I glanced over a report this weekend regarding patio heaters, they are set to double in sales over the next year. With the smoking ban forcing people outside to smoke and the approaching winter, pubs and bars are buying patio heaters to keep smokers happy. There is also an increase in people buying them for their gardens, currently 1.2 million units have been sold to private owners and this is expected to rise to over 2.3 million in the next year.

This maybe a niche for certain entrepreneurs but with this niche comes an environmental problem - as each heater uses the same amount of energy in six months as a kitchen gas hob does in a year. Last month, London Mayor Ken Livingstone called for a halt in the spread of “wasteful” patio heaters and urged retailers not to promote them.

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