Glow-worm blog

Over 1,000 people attended the Glow-worm Family Fun Day at our site in Belper last week, raising £7,300 for the Babington Hospital.  Members of staff brought along friends and family to enjoy a range of games and activities for the company’s 4th biennial fun day.

Drawing competitions, face painting and donkey rides kept all the kids amused whilst the adults enjoyed penalty shootout tasks, basketball and the dodgems.

The day was also an opportunity for Glow-worm staff to telling members of the local community about Glow-worm products including the production methods employed on site. 

There was also keen interest in renewable energy and, with the poor British weather on the day being what it was, we were able to highlight that you don’t need bright sunshine to power solar thermal options such as Clearly Solar.   Or to enjoy the Family Fun Day.

Other popular stalls included the tombola, cake selling and the Pimm’s and strawberries which helped get everyone in the mood for summer.  The central attraction for the day was a petting zoo with snakes, rabbits, ferrets, reptiles and birds for everyone to enjoy and learn about.

Thanks to all who attended and here is a picture to remind you of the day.

CORGI is the leading authority for information on gas safety issues around the home, founded to protect the public from the dangers of unsafe gas installations.

By maintaining an up-to-date register of qualified gas installers and other trades people, CORGI promotes the core values of professional service and high standards in safety. Consequently, the CORGI badge is a guarantee of safety, making it the standard to look for when employing a tradesman.

In recent years, registration has become a legal requirement for anyone installing or repairing gas fittings or appliances. So, you can be sure that any work completed by a CORGI technician will be done competently and safely.

Illegal work can be defined simply as gas work carried out for gain by a person not working on behalf of a CORGI registered business. Such work is far more likely to be unsafe and, in such cases, the illegal gas worker far less likely to offer support to the customer in the event of an incident.

If an installer is not CORGI registered then they won’t have kept up to date with training, probably won’t have the right equipment or hold the right qualifications to do the type of work you need.  As a result an unregistered CORGI installer who is working illegally may leave you with unsafe appliances.  They will not provide you with a Declaration of Safety Certificate or Building Regulations compliance Certificate, both of which are beneficial to include in your Home Information Pack.

Always ask your plumber for their Corgi registration number and check it at www.trustcorgi.com; if they can’t provide one then they can’t work on live gas installations.

If you suspect illegal gas work call the CORGI hotline on 0800 915 0491.

Visit www.glow-wormheating.co.uk for extra help on finding a safe engineer. There’s an approved installer list which means that anyone who is included has attended Glow-worm training courses, so they know exactly how to fit your boiler. All you have to do is enter your postcode to find approved CORGI registered installers near you, simple as that!

We’re big fans of the Energy Saving Trust website here at Glow-worm.

We’re also fans of saving money which is why we’re constantly raving about high efficiency condensing boilers, which could save you as much as £270 a year on your heating bills.

Did you know that there may be grants and offers available in your area to help you install an energy efficient heating system?

The Energy Saving Trust has a search facility on the website www.energysavingtrust.org.uk to check whether there are any such grants or offers in your area.  As well as heating, it also provides details for offers on cavity wall insulation, loft insulation and draught proofing and general appliances.

Alternatively if you’d prefer, why not contact your local Energy Saving Trust advice centre on 0800 512 012.

How do high efficiency condensing boilers work?

If you haven’t already heard, a high efficiency condensing boiler works on the principle of recovering as much as possible of the heat which is normally wasted from the flue of a conventional (non-condensing) boiler.  The best high efficiency condensing boilers convert more than 90% of the energy it consumes into useful energy , compared to just 78% for conventional types.

Nowadays all new boilers must be high efficiency - all Glow-worm boilers are SEDBUK A or B rated.  This means that, based on the Government’s rating of energy efficiency, all Glow-worm boilers are at the top of the scale.  So you can be confident that investing in a Glow-worm boiler can help to save money and reduce your impact on the environment by using less energy.

Interested in solar thermal but not sure if it’s for you? There are many misconceptions about solar so we thought we’d try and help by answering some of the most common questions.

How much sun is needed to work?

Solar thermal doesn’t need lots of sun as it uses diffused solar radiation to convert the energy from the sun into heat. Even on cloudy days a solar thermal system will be able to capture solar radiation to produce domestic hot water for the home.

How much energy will my solar thermal system provide?

Overall you can heat on average 50-60% of your hot water for the year – in the summer this can be as high as 100% meaning that your boiler may not even have to fire up at all.

