KBzine: the original kitchen and bathroom industry e-news - since 2002
16th September 2011
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International News
Products
Perfect portfolio of traditional taps
Water saving made simple with Triton's new Leah Eco showerhead
New kitchen market report published
Maytag launches new range of super smart tumble dryers
Imperial Bathrooms unveils fine furniture collection
Methven unveils Deva Signature shower kits
Rocking Roller hood from Franke is hugely efficient
The stylish black glass surround contrasts beautifully with the stainless steel strips while ambient lighting is achieved with halogen lights. There is a choice of touch or optional remote control. |
Welcome to the
It's rare that a press release will leave me so stunned that I sit with mouth agape but it happened this morning. Unable to sleep I thought I'd come down to the office and finish the issue. My daughter had been the last one to go to bed and had carelessly left the dining room lights on. That's five on the fitting - only 40 Watts each and dimmed fairly low but wasting energy nevertheless and further on the road to wearing out. A few years ago this wouldn't have been too much of a problem but with energy prices what they are now and our masters at the EU decreeing that we now have to buy those horrid energy saving ones, (which are incredibly expensive if you need the type compatible with dimmer switches) we need to preserve them as best we can. I noticed the porch light had been left on too and I wasn't best pleased. It so happened that a press release from uSwitch, the body that helps us find the best energy supplier for our needs, had arrived in the short time I'd been away from my desk. It offered some energy saving tips, which I scanned through dismissively without learning anything, but some of the results of a recent survey had me aghast so I read further... ...Things like people believing that as long as they don't use an electrical item, it doesn't use electricity even if it is still plugged in and turned on, or thinking that switching an item off by remote control means it's off so won't be using electricity. "Idiots!" I thought. "Where do they get these people from?" Then I got to the bit about how 59% admitted to occasionally leaving their set top boxes on when they're not in use. This is when I noticed my reflection in the window (yes I would have saved energy had I bothered to draw the curtains!) clearly aghast as the realisation dawned on me. No - I'm not one of the 59%. I'm one of the 26.2% that never, ever turns it off! Wonder how much that's cost me over the years? And if you find it practical to charge your mobile phone overnight, make sure you read the release which I've included further down this page... Yours,
Jan Hobbs
This Week's News
Are you attending InstallerLive this year? From 16th -19th October at the NEC Birmingham, InstallerLive will provide you with new skills and knowledge to take advantage of the vast business opportunities open to you as you transition towards low carbon ways of working. You have to be in it to win it - Kaldewei 'Retailer of the Year Award'
Refurbishment project suffers severe setbacks following electrical explosion A worker on a refurbishment project sustained serious burns in an electrical explosion after a North London company failed to carry out basic Health & Safety checks. The injured man was working on a construction site at Leonard Street, Islington, when the blast occurred. City of London Magistrates' Court heard that the explosion was caused when a main electrical supply cable to the site was cut during its removal. Caesarstone serves an ace at Wimbledon
International Water Education Conference now underway
Craig Steven, owner of Grange Interiors in North Shields, explains why he took the decision: Bad habits burning energy and money
Employers and interns get clarity on minimum wage Guidance providing greater clarity for businesses that offer work experience, placements and internships was published yesterday, as announced in the Social Mobility Strategy in April. RAK Ceramics launches new Opulence bathroom range
Australia: Home renovation programmes have spawned DIY kitchens revival
Kitchens International strengthens its team Scottish kitchen designer and retailer Kitchens International has made several new appointments and promotions as the company expands in Scotland. Legal Expert Judith Turner joins The Furniture Ombudsman
World's 50 best restaurants: trends from top chefs and critics Electrolux has asked some of the world's most influential food critics and chefs: "What is the next big thing in the culinary world?" Their answer is "A Scandinavian bistro-style slow street-food restaurant with Japanese influences focusing on local ingredients!" The KBzine Archive Search We keep an extensive archive of news stories and product information that have featured in past issues of The KBzine. If you would like to run a search of the The KBzine web site using the search tool below please just go ahead by entering in the name of the person, product or company or any other key words that you are looking for. News in Brief Visit 100% Design at Earls Court next week from Thursday to Sunday. Register at www.100percentdesign.co.uk/page.cfm/link=618
Utopia has introduced a fantastic collection of Porcelanosa tiles to show off its bathroom furniture ranges. T: 01902 406402 Alape's curvaceous SB.F540.GS basin is created using Alape's distinctive glassed steel material and comes in two sizes. E: [email protected] Celebrate the hot interiors trend for exotic timbers with Zebrano effect glass tiles from the CP Group's new Cookhouse Impact collection. T: 0845 519 7039. How to contact us at The KBzine:
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De Dietrich awards service contract to Assurant Solutions De Dietrich Kitchen Appliances has appointed Assurant Solutions as the provider and administrator of all service repair contracts for both De Dietrich and Fagor brands in the UK*. AGA Rangemaster says streamlined processes improve profit performance The AGA Rangemaster Group has released the results of its first half year trading statement for the 2011 financial year... and the Midlands-based specialist in range cooking and kitchen living has announced an improved profit performance, with a marked rise in operating profit to £2.9 million from £0.8 million. Zanussi fridge freezer one of Which? magazine's Top 10 Space Savers
The 50cm wide ZRT318W was also awarded 5 stars for both fridge and freezer temperature stability. Just Add Water - Ellis Furniture joins forces with Fayers
20-20 Technologies strikes the right chord for Symphony
Water Saving Plumbing Products Market Report UK 2011-2015, now available
KBSA releases details of post-AGM networking dinner The Kitchen Bathroom & Bedroom Specialists Association has announced that its AGM and presentations, which will take place on Tuesday 4 October 2011 at 16.00, will be followed by a networking dinner with entertainment provided by Matthew Osbourn, English Comedian of the year 2009. |
