Monitors showing real-time energy use to be provided for free
May 29, 2007 at 2:01 pm
Ministers believe that if consumers could see at a glance how much energy each household appliance, from bedside lamp to dishwasher uses, they would become more disciplined in turning lights off and not leaving TVs and computers on stand-by.
Alistair Darling, Secretary for Trade and Industry, is expected to announce a two-year pilot project using so-called “smart meters”, which do just that. Gas and electricity companies will issue them free of charge to any householder who asks for one for a period of two years and the government’s aim is to have one in every home by 2017. Although the meters currently cost about £250 to install this would be reduced to £150 if they were to become more widespread. Critics believe that although these costs are meant to be absorbed by the energy companies, they would inevitably be passed on to the consumer.
Smart meters might also mean that energy suppliers will introduce reduced tariffs for off-peak hours and enable householders to sell back unused energy to the National Grid.
British Gas to to launch new green utilities
May 2, 2007 at 11:35 am
British Gas, one of the UK’s biggest utility suppliers, is to launch a new business offering customers the opportunity to buy ‘greener’ low-carbon utilities. The new company, British Gas New Energy, will offer rooftop solar heating panels, and offer customers the chance to offset their CO2 emissions through schemes that buy credits from countries whose emissions are well within targets. The group has formed a partnership with some local authorities, which will give council tax discounts of up to 500 pounds for households that install solar panels. Gearoid Lane, previously Centrica’s director of energy procurement, has been appointed managing director of the new venture.
“While other suppliers are making similar forays into the green arena British Gas must be applauded for taking a bigger, bolder step” said Geoff Slaughter of uSwitch. As well as providing energy for customers, the new company will offer advice on how to make homes and businesses more energy efficient. In response to the growing concern for climate change, and an increasing interest in sustainable power, consumer groups and customers alike have applauded British Gas for their decision.
Sam Laidlaw, chief executive of British Gas parent company Centrica, explained the development: “We can use our expertise in the green energy sector to help home owners significantly reduce their impact on the environment and take a lead in this rapidly growing new business area.” With the lowest carbon intensity of any UK energy supplier, and as the biggest supplier of green electricity to UK homes, British Gas is already a leading force in greener utilities. Laidlaw went on to say that “the message coming through from consumers is absolutely clear – they are ready, willing and able to do their bit to help tackle climate change, but are sorely in need of a helping hand from suppliers.”
Anxious to practice what they preach, parent company Centrica has pledged to cut energy use in its own buildings by 10 percent in 2007, and is working on the development of a fuel cell domestic boiler which could halve household CO2 emissions. While the new company and its products are a positive move against climate change, the new business strategy also has massive profit earning potential. “It will take some time for the earnings from British Gas New Energy to become material,” Centrica said in a statement. “Overall the future UK market for domestic energy efficiency products… has the potential to be worth several billion pounds per annum.” The fuel cell boilers, now in the developmental stage, could be worth approximately 1 billion pounds annually in just five years time.
The average home emits 5 tonnes of CO2 a year, says British Gas, while installing a fuel cell boiler could cut emissions to around 2.5 tonnes. British Gas also plans to train 500 of its engineers to carry out Energy Performance surveys, which will be mandatory for those selling their homes from June 1 this year.
