Inexpensive and environmentally friendly - GRToday

If you want to improve the accessibility of your home for personal reasons, this usually means a rather expensive investment. Bathrooms have to be remodeled, doors changed and stairs equipped with special lifts so that the disabled person still has access to all rooms and can move freely in the house. Even if there are subsidies, the costs for all measures are generally in the five-digit range. Therefore, many think about the purchase of a used stairlift.

Record Inflation: Are Stairlifts Getting Cheaper Now?

The inflation rate in the euro zone has reached a new high of 5.1 percent. Above all, the increased energy costs are to blame for this inflation rate. That is why consumers are concerned about how unplanned, additional investments can be financed. A walking disability rarely comes with advance notice and requires expensive conversions in the home. Choosing a used stairlift can be worthwhile. Information on overhauled lifts shows that a lot of money can be saved here.

In fact, there are used stairlifts for every conceivable installation situation , for internal and external stairs. It doesn't matter whether the staircase is straight or curved - stair lifts can also be adapted to curves. There are even special solutions for very narrow stairs. However, in the case of spiral staircases or curves, it is usually necessary to manufacture new guide rails, since the radii rarely match exactly. Just like the installation, you should add this to the costs.

What to look out for when buying used

What is certain is that it is a not inconsiderable investment, even for used equipment. Therefore, you should make sure that you only ever buy with a guarantee . Remember that this does not apply to private purchases via classified ads. This can lead to nasty surprises after assembly. It is therefore advisable to only buy from a reputable specialist dealer who offers you a guarantee and additional security.

Furthermore, the TÜV seal and the renowned GS mark give you the necessary security for safe operation. A dealer offers you overhauled and mostly permanently professionally maintained models. Incidentally, a professional maintenance contract also makes sense, especially for a used lift. This means that unexpected repair costs can be avoided.

Also important: Always insist on a complete offer with assembly . This is the only way to really compare different offers and you know the actual costs that you will incur.

sustainability and environment

But it is not only financially worthwhile to think about a used lift. Stair lifts "Made in Germany" are made from high-quality materials of the highest quality . Massive construction and strict choice of materials stand for a long service life . However, new stair lifts are not always used for a really long time. The move to another house or the recovery of the temporarily handicapped lead to the sale of the new lift without it having reached the end of its life cycle.

However, the valuable materials are far too good to be scrapped. Both the guide rails and the motor and driver's seat are designed for the highest demands and can be operated for many decades - provided they are properly maintained. For example, the low-maintenance, flat pancake motors are operated with extra-low voltage, which further favors the robust design. Second-hand lifts are environmentally friendly - that much is certain. Repeated use makes sense, especially with a high-quality product.

Not only the materials themselves should be considered. There are energy-intensive processes in production and personalization, and recycling would require the energy to feed the raw materials back into the recycling process. All in all, the bottom line is a clear relief for the environment , to which you can contribute.

environmental thinking in the region

The rethinking in every respect is also evident in regional projects and petitions. Citizens are increasingly demanding a stop to mass tourism and the resulting traffic jams caused by weekend commuters. The Graubünden region recently drew attention to itself with an initiative: the municipality of Zizers wants to stop through traffic in order to avoid the Sunday traffic congestion on the cantonal road, which is harmful to the environment.

Other cantons are also increasingly annoyed by the unreasonable burden of weekend traffic. At the moment it is unclear how the responsible civil engineering authorities will decide. It remains to be hoped that Zizer's advance will be heard. The conversion of the former Aspermont library into a meeting place has already been positively received in the region. It now houses the Lacuna district association, the “Insieme Cerebral Graubünden” association and the city school, in the spirit of the Danuser Foundation.

The encounter is also in the foreground in the small Alvaneu village. Here the residents recently started a special initiative. They thought that a village without an open restaurant was absurd. Under the motto fire and flames for the Belfort, they are reviving the building as a place for temporary celebrations, events and gastronomic events. Certainly a successful way of bringing life and encounters into the orphaned building.

Conclusion

Each individual can do something for the environment in many different ways. Starting with the reuse of used devices, but also with the help of the search for new uses for old materials, so-called upcycling, there are always ways to relieve the burden on the environment. In addition, regional initiatives in our cantons show that there is a great deal of interest in environmental protection and nature conservation.

In this context, it is important not only to initiate individual, scattered actions, but also to strive for a general rethinking at national level. Individual tourism and short-term consumer behavior should make way for responsible, non-profit thinking.

(Image: mieco.ch)