Convert your car from a money burner into a money earner

A number of dedicated car advertising or "car wrapping" websites have sprouted up in recent years.

These specialist websites aim to provide a hassle-free way for you to earn money by allowing ads to be displayed on your car.

How does it work? - At a glance
Car wrapping companies such as Money4Space and comm-motion operate by matching up businesses that are seeking to advertise with drivers that are happy to display their ads.

Once matched up, the car wrapping company will dispatch trained wrap fitters to apply the ad to your car.

You will be paid for each month that you display the ad.

How does it work? - In detail
Once you have registered on you preferred car wrapping website, you will then wait for an advertiser to be interested in your profile.

You will be notified once you have been selected.  You will then be given the details of the proposed ad and for how long you will be expected to display the ad.

If you are happy with the offer and the proposed design, arrangements will be made for your car to be wrapped.

Your car will be wrapped in a vinyl film.  This is a temporary film on which the ad is displayed.

For displays that cover windows, a special type of film is used, which appears transparent from the inside of your car yet shows an image on the outside.

The advert will remain on your vehicle for the duration of the advertising campaign.

You will typically be paid a monthly fee for the ad to be displayed on your car.

This monthly fee will depend on a number of factors, the foremost of which is the extent of your car's surface that is covered in the advertisement.

Some car wrapping companies will require you to drive a certain number of miles before you get paid.  Small GPS tracking devices are used to ensure that you are spending sufficient time behind the wheel.

Are there any qualification criteria?
The following terms and conditions for drivers are typical:

• You must be 18 years or older
• You will be expected to be the primary driver of the car
• You must hold a current MOT for your car
• Ditto, Road Tax
• Ditto, Car Insurance
• You must have no serious traffic violations or a criminal record
• You will be expected to drive responsibly, adhering to road traffic laws at all times
• You will usually be required to pass a background check and credit check
• Your car must be kept clean and well presented
• Your car must be free of damage, and be repaired if damaged
• Your car should be driven regularly (some car wrap companies will specify a minimum amount of miles that you will need to drive each month)
• You will typically be required to present your car to the car wrapping company once a month for a brief inspection check.

How much could I earn?

You can earn around £1500 a year for displaying an ad that covers the whole of your car.

Your earnings will reduce to around £900 a year for an ad displayed on the sides of your car.

If you only want the rear screen of your car to be covered, expect your earnings to drop to around £250 for a year's ad campaign.

I drive an old banger.  Does this matter?
Advertisements are custom designed to suit most makes of car. The type and age of car that you drive is less important than how your car is maintained and driven.  However, you may struggle to be selected by advertisers if your car is over 10 years old.

What if I don't want a particular Ad?

The car wrapping company will normally exclude sensitive categories of advertising such as cigarettes and booze. Ultimately, it is your decision on whether you accept the ad proposed for your car.

Will the ad damage my paintwork?
The main car wrapping companies employ expert fitters.  Car wrapping films are designed to be fitted and removed without damage.  This film actually helps protects your paintwork against stone chips, salt corrosion and wear & tear.

Will my car insurance be affected?
Your motor insurance will not normally be affected.  Indeed, the ad will make your car look unique, and therefore less attractive to thieves.

Many car wrapping companies will arrange insurance cover against damage to the wrap while displayed on your car and against theft or damage to any GPS unit you are required to carry.

Do I need to notify the DVLA?
The DVLA has specified that as car wraps are temporary, there is no requirement to notify them of any change to your car's colour arising from wraps.

Summary

This money earner is certainly not for everyone.  However, if you are not precious about having your car used as a mobile advertising hoarding, this is an easy way to make money from your car.   The specialist car wrapping websites out there will make the process of matching you up with an advertiser almost hassle free.

David
www.house-saver.co.uk

Keeping a lid on your bills this summer - and not a panama hat in sight

Is it possible to keep cool at home in a heatwave without spending money?

Most of us welcome hot weather, but when it's too hot for too long it is nice to be able to escape the heat.

Air conditioning is expensive to install and costly to run.  Air conditioning is also not necessary to stay cool in your home when the temperature soars.  Follow the tips below to stay comfortable in a heatwave without spending a fortunate.

Keeping cool at home during the day - quick wins:

• Stay downstairs: warm air rises so it will be cooler on the ground floor.
• Close your curtains: keep your curtains closed throughout the day to help block the sun's heat.
• While you are closing those curtains also shut your windows to keep the warm air out.
• Don't use the oven for cooking.  Use the microwave or BBQ when cooking your meals.
• Better still, stick to cold meals.
• Switch off and unplug heat generating household appliances such as TVs and computers.
• Still hot?  A great fix - take a cold bath or shower.

