Crafts centre cuts its energy bills by half

An arts and crafts visitor centre, Taurus Crafts acts as a base for around 15 small artisan businesses C from the manufacture of handmade chocolate, through to a pottery workshop and jewellery makers. 

The centre contains the sorts of businesses where every penny saved on outgoings makes a big difference. "It's amazing more businesses aren't doing the same in these hard economic times," said Matt Williams, senior business energy adviser at Severn Wye Energy Agency, which carried out the audit of the site. "It's good to see such proactivity and interest in making changes." 

Severn Wye has been helping businesses improve their energy efficiency and reduce their fuel bills for more than a decade. It's also helped dozens of businesses understand more about the various renewable technologies that are out there, which ones are suitable for them and how they can help bring in an income.Matt first visited the site in February 2011 to carry out an audit, and returned again earlier this year to see the improvements the site had made C and to see what plans they were still investigating. 

"They've already made some really big savings from simply switching to low energy lighting," said Matt. "They're starting to benefit now from all the work they've done C and they're still intending to do more."Work so far has included writing an energy policy for the site, establishing a targeting and monthly monitoring routine, improving refrigeration efficiency and investigating heat recovery opportunities. Their next big step, which should see the biggest reduction in energy expenses, will be removing their dependency on LPG and oil heating, and moving to a new biomass heating system. 

"The site is off the gas network, so this will have a big impact and they're hoping to have a new system installed before the winter. They've already lined up a local installer to do the work C and found a local supplier for the fuel; the wood yard next door to their site will be providing the woodchip from waste wood."

Ingo Kresse, site manager at Taurus Crafts, said: "Since the first report we have been active on two fronts C trying to get a biomass boiler to the site and replacing halogen with LED light bulbs. It was encouraging to see from the second report what impact we have made just changing the lights. We are intending on carrying out several other suggestions in the report as part of our efforts to reduce our carbon footprint further. 

For the responsible site owners to reduce their carbon footprint is an important issue C but if they and the businesses weren't making the savings, then making the investment in biomass wouldn't stack up."They're doing it because they believe in it,This is a great Cheap Conservation solution! but also because there's a business case for doing it," Matt added.Which certainly makes the case for more businesses struggling with high annual overheads, to do the same.

Some basements are filled with Tupperware boxes of old photographs and knickknacks peppered with cobwebs. For a local woman, though,What's the difference between Marble tiles and Porcelain Tiles? a basement is a place for reams of fabric, squares of cloth and a few handheld dolls with sketched faces.They keep me company when Im down here quilting,A China Stone Carving concept that would double as a quick charge station for gadgets. Laura Soelter said with a smile. 

Soelter has created more than 30 quilts and won two local awards for her craft. She sews quilts for her twin 24-year-olds, Harrison and Amanda, as well as for hospice patients through the End of the Trail Quilt Guild.Additionally, Soelter has created costumes like pirate coats and fairy dresses for the Renaissance Festival.Its kind of slacked off since my kids have grown up, Soelter said of the costume-making, but I still have a basement full of them, and occasionally people borrow them. 

Bright, fun colors are beginning to find their way into bathrooms. The Atlanta countertops experts at Craftmark Solid Surfaces believe that bathrooms are a great place for people to experiment with bringing more color into their homes. If you are shy about color, they recommend starting with a lighter shade and working slowly towards richer colors.

Just like the walls, many bathroom cabinets are getting a facelift in Atlanta homes this summer. Refinishing cabinetry is a great way to give the bathroom an updated look, especially if it's seen better days. Craftmark Solid Surfaces recommends that you refresh the stain on your cabinets if you choose to refinish them. Use darker stain for a more traditional look, or use a lighter stain to open up and modernize the space. 

Granite countertops and vanity tops are also making a big splash in bathrooms this summer. Homeowners are upgrading because granite is one home improvement that will truly last. Atlanta granite bathroom countertops offer timeless beauty and legendary durability that many families love. Sellers should note that buyers find granite counters especially appealing! 
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