It’s a frequent misconception that woodworm only affects old houses and furniture, Woodworm can be present in any piece of wooden furniture and you should always check for the signs. I have a few listed below:

• Small round holes in the woodwork, similar to the holes in a dart board.
• Fine, powdery dust around these holes (this is known as frass).
• Crumbly edges

Even if you can’t see any holes, you might also find frass escaping from the back or underside of the furniture – this suggests active woodworm.

If you have purchased an old piece of furniture you should check with the seller regarding these signs because they may be signs from a previous woodworm infestation which has been treated and is no longer present.

If it is present in your home you may need to consult an entomologist (a zoologist who deals with insects) but if it appears to lie only in a piece of furniture then remove the furniture to prevent it spreading and get it treated.

Woodworm can be anywhere, doors, floors, bedframes, cupboards, chairs, tables etc. Once it is dealt with and treated you should be able to hold onto the piece if too much damage hasn’t been done.

Woodworm in joists and floorboards can be a whole different ball game because they may weaken the wood and therefore deem a building unsafe. Always keeep an eye out for it because it could end up saving you a lot of money and hardship in the long run!

Treatment for woodworm:

http://www.cuprinol.ie/products/woodworm_killer_overview.jsp

http://www.rentokil.ie/residential-customers/termites-and-wood-destroying-pests/woodworm/index.html

•Remove Christmas decorations – This task can be daunting but once it’s all packed away you can start to put some shape on your place! Remember to label the boxes room by room even though you may not feel like it now, it will take the stress out of next year.

•Clear Entryways – Boxes, piles of shoes, post etc. Leave this space clear, bright and welcoming. This will give a sense of fresh new beginning upon entry. This can be done using storage boxes, underseat storage, hangers, buckets, drawers and many more. I will revisit this as one post in a couple of weeks.

•Tidy away – Stow away books, magazines, DVD’s, videos, C.D’s, tapes etc. or dump them if you don’t need them. You will feel an instant precision of mind and your home will feel a lot less irritable. Tidy clothes and make-up away in bedrooms and put toothbrushes and toothpaste, creams and so on into containers or shelves, bathroom cupboards etc. Leave your home or workplace clear for new beginnings and exploits.

•Redecorate – This could mean adding a new picture or changing cupboard doors, new bed spread or upcycle a piece of furniture in your home. Giving something a new lease of life without spending a fortune doing it. This can help you ease into the new year nicely without everything around you feeling bare when you have taken the Christmas decorations down.

•Rearrange – Furniture, office layout, café/bar seating, shop displays. Are you utilizing your space in the best possible way? You might change around wardrobe or cupboard spaces, kitchen cabinets etc. to use the space to its full capacity.

I will touch on a couple of the above subjects again in future blogs, but for now I hope these can help with those January blues. A fresh new positive attitude is a great start for anyone. Here at InArc we would like to wish you all a successful, peaceful and adventure filled 2013.

1. Tidy up – clutter and mess will only busy your mind. Box up odds and ends, cover up unboxable things and stack books neatly.

2. Head to the wall – your head board should be up against a wall (preferably a solid exterior wall). This symbolises security and well being. A good solid headboard should do the trick if it’s not possible with the wall.

3. Look at the door – You must be able to see the door from your bed, this should give you a sense of safety and help you to relax.

4. Not directly – You should not be in line with the door. This signifies the coffin position which is your feet pointing at the door, it puts you in the position of traffic which is not comfortable. A large foot board can help here if it cannot be avoided.

5. Bad reflection -You should never be able to see your reflection in a mirror when in bed. No matter what your other have insists, it’s actually bad for your sex life!!! It’s supposed to encourage infidelity as it introduces a third person into your bed! It’s also supposed to bounce your worries around causing restlessness.

6. Move your head – The window should not be at the back of your head, this allows chi to flow out the window and cause restlessness.

7. Switch off – You should avoid electronics in the bedroom such as Televisions and computers, they are bad for you on so many levels but relaxing is the top. If you cannot avoid having them in your sleep space then you should cover them up.

8. Positive Picture – Pictures should only be happy and inspirational. Nothing that implies loneliness or sadness or negativity.

