Are you thinking of ways to lighten your environmental load? One of the biggest contributors to pollution in most of our lives is the car we drive. If soaring fuel prices, a desire to improve your environmental status, or simple necessity are causing you to look for a new car, here are some ways to ensure that you purchase one that is best for you and right for the environment.

Emissions

There are several factors to consider in evaluating a car’s environmental standing. We will get to the rest later in the article, but by far the most important (and easiest to evaluate) is the vehicle’s emissions.

A car’s emissions are the carbon dioxide that it releases. This is measured in grams per kilometre. Try to select a car with the lowest emissions, but if this information is not available, you can reach a similar conclusion by selecting one with a high level of economy (miles travelled per gallon of fuel).

Manufacturing

It is not just what you do with the car that matters; it is also how the car was made and even where it was made. Look at the company’s website for information on what their environmental policies are and try to consider vehicles that are manufactured nearby to avoid the environmental cost of long distance shipping.

Buy for Longevity

One of the biggest strains on the environment, when it comes to cars, is repeat manufacturing as people buy, buy, and buy some more. Instead of purchasing a new vehicle every couple of years, select one that will meet your needs for several years, thereby reducing the environmental cost of manufacturing and disposal.

Balancing all of these factors can be a little tricky – which should you choose, a car that was made nearby, but has higher emissions; or one that has been imported with lower emissions? The answer is not always clear, but just factoring these characteristics into your decision making process is a step in the right direction.

The best bet is to select a range of cars that meet your travel and budget needs, and then evaluate them in terms of their emissions, economy, and manufacturing history.

You can also help the environment by ensuring that you drive your vehicle responsibly, using public transit whenever possible.

Original source:
http://www.whatcar.co.uk/news-special-report.aspx?NA=219000&EL=3152521

Are you thinking of ways to lighten your environmental load? One of the biggest contributors to pollution in most of our lives is the car we drive. If soaring fuel prices, a desire to improve your environmental status, or simple necessity are causing you to look for a new car, here are some ways to ensure that you purchase one that is best for you and right for the environment.

Emissions

There are several factors to consider in evaluating a car’s environmental standing. We will get to the rest later in the article, but by far the most important (and easiest to evaluate) is the vehicle’s emissions.

A car’s emissions are the carbon dioxide that it releases. This is measured in grams per kilometre. Try to select a car with the lowest emissions, but if this information is not available, you can reach a similar conclusion by selecting one with a high level of economy (miles travelled per gallon of fuel).

Manufacturing

It is not just what you do with the car that matters; it is also how the car was made and even where it was made. Look at the company’s website for information on what their environmental policies are and try to consider vehicles that are manufactured nearby to avoid the environmental cost of long distance shipping.

Buy for Longevity

One of the biggest strains on the environment, when it comes to cars, is repeat manufacturing as people buy, buy, and buy some more. Instead of purchasing a new vehicle every couple of years, select one that will meet your needs for several years, thereby reducing the environmental cost of manufacturing and disposal.

Balancing all of these factors can be a little tricky – which should you choose, a car that was made nearby, but has higher emissions; or one that has been imported with lower emissions? The answer is not always clear, but just factoring these characteristics into your decision making process is a step in the right direction.

The best bet is to select a range of cars that meet your travel and budget needs, and then evaluate them in terms of their emissions, economy, and manufacturing history.

You can also help the environment by ensuring that you drive your vehicle responsibly, using public transit whenever possible.

Original source:
http://www.whatcar.co.uk/news-special-report.aspx?NA=219000&EL=3152521

You are concerned about keeping your customers happy and your employees secure, but have you thought of some of the secondary risks of business? What about arson, building safety, or water damage?

These are factors that MORE TH>N is thinking about on your behalf. More Th>n offers a unique range of guides to help you learn more about the risks of business and to assess your own personal needs. Here is a highlighted summary of this information.

Arson

Every year tens of thousands of buildings are set aflame deliberately, damaging the property and companies of many UK business owners. These fires are usually set at random, when an arsonist sees an opportunity and takes advantage of it. Protect yourself, your business, and your contents by staying alert to the threat of arson and carrying adequate insurance.

Burglary and Theft

Shops and stores are always on guard against theft. We hope that everyone passing through your doors is a potential customer, but you should still be prepared for the possibility of threat. Of course, businesses that do not deal with the public are still at risk of internal theft, and should also protect themselves accordingly.

