The 1,927-square-foot property, built in 1971, was sold on Aug. 21, 2024, for $1,590,000, or $825 per square foot.

Mercury News Letters to the Editor for Sept. 29, 2024

THEY are the companies you trust the most with your precious holidays.

The 2024 Sun Travel Awards saw you voting in your tens of thousands for the travel providers you love to head away with, both home and abroad.

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And last week, The Sun’s Head of Travel Lisa Minot presented the very special accolades to the ­winners at an awards lunch at our London HQ hosted by the TV and radio presenter Alexis Conran.

Here’s who won your vote.

BEST AIRLINE – EMIRATES

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Emirates’ generous seat sizes and baggage allowances in economy are probably why it bagged the award from readers[/caption]

PICKING up the award for the second year running, Emirates is obviously a hit with Sun readers for its extensive network that carries you across the globe.

The airline’s generous seat sizes and baggage allowances in economy are probably why — as well as comprehensive in-flight entertainment and warm hospitality.

Second place went to the original flag carrier, British Airways, with airline and tour op giant Jet2 in third.

BEST SHORT-HAUL OPERATOR – JET2 HOLIDAYS

THE northern airline that has transformed itself into the UK’s largest tour operator has won the award for the second year in a row.

Its huge network of regional holidays and commitment to customer service is obviously a hit with Sun readers.

Second came its arch-rival, Tui, closely followed by new kid on the block easyJet Holidays — popular with you for its generous luggage allowances and huge network of city and beach destinations.

BEST LONG-HAUL OPERATOR – VIRGIN HOLIDAYS

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The operator’s new Maldives flights are proving as popular — along with packages to the Far East, Mauritius and the Caribbean[/caption]

THIS year celebrating 40 years flying, Virgin Holidays continues to be the go-to tour operator for us when we’re heading across the pond to places including Orlando, Miami, New York and Las Vegas.

And its new Maldives flights are proving as popular — along with packages to the Far East, Mauritius and the Caribbean.

Second was Tui with its reasonably priced offerings to Florida and Thailand. British Airways Holidays took third place.

BEST IN CRUISE – ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL

IT took delivery of the world’s largest ever cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, this year and Royal Caribbean remains hugely popular with Sun readers for its incredible family-friendly offering.

Coming in second was the British cruise experts P&O Cruises and third was all-inclusive favourite Marella Cruises.

BEST OF BRITISH – NATIONAL TRUST

THIS new award for 2024 sought to celebrate the people, places and British institutions at the very heart of your staycations.

And the top award went to the National Trust.

The charitable organisation is dedicated to preserving and protecting the historic places and natural spaces we enjoy on every day out, weekend away or summer holiday. Established in 1895, it manages more than 500 heritage properties, playing a crucial role in conservation and ensuring they are accessible for future generations.

In second place came our go-to for a bargain pint and decent fry-up, pub giant Wetherspoons. And in third, Premier Inn, popular for its reliable, value rooms and oh-so-comfy beds.

BEST SHORT-HAUL DESTINATION – SPAIN

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It’s no surprise that Spain took the top spot in this category[/caption]

WITH its stunning coastlines and guaranteed sunshine, it’s no surprise that Spain took the top spot in this category.

We love our traditional favourite and are exploring beyond the norm more than ever before.

But closely snapping at its heels was Greece, with Italy in third place.

BEST LONG-HAUL DESTINATION – CARIBBEAN

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The Caribbean’s intoxicating mix of culture and relaxation has helped it take the top slot[/caption]

IT’S clear Sun readers love a totally tropical escape and when it comes to heading further for our holidays, the Caribbean’s intoxicating mix of culture and relaxation has helped it take the top slot.

Second is the USA, with tempting Thailand coming third.

MOST TRUSTED TRAVEL COMPANY – TUI

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TUI took the coveted Most Trusted award as voted by The Sun readers[/caption]

THIS award is important for Sun Travel readers — they want to know they are spending their precious holiday pounds with a company that will look after them, provide support when things go wrong and strive to treat their customers fairly.

It’s always a closely fought race and there was very little between our top three. Tui triumphed, with last year’s winner Jet2 second and British Airways Holidays third.

BEST UK HOLIDAY PROVIDER – HAVEN

WITH their good-value breaks and fabulous facilities, Haven grabbed the top slot — the self-catering giant even welcomed the first-ever Wetherspoons at a holiday park this year.

In second place came Hoseasons, and in third, Park Resorts.

BEST UK ATTRACTION – ALTON TOWERS

WE couldn’t get enough of the re­vamp­ed classic, Nemesis Reborn at this year’s winner, Alton ­Towers. The natural wonders of Cornish gem The Eden Project won you over to bag second place, with Legoland Windsor third.

