Latest news with #Jone
Leader Live
3 days ago
- Business
- Leader Live
Homeowners favour kitchens and bathrooms over eco upgrades
The study of 2,000 property owners found more than half are prioritising cosmetic makeovers because they believe it adds more value and offers instant gratification. Many would rather splash out on a new kitchen (48 per cent) or bathroom suite (39 per cent) than invest in insulation (19 per cent) or energy-efficient heating systems (31 per cent). And 43 per cent admit they opt for these flashy upgrades simply because they want something new to enjoy – with 16 per cent confessing they just love the thrill of a fresh home feature. (Image: Skipton Building Society) While 53 per cent said energy-efficient improvements just don't give them the same buzz as a swanky new renovation. The research, commissioned by Skipton Building Society, part of the Skipton Group, coincides with the release of The Big Retrofit report, which follows the energy efficiency transformation of a previously fossil-fuel reliant home. The report, developed with Leeds Beckett University and the University of Leeds, reveals how the retrofit of a typical 1930s detached home – featuring triple glazing, solar panels and an air source heat pump – cut carbon emissions, improved comfort, and boosted the home's EPC rating from D to B. Phil Spencer, TV star, property expert and Move iQ founder, said: 'It's easy to get caught up in choosing statement tiles or bold paint colours, but the most valuable home improvements aren't always the most Instagrammable. 'Green upgrades not only save money in the long run, but they can also boost comfort, value and sustainability, all without spoiling the look of your home.' But it seems a new kind of 'keeping up with the Joneses' is sweeping through Britain's streets and cul-de-sacs – and this time, it's all about going green. More than a quarter (28 per cent) now say they know a neighbour who's made big low carbon technology or energy efficiency related changes to their home – and 53 per cent of these have been inspired to follow suit. As a result, 48 per cent have looked into getting solar panels, 24 per cent have explored upgrading their loft insulation – and 15 per cent would consider installing triple glazed windows. For 38 per cent, it was hearing their neighbours had managed to cut their energy bills that got them interested. Another 36 per cent said seeing what was actually possible gave them a lightbulb moment, while 30 per cent felt more confident after seeing the results up close. Almost half (47 per cent) of all homeowners now reckon making eco improvements has become a modern-day status symbol, according to the research conducted by OnePoll. Charging an electric car on the drive is seen as one of the leading signs you've 'made it' (32 per cent) – followed by underfloor heating powered by renewables (28 per cent) and having a heat pump (25 per cent). Michaela Wright, head of group sustainability at Skipton Building Society added: 'This research suggests we may be seeing a shift from 'keeping up with the Joneses' to 'greening up with the Jones'. 'As more people see their neighbours investing in greener technologies, it naturally sparks curiosity and motivation to do the same. 'There's something powerful about seeing these changes up close – it makes the benefits feel more real and achievable. 'The idea of a modern status symbol is evolving, and now things like solar panels, heat pumps and electric cars are part of that. 'It's a positive sign that more energy efficient choices are becoming aspirational, not just practical. 'We understand that making energy-efficient home improvements might not be at the top of everyone's priority list. 'That's why we took on the journey ourselves – to help demystify the retrofit process through The Big Retrofit project. 'We've documented our experience and created a series of resources, to support others who are considering making similar improvements.'
