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The sun -- it's been around for a pretty long time. So why is it that, in the last couple of decades, we're hearing more and more about the dangers of the sun? Surely something that has given life to the human race and which we've lived with for countless millennia can't be that bad? While this skepticism is understandable, the fact is that the sun is dangerous. In this article, we'll explain exactly why. We'll also list some of the biggest risks of sun exposure, as well as some steps that can be taken to deter the harmful effects of the sun, such as using sun screen or installing roller blinds in your home.
Why is the sun dangerous?
The first thing to understand is that it is not sunlight that harms us. On the contrary, it is the sun's rays that we cannot see that cause damage. These come in the form of UV rays -- more specifically, UV-A, UV-B and UV-C. The latter, UV-C, are the most dangerous rays of all, but luckily, they are unable to reach the earth's atmosphere and do us harm. However, UV-A and UV-B can break through our ozone layer, carrying too much energy for our body to handle. It can mess with our molecules and knock electrons from atoms, leading to changes in our chemical structure, resulting in sunburn (at best) or even skin cancer (at worst).
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The field of domotics -- more commonly known as "home automation" -- is one that is becoming increasingly important in the 21st century. As technological strides are made, we're discovering ways to automate our homes in ways that, just a matter of decades ago, were the stuff of science fiction. In this article, we'll introduce you to domotics, discussing its benefits, some of the areas of the home where domotics can be applied (such as roller blinds and automated lighting), and the types of technologies used to control these areas remotely.
What is domotics?
It could be anything from an advanced home security system to something as basic as a system designed to turn lights on and off at the appropriate times. Essentially, anything that adds an element of automation to the home or to household activities falls into the category of domotics. What's more, domotics is becoming increasingly affordable, with these once-wondrous technologies being implemented in ways that are simple and accessible for the average homeowner.
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Wherever you go in the world, you're likely to find window blinds. And wherever you go, most of these window blinds will have a few things in common. They will, for example, be fitted on the window of dwellings -- of places where people live. They will generally be around the same size as the window, or possibly a little bit bigger. And their job will be much the same; to control the temperature in a room -- either by keeping the heat of the sun out or by retaining warmth from within -- or to provide privacy for the residents from the gaze of neighbours, passers-by and unwanted sticky beaks.
However, despite all these similarities, blinds come in a huge range of different forms. There are, for example, many varieties of blinds, from the horizontal slats of the Venetian blind style to vertical blinds, Roman blinds and even automated roller blinds. However, in this article we're going to look at another differentiating point of window blinds -- the materials used. After all, all over the world, window blinds are made from a range of different materials, each with their own range of benefits.
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In the 21st century, window blinds are -- along with curtains -- the most common type of window covering. In fact, you'll scarcely find anyone in Australia who isn't familiar with window blinds of some variety. And that being said, the varieties are many, including Venetian blinds, vertical blinds, roller blinds and many more. In this article, we'll briefly look at the history of this ubiquitous window covering, from its humble beginnings in ancient civilisations to its modern and technologically advanced incarnations.
Blinds in ancient times
The earliest records of blinds being used by human beings date back centuries to the nomadic tribes of African and Asian deserts. These primitive people used basic sheets to cover the windows of their dwellings in order to block out the harsh desert sun.
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We all know that Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is bad for us. We know that we need to wear sun screen at the beach and install roller blinds in our home in order to ensure we stay protected. But do you actually know what UV radiation (also known as UV rays) really is? Do you know why it's dangerous? In this article, we'll attempt to give you a simple explanation of how UV radiation works.
Let’s start with the basics...
At its most basic level, UV radiation is a type of energy travelling through space. This category of energy is known as electromagnetic radiation and also includes visible light, x-rays, infrared ways and radio waves.
The energy travels in the form of waves; a measurement of this energy, then, is what is known as a 'wavelength'. The larger the wavelength, the less energy there is; visible light, for example, has a longer wavelength than UV radiation. This means that UV radiation has more energy and, thus, is more dangerous.
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Window blinds can be found in almost any home you'll enter. They provide many household functions, from regulating the flow of air and light into your home to providing privacy, helping protect against theft and adding aesthetic value to your living spaces. In this article, we'll take a look at five of the most common types of window blinds, including mini blinds, Venetian blinds, Roman blinds, vertical blinds and roller blinds.
1. Mini blinds
A mini blind is a type of horizontal window blind that is formed by long and narrow slats. These slats are kept in place by a string that is situated inside the window. While similar to Venetian blinds in this regard, the difference with mini blinds is that they have much narrower slats; in fact, the slats of Venetian blinds are generally twice as wide as mini blind slats. To open and close the slats, you simply rotate a rod -- clockwise for one direction, anti-clockwise for the other. To raise and lower the slats you pull on a string; generally, the direction you pull the string dictates whether or not the blinds stay up or go down.
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Everybody wants to make a great impression in their home, and there's no better way to do this than to design your home to appear as sophisticated as possible. In this article, we're going to look at six great ways to make your home more sophisticated, from choosing a colour theme to installing roller blinds. It's your complete guide to residential sophistication.
