Charnwood SLX Stoves

Charnwood have a superb SLX range of stoves, similar to the Charnwood LA stoves (previously featured), but with added styling and features.
The Charnwood SLX range of stove comes in either the SLX 20, inset or freestanding (outset), or the SLX 45 inset or freestanding.

The SLX 20 is available as purely a room heater, it uses a mixture of multi-fuels and has the option to add a boiler if desired that is capable of heating domestic hot water. The inset stove allows the chimney to be swept through the stove and would be suited to most homes with a class one chimney or flue.
The SLX 45 only comes as a boiler stove and heats up the room, hot water, radiators and is also suitable floor underfloor heating and the chimney can be swept through the inset stove.

The stoves in the SLX range are constructed from steel, cast iron, fire brick and ceramic glass and they feature cool to the touch handles, which prove extremely effective when reloading the stove. Both inset and outset models feature the Charnwood converting grate to help ensure the fuel being burnt receives the correct air flow to burn properly and effectively.

*Click on the images view larger*
Superb design and phenomenal efficiency, certain to be extremely popular this season and into 2012, what do you think? Let us know and we'll publish your comments, (so keep them clean or they won't be seen!).

Charnwood and the LA range

Charnwood is a well established company that is based on the Isle of Wight. Charnwood aim to simplify the real fire process and bring an enduring sense of warmth and satisfaction to the very heart of your home.
Charnwood achieve this by designing and using the latest technology to create the highest heat output and efficiency whilst having the lowest output emissions and product prices available.
Charnwood is the leading suppliers of solid fuel and multifuel products to local authorities and housing associations in the UK. Through this history Charnwood have developed an excellent range of stoves for this sector, specifically for rural areas that do not have the benefit of mains natural gas.
This range is known as the LA Stove range and is available in a number of inset and outset models that are capable of heating boilers and providing heat to the room, radiators and domestic hot water too.
Another great benefit of the LA stoves is that they can burn a mixture of fuels, which is appropriate for most homes.With the LA range is the option to have an inset or outset stove which means they are more suited to more homes. The LA range from Charnwood have differing outputs depending on the model and may be used to heat the room alone, heat domestic hot water and the room or heat a boiler, hot water and the room all in one go.
If you have a Charnwood stove and would like to review it, or for  us to review it for you then please let us know. Look out for more Charnwood product reviews from fires,fireplaces,stoves in the near future.

Wood Burners Could Be The Answer To Heating Your Home This Winter

The ever-rising cost of gas, oil and electricity has fired the imagination of householders trying to save on their heating bills. It’s not only good news for environment, it’s also providing a growing business for people involved in forestry and those selling wood and log-burning stoves.

The experience of George Newburn, who runs Lytham Logs on the Fylde, is typical. He supplies high quality natural hardwood and softwood from sustainable plantations in Cumbria.

‘It’s amazing how many people are contacting me because they’ve had a wood-burning stove installed that day,’ he says. ‘I ran out of wood in the middle of January last year so I’ve now got 300 cubic metres of logs in stock.’

That’s a lot when you consider a normal sized rubbish skip hold just five cubic metres. ‘Wood is carbon neutral and people are starting to accept the environmental arguments,’ he adds. ‘People are using more wood and less coal, which has to be shipped from places like Poland.’

George does have some words of caution, however. ‘If we keep burning hardwood at the current rate we will run out one day. Softwood is cheaper and quicker to grown. In fact, it grows twice as quickly but it doesn’t burn twice as fast.

‘People with open fires don’t like it because it has a higher resin content and that causes it to spit. But it’s fine for wood-burners and we need to start educating people about the difference.’

John Stanley launched Vesta Stoves in Scarisbrick five years ago. ‘We are probably one of the only companies in the country that actually makes wood-burners rather than importing them,’ he says.

‘Wood-burners are increasing in popularity all the time and they do have lots of advantages. With gas prices going up and up, they are seen as a real investment and they are much more efficient and controllable than an open fire where about 80 per cent of the heat goes up the chimney.

‘If you burn £200 a year on an open fire, that would come down to about £50 a year with a wood-burner. The payback is almost instant.

‘Wood-burners with boilers are becoming massively more popular now as well. They are a big investment – you need a different kind of water tank for one thing – and the payback time is nearer ten years but they can reduce fuel bills dramatically.’

