DIY Builds
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Can tea lights heat a room?

In a word, No! … despite the internet craze of using clay flowerpots to store and dissipate the heat energy from burning tea light candles.

Do clothes expire?
Do clothes expire?

The short answer is, “Yes!” Many cotton items that we wear next to our skin have a shorter life span than say, outerwear items made from heavier...

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Is Fusion 360 the same as Blender?
Is Fusion 360 the same as Blender?

Fusion 360 has freeform and surface modeling, design integration, parametric and mesh modeling. Blender can be used to create video games, animated...

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Can I build my own shed?
Can I build my own shed?

Yes, with the right plans you can build your dream shed.

Learn More »

Is using tealight candles to heat your room energy efficient?

In a word, No! … despite the internet craze of using clay flowerpots to store and dissipate the heat energy from burning tea light candles. The first law of thermodynamics, also known as Law of Conservation of Energy, states that energy cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction. This means that no matter how efficient our flowerpot system is at dissipating the heat, the most energy we can hope to use to heat our room is the amount of energy available in the tea light. This amount energy will be released whether we burn the naked tea light or use it inside our flowerpot meaning that the room will be heated by the same amount. Tea light candles have about 14g of paraffin wax in each which equates to around 0.179 kWh per tea light.[1] A quick search on the net gives current prices around £3 for 100 tea lights which works out to be around 17 pence per kWh. With competitive electricity prices being around 10 pence per kWh and gas around 2.5 pence per kWh, tea light power might not be the best way forward for heating your home! This is without taking into account that if you’re burning a lot of these things you’d better have good ventilation or an open window to let all the fumes escape. If you’re hoping to heat your room or house, then you’d be much better off using traditional heating methods! That said, if you’re not hoping to heat your room by candle power and would just like a little heat on your desk, tea light candle heaters might not be as crazy as they seem. For someone like myself that spends a lot of time sat in front of a computer either working, studying or gaming, my hands spend a lot of time exposed at the keyboard. I can certainly see the attraction of having something to warm my hands on at my desk without having to heat up the rest of the room. While they might not start a nostalgic energy revolution, tea light heaters, such as the Egloo, may find themselves a niche desktop market.

[1] Ebuild

Flowerpot heater – Martin Stewart

Tealights – m01229

See also: What are Tariff Information Labels, Tariff Comparison Rates and Personal Projections and how do they help get the best deal on energy bills? and Are you paying too much for your energy?

More information about Energy Saving and Renewable Energy on YouGen.

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Can I build my own shed?
Can I build my own shed?

Yes, with the right plans you can build your dream shed.

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How much does it cost to make a shed into a tiny home?

Depending on the size, materials, labor, and installation, the cost of turning your backyard shed into a tiny home may range from $1,500 to $30,000, per Budget Dumpster.

How To Turn Your Backyard Shed Into A Tiny Home

Do you dream of renovating your backyard shed into a tiny home? Or maybe you need a livable add-on to your property? There are many reasons why you might consider converting your shed into a more functional living space such as a guest house, man cave, she shed, classroom, or playhouse. In the past, small additional houses, like English follies, were often used by the wealthy as representations of ancient ruins or landmarks instead of being used for storage. Today, sheds serve a practical purpose, as they are commonly utilized to store tools, garden supplies, lawn equipment, or other domestic items that require larger accommodation. It's important to establish whether you're going to renovate your existing structure or build a new one. According to The Tiny House, purchasing a shed may be cheaper and more efficient in quality compared to purchasing a pre-built shell. Other important factors are to determine your budget and timeline. Is this a practical project or a mandatory change? Depending on the size, materials, labor, and installation, the cost of turning your backyard shed into a tiny home may range from $1,500 to $30,000, per Budget Dumpster. Whether it's a conversion or a brand-new structure, how you plan to transform your backyard shed will ultimately depend on the style and materials chosen. Read on to learn more about how to turn your backyard into a new living space!

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