The EU General Data Protection Regulation, better known as GDPR, comes into force on May 25th 2018 and imposes new rules on the way companies manage private individuals’ data, along with stiff penalties for data breaches.
Continue reading Will GDPR force businesses to recycle e-waste?
The start of spring is the time to get your garden sorted out, as annuals and perennials start to reappear and the warmer weather makes it easier to work with soil that is no longer frozen.
We all need somewhere to escape to once in a while, and you can only get away with so long ‘reading the paper’ in the safety of a locked bathroom – so why not go one better and build yourself a man cave?
If you were born any time before the mid-1980s, you probably remember when you could take glass bottles back to the shop and get a few pence back in return – the bottles would then be washed and used again, just like doorstep delivery milk bottles.
As long ago as 2010, the author Bill Bryson proposed a return of bottle deposits to encourage recycling and reduce littering, but this is only just becoming a reality in 2018, as government plans now seem set to go ahead.
Continue reading How will the new bottle deposit scheme work?
As the clocks spring forwards and the first of the bank holiday weekends start to arrive, it’s that time of year to hire a skip and give the garden a proper going over ready for the main growing season of spring and summer.
The UK can thank the North Atlantic Drift, an extension of the Gulf Stream, for its temperate climate, with winters significantly warmer than you’d expect in a country this far north.
Unfortunately for sun-lovers, the summers are temperate too, and if you want to enjoy the warmth of the British summertime sun at its best, you’ll need a summer house, garden room or conservatory.
Continue reading What to think about when planning a conservatory
People choose to be pescetarian, vegetarian, vegan and everything in between for a whole range of personal reasons, ranging from the ethics of slaughtering animals for meat, to just not liking the taste.
Continue reading Why a vegan diet is better for the environment
Loft conversions are one of the best known ways to add habitable space to your home, and we’ve all seen master bedrooms with en suite bathrooms that turn that attic space into a cosy place to get a good night’s sleep, right up at the top of the house.
But while most of us might think of converting the loft, many houses have a cellar too – and it’s equally likely to be missing out on its full potential if you currently only use it for storage.
It’s that time of year when many households’ thoughts turn to spring cleaning, and if you’re planning to give your house the onceover from top to bottom, a bit of simple preparation can help make it less of a mammoth task.
Here are just a few ways to get the best results from your spring cleaning in 2018 by combining the latest innovations in cleaning products and microfibre cloths with good old-fashioned remedies and elbow grease.
If you have a decent amount of loft space that has only ever been used for storing the Christmas tree and gathering dust, a loft conversion might be worth considering as a way to add living space and value to your home.
Back in the summer of 2015, Sainsbury’s Bank commissioned some research and found that 31% of estate agents consider loft conversions as one of the best value-adding home improvements, on a par with a new bathroom or even a single-storey extension.
Continue reading What you need to know about renovating a loft