Nick Astley, who runs Fuelmizas, retailing a wide range of wood-burners in Ribchester, believes the economic argument is the main driver. ‘The powers that be would like to think people are buying wood-burners because they are carbon neutral and envionmentally-friendly but it’s really the price of fuel that’s causing the change.

‘Some are put off because they have concerns about living in restricted areas but you can now get Defra-approved wood-burners for smoke-free zones.

‘Others have visions of having to go out to collect wood, chop it with an axe, stack it and season the logs. But life’s too short. Like most people, we simply have the wood delivered.’ Cue George.

An impressive range of wood and multifuel stoves are available from Stove Megastore, as well as a heat powered stove fan that can help distribute heat around the room, further reducing the amount of fuel needed.

Through The Ceramic Looking Glass

The performance and appearance of many appliances has increased dramatically in recent years, a good deal of this can be attributed to the availability of high temperature glass, we take a look at how the material has evolved into probably one of the most important components of high-efficiency fires and mutli-fuel stoves.
The open-fire has for decades, if not centuries has been the symbol of where the family gathres to cook, and relax when the darkness of winter nights draws in.
But with an open-fire, by definition being, well... open, the fire draws oxygen from wherever it can, normally resulting in a excess air being drawn across the fire and up the chimney, taking smoke from the fire and more importantly heat up the chimney and out of the house! Meaning you're literally watching your investment in whatever fuel you're using, whether it be wood, anthracite, oil or gas, literally disappearing up your chimney!

Efficiency Through Control
By controlling the air supply you can very effectively manage the movement and escape of combustion products, allowing the maximum amount of heat to be harnessed. All of the UK stove manufacturer's such as Broseley, Aga, Portway to name but a few, now surpass the minimum 65% efficiency, with some even surpassing 80% gross.

The same principles apply to the latest high-efficiency fires, with maimum efficiencies approaching 90% with fires such as the Gallery Solaris, Verine Orbis and the Laura Ashley Glass Fronted Fires all quoting up to 89% efficiency.
For most people the view of the flame plays a pivotal role in creating the overall ambience, feeling and experience of being warm and comfortable, this has further increased demand for a high-temperature glass that allows unobstructed views of the fire inside.
Conventional Building glass was the first material used, but this was quickly dismissed as temperatures were simply far too high for it to withstand. Mica windows were the next to be tested, however these greatly limited the size of the window and also proved to be not very reliable.
Boroscilicate glass windows proved to be successful, with high temperature capability and allowing stove and fire designers to allow larger windows, with some stoves still using it today. But over the last two decades a vast majority if not all high-efficiency fire and stove manufacturers have moved on from glass and now use ceramic technology, which provides the possibility of an unobstructed large viewing window.
The "Transparent Ceramic Vision Panel" also allows for excellent heat transmission, allowing for more heat to be transferred out into the room, while also retaining sparks, embers and the combustion gases.
This evolution has allowed the design modern high-efficiency stoves and fires, particularly such as the Drugasar range, which without this ceramic glass just would not be possible.

Manufacturer Focus: Firebelly Stoves

It's now 8 years since Firebelly Woodstoves started making it's mark on the industry with the launch of the FB1, a cleverly designed stove, which is commonly viewed as a successful marriage of both modern and traditional styles.
Featuring tubular corners to offset and otherwise squarish design, the FB1 has an output of up to 6kW and the option for a rear or top 125mm (5 inch in old money) flue outlet. Measuring 522mm (width) x 605 (height) x 422mm (deep), the FB1 is also available as a double-sided "see-through" stove.
Keep It Simple
Using the same basic design, the FB2 is the FB1's bigger brother and has an output of up to 12kW and a 150mm (6inch) top or rear flue outlet. The FB2 is wider at 640mm but otherwise shares the same height and depth as the FB1. A "double-sided" is also available.
Key to the high efficiency of the FB range is the extensive use of high grade reflective ceramic linings which Firebelly have developed specifically for its designs.
More recently Firebelly has unveiled the FB1 & FB2 stoves with brushed stainless steel 'legs' which, in combination with no less than 18 Different Colours can produce some fantastic looking stoves and means that from just 2 different stoves you can have 76 Different variations, meaning you can really make your own stove unique. All from two relatively simple designs.

