Nothing says autumn more than wrapping up nice and warm, and heading out to your local beauty spots. It truly is a wonderful season with much to explore! However, the blaze of autumn glory also brings with it the arrival of colder weather, shutting of windows and more time spent indoors.
Quiet Mark has conducted a National Noise Report survey, taking a deep dive into the UK's attitudes towards noise in their home and work lives. The survey, sampling 2,000 UK adults aged 18+ across all regions, also showed that almost four fifths (79%) of Brits say that it matters how loud an appliance is when purchasing one for their home.
Over half (57%) of Brits would like their home to be quieter, with a further 62% noting that they are drawn towards quieter appliances.
Consumers want to make informed choices when it comes to their home appliances. Quiet Mark CEO & Co-Founder Poppy Szkiler said "our business model is a straightforward practical guide to help people find the quietest verified products to aid people's mental, physical and emotional health, their overall well being. There is comfort and healing to be found in quietness, quiet environments are vital, especially supportive in the most troubled of times."
We've created a seasonal selection of Quiet Mark certified products to help you clean up, warm up and breathe easy this autumn.
Note to journalist: Quiet Mark has excellent relationships with all its certified brands, so if further images, information and expert comments, insights and advice are required, please contact jenniferhall@quietmark.com
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Hard Floor Cleaners & Window Vacuums
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There's nothing better than a long walk in the park on a glorious autumn day. It's an enjoyable time for the whole family, including the pet dog. However, the colder months also mean condensation on the windows and muddy floors after all that hiking, puddle jumping and leaf kicking. Quiet Mark certified cleaning appliances will let you clean up on the quiet!
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The whisper-quiet, cordless AirCraft PowerGlide for example will quickly, easily and effortlessly clean, polish and buff all your hard floors to a streak-free, professional-grade finish, with no need for soggy mops and easy-to-knock-over buckets.
In the meantime, the Kärcher WV 5 Plus N Window Vac effortlessly sucks up moisture and leaves surfaces streak-free. This rechargeable handheld vac has a powerful lithium-ion battery that lasts up to 35 minutes, cleaning up to 105 m² - that’s 75 windows in just one charge, including mirrors, tiles, shower screens, condensation and even spills on floors and worktops.
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Boilers, Heaters & Heat Pumps
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According to Statistica, most UK residents have a boiler system with radiators as their main heating system. In fact, a survey conducted by the UK Department for Business Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) in 2022, found that 78% of respondents used this method of heating. However, the steep rise in energy bills will have notable consequences across the nation with millions of people in the UK not likely to turn their heating on this winter. This comes as Mike Childs, head of policy at Friends of the Earth calls to make energy efficiency a "top priority".
Quiet Mark certified boilers by ATAG, Glow-worm, Ideal Boilers, Vaillant and Worcester Bosch include energy efficient options that could help bring down those costs.
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Quiet Mark certified ATAG iC Economiser Plus Boilers for example, can help you save money on your gas bills and are, according to the manufacturer, the most efficient boilers in Europe. The boiler wastes minimal energy which saves you money and is kinder to the planet. Not only that, ATAG are so confident in the reliability of their boilers, they offer the longest warranty option on the market of up to 14 years!
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As part of the government's bid to cut carbon emissions, increase energy efficiency and move towards a greener future, developers will be obliged to fit air or ground-source heat pumps in new homes from 2025.
According to the Energy Saving Trust, you can expect to pay between £7,000 and £13,000 for an air source heat pump and up to £24,000 for a ground source unit. That’s significantly more than what you would typically pay for a new gas boiler. However, with a heat pump, average savings on fuel bills may eventually recoup at least some of the cost of installation; Igloo, a challenger energy company, estimates £3,000 over seven years, typically.
According to Gov.uk, with sufficient energy efficiency and internal electrical connection capacity, an estimated 90% of UK homes are technically capable of being heated with a heat pump.
Government grants of up to £6,000 per household are now available to help homeowners in England and Wales make the switch from gas boilers to alternative energy sources such as heat pumps.
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At QuietMark.com you’ll find Quiet Mark certified heat pumps, both air source and ground source, which have been assessed on a like for like basis and have all achieved lowest noise levels out of market-wide comparisons, by leading manufacturers including Daikin, Grant UK, Samsung, Vaillant, Warmflow and Worcester Bosch.
The Quiet Mark certified Samsung EHS Mono HT Quiet for example, is a a high temperature, low noise heat pump ideal for Europe’s residential renovation market. A durable and stylishly designed heating solution, this heat pump combines advanced features and new technologies to achieve hot water temperatures of up to 70 °C whilst operating at very low noise levels.
