Energy Conservation Devices and Methods


		Energy Conservation Advice, Devices and Products

	Energy and Human Ecology (Page 3).

		In this section we identify some domestic devices and products which are engineered with energy efficiency in mind including refrigerators (fridges), freezers and washing machines. A paragraph on energy conservation and efficiency is included to inform professional designers, businesses and suppliers. Some guidance is offered on green electricity generation, and more general DIY information is also given to help individuals. Electrical leakage associated with standby use of equipment is covered and the European Energy Labelling system is described.


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Energy Conservation Advice, Devices and Products: Index
Advice and Information	Green Energy Suppliers	Individual Help and DIY
Your Electrical Leakage	Fridges and Freezers	Washing Machines
	Energy Labelling

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Energy Conserving Advice, Devices and Products

Advice and Information

The links below are principally concerned with advising or informing professionals, including designers, businesses and suppliers. Some are UK government (or EU) initiatives or partners working with government. Some of them may be willing to advise individuals.

Association for the Conservation of Energy (ACE) was formed to encourage a national awareness of energy conservation, to help to establish a consistent policy and increase investment in energy saving measures

ASW Energy Conservation sell energy saving devices: 'Novitherm' radiator panels, Roadmaster fuel ionisers (convert engines to run on unleaded fuel), 'Thermwatcher' ionisers for gas and oil burners and boilers, Lightmaster lighting controllers and Quantum condensing boiler systems

Carbon Trust's free energy saving advice replaces that provided by Action Energy and the Government's Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme (EEBPP). It's designed to help UK organisations cut energy bills by using cost-effective technologies and management techniques

Centre For Alternative Technology (CAT), an educational charity working for a sustainable future, claim to be Europe's foremost Eco-Centre. Their site provides a wealth of info, hints, tips and energy saving products

CREATE, a nfp organisation, works to reduce effects of climate change, promoting energy efficiency & sustainable development, helping individuals, communities and organisations with advice and training

The Croydon Energy Network aims to bring together householders, building contractors and business people, aiding decisions on cutting energy costs and reducing impact on the environment from burning coal, gas or oil

Energy Efficiency Advice Centres (EEACs): nearly 50 EEACs in the UK give free, impartial advice to householders and small businesses on cost-effective ways of saving energy. Contact no.: Freefone 0800 512 012.

UK Energy Saving is a website that gives information and tips on ways to save energy and also how to save money on household bills.

Environmental Services Association (ESA) is the trade body for the UK's waste management industry and secondary resources industry

Energy and Water Solutions Ltd. (EWS), an Australian company was established in 1996 to help protect our environment by assisting business and homeowners to develop practical ways of saving energy and water and reducing waste. In this way businesses can cut costs and increase profits, while reducing greenhouse gases and preserving resources. They are now called The Natural Paint Place.

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Advice and Information continued

The Energy Saving Trust (EST), established as part of the UK Government's response to the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro (click here for Earth-Summit info

), states it is the UK's leading organisation aiming to deliver energy efficiency programmes to domestic and business consumers

The European Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ECEEE) has a goal to stimulate energy efficiency through information exchange and pan-European cooperation, mainly via its Summer Study

Friends of the Earth states it is the largest international network of environmental groups in the world, achieving success on many energy related issues

GreenEnergy360 provides impartial advice to homeowners about available renewable energy choices. It has an online calculator to choose the most appropriate renewable energy based on postcode, and takes into account the characteristics and location of their home, personal preferences and the like. This free service was developed in conjunction with Loughborough University's Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology (CREST.)

Guangzhou Treemass Energy Technology Ltd located in the Science City, Guanghzhou, Guangdong Province, PRC have developed a new technology called All-weather Solar Energy Power. It claims to offer a brand-new way to exploit solar energy on a large scale, with high efficiency and low cost by making use of ambient heat to do work and generate electricity.

The Market Transformation Programme (MTP) conducts sector reviews (domestic and commercial/industrial) to encourage products which do less harm to the environment, use less energy, water and other resources

The Milieunet Foundation is a NFP organisation focused on awareness and change of behaviour by means of communication about waste, energy, sustainability, nature, environment, climate, human rights and international development cooperation. Their website, partly in Dutch and partly in English, contains energy saving tips and a weekly cartoon.

SUSTAIN claim to offer a range of integrated services to improve the environment, reduce fuel bills, etc while stimulating the local economy

Sust-it.net is an energy compression website that has a simple objective which is to make us all more energy efficient by providing consumer information on the most energy efficient consumer products.

Stewart King Environmental Engineers Ltd, a Scottish firm, operate a comprehensive service to help businesses and consumers to save energy and that means saving money. We are impressed by their coverage which includes energy surveys, heating, lighting, motors, generators, water saving and much more. A visit to their site is highly recommended.

The World Energy Efficiency Association (WEEA) is a non-profit organisation, formed to serve as a clearing house for information on energy efficiency. It aims to disseminate information and publicise international cooperation.

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Green Energy Suppliers

Some electricity suppliers provide energy which is derived in part from renewable sources, or they may have some other claim to be green. The cost can be less than conventional supplies but it is worth checking on a regular basis as tariffs are likely to fluctuate, apparently for 'business' reasons. In 2005 there is evidence that some green suppliers have introduced very substantial price hikes.
FOE states there are two types of green electricity tariffs: 'energy based' in which the supplier buys renewable energy to match the amount you use and 'fund based' where the supplier invests in green projects such as wind power. Some use a combination of both.

