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Here’s How to Make Your Appliances More Eco-Friendly

The effects of our impact on the environment have never been as clear as now — plastics churning in the ocean, extreme weather changes, and toxic air quality meaning more yearly air pollution. Now more than ever, the public and businesses are acutely aware of their responsibility to protect the planet for now and future generations.

Photo By: Christine Kimberlee Designs

For homeowners and businesses, it can seem like a lot of extra work to be energy efficient and eco-aware. But as well as keeping you compliant, maintaining a level of environmental awareness can help you save money on utility bills in the long run. You don’t need to spend a lot of money straight away to start being eco-friendlier either. This article will take you through some of the ways you can make your existing appliances and practices greener!

1. No overnight standby 

If, like many homes in this day and age, you have a fair number of computers, monitors, television screens or the like, make sure you shut down these devices before leaving your home. Equipment left on standby can use around 50% of the electricity they would use when in operation. If it’s not going to be used for a while, the equipment should be switched off entirely. Neon signs that are popular now as decorative wall art, should be switched off before you go home for the day. This simple tip will save you money on bills, as well as taking a step towards being more environmentally friendly.

2. A matter of degrees

Generally speaking, boilers have a lifespan of around 15 years. If your boiler isn’t quite that old yet, however, there are still steps you can take to making it more energy efficient. If you’re not already in the habit of having the heating turned off when leaving your home, do so. You can always set a timer for the heating to come on an hour or so before you return, so you aren’t walking into a freezing home. Also, try knocking the thermostat down just a degree or two. It’s unlikely to make a huge difference to the comfort of your home, but even just one degree lower can save you money and energy.

3. The office canteen

It’s easy to forget the appliances we have at home need care and maintenance. Just as your car need’s yearly check-ups and oil changes, so does your fridge! A fridge should last for around 10 to 20 years before it needs replacing, but if you reckon your fridge is past its best, be sure to opt for an eco-friendly model; there’s loads of energy-efficient models on the market right now. For now, we’ll focus on your current fridge. When was the last time the coils were cleaned? It’s likely been a while, but according to Architectural Digest, cleaning a fridge’s coils can make for a more energy-efficient machine.

The cleaning process is fairly simple:

  • Turn off the fridge
  • Put on gloves to protect your hands
  • Locate the appliance’s coils (usually, they are at the back, top, or bottom of the fridge)
  • Remove the base grill if the coils are on the top or bottom or pull the fridge out carefully to access the coils if they are located at the back
  • Take a refrigerator coil brush and clean out the dirt and debris that has accumulated on the coils
  • Clean the floor around the appliance before putting it back in place

Also, you have a dishwasher at home? It’s good practice to wait for a full load before setting the dishwasher off, so encourage your family members to stack it to a full load rather than washing in bursts. For the last load of the day, you could leave the door of the dishwasher open to let the dishes air dry overnight instead of using the energy-hungry drying cycling.

4. Office air-con

The air conditioning unit is no doubt a much-loved addition to your home, as it keeps your family living and working at a comfortable temperature. After all, living in a too-warm or too-cold environment can have an effect on your overall mood and progress if you work from home. So, don’t neglect the hard-working appliance — give it a check over every so often to make sure it is running to the best of its ability. Your best bet is to get a professional to inspect your home’s air conditioning units to be sure that everything is running efficiently, as well as confirming that it is still effective. One of the most obvious key signs that it’s time for a check over is if the unit is making strange noises.

Of course, newer models tend to be more energy efficient, but as you can see, your home’s current appliances can still work greener with the proper care and attention. When replacement becomes unavoidable though, take some time to look at the energy-efficiency of models and view it as an investment to saving money and energy in the long run!

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Looking for a House Loan? Here are some Personal Loan Features and Benefits

A loan requirement is not restricted to the middle-income group. The high-income bracket also requires frequent loans. People that don’t earn a lot have a higher loan requirement, but find it difficult to obtain a loan due to their credit scores.