Log boxes and multi-fuel kits are also available together with a hot water boiler for the FB2 which can provide up to 8kW for central heating and domestic hot water.
More recent additions to the range include the FB, a small stove with an output of upto 4kW, the Firepod, a pedestal stove with an output of up to 10kW and the Razen Cookstove made from stainless steel.
"The success of Firebelly Woodstoves has a lot to do with keep the product range relatively simple but, most of all, by providing high levels of customer service." Says Craig Mollet, Managing Director of Firebelly Woodstoves.
"Our success has mostly come from innovative design and high quality manufacturing, the latter supported by substantial investment in the very latest cutting equipment which provides exception precision."

Proud To Be Built In Britain
Firebelly Woodstoves makes great play of it's product being British made and is now exporing the products all over the world, including far-afield countries such as New Zealand and Japan. Craig concludeds "The stove market in the UK is becoming ever more competitive but our determination to keep the customer satisfied has worked to our advantage and we forsee Firebelly Woodstoves to become increasingly popular for some time to come"

it is a legal requirement to fit a carbon monoxide alarm with woodburning or multifuel stove

As of 1^st October 2010 it became a legal requirement as per Document J of the Building Regulations that where a new or replacement fixed solid fuel appliance is installed in a dwelling, a carbon monoxide alarm should be provided in the room the appliance is located. It is also strongly recommended that a carbon monoxide alarm is fitted where you have any gas appliances, such as boilers, cookers and fires. 

The SF450EN Carbon Monoxide Alarm from Honeywell Analytics is one of the best selling alarms in Europe; it is recommended by HETAS and is used by a number of local authorities and housing associations across the UK. In December 2010 it was awarded "Safety Product of the Decade" by the Gas Industry Safety Group. The self-contained alarm is designed for use in all domestic environments including caravans and boats, with a 6.5 year life.

Why choose the SF450EN Carbon Monoxide Alarm:

6 year guaranteed life under normal operating conditions (including batteries)

Kitemarked and approved to EN50291:2001 (European Standard for domestic carbon monoxide alarms)

Continuous self test function

No sensors to replace

No mains power required

No maintenance required for full 6.5 year life of the alarm

Easy to fit using the fixing kit provided

Batteries provided and pre-fitted

Ofgem Reports record profits for energy suppliers

The profit margin for energy firms has risen to £125 per customer per year, from £15 in June, says regulator Ofgem.

The profit margin figure measures the amount suppliers would make if energy prices and bills were to remain unchanged for the next year.
Ofgem predicts these profit margins, which apply to dual-fuel bills, will fall to about £90 a customer next year.
Ofgem has also confirmed it will force suppliers to simplify tariffs to make it easier to compare prices.
As part of the simplification plan, suppliers will be forced to have no-frills tariffs, which would consist of a standing charge - fixed by the regulator - plus a unit charge for energy used.
It means that the only number consumers would have to compare between suppliers would be the unit energy charge.
"The process of trying to switch from one supplier to another is hideously complicated - very off-putting even for quite intelligent people," Tim Yeo MP, chair of the Energy and Climate Change Committee told the BBC.
He also criticised the rise in profit margins to a three-year-high as, "evidence of absolutely crass behaviour by the energy companies, with a jump in prices announced in the last few months ahead of what will be a winter in which most families face their highest ever electricity and gas bills".
Market reforms More complicated tariffs would still be available, but they would have to be for a fixed period, with price increases not being allowed for the duration of the deal.
The regulator will publish its detailed proposals for consultation next month and hopes to have implemented some of its reforms in time for winter 2012.
The average dual-fuel bill is now £1,345 a year following recent price rises from all the big suppliers.
"When consumers face energy bills at around £1,345 they must have complete confidence that this price is set by companies competing in a fully competitive market," said Ofgem's chief executive Alistair Buchanan.
"At the moment that is not the case."
In addition to trying to boost competition by simplifying tariffs, Ofgem is looking at how to reform the wholesale energy markets, which are the places suppliers go to buy their energy.
Ofgem wants to reform those markets to allow greater competition with the big suppliers and will publish proposals in December.
The bigger suppliers have an advantage because they generate their own power, selling most of it to consumers, with little of it going to wholesale markets.
But earlier in the week, Scottish and Southern Energy announced plans to auction all of its power on the open market.
Ofgem has proposed that utilities must auction 20% of their electricity by 2013.

