LED lighting was discussed in the House of Commons, the UK’s legislative chamber, on March 5 as part of a debate on energy and climate change.
Joan Ruddock, Under-Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, was asked if there had been discussions between her department and the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) on the effect on electricity consumption and CO2 emissions of the installation and use of LED lighting.
Ruddock replied that “the Government certainly recognize the potential energy savings that ultra-efficient lighting technologies such as LEDs can offer. We continue to work to stimulate development and take-up, and officials in the two Departments have worked, and will continue to work, together on this issue.” Member of Parliament Philip Hollobone then asked, “LED lighting is super-efficient. It uses just 5 percent of the wattage of a conventional light bulb; it generates very little heat, which means that it reduces fire risk in applications; and it contains no mercury, which means that it is safer to dispose of. May I urge the Minister to have discussions with DEFRA on this issue? Can she also advise the House what the low-carbon business innovation unit within her Department is doing to promote this technology?
Ruddock said that the government agrees on the “huge potential benefits” of LED lighting. “That is why we have put some LED products on to our energy technology product list and why we have made those specific types of lighting available to benefit from the enhanced capital allowance scheme, which has delivered approximately £550 million in tax relief to those who have purchased products on the Carbon Trust’s energy technology list,” she said. “The potential for the makers and retailers of LEDs is considerable, and I shall pursue the points that [the questioner] has made. As I have indicated, I am sure that our officials will continue those important discussions.”
National Geographic
An article in National Geographic compared lighting technologies, and described the LED as looking like the “eco-bulb of the future.” However, said the article, the price is high and reviews are mixed.
“LED illumination can range from warm to what technology analyst Michael Kanellos calls ‘alien autopsy’…the bulb casts its light in only one direction, which is fine for recessed lights and for spotlighting a specific area but could be a drawback in lamps or globes,” said the article.
The author said that in a few years we should expect “a cheaper, more versatile LED” and that experts currently recommend compact fluorescents (CFLs) for most home uses…although the mercury content remains a problem.
full article
Wednesday 11 March 2009
Friday 6 March 2009
Top five recycling, bidding and stuff for free websites
The top five recycling, bidding and stuff for free websites are:
www.freecycle.org
The Freecycle Network is a grassroots movement that started in the US and now runs in 85 countries worldwide. It enables local people to contact each other with stuff they want to give away for free, finding good homes for serviceable items that would otherwise clog up landfill sites. 'Ideal for decluttering,' says my friend Mandi.
www.gumtree.com
Gumtree started in March 2000 as a local London classified ads and community site. There are items for sale, for free (from pianos to tropical fish tanks) and to swap. One recent entry said, 'Large model ship to swap for whatever you have interesting.'
www.preloved.co.uk
Preloved - "the joy of secondhand" - was set up in 1998 by Ian and Louise Buzer from Woodbridge in Suffolk. It's free to sellers, but buyers pay an annual fee of £5 if they want to snap up bargains by seeing the ads as soon as they come online. You can narrow a search down to your local area. Bestsellers include antique furniture, prams and pushchairs, cars and wedding dresses - and you'll even find the odd horse.
www.ebay.co.uk
What did we do before eBay? As my friend Hannah says, 'We've bought all sorts of things - a fireplace, a violin, a tent, even a fairy castle.' All the excitement of an auction at bargain prices.
www.schoolstrader.com
A website that enables independent school parents to advertise items for sale - from holiday homes to musical instruments. Free to users. There are sister sites for primary schools, secondary schools and universities.
full article
www.freecycle.org
The Freecycle Network is a grassroots movement that started in the US and now runs in 85 countries worldwide. It enables local people to contact each other with stuff they want to give away for free, finding good homes for serviceable items that would otherwise clog up landfill sites. 'Ideal for decluttering,' says my friend Mandi.
www.gumtree.com
Gumtree started in March 2000 as a local London classified ads and community site. There are items for sale, for free (from pianos to tropical fish tanks) and to swap. One recent entry said, 'Large model ship to swap for whatever you have interesting.'
www.preloved.co.uk
Preloved - "the joy of secondhand" - was set up in 1998 by Ian and Louise Buzer from Woodbridge in Suffolk. It's free to sellers, but buyers pay an annual fee of £5 if they want to snap up bargains by seeing the ads as soon as they come online. You can narrow a search down to your local area. Bestsellers include antique furniture, prams and pushchairs, cars and wedding dresses - and you'll even find the odd horse.
www.ebay.co.uk
What did we do before eBay? As my friend Hannah says, 'We've bought all sorts of things - a fireplace, a violin, a tent, even a fairy castle.' All the excitement of an auction at bargain prices.
www.schoolstrader.com
A website that enables independent school parents to advertise items for sale - from holiday homes to musical instruments. Free to users. There are sister sites for primary schools, secondary schools and universities.
full article
Britain returns to thrifty domesticity
A revival of 1950s style domesticity has swept Britain due to the economic downturn. Consumers are applying a do-it-yourself attitude to all areas of daily life by making clothes, growing vegetables and dying their own hair.Sales of knitting and dressmaking equipment are powering ahead - knitting needles are up by 7 per cent and sewing machines by 34 per cent according to the department store chain John Lewis.