Do I need to get planning permission?

Planning permission is not needed to install a solar thermal system as they are now deemed as permitted developments.

Do I need a specialist to install it?

We’ve got a list of fully trained installers searchable by postcode so that you can find someone in your area. You can search and find out more information on our dedicated Clearly Solar website.

Please get in touch if there’s anything else you’ve ever wondered about Solar thermal and we’ll get our experts to answer your questions?

Having recently discussed the best price comparison websites, we felt it was about time we re-visited some suggestions on how you could save energy at home.

We’ve all heard about switching to energy saving light bulbs but we’ve also got some more tips, this time courtesy of the Carbon Trust:

• Make sure that you measure how much energy you’re using - Unless you know what you’re paying, you won’t know what impact the changes make.  Keep track of your bills and how they change when you introduce any energy saving tips.

• Don’t turn up the heating unless you really need to - Try to keep your thermostat at 19°C. According to the Carbon Trust your heating costs will go up by 8% each time you increase the temperature by just one degree

• Leave plenty of space around radiators - Putting furniture in front of a radiator means it will need to work harder to heat the room.

• Reduce energy losses in the home by ensuring that you have adequate insulation and fix costly leaks found on pipework.

 And it’s not just at home where you can save on energy – the RAC shows us that by employing a few key driving techniques, you can reduce your vehicle’s fuel consumption, save money and do your bit to help the environment.

• Use your gears wisely - Driving in the highest gear you can, without labouring the engine, is a more fuel efficient way of driving. It is estimated that a vehicle travelling at a speed of 37mph in third gear uses 25% more fuel than when at the same speed in fifth gear.

• Drive more smoothly - Think ahead and, by applying light throttle and avoiding heavy braking, you will reduce your vehicle’s overall fuel use and at the same time reduce wear and tear. Research suggests that driving techniques can influence fuel efficiency by as much as 30%.

• Switch off your engine - Whenever it is safe to do so, switch off your engine, especially when stuck in traffic for more than a few minutes. If you have air conditioning think before you use it. Not using it will reduce fuel consumption and ultimately save you money.

• Drive off as soon as you can - Don’t leave your engine running when you first start up. Drive off straight away if you can but drive gently until the engine has reached its normal operating temperature.

Those hardened Glow-worm fans out there may have already seen the information on our main website about last year’s launch of our Clearly Solar range.

Well, after much demand we have launched a dedicated website on all things solar thermal. This –basically means a solar thermal system which includes a solar panel (or number of panels in some cases) to supply as much as 50-60% of your annual domestic hot water.

The new website can be found at www.glow-wormheating.co.uk/clearlysolar and answers lots of common questions so you can see whether you might be able to get a solar thermal system installed at your property and understand exactly what it might involve.

There is a common misconception that solar thermal needs a hot climate to function properly but actually the system works by collecting diffused sunlight to generate energy to heat your domestic hot water.

Many people also believe that installing solar thermal systems makes their homes more attractive to potential buyers and given that solar products will increase your rating on the Energy Performance Certificate (part of the Home Information Pack), it’s easy to understand why more of us are going for solar thermal systems.

Renewable energy for the home is no longer a thing of the future for those with radical green ideas – it’s accessible and affordable.  What’s more it’ll also help you do your bit for the planet by reducing your carbon footprint and in the long term save you money by reducing your energy consumption.

So if you’re interested in solar thermal as an option for your home, why not take a look at our website or speak to one of the fully trained Clearly Solar installers in your area.

Like most things in life, your boiler benefits from a little TLC every now and again. For instance, did you know your boiler has an optimum water pressure?

Your boiler needs to have a constant water pressure to make sure it works properly and continues to keep your house nice and cosy. It’s important to know that different types of boilers have different ways to keep pressure constant.

For example, if you have an older conventional boiler, your heating system will rely on a water tank which keeps water levels constant by using a ball float device. But if your boiler is quite new and is a combination or standard central heating system, then you need to check your water pressure about once a month to make sure it’s correct.

Checking on the pressure of your hot water system is quick and easy to do. Just take a look at the pressure gauge and make sure the reading is between 1 and 1.5, the perfect pressure range. If it drops below 0.5 or rises above 2.5, the pressure is incorrect and your hot water system won’t work as well as it could – and could even shut out.

