Latest news with #BestValue
Telegraph
01-07-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Philips Air Purifier 900 Series review: A small but powerful device for removing allergens and dust
What is the Philips PureProtect Mini 900 Series Air Purifier? The Philips Air Purifier 900 Series AC0920 is a compact model at approximately 36cm high by 22cm wide, suitable for spaces up to 65 square metres. This makes it an ideal air purifier for a bedroom or larger living space. At just £129.99 at the time of writing, it is excellent value, with filters costing only £34.99 annually. It's not the cheapest – some (like this Midea) retail for under £100 – but it's more affordable than premium brands like Dyson and Molekule. It is not a smart air purifier, so you can't connect it to your phone. But it is easy to operate and has a child lock, a colour changing light to indicate air quality and filter warning lights showing when it needs cleaning and replacing. It was extremely efficient at cleaning air in our real-world tests, earning the title of Best Value buy in our guide to the best air purifiers. JUMP TO: How we test air purifiers We independently test air purifiers in real homes, reflecting daily use. We set the device up from the box and run it for one hour on its medium or auto setting. We assess and score the following: Air quality testing: Using an air quality monitor, we measure the rate of small particulate matter (known as PM 2.5 and PM 10, referring to its size in microns), airborne chemicals called Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde in the room before and after testing and record changes in the overall air quality indicator (AQI) score. Noise levels: We use a decibel monitor app to check the noise of the air purifier against ambient sound in the room. We record the loudest and the quietest settings. Value for money: We judge the initial cost, the price of replacement filters and how frequently they need replacing, as well as its energy use per kWh, measured using a smart plug. The Philips Air Purifier 900 Series was tested in a bedroom following the use of common aerosols, including deodorant and hair spray, as well as during everyday use in a living area. For more on at home air care, read our guides to the best fan, best dehumidifier and best humidifier. Why you can trust Telegraph Recommended Our thorough, real-world tests will always help you find the best product. No manufacturer ever sees Telegraph Recommended reviews before publication and we don't accept payment in exchange for favourable reviews, nor do we allow brands to pay for placement in our articles. All opinions are based on independent expert opinion and our hands-on testing. Visit our Who We Are page to learn more. Air quality Score: 9/10 In our tests, the Philips 900 Series performed better at improving air quality than some models more than twice the price. In just an hour, it reduced levels of PM 2.5 particles (small pollutants like dust and soot which can trigger allergies) in a large bedroom by 98 per cent. During the tests, the overall AQI score for the room improved by 96 per cent, dropping from an unhealthy 156 to just six (anything below 30 is good). It is also easy to tell what the current air quality is, since the air purifier has a coloured indicator light and a digital display on the top, showing PM 2.5 levels. But it doesn't tackle chemicals in the air like some others can, meaning it did not reduce levels of formaldehyde or VOCs. Ease of use The Philips 900 Series is easy to use with simple set-up instructions, although you must turn it upside down to remove the filter's protective cover before first use. After that it's self-explanatory, with straightforward controls to switch between its four modes: auto, fan speed one, fan speed two and night mode. A button dims the lights, which you can also hold to turn on the child lock. It beeps loudly so you know you've pressed the right button. We liked the warning light showing when the filter needs cleaning with a vacuum, as this could help extend its life. If cleaned regularly, the £34.99 filters last up to a year. Confusingly, although there is an on-box QR code for downloading the Philips app, this air purifier is not Wi-Fi-enabled and does not connect to it, so it can't be controlled remotely. Design As one of the best Philips air purifiers, this model is small but feels sturdy and durable. The HEPA filter, which can capture airborne particles like pollen and mould, is particularly robust and seems to be of a higher build quality than many other air purifiers with a HEPA filter for allergies. The display is clear to read, with the PM 2.5 levels shown as a number and as a light that changes colour to reflect their presence in the air (from a positive blue through to red for bad). This can be turned off for night time while a child-lock option is ideal for stopping tiny fingers from changing the settings. Controls are accessibly positioned, but frustratingly, you can't turn off the buttons' loud beeping noise. While helpful during the day, at night this is the one downside about the overall design. Operating noise Score: 7/10 The Philips 900 Series device was one of the quieter models we tested, running at just 30 dB on the quietest night mode setting (compared to an ambient sound in the home of 28 dB), making it a quiet air purifier for bedrooms. With the fan on top speed, noise was 62 dB, which is comparable with other air purifiers, including our Best Buy the Blueair Blue Max 3250i. We deducted a couple of points here because of the aforementioned loud beeps, which sound whenever you press any button on the device. This is intrusive if you are quietly trying to change the settings at night. Value Score: 9/10 At just £130, this air purifier performed significantly better than other budget options and pricier models. The filters are also reasonably priced, at £34.99 each, and this is made even more wallet-friendly by the fact they need replacing as infrequently as once a year. Many other air purifiers require a filter change at least every six months. In an hour, the Philips 900 Series used 0.007 kWh of energy, according to our tests, which works out as around 5p for every 24 hours of continuous use. Overall, this was a high-quality air purifier at a reasonable price, with low running costs too. Technical specifications We compared the Philips 900 Series with the premium Dyson Cool PC1 Air Purifier on performance, noise and value. Should you buy the Philips Air Purifier 900 Series? For clean air at a budget-friendly price, the Philips 900 Series performs even better than some larger, more expensive air purifiers. But this is a simple model, so you won't be able to track air quality or control the device remotely using an app. Yes, if: You want an efficient, compact air purifier You're looking for an air purifier with an air quality sensor You need a budget device with low running costs You want an air purifier with an auto mode No, if: You want Wi-Fi-connectivity or smart features You need a device that operates silently Philips Air Purifier 900 Series FAQs What size room is the Philips 900 Series suitable for? Up to 65 sq metres. Is it good for allergens and pollutants? Yes. It effectively removes PM 2.5 particles – those measuring 2.5 microns across – which can trigger allergies, and significantly improved air quality in our tests. How does the air quality sensor work? The sensor assesses the amount of PM 2.5 particles in the air passing through the device. It displays the level as a number, as well as showing a colour-coded light for air quality, from blue (good), through purple and pink to red (unhealthy). Is the Philips 900 Series noisy at night? No, the night mode is quiet at 30 dB – just over ambient noise (28 dB in our tests). But it beeps if you change any of the settings. Can I control the Philips 900 Series with my phone? No, there is no app control with this model. How often should I replace the filter in the Philips 900 Series? At least once a year. The device will let you know when it needs changing.
