Thinking about the winter months leaves most landlords cold. Many do not think to plan ahead. Others trust that circumstances will resolve themselves. To most, the months of blazing summer heat do not lend themselves to thinking ahead to burst boilers, faulty thermostats, and permafrost pipes. Yet, by thinking now, landlords can leap the savings curve and increase the returns on their properties by reducing energy costs over winter. Landlords can make their properties more energy-efficient – and therefore economical – by starting in the summer. The services of plumbers, contractors, and even the price of fixtures will be cheaper when there is less demand, i.e. during the summer. Furthermore, by starting now, they have more time to brainstorm and get truly creative about their solutions.

When the phrase ‘air pollution’ is mentioned, most people immediately think of traffic fumes, smoke from incinerators, or emissions from industrial plants or factories. Indoor air pollution in your own home doesn’t immediately spring to mind. There are various reasons for poor air quality in the home, but many people have no idea that this can be a factor that if left unchecked, can, sometimes severely, affect the health of the occupants.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are contained within many of the products and items we are surrounded by day to day, and are carbon-based chemicals which evaporate at room temperature. The list of products which contain VOCs is extensive, but among some of the most common household items to contain these potentially harmful chemicals are carpet adhesives, paints, upholstery fabrics, air fresheners, disinfectants and cosmetics. With so many household products containing VOCs, the Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risk estimates that there are up to 900 chemicals in the indoor air we breathe. Staggeringly, that means that the air in our homes may in fact be up to 70% more polluted than the air outside, with airborne irritants significantly impacting our overall health and physical wellbeing.

Energy efficiency matters now more than ever. Despite a global recession and public spending cuts across the board, global warming remains one of the biggest threats to the planet and those who dwell on it. Put simply, energy efficiency is the attempt to reduce the amount of energy used to provide everyday products and services by making improvements to technology and buildings.

Most home owners don’t think about the quality of air in their home. While pollution from traffic and high pollen counts is often in the news, the fact that the air in your home can be just as bad for your health and wellbeing isn't as widely reported. Indoor air quality (IAQ) is defined as the absence of air pollutants which could affect the comfort or health of the building residents. Nowadays, we spend a lot of time insulating our homes - adding cavity wall insulation, double glazing and loft insulation to make them more energy-efficient and to save on our utility bills.

It's that time of year again, when the weather’s gorgeous and you’d love to be out in it and having fun, but the wheezes and the sneezes and the irritation of hay fever hit, and can easily ruin your summer. EnviroVent gives their top tips to reduce hay fever effects for you this summer.

Hay fever is believed to affect over 10 million people in the UK and can be an annual visitor or afflict people for a shorter time. It is an allergy caused by pollen or dust which inflames the mucous membranes of the eyes and nose, causing a runny nose and watery eyes.

As every installer should know, high quality ducting is essential to the effective running of a ventilation system and there are a number of important considerations to take into account. When ducting is selected and installed correctly, it can improve and prolong the efficiency of the whole system, leading to long term low maintenance.

The air in our homes can be more polluted than the air outdoor so it is important to check the indoor air and take measures to improve it.