Monday, February 8th, 2010
Consumers are all too aware of the global warming issue, and many of us are seeking ways to reduce our carbon footprints. Now green energy has arrived, we can all do our bit to ensure that our household gas and electricity supplies come from greener sources, and here we explain how.
UK gas and electricity companies now have to make sure the at least 4,9 per cent of the power they supply comes from green energy sources. But what are these green energy sources? Right now there are four to choose from.
1. Solar power transforms the energy we receive from the sun into power for our homes, while wind power harnesses wind energy for the same purpose. We already obtain some of our energy from hydroelectricity, which is when we convert energy in flowing water to electricity. And lastly there is biomass fuel, where natural materials are burnt to provide energy for households.
2. We can all help to increase the level of green energy produced by signing up to the green tariff options now available from the majority of energy companies. There are usually two tariffs to choose from, and either one will lead to an increase in green power.
3. You can usually choose between a green tariff that takes the amount of energy that you consume and then guarantees to produce a matching amount of green energy, or you can choose a tariff that takes the extra money you pay to your supplier to spend on green energy initiatives.
4. Green energies are far more preferable to standard fossil fuel burning energies, as green energies have no harmful by-products, producing very little, if any, waste. Their sources are sustainable too, so their source of power will never run out.
5. Changing to a green tariff is no different than changing to any other gas or electricity tariff. There is no need to have any work carried out in your home, it is simply a matter of handling your account in a different way. It is likely that your current energy supplier will already have at least one eco-friendly tariff for its customers, if not have a look for suppliers that do by doing a quick online search.
If changing to a green tariff is too much of a stretch for your finances, you can instead examine the mix of fuels used by domestic suppliers. Suppliers must now publically provide information that details their CO2 emission levels and the amount of nuclear waste that they produce each year. Use this information so that you can pick a supplier that is greener than others.
British Gas can service all of your gas, electric and
British Gas can not only the leading gas suppliers, but can also provide you with a cheaper electricity supply too. requirements.
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Wednesday, January 20th, 2010
We all know the famous adage “Necessity is the mother of inventions”. Human beings have always proactively equipped themselves to fight against the forthcoming challenges like global warming and energy crisis. To combat the impact of global warming and energy crisis, more and more people have started building steel houses as an environmental friendly housing solution.
Environmental friendly houses are those which are designed and built with an environmentally friendly attitude. While building these houses complete focus is laid on considerations like place of housing, energy aspects, the design, and the materials used.
Pre-Engineered steel buildings help you in building your structures easily and conveniently – be it houses, buildings, offices, aircraft hangars, retail outlets, warehouses, halls, showrooms and so on. You can choose from a wide variety of pre-engineered steel structures like doors, windows, roof extensions, parapet walls, walk-in door, skylights, vents, downspouts, and attractive colors, reflective or thermal insulation.
These prefabricated steel buildings are delivered and assembled at your site. Thus, they offer a unique advantage of lesser construction time. These steel buildings can be matched to your local environment requirements and can be customized with unique colors and finishes of your choice. The prefabricated steel structures can be manufactured in 4 – 6 weeks of time.
Stainless steel houses tend to be less expensive than the average houses. The steel houses can have teak floors which are insulated. In addition, you can carpet the floors, add drywall to the walls, install bathrooms, and create additional rooms as well. Steel houses provide strength, security, and durability that other construction structures lack.
Also, these structures can be erected even in remote locations without electricity, as welding is not required. The components are bolted or riveted. They also provide an added advantage of ease in dismantling the structures and shifting to other locations. Metal used for such construction is recyclable and also offers a resale value. No use of wooden material supports environmentally friendly construction due to conservation of forests.
While constructing the steel buildings, you need to ensure that the steel is properly insulated. Proper insulation prevents condensation, which helps better climate control and maximum energy efficiency. Thus the properly insulated building may help save 20-40% on your energy bills and the cost of insulating can be recovered quickly.
You can further increase you lighting efficiency, reduce your electric bills and your need for additional lighting fixtures by using the insulation to provide bright and reflective wall and ceiling treatments.
So while constructing your houses, always choose a steel building option, because:
• Steel houses are incredibly durable
• Usage of steel save forests and help conserve our environment
• They are economical
• They are cheaper to maintain
• As steel can be molded into artistic shapes and designs, they provide an aesthetic look
• They are free from rot or termites
• There is a reduced risk of fire with steel buildings. This in turn will lower your insurance premiums
• They are energy efficient
• Lesser residuals (scrapped material)
• Earthquake proof
Gajanan Pandit advocates construction of steel houses for environmental conservation. For more information about security cabins, steel cabins and pre engineered steel buildings visit www.mpil.in
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Tuesday, October 6th, 2009
In most humid countries, the demand for air-conditioners has increased over the past years. There might be certain external factors that have contributed to the amount of humidity in these areas. One of these might be air pollution which is manifested by smog, and yet another might be due to global warming which is the increase in the average temperature of the Earth. Whatever the reasons are, people from these places are unfortunately reaping the effects of absurd environmental conditions. There are certain effects of heat and humidity that are often neglected by people. Some of these effects include irritability, skin disease, and even respiratory diseases.
