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Don't be left out in the cold

The clocks have turned back, the leaves are falling, the conkers have fallen – we are in the midst of autumn, with only 50 days (and counting) until Christmas. Winter is on it’s way, and many people across the UK will remember how last year's severe weather struck quickly and caused major disruption to thousands of lives.

We have been promised a Siberian chill in a matter of weeks, but the good news is that it’s easy to make sure you’re prepared for the worst – by preparing a basic ‘grab bag’ for use in emergencies, ensuring that you are prepared at home or on the move.

Check out the handy tips put together by The British Red Cross:

What should go in your bag at home?

Torch

Battery radio

Toiletries / first aid kit

Long-life food and bottles of water

Important documents (eg. insurance policy)

List of emergency contact numbers (see right for downloadable templates)

Spare keys to your home / car

Pencil, paper, penknife and whistle

  What should go in your travel bag?

Torch

Battery radio

Mobile phone

Cash and credit cards

List of emergency contact numbers  

Winter boots, warm clothing and waterproofs

Ready-to-eat food, bottled water and warm drink in flask

 And don’t forget to add the Due North Ice Spikes into your bags, ensuring that you stay on your feet no matter how much snow and ice is around.  They fit easily over your shoes, trainers or walking boots and are perfect for managing day to day activity or for a touch of apres ski!

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Will we have a white Christmas?

I know it’s still October, but with a sudden chill in the air, we are all reminded that Christmas is on its way.  Parts of Scotland have already had their first snowfall and if the last few years are anything to go by, it is only a matter of weeks before the rest of the country get a smattering of the white stuff, but will we have a white Christmas?

In the United Kingdom, although for many a white Christmas simply means a complete covering of snow on Christmas Day, the official definition by the British Met Office and British bookmakers is for snow to be recorded falling, however little, in the 24 hours of 25 December. So even if we have seen 3ft of snow in the days before Christmas, it doesn’t constitute a white Christmas. But a few snowflakes mixed with rain, even if they never reach the ground, does!

In the UK, the most likely place to see snowfall on Christmas Day is, unsurprisingly, in the North and North Eastern Scotland, in Aberdeenshire or the Highlands.  The table below shows the probability of other towns and cities that are likely to see a “real” white Christmas.

  Location

Probability

London

6%

Birmingham

15%

Aberporth

9%

Glasgow

35%

Aberdeen

53%

Belfast

22%

Lerwick

75%

Bradford

14% 

St Mawgan

10% 

  So make sure you’re prepared!  Last year the team at Smarter Products once again struggled to keep up with demand for DueNorth Ice Spikes, ensuring people stayed the right way up on the snow and ice.

DueNorth are the No.1 in snow and ice footwear(ice grips) for all winter conditions and fits most outer footwear. They are ideal for anyone who walks, runs or works outdoors, fitting easily over your shoes and ensuring you can carry on with day to day activities.

So make sure you order yours before the deliveries get stuck in the snow and let us know if you saw a white Christmas last year or if you think you will this year.

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Wow! Gorillas auction raises over £427,000 for charity!

The 61 life size gorillas that after only 10 weeks on the street and parks of Bristol have become so well recognised and loved, have been auctioned off to raise a whopping £427,300.

The proceeds of the auction will go towards the zoos conservation projects for critically endangered gorillas here and in Cameroon, as well as Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal which is raising funds for the cardiology unit at Bristol Children’s Hospital.

It was a full house at the Victoria Rooms in Clifton as over 550 people filled the auditorium to place their bids and watch the drama unfold.

The sculpture entitled ‘Gorizambard’ proved to be the most popular, fetching the highest amount of the evening at an incredible £23,000. Still Life: Alfred’ and ‘Elvis’ also proved popular with bidders, fetching £12,000 and £10,200 respectively, while Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies MBE successfully bid £7,500 for ‘Distinctly Different’.

A brilliant initiative that has involved the whole of Bristol, we will miss our colourful friends!

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Environmental pester power

Most parents have been quizzed and questioned about environmental issues; recycling, turning the lights off, walking rather than driving.  Even to the extent that I have witnessed tears at the prospect of driving because in a childs eye, it was directly killing the baby polar bears!

But the green pester power is reaching new heights!  Recent research commissioned by  The Co-operative shows that the environment is so important a topic for children that they would rather learn about it, than than traditional subjects such as science and history.

The survey of 1,027 youngsters aged seven to 14 revealed that 82% of children rated learning about green issues as important, putting it ahead of science, history, IT and art, and only slightly behind English and maths.