Keeping cool at home during the day - investments that will keep you cool and save you money:

• Insulate your home. A home that has well insulated walls and loft will also keep the heat out in the summer.
• Prevent solar heating gain by fitting solar window film. Solar film reflects infrared radiation (the heat) contained in the sun's rays whilst allowing the sunlight in. Its also cheap and easy to install.
• Alternatively, you can prevent solar heating of your home by installing awnings.
• Replace heat generating incandescent light bulbs with cooler, and more efficient, fluorescent or LED lights.

Keeping cool at night

If the heat is preventing you from sleeping at night, try these fixes:

• Place your pillows in plastic bags and store in your freezer for an hour before bedtime.
• Keep your bedding in the coolest room in the house during the day.
• Use silk or satin pillowcases. These fabrics feel cooler against your skin.
• Open windows and inside doors at night to get rid of the warm daytime air and to allow in the cooler night-time air.
• Late sleeper?  You may need to get up to close the windows when the sun rises to enable you to sleep comfortably for longer.

Tips for coping in hot weather whilst out and about

• Try to keep out of the sun during the hottest part of the day (between 11am and 3pm).
• The morning and evening are usually cool enough to enable you to do your errands or to exercise.
• Wear light coloured and loose fitting clothing.  Clothes that are made of natural fabrics such as cotton work best.
• Go to the shops! Most shopping centres are air-conditioned.  But try not to spend money.
• Sip cold drinks regularly. This does not work with alcohol though - sorry.

Hope these tip help.

David
http://www.house-saver.co.uk/

Relaunch of the Green Deal - could this be second time lucky for the Government's flagship domestic energy saving scheme?

The Green Deal - a Great Concept
The Green Deal was launched in January 2013 to help households fund home improvements that will increase the energy efficiency of their home.

Home improvements delivered with the help of the Green Deal are expected to reduce your energy bills. The Green Deal lets you pay for some or all of the improvements over time through your electricity bill. The scheme is designed in a way that repayments should be no more than what you would save in your energy bills.

Initial failure to take-off
Whilst the Green Deal offers lots of benefits to households it has never really taken off.  

The scheme has received some poor publicity, its approach has proved overly complicated, and not enough certified Green Deal "Providers" and "Installers" have been recruited to implement the scheme on the ground.

The Relaunch
A key element of the Green Deal is its ability to let homeowners earn money from their energy efficient home improvements to offset the cost of having the work done.  However this aspect of the Green Deal has proven to be over-complicated.  The Government is seeking to tackle this problem.

The new Green Deal Home Improvement Fund (GDHIF) launches on Monday 9 June 2014 in England and Wales. A similar scheme called the Green Homes Cashback is being launched in Scotland.

The Government expects that the relaunched scheme, which is more user-friendly and which offers more generous terms than the previous Green Deal "cashback scheme", will encourage more households to take up the Green Deal.

The Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey has described the scheme as:
“The best way for households to take control of their energy bills is to use less energy."

The Climate Change Minister Greg Barker has also lauded the new scheme:
“The Green Deal Home Improvement Fund is another way the Government is making it simpler and cheaper for people to stay warm and improve their homes.  

I want households across the country to benefit from more energy efficient homes and reduced bills through the Green Deal, and that is what the new home incentive fund will do.”

The Green Deal Home Improvement Fund - at a glance
The Green Deal Home Improvement Fund (GDHIF) is a new incentive scheme open to all householders in England and Wales wanting to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

Under the GDHIF households that install energy efficiency measures such as solid wall insulation and new heating systems can earn up to £7,600 to help cover the cost of the energy efficiency improvements.

The Green Deal Home Improvement Fund - in detail
Under the GDHIF householders can receive:

• up to £1000 for installing two measures from an approved list; and/or
• up to £6000 for installing solid wall insulation; and
• up to £100 refunded for their Green Deal Assessment.

The scheme also entitles those who have bought a property in the 12 months prior to application to qualify for up to an additional £500 if they carry out energy efficiency improvements.

Householders will be able to receive GDHIF funding for solid wall insulation and/or any two of the following energy savings improvements:

• Condensing gas boiler (on mains gas)
• Double glazing (replacing single glazing)
• Secondary glazing
• Replacement doors
• Cavity wall insulation
• Floor insulation
• Flat roof insulation
• Room-in-roof insulation
• Replacement warm air unit
• Replacement storage heaters
• Flue gas heat recovery units
• Waste water heat recovery systems

GDHIF is designed to work alongside Green Deal Finance and householders have the option to use Green Deal Finance to help fund some of the upfront cost of the installation.

