A revolutionary liquid-cooled LED light developed by a Californian-based firm is the first “eco” light that is as bright as a normal 100 watt bulb.
The new generation LED light bulbs are all set to go on sale and are expected to result in energy savings for consumers.
The design, developed by makers Switch, offers a longer life and a better performance than a regular bulb.
However, unlike the traditional design, it will use a fraction of the watts to emit a brightness that matches up to its 100-watt counterpart.
The bulb which was showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, is set to retail for £24 when it eventually goes on sale.
“The big thing about this bulb is it uses 80 per cent less energy than an incandescent,” the Daily Mail quoted Brett Sharenow, strategy officer for the company as saying.
“In commercial applications in general, they really would like to get back to the light quality that you get from an incandescent bulb,” he said.
The LED light bulbs are presently available only for the US 120-volt system, but the company plans to release versions of the bulbs for use in the UK and Europe by the end of 2012.
Sharenow believes the bulbs will be a particular hit in the UK, where energy costs are as much as double those in the US.
“For a commercial application, the payback is about six months. To commercial users, it is a no-brainer.” he added.
full article
Saturday 14 January 2012
Friday 13 January 2012
Six easy tips on saving energy
Switch supplier
Nothing could be easier — in principle. But we all know that those comparison websites are a minefield. You spend ages punching in figures, but one mistake and you’re back where you started. More than a third of us have never made the switch.
What you need is someone to do the leg-work for you. So, come in incahoot.com. All that’s required is that you send them a copy of your latest bill and they will work out the best deal. They will even contact your old provider and set up a direct debit with the new company.
Get insulated
By simply installing cavity wall and loft insulation you can make savings of between £185 and £310 a year, according to the National Insulation Association.
What’s more, there are plenty of grants available to meet green targets set by the Government.
If you’re over 70 or on qualifying benefits, you might even be entitled to have the work done for free. Remember that nearly a quarter of all heat loss in an uninsulated house is through the roof. The recommended depth for mineral wool insulation is 270mm and you can do it yourself perfectly easily.
Visit nationalinsulationassociation.org.uk for more information.
Natural heat
There has been a big resurgence for wood-burning stoves in the past decade. No wonder. They are carbon-neutral, energy-efficient and have a habit of cheering people up.
Of course, open fires are atmospheric, but most of the heat goes up the chimney. While an open fire is estimated at being between 15 per cent to 20 per cent efficient, a wood-burning stove is about 70 per cent efficient. And wood is also one of the cleanest sources of energy.
‘Wood-burning cassettes,’ as they are called, are popular. They’re installed flush into a wall that backs into a chimney. Stovax.com (01392 474000) has a good range.
Green and clean
Hard water affects 60 per cent of Britain. What this means is that calcium builds up inside pipes, boilers and heating appliances, wasting energy. The result? It costs more to heat your home and shortens the life of your boiler, dishwasher and washing machine.
The solution? Install an electronic water conditioner that removes limescale, saving up to £200 a year from your fuel bill. Plug in the machine in and wrap its cord around the main incoming water pipe.
It costs £69.99 (special offer until end of January), guaranteed money back if you’re not happy (01491 419200, scalewizard.co.uk).
Tackle the draught
Wooden floors look lovely, but 15 per cent of heat can be lost through them. Put down rugs during winter and remove them in summer.
Windows and external doors will let in the cold. Buy self-adhesive foam strips to tackle the problem.
If you’re unsure where the draughts are coming from, walk around the house with a candle and see when it flickers.
Temperature control
Most of us live in homes that are far too hot. Turning the temperature down just one degree can save about £55 a year. Now put on a jumper and fill those hot water bottles.
Fuel bills are bad for your blood pressure — and your wallet. Mark Palmer has some simple remedies
full article
Nothing could be easier — in principle. But we all know that those comparison websites are a minefield. You spend ages punching in figures, but one mistake and you’re back where you started. More than a third of us have never made the switch.
What you need is someone to do the leg-work for you. So, come in incahoot.com. All that’s required is that you send them a copy of your latest bill and they will work out the best deal. They will even contact your old provider and set up a direct debit with the new company.