Daily Record
18-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Falkirk Council urged to be more 'transparent' over cost cutting changes
Council officials must keep councillors and public informed as work continues to transform services Falkirk Council has been told it must be more 'transparent' about the efforts it is making to transform its services in a bid to save cash. External auditors from Audit Scotland say the council is making progress with its transformation programme - known as Council of the Future - but it stresses that it has to do better at reporting publicly on results. In the annual 'Best Value' report, auditors also say that reporting to elected members the results of transformation could also be improved, while engagement with communities in Falkirk should be more consistent. Some of the previous Council of the Future (COTF) projects were welcomed as modernising and efficient - such as the move from analogue to digital telecare, developing an online school payment system and introducing an online health and safety system for reporting workplace incidents. But others have been much more controversial and one of the biggest - the council's plans to change and shorten the learning week for pupils - was rejected by elected members after an outcry from parents. Rejecting the plans to change the school week meant that that the council's plans to save £26 million from the COTF programme over the five-year period to 2028/29 have been revised to £14.7 million. The Best Value report, which focuses on a different theme every year, was looking closely at how councils can transform operations to make savings without cutting essential services. Audit Scotland is clear that similar financial problems are facing every council in Scotland, noting that they have "never faced such a challenging situation". While demand for council services has continued to rise since the Covid-19 pandemic, funding has not kept pace. The auditor's report says that in Falkirk, the transformation programme has achieved savings and they are happy with how these are reported to the Council of the Future Board. However, it says there is a "lack of transparency as this information has not been published externally". Despite the success of the projects, other cuts to department budgets and a 15.6 per cent rise in council tax, the council still faces a £58.5 million funding gap between 2025/26 and 2029/30. According to the report, "the financial challenge remains significant and the council will need to be ambitious and radical to continue to respond to this challenge". In particular, it says much more work must be done in partnership with other organisations to achieve transformation and says that this has been "very limited to date". The Best Value report states: "The council therefore needs to be more ambitious and look at alternative ways to make more radical changes and generate further savings required to address the financial challenge." But while the report says the COTF programme is "well resourced and frequently monitored", it highlights how difficult it has been to make significant changes. In the 2025/26 budget, £10 million of recurring savings include savings from the Strategic Property Review and the closure of Blackness Primary School. But a proposal to radically change school hours in Falkirk - which would have cut time in the classroom for pupils - was rejected by councillors after an outcry by parents. Following on from that, February's budget paper included seven savings that were hastily introduced to help the council bridge its budget gap. But of the cuts totalling £1.2 million to be considered, just one was approved by members, amounting to £0.06 million, with councillors complaining about the lack of consultation and feeling that they did not have enough information about the impact the cuts would have on communities. Auditor Pauline Gillen told members that Audit Scotland recognised the difficulty councils, including Falkirk, are facing. She said: "Falkirk seems to be in a similar position to other councils, recognising difficulty in identifying projects and programmes that are truly transformational, rather than just looking for simple financial efficiencies." What is needed, she said, is projects that "shift the dial" and transform service delivery to make longer term savings. But she admitted that it was difficult for councils to deliver radical projects while maintaining day to day services. The Best Value report also highlighted uneven engagement with communities, noting: "The council engages with communities but it is not always clear how the engagement has influenced changes to service design." The risk, the report says, is that the council "does not identify and mitigate against potentially negative impacts of its transformational activities on communities". It recommends that: "The council should ensure community engagement is consistently factored into its decision-making processes where appropriate and should clearly document how engagement with communities has informed changes to services." Falkirk Council's chief executive, Kenneth Lawrie, accepted the recommendations and said that a new Community Engagement strategy would help ensure consistency. But he said there had been successes, in particular, with the council's Strategic Property Review, where he said the council has made "a really radical change" that has "engaged with communities and produced significant financial savings". Several halls and facilities - including Polmont Snowsport Centre, Grangemouth Stadium and several community halls - are now in community ownership. But the review also led to the controversial closure of Bo'ness Recreation Centre which was bitterly opposed by many in the community, despite the promise of new facilities being built in a new wing of Bo'ness Academy. Mr Lawrie acknowledged there is much more to do to get to financial stability and he said officers considered the report to be "fair and balanced".