Ecotricity state they started the UK's green electricity marketplace in 1996, to offer a choice of electricity that doesn't cost the earth. They continue to pioneer clean electricity generation to improve the environment

energyhelpline.com is an independent price comparison service providing fast free friendly advice on their best gas and electricity deal. They compare all major UK suppliers to help find the best deal, then help switch with simple online forms; their calculator is approved by energywatch.

Friends of the Earth green electricity league table, published May 2002 tells you which electricity suppliers provide the best green electricity products.

Good Energy, an independent supplier/producer of renewable electricity services to domestic and corporate customers, buy and sell only electricity generated from renewable sources, like wind and hydroelectric power

Green Electricity Marketplace's site provides consumers with impartial, up-to-date information on green electricity tariffs on offer in the UK. They advise renewable energy generators/developers and electricity suppliers

GreenPlan, launched by Powergen and WWF, working together to promote renewable electricity. For every electricity unit used, Powergen buys or generates the equivalent from a renewable source, eg wind or water

Greenprices site provides an independent guide to green energy retail options and prices of green electricity for each supplier, valid from 1st January 2001, across Europe

Juice, from npower with Greenpeace, is an environmentally-friendly electricity supply service launched in August 2001 costing the same as normal electricity. Initially Juice will flow from onshore wind and hydro

RSPB Energy is a 'green' electricity tariff from Scottish and Southern Energy and Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, providing renewable energy at no extra cost and helping raise funds to protect the environment

uSwitch.com is a free, impartial comparison and switching service that helps customers compare prices on a range of services including green energy. They aim to help you take advantage of best prices and services on offer, with calculators that evaluate many key factors like price, location, service and payment method, and advise on best deal to suit you.

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Individual Help and DIY

While some of the links in 'Advice and Information' above may be prepared to give advice to individuals that doesn't appear to be their main purpose. The links below seem to be more geared up for the homeowner, especially for those with some DIY expertise. If you simply want to save energy or just reduce your bills (and why not?) these sites may be able to help.

CAT (see above, under Advice) can supply Warmcell Insulation made from recycled newspaper, Radiator Insulation Panels, Clip Fin Solar Water Heating Panels and other products by mail order for DIY enthusiasts

GreenChoices is a not-for-profit initiative aiming to provide a one-stop guide to green alternatives available to everyone in Britain, encouraging you to make ecologically sound decisions in your everyday lives

SUSTAIN state they offer good quality, effective energy saving products Solar powered torch, Radio, Low-energy Light Bulbs, Radiator panels

The UK Energy Saving website gives information and tips on ways to save energy and also how to save money on household bills.

Your Electrical Leakage

A remarkable amount of electrical and electronic devices in the home and office are permanently connected to the mains and drawing power even when they are apparently switched off. The main offenders are those that allow switching to standby mode. A little effort on our part could make a very significant saving of energy. But then technology may soon come to our aid and save us the bother (for example we have a Pioneer VSX-D2011 600W surround amplifier, a real marvel, and its specified to draw less than 0.75W in standby!) Click here to learn more about current developments .

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Fridges and Freezers

Refrigerators and freezers work in the background almost silently, 24 hours a day, for years. Not surprisingly, they consume noticeable amounts of power and contribute to warming the planet. You can minimise the impact by selecting the right one and using it sensibly.

CAT's Green Refrigeration Tipsheet gives options for buying a fridge or freezer that save money and emit less pollution. It advises on reducing the impact of refrigeration and details energy efficient manufacturers .

Fridgesavers,an innovative project devised, piloted and managed by LEEP on behalf of Scottish Power and EST, ceased in 2002. It focused on providing efficient fridges and fridge freezers to low income households, in an attempt to take old fridges out of circulation. Search for Fridgesavers.

Goldfish provided on their Web site energy saving information relating to refrigeration appliances (fridges and freezers), energy labels, efficiency ratings and general tips

. We have retained the info but can't locate URL.

Greenchoices' Fridges section gives advice on buying energy saving fridges and freezers and which makes are most energy efficient

Market Transformation Programme (MTP)'s paper 'Cold Appliances in the UK', reviews the impact of possible actions to reduce energy consumption, that could be taken within the refrigeration sector

(search for 'fridges').

Washing Machines

The energy that goes into washing clothes is very high in terms of UK domestic electricity consumption and water usage, and is set to increase. CAT state there is scope to improve average efficiency of new washing machines and dishwashers by around 30%; you can help by buying the right machine.

CAT's Green Washing Machines Tipsheet gives information and advice on buying an energy efficient washing machine, how to save on fuel bills and reduce water consumption and details green manufacturers .

Greenchoices' Washing Machines section gives advice on buying energy efficient washing machines and which are the greenest makes. (Note: as at Dec 02, there seems to be no Washing Machine section)

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Energy Labelling

By law, the European Community Energy Label must be displayed on all new domestic fridges, freezers, fridge-freezer combinations, washing machines, electric tumble dryers, combined washer-dryers and dishwashers displayed for sale, hire-purchase or hire. Machines are rated 'A' to 'G', with 'A' being the most efficient. You should be told the rating when you buy or hire these products.

The DEFRA provide more information on Energy Labels for Refrigeration and Washing Appliances including advice and details of calculating energy consumption and the European Ecolabel

The Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN) is a non-profit association of third-party, environmental performance labelling organizations founded in 1994 to improve, promote, and develop the "ecolabelling" of products and services.

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Energy Conservation Advice, Devices and Products