Water Damage

Not all threats are from malicious causes. Sometimes maintenance neglect or simple bad luck can cause the worst damage of all. Water damage can be the result of rainfall, burst pipes, or flooding. It can start in your building or seep over from a neighbour. Whatever the cause, water damage is a costly threat and unfortunately, it is on the rise.

These are just a few of the threats that your business faces. With many others not mentioned, it is clear that vigilance is required to keep your business and your profits secure.

MORE TH>N Business Insurance offers comprehensive cover in a variety of products designed to meet the unique needs of your business. With Personal Customer Managers and reputation for cheap business insurance, MORE TH>N Business Insurance is your best bet for the cover you need.

Unfortunately, most arson situations are unpredictable random acts by vandals who are taking advantage of opportunity. This means that every building and every business is a potential target. However, this also means that there are ways that you can reduce the risk that you will become an arson victim.

Here are some ways that you can reduce the risk. . .

Evaluate Your Property's Perimeter

Keep would-be arsons away from your building and deter opportunistic fire setting by:

Installing security fencing or reinforcing gates with secure padlocks

Fitting security on external doors such as locks, coded systems, and alarms

Fitting windows with key-operated window locks

Installing steel linings on doors and steel grilles/bars on windows

Fitting a CCTV system with recording facilities. Not only will this deter any security breeches, it will also record any that occur

Establish Secure Practices

There is plenty that you and your staff can do to deter arsons and make your business a less welcoming target. Implement any or all of these strategies:

When you close for the evening, be sure to lock every entrance to the main building and all outbuildings

Secure flammable liquids and gases in locked areas that are away from plain sight

Lock waste in enclosed skips and them as far away from the building as possible. Waste is a popular target for arsons

Stay Aware

Arson is a crime of opportunity and often the fire-setters are familiar with their target. Be aware of who is spending time around your business, both during working hours and after. Stay alert by:

Installing a CCTV system and scheduling a regular review of the tapes. Note any suspicious behaviour such as a recurrent after-hours visitor, and alert the authorities

Visiting your business after hours. You do not have to stop by every night, but occasional visits can help alert you to potential risks

Keeping up-to-date personnel files on all staff. We all hope that our employees are reliable and trustworthy, and up-to-date information will ensure that you are aware of who has access to your building at all times

This information is simply a quick guide to get you started on your way to securing your business against arson. As a crime of opportunity, there are many things you can do to make your business a less welcoming target, but the risk will still remain. This is why adequate building and content cover is one of the best insurances against arson damage and its threat to your business.

Sign up today for MORE TH>N Business Cover >

The bad news is that every business is at risk of experiencing loss due to theft. The good news is that most thieves are opportunistic criminals, looking for the easiest target.

You can help keep your business and your staff safe by making your business as difficult of a target as possible. Here are some tips to help you get started:

• Empty your till overnight and leave the drawer open and visible to deter would-be thieves
• Install key-operated locks on all accessible opening windows, and bars on those that need-not be opened
• Fit an Intruder Alarm system and display a clear notice that the system is operational

Safety Risk

Goods can be replaced, but unfortunately, theft is sometimes accompanied by a threat to someone's safety or even life. Your employees are important to you, and their safety should be your top concern. Here are some ways that you can deter robberies and help keep your staff safe:

Carry minimal amounts of cash, especially during slow shifts and late hours when robberies are most likely to occur. Consider displaying a sign that states your low-cash policy

Install a CCTV system and ensure that it is readily recognized to deter would-be criminals

Install tills so that cash is not readily visible. Ensure that cash is not counted in the open, during business hours

Internal Theft

A business can be very much like a family, especially when the company is small. It is saddening to think, but internal theft is a very real risk that faces businesses operating in the UK. Protecting yourself against internal theft not only limits your losses of profit, it can also deter the painful situations, and damaged moral that arise when employees become thieves.

Here are some ways you can protect your business and your staff from the threat of internal theft:

• Keep up-to-date personnel files on all staff members
• Install a CCTV system in all areas
• Establish and enforce strict, but fair, policies for handling cash and merchandise
• Conduct regular audits of resources such as cash, stock, and tools
• Lock portable equipment away and place security markers on all valuables

When a business is robbed, it loses much more than the money and merchandise that is stolen. You can help protect your business and keeps thieves at bay by following these strategies.

MORE TH>N offers comprehensive business insurance to give you the protection you need. Receive your free quote today >

MORE TH>N travel insurance is flexible and comprehensive, but all of these options can take some time to sort through. Do you need a policy with a high value of cover should you cancel a trip? What factors would determine if you need Personal Baggage cover?

This article will help you decide which options are most important to you and which you may be able to skip on.