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If you're after something more portable and personalised when it comes to heating, the Duux Threesixty Heater is a stylish, compact, innovative and affordable option. With a unique organic shape and luxurious matt finish, the Threesixty will seamlessly blend into any décor. Featuring a dynamic built-in fan, it balances power with efficiency to evenly distribute air; warming a 30m² room twice as fast as conventional heaters. With WIFI connectivity, smart app compatibility and adjustable temperature and ventilation settings, Threesixty features a tip-over safety switch and overheat protection for 24/7 heating.
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Air Purifiers & Dehumidifiers
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With the allergy season quickly approaching (some would argue it's already here) we shift our focus to indoor air quality and the products that help us improve it.
Research shows we spend around 90% of our time indoors, where air can be up to five times more polluted than outside. Indoor air is made up of a concoction of particles including dust, mould, smoke, bacteria, viruses, VOCs and pet dander. Even our everyday household activities, such as cooking and cleaning with chemicals, contribute to poor indoor air quality along with outdoor pollution from transport that makes its ways inside.
Air purifiers help reduce air pollution and in doing so, minimise allergy symptoms, neutralise unpleasant odours and keep your home cleaner. Quiet Mark certified Air Purifiers will help you combat those pollutants on the quiet!
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Daikin air purifiers minimise asthma and allergy symptoms by removing dust particles, pollen and other allergens from your indoor air, helping to keep you healthy by filtering out airborne bacteria and viruses. Our air purifiers clean your air by combining our patented streamer technology and an active plasma ion generation unit with high performance HEPA filters. The result: healthy and clean air quality for everyone.
As we move into the colder months, many of us resort to hanging our clothes indoors to dry. This, in combination with ill-ventilated rooms, can lead to mould, fungus and bacteria growth. Chris Michael, Managing Director of Meaco, advises that simple steps can be taken to reduce the onset of mould and damp, all whilst improving our indoor air quality. The Quiet Mark certified Meaco 12L Low Energy Dehumidifier for example, has a unique 2-in-1 mode that allows you to use this unit as a dehumidifier and as an air purifier as you require.
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...View the Quiet Air category on QuietMark.com
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Coffee Machines, Showers & Sleeping Aids
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Now that you've cleaned up, warmed up and breathing easy, it's time to put your feet up, get cosy and relax.
Poppy Szkiler says, "sound affects brainwaves, hormones, heart rate, mood; it's profoundly wired to our emotions." It therefore comes as no surprise that over two thirds of UK consumers (70%) are more likely to buy an appliance labelled as 'quiet' over a similar performance product that does not reference the noise level.
"The pandemic helped to restore the value of quiet back into society", says Poppy. With this in mind, here is a selection of Quiet Mark certified home appliance that will help you de-stress after a long day.
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If you're after a nice cup of coffee, the Melitta Barista TS Smart can really do a lot. For example, it can make 21 different coffee specialities. With the right coffee beans, according to the original recipe or your own personal creation.
Quiet Mark also has a nice range of kettles for the tea drinkers out there! Certified brands include Aqua Optima, Breville, Dualit, Sage Appliances and Tower. All certified kettles have undergone rigorous testing and are amongst the quietest currently available on the market.
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...View Quiet Mark certified Coffee Machines on QuietMark.com
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Indulge in an evening shower with Quiet Mark certified showers from Mira and Triton. Powerful, yet quiet, they offer the ultimate relaxation before bedtime. And if you want to improve your water pressure or flow, Salamander Pumps HomeBoost is the perfect, low cost, compact solution.
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The lack of daylight in the autumn and winter can leave many of us feeling slightly tired and wanting to stay in bed that little bit longer. However, some people experience severe symptoms of fatigue, low moods and depression, which could be signs of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This, according to the NHS, affects around 3% of the UK population.
Light therapy specialist Lumie has been researching and designing bright lights to treat SAD and other conditions for over 25 years. The Quiet Mark certified Lumie Zest SAD & Wake-Up Light for example can be used for bright light therapy in the winter months or when you're stuck indoors. Extra bright light is proven to put you in a better mood and make you feel more awake. Using Zest every day will make a big difference to symptoms of SAD such as tiredness, over-eating and a lack of energy and motivation.
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Create an environment where sleep comes more easily with the Lumie Bodyclock Luxe 750DAB. The light resembles a fading sunset, allowing you to drift off naturally. Then, in the morning, the alarm clock mimics a real sunrise to gently rouse you from sleep.
The Luxe 750DAB is Lumie's most premium Bodyclock sleep/wake-up light, featuring high quality audio with DAB+ radio, Bluetooth speakers, USB port, and a selection of over 20 sleep/wake sounds. Other features include low-blue light to be non-alerting at bedtime, fully adjustable bedside lighting, a glass lamp cover; auto-dimming display; sunrise and sunset from 15 to 90 minutes; a nightlight setting; 7-day alarm; tap-control snooze; power failure back-up.
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