If your pressure reading is too low (below 0.5), you need to repressurise the system by topping it up with water via the filling loop. The filling loop looks like a small tap which is connected to the system via a small hose. To add more water into your boiler, simply turn the tap while you watch the gauge to make sure you let in enough water to raise the pressure to the correct level (1-1.5).

There are a few reasons why your boiler may lose pressure, including leaks in your system. If this is the case, you should get the leak repaired as soon as possible to make sure your boiler continues to run efficiently.

Another reason for pressure to drop is when air has been removed after a radiator has been bled. So try and remember next time you bleed your radiators to check the pressure afterwards, just to make sure it has not been affected. 

If there’s anything you’re unsure about when you come to repressurise your boiler, we’d always advise you to speak to an expert.

Visit www.britishgas.co.uk for more tips on how to repressurise and look after your boiler.

As energy prices soar it’s important that we all make savings any way we can.  As well as investing in energy saving light bulbs, more insulation and ‘A’ rated appliances, it may be worth comparing the cost of your current gas or electricity supplier to an alternative source.

The independent watchdog energywatch provides free and impartial advice to help consumers get the best deal possible, vetting price comparison websites to ensure that you get a fair deal when shopping around for energy.

The website has a Confidence Code which strictly monitors price comparison websites – ensuring that consumers get consistently accurate and uniform results.

There are a number of accredited sites which offer an internet price comparison service to find out how much could be saved by switching to a new supplier.

These sites include:
• www.unravelit.com
• www.saveonyourbills.co.uk
• www.energyhelpline.co.uk
• www.uswitch.com
• www.moneysupermarket.com
• www.switchwithwhich.co.uk
• www.simplyswitch.com
• www.theenergyshop.com
• www.themoneyexpert.com/energy
• www.homeadvisoryservice.com
• www.energylinx.co.uk
• www.confused.com
• www.ukpower.co.uk

According to energywatch, switching both gas and electricity suppliers might save you over £100 a year.  There are at least 10 million domestic consumers – almost half of all energy consumers – that have never switched supplier which means there’s over £1 billion worth of savings out there.
That’s a lot of money to be saved!

Have you noticed your radiator hasn’t been working as well as it should?
This could be down to trapped air bubbles in your pipes and can easily be remedied by ‘bleeding’ your radiator or heater.

But don’t worry! It’s not as drastic or gory as it sounds! Bleeding your radiator simply means releasing trapped air from inside the system.

When water is heated and cooled continuously, air bubbles can be created. If air gets stuck inside your radiator coils it stops your heater from emitting the maximum amount of heat into your room, meaning it can cost you more money and waste energy to have your heater on when air is trapped inside.

You should ‘bleed’ your radiator twice a year to make sure it’s as efficient as possible at keeping your home nice and snug. If there’s a big difference in temperature between the top and bottom of your radiator, then it needs bleeding, here’s how to go about it:

o Turn your heating off
o Use your radiator key and insert it into the valve at the top of the radiator and turn it anti clockwise
o Make sure you have a bowl ready to catch any excess water that drips out!
o Turn the key slowly until you hear a hissing sound
o When the water drips out it means that all the trapped air has been released
o Turn the key back to the closed position

Bleeding your radiator can give your heating a whole new lease of life but if your radiator is still underperforming after you’ve followed these simple steps, call a professional to have it checked out.  We’ve a list of installers in your area who maybe able to help, click here to do a postcode search.

For more advice on how to make your central heating system more efficient and bleeding your radiators see the Energy Saving Trust website.

Your children may not like eating their greens but being green and helping to look after the environment is easy and can be good fun too!

Children often learn faster than adults and pick up habits very easily, so why not make sure they’re good ones? By making a few small changes in how you live such as turning lights off when you leave a room and switching your TV, stereo or games console off when it’s not needed, you can help to save energy, lower your bills and save the environment.

Being energy efficient can be fun, and simple tasks like closing the curtains and blinds at night will insulate your windows and help to keep heat inside your house, making it nice and cosy. Looking after the environment can be made more exciting by making being energy efficient into a game for your children! Searching for lights that need turning off and making sure all your appliances are switched off could become a fun game before bed time.

Bath times are great but did you know that showers as they use only 40% of the hot water needed for a bath?* Now that’s what I call a power shower!

It’s not just children that can help us become more aware of our environment. Things like only boiling the amount of water you need in your kettle, setting your washing machine at 40 degrees and using energy saving light bulbs are little things that we can all do around the house to be greener.

Remember, each little change you make helps protect the planet for everyone!

*Source: Energy Saving Trust