Abstract: The present invention relates to a toilet cleaning device (10) for cleaning a toilet bowl (20), the toilet cleaning device (10) comprising a handle (12); a head (14) at a distal end (28) of the handle (12); and a plurality of radially outwardly projecting helical blades (16) which extend from a handle end (44) of the head (14) to a free distal end (46). As the head (14) is rotated about an axial extent of the handle (12), the helical blades (16) provide a circumferential and axial scraping action to the toilet bowl (20). The invention further relates to a holder (76) for such a toilet cleaning device (10), and a method of using the toilet cleaning device (10) to sanitise a toilet (74).

Abstract: A method of reducing peak power demand on a mains-grid power supply network, comprises the steps of: a] providing a data-communication network by which a plurality of users being fed by the power supply network are communicable; b] connecting a controller associated with at least a high-power-demand electrical device of each user to the data-communication network; and c] dynamically allocating via the data-communication network a usage time slot for energization of said high-power-demand device based on demand, whereby usage of said high-power-demand devices associated with the data-communication network is controlled thereby enabling a reduction in overall peak power demand. An electronic-data-network controller and a power-supply management system are also provided.

Abstract: A method of at least in part temperature-independently controlling a thermostatically-controllable cooling and/or heating appliance is provided. The method comprises the step of periodically at least in part temperature-independently deactivating and reactivating a thermostatically-controllable cooling and/or heating element of the said appliance whilst the cooling and/or heating element of the cooling and/or heating appliance is ordinarily energised to heat and/or cool during an energisation period of a or each standard duty cycle. A deactivation period of the cooling and/or heating element is at least in part controlled by a timer element. The deactivation period is also automatically adjustable based on a deactivation-period profile associated with the timer element, and the deactivation period is further automatically adjustable when the cooling and/or heating element is thermostatically or manually deactivated during the energisation period of the or each said standard duty cycle.

Abstract: A secondary heating-system-controller (10) for use in conjunction with a primary heating-system-controller (26) of a heating system, comprises interruption means (18, 20) for periodically temperature-independently deactivating and reactivating the heating system during an activation period of the heating system determined by the primary heating-system-controller (26). A method is also provided having the step of temperature-independently deactivating and reactivating the heating system a plurality of times using the interruption means (18, 20) during a standard activation period of the heating system.