Green Energy Scene

Electricity from water...

If you'd shown this video to people from ancient Rome, they'd probably think hydro power was magic. And in a way, it is - it doesn't use anything up from the environment and its sustainability is second to none.

High Street Energy Wars

Marks and Spencer, a supermarket chain has long been offering its customers gas and electricity through its partnership with Scottish & Southern Energy. Regional companies such as Atlantic, Southern Electric and Scottish Hydro are all part of the SSE group that generates more renewable electricity than any energy company in the UK and offer home services such as gas boiler installation, maintenance and protection.

They could now have some stiff competition on the high street energy front as another supermarket giant, Sainsbury’s, have teamed up to offer similar services as well as roof installation and solar panels. They plan to start offering millions of shoppers their energy packages next month when Sainsbury’s current tie-in with EDF Energy comes to an end.

Winter is here!

With winter well and truly arrived. It is a terrible time of year for being green. Many of the country have been battling against the elements to commute on a daily basis, with car journeys lasting hours longer at times and can lead to increased fuel consumption.

Others have their heating on constantly to keep warm in the plummeting temperatures and avoid the risk of burst or frozen pipes, not to mention drying clothes that get soaked due to all this snow about.

Around 40 percent of our gas and electricity consumption is used during the winter months. So not only is it important to look out for dual fuel suppliers that are cost effective, looking for ones that use renewable energy is worthwhile too due to increased usage at this time of year.

Cancun summit, the 4C world, and why we need to stay green.

 

Newspaper reports on the Cancun climate change summit don't make for pleasant reading.

It appears that, according to scientists, the safe limit of a 2 Celcius rise in global temperature won't be achievable, and that the temperature could go up by 4 degrees Celsius, with some pretty dramatic consequences for the 4C world, an outcome that could possibly materialise by about 2060: droughts is some places, floods in others in an almost Old Testament scenario of extreme weather.

And in Britain? Flash floods, tropical storms, the possibility of East Anglia being underwater and therefore uninhabitable.

Obviously none of this is certain and it is offered by scientists not as a prediction but as a worst-case scenario if we continue into the 21st Century without radical change.

And there is still time for the world to change, but it will need to involve all nations working together to avoid a 4C world.

Smart energy, smart people, smart electricity. Smart world.

 

I'm glad that the new smart displays for home electricity use are taking off. It means that people will learn about their own consumption and be able to see where they may be using too much electricity. Why put a ready meal in the oven when you can microwave in minutes? Why put one pair of jeans in the tumble dryer. That kind of thing will soon seem  all the more wasteful now there's a real way to see how savings can be made.

I'm also glad that electricity companies have become interesting, with the industry as a whole now dynamic and forward looking, a far cry from the dull old days of yore. 

But as energy providers get smarter it's up to us as consumers to get smarter too - to make sure that we're not overconsuming while there are ample means to help us do the exact opposite. Nobody's saying you can't watch telly or use an electric shower; just that you shouldn't leave them on standby overnight as it uses electricity that you end paying for in your energy bill.

Electricity from the sun

Check out this video - a perfect example of how enthusiasts are also pioneers

Electric vehicle shock.

I found out today - after reading an article about the Nissan Leaf in What Car? online - that the estimated cost of running a car from electricity will be - drum roll please - less than £300 per year. £257 to be precise, according to the manufacturer's calculations. That in anyone's books is mega cheap for running a car.

But according to this fascinating report in the Sydney Morning Herald (dated Nov 4th ...by the wonders of time zones) there are likely to be people for whom the dawn of the electric motor won't spell delight. In Japan as we all know, a large part of their economy is based on the building cars. Now, given that engine technology is one of the high value activities within the industries, you can see that there are those who will need to adapt massively as the new electric car reality emerges. They're referring to it - according to the article - as electric vehicle shock.

This is beginning to feel like the end of an era already, and the Nissan Leaf hasn't hit the streets yet. 

Green electricity news updates

 

Beauly - Denny line won't be undergrounded, reports Stirling Observer.

Green energy company chief Ian Marchant welcomes the new target of 80% of Scottish electricity to be from renewables by 2020, says the Guardian.

Meanwhile over in Ireland, some welcome good news to make a change from all the economic gloom-mongering of last week, the country is on target for 40% renewable energy by 2020. I can actually see this playing a good part in economic recovery. Let's hope so  anyway. report at Silicon Republic.

Fascinating "internet of things" article at Greenbang - go read!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electricity - green alternatives

Loved this video from National Geographic about alternative energy. I don't think ten lane motorways will ever go away. But what I do think is that they'll one day they'll hold ten lanes of cars that emit nothing. Or if anything, water.

 

Electricity latest: lovely meters

Just heard that Vox is closing. I'm sorry to hear this as it's been a great blogging platform and has served us well over the time we've been writing this little blog. No doubt we'll migrate it elsewhere but no decision has been made yet, so we'll keep you (blog) posted.

In other news, we've some of the websites for the  new type of electricity meters that are being made available currently. These are pretty cool gadgets, and for once they're gadgets whose functionality far outstrips their novelty. For instance you can set them to tell how much you're spending on electricity, ie displaying the cost sterling rather than the wattage. These meters can also do stuff like warn you when you're using too much juice, or set usage targets so that you can plan how much you want to save.

So if you light your house up like Las Vegas strip, you'll now have a much better idea of how much it's costing. And if you decide to use lights more selectively (with low energy bulbs of course), then you'll also be able to see how much you're saving.

The new types of meter will also - and this is genius - communicate with your computer by synchronising with the meter's display. Gas and electricity suppliers already have these devices available (for electricity metering only), so it's well worth checking out what they have to offer.

My only concern about the future of metering is that one day - probably only a few years from now - strict mums and dads will be like:

Right son, you'll have to cut down on the Scalextric - your Formula One racing's costing us 37p a week and it's too much of an expense

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