Glasgow Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Homeowners favour kitchens and bathrooms over eco upgrades
The study of 2,000 property owners found more than half are prioritising cosmetic makeovers because they believe it adds more value and offers instant gratification. Many would rather splash out on a new kitchen (48 per cent) or bathroom suite (39 per cent) than invest in insulation (19 per cent) or energy-efficient heating systems (31 per cent). And 43 per cent admit they opt for these flashy upgrades simply because they want something new to enjoy – with 16 per cent confessing they just love the thrill of a fresh home feature. (Image: Skipton Building Society) While 53 per cent said energy-efficient improvements just don't give them the same buzz as a swanky new renovation. The research, commissioned by Skipton Building Society, part of the Skipton Group, coincides with the release of The Big Retrofit report, which follows the energy efficiency transformation of a previously fossil-fuel reliant home. The report, developed with Leeds Beckett University and the University of Leeds, reveals how the retrofit of a typical 1930s detached home – featuring triple glazing, solar panels and an air source heat pump – cut carbon emissions, improved comfort, and boosted the home's EPC rating from D to B. Phil Spencer, TV star, property expert and Move iQ founder, said: 'It's easy to get caught up in choosing statement tiles or bold paint colours, but the most valuable home improvements aren't always the most Instagrammable. 'Green upgrades not only save money in the long run, but they can also boost comfort, value and sustainability, all without spoiling the look of your home.' But it seems a new kind of 'keeping up with the Joneses' is sweeping through Britain's streets and cul-de-sacs – and this time, it's all about going green. More than a quarter (28 per cent) now say they know a neighbour who's made big low carbon technology or energy efficiency related changes to their home – and 53 per cent of these have been inspired to follow suit. As a result, 48 per cent have looked into getting solar panels, 24 per cent have explored upgrading their loft insulation – and 15 per cent would consider installing triple glazed windows. For 38 per cent, it was hearing their neighbours had managed to cut their energy bills that got them interested. Another 36 per cent said seeing what was actually possible gave them a lightbulb moment, while 30 per cent felt more confident after seeing the results up close. Almost half (47 per cent) of all homeowners now reckon making eco improvements has become a modern-day status symbol, according to the research conducted by OnePoll. Charging an electric car on the drive is seen as one of the leading signs you've 'made it' (32 per cent) – followed by underfloor heating powered by renewables (28 per cent) and having a heat pump (25 per cent). Michaela Wright, head of group sustainability at Skipton Building Society added: 'This research suggests we may be seeing a shift from 'keeping up with the Joneses' to 'greening up with the Jones'. 'As more people see their neighbours investing in greener technologies, it naturally sparks curiosity and motivation to do the same. 'There's something powerful about seeing these changes up close – it makes the benefits feel more real and achievable. 'The idea of a modern status symbol is evolving, and now things like solar panels, heat pumps and electric cars are part of that. 'It's a positive sign that more energy efficient choices are becoming aspirational, not just practical. 'We understand that making energy-efficient home improvements might not be at the top of everyone's priority list. 'That's why we took on the journey ourselves – to help demystify the retrofit process through The Big Retrofit project. 'We've documented our experience and created a series of resources, to support others who are considering making similar improvements.'
CBC
30-03-2025
- General
- CBC
Chinese Canadian dance pioneer Lorita Leung dead at 85
Social Sharing A celebration of life was held Saturday for Lorita Leung, who died on March 5 at the age of 85 and was considered a towering figure in the field of Chinese dance in Canada. Leung's eponymous dance academy was founded in Vancouver in 1970, and is now based in Richmond. Her daughter Jessica Jone said it was the first of its kind in B.C. and Canada. The dance instructor was born in Shanghai in 1940, and her daughter said her mother always grew up wanting to dance. She spent time in Hong Kong working as a choreographer for a TV station in the 1960s before coming to B.C. to be with her Vancouver-born husband. Jone, who is now the dance academy's artistic director, said it grew from humble beginnings. Her mother began the academy out of her Chinatown basement while she was teaching at Good Shepherd Church in Vancouver. "She really was the first to bring Chinese dance to our province," Jone told CBC News. "Now, of course, we're blessed with so many students and different opportunities for Chinese dance, but really, when she started in 1970, there was very little known about the art form and the culture." According to the academy's website, it was the first overseas Chinese dance group to be invited to perform in the People's Republic in 1984, and has had numerous performances across Canada. Leung was given the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal in 1992, and was also recognized by the Vancouver Park Board for her contributions to the arts in 2012. Jone said over 200 people attended her mother's celebration of life on Saturday, many of whom were students she hadn't seen for decades. "It was so heartwarming to hear about how people were telling me that she would feed them and, you know, friends telling me that she had cooked for them when they were sick or they had just had a baby," she said. "She wasn't just a dance teacher. She really was a very humanistic, kind and great leader." Jone said her mother mentored her in dance since she was two years old, and some of her fondest memories were of working with her mother and father Norm on shows across Vancouver. "I remember the Kitsilano Showboat being one of our big performances every summer," she said. "Just to have my mom backstage and me on stage and my father as MC — it was just an incredible way to grow up, and to share that as a family." Jone said her mother died peacefully in her sleep. She is survived by a grandson and her daughter and son-in-law — both of whom now hope to carry on her legacy at the dance academy.
