A plan to roll out smart meters that could provide almost £4.5bn of benefits to Britain by cutting domestic energy bills and lowering CO2 emissions, is in danger of being undermined by government policies, British Gas and consumer groups warned last night.
Ministers have proposed rushing in far more limited electricity display devices in May next year. But the energy industry says this would be a waste of money and would hamper the introduction of hi-tech devices that would save far more cash and carbon.
The industry also claims that using interim meters would delay the full introduction of smart devices by up to 20 years and deliver benefits of not much more than £2.5bn.
Sam Laidlaw, chief executive of Centrica, the parent group of British Gas, said: "Speed is vital and if the government gives us the green light now, the UK's 45m dumb meters can be replaced [by smart meters] within seven years, starting from 2010. Key to this would be a restructuring of the metering industry, with regional franchises delivering roll out street by street.
"The rapid roll out of smart meters to all households is a real opportunity to revolutionise the industry, giving the UK billions of pounds of benefits through reduced energy usage, lower CO2 emissions and better customer service."
British Gas says that, based on the experience of rolling out 63,000 smart meters in Holland to some of its 800,000 customers, it should be able to reduce energy consumption in homes by 2%.
Smart meters, capable of displaying consumption costs and of being read remotely, would be placed on kitchen tables or on shelves to allow consumers to closely monitor their gas and electricity usage and encouraging them to switch on power less often or outside peak hours. The smart meters could provide instant readings on carbon and be connected to energy company offices, ending the need for meter readers and estimated bills.
Energywatch, the consumer group, said it supported the drive for smart meters and shared the industry's concerns about the government's "unnecessary" proposed use of low-tech display units. A government spokesman said it was committed to the roll-out of smart meters. But this would take up to 10 years. "That is why we have consulted on proposals to introduce real time display units, which offer a cost-effective way of delivering energy savings now."
Terry Macalister
full article
Saturday, 3 November 2007
Thursday, 1 November 2007
Have You Checked Out the UK Energy Saving Calculator?
Earlier this year, UK Energy Saving launched an Energy Saving Calculator on their website, http://www.uk-energy-saving.com, which is proving to be an excellent resource for consumers interested in saving energy. The unique calculator has been designed to offer simple, at-a-glance information regarding energy saving in the home, with details on the costs and savings which can be expected for the various measures.
Hayley Jones, UK Energy Saving’s Web Marketing Director, explains how the UK Energy Saving Calculator works. “There is nothing tricky about our website calculator, which simply pulls together a wide range of energy saving suggestions and gives visitors useful information on the outlay required and savings to be made. By providing this information in a simple and concise way we hope to save our visitors the time required to weigh up which energy saving ideas might be best for them.”
The UK Energy Saving Calculator is split into four sections with energy saving suggestions and ideas sorted according to the costs involved. Bronze tips won’t cost you a penny, silver tips all cost less than £100, gold suggestions are energy saving investments with long term savings and platinum savings utilise renewable energy. So whatever visitors to http://www.uk-energy-saving.com are looking for there will be energy saving tips to suit their pocket. As Hayley Jones points out, “some people are just starting out with energy saving and are looking for a few quick and easy ideas to help the environment and save money. But for hardened ‘energy savers’ our calculator also looks at some investment ideas which will really reduce carbon footprints and offer long term savings”.
full article
Hayley Jones, UK Energy Saving’s Web Marketing Director, explains how the UK Energy Saving Calculator works. “There is nothing tricky about our website calculator, which simply pulls together a wide range of energy saving suggestions and gives visitors useful information on the outlay required and savings to be made. By providing this information in a simple and concise way we hope to save our visitors the time required to weigh up which energy saving ideas might be best for them.”
The UK Energy Saving Calculator is split into four sections with energy saving suggestions and ideas sorted according to the costs involved. Bronze tips won’t cost you a penny, silver tips all cost less than £100, gold suggestions are energy saving investments with long term savings and platinum savings utilise renewable energy. So whatever visitors to http://www.uk-energy-saving.com are looking for there will be energy saving tips to suit their pocket. As Hayley Jones points out, “some people are just starting out with energy saving and are looking for a few quick and easy ideas to help the environment and save money. But for hardened ‘energy savers’ our calculator also looks at some investment ideas which will really reduce carbon footprints and offer long term savings”.
full article
Wednesday, 31 October 2007
You may be eligible for free insulation
HOMES in parts of the area could soon benefit from free home insulation.