Two-thirds want to learn more about wildlife and nature, almost as many (62%) want to learn about green issues, and almost half (47%) want to learn more about where food comes from.

This compares with just 37% who want to learn more about art, 36% for IT and 35% for science, the survey found.

But this isn’t learning that is being left in the classroom at the end of the day.  93% of children said they recycled, while 85% turn off the tap when they brush their teeth and three-quarters (77%) turn off lights and appliances.

We all know that children have a huge influence on their parents, and this is no different. Six out of 10 parents say their children persuade them to be greener. 

Parents may not have all the answers but we can certainly make a start with looking out for sustainable products (food and clothing) and we can even switch the light off when we leave the room.  Finally pester power is delivering positive actions that we can all benefit from!

Let us know how pester power has given you something to think about.

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The Rise and Rise of the Energy Bill

As predicted, EDF Energy is to raise gas prices by 15.4% and electricity prices by 4.5% from 10 November this year.

EDF is the last of the "big six" energy companies to announce increases in prices for domestic customers.

It said it had absorbed wholesale price rises for as long as possible before being forced to raise costs for customers.

Regulator Ofgem is studying whether higher prices are justified.

"We have absorbed rising wholesale energy, network and other costs as long as possible but must reluctantly now pass some of these through to consumers," said Vincent de Rivaz, chief executive of EDF Energy.

The annual cost of a standard dual-fuel bill paid for by direct debit would rise to £1,165 from £1,051, the company said.

EDF follows the other five major energy suppliers - British Gas, Scottish Power, Scottish & Southern Energy, Npower and E.On - in announcing price rises.

The tariffs across the industry have included price rises of up to 18%.

More and more evidence shows that monitoring energy around the home will help to raise awareness and will act as a strong visual reminder that you need to switch off energy hungry devices when they are not in use.

Children are the best ‘eco warriers’ and tasking them with the job of keeping an eye on energy usage, checking monitors and reminding everyone at home that you can save a lot of money this winter and save energy by educating ourselves and changing our habits.

Check out the whole range of Current Cost Energy Monitors, including the new Individual Appliance Monitor; prices starting at £24.95 for the TREC at Smarter Products, with FREE delivery.

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Food, glorious food?

Apparently we are all going to be eating more bugs and insects as time goes on.  Insects are already eaten in four-fifths of nations. They produce a fraction of the greenhouse gasses pumped out by cattle and are rich in minerals, vitamins and proteins. Just four locusts provide as much calcium as a glass of milk, while mopani worms, gram-for-gram, contain more protein than beef.  With the planet's population heading towards the seven billion mark (by October) and an ever-less-economical reliance on meat, farmed insects might just provide an answer. They produce much more meat per kilogram of feed than the more usual farmed animals do, and more of their body mass is edible.

But insects?  I’m not sure our delicate Western pallet is ready for deep-fried tarantula or chocolate ant wafers to take centre stage at our meal times.  Imagine popping out for a loaf of bread and a pound of locusts from your local supermarket.  Will they be positioned in the 3rdaisle, next to the wiggly pasta or in the frozen food cabinets?  The mind boggles!

Or am I being narrow minded?  I can see the environmental benefits.  A food source that is better for you, sustainable, reducing methane gases and economical to produce. And apparently we are all ready eating a host of bugs – albeit unwittingly.   A bar of chocolate probably contains 60 or more insect fragments (a type of contamination known in the trade as "insect filth") while the average tin of sweetcorn is home to a few chunks of larvae, and frozen broccoli is home to a perpetual forest of protein.

So keep a look out for those added extras – now you know they���re there, I’m sure you will, and please share your experiences of locusts and other delights.  Personally I think I might just go blackberrying and accept the added extras with my eyes firmly closed!

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It's A Kinda Magic!

We could all do with a little bit of magic right now and what better way to start than being able to control all the infra-red devices around your home with a swish, swoosh, whirl and a flick! Even Harry Potter would be impressed by the Magic Wand Remote Control by Kymera; the wand can be programmed to learn up to 13 different commands that can be used to remotely control your Digi-box, Sky, TV, Stereo; and if you're lucky enough to have a remote-controlled fireplace or curtains then the possibilities for showing off your magic are limitless!

Whether you are looking for a bit of excitement to cheer up the household now the evenings are drawing in or if you are well ahead with Christmas gift ideas; the Kymera Wand Remote Control will certainly keep the family occupied with programming and playing!