9. No water – this means no fish tanks/ aquariums or images of water. Water symbolises money and can be a bad vibe for relationships and financial fails….

10. Let it flow – Chi should be able to flow around your bed so 3 sides should be exposed where possible.

If you’re upgrading your property or building a new one, you’ll probably already be aware of the sea of products available out there but this one is definitely worth serious consideration. It will only cost a little bit more than a solar hot water system and it will provide most of your building’s heating… it’s a no brainer.
The system is genius in its simplicity so it should be a reliable piece of kit. The most complex piece of equipment in the system is NuTech’s Intelligent Renewable Energy System Controller. But this complexity does not carry through to the user, the interface uses just 4 icons to give the user a full control panel and real time monitoring for their heat, ventilation and hot water heating system. This is an image of the iPad like control panel:

Systems like this one are the ones that can appeal to the entire market of people renovating, fitting out and building more energy efficient homes. It’s not a system that is only understood by the very technically minded individual but can be instantly understood, appreciated and used by your kids or your granny. That’s the key success of this system, its simplicity… and of course the fact that it will save you money compared to most other solar systems!

For more info. on the system visit the NuTech Renewables website or drop them a mail to info@nutechrenewables.com

Ok so after much research I have decided to break this topic up into senses. Your senses formulate how you feel: cold, warm, irritated, thirsty and of course cosy! Using the 5 senses I will show you how you can make your space cosy.

1. Scent – using scented candles that are warm; Christmassy smells such as cinnamon and red berries, gingerbread, Christmas tree etc. Scents of vanilla and honey work as well. Then there are natural smells like freshly baked bread just out of the oven or a freshly cooked dinner or a crackling fire with wafts of turf and burning wood spreading through your home. Scent can bring you somewhere warm and fuzzy, cosy and welcoming, scent can bring you home.

2. Sight – cushions, blankets, multiple light sources, warm light bulbs, an array of textures, all add to a visual of cosiness! Heavy curtains and a rug can immediately turn a living area into a snug. Candles placed in dark spots add a gentle flicker much like the feeling a warm fire can give you. Mix up the old and the new styles, this will provide a wealth of depth in texture. If you have an old phone that was in your grandparent’s house and a modern side table they will work by creating interest and detail which will make it inviting thus comfortable. Warm colours can usually be those colours associated with nature but bear in mind that every colour has warm and cold undertones so if you’re unsure ask your paint suppliers or a designer.

3. Touch – Back to texture as earlier mentioned, texture is vital in the cosiness feat. Fluffy or woollen blankets draped over the sofa or at the end of the bed, soft fur rug in the seating area can turn the area into a lounging zone. Thick luxurious curtains make a room cosy, especially a velvet touch. Soft padded headboard in the bedroom makes it more comfortable to sit up in the bed and cosy to relax in that area.

4. Hearing – The sound of a crackling fire is always delightful. A TV on low or music on low can add an atmosphere without taking over the room. Christmas music and Christmas movies always help but let’s not get carried away in November!

5. Taste – My favourite one of all! Baked goods, a warm hearty soup, a nice roast dinner, a warm cup of coco or a nice hot cup of coffee can all make you feel wonderful and at ease.

I hope this helps to make your home cosy on these dark rainy days running up to Christmas. Stay tuned for more blogs about keeping warm, cosy and getting that Christmassy feeling!!!

Feel free to email us with any questions or queries and we will do our best to help. Also if you have any topics you would like us to discuss please email us and we’ll try to feature them in our blog.

This device seems so desirable and intuitive that it would turn home energy management into a must-have symbol of sustainable living, and maybe even a must-have accessory like the iPod . The retail price for the sexy stat is $249.99 starting in November, to be “a jewel on the wall… most people try to hide the thermostat, but we’re trying to make it sexy and coveted so that you cherish it, and at parties people ask you about it and you’re proud of it.” Check out this teaser video from Nest Labs:

So is this the replacement for the terribly outdated thermostat? If the marketing content is to be believed, then yes it is. I think the most intriguing and intelligent feature of the Nest Learning Thermostat is under that slick case. It’s equipped with software that analyzes and tracks your usage patterns over time, so that you only have to twist that dial a dozen times before the thermostat can simply anticipate your climate-control needs and take care of it automatically. “Instead of programming their thermostats, most people have given up and treat it like a light switch,” Fadell says. “But you have to make those manual adjustments about 1,500 times a year if you want to see any real energy savings.” Nest’s version elegantly lets you set it and forget it–at least after the initial learning period of about a week.

