Latest news with #renter
CNET
23-05-2025
- CNET
Air Leaks Allow Costly Energy to Escape. This Device Helped Me Find Them Ahead of Summer
My two-bedroom townhome struggles to maintain comfortable temperatures upstairs in extreme weather. Over the years, I've tried everything to manage the summer heat. Relocating my bed from the scorching master bedroom (now my home office) to a smaller bedroom helped me sleep better. My DIY ventilation system brings in cool air at night, while a portable air conditioner supplements the central AC system in the hottest weather. I even schedule smart blinds to block direct sunlight as much as possible. Plus fans, lots of fans. Although these strategies have made a difference, I've reached the limits of major changes I can make as a renter -- at least if I want lower energy bills. Now, I have a new tool to find efficiency opportunities: a thermal camera. I recently got my hands on a sample of the HSFTOOLS Finder S2 thermal camera so I conducted a DIY home energy audit to look for air leaks that might affect how I cool my home. A rundown of the HSFTOOLS Finder S2 The Finder S2 thermal camera's USB-C connection means it doesn't need a bulky battery pack, instead relying on your phone for power. John Carlsen/CNET I'll hold off on an in-depth review of the HSFTOOLS Finder S2 as I have limited experience with thermal cameras but I'll mention a few features that helped with my energy audit. First, this thermal imager connects to the USB-C port on Android smartphones but doesn't support iPhones. (Apple users should consider checking out the Topdon TC002C instead.) I love the option to launch the app automatically when plugging in the camera. Unfortunately, the Finder S2 requires a lot of power -- draining my phone's battery by about 4% after 10 minutes. While this won't affect short inspections of smaller homes, you'll need to recharge your phone after extended use. (For better battery life, I suggest getting a standalone handheld model if you use a thermal camera often.) I played around with the Finder S2 to get comfortable with its features, mostly taking pictures of my cat. John Carlsen/CNET Even if you turn on the Finder S2's Super Resolution mode, the overall resolution maxes out at 512 x 384, which is lower than standard 480p quality. It's more than enough to see temperature differences around windows during an energy audit but you may need to play around with the settings if you plan to use it for creative work. Enabling the Digital Camera setting shows a view from your phone's camera on the screen with the option to save images -- but not videos -- from both cameras simultaneously. As for videos, I couldn't get the Finder S2 to work unless I rotated the image 90° in the app. You can adjust the Finder S2's colors, measurement tools and sensitivity in the HSFTOOLS app. John Carlsen/CNET I appreciate the wide selection of color palettes in the HSFTOOLS app. My favorite color setting is "white hot" because of the high contrast image compared to other modes. The app's outstanding measurement tools tell you the temperature of the hottest and coldest objects on the screen or of a specific point you select. I love taking the guesswork out of home improvement. You can get the Finder S2 for about $250 -- although it's often available for $170 -- which is typical among smartphone thermal camera accessories like the FLIR One Gen 3 and Seek Thermal Compact. While the price is good for a mid-range infrared camera, remember that you might only use it a handful of times -- it's often better to pay for a professional home energy audit. (Don't forget to check if your area has a free energy audit program.) Still, the HSFTOOLS Finder S2 was more than adequate for my DIY home energy audit. How I used a thermal camera in my home energy audit My energy audit uncovered an uninsulated ceiling corner that might explain why my home gets so hot in the summer -- time to tell the landlord. John Carlsen/CNET After familiarizing myself with the thermal imager, I took a structured approach to finding problem areas. I followed this thermal imaging inspection guide from the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI). Read more: Stop Installing Your Thermostat Here. It's Costing You Money I started by turning off my HVAC system before shutting my windows and front door. InterNACHI's guide recommends testing on a day where the outdoor temperature difference is 15°F to 20°F warmer (or cooler) than inside so I chose a rainy spring day for my audit. I was happy to see my window seals were in good condition. However, I discovered a small, drafty gap under my front door that I filled with foam backer rod from the hardware store. Fixing the air leak under my front door probably won't save much on my energy bills but it was an effortless DIY project. John Carlsen/CNET The actionable part of my home energy audit ends at doors and windows for now but there's plenty more for homeowners to look at. The Department of Energy suggests checking wherever you suspect air leaks or poor insulation, particularly fixtures, along the edges of rooms and between different building materials. While recaulking seals and replacing weatherstripping around windows are simple DIY projects, you'll need more money and time to upgrade insulation inside walls. Fortunately, you can check out Energy Star's Home Improvement Savings tool to see incentives, rebates and tax credits in your area. If you're a renter, consider telling your landlord about these resources.
