International Fair in Lyon

This event will run from March 22nd to April 1st, 2013, at Lyon-Eurexpo. The 95th edition of the Lyon Fair will feature new topics, trends and sound values in the areas of leisure activities, home and personal equipment... A wide variety of offerings proposed by 1,000 exhibitors in a display area of 100,000 m2. This year’s exhibition is dedicated to New York, with legendary neighbourhoods such as Little Italy and Broadway reconstituted for the occasion. www.foiredelyon.com

Fri/Mar/2013

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New address in Aucamville

Covering the area north of Toulouse, Aucamville...

Les Minimes, Toulouse

Offering striking architecture recalling the prow of a ship, the Quai 77...

Foreign investors show interest in Solférino

Located at 10 rue de Solférino in the 7th...

Wood-burning fireplaces : more fashionable than ever

Offering high performance,...

Offering high performance, minimalist design, ecological heating, simplicity, with insert or closed hearths, fireplaces are still great classics among fans of wood-fired heating. Trendy, economical and environmentally friendly, they ensure comfort and warmth while creating the inviting ambiance which is one of their major assets.

Ideal in private homes, fireplaces are one of the amenities that add value to a property. Those whose choice is mainly guided by esthetics can opt for a fireplace with an open hearth. While it gives an authentic atmosphere, this option does not guarantee high heating performance due to its low efficiency. This type of fireplace serves as a decorative feature bringing a little warmth into a well-insulated home which benefits from another main source of heating.
Proposing a similar decorative ambiance, the closed-hearth fireplace offers a striking difference in terms of performance. The fire it contains produces much more heat, with efficiency of up to 75 % for hearths or inserts that burn logs. In medium-sized homes, it can provide the main source of heating.
To install your fireplace, you simply need to have a flue that meets standards currently in force. It is, of course, highly recommended to call on a qualified installer to take charge of the creation or transformation of your fireplace.
Since January 1st, 2015, in the interest of maintaining air of good quality, some communes in the Île-de-France have banned chimney fires. However, the use of a wood-fired boiler, stove or closed hearth, of the insert kind, is still allowed, except in Paris intra-muros. You can find out more about these measures from your town-hall or on www.service-public.fr

Recommended brands
Already complying with the Ecodesign 2022 standard, hearths in MCZ's Plasma range are perfectly suitable for passive and low energy consumption houses. All the Plasma models can be used in the patented Comfort Air duct system, making it possible to heat several rooms, even if they are not interconnected. www.mczgroup.com
Studio Ruegg proposes a very wide range of high-end wood-fired hearths, available in contemporary and minimalist design. An expert in heat distribution, this brand has succeeded in combining luxurious esthetics with high performance. www.studio-ruegg.fr

Peaceful residence in Villeneuve-Loubet

Set in the midst of a private park enhanced by a...

Lorenza Parc

Near the centre of Saint-Laurent-du-Var, at the heart of the Coteau Riant...

MAPIC international fair

The first international fair dedicated to...

Villa Appolina in Vétraz-Monthoux

In Vétraz-Monthoux (11 km from Geneva), near the...

The Domaine de Soral

Convenient location In a very charming spot in Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, Le...

National Property Fair

The potential offered by student residences is one of the main themes...

Smart homes

Providing more comfortable living conditions, facilitating everyday life,...

Providing more comfortable living conditions, facilitating everyday life, making real energy savings, and securing one’s home more efficiently, such are the aims of so-called “smart” or “connected” homes. Here are the five most important criteria to choose from the many offers proposed by players in this market making constant progress.
Just one question to be answered about connexion : cable or wireless ? Cabled solutions enjoy the reputation of being more secure and less subject to interference. However, with their ever higher performance, wireless solutions offer more flexibitiy in terms of use. The world-leading wireless standard is called Z-Wave. Its advantages ? Its long range, high security criteria, conection stability, and low energy consumption.
A connected house can offer a broad array of functions, ranging from automated heating to lighting control and coffee machines that switch on automatically each morning. The system installed should have a positive effect on both energy savings, convenience and safety.
The purpose behind a smart home is often to ensure maximum security by installing movement sensors and sirens... Which can only be effective if the system itself is secure. The leading firm in Europe is a German laboratory called AV-Test.
There are now many suppliers of home automation systems, including lots of start-ups. Their offerings evolve rapidly. Buyers can determine the seriousness of a supplier if he has been operating on the market for several years and is known for his experience - especially if he has won professional awards. It is also advisable to find out if he proposes regular up-dates of his systems. A simple starter’s kit will very quickly configure your first connected home, with the possibility of gradual scalability to add other components depending on your needs. Available from stores specializing in IT, they cost from 200 to 300 €.
Whom to turn to? The Devolo Home Control solution comprised of three essentials to kick off a smart home has received the “Smart Home of the Year” label on several occasions, awarded by readers of specialized IT magazines. This beginner’s kit is available for around 220 €. Fibaro also proposes a Starter Kit containing a home automation box and a few peripherals to get things going (approx. 400 €). Well-known brands such as Bosch and Siemens also offer “à la carte” products, and installers such as Homly You are specialized in the field.