Though difficult, it is not impossible for them to get a loan. They can choose other means for a low salary personal loan. Such loans are different from personal loans in terms of their eligibility criteria, the tenure of payment and the rate of interest charged. If you are property planning and looking to invest, loans are a smart move to look into. The features of these loans are discussed below:

No Income Related Criteria

When your income levels are low, you are forced to look at other sources of obtaining a loan. Within a bank, you can get a loan against your fixed deposits and gold. The gold loan can also be availed from NBFCs, which would be willing to accept other valuables as collateral against a loan. These loans do not consider your income as a deciding factor for loan disbursal. In desperate times, when a loan is absolutely necessary turning to low-value loans is the safest option.

Requirement of Collateral

As mentioned in the previous point, collateral is required in order to process these loans. Either in the form of an FD, gold, property papers, or documents for some other assets that you might possess, the presence of collateral becomes vital. The amount you can receive as a loan is in proportion to the value of the collateral. This is required to provide security to the lending agencies from defaulters. If a situation arises that the borrower is unable to pay the money, the agency is secure against a loss and will take over the collateral.

Higher Rates of Interest

The rate of interest varies depending on the collateral selected. If an FD is chosen as the collateral, the rate charged is only a little higher than what a bank would provide you with. In the case of gold, the interest generally ranges between 10-14% depending on the amount of money being borrowed. When a loan is being availed from NBFCs, you should be prepared to pay a hefty interest amount (about 14-20%), but this is completely dependent on the organization.

Choice of Tenure

You can choose to pay the loan quickly or you can decide to opt for a longer tenure depending on your capability. Though there is an upper limit to the length of the tenure, you can close the loan as soon as you wish without being subjected to any penalties. Consider a scenario when an expected payment is delayed and you have a pressing requirement for the day. You can take a loan and close it as soon as that expected payment comes in. This way you have effectively used a loan without over-paying.

It is possible to get a collateral free low salary personal loan from fintech organizations such as MoneyTap, which offer you low-value loans with interest charged only on the amount that you actually withdraw from the fund. The process of application is easy to understand and seamless, making it a pleasurable experience for you.

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How to Carry Your Home Design Concept from Interior to Exterior

Make your home’s decorating flow seamlessly from your interior’s to your exteriors. Here are some designer tips that really do work!


Photos By: Osmond Designs

If you’ve recently invested time and money into re-designing the interior of your home, then there is no doubt that you’re enjoying the results. A newly designed home that reflects your lifestyle and personality helps to create a real sense of belonging and uniqueness in your home. While plenty of attention is paid to a home’s interior, the outdoor space is often seen as an after-thought rather than an opportunity to carry on with your design vision.

Rather than stop at the interior, why not look for ways to take your home design concept from interior to exterior and create a complete space that fits all your needs and wants. Here are some ways you’ll be able to create that design flow from indoors to outdoors.

Mimic the Same Types of Materials

One tip is to mimic the same types of materials both indoors and outdoors. Take, for example, counter surfaces. If you have used a lot of natural stone in the interior of your home in the kitchen and bathrooms, then why not create that same look outdoors.

Natural stone veneer from Kafka Granite can be the perfect way to create show-stopping landscaping details, walkways, and pathways. You can use the same color scheme as the indoors, so it won’t feel jarring as you move through the house into the yard.

Build a Patio, Porch, or Deck That Acts as Living Area

Another way to help create flow is to build a deck, patio, or porch that acts as outdoor living space. The idea is that you create the same sort of comfortable and welcoming area for entertaining and relaxing outdoors as exists indoors. The area doesn’t have to be massive; it just needs a designated space for seating.

Stick with the Same Color Palette

While you may be tempted to go for something bold and wild in your outdoor space, if this isn’t the same color palette as the interior of your home, it won’t feel connected. Ideally, you want to stick to the same color palette and just use various tones and depths to create interest and drama.

Install Glass Doors to the Outdoors

You also want to make the outdoors feel accessible. Nothing is more welcoming than large glass doors. Let’s face it, they invite you out there since you’re getting a full view of the backyard at all times. Perhaps you already have glass doors, but they are on the small side. You can make a pretty big impact by enlarging the size of the doors and creating a grander entrance/exit.

Design Flow Doesn’t Need to Stop at the Outdoors

When creating a design flow through your house, there is no reason that the outside walls should act as barriers. Instead, look for ways you can carry that same design style and vision throughout the exterior and really perfect that indoor-outdoor style of living that is so very popular.