BEST GLOBAL ATTRACTION – WALT DISNEY WORLD, FLORIDA

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Walt Disney has plans to expand its Florida empire with new lands coming in the next few years[/caption]

WALT Disney World Resort in Orlando claimed victory — and this year announced even more plans to expand its Florida empire with new lands coming in the next few years.

In second place it’s Universal Orlando Resort, which is looking forward to the opening of a new park, Epic Universe, in 2025.

And in third place came French favourite, Disneyland Paris.

HOMEOWNERS could get free or cheap energy-saving up-grades to their homes and slash up to £3,334 a year off their bills.

Energy bills are set to rise again on Tuesday when regulator Ofgem’s new price cap takes effect.

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The average household paying by direct debit for dual fuel will see a £149 annual increase, or about £12 a month.

But making your home more energy-efficient can pay off.

The average power bill for a three-bedroom house with an energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of G is £5,674 a year — but the same house with a D rating averages £2,340, says property site Rightmove.

Homes with good insulation and LED lighting typically have higher EPC ratings, with A the best and G the worst. But around 55 per cent of UK housing is rated D or below.

Charles Roe, mortgages director at trade body UK Finance, says: “The UK has some of the oldest, least energy-efficient housing in Europe.

Upgrading our homes is a huge challenge, with key barriers being lack of confidence among homeowners and costs.”

Harriet Meyer looks at five simple home improvements that could cut your bills and sources of funding for your upgrades . . . 

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Loft insulation

SAVE UP TO £340 A YEAR

THIS could save £340 a year for a detached home and £180 in a mid-terrace house, says the Energy Saving Trust.

You can do it yourself with mineral wool rolls if your loft is accessible.

According to Which?, loft insulation is around £20 for a 100mm-thick roll, covering about 8.3 square metres. Hiring a pro for an average semi could cost around £950.

The EST’s Joanna O’Loan says: “An uninsulated home loses about a quarter of its heat through the roof. If your insulation is less than 150mm, top it up to 270mm.”

Some energy firms offer free loft insulation through the energy company obligation scheme.

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Double glazing

SAVE £120 A YEAR

UPGRADING your windows with A-rated double glazing could save around £120 a year on energy bills for the average semi-detached property, reckons the EST.

But be prepared to fork out around £15,000 to get this done.

If money is tight, a more affordable alternative is to buy ready-made secondary-glazing film online for about £10.

Use a hairdryer to shrink it to fit your frame.

You could also fit a layer of glass or plastic inside your frame and do this work yourself.

Get a few quotes if getting an expert to do the work.

Upgrade heating system

SAVE UP TO £280 A YEAR

IF your boiler is more than ten years old, it may be less efficient and it could pay off to get it replaced.

Efficient A-rated condensing boilers could save up to £280 a year if you live in a mid-terrace house and are replacing a G-rated boiler, according to the EST.

If you do not qualify for the government assistance, getting a new boiler installed is likely to set you back around £4,000.

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Plug air gaps

SAVE £100s A YEAR

PUTTING draught-proofing around your windows and doors could save you £35 a year, says the EST.

You can buy a cheap brush draught excluder online to fit under your front and back doors.

For internal doors, try rolled-up towels, old tights filled with clothes, or get a second-hand draught excluder on eBay.

If you have an unused chimney, block it with a cheap inflatable chimney balloon or DIY with old pillows. This can save you another £50 a year.

Don’t forget to plug other draughty spots such as floorboards, loft hatches and wall cracks too.

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Swap to LED bulbs

SAVE UP TO £75 A YEAR

REMOVING your old halogen light bulbs and replacing them with energy-efficient LED bulbs is one of the simplest ways to reduce your bills.

Light-emitting diode bulbs use significantly less energy — up to 90 per cent less than standard bulbs.

According to the EST, replacing all the bulbs in your home with LEDs could save you up to £75 a year on your energy bills.

You can buy basic ones for as little as £1 to £3 each.

‘We’re making cost of new boiler back with lower bills’

Sonja Horsman

SIDNEY and Elaine Regan are saving £200 a month after making energy-efficient changes.

Their energy bill doubled to over £500 a month because their boiler was getting old – so they invested in a new one, costing £5,000.

Retired care home receptionist Elaine said: “The bills were cheaper in winter after the up-grade. We’re gradually making the cost back.”

In addition to their Worcester Bosch combi boiler, the couple had a smart meter fitted in their three-bedroom terrace in Borehamwood, Herts – at no extra cost through their energy supplier, Octopus.

Elaine, 67, added: “We can now watch our usage and see what makes a difference.”

Taxi driver Sidney, 77, and Elaine have also made smaller changes, such as running the dishwasher less often, using draft excluders, and fitting LED light bulbs.

• An Energy Performance Certificate is valid for ten years. You can find your home’s EPC at Gov.uk and request a new one for £60-£120.

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