The only solution to scrape off heat in their homes, workplaces, and even vehicles would be air-conditioning. This is one way of cooling the immediate environment. In an air-conditioning system, air is basically controlled such that the desirable temperature would be achieved. The desirable temperature can be achieved by removing the warm air inside the house, cooling it, and re-circulating it back as cooler air. In order to do this, there are important components of an air-conditioning system that are needed to achieve the desired room temperature. One of these components is the compressor. The function of the compressor is to compress the refrigerant gas causing the gas to become hot. As the hot gas circulates through as set of coils, it dissipates its heat and is condensed into a liquid. These set of coils are technically called condensers, which are another vital component of an air-conditioning system. As the refrigerant which is now condensed as a liquid pass through the condensers, it passes through another important component which is the evaporator. The evaporator is responsible for causing the liquid to evaporate as a cold, low pressure gas. This cold, low pressure gas is now run through a set of coils to allow the gas to absorb the heat and cool down the air inside the house. In other words, the concept of air-conditioning is primarily based on heat exchange. Heat is removed and cooled by having it absorbed by a medium which is the refrigerant.
The process of air-conditioning is actually just very simple, but all the vital components must be designed properly for the system to work effectively. There are different kinds of air-conditioners that can be selected for household applications. The choice of an air-conditioning system depends on individual needs and space demands. For most houses, the window type air-conditioning unit is used. This is used for cooling partial spaces in a house or a building. Another type of this kind is the split-type air-conditioners. A split-type literally splits the hot side and the cold side of the system. This type is effective for larger spaces.
Get relief from the extreme hot temperature by using cooling and purifying the temperature.
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Wednesday, August 12th, 2009
Until a few years ago, energy was a good deal cheaper and few people thought of their light bulbs as being a major drain on their finances. Furthermore, there was only one kind available for most light fittings, the incandescent bulb, so you did not have much of a choice in the matter.
The issue is more complex these days, as there are several competing lighting technologies that can be fitted into a standard light socket. The three main contenders are incandescents, LEDs, and CFLs, and each one has their own set of advantages and disadvantages, which we shall weigh up here.
The oldest, and perhaps the most familiar type of bulb currently available is the incandescent bulb, which was invented way back in the 19th century. These work by passing an electrical current through a filament, heating it up until it produces light, inside a glass bulb which prevents oxygen from getting anywhere near the white hot filament, and thus prevents it from burning up.
These bulbs are still the cheapest to buy, but the fact that they dissipate much of the energy required for the bulb as heat rather than light makes them very inefficient, and costly to run when compared to their modern rivals. Also, they do not last nearly as long, due to the extremes of temperature that the filament is exposed to over time.
The energy saving bulb, also known as the compact fluorescent lamp or CFL, used to be a premium product aimed exclusively at well-heeled eco enthusiasts, but mass production has brought their unit price down to a point where they are now little more expensive than incandescents, and work out far, far cheaper in the long term, due to their energy efficiency and long life.
Although these are a lot better for the environment than incandescents from an energy usage and global warming perspective, the chemicals used in their manufacture are highly toxic to the environment, and even more so when they disposed of in landfill. Therefore, you should ensure that these are disposed of correctly when they stop working if you want a clearer conscience.
By far the most environmentally friendly type of light bulb currently available is the Light Emitting Diode, or LED. Although LEDs have been used as indicators in small electric circuits since the 1960s, it is only recently that this technology has advanced to the stage they have been made powerful enough to light a room with.
These are far more energy efficient, longer lasting, and kind to the environment than either of the other two types, and without a doubt represent the next logical step in lighting technology. However, due to the fact that they are a relatively new technology, they are a lot more expensive to buy than either CFLs or incandescents, although they are expected to come down in price over the next few years.
An incandescent can still be an option in some circumstances, and if you are more worried about toxic waste than global warming, then you might see them as being more environmentally friendly than CFLs. However, their running costs are far higher, so if cost is your main consideration then CFLs remain the best option. However, if you can afford them, LED light bulbs have the lowest running costs of them all, and the soundest environmental credentials, so if you are really determined to save the planet, you had better save your pennies for these – or wait until they become a bit cheaper!
British Gas is the nation’s favourite cheap gas and electricity supplier, boiler service provider, and energy efficiency advisor. Reduce your electricity bills by switching to British Gas’ cheap energy online!
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Sunday, August 9th, 2009
Carbon offsetting offers people a means to compensate for the carbon emissions they produce through energy consumption. Around 40% of the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions are produced through electricity consumption in home. This means that every individual has a carbon footprint to offset.
Businesses and individuals can pay a company to invest in renewable energy schemes – projects that will reduce carbon emissions by an amount equal to those created by activities such as air travel, driving or heating a building.
Of course, the most effective way to help fight climate change is cut down on the amount of energy each person produces, for example, by turning of the lights when you leave a room, never leaving electrical appliances on standby and ensuring that your house is insulated. However, offsetting is still a useful exercise which could help slow down global warming.
There are many schemes which advertise offsetting programs, but ones which invest in renewable energy or energy efficient projects, which can prove what they say they are doing are generally more recommended by environmental watch-dogs.
Many companies advertise tree-planting schemes or development of bio-energy or gas capture initiatives, but energy watchdogs suggest these are not the best organisations in which to invest since they do not aid the development of the infrastructure we need for a low carbon future.
Carbon offset companies are not currently subject to any tailored regulations, but there a number of accreditation bodies. These include:
DEFRA’s Code of Best Practice (launched in June 2008) which gives a Quality Mark to show that a company has met the Government United Nations standards for being a reliable offset scheme.
And, The Gold Standard, which is a type of certification introduced by environmental groups. It identifies offset projects that meet good sustainability standards, deliver benefits to local communities and are based on energy efficiency or renewable energy.
Improve your carbon footprint today by switching to British Gas, the UK’s greenest energy supplier. Get your new worcester boiler or baxi boilers online today.
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