To adjust the temperature, turn a ring on the rim of the device–if you’re making it cooler, the display turns blue, and if you’re making it warmer, it turns red. The temperature itself is displayed in a clear, bright numeric readout. There’s also a helpful little green leaf that appears on the screen to guide to you into tweaking your settings for optimal energy savings, it reminds me of the display in any Toyota Hybrid car that lets you know when you’re using battery power so you can clap yourself on the back.

The manufacturer claims a two year payback period because it could save you up to 50% on annual heating/cooling bills. We’ll be keeping an eye on this one.

Starting a business is tough enough, and when you’re young and inexperienced, the challenge of building credibility is an added pressure. But you shouldn’t let your age get in the way.

“Being young and not having entrenched experience can actually be an advantage,” says Susan Gregg Koger, 26, who founded ModCloth, an online fashion retail company when she was 17. The company now has 240 employees and offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Pittsburgh. “Learning quickly and understanding what a Facebook user wants, what a Twitter user wants – there’s something very valuable in being part of that demographic and user base,” she says.

Still, it’s important to take a strategic approach to growing your businesswhen you don’t have the power of experience on your side. Here are five tips to help young entrepreneurs build the kind of credibility needed to make their business a success.

1. Focus. Focus. Focus.
You’ve got a lot of ideas you’re eager to try out. That’s natural for many entrepreneurs in the early stages of business, but to build credibility, you need a very specific focus. “You never want to be good at 20 things,” says Jared O’Toole, 25, founder of Under30CEO, a New York-based organization for young entrepreneurs. “There’s always going to be someone who is better than you at each one of those things.” Rather than strategizing about how to build the next billion-dollar company, focus on carving out a niche for yourself. “That focus builds your credibility,” O’Toole says.

Related: Mashable’s Pete Cashmore on Persistence

2. Build your business online.
The online world is an obvious place to begin building a track record as a business owner, says Neil Patel, 26, co-founder of KISSmetrics a San Francisco-based web-analytics company. “A web presence is cheap and it’s a great way to show people what you are made of,” he says. “As a young entrepreneur that’s really important because age is not on your side.”

Not only is blogging and using social media important in gaining exposure, reaching out to other businessesonline is also key, adds Koger. “I did a ton of outreach in the beginning,” she says, noting that she exchanged website links with other vintage retail entrepreneurs when blogging during her company’s early years. “You never know who can help you.”

3. Make time for face-time.
But Facebook, Twitter and email will get you only so far. As part of a tech-obsessed generation, young entrepreneurs shouldn’t forget the value of face-to-face networking, says O’Toole. “You might have a good relationship with someone through email but they aren’t going to offer that handshake that gets you to the next level with one of their buddies,” he says. “You really have to make an effort to set up meetings, go to events and shake hands.”

O’Toole suggests reaching out to people you admire in the industry and asking them to meet in person. When someone well-respected introduces you at an event, many people will assume you are doing something right, O’Toole says. “You don’t need a hundred people, you just need to associate with a couple of people that everyone knows in the industry,” he says. “That’s your fast track to the next level.”

Related: Top Five Social Media Mistakes

4. Deliver on your promises.
Building strong relationships with clients in the early stages of your business is also important in establishing credibility. Those are the people who will vouch for your company, so go the extra mile for them. For Aaron Batalion, chief technology officer and co-founder of LivingSocial, a Washington, D.C.-based daily deal company, those early relationships with merchants and customers were important in building the company’s name. Batalion was 27 when he and his three co-founders started LivingSocial in 2007. Today they have 2,500 employees and 40 million members around the world. “Once you… go above and beyond what you said you would do, people see that and share it with their colleagues,” he says.

