White goods, green light
August 27, 2008 at 1:45 am
Everybody’s looking for ways to save energy at the moment. As we all know, it makes sense on two fronts: cost and the environment.
With this in mind, it’s only natural that household goods have come under scrutiny. After all, our fridges and freezers are on 24/7, using vast amounts of electricity to maintain a constant temperature. Even getting rid of them when they break down can be an environmental nightmare.
But it’s not how often they are used, or even how they are disposed of cleanly and safely, that has been gathering interest in some quarters.
Dynamic demand is a technology that controls the load demands of an appliance on the power grid. Put simply, the theory goes that by monitoring the grid, the machines can switch on or off at the right moments, smoothing out the load and reducing spikes in usage.
When a series of devices are controlled with dynamic demand, it has the effect of a giant battery, storing excess energy and putting back in to the grid when needed.
According to Andrew Howe, CEO of clean energy firm RLtec, if all the fridges in the UK were fitted with dynamic demand, the National Grid could lose one 750 megawatt power station without any drop in performance.
Add to that freezers, heaters and even the vast amount of computer servers that whirr on day and night, and there’s considerable savings to be made.
Research into the technology is still ongoing, but it might well turn out that when it comes to green energy, it’s all about working smarter, not harder.
Electricity made easier for the elderly
August 19, 2008 at 1:53 am
With the recent rises in fuel prices, it is more important than ever for elderly customers to make savings wherever possible. This can mean choosing a cheaper supplier, using appliances that save electricity and taking advantage of any special schemes that are available.
For elderly people, choosing the right supplier can sometimes cause problems. One reason for this is the amount of companies who use sales representatives to call on people in order to get them to sign up to their services.
Electricity sales representatives are notorious for their pushy sales tactics. When they appear at the door they can appear charming and convincing, but they never fully explain the practical details and often ‘forget’ to mention the small print.
If you do not want to feel pressured into buying anything at your door, then you can avoid this by using a comparison website, where you can compare cheap gas and electricity prices in the comfort of your own home. Good websites include Confused.com and uSwitich.com, or you could even visit The Yellow Pages website if you wish to contact a specific provider.
In addition to this, to prevent people calling on you in the first place, you could design a poster for your front door explaining that you do not wish to receive any calls.
Money-saving electrical appliances
As well as making sure that you get the cheapest package for your electricity, there are also some products available which could make you some large savings.
- Eco-kettles can save you money every time you make a cup of tea.
- An energy-saving washing machine may come in handy if your current machine breaks down or the cost is too much to maintain.
- An Eco-Eye Mini Wireless Electricity Monitor can save you up to 15% off your electricity bill.
- Energy saving light bulbs are environmentally friendly and a fantastic way to save money.
Useful schemes
The following schemes are all available to help you to save money on your fuel bills.
- Meals on wheels is a cost-effective system whereby you don’t have to use your own oven to get hold of a hot meal.
- Cavity Wall insulation could save you over £100 on your fuel bills.
- If you have a low income, you may be able to claim Personal allowances and benefits for the elderly.
- Make sure to claim your Winter Fuel Allowance.
- You may also be entitled to free home insulation.
Wave power finally joins the National Grid
August 11, 2008 at 2:13 am
We’ve seen wind turbines pop up at a rate of knots but tidal power hasn’t ever been in the press quite as much. That is all about to change though, as last month saw wave power finally attached to the National Grid system. In the huge Strangford Lough near Belfast in Northern Ireland, there is a tidal power generator turbine called SeaGen and it’s now proved its worth as a source of renewable energy for the UK’s electricity system.
The £10 million turbine lowers two huge propellers into the lake, which is blessed with some of the strongest currents in the UK and reaches up to 8 knots in some instances. These turbines act as sort of under-water wind turbines, harnessing the power of the tides, turning the propeller and generating up to 1.2 megawatts of power when at full speed.
SeaGen is fixed about 400 metres from shore and will be turning for about 20 hours a day. When it’s at its best, the turbine can power 1000 homes. It’s not as cheap to run and maintain as solar and wind but it’s much more reliable and, if it gets the right backing, could pave the way for more investments in tidal power into the National Grid in the future.
There has been some concern from wildlife campaigners, who are worried about the safety of the large number of seals in the Lough. However, SeaGen are keen to stress that the blades are only turning very slowly and don’t cause them any harm.
Finally a cheaper bill with greener electricity
August 1, 2008 at 1:36 am
Saving the planet hasn’t always meant saving your bank balance. It’s often been quite an expensive way to live one’s life, having solar panels on the roof in the hope of some British sunshine. But thankfully, in light of the horrendous fuel bills we are all facing from the non-renewable energy sources, the worm might finally have turned for the greener option.
Where, until recently, there used to be hundreds of pounds difference, according to moneysupermaket.com’s findings there is now only a £97 gap per year between green and non-green tariffs. A leading environmentally friendly provider, Ecotricity, are leading the way and promoting a much cheaper tariff than others in the business of fossil fuels.
The next ten years have been promised as the major overhaul for the UK’s sources of energy. The government has promised over £100 million of investment into renewable energy resources. It’s not just that people want to be good to the planet and cut their carbon footprint nowadays. In light of the credit crunch, nearly all of us are much more concerned about our finances and how to bring these bills down somehow.
It’s worth looking at all the options in a comparative way, just as you would do buying a car or insurance, when it comes to green energy sources and moneysupermarket.com are very keen to stress this on their website. Even the biggest name in the world in the internet, Google, is getting in on the action and pumping millions into sourcing new ‘greener’ energy sources such as solar and wind power.