1. Choose a colour theme
The most important thing to remember about sophistication is that you don't have to spend a lot of money to achieve it. There are basic rules to follow: most importantly, your colours must be cohesive. When choosing a colour theme for your home, select two or three main colours and stick to them. It's always good to have a feature wall in bedrooms and loungerooms; for example, three cream walls with one blue wall.
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Sometimes, the best way to protect your home from burglars is to put yourself in their shoes. What are they looking for in a potential target? What type of homes will be easier to break into than others? In this article, we're going to show you how to think like a burglar in order to keep your home as safe as possible from their ever-present threat, with suggestions ranging from installing roller blinds to forwarding phone calls.
1. Uh-oh… not an alarm system
Burglars want to go about their business with as little attention being drawn to them as possible. And nothing draws attention like an alarm system. Whether it's a loud siren that is activated as soon as a door or window to your home is opened, or a complex video system that feed back to a control room whenever a motion sensor is activated, burglars will avoid homes where alarm systems are clearly present, Adding signage to the outside of your home warning that the area is alarmed is an excellent deterrent measure.
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Your home is your haven from the world, and the security of that haven is key to living in comfort. In this article, we'll take a look at six secrets to ensuring your home is as secure as it can possibly be, from installing roller blinds and exterior lighting to locking up valuables and keeping them out of sight of potential burglars.
1. Alarm systems
A modern alarm is still one of the most effective deterrents from burglars. These days, an alarm can be much more than a simple siren going off at the front of your home when a door or window is opened. If you want to go all out for home security, you can create entire alarm systems that connect to central monitoring stations where trained security experts can check live video feeds whenever an alert is set off. This also eliminates the problem of "false alarms", which are a notorious side effect of traditional alarm systems.
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When people need to spend their working days in an office, they want to feel comfortable. Those eight-hour (sometimes longer) days can be made hard to bear if a few basic human comforts aren't provided. In this article, we'll take a look at the benefits of installing roller blinds in your office, highlighting the benefits they offer for making the office more comfortable for employees.
1. Keep the heat out
In the hot summer months, not all offices can afford grade A air-conditioning systems. We couldn't count the amount of offices we've worked in with air conditioning systems that just didn't quite do the job; even worse is the fact that different employees like to have the office at different temperatures, making the fight for control of the air remote fiercer than the fight for the TV remote at home! Roller blinds provide a perfect answer to this; they do an incredible job of keeping the heat out, providing insulation to the office and helping to regulate temperature.
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It can be easy to equate awnings with old school rusty contraptions that block the windows at Grandma’s old house. But since its humble beginnings the awning has undergone a dramatic transformation to ensure that its functionality doesn’t compromise on style or design features. From the retractable awning to the many different styles and materials, there are many different options and benefits of installing awnings around your home:
Materials and styles
Awnings come in a wide variety of colours, fabrics and textures which can either contrast with or compliment the colours of your home. You may want something that will stand out from the colours of your home and almost act as a feature. Or you may prefer something that blends in with your current colour scheme. Whatever look you want to create, the possibilities are endless.
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Transforming your courtyard into an oasis requires some careful forward planning and a clever use of urban outdoor elements. Here, we’ve got some great ideas for transforming your courtyard into a great place for enjoying your morning coffee and entertaining guests in the summer. From tips on selecting the right external shading such as a retractable awning, to choosing a colour scheme that will compliment your home’s interior, we’ve got a great range of tips for transforming your courtyard into an urban oasis:
Plan ahead
Like any room in the house, your outdoor space requires careful planning to ensure the end result looks good. Think about the colours you have in your home and think about extending that theme outwards. Stepping out into your courtyard should be like stepping out into an extension of your living space or wherever the courtyard runs off from.
The sun -- it's been around for a pretty long time. So why is it that, in the last couple of decades, we're hearing more and more about the dangers of the sun? Surely something that has given life to the human race and which we've lived with for countless millennia can't be that bad? While this skepticism is understandable, the fact is that the sun is dangerous. In this article, we'll explain exactly why. We'll also list some of the biggest risks of sun exposure, as well as some steps that can be taken to deter the harmful effects of the sun, such as using sun screen or installing roller blinds in your home.
The field of domotics -- more commonly known as "
Wherever you go in the world, you're likely to find 
We all know that Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is bad for us. We know that we need to wear sun screen at the beach and install 
Window blinds can be found in almost any home you'll enter. They provide many household functions, from regulating the flow of air and light into your home to providing privacy, helping protect against theft and adding aesthetic value to your living spaces. In this article, we'll take a look at five of the most common types of window blinds, including mini blinds, 
Everybody wants to make a great impression in their home, and there's no better way to do this than to design your home to appear as sophisticated as possible. In this article, we're going to look at six great ways to make your home more sophisticated, from choosing a colour theme to installing 
When people need to spend their working days in an office, they want to feel comfortable. Those eight-hour (sometimes longer) days can be made hard to bear if a few basic human comforts aren't provided. In this article, we'll take a look at the benefits of installing 
Transforming your courtyard into an oasis requires some careful forward planning and a clever use of urban outdoor elements. Here, we’ve got some great ideas for transforming your courtyard into a great place for enjoying your morning coffee and entertaining guests in the summer. From tips on selecting the right