Cancellation

Cancellation coverage can protect the value of your trip, up to a certain level, should you have an unexpected cancellation. The tricky part is that 'unexpected' means that you can never ahead of time whether this option will be one you will use.

Instead of thinking in terms of whether you may end up cancelling a trip or not, evaluate cancellation options based on the number of times you travel and the average value of your trip.

The more you travel, the more likely something will come up to cause an unexpected cancellation. If you are a frequent traveller, it would be wise to purchase cover with a high cancellation value and low excess. The same holds true if you travel infrequently, but take very expensive trips. Premier Cover from MORE TH>N may be best for you >

If you are an infrequent traveller, or take trips with a low purchase price, then you can likely get by with a lower level of cancellation cover. Standard or Economy Cover from MORE TH>N may be well suited to your needs >

Personal Baggage

Personal Baggage cover is an additional option that can be added to any of MORE TH>N's three policy levels. This cover provides assistance if your personal baggage is lost, stolen, or damaged. Or if your effects are stolen from a locked room or vehicle.

You can never predict when a loss or theft will occur, so the way to determine what level of personal baggage cover you need is to consider the value of the items with which you travel. If you carry only inexpensive items then economy cover of up £500 may be all that you need. However, if you intend to carry valuables, then adding personal baggage cover to a premier plan will offer greater assurance. Learn More >

Emergency Medical Expenses

It is unpleasant to think about, but there is always a chance that you may fall ill, whether you are at home or travelling. So, it is important that you are protected while you are away. You can never know when illness will strike; instead, evaluate this option based on where you are travelling and the likely length of your visit.

Some countries are known for excessively high medical costs; on some trips you may be exposed to more dangers than on others; the longer you are away, the more likely an illness could strike. These are all factors to consider when you are thinking about the level of cover to purchase.

When it comes down to it, this is the most important feature that your policy will offer, so you should purchase the one with the highest level of medical cover possible. Remember, that more pre-existing conditions will not be covered and that you should consider whether funeral and body repatriation are covered.

Some Options that You May be Able to Skip

There are several options that are excellent for some travellers, but insignificant for others. Here are some that may not apply to you . . .

Kennel/Cattery fees. This option is only important if you have a pet and even then only if your animal will be boarded during your time away or if you miss your original return date

Winter Sports Options. Never been on skis in your life and have no intention of starting? Then this is likely an option you can skip

Golf Cover Option. Like Winter Sports Cover, unless you are a golfer or intend to become one during your holiday, there is no reason why you should consider this option.

"Cats need to be outdoors. It's unfair to keep them inside."

"Letting a cat outside is dangerous and irresponsible"

Who is right? Should cats be allowed to roam free through the neighbourhood or should they be kept safe-and-sound indoors. The experts are still out, with plenty of arguments on both sides. It seems to come down to unique circumstances, but here are some things to consider as you join the debate.

It is true that cats that live outside are at no loss of entertainment. Prowling through the neighbourhood, hunting small critters, and lazing in the sun are some favourite pass-times of outdoor cats.

You can help keep your outdoor cat safer by taking the following steps:

Ensure that he/she is well fed at home to deter eating garbage or scraps from other homes

Provide a break-free collar that will release should it become caught. This reduces the risk of strangulation

• Keep your cat indoors during harsh weather
• Provide a safe outdoor source of water to avoid dehydration
• Microchip your pet for easy identification should he/she become lost

When should a cat be kept indoors?

There is evidence to suggest that indoor cats live longer and experience fewer health emergencies when they are kept indoors. When deciding if your cat should be kept indoors you should evaluate the risks that your area presents. If any of these significant risks are present then you may want to consider keeping Felix indoors:

• Busy roads
• Unfriendly dogs
• Predatory animals such as hawks, coyotes, and raccoons

You should also keep your cat indoors if it has been declawed. Although it is scary to think about, there is always a risk that your beloved pet will come in contact with an unfriendly animal such as another cat or dog. If your pet does not have claws, it could be at an unfair disadvantage.

Finally, cats that are not spayed or neutered should remain indoors to prevent unwanted pregnancies and litters.

And don't worry. Cats can lead completely fulfilling lives within your home. You can help ensure that your cat enjoys his/her indoor lifestyle by taking the following steps:

Decide early on to keep your cat indoors and stick to your conviction. A kitten will adapt to an indoor lifestyle more readily than an older cat that has already been living outside

Provide plenty of opportunity for exercise and mental stimulation, including lots of playtime with you and some independent toys as well

Give him/her a place to climb. Cat gyms can be as elaborate as your imagination (and space) will allow, or they can be as simple as a secure series of shelves

Regardless of which you choose, it is always important that you are putting the welfare of your pet first. Whether indoor or outdoor, cats need plenty of love and attention from their owners.