Get insulated
By simply installing cavity wall and loft insulation you can make savings of between £185 and £310 a year, according to the National Insulation Association.
What’s more, there are plenty of grants available to meet green targets set by the Government.
If you’re over 70 or on qualifying benefits, you might even be entitled to have the work done for free. Remember that nearly a quarter of all heat loss in an uninsulated house is through the roof. The recommended depth for mineral wool insulation is 270mm and you can do it yourself perfectly easily.
Visit nationalinsulationassociation.org.uk for more information.
Natural heat
There has been a big resurgence for wood-burning stoves in the past decade. No wonder. They are carbon-neutral, energy-efficient and have a habit of cheering people up.
Of course, open fires are atmospheric, but most of the heat goes up the chimney. While an open fire is estimated at being between 15 per cent to 20 per cent efficient, a wood-burning stove is about 70 per cent efficient. And wood is also one of the cleanest sources of energy.
‘Wood-burning cassettes,’ as they are called, are popular. They’re installed flush into a wall that backs into a chimney. Stovax.com (01392 474000) has a good range.
Green and clean
Hard water affects 60 per cent of Britain. What this means is that calcium builds up inside pipes, boilers and heating appliances, wasting energy. The result? It costs more to heat your home and shortens the life of your boiler, dishwasher and washing machine.
The solution? Install an electronic water conditioner that removes limescale, saving up to £200 a year from your fuel bill. Plug in the machine in and wrap its cord around the main incoming water pipe.
It costs £69.99 (special offer until end of January), guaranteed money back if you’re not happy (01491 419200, scalewizard.co.uk).
Tackle the draught
Wooden floors look lovely, but 15 per cent of heat can be lost through them. Put down rugs during winter and remove them in summer.
Windows and external doors will let in the cold. Buy self-adhesive foam strips to tackle the problem.
If you’re unsure where the draughts are coming from, walk around the house with a candle and see when it flickers.
Temperature control
Most of us live in homes that are far too hot. Turning the temperature down just one degree can save about £55 a year. Now put on a jumper and fill those hot water bottles.
Fuel bills are bad for your blood pressure — and your wallet. Mark Palmer has some simple remedies
full article
Thursday 12 January 2012
British Gas and SSE announce price cuts
British Gas has cut its electricity prices by 5% with immediate effect, while SSE will reduce gas tariffs by 4.5% on 26 March.
The moves come a day after EDF Energy announced plans to cut its domestic gas tariff by an average of 5% owing to low energy use during the mild winter.
The price cuts will add pressure on the rest of the major suppliers to cut their tariffs as wholesale prices dip.
British Gas said the average annual domestic bill would fall by £24.
"We want to keep prices as low as possible for our customers. Household budgets are stretched, and we are doing everything we can to help our customers keep their bills down," said Ian Peters of British Gas.
"This price reduction means British Gas is once again offering the cheapest standard electricity, on average, of any major supplier."
The price cut comes after a 16% rise in electricity prices and an 18% rise in gas prices for British Gas customers in August.
Future costs
The company said that 5.3 million customers on variable tariffs, including those on dual-fuel deals, would benefit from the price cut.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote
It may be interesting to note that a 5% gas price cut would have cost British Gas more than double this electricity price cut”
Mark Todd Energyhelpline.com
The reduction comes into effect ahead of the EDF gas price cut which comes into force on 7 February. The EDF change is set to cut the typical annual bill by £38.
British Gas said that it was not changing its gas charges because, although there had been some short-term falls in the cost of gas, the longer term trend in wholesale prices was upward. It said it bought its energy in advance.
The company said it was too early to predict what would happen to prices in the future.
The choice to cut the cost of electricity, rather than gas - for which British Gas has more customers - has caused some debate.
"Every drop is welcome but consumers will find it baffling that the company cannot also reduce gas bills as well - especially after the EDF Energy move," said Mark Todd of Energyhelpline.com.