PECT Consultancy Limited, the consultancy arm of environmental charity Peterborough Environment City Trust, is working with Fenland District Council to offer residents in Chatteris, March, Whittlesey and Wisbech free and subsidised loft insulation.
This will help residents save money on household bills, as well as cutting carbon emissions from homes, helping to save the environment.
Project manager of the scheme Mark Randall said: “Insulating your home could significantly shrink your heating bills, as well as helping to protect the environment by reducing harmful carbon dioxide emissions released into the atmosphere.
“All local residents are eligible for subsidised loft insulation, and those on means-tested benefits may be entitled to a full grant, allowing them free insulation.”
The free loft insulation scheme is subject to qualifying criteria and is on a first come first served basis due to a limited fund.
The qualifying criteria for the free loft insulation scheme are:
n Properties must be owner occupied or privately rented.
n Households must be in receipt of a means-tested benefit such as working families tax credit or pensions credit.
Those who do not qualify for the 100 per cent grant could still qualify for assistance towards the cost of insulating their home. It could cost as little as £199 for cavity wall insulation or £249 for loft insulation for a three-bed semi-detached house.
n For more information, to find out whether you are eligible for a grant, and to register for a grant while funds last, call PECT’s Energy Services Team on 0800 7834761.
full article
PECT Consultancy Limited, the consultancy arm of environmental charity Peterborough Environment City Trust, is working with Fenland District Council to offer residents in Chatteris, March, Whittlesey and Wisbech free and subsidised loft insulation.
This will help residents save money on household bills, as well as cutting carbon emissions from homes, helping to save the environment.
Project manager of the scheme Mark Randall said: “Insulating your home could significantly shrink your heating bills, as well as helping to protect the environment by reducing harmful carbon dioxide emissions released into the atmosphere.
“All local residents are eligible for subsidised loft insulation, and those on means-tested benefits may be entitled to a full grant, allowing them free insulation.”
The free loft insulation scheme is subject to qualifying criteria and is on a first come first served basis due to a limited fund.
The qualifying criteria for the free loft insulation scheme are:
n Properties must be owner occupied or privately rented.
n Households must be in receipt of a means-tested benefit such as working families tax credit or pensions credit.
Those who do not qualify for the 100 per cent grant could still qualify for assistance towards the cost of insulating their home. It could cost as little as £199 for cavity wall insulation or £249 for loft insulation for a three-bed semi-detached house.
n For more information, to find out whether you are eligible for a grant, and to register for a grant while funds last, call PECT’s Energy Services Team on 0800 7834761.
full article
Barcode on your bin - and a £100 fine if you put too much rubbish in it
Millions of families are to be given barcoded wheelie bins in a computerised system to spy on people's rubbish.
It will be used to send automatic £100 fines to people who put out too much refuse or break strict rules on when they leave their bins out.
The barcodes, to be brought in by a group of 27 councils, can also be used to enforce pay-as-you-throw taxes.
Binmen will carry handheld barcode readers on which they can record details of any rulebreaking by the bin's users.
At the end of their round, theywill return the scanners to a docking station which downloads the information to a central computer.
The computer can then send out tax bills or "education leaflets" and warnings to first-time rulebreakers. Those who offend several times will automatically be sent £100 fines.
If the pilot schemes are a success, other councils are likely to bring in barcodes to exploit the new powers to levy pay-as-you-throw taxes which were revealed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on Monday.
News of the barcode trials provoked an angry response from opposition politicians.
Tory spokesman Eric Pickles said: "The numbering of every bin in Britain is a necessary step before they stop emptying them for free.
"I am very concerned that this is the first step in creating a national central database of every bin.
"This is yet more intrusive monitoring of family homes by state bureaucrats, going hand in hand with identity cards and the national property database for council tax revaluation."
Disclosure of the scheme to put barcodes on bins comes after a week of chaos and interdepartmental warfare in Whitehall over pay-as-you-throw taxes on people who put out too much nonrecycled refuse.
Last week an official announcement of rubbish taxes by Defra was blocked by Gordon Brown at the last moment.
Downing Street ordered Defra minister Joan Ruddock to scrap a planned statement, pointing out that Mr Brown told the Daily Mail as long ago as April that he intended to kill off the idea.
Defra officials then said the plans "needed work" and were being "refined".