MORE TH>N can help keep your cat healthy with Pet Insurance from as little as £6.79/month. Learn More >

Once you have taken out a mortgage, paid all the relevant fees and received the keys for your new home, the last thing you want to think about is added expenditure. But fail to take out insurance when you become a homeowner and you could be faced with a much bigger bill when you have to replace all your worldly goods after a break-in.

But even before you start to think about insuring your belongings, you will have to take out cover for the actual property, known as buildings insurance. Lenders will not allow you to take a mortgage without it. This may seem inhibitive, but think about it from their point of view: if you take out a £180,000 mortgage on a two-bedroom house, the lender’s security if you default on repayments is the property itself. If this is damaged or destroyed due to fire damage or subsidence, for example, without insurance you are left without a home and the lender will also have to say goodbye to £180,000.  

Once the actual structure of your home is covered, you will need to think about insuring your contents. While this is not essential to your mortgage completing, as buildings insurance is, you should take it out for peace of mind. Sometimes it can even take a lucky escape, such as an attempted break-in, to make you realise the importance of being covered. But what factors affect your insurance premiums and what should you bear in mind?

Paying a premium

Research published this week (31 March) by actuarial consultancy EMB named the London borough of Islington as the most expensive place to be insured in the UK. The findings revealed high levels of violence and drug-related crime have impacted on insurance premiums, with burglary in the area three times the national average.

Karl Murphy, partner at AMB, says insurance premiums are typically higher in cities than rural areas because of the combination of high crime and unemployment rates. “About half of a contents’ premium will be based on the likelihood of theft,” he says. “Quite simply, Islington has a high density of young, unemployed males and it is this section of the population that is most likely to commit crimes against property. Islington is also an area which is prone to subsidence, another big factor in the pricing of household insurance policy prices.”

Insurance providers look at customers’ risk profiles in the same way that banks look at credit records. Before you take out a policy they will ask personal questions such as whether you smoke (which increases the risk of fire) and whether you have been broken in to before which will probably mark you out as a higher risk.

Simon Lamble, product director at comparison site Confused, says its research shows that a lot of people buy insurance from their mortgage provider for the sake of convenience and don’t realise the money they could save by shopping around. He continues: “Another common mistake is underestimating the value of personal possessions. Most people undervalue by about a half, by simply guessing rather than compiling a detailed inventory. People think about televisions and jewellery but forget to take CD collections and clothes into consideration.”

While people may underestimate the worth of their goods, Lamble says that insurers often over-estimate the cost of rebuilding a property and this is reflected in higher buildings insurance premiums for consumers with higher risk profiles. Confused publishes a list of top tips when it comes to home insurance to help consumers keep their premiums down. Installing better security and burglar alarms, and joining a neighbourhood watch scheme can keep your contents insurance down, while fitting smoke alarms, trimming back large trees to avoid subsidence and installing fire extinguishers can help with buildings cover.

Shop around

As with most things in life, it pays to shop around to get the most suitable and affordable cover. Don’t feel compelled to take out insurance with your mortgage lender, or to take out both types of cover with one insurer as you may well save money by obtaining them separately. Ascertain the rebuild price of your home and accurately assess the value of its contents to make sure you are not paying too much or facing a shortfall. Take on board the advice of your insurer when it comes to home alterations and even the smallest changes could save you a packet in the long run.      

The problem was that the outage had blown two pieces of equipment a Netcomm ADSL Router as well as a Netgear Rangemax Wireless Router . I contacted Energy Australia and they advised that I must complete a Network Investigation Report for any compensation claim. I immediately did so. Several weeks later although Energy Australia had advised a far earlier response I received a form letter stating that myclaim had been rejected without any explanation.

Although my equipment is connected via an Anti-Surge Power Board, this still not on this occasion stop the problem and through no fault of my own I was up for a few hundred dollars to replace my ruined equipment.

It should be noted that occurrences like this may be covered under your Home Contents Insurance as long as part of your policy includes Fusion cover.

In conclusion all your equipment should be connected using a Surge Board, and you should look at your current insurance cover.

Although, these things are not in my experience regular events, they still do happen. It is my considered opinion that companies like Energy Australia should compensate customers when such events occur. People pay a high enough and in future increasing tariff for electricity and should be entitled to a reliable level of service and if something goes wrong to pay any cost associated with in this example affected equipment.