The World’s first green electricity company:

With the Green Energy movement increasing in popularity on an almopst daily basis we have a look at once of the main companies looking to supply green energy into the future.

Green Electricity didn't exist in the world back in 1996. When Ecotricity offered it for the first time, they became not just Britain’s but the world’s first Green Electricity company – and kick-started the now global Green Electricity movement. Ecotricity's mission was and remains to change the way electricity is made and used in Britain.
Ecotricity chose this focus because conventional electricity is responsible for 30% of Britain’s carbon emissions – it’s our biggest single source as a nation – and therefore the biggest single thing we can change.

Ecotricity operate a unique model. Using customers’ energy bills to fund the building of new sources of Green Energy. They like to refer to this as turning ‘Bills into Mills’ – energy bills into windmills.
With no shareholders to answer to they’re free to dedicate all their attention to the task of building new sources of Green Energy. And that’s just what they do, on average spending more each year per customer on new sources of Green Energy than any other energy company in Britain - bar none.

Energy is the key:

Electricity is the biggest single source of carbon emissions in Britain – but it’s not the only one of course. The big three are Energy, Transport and Food: between them accounting for 80% of all of our personal carbon footprints. The one thing they have in common is that Energy plays a vital role in them all. That’s why Ecotricity extended their work beyond the boundaries of traditional energy companies.
In Transport they built the Nemesis, Britain’s first electric super car – to demonstrate how cars of the future could actually be wind powered. Next came our Electric Highway, the world’s first national network of charging stations - to kick-start the electric car revolution in Britain.

Ecotricity also built the first national charging network for electric cars. For first time electric vehicles will be able to travel the length and breadth of Britain using the world’s first national charging network at motorway service stations across the country.
Every charging post will be powered with 100% green energy made at Ecotricity’s wind and solar parks across the UK, and means that electric car drivers (and motorcycle riders) will be able to drive from London to Edinburgh or Exeter completely free and with vastly reduced emissions.
This breakthrough in electric car infrastructure removes one of the main barriers for people wanting to buy electric cars – range anxiety – which currently restricts people to driving within their own city.

With Ecotricity looking to take bigger and bolder steps into the forefront of producing green energy, with the world's first dual-fuel green tariff and plans afoot for mills to produce green gas and even more wind turbines, sun parks and other renewable energy, it may not be long before you consider switching from a conventional energy supplier to one that truly has Green Credentials.

Europa Westerby, Simplicity in Limestone

Europa Fireplaces have recently unveiled a range of natural Limestone fireplaces, you can find the whole range here.

But for this article we've decided to focus on just one. The Europa Westerby.

The Europa Westerby, unlike many other limestone surrounds does not get caught up in trying to be ornate or adding unnessesary detail. It focuses on doing main purpose correctly, housing a fire. But this utilitarian approach does not mean you're stuck with an ugly fireplace, quite the contrary in my opinion. The clean vertical lines of the legs of the surround and strong line across the top of the fireplace adds horizontal definition and creates a very simple, yet very effective fireplace surround.

Subtle, functional detailing such as where the header meets the legs and the joins in the three-piece back panel mean that the fireplace is not strikingly modernist. Combined with the choice of material, natural limestone means the clean lines, broken up with the natural mineral deposits, inclusions and fossils that limestone fireplaces all include mean the Europa Westerby offers an incredible feeling of quality while also being functional.

The Europa Westerby is now available for all Europa Fireplace dealers.
Find your local dealer at http://www.europafireplaces.co.uk/

Turn a Chimney Breast Into A Focal Point.

Most houses used to be built with a standard chimney and traditionally it was there to just satisfy that one purpose, provide space for the chimney to go out through the house and carry away the harmful combustion gases.
But in the ever changing world of interior design, who says the chimney breast can't become a focal point in the room in its own right? Instead of acting as a mounting plate for a fireplace or wall-hung picture. So why not make the chimney breast itself a focal point? Combine it with a fireplace to really create that focal point of the living room.

In this article we look into just how to create that look in just a few simple steps. Doing away from the matching colourscheme across the whole wall room and going for a feature wall and chimney breast.