For a limited time we have reduced the Kymera Wand Remote Control by £10 and we are still offering FREE delivery on all orders (UK Mainland); so hurry while this truly magical offer lasts!

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Ewgeco Energy Monitor Study Proves Real Value

  UK households could significantly cut their energy bills by using a real-time energy monitor, a new study suggests.

A team from Edinburgh Napier University assessed the performance of 65 housing association homes, all of which were pre-fitted with a Ewgeco real-time energy monitor.

The results of the six month trial showed that those that used the Scottish firm’s award-winning device consumed up to 20% less gas than other households in the study.

"Our findings demonstrate that in-house utility displays can offer a tangible means of energy reduction by enabling behavioural change,” said study author John Currie, Director of the Scottish Energy Centre at Edinburgh Napier University.

The Ewgeco monitor’s simple traffic light display of green, amber and red highlights real-time low, medium or high energy usage.

It works with ordinary utility meters to provide households with instantaneous information on their gas, energy and water consumption.

Forty-three of the homes in the trial, which was funded by the UK’s Technology Strategy Board, had the Ewgeco monitor clearly on display, while it was hidden in the remainder of the properties.

Researchers found that households that could see and use the energy-saving device consumed up to 20% less gas, and 7% less electricity, compared to the properties with a hidden monitor.

In interviews, around 94% of tenants also said that the Ewgeco device made them more aware of the energy they were using, while 73% said it made them use less energy.

The study was the first of its kind in the UK involving a real-time energy monitor to track and monitor domestic gas and electricity consumption.

“What we found was that by allowing everyone in the home to see and quickly understand the electricity and gas being consumed, the Ewgeco monitor became a catalyst for increased awareness of wasted energy,” said Mr Currie.

He added: “With the introduction of smart metering technologies in all homes in the UK by 2020, it is imperative that such devices be linked with easy-to-understand interactive user-displays if national energy reduction targets are to be realised and not just seen as a means of providing utility suppliers with demand information."

One study participant, a single mum with two children of primary school age, found it difficult to understand her bills and keep track of her spending until she discovered the Ewgeco’s daily target alarm app.

“When I get back from work and the kids arrive back from school everything gets turned on and sometimes left on unattended for hours,” she said. “The alarm means we can now budget our energy use to how much I can actually afford every day.”

The real-time energy monitor was devised by Perth entrepreneur Tanya Ewing, who was named British Female Inventor of the Year in 2008.

The former housewife, who was inspired to come up with the invention after receiving a particularly high gas bill, said: “Having won multiple awards for what originally was a good idea, it is very rewarding to read this report and see the proof that Ewgeco does what it’s meant to do – save money and energy in an intuitive way without changing your lifestyle.”

Dunedin Canmore Housing Association, Perthshire Housing Association and Glen Housing participated in the study after installing Ewgeco monitors in their new developments.

“This study indicates that the Ewgeco monitors have been helping our tenants to become more aware of their energy usage which has helped them to save energy and reduce their utility bills: this is great news, especially in the current climate where utility costs are set to increase significantly next month,” said Susan Napier, Dunedin Canmore Housing Association’s Business Development Director.

The Ewgeco Energy Monitoring range for homes and businesses is now available at Smarter Products.

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30% off Trunki at Smarter Products!

We've taken a massive 30% off Trunki until the end of August! The gorgeous Penelope the Princess Carriage and Freddie the Fire Engine Ride-on Suitcases are now just £27.95 - and still with FREE delivery! Have a look at the stylish and stackable Trunki Toybox; Travel Chums and Yondi Travel Pillow - fantastic gifts that children will love and parents will appreciate, any time of the year.

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Plan ahead for 18 per cent rise in energy bills

  According to the Energy Saving Trust, E.ON has become the fourth 'big six' energy provider to announce that it will increase the price of electricity and gas this Autumn.  From September 13th, customers will see their energy bills rise by 11.4 per cent for electricity and 18.1 per cent for gas.

  The utility provider last announced a price rise in February and like other companies, put the increase down to rising wholesale prices over the past few months. In the past month, Scottish Power, British Gas and SSE all announced price hikes for their customers.

  "Very few households will be escaping the impact of a double digit price rise on their energy bills this year,"  noted Ann Robinson, Director of consumer policy at uSwitch.com.