"The maths do not seem to add up so British Gas need to do something on gas as well if they want to look like they are passing on wholesale falls fairly. It may be interesting to note that a 5% gas price cut would have cost British Gas more than double this electricity price cut."
Following suit
Just a few hours after British Gas dropped its electricity prices, SSE - which runs Southern Electric and Scottish Hydro - announced the planned reduction of its gas price in late March.
Some 3.5 million customers would see their typical annual gas bill fall by £28, SSE said.
"Virtually all of the gas being supplied to customers this winter was bought some time ago, but some of the gas that will be supplied to customers from the spring onwards has been purchased since the period of lower wholesale prices began," it said.
"Having analysed and considered the position for some time, SSE is able to announce this reduction in household prices."
The company raised gas prices by 18% and electricity prices by 11% in September.
Adam Scorer, of watchdog Consumer Focus, said that companies would react differently depending on how they expected wholesale prices to change. But he said any drops in wholesale costs should be reflected in the price the consumer paid.
full article
The moves come a day after EDF Energy announced plans to cut its domestic gas tariff by an average of 5% owing to low energy use during the mild winter.
The price cuts will add pressure on the rest of the major suppliers to cut their tariffs as wholesale prices dip.
British Gas said the average annual domestic bill would fall by £24.
"We want to keep prices as low as possible for our customers. Household budgets are stretched, and we are doing everything we can to help our customers keep their bills down," said Ian Peters of British Gas.
"This price reduction means British Gas is once again offering the cheapest standard electricity, on average, of any major supplier."
The price cut comes after a 16% rise in electricity prices and an 18% rise in gas prices for British Gas customers in August.
Future costs
The company said that 5.3 million customers on variable tariffs, including those on dual-fuel deals, would benefit from the price cut.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote
It may be interesting to note that a 5% gas price cut would have cost British Gas more than double this electricity price cut”
Mark Todd Energyhelpline.com
The reduction comes into effect ahead of the EDF gas price cut which comes into force on 7 February. The EDF change is set to cut the typical annual bill by £38.
British Gas said that it was not changing its gas charges because, although there had been some short-term falls in the cost of gas, the longer term trend in wholesale prices was upward. It said it bought its energy in advance.
The company said it was too early to predict what would happen to prices in the future.
The choice to cut the cost of electricity, rather than gas - for which British Gas has more customers - has caused some debate.
"Every drop is welcome but consumers will find it baffling that the company cannot also reduce gas bills as well - especially after the EDF Energy move," said Mark Todd of Energyhelpline.com.
"The maths do not seem to add up so British Gas need to do something on gas as well if they want to look like they are passing on wholesale falls fairly. It may be interesting to note that a 5% gas price cut would have cost British Gas more than double this electricity price cut."
Following suit
Just a few hours after British Gas dropped its electricity prices, SSE - which runs Southern Electric and Scottish Hydro - announced the planned reduction of its gas price in late March.
Some 3.5 million customers would see their typical annual gas bill fall by £28, SSE said.
"Virtually all of the gas being supplied to customers this winter was bought some time ago, but some of the gas that will be supplied to customers from the spring onwards has been purchased since the period of lower wholesale prices began," it said.
"Having analysed and considered the position for some time, SSE is able to announce this reduction in household prices."
The company raised gas prices by 18% and electricity prices by 11% in September.
Adam Scorer, of watchdog Consumer Focus, said that companies would react differently depending on how they expected wholesale prices to change. But he said any drops in wholesale costs should be reflected in the price the consumer paid.
full article
Wednesday 11 January 2012
EDF Energy to cut gas price by 5%
One of the UK's largest energy suppliers, EDF Energy, has said it is to cut its gas bills by 5% from 7 February.
The move follows a sharp fall in the price of wholesale gas over the winter period due to the mild weather.
EDF increased its gas bills by 15.4% in November in response to rising wholesale gas prices.
The move to cut bills is the first by a major supplier and is likely to be followed by other energy companies.
The company did not announce any cut to the price of its electricity bills, which rose by 4.5% in November.
