Infographics & Data Visualizations

Infographics & Data Visualizations

Showing 61 posts tagged economy

Try a Home Energy Audit to Save Money on Energy

Audits are usually only for companies, but a home energy audit is actually something to welcome because it can save you hundreds of pounds each year. This is especially good because the cost of energy in the UK has risen over the past decade from £522 to over £1,000, and is set to rise a further 20% over the next 5 years too.

Making some energy saving changes in the home can be a boon for lowering costs. A range of alterations to older homes and the replacement of older appliances can help to cut the number of energy units used for electricity, gas and water which can save money whatever the price per unit happens to be at the time.

Here are a few energy saving ideas which can reduce the amount of energy used in the home considerably over the course of a year.

Loft Insulation

Heat generated in the home often rises into the attic or loft and then is lost through the walls or roofing. By installing a good quality insulation which can cost just £300 to get done, but then creates saving upwards of £180 annually thereafter.

Cavity Wall Insulation

Next up is wall insulation. Big advances with insulation materials have made the latest types of insulated much improved from ones used only 20 years ago. Up to 25% of heat can be lost through poorly insulated walls.

Curtains

Thick curtains can help to keep dampness from entering the home and also to trap heat before it reaches the windows and walls.

Double Glazed Windows

Double glazing provides a buffer to the cold outside and better retain the heat generated inside the home too.

Door Draft Excluders

These little strips around the door or door frame can prevent drafts from moving around the interior.

Energy-saving Light Bulbs

The newer energy-saving light bulbs are easy to swap out from the old CFCs and save up to 90% on electricity used.

Take A Shower Instead

Baths use a lot of of water every time. Heat is used to warm the water and the water used is considerable too. Up to 80% of both energy and water can be saved when switching to showers.

Heating Blanket

Try a blanket laid over the water heater or water boiler to keep the heat inside the unit.

Energy-Saving Kitchen Appliances

The latest A+ rated cookers, fridges and washing machines use as much as 50% less energy versus lower-rated C or non-rated appliances.

Drop the Temperature

Consider dropping the temperature on the thermostat to 22 degrees. This will hardly be noticed with the other energy efficient changes going into the home. Could save as much as £100 annually too.

Wean Yourself Off Standby

Give your electrical devices a rest and turn them off when they are not being used. As much as 18% of electrical consumption could be removed by not using standby any longer.

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Home Energy Audit Could Save You Up To £1000 - An infographic by the team at uSwitch.com

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Home Energy Audit Could Save You Up To £1000 - An infographic by the team at uSwitch.com

The Anatomy of an Audit

“Will you face an IRS audit this year? The answer is…maybe.  

The fear of facing an audit is common, even if you know that you’ve done nothing wrong. And the number of taxpayers who must face an audit is up slightly since 2009. But even with that increase, only slightly more than one percent of all returns are actually audited.

Individuals who earn more than one million dollars and corporations with over ten million dollars in assets are most likely to be audited. Of course, you’re not totally off the hook if that profile doesn’t describe you, but the odds of staying audit-free are in your favor.

Learn even more fascinating facts about IRS audits. Check out the infographic below.”

Anatomy of an Audit
Source: Anatomy of an Audit

How to Stay Motivated at Work: The Science of Productive Breaks

When you are feeling overloaded, instead of pushing harder, a wise thing to do might be to take a short break. As we discussed in one of our previous posts, short breaks can revive your productivity and decrease tension. We looked deeper into the matter and put together some interesting facts, as well as practical advice on how to stay fresh and productive throughout the day. Here’s a guide to productive breaks in our new infographic!image

Infographic provided by Wrike Inc.

The War on Drug Communities Motion Graphic

Is our never-ending War on Drugs really helping people? We often only see one end of the drug crisis, the addicts, when there is an equally large system of people on the other end, supporting and sustaining it: the farmers who grow the drug crops.

These poor families in Colombia and Afghanistan have learned that they can make much more money farming drugs than anything legal - but it comes at the price of security and safety. Colombia is one of the most violent countries in the world, and still their political system is wracked with instability and violence. Afghanistan is the 7th poorest country in the world, and if farmers don’t make good on their promises, they sometimes have to sell their daughters as opium brides.

In order to truly end the drug crisis, we need to attack it at its two roots - the poor in developing countries who need economic alternatives, and the addicts in developed countries who need treatment and education. Educate yourself about these communities with this video.

Video By Clarity Way