To achieve the look illustrated left we started with the wall itself either side of the chimney breast, to truly make the chimney breast a focal point the wall is painted in a warm off white colour, such as Magnolia. Which while not dominating means that the white walls aren't harsh and dominating.

We then went for a lovely contrasting floral wallpaper for the chimney breast iteself, we went for Marciana Floral Wallpaper, Cranberry Red & Natural wall paper by Laura Ashley (available here) This stunning floral wallpaper features pearlescent inks and a washable coating. The deep cranberry reds contrast with the pale background to really accentuate the chimney breast.

To top it all off we paired the lovely wallpaper with the Aura Suite from Drugasar. This stunning solid stone fireplace complements the neutral wall colour either side of the chimney breast while the downlights and contrasting black granite back panel highlights the fire in the centre.

Finally a colour coded vase and ornament completes the look!

Smart homes: take remote control

Your mobile phone will soon allow you to switch your domestic electrical gadgets on and off – and cut your bills – from anywhere in the world

By Miles Bignall

 You get out of work early for once. How good would it be to be able to turn on your central heating before you get home so it's all toasty as you step through the door? Or you left for work in a hurry, and are worried that the hair straighteners are still plugged in. What a relief it would be to turn them off en-route using your mobile phone?
It might sound like something from Tomorrow's World, but both prospects are closer than you think.
In the next few months British Gas is set to start the first big trial of "smart home" technology, and, if all goes well, it plans to begin installing it commercially in customers' UK homes over the next year.
The final price is still to be settled, but the company hopes to bring the package in at under £200. For that, consumers will get the technology they need to create their first "smart home", although they'll need to pay extra for any smartplugs that allow you to turn off appliances remotely. These cost around £25 each.

The service is likely to excite gadget fiends and those hoping to reduce their gas and electricity bills. Buyers should easily save the installation cost through lower bills that result in not heating their homes when they are not there.
At its heart is a control box that is linked to the home's broadband hub. Users have to upgrade their thermostat to a (supplied) digital model, but apart from that, it should install in almost every broadband-linked home.
It effectively lets you talk to the central heating system from anywhere in the world. You can also use it to turn on, or off, other key appliances using the smartplugs that send and receive messages wirelessly to the central hub.
The technology to make it happen already exists. British Gas has set up the system in a mock home in its laboratory at its Staines headquarters, and a small group of staff are testing it in their homes.
This week Guardian Money had a sneak preview of the system that has been developed in conjunction with AlertMe, a company in which British Gas owns a 20% stake.
Sitting in our London office we were able to turn the heating and lighting in the Staines "smart home" on and off. The service has a dedicated web page which showed us which appliances had been left on.
We were able to see the inside and outside temperatures, turning the heating up and down accordingly – a boon for those who fear their partner overheats the home while they are at work.
If you don't have a smart phone, the system can be just as easily controlled with a basic text message sent from a standard mobile or any PC.
Paul Grosvenor, British Gas's head of innovation, and one of those who has been using it for the last year, says that he has definitely seen lower gas and electricity bills as a result of the tests: "Consumers are increasingly demanding the ability to do more with the latest technology, and we see 'smart homes' as the future. This technology gives you the ability to conserve energy because you use it more cleverly. You are in control, wherever you are."
He says he regularly used it last winter to change his heating settings, even turning on the system while he was away to protect the home from freezing during the really cold spell. He says he also found it a much easier way to set up his boiler timings than the original complicated system.
British Gas says the system will eventually have the ability to be customised. With smart key fobs it will be possible to configure it to shut down every appliance linked to a smart plug, plus the heating, when you leave the premises.

In the long run, it will also be linked to the home's smart meter, although it will also work with a conventional meter.
Along with the other big power companies, British Gas is already in the process of offering smart meters to every customer as they have their old ones replaced.
These are read remotely using the mobile phone network, doing away with the need for a call from a meter reader. They will also do away with estimated bills and can be linked to the latest in-home displays, that show householders exactly how much power they are consuming at any one time, both in kilowatt hours and, more crucially, in pounds and pence.
Leave too many appliances on, and the smart meter display will show a red warning light – great for those with children who tend to leave everything on.
Meanwhile, there is one drawback to the introduction of a remote control heating system – it could promote "couch potato syndrome".
Grosvenor is ashamed to admit he has used his mobile to turn up the heating from his sofa, instead of walking over to the thermostat.
"If you're lying in bed on a Saturday morning and the heating's gone off, it's very tempting to send a text to turn it on again rather than going down into a cold house," he says.