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Crisis-hit Croydon Council needs reset, MP says
A "short and sharp reset" is required for Croydon Council to recover from poor performance and high debt levels, the minister for housing, communities and local government has announced. Jim McMahon has told the House of Commons the council's financial position is "deteriorating rapidly" after a report highlighted concerns about its ability to improve. McMahon said that failing to change course "would condemn Croydon's residents to a worsening position without an exit strategy" and he was "minded to" send in commissioners to run the council. Executive mayor of Croydon, Jason Perry, said he and the council "had done everything possible" to fix the finances "whilst protecting vital services". Perry added: "We have generated over £230m in capital receipts, including £130m of asset sales and have plans to sell a further £68m assets this year. "The council also raised council tax by 10% over the cap in 2023, to help meet the panel's demand that we close the gap in the council's finances." The council had been under review by the government's improvement and assurance panel, set up to provide external advice, challenge and expertise. McMahon said the council's general fund debt sits at around £1.4bn and it relies on the allocation of Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) through in-principle capitalisation directions to balance its budget. The panel's report has said there has been a lack of pace throughout the intervention, but the deteriorating financial position, which is not being gripped and tackled adequately by the council, is reaching a "financial crisis". McMahon added: "I am satisfied that the London Borough of Croydon is failing to comply with its Best Value Duty. I am therefore minded to exercise powers of direction under section 15(5) and 15(6) of the Local Government Act 1999 to implement an intervention package." Perry said, via a statement: "If at any time the panel or government felt that there was any action the council should be taking and was not, they had the power to instruct us. They never did. "Surely that means we are doing everything possible, and they agree with our actions? We have already made very difficult decisions and in my view the residents of Croydon have felt enough pain. "Despite all the improvements that have been delivered by the council and its staff, it appears the government wants to centralise control into the hands of commissioners." He said the council would consider all options before submitting its formal response to the government, the deadline for which is 25 June. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Croydon Council asks for £136m government bailout Council to make cuts to services to save £30m Croydon approves council tax rise of 15%
BBC News
08-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Improvement board's final verdict on 'well-led' Liverpool City Council
Liverpool City Council is "well-led" and on a "well set" trajectory for improvement, according to the final report submitted by the board set up in the aftermath of government-appointed year marked the end of a three-year intervention by commissioners at the authority after the excoriating Caller Report in 2021 and a non-statutory Improvement and Assurance Board was then set up. The group, led by former commissioner Mike Cunningham has given its final assessment, concluding that there was a "dedication to improvement" amongst the authority's leadership and financial stability was a continued focus. The report said the leadership team had "made difficult decisions well", adding: "The council has successfully set a balanced budget for 2025-26, and has a robust approach to in-year financial monitoring." The document, which will be discussed by the authority's cabinet members on 15 April, said there was some confidence that "the council's ambitions for itself as an organisation and for the residents it serves will be achieved".Commissioners were brought in from June 2021 following the damning Best Value inspection by Max Caller which shone a light on the failings within the council. A team of four officials led by Mr Cunningham were put in direct control of areas such as highways, finance and regeneration, with a fifth commissioner appointed in November 2022 due to a lack of progress. In December 2023, the commissioners confirmed such was the improvement in the 12 months since, they were able to hand back key powers to the council ahead of officials recommended support of the council should continue on an informal basis as some areas still required work to "demonstrate a sufficient stable improvement trajectory". Over the past nine months officials have highlighted a series of improvements, particularly the leadership, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said this had strengthened the city council's focus on ensuring continuous improvement across the initial Caller report, the council's regeneration efforts came under intense and scathing officials said this had been "fundamentally transformed" and the council was starting to recover its external reputation with the private sector, the combined authority and central had also been an area of continuing unease for commissioners, but the improvement board gave an updated assessment. Officials wrote: "Over the period of the Improvement and Assurance Board's operation, it has been clear that the service remains focused on continuing to improve in the areas identified by the commissioners – building capacity, implementing its improvement plan and improving the quality of decision-making."The building blocks of the service are now largely in place. Although there remains much to be done, the board has greater confidence in the plans in place to deliver an improved service and can see good evidence of a focus on delivery and impact for the residents of the city." 'Unstoppable momentum' The city council leader councillor Liam Robinson, said the board's report "demonstrates how much progress we have made". "Politically and managerially we have been transformed, particularly over the last two years with a new cabinet and senior leadership team."He added there was an "unstoppable momentum" in the improvements which were starting to make a difference to the quality of frontline Cunningham said: "The stability and commitment to improvement, as well as a clear understanding of the challenges that remain, provides a solid platform for the future."The senior leadership team know and accept there is much more to do, and are open to constructive challenge, which means that we are able to have confidence in the future." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
