The Government aims for every home in Britain to have a smart meter by the year 2019. A smart meter replaces your exisitng gas and electricity meters and has the ability to send electronic meter readings to your supplier remotely. So no more visits by meter readers or having to read your own. A smart meter enables you to see how much energy you use at different times, whether that be daily, weekly monthly or yearly.

The idea is that  smart energy meters will help consumers by giving them more information and therefore control over their energy consumption, and eradicate the estimated billing we currently have. This should mean that consumers can save money and also reduce carbon emissions. If you want to change suppliers it should also make it easier and faster. It also means that energy suppliers should run more efficiently.

It is estimated that 28 million homes and 2 million small businesses will be fitted with smart meters in Briain. The roll-out of the scheme should start in 2014 and be completed by the end of 2019 although some energy suppliers are already beginning to install smart meters.

What are your views on smart meters? Have you got one already? Let us know……

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You are still able to get a copy of our ‘Master Basic DIY’ book direct from us. The book covers over 40 basic projects from bricklaying to loft insulation, laying floor tiles to repairing a burst pipe.

It has a wealth of information to help you understand your home and how it works, along with step-by-step instructions and diagrams on home improvement projects for the novice and more experienced DIYer.

The first half of the book focuses on the basics with great chapters tools, the top 10 DIY jobs for homeowners, and then has chapters on how your house is constructed including sections on home electrics and plumbing.

The second half of the book focuses on the ‘projects’, which are split into basics such as mixing concrete and bricklaying, then moving outside, you can learn how to, amongst others, build a soakaway, repoint a patio or build a timber deck. The section on projects inside the home includes partition walls, how to plaster, boxing in pipes and making shelves. Then there are also further projects under electrical, plumbing and decorating. 

If you know anyone just buying their first house or maybe taking on a property which needs some major home improvements, this book makes a great present. But it also is a great guide for any homeowner who just wants to understand their own home.

‘Master Basic DIY’ costs £7 including postage and packing (if you are having it delivered in the UK) and you can get sent a copy by clicking here and filling in your details.

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The National Home Improvement Council along with many other organisations including the Federation of Master Builders have been campaigning hard for several years now for a VAT on home improvements.

Supporters would like to see the current 20% rate of VAT cut to 5% on home repair, maintenance and improvement work. Campaigners maintain that this would:

• Boost economic growth in the UK
• Increase emplyment
• Bring thousands of empty properties back into use
• Improve the energy efficiency of our housing stock and reduce the incidence of fuel poverty
• Help those who cannot afford vital repairs to their homes
• Protect consumers and legitimate businesses by significantly reducing the competitive advantage of rogue traders. 

A more recent development is that in the Budget in March this year, the Government announced their intention to stop the current zero rate of VAT for approved alterations to listed buildings in October 2012 and raise it to the standard rate of VAT. Many organisations and individuals  feel this would have very serious consequences to historic buildings in this country and have started a e-petition. This is open for consultation until the 18th May.

There is lots more information on the Cut the VAT campaign and the research that has been carried out on www.cutthevat.co.uk where you can also find out how to get involved in the campaign.

Let us know your views on this campaign either here or on our facebook page.

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DIY Doctor is pleased to announce that it has now become a member of the National Home Improvement Council.

The NHIC was launched in 1975 and since then has set out to support, encourage and promote home improvement and energy efficiency to homeowners and throughout the industry as well as having a close liaison with government, local authorities and housing associations.

Their main objectives are:

• To support and encourage home improvement measures which make households more energy efficient and reduce carbon emissions in line with government targets.
• To support and encourage the improvement of standards throughout the home improvement industry.
• To promote to homeowners the benefits of renovating and upgrading their homes to high energy efficiency standards
• To be the voice of the home improvement industry to government, opposition and Whitehall to ensure that housing policies and public funding are directed at home improvement.
• To act as the catalyst for public sector housing bodies to stimulate modernisation of existing housing.
• To encourage private investment in the housing sector.

They have lots of good, common sense home improvement advice on their website including pages on renewable energy systems, the Green Deal, water conservation, doors and windows, kitchens and bathrooms as well as heating and hot water amongst others.

We will be bringing you more information and news regarding the National Home Improvement Council in the future, so watch this space!

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According to an annual survey by HSBC, these are the ten home improvement projects we are all most likely to be doing over the bank holidays in April, May and June this year:

So what projects are you planning for the bank holidays coming up? Let us know and send in some before and after pics! We’d love to see…..

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