Meanwhile garden centres are reporting strong demand for fruit bushes - up 68 per cent last year - and hardware stores have brought out budget gardening tool ranges. Although the motivation for the return to the thrifty, homely appears to be money, the new habits may stay once the economic good times return, at least according to one expert.
"When the economy starts to recover people will have adopted old domestic skills which they will continue to use. The focus will be on sustainability; people will be more self sufficient," predicted Reshema White, of St Andrews University. One of the easiest ways for people to save money is to colour their hair at home rather than at the hairdresser.
Sales of hair-dying kits are up 17 per cent rise at Superdrug, while Sainsbury's is selling a third more hair dyes. "For the cost of one salon hair treatment you can colour your hair at home for an entire year - and still have change for hairspray," said Daniel Hadley, Superdrug's hair dye buyer.
A new generation of twenty and thirty- somethings are taking up hearth-side social activities such as knitting instead of going out. Knitting clubs are opening across the country, attracting young professionals who are keen to save cash. I Knit London have begun to run three times as many knitting classes for beginners as last year due to a sharp rise in demand.
full article
Meanwhile garden centres are reporting strong demand for fruit bushes - up 68 per cent last year - and hardware stores have brought out budget gardening tool ranges. Although the motivation for the return to the thrifty, homely appears to be money, the new habits may stay once the economic good times return, at least according to one expert.
"When the economy starts to recover people will have adopted old domestic skills which they will continue to use. The focus will be on sustainability; people will be more self sufficient," predicted Reshema White, of St Andrews University. One of the easiest ways for people to save money is to colour their hair at home rather than at the hairdresser.
Sales of hair-dying kits are up 17 per cent rise at Superdrug, while Sainsbury's is selling a third more hair dyes. "For the cost of one salon hair treatment you can colour your hair at home for an entire year - and still have change for hairspray," said Daniel Hadley, Superdrug's hair dye buyer.
A new generation of twenty and thirty- somethings are taking up hearth-side social activities such as knitting instead of going out. Knitting clubs are opening across the country, attracting young professionals who are keen to save cash. I Knit London have begun to run three times as many knitting classes for beginners as last year due to a sharp rise in demand.
full article
Tuesday 3 March 2009
GM reveals Vauxhall electric car
Vauxhall has revealed the first image of its version of the electrically-powered Chevrolet Volt, which will be shown at the Geneva motor show in March.
Known as the Ampera, the five-seat, four-door hatchback will go on sale in 2011 in right-hand-drive form shortly after the Opel - also part of General Motors - version appears in Europe. The car is based on the Vauxhall Astra, with a 400lb, T-shaped lithium-ion battery positioned under the body floor. The Ampere shares the same battery/electric hybrid driveline as the Volt, which General Motors terms an extended-range electric vehicle. The advanced 16kWh lithium-ion battery can be charged via mains electricity to provide a 40-mile range with zero tailpipe emissions. When the battery is exhausted, the specially-modified 1.4-litre petrol engine will generate electricity to supply power to the 111kW electric drive motor and provide a similar range to that of a conventional Vauxhall Astra. The car recycles about half its battery capacity and the recharging time, using a household 240 volt supply, is claimed to be about three hours.
GM says that 80 per cent of European motorists drive no more than 31 miles a day, so in most cases the Ampera's petrol engine will never need to be started
full article
Known as the Ampera, the five-seat, four-door hatchback will go on sale in 2011 in right-hand-drive form shortly after the Opel - also part of General Motors - version appears in Europe. The car is based on the Vauxhall Astra, with a 400lb, T-shaped lithium-ion battery positioned under the body floor. The Ampere shares the same battery/electric hybrid driveline as the Volt, which General Motors terms an extended-range electric vehicle. The advanced 16kWh lithium-ion battery can be charged via mains electricity to provide a 40-mile range with zero tailpipe emissions. When the battery is exhausted, the specially-modified 1.4-litre petrol engine will generate electricity to supply power to the 111kW electric drive motor and provide a similar range to that of a conventional Vauxhall Astra. The car recycles about half its battery capacity and the recharging time, using a household 240 volt supply, is claimed to be about three hours.
GM says that 80 per cent of European motorists drive no more than 31 miles a day, so in most cases the Ampera's petrol engine will never need to be started
full article
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