"What customers want more than anything else is fair, clear and transparent prices. We know they want action rather than words. That is why we are the first major supplier to announce a cut and were the last to increase prices," said Vincent de Rivaz, chief executive of EDF Energy.
'Join in'
The company said that the wholesale price of gas had fallen 9.2% since it announced it was putting up bills on 10 November last year.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote
Now the pressure is on for the rest of the major suppliers to follow suit”
Richard Lloyd Which? executive director
The typical bill will fall by about £38 a year, according to price comparison website Uswitch, with the average dual-fuel customer paying about £1,203 a year.
Energy Secretary Chris Huhne has called on the rest of the major suppliers to follow suit and cut their prices.
Some smaller suppliers have announced price cuts of some tariffs or cancellation of price rises in recent weeks.
EDF has been one of the most active in marketing price changes. It was the last of the six major suppliers to cut prices this autumn. Last winter, it held its prices until March amid widespread price rises.
Dissatisfaction
However, the price cut comes as an annual customer satisfaction survey carried out by the consumers' association Which? showed EDF second bottom of the "big six" energy suppliers.
In all, 43% of customers said they were satisfied with the company's service or likely to recommend it to others.
Of the big six suppliers, only one, Scottish and Southern Energy, received a score of more than 50%, getting 51%.
Richard Lloyd, Which? executive director, welcomed EDF's upcoming price cut.
"Now the pressure is on for the rest of the major suppliers to follow suit. But as our survey today shows, there remain huge problems with customer service in energy as well as high prices," he said.
This report suggested that, when customers had gripes about their energy company, some 90% of unsolved complaints were not taken to the energy ombudsman for resolution.
The ombudsman can get involved if the complaint has been outstanding for eight weeks, or if the supplier sends a letter saying the two parties are in deadlock.
Some 95% of complaints looked at by the ombudsman are upheld and 70% of them receive financial redress, Which? said.
full article
The move follows a sharp fall in the price of wholesale gas over the winter period due to the mild weather.
EDF increased its gas bills by 15.4% in November in response to rising wholesale gas prices.
The move to cut bills is the first by a major supplier and is likely to be followed by other energy companies.
The company did not announce any cut to the price of its electricity bills, which rose by 4.5% in November.
"What customers want more than anything else is fair, clear and transparent prices. We know they want action rather than words. That is why we are the first major supplier to announce a cut and were the last to increase prices," said Vincent de Rivaz, chief executive of EDF Energy.
'Join in'
The company said that the wholesale price of gas had fallen 9.2% since it announced it was putting up bills on 10 November last year.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote
Now the pressure is on for the rest of the major suppliers to follow suit”
Richard Lloyd Which? executive director
The typical bill will fall by about £38 a year, according to price comparison website Uswitch, with the average dual-fuel customer paying about £1,203 a year.
Energy Secretary Chris Huhne has called on the rest of the major suppliers to follow suit and cut their prices.
Some smaller suppliers have announced price cuts of some tariffs or cancellation of price rises in recent weeks.
EDF has been one of the most active in marketing price changes. It was the last of the six major suppliers to cut prices this autumn. Last winter, it held its prices until March amid widespread price rises.
Dissatisfaction
However, the price cut comes as an annual customer satisfaction survey carried out by the consumers' association Which? showed EDF second bottom of the "big six" energy suppliers.
In all, 43% of customers said they were satisfied with the company's service or likely to recommend it to others.
Of the big six suppliers, only one, Scottish and Southern Energy, received a score of more than 50%, getting 51%.
Richard Lloyd, Which? executive director, welcomed EDF's upcoming price cut.
"Now the pressure is on for the rest of the major suppliers to follow suit. But as our survey today shows, there remain huge problems with customer service in energy as well as high prices," he said.
This report suggested that, when customers had gripes about their energy company, some 90% of unsolved complaints were not taken to the energy ombudsman for resolution.
The ombudsman can get involved if the complaint has been outstanding for eight weeks, or if the supplier sends a letter saying the two parties are in deadlock.
Some 95% of complaints looked at by the ombudsman are upheld and 70% of them receive financial redress, Which? said.
full article
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