But on Monday the legal powers to levy taxes on bins were included in the department's Climate Change Bill - details of which will not be made public until next month.
Ministers said there will now be "pilot" projects to try out pay-asyou-throw taxes.
The Government calls the taxes "incentives" and ministers have suggested they will amount to no more than £30 a year.
But town halls and a think-tank close to Mr Brown believe this is far too low and that the taxes should be at least £10 a month.
Around 30 councils have already fitted wheelie bins with microchips which can identify the house or flat they belong to so bills can be sent to the right place after dustcarts weigh the bin's contents.
Mr Pickles said: "It is clear detailed planning is now under way to introduce next-generation technology and hit families with bin taxes on top of council tax.
"Whitehall will start off small with pilots before rolling out the scheme nationwide, as happened with the axing of weekly collections."
Some 170 councils have introduced fortnightly rubbish collections in an effort to make people recycle more waste.
The system has proved hugely unpopular and been blamed for smells and infestations of vermin.
Councils argue that they face £3billion extra costs in taxes and EU fines over the next few years if they do not cut the amount of rubbish they send to landfill.
The Local Government Association said last night the barcode system was meant to bring environmental improvements and not to spy on families.
A spokesman said: "Councils have no interest whatsoever in snooping on people.
"The use of new technology is one way a local authority can improve its collection service, combat fly-tipping and ensure residents are recycling as much waste as possible."
By STEVE DOUGHTY
full article
It will be used to send automatic £100 fines to people who put out too much refuse or break strict rules on when they leave their bins out.
The barcodes, to be brought in by a group of 27 councils, can also be used to enforce pay-as-you-throw taxes.
Binmen will carry handheld barcode readers on which they can record details of any rulebreaking by the bin's users.
At the end of their round, theywill return the scanners to a docking station which downloads the information to a central computer.
The computer can then send out tax bills or "education leaflets" and warnings to first-time rulebreakers. Those who offend several times will automatically be sent £100 fines.
If the pilot schemes are a success, other councils are likely to bring in barcodes to exploit the new powers to levy pay-as-you-throw taxes which were revealed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on Monday.
News of the barcode trials provoked an angry response from opposition politicians.
Tory spokesman Eric Pickles said: "The numbering of every bin in Britain is a necessary step before they stop emptying them for free.
"I am very concerned that this is the first step in creating a national central database of every bin.
"This is yet more intrusive monitoring of family homes by state bureaucrats, going hand in hand with identity cards and the national property database for council tax revaluation."
Disclosure of the scheme to put barcodes on bins comes after a week of chaos and interdepartmental warfare in Whitehall over pay-as-you-throw taxes on people who put out too much nonrecycled refuse.
Last week an official announcement of rubbish taxes by Defra was blocked by Gordon Brown at the last moment.
Downing Street ordered Defra minister Joan Ruddock to scrap a planned statement, pointing out that Mr Brown told the Daily Mail as long ago as April that he intended to kill off the idea.
Defra officials then said the plans "needed work" and were being "refined".
But on Monday the legal powers to levy taxes on bins were included in the department's Climate Change Bill - details of which will not be made public until next month.
Ministers said there will now be "pilot" projects to try out pay-asyou-throw taxes.
The Government calls the taxes "incentives" and ministers have suggested they will amount to no more than £30 a year.
But town halls and a think-tank close to Mr Brown believe this is far too low and that the taxes should be at least £10 a month.
Around 30 councils have already fitted wheelie bins with microchips which can identify the house or flat they belong to so bills can be sent to the right place after dustcarts weigh the bin's contents.
Mr Pickles said: "It is clear detailed planning is now under way to introduce next-generation technology and hit families with bin taxes on top of council tax.
"Whitehall will start off small with pilots before rolling out the scheme nationwide, as happened with the axing of weekly collections."
Some 170 councils have introduced fortnightly rubbish collections in an effort to make people recycle more waste.
The system has proved hugely unpopular and been blamed for smells and infestations of vermin.
Councils argue that they face £3billion extra costs in taxes and EU fines over the next few years if they do not cut the amount of rubbish they send to landfill.
The Local Government Association said last night the barcode system was meant to bring environmental improvements and not to spy on families.
A spokesman said: "Councils have no interest whatsoever in snooping on people.
"The use of new technology is one way a local authority can improve its collection service, combat fly-tipping and ensure residents are recycling as much waste as possible."
By STEVE DOUGHTY
full article
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