CNET
22-05-2025
- CNET
I Used a Thermal Camera to Find Air Leaks and Save on AC This Summer
My two-bedroom townhome struggles to maintain comfortable temperatures upstairs in extreme weather. Over the years, I've tried everything to manage the summer heat. Relocating my bed from the scorching master bedroom (now my home office) to a smaller bedroom helped me sleep better. My DIY ventilation system brings in cool air at night, while a portable air conditioner supplements the central AC system in the hottest weather. I even schedule smart blinds to block direct sunlight as much as possible. Plus fans, lots of fans. Although these strategies have made a difference, I've reached the limits of major changes I can make as a renter -- at least if I want lower energy bills. Now, I have a new tool to find efficiency opportunities: a thermal camera. I recently got my hands on a sample of the HSFTOOLS Finder S2 thermal camera so I conducted a DIY home energy audit to look for air leaks that might affect how I cool my home. A rundown of the HSFTOOLS Finder S2 The Finder S2 thermal camera's USB-C connection means it doesn't need a bulky battery pack, instead relying on your phone for power. John Carlsen/CNET I'll hold off on an in-depth review of the HSFTOOLS Finder S2 as I have limited experience with thermal cameras but I'll mention a few features that helped with my energy audit. First, this thermal imager connects to the USB-C port on Android smartphones but doesn't support iPhones. (Apple users should consider checking out the Topdon TC002C instead.) I love the option to launch the app automatically when plugging in the camera. Unfortunately, the Finder S2 requires a lot of power -- draining my phone's battery by about 4% after 10 minutes. While this won't affect short inspections of smaller homes, you'll need to recharge your phone after extended use. (For better battery life, I suggest getting a standalone handheld model if you use a thermal camera often.) I played around with the Finder S2 to get comfortable with its features, mostly taking pictures of my cat. John Carlsen/CNET Even if you turn on the Finder S2's Super Resolution mode, the overall resolution maxes out at 512 x 384, which is lower than standard 480p quality. It's more than enough to see temperature differences around windows during an energy audit but you may need to play around with the settings if you plan to use it for creative work. Enabling the Digital Camera setting shows a view from your phone's camera on the screen with the option to save images -- but not videos -- from both cameras simultaneously. As for videos, I couldn't get the Finder S2 to work unless I rotated the image 90° in the app. You can adjust the Finder S2's colors, measurement tools and sensitivity in the HSFTOOLS app. John Carlsen/CNET I appreciate the wide selection of color palettes in the HSFTOOLS app. My favorite color setting is "white hot" because of the high contrast image compared to other modes. The app's outstanding measurement tools tell you the temperature of the hottest and coldest objects on the screen or of a specific point you select. I love taking the guesswork out of home improvement. You can get the Finder S2 for about $250 -- although it's often available for $170 -- which is typical among smartphone thermal camera accessories like the FLIR One Gen 3 and Seek Thermal Compact. While the price is good for a mid-range infrared camera, remember that you might only use it a handful of times -- it's often better to pay for a professional home energy audit. (Don't forget to check if your area has a free energy audit program.) Still, the HSFTOOLS Finder S2 was more than adequate for my DIY home energy audit. How I used a thermal camera in my home energy audit My energy audit uncovered an uninsulated ceiling corner that might explain why my home gets so hot in the summer -- time to tell the landlord. John Carlsen/CNET After familiarizing myself with the thermal imager, I took a structured approach to finding problem areas. I followed this thermal imaging inspection guide from the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI). Read more: Stop Installing Your Thermostat Here. It's Costing You Money I started by turning off my HVAC system before shutting my windows and front door. InterNACHI's guide recommends testing on a day where the outdoor temperature difference is 15°F to 20°F warmer (or cooler) than inside so I chose a rainy spring day for my audit. I was happy to see my window seals were in good condition. However, I discovered a small, drafty gap under my front door that I filled with foam backer rod from the hardware store. Fixing the air leak under my front door probably won't save much on my energy bills but it was an effortless DIY project. John Carlsen/CNET The actionable part of my home energy audit ends at doors and windows for now but there's plenty more for homeowners to look at. The Department of Energy suggests checking wherever you suspect air leaks or poor insulation, particularly fixtures, along the edges of rooms and between different building materials. While recaulking seals and replacing weatherstripping around windows are simple DIY projects, you'll need more money and time to upgrade insulation inside walls. Fortunately, you can check out Energy Star's Home Improvement Savings tool to see incentives, rebates and tax credits in your area. If you're a renter, consider telling your landlord about these resources.