  So we need to get ahead of the game and make sure we reduce our energy usage and therefore household and business bills this Autumn and Winter.  You can make a good start with the latest energy monitors - have a look at Current Cost and Owl - both are easy to install and understand and you can add to these systems. Current Cost is leading the way with the IAM (Individual Appliance Monitor); you can name and shame the energy hungry appliances in your home or business and make sure they are switched off whenever possible. 

  It's all about re-education and changing habits; energy monitors are a great tool for learning as well as a visual reminder - for your family and colleagues. 

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Dragons Den New Series Tonight

Remember Dragons Den Series 9 starts tonight on BBC2 at 9pm. We are looking forward to seeing the Dragons - Deborah Meaden, Theo Paphitis, Duncan Bannatyne, Peter Jones and new to this series Hilary Devey - put the entrepreneurs through their paces! 

The multi-millionaire 'Dragons' will give the budding entrepreneurs 3 minutes each to pitch their business ideas and new products and the Dragons must decide whether they will invest money in this business.

Tonight we'll see 34-year-old Georgette Hewitt, from Kent, find out exactly how nerve-wracking it can be to climb those famous stairs and pitch to the Dragons. It's a real battle to compose her nerves, but one she must win in order to tempt the self-made multi-millionaires to invest in her answer to a common birthday party headache familiar to all parents.

We will be watching eagerly, hoping to see some great new products that will fit into the Smarter Products brand - clever, stylish, innovative - that's what we're looking for to boost our Dragons Den Collection. So if you spot something on this series that you think would make a 'smarter product' then please let us know!

So let's hope Evan Davis has a good series lined up for us - see you there at 9pm!

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London Calling! London 2012 One Year to Go

  Olympic dreams are starting to come into real focus today as the world turns its attention to London. It is now exactly one year until the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games.

  There is a special programme this evening on BBC1 from 7pm which will take a look behind the scenes and we will see how the stadiums, pools and other Olympic areas are looking.

  In Trafalgar Square tonight, International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge will invite the world's athletes to compete in the London 2012 Olympic Games. He will also be unveiling the Olympic medals! There are lots of other exciting events to mark today's milestone, including the first dive into the pool in the Aquatics Centre. This, of course, will be taken by double Commonwealth Gold Medalist, Tom Daley.

  The Olympic and Paralympic Games next year will mark the end of a decade-long project, after London won the bid in 2005 based on a vision to stage an Olympic Games that would have athletes at its heart, inspire young people and be a catalyst for lasting change.

  London is on track to deliver on its promise, with one year to go the construction of all the new main venues and infrastructure is complete. There is of course alot still to do as LOCOG Chair Seb Coe explains, 'With a year to go we are inviting the athletes, spectators and visitors from around the world to come to the UK next summer, its 'London Calling'. Waiting for them will be a spectacular festival of sport and culture in the world's greatest city, which will be more magical and vibrant than ever. There is much to do in the next 12 months, but we can take huge comfort in the progress that has been made so far. We are absolutely on track and determined to stage Olympic and Paralympic Games which will deliver on the promises we made in Singapore, inspire the athletes and make the nation proud.'

  Now the Smarter Products team needs your help! We are putting together a new collection of innovative products to celebrate London 2012. There is no specific remit, it can be clever, stylish, eco friendly...as long as you believe it could be a 'smarter product'. Reply to this blog, email olympics@smarterproducts.co.uk or join us here, we can't wait to see what you have in store for us!

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Wow, Bristol is full of Gorillas!

  Some of the Smarter Products team have gone off on the 'Gorilla Walk' today - a very popular activity at the moment in Bristol as there are so many individually designed Gorillas to find around the city!

In the year that Bristol Zoo Gardens celebrates its 175th anniversary, Wow! Gorillas brings a mass public art event to the streets and parks of Bristol this summer. Bringing together residents, visitors, schools, artists and businesses for a truly memorable shared experience for the whole city.

Artists have decorated life-size gorillas, sponsored by local businesses which have been placed around the city for 10 weeks between 6th July and 7th September.

This world class event in partnership with Bristol City Council and Wild in Art, encourages tourists and residents to see their city afresh, encouraging exploration of Bristol and all it has to offer. Wow! Gorillas will also raise significant funds to support gorilla conservation projects and Bristol charity Wallace and Gromit's Grand Appeal.

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FirstBIKE - No Stabilisers Required!

We think this is the cutest, best designed and most stable bike for small children. Fantastic German design; even children as young as two years old who are learning to ride a 2-wheeler for the first time will get the hang of this with a little practise. Firstbike comes top of the class we reckon!