Mahoosive
Wednesday 30 November 2011
my favorite quote of the day
heard on the radio... "give a man a gun, he will rob a bank. give a man a bank and he will rob the world"
Bath time television?
Having a waterproof TV in the bathroom can help you relax whilst watching your favourite
programme or movie. You can even install TVs that double up as mirrors when switched
off. By law all TVs have to be fitted into a wall cavity and the area around the screen
siliconed to prevent water getting in. You’ll need a depth of 75mm to 85mm so that the
screen sits flush with the wall. To prevent the screen steaming up the TV glass is heated.
You’ll also need speakers, which like the TV must be hardwired into the wall or ceiling.
programme or movie. You can even install TVs that double up as mirrors when switched
off. By law all TVs have to be fitted into a wall cavity and the area around the screen
siliconed to prevent water getting in. You’ll need a depth of 75mm to 85mm so that the
screen sits flush with the wall. To prevent the screen steaming up the TV glass is heated.
You’ll also need speakers, which like the TV must be hardwired into the wall or ceiling.
Tuesday 29 November 2011
Melted choke / ballast
this is what happens if you stress a choke / ballsat by fitting a wrong lamp
meltdown :(
Monday 28 November 2011
Sunday 27 November 2011
How can we help you?
Call us
Call our team today on 01525 404880 (out of hours emergency 07746 243 248*).
Email us
Email an industry specialist. We offer expert advice and its all free info@woolgarelectrical.co.uk
Saturday 26 November 2011
light a home to Part L and make it sexy
lets face it!!! you love incandescent lamps and all the world tells you have to use low energy
relentlessness of legislation has made it less of a distress decision and more of an opportunity for creativity.
‘Given the huge range of colour temperatures available in fluorescent lamps, and the improvements in LED sources, We believe that all but the most traditional of buildings can actually use energy efficient light sources
compact fluorescent are now old news and we are looking to LEDs has been the light quality and colour temperature of halogen – with varying and evolving degrees of success – these are different beasts and need a different approach to conventional lamps.
here's the 9 point plan, sorry, we know you like things in 10's but you will just have to put up with 9 :)
1 CONCEAL where you can
Low energy sources can actually add glamour to bedrooms with some forethought
The key is using the light source totally concealed to rely on the reflected light
2 EXPLOIT THE 1W LED
For steps, plinths, niches