Telegraph
19-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
‘I got cancer and lost my business. I was forced to beg for scraps'
When Sharon Plummer, 57, was diagnosed with endometrial cancer at the end of 2023, her income plummeted overnight. 'As a business owner I was managing my own personal training sessions, a private gym and boot camps,' she says. 'When I became unwell it fell apart. I had to have a full hysterectomy to get rid of the cancer, and the recovery was much harder than I expected. I had to close half my business as I was unable to work – especially in such an active industry.' She received a small amount of interim support for business owners – as well as a grant from cancer charity Macmillan – but it wasn't enough to live on. 'I had to go to the job centre for my employment support allowance,' she says. 'The staff were not equipped to support people in an empathetic way, and I felt as though I was being forced to beg for scraps. 'There was no understanding of the impacts of cancer. And the forms I've had to complete don't ask any relevant questions for cancer sufferers.' As a renter in Norfolk, Plummer was also worried about losing her home. 'The stress has been unbelievable. I had to put my food on an interest-only credit card. I was eating very little, sometimes just breakfast and a bowl of soup. I barely went out and I was forced to sell my possessions on Vinted to make extra money. 'During winter I only put the heating on for an hour a day to save energy, which really impacted my recovery. I also tried to find extra work selling beauty products online, even though I wasn't well enough. I did anything to keep a roof over my head.' Although she began to recover physically in the months after her surgery, Plummer says the experience 'destroyed' her confidence. She is now suffering from PTSD, as well as side effects from surgical menopause – including insomnia and exhaustion. Two years on, Plummer has struggled to regain the business she lost. 'I had lots of hopes and dreams for it, but haven't been able to bounce back. 'Medically, I still can't work more than 20 hours a week and it's really impacted my mental health. I just don't know what my financial future will look like now,' she says. 'People think you get treated for cancer and it's over, but that's far from the reality. You don't get the support you need.' 'I had to survive on charity handouts' Sadly, Plummer's situation is not uncommon. Three quarters of people struggle to return to work after receiving treatment, according to a survey completed by 1,230 cancer survivors by grass-roots cancer charity Mission Remission. What's more, 93pc said they continued to suffer from long-term physical and mental health challenges after treatment had ended. Laura Fulcher, the charity's founder, is calling for ongoing support for cancer survivors, to help them protect their finances during illness and return to work in a suitable capacity when they can. 'I was diagnosed with bowel cancer over 10 years ago, when I was only 29 years old,' she says. 'I had been working as a teacher, and when I became unwell with stomach issues, fatigue and severe pain, doctors thought my symptoms were the result of anxiety.' By the time Fulcher was finally diagnosed a year after becoming sick, she had left her job because of her ill-health and therefore was not eligible for sick pay. Before long she was struggling to pay for her bills and rent. 'I survived on handouts from charities while I fought for my benefits. 'Because I'd been working in supply teaching on the days I felt well enough prior to the diagnosis, I was not eligible to receive employment support allowance. I had to go on to statutory sick pay first, which was much less. 'At the time, my MP supported me and recognised the issue. I was given more benefits, but the issue is within the system. The process of fighting was incredibly stressful and did nothing to help my recovery.' Following the long-term health issues caused by the cancer, including bowel scarring that causes chronic pain and obstructions, Fulcher was unable to return to teaching. She's now founded her own charity and supported health-related campaigns, however, she says she is 'hundreds of thousands' worse off. Mission Remission's survey shows that two thirds of cancer survivors are in a similar position, with 66pc seeing a significant drop in income after treatment. More than half still have a reduced income a decade later. While some respondents said they were protected by critical illness cover at the time of diagnosis, many didn't have policies that provided the extent of support they needed. 'Even those that get emergency funds often find themselves struggling in the longer-term recovery phase,' says Fulcher. 'I couldn't see a way out' Carol, 54, from Manchester, was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, and experienced the shortcomings of life insurance cover first-hand. 'I'd taken out critical illness cover with my mortgage renewal a few years prior, which was a godsend,' she says. However, it wasn't enough to cover her mortgage in full, and her mum had to step in to prevent her from losing the house. 'I'm a freelance makeup artist, and when I got ill I was already struggling to make back the income I'd lost during the pandemic,' she says. 'I was paying off credit cards every month, so when I got ill my first thought wasn't about getting better, it was all about how I was going to make money.' She had to undergo two surgeries followed by radiotherapy, which left her with pain, fatigue and severe swelling from lymph node damage. 'I was advised by my healthcare team to forget about work and focus on getting better. But the financial strain was too much. 'The benefits process was so complex and challenging that friends and family had to help me. A family member even had to speak to my mortgage company on my behalf.' She describes the experience as overwhelming. 