How can I claim the GDHIF payment?
Your Green Deal "Provider" and "Installer" will help take you through the process of making a claim. In summary, you will need to take the following steps to apply for and claim their GDHIF payment:

• have a valid Green Deal Assessment Report or Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) which must have been carried out in the two years prior to application;
• apply for measures as recommended on their  Green Deal Assessment Report or EPC;
• register for their GDHIF voucher;
• once they have received their voucher, householders must have the improvements installed by a registered Green Deal "Installer" or "Provider" within six months;
• once the work has been completed, submit their voucher – countersigned by the Green Deal Installer or Provider – with copies of the invoice, PAS2030 Claim(s) of Conformity, and their Green Deal Assessment Report invoice; 
• Once the GDHIF administrator has validated the voucher, you will receive payment in ten working days.

Further Information on the GDHIF 
The Government has published an advice sheet on the GDHIF which can be downloaded at www.gov.uk.

Information about certified Green Deal "Providers" and "Installers" can be found on the Green Deal Oversight Body website.

David
www.house-saver.co.uk

What would happen if Mr Putin turned off the taps?

This blog explains the benefits of the Government's recently launched Domestic "Renewable Heat Incentive" or RHI.

By seeking to reduce the UK's reliance on gas to heat our homes, the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive, is a landmark scheme for the UK domestic energy sector. 

... and its introduction is very timely.

Trouble on the other side of Europe
UK households are heavily dependent on gas to heat our homes.  

Up until the early 2000s the UK was a net exporter of gas. However, we are securing less and less of our gas supply from the North Sea. The UK is becoming much more reliant on the international gas markets and is now highly vulnerable to fluctuations in the world gas prices.

Ukraine may be on the other side of Europe but what is happening there could have major impact on our gas prices.

This is where the Renewable Heat Incentive comes in.

Government spin
The Domestic RHI was launched 9 April 2014 and is open to homeowners, private landlords, social landlords and self-builders.

The RHI is the main scheme of the Government's Heat Strategy.  The Government has hailed the RHI as "the world’s first long-term financial support programme for renewable heat."

How does the Renewable Heat Incentive work?
The RHI is a financial incentive scheme to encourage households to install renewable heating in their homes.

The RHI pays participants of the scheme that generate and use renewable energy to heat their homes. By increasing the generation of heat from renewable energy sources, the Government expects the RHI to help reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

How much will the Renewable Heat Incentive pay participants?
The RHI will pay you a "tariff" per unit of heat generated for the first seven years.

The tariffs are paid per kWh of renewable heat generated based on the following rates (typical annual payouts in brackets):
air source heat pumps 7.3p/kWh (£850)
biomass boilers and biomass pellet stoves with back burner 12.2p/kWh (£2,000)
ground source heat pumps 18.8p/kWh (£850)
water source heat pumps 18.8p/kWh (£850) and
solar thermal (hot water solar panels) 19.2p/kWh (£400)

The above rates will rise annually in line with inflation. The tariffs are paid quarterly.

If you opt for a metering and monitoring package, you will receive and additional payment of £230 per year for heat pumps or £200 per year for biomass boilers.

Does my home qualify for the Renewable Heat Incentive?
If your heating system was installed after 15 July 2009 you may qualify.

You must use an approved system that has been fitted by an installer who is MCS certified or equivalent (for example, Solar Keymark) and a member of the Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC).

The Ofgem website provides an up-to-date list of approved systems.

Before applying for the RHI you will have to have a Green Deal Assessment.  You will be expected to install loft and cavity wall insulation if this measure has been identified in your Green Deal assessment.

How do I apply for the Renewable Heat Incentive?
You can apply online at the Ofgem website. 

You will need the following documents to hand:

• the MCS certificate that comes with your new heating system (this will be given to you by your installer), and
• your Green Deal Assessment (including the Energy Performance Certificate that forms part of the Green Deal Assessment).

Is the Renewable Heat Incentive worth it?
Households that are off mains gas and that install any of the approved systems could save on their energy bills plus receive a quarterly payment under the scheme.

Households that use mains gas will benefit from greater energy security and will be protected from fluctuations in gas prices.

The cost of installing many of the approved systems is likely to be substantial (A good biomass boiler can cost in excess of £10k).  However, you may qualify for financing through the Green Deal to help cover the upfront costs. 

Where can I get further Renewable Heat Incentive Advice?
Check out the Ofgem domestic RHI factsheet which has been prepared for people considering or intending to apply.

David

www.house-saver.co.uk