'More insulation and less heating', says think tank

The government needs to focus on insulating homes before funding new heating technologies, according to a report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR).
It says the government's Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) could cost taxpayers up to £860 million in the current spending review, but is unlikely to prove either "attractive" to or "cost-effective" for householders.
The Institute said the government is wrongly focusing on backing renewable heat technologies, which it says only "wealthier people" can currently afford to install.
The report 'Warmth in a changing climate: How should the government encourage households to use renewable heat?' asked a series of focus groups about renewable heat. Many people said they were put off by the "high upfront costs" of installing new technologies.
The groups also said they were "sceptical" the new technologies would deliver enough heat at an acceptable price.
Andrew Pendleton, IPPR associate director, said the government's current approach is wrong. "Providing a feed-in tariff style for heat production rather than offering a package of measures aimed at providing warmth risks undermining consumer confidence in heat technology.
"A tariff-based incentive will also fail to address the high capital costs, identified as the key barrier in IPPR's consumer workshops."
The report said that while cutting emissions from household heating is important, costs across the economy could be higher than anticipated and take-up may be low. It added that in some cases, technologies may simply not provide enough heat to meet consumers' expectations or to heat homes to a safe level.

While new gas fires are becoming more and more efficient with fires such as the Apex Capacious offer up to 89% fuel efficiency this would be useless if the house itself doesnt hold the heat. One of the quickest and cheapest ways to reduce heat loss is using by reducing drafts.A typical home loses 20% of its heat through draughty doors, windows and ventilation ducts. Fit draught proofing products to your doors, windows and keyholes. You can buy them from DIY stores but check that they comply with standard BS7386 for maximum efficiency and durability.

Insulating your loft is also one of the most cost effective ways to reduce your heating bills and you can do-it-yourself. By laying down loft insulation to the recommended thickness of 270mm you could knock up to £200 off your annual heating bill. Make sure you use protective gloves and goggles if you install the insulation yourself.

Get The Maximum Heat From Your Stove

The heat energy generated by wood fuel is measured as calorific value, and the main things that effect this are wood type and moisture content.

Softwood or Hardwood?
Traditionally hardwoods - Oak, Sycamore, Ash - have been considered better as fuel than softwoods - Larch, Spruce, Douglas Fir. The reason is that hardwood is denser, so an identically sized hardwood log contains more carbon, provides more heat and burns longer.

The truth is that both are good fuels. A kilogram of softwood can have the same calorific value as a kilogram of hardwood. You will need a greater volume of softwood logs to get the same energy, because they have a lower density, but they are generally cheaper. If you have room to store more logs and you don't mind re-filling your stove a little more often then softwood could be for you.

Wet Or Dry?
The most important measure for quality of wood fuel is moisture content. A heavier log will nor necessarily give more heat as half the weight of a green stove can be water!

Wood needs to be dried, or seasoned, before burning. Forced or accelerated drying in powered or solar kilns is becoming more common with wood fuel processors.
The more water in the wood you burn, the less heat for your house, because some of the hear released from your fire will have to evaporate the water, cooling the whole burning process down. This is heat that should be used to heat your home rather than create I efficient steam.
Burning wet wood with more than 25% moisture content creates corrosive smoke and tar that can damage flue linings and cause chimney fires. Dry wood produces little smoke, low tar deposits and high efficiency heat output, especially when burnt in a modern appliance able to efficiently burn combustion gases.

Freshly harvested wood will typically have a moisture content of 50%. Drying wood down to 20-25% moisture content will approximately double it's heat output.
The industry quality standard has been set at 25% moisture content or less. It's always recommend you buy a moisture meter to test your firewood along a freshly split surface.

As-well as ensuring that you're burning the correct wood, excellent air circulation around the stove is essential to ensure the whole room is heated rather than just a hot area around the stove. Many of you may have already experienced this, the area around the stove is lovely and warm, but when you move away from the immediate vicinity of the stove the temperature drops dramatically.

This problem can be solved by using a heat-powered stove fan, as the stove heats up the fan blades start to spin and circulate the air around the room, meaning you could essentially get more heat from your stove.