'With no income coming in,' she starts, 'I couldn't pay my credit card bills off every month and the debt was racking up. 'It was suffocating me. I couldn't see a way out.' Eventually, one of her credit card companies referred her to Money Wellness, a support service commissioned by the Government's Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) to provide free debt, money and benefit support. 'They helped me put together a debt consolidation plan that saved me,' she says. 'With my critical illness cover, and my mum topping up my mortgage, it meant I was able to just about keep my home.' However the ongoing financial strain, coupled with her physical recovery challenges have damaged her mental health: 'I'm trying to get back to work now, but because I've been away so long I've lost all my confidence and I'm terrified I won't do a good job.' According to Sebrina McCullough, director of external relations at Money Wellness, 82pc of the clients it supports with cancer report additional vulnerabilities following their diagnosis – including mental health and related physical conditions. 'Cancer doesn't stop when the chemotherapy or radiotherapy ends. Recovery is often a long and exhausting journey, and for many, the financial pressure only grows. 'When someone receives a terminal diagnosis, creditors will sometimes agree to write off debts. However, we see far less understanding shown to those still living with the after-effects of cancer – whether that's fatigue, pain, mental health concerns or ongoing complications,' McCullough explains . Fulcher adds that the survey respondents who were in full-time employment at the time of diagnosis sometimes fared better, but it depended on the employer. 'Some people had a positive experience and were supported by their workplace, both in terms of financial aid during their illness and phased returns to work,' she says. 'But that's certainly not the case for everyone. Many reported that they had to survive only on statutory sick pay, which is now only £118.75 a week. Others have reported feeling pressured to return to work while still unwell, which can hinder long term recovery.' 'I had to fight for half-pay while recovering from surgery' Steve Pointon, 45, from Crewe, experienced a problem employer when he was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2016. 'At the time I worked for a security firm and was back to work just six weeks after my operation,' he says. 'I'd had to fight to negotiate half-pay during my absence and when I came back it was full-on. There was limited opportunity for flexibility, despite the fact I'd just had major surgery.' When his cancer returned in 2018, things took a downward turn. 'I had to go to hospital for four five-day admissions for very aggressive immunotherapy treatment, which needed several weeks of recovery each time,' he says. After the initial eight weeks of treatment he was told by his healthcare team he could do 'light work', but this wasn't enough for his employer. 'I received an email in the hospital about when I was coming back. When I returned, I was called into a meeting for a dressing down about not working hard enough. They had me travelling across the UK and going for early and late meetings. I was also told off for not working over the weekends,' Pointon says. Following the gruelling treatment he was incapable of working the long, stressful hours that his employer demanded. 'I was forced to leave and go on statutory sick pay, so my finances took a huge hit,' he says. 'I took legal action against my employer, which ended up being more stressful than my cancer treatment.' Although he won the case in 2021 for breach of disability discrimination, constructive dismissal and harassment, he paid a lot of money to get to tribunal, and the emotional burden caused his mental health to decline. Pointon has since retrained as a mental health counsellor, and now has his own counselling business – as well as working for Action Kidney Cancer and a hospice in Cheshire. While he enjoys his work now, it's been extremely hard to get there. 'There's no support for people to retrain after cancer, so I had to take loans and rely on family to get me through the training,' he says. 'That option isn't available to everyone and it's a really hard path to take. It would be great to see better support for people to retrain after serious illness.' The shortcomings of cancer support Fulcher says that she doesn't feel like the Government is listening to these sorts of concerns from cancer survivors. 'That's why we've launched our new campaign, to support the hidden financial toll of cancer. 'We're asking for five key calls to action, which include: tailored psychological support to help people back to work, pausing benefits for five years post treatment so that people don't need to go through complex procedures if they relapse, simplifying and strengthening the financial safety net, training benefits advisors on cancer, and promoting financial preparedness through pensions, critical illness cover and income protection.' McCullough and the team at Money Wellness support these aims. 'Many cancer sufferers who come to us for help are in midlife, often managing on their own and struggling to make ends meet,' she says. Like the survey respondents, she argues the benefits system, as it stands, isn't set up to meet the needs of cancer survivors and is too complex and challenging to navigate – especially for someone who is severely unwell. 'Mission Remission's call for urgent reform is one we echo. Cancer may no longer be visible on the outside, but its impact continues; physically, emotionally, and financially. 'We need a more compassionate system that recognises the long-term reality of recovery and offers people a genuine chance to rebuild their lives without fear of falling into poverty.'
