Turning back the clocks goes hand in glove with switching heating on

WHEN it comes to heating our homes, a 3rd of us in the North West will switch our heating back on at around the time the clocks go back, according to a survey sponsored by leading boiler manufacturer Vaillant.  For people who use their heating only in colder months, October is the most popular month for turning on heating. 34% of the people surveyed in the North West chose the month in which the clocks turn back as the time to re-ignite their heating. However, 4% of people have the heating on all year and 22% wait a few weeks and turn the heating on in November.

We like our homes to be 20 to 21 degrees centigrade in the winter and our living rooms to be the warmest room in our home. 24% of us have the heating on for 4 to 5 hours a day, but 17% of us have the heating on for more than 8 hours a day during the winter.  A cold-blooded 10% of us like our homes to be less than 20 degrees centigrade during the winter. And 1% of the people surveyed have their heating on for less than an hour a day during winter.

When it comes to energy efficiency, a massive 91% of us think that energy efficiency is significant or very significant when choosing an appliance for our homes. 53% of people also agreed with the statement ‘I am actively trying to reduce the amount of energy I waste in the home’.   Despite our good intentions, however, 37% of us have programmed our heating to switch on in the evenings, but have returned home late. Similarly, 31%  of us heat rooms that we don’t spend time in and 20% of us open windows while the heating is on.

Mark Wilkins, a renewable technology development expert at Vaillant said:- “The survey does reflect that this time of the year when the clocks turn back is a busy time for heating engineers. And if someone is reviewing their heating, the next thing they usually want to know is about energy efficiency. Such questions are welcomed. We have some very exciting technology. Our biggest job at the moment is to keep people informed of their options.

Legally, unless you have an exemption, you can only buy boilers that are either SEDBUK A or B rated. But we recommend only boilers that have the top energy efficiency rating SEDBUK A because this will save up to a 3rd on heating and hot water bills compared with a conventional boiler that is 10 years old or more.

Adding intelligent controls will save even more energy. Weather compensation controls will react to the temperature outside to ensure homes are never unnecessary too hot or cold. Or you can now even change the heating in your home from the office, or anywhere else, via the internet. You could also connect your own solar power or ground source heat pumps to your boiler so that you use the own Earth’s natural heat instead of fossil fuels.”

The survey was based on responses from 1,889 people throughout the UK and was conducted by independent survey company Tickbox, a member of the British Market Research Association, following the codes of the Market Research Society.

SURVEY results for the North West

34% will switch the heating back on in October

22% will switch the heating back in November

4% have heating on all year

36% liked their home to be 20 to 21 degrees centigrade in the winter

32% liked their home to be 22 to 23 degrees centigrade in the winter

10% liked their home to be less than 20 degrees centigrade in the winter

71% like the living room to be the warmest room in the home

24% have the heating on for 4 to 5 hours during the winter

17% have the heating on for more than 8 hours during the winter

1% have the heating on for less than 1 hour during the winter

53% actively try to reduce the amount of energy they waste in the home

37% have programmed their heating to come on in the evening but returned home late

31% heat rooms they don’t spend any time in

20% open windows when the heating is on

91% said energy efficiency was significant when buying a household appliance

Breast cancer “biggest fear for women in North West,” new survey reveals

BREAST cancer is the disease women in the North West fear most, according to a survey.  The survey carried out for Breast Cancer Campaign, the only charity that funds independent breast cancer research throughout the UK, by Ipsos MORI found that almost half the women in the North West (48%) of all ages are most afraid of getting breast cancer, followed by lung cancer (39%) and bowel cancer (31%).  When asked whether progress had been made in breast cancer research in recent years, there was a resounding thumbs up. An overwhelming majority (84%) recognised the progress made over the last 10 years, particularly in older women who have perhaps witnessed the changes. Campaign currently funds eleven breast cancer research projects in the North West worth over £1.6 million.  Most of those polled (84%) also knew that survival rates have improved compared to those for breast cancer 10 years ago.

There are a number of factors responsible for this improvement in survival, says Breast Cancer Campaign. Around 65% of those questioned correctly identified earlier diagnosis, better surgical techniques (34%), improved chemotherapy, radiotherapy and drug treatments (34%) awareness of breast cancer screening (30%) as contributing to better survival rates.  In addition, continued advances in surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, as well as hormone and targeted treatments have led to breast cancer mortality rates falling by 20% since 1989.

Pamela Goldberg, Chief Executive Breast Cancer Campaign said:- “'Despite acknowledging that the outlook for breast cancer patients is far brighter than ever before, the fear of breast cancer is still significant among women in the North West. Longer survival also means that patients are just as concerned about quality as well as quantity of life and the psychosocial aspects of breast cancer are becoming ever more important.

Indeed, the 21st century woman with breast cancer is justified in feeling more positive about the future with the introduction of drugs such as herceptin and the aromatase inhibitors which are bringing real benefits for people with breast cancer. Genetic testing for those with a family history of breast cancer is also giving high risk women a choice about their future.  Over 80% of people diagnosed with breast cancer today will survive for more than five years. This is the result of years of breast cancer research.

However, there is still a long way to go. In order to make further progress in the treatment and management of the disease, investment in world class research has to be a priority. We need a science and research environment that fosters and retains talent, provides well resourced research facilities and better education and training opportunities for researchers,” said Pamela Goldberg.

AN EXTRA EYE TO WATCH YOUR KIDS

AS the clocks go back on Sunday 28 October 2007, millions of children across the UK will be making their journeys to and from school in much darker conditions. Once again, Nationwide's initiative is supporting the Government's objective to reduce the number of children killed or seriously injured on our roads by distributing 1 million pedestrian safety reflectors, or "Cats' Eyes", to every Year One primary school child in the country.

Each reflector works by lighting up into a bright "Cats' Eye" as soon as a car's headlight catches it. By attaching a reflector to a school bag or coat using the clip provided, children will increase their chances of being seen by motorists. A child pedestrian can be visible at 150 metres to a driver using low beam headlights whilst wearing a Cats' Eye reflector, compared to only 30 metres without one.

To help increase children's awareness and understanding of the importance of road safety, Nationwide has also produced some curriculum-linked road safety worksheets which are available via www.nationwide.co.uk together with links to other useful road safety websites.

Charles Reed, director of customer service and communications at Nationwide, said:- "With the return of long winter nights, our children face greater risks on our roads.

For the seventh year, we're delighted to support the government's successful campaign to reduce the number of child casualties.

We are also encouraging children who received reflectors in the last six years to use them again this winter. As a building society, Nationwide has a long tradition of active involvement in communities throughout the UK and there can be no better way of investing in these communities than by protecting the lives of children."