Energy-saving light bulb used in mobile phones could replace all household bulbs within three years

Scientists are developing a new generation of super efficient household light bulbs which could spell the end of regular bulbs within three years.

Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are already used in electrical gadgets like mobile phones and computers.

Until now they have been unsuitable for use in the home because they are not bright enough to light whole rooms.

Now researchers believe they have found a way of introducing LEDs into households that are brighter and use even less power than current energy efficient light bulbs.

Dr Faiz Rahman, who is leading the project at the University of Glasgow, said: "By making microscopic holes on the surface of the LEDs it is possible to extract more light, thus increasing the brightness of the lights without increasing the energy consumption.

"As yet, LEDs have not been introduced as the standard lighting in homes because the process of making the holes is very time consuming and expensive.

"However, we believe we have found a way of imprinting the holes into billions of LEDs at a far greater speed, but at a much lower cost."

full article

Britons seek greener Christmas and a planet-friendly new year

Britain is embarking on its greenest Christmas, according to an astonishing series of studies.

Four separate surveys show that most people are promising to make their celebrations more environmentally friendly to reduce the impact of what are traditionally the most polluting three days of the year – and to make green resolutions for the new year.

Three-quarters say that they are actively trying to reduce the amount of waste they generate over the holiday, four in five mean to dispose of their Christmas tree in an environmentally responsible way, and nine out of 10 intend to recycle their Christmas cards and wrapping paper. More than 80 per cent say they have decided to live greener lives in 2008.

The festive season has a vast impact. Research at York University estimates that the days from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day can generate a carbon footprint as great as almost three weeks of normal life.

The study, by researchers from the Stockholm Environment Institute based at the university, concludes: "Our total consumption and spending on food, travel, lighting and gifts over the three days of festivities could result in as much as 650kg of emissions of carbon dioxide per person – equivalent to the weight of 1,000 Christmas puddings"

It adds that this amounts to "5.5 per cent of the UK's average carbon footprint of 11.87 tons per person a year" – equivalent to 20 days of normal consumption.

Britons send some 750 million Christmas cards a year, spend an average of £435 each on Christmas presents and encase them in enough brightly coloured paper to gift wrap the entire island of Guernsey. Eight million real trees are temporarily installed in people's homes and 10 million turkeys are consumed, along with 20 million parsnips, 30 million carrots, 105 million potatoes, 175 million mince pies and 240 million Brussels sprouts.

All this produces an extra 750,000 tons of waste – or an average of five extra sackfuls a household – which, the Government calculates, is the equivalent of emitting an extra 1.4 million tons of carbon dioxide, the main cause of global warming.
By Geoffrey Lean

full article

Hackney City Farm strawbale house

About Hackney City Farm's strawbale building:

* The strawbales came from a nearby farm and have only clogged up 37 'strawbale-miles'

* The roof insulation is wool and comes from the farm's sheep

* Much of the wood used comes from a salvaged 1930s teak boat, the cross-beam was once part of the Norfolk sea defences and the rest is coppiced wood from the farm manager's own farm in Kent

* All waste straw from the building was reused for bedding on the farm

Project Manager, Emma Appleton, told SmartPlanet that although the idea of building the farm's education and research centre out of straw and reclaimed materials has been under way for a long time, it has only taken about six months to actually build it. This is pretty good considering all the work has been done by around a 100 volunteers -- including unemployed people, asylum seekers, refugees and people from the probation service.

Appleton says: "The biggest challenges were working with a 100 people, who haven't got any building experience -- and not using conventional materials. But it's been a fantastic experience!"

Rikke Bruntse-Dahl

full article

Energy Savings Ignored By Consumers

EnergyChoices.co.uk found that even though more than 80 per cent of people compare energy prices at least once a year, 21.5 per cent say that they have never switched energy supplier, despite potential savings of over £200.

Switching energy supplier is one of the easiest ways to free up spare cash, and according to Ofgem, the energy regulator, 2.8 million households made the switch in the first seven months of this year alone.

Thinking of the financial savings you can make by switching appliances off at the wall rather than leaving them on standby, using energy saving light bulbs, and even switching to a money-saving online tariff, should make it easier to change your routine
But it's not just by energy switching that people can cut the cost of their bills. While the vast majority are aware of the benefits of loft insulation, double glazing and cavity wall insulation, with 90.1 per cent, 93.9 per cent and 54.1 per cent installing them respectively, other cheaper methods are often ignored.

Very simple ways of saving, such as using energy saving light bulbs -- which last 12 times longer than traditional bulbs -- or fitting a water meter in homes which are under-occupied -- which 27 per cent are, are being overlooked.

Although the average person uses between 11 and 15 light bulbs throughout their home, 32 per cent of people only had 1 to 5 energy efficient bulbs fitted and nearly 10 per cent didn't use any at all.

According to Green Peace, £9 a year could be saved on every traditional bulb that's replaced - so by making up that shortfall of 10 bulbs, the average person could instantly shave £90 a year off their electricity bill.

Michael Phillips, EnergyChoices.co.uk product director, says: "We all know that we need to reduce our energy consumption to help the environment but it can be difficult to change long-standing practices."

"Thinking of the financial savings you can make by switching appliances off at the wall rather than leaving them on standby, using energy saving light bulbs, and even switching to a money-saving online tariff, should make it easier to change your routine," he advises.

"As well as the smaller steps everyone can take to save -- such as turning your thermostat down just one degree, which saves up to £49 a year -- there are also some very big savings to be made," adds Phillips. "Anyone whose boiler is more than 10 years should start to think about having it replaced with a new energy efficient condensing boiler. These can be up to 96 per cent efficient and will cut your energy bill by up to 40 per cent straight away.

"However, 32 per cent of people have a boiler older than 10 years, and 50 per cent of which still aren't using condensing boilers, despite some older models being little more than 55 per cent efficient - wasting more than £200 a year," concludes Phillips.

full article