But while it’s critical to make your customers happy, don’t try to rope them in with lofty promises. “If you can’t provide something don’t promise it,” says Patel. “Always under-promise and over-deliver.”

5. Be yourself.
You may be tempted to make yourself seem older or conceal your age, but it’s an unnecessary and possibly detrimental precaution to take, says Patel. Instead, be confident and transparent. “If you can show that you’re mature and smart for your age, why not show it?” he says.

Apologizing for your lack of experience and youth is also not a smart move, says Koger. “If you are working with someone you have to apologize for your age with, it’s probably not a relationship you should be pursuing,” she says.

Bottom line? Focus on what you’re good at and age won’t matter. “You build up credibility by being an expert in your field,” Batalion says. “It’s important to make sure the thing you’re best at is what you’re passionate about.”

Juretzek, a German designer, throws together disused clothes to create stylish little chairs that could almost pass for something you’d find around the dining-room table, if not for the occasional exposed zipper (ouch!).

Jabbing zippers aside, you’d be forgiven for doubting whether worn-out clothes can make for decent furniture. After all, they’ve got to support a person’s entire body weight. Juretzek assures us that the chairs are plenty sturdy. Each is composed of some 13 pounds of clothing — taken from friends, a used-clothing company, or Juretzek’s own closet — that the designer soaks in resin, then compresses in a mold.

The Rememberme chairs will be manufactured and sold by the Italian furniture company Casamania, most likely this fall, Juretzek says. They’ll cost about $950 each.

What struck me in this litany of percentages was that, though 93% of respondents say their company has sustainability initiatives, those initiatives are not comprehensive, but piecemeal: the most common areas for sustainability initiatives are in reducing electricity usage and green IT (51%), talent and skills initiatives (47%) and development of sustainability-based new products (44%). Commendable, yes; transformative, no.

Seeing sustainability as a peripheral is not conducive to the wider acceptance of sustainability as a comprehensive, long-term strategic approach to business. “Only by placing it at the heart of commercial strategy can sustainability be a channel to growth and innovation,” said Bruno Berthon, managing director at Accenture Sustainability Services. Hear, hear to that: sustainability is a strategic imperative, not a feel-good extra.

How can we break down the barriers to this mindset? First, by identifying them: Accenture’s study shows that cost (43 percent), inability to measure sustainability efforts (31 percent), lack of government incentives (30 percent) and the belief that one company can’t make a difference to climate change (29 percent) as the key barriers.

Let’s tackle these:

1.  The true cost of ignoring sustainability. In January 2009, A.T. Kearney published an analysis titled “’Green’ Winners: The performance of sustainability-focused companies during the financial crisis.” The analysis finds that companies committed to corporate sustainability practices are achieving above average performance in the financial markets during this slowdown. In 16 of the 18 industries the report examined, companies recognized as sustainability-focused outperformed their industry peers over both a three and six-month period, and were well protected from value erosion. Over three months, the positive performance differential across the 99 companies in this analysis worked out to 10 percent; over six months, the differential was 15 percent.

2. The new reporting reality. The financial function plays a critical role in supporting sustainability. A company must decide what matters most, determine ways to measure it, and define progress and success. Metrics could include employee retention, customer loyalty, greenhouse gas and waste stream impacts, enterprise risk management (reduced energy, commodity, and resource consumption). It’s crucial to define and develop reporting strategies, processes, and ways to communicate sustainability information accurately and consistently.

3. The need for a more supportive government. Governments can influence private-sector sustainability initiatives through tax laws and regulatory requirements, motivating companies to incorporate sustainability into tax planning, risk management, and operational performance assessments. The American Sustainable Business Council is working to support these types of changes to public policy.

4. The belief that business is an instrument of change. Though respondents believe the ability to effect change is a barrier, they also identified business as the entity that should ensure progress is made in a sustainable way. Business is a powerful agent for change–a number of companies have shown us the ability business has to be good and profitable. Let’s follow their lead.

Sustainability and corporate responsibility are not add-ons, or peripherals–they are both strategic approaches that must be woven into a business’ core, its mission and its vision. Only then, can business achieve change that transforms society.