland, have spent the past year testing 14 different heating systems to see which ones will heat homes the best at the lowest cost.
 

Be bold, choose red!

Red probably isn't the best colour for bedrooms, but if you want some bright hues for your sitting room or kitchen, well, why not be bold and go for a spot of chilli red? Plenty of brands are going big on red for 2026, including Oliver Bonas, Procook and Peugeot. If you've got essentially white walls, a red cushion cover or two can make all the difference in a sitting room, as can a red throw and a red planter. And in the kitchen keep the theme going with red mugs, napkins and a table runner.

Eco friendly wall coverings

According to the British Coatings Federation wallpaper sales are continuing to grow, as they have been for the past few years. Well, lockdown did present many of us with time to get to grips with some of the more difficult DIY tasks ..such as learning to hang wallpaper. 

Kitchen compost bins: get composting and grow your own

Save your peelings and food waste in a counter top bin for home composting or for local council composting. Even Greener

Cruelty free Eris silk

Affordable luxuries: eco-friendly candles and diffusers

scented candles are big business. Choose candles that contain no paraffin wax and if they have palm wax choose brands that guarantee sustainable palm

Heat pump maker Aira launches new Power range for homes

The company says it's completed the fully integrated Aira Home Energy System, designed to massively cut energy bills, decarbonise homes and accelerate Europe’s transition to affordable, secure and clean energy.

Building on the success of its heat pump, Swedish clean energy tech company Aira is launching two new products – the Aira Power Hub (inverter) and Aira Power Store (battery). Connected in one system, the products work seamlessly together with solar panels and the Aira Heat Pump to give monthly energy bill savings of around 90 per cent.

Pet Lamp Project - turning plastic bottles into lighting

eco friendly PET Lamps are made by artisan communities in Chile and Colombia using waste PET plastic bottles. The lamps also use sustainable fibres such as wool, rattan and wicker. The project was started in Spain by Pet Lamp Project.

Closca collapsible cycle helmets

It's a small design studio that won Spain's National Design Prize for its Fuga foldable cycle helmet. Closca founder and designer Carlos Ferrando says his motivation in designing the product was to 'make the urban cyclist more beautiful' and no doubt many of us can drink to that...

Benefits of hiring an expert to design your home

Hire an interior designer to help you get the most of your home. And they'll ensure you make eco friendly, sustainable decisions too - for example choosing sustainable renewable materials, recycled materials and the most energy efficient appliances. 

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