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From coal to cabernet: the wine seller using a flooded mine to cut heating bills

Lanchester Wines in north-east England uses heat from a disused coalmine to maintain wine temperatures and with 23,000 flooded mines in the UK, there’s huge potential for more businesses and homes to follow its lead

Shove them in a fridge, stash them in a cellar – this is how most people store their favourite bottles of wine. But if you have warehouses full of thousands of vintages, you have to think a little differently.

For the last eight winters, Lanchester Wines has used heat from a disused coalmine to maintain ideal storage temperatures at its facilities in the north-east of England, helping to prevent freezing or spoilage.

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Β© Photograph: Posed by models; The Good Brigade/Getty Images

Β© Photograph: Posed by models; The Good Brigade/Getty Images

Β© Photograph: Posed by models; The Good Brigade/Getty Images

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Should I get air conditioning in the UK – and can it be green?

As summers become hotter, air conditioner sales are booming. If you’re looking to invest, here’s what to consider

When a heatwave struck the UK this week, Jon Connorton, a software developer, began monitoring temperatures inside his east Hampshire terrace house. With some rooms reaching close to 40C, it was time to deploy the air conditioner. β€œWe just wheel it out in emergencies,” he said. β€œWe were having trouble sleeping.”

Connorton and his wife have a portable air conditioner. These plug-in devices cool interior air by removing heat from it and blowing that heat outside, typically via a large hose slung from a window or door.

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Β© Photograph: LeoPatrizi/Getty Images

Β© Photograph: LeoPatrizi/Getty Images

Β© Photograph: LeoPatrizi/Getty Images

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