Posts Tagged ‘Energy saving’

Industry Blind To Money Just Lying There

March 8th, 2010

Energy Saving with EniginThe Sydney Morning Herald carried a great report about a new Australian government report that undermines the view that industry will be detrimentally affected by carbon emission targets.

Apart from an interesting article there was a great quote in the piece that could be used powerfully to industry and commerce.

Rob Murray-Leach, the Chief Executive of the Energy Efficiency Council said:

”Economic purists have been telling us that if there were $100 notes lying around, industry would have already picked them up. This report shows that companies have blind spots – sometimes you have to help them find the $100 notes.”

What a great line, but how true as well.

» Read more: Industry Blind To Money Just Lying There

Energy Efficiency Is The Way Ahead

February 26th, 2010

I have just read a great editorial in Distributed Energy by Elizabeth Cutright.

She highlights how energy efficiency is the way ahead as far as change energy use for environmental, energy security and energy supply reasons.

As she reports – it is what people want to happening compared to new or old forms of power generation. New power stations are needed but the impact of funding into energy efficiency is paramount.

Here is the bulk of the article:

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U.S. Making Energy Efficiency Sexy

February 3rd, 2010

President Obama encourages energy efficiencyI have just read the news about the latest initiative in the U.S. to encourage states to become more energy efficient and sooner than originally planned – this will help the environment but also the economy as it will lead to financial savings.

This should be great headline grabbing news but it is strange how often “spend, spend, spend” is regarded as sexy while being frugal and saving is regarded as nerdy or introverted.

Fortunately the U.S. is taking a lead in changing what is sexy as far as saving money through energy efficiency is concerned. They have just announced that President Obama’s administration has set up the SEE Action Network (State Energy Efficiency Action Network) to help states achieve maximum cost effective energy efficiency improvements.

» Read more: U.S. Making Energy Efficiency Sexy

Energy Efficiency – The Key To Sustainability

January 18th, 2010

A interesting article has appeared in Water, Energy & Environment magazine (which can be read online here) it reproduced for you to enjoy – go to the site if you wish to subscribe to the magazine:

John Osborne at BSI (British Standards Institute) Training encourages organisations to think of energy management as business critical for cost reasons, but equally important as a means to embed sustainability and change across a workforce…

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Energy Saving MythBusters

January 11th, 2010

A computer off switchTHERE is so much advice out there to help us all save energy, which is a good thing, except myth and sound advice often get mixed. So here are a few MythBusters.

Plus a few tips for the workplace to help you start to save energy right away by dismissing the myths while taking some positive actions to save energy, save money and reduce carbon emissions.

First of all some myths regarding energy saving:

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Energy Efficiency For Empire State

December 16th, 2009

new-york-sealA New York State board has recommended an energy plan to make energy more affordable, particularly through energy efficiency.

In an Energy Efficiency Assesment report issued on Tuesday (click here to see report) New York State provided very interesting recommendations that could move the Empire State to the lead position in the US as far as a clean energy economy is concerned and it makes financial sense as well.

The plan recommends energy efficiency as a major focus for commerce and industry and a new state building code that would also require stricter energy efficiency. Not only will this bring environmental benefits but the costing is a no-brainer, as the return on investment in energy efficiency is substantial – to quote the report:

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“Start with energy efficiency” – Sir John Parker

November 20th, 2009

sir_john_parker_03The UK newspaper the Daily Telegraph ran a special report last week which is of interest to all those who want to save energy.

They interviewed Sir John Parker, who is Chairman of the National Grid in the UK, but has been involved in many other varied major industrial and commercial corporations. In most of these he has championed sustainability and has implemented many environmental and energy policies.

Andrew Cave, the writer of the piece, described Sir John as evangelical about the need for companies to invest in energy efficiency. What Sir John stated in the interview was the highlight for me and I would like to share his words with you.

Sir John told the Telegraph regarding energy efficiency:

“It’s the area that doesn’t always seem to me to get the highest attention and it’s the lowest-cost way of reducing one’s carbon footprint,

» Read more: “Start with energy efficiency” – Sir John Parker

Retrofit Energy Efficiency

November 17th, 2009

Anissa S. Febrina has written and interesting article in the Jakarta Post about retrofitting buildings so they are energy efficient.

The article, most of which appears below, states how often finding the money for the energy monitoring solutions and the load-side products can be a stumbling block, but the article explains that the money saved from reduced energy bills over a fairly short period provides a great return on investment.

What is also of interest is the article does highlight how Indonesia is now realising how important it is to become energy efficient. I know from speaking to people from Indonesia that climate change, energy efficiency and security has not been a concern – hence it is good to see they are sitting up and taking notice.

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Poor Could Pay Price For Climate Change

November 13th, 2009

Copenhagen will be holding the UN Climate Change Conference in December. Many feel this be the ultimate, last-chance gathering to interrupt the progression of global warming by reducing greenhouse gas in the atmosphere.

If so, regardless of the financial prejudice involved, failure to cooperate and agree to compromise will mean a depressing future for our planet and its population. Wealthier nations, such as the US (who didn’t sign the Kyoto accord back in 1997 fearing their economy would suffer), have demonstrated reluctance to cut carbon emissions to avoid the financial contributions entailed.

Unfortunately, until the US decides to sign up to targets, the rest of the world will be unwilling to do so. An example needs to be set, and time is running short.

» Read more: Poor Could Pay Price For Climate Change

10.5 Trillion Needed For Energy Savings

November 12th, 2009

The IEAThe International Energy Agency (IEA) has calculated that a 10.5 trillion dollar global investment is required to counterbalance the effects of the recession and keep climate change threats at a distance.

This colossal investment would be assigned to developing new low-carbon technologies and funding energy efficiency breakthroughs. While energy consumption has decreased for the first time since 1981, the money invested in new low-carbon technologies has been significantly cut due to the financial crisis.

While fossil fuel demand is predicted to peak by 2020, the focus has to be put on energy efficiency, which would achieve in itself 50% of the energy savings by 2030.

That is when the crucial quality of energy saving implementations becomes blatant. Professionals all over the world, regardless of their sector of activity, all have increasing incentives to adhere and adopt cost reducing energy saving tools, as all function and operate using energy in some form (lighting, motors, refrigeration, air conditioning…).

» Read more: 10.5 Trillion Needed For Energy Savings