Thursday 10 September 2009

Fridge Scrappage Scheme

It is an idea which has revitalised the motor industry.

Now retailers are copying the cash-for-bangers scheme by offering financial incentives to replace your old fridge, freezer or washing machine.

Up to £200 will be available for used appliances and white goods.
Comet has signed a deal with manufacturer BSH Home Appliances to offer a 20 per cent price cut on leading brands such as Bosch, Siemens and Neff.

The move follows calls from the British Retail Consortium for the Government to offer a white goods scrappage scheme to encourage a switch to energy-efficient devices.

In August, Sony launched its own scheme for TVs.

Retailers and manufacturers also want VAT to be removed from new appliances to encourage consumers to switch to greener models.

The Comet scheme would seek to emulate the car scrappage scheme, which has encouraged motorists to buy fuel-efficient cars.

It would also include free collection and recycling of the old appliances. The 20 per cent discount will be offered on any one of 340 appliances from Bosch, Siemens or Neff.

Deals include a scrappage saving of £74.80 on a Bosch WAA24270GB washing machine, bringing the price down to £299.20.

A Siemens SN26M290GB dishwasher will be reduced from £619.90 to £495.90, a saving of £124.

full article

Tuesday 8 September 2009

Boiler Scrappage Scheme

The idea is to persuade the government to work with boiler manufacturers to create a scrappage scheme similar to the recently introduced car scrappage scheme, but this time for old central heating boilers.

SIGNUP

Inside the 'zero carbon' future home

PLAY

Sunday 6 September 2009

Spotlight and downlighter bulbs next to be banned by EU

Traditional spotlights and some kinds of halogen downlighters used in kitchens and bathrooms are expected to fall foul of the regulations being drawn up by the European Commission.

The new ban, due to come in next year, is being pushed through despite an increasingly bitter consumer backlash against existing rules which outlaw the selling of "non-directional" incandescent light bulbs of the kind used in living rooms and bedrooms.
Energy saving experts are currently drawing up recommendations for the new rules on so-called "directional" light bulbs, which focus and reflect light in a single direction, but the ban is expected to include incandescent spotlights and mains voltage halogen reflector bulbs.
The regulations are also expected to encourage the use of new technology such as LED lamps, but currently these cost up to £40 for a single LED light bulb.

Peter Hunt, chief executive of the British Lighting Association which represents the lighting industry, said: "We expect the least efficient bulbs will be banned and there are now energy efficient halogen lamps that save around 30 per cent of energy used.

full article

Wednesday 2 September 2009

Yikebike



A New Zealand team is behind a radical new electric bike which is being officially launched on Wednesday in Germany.

The Yikebike Mini-Farthing is touted as the world's smallest electric bike, weighing less than 10kgs.

A promotional video on the Christchurch company's website shows it is hoping to catch the city commuter market.

The bike is designed for short trips, and has a top speed of 20km/h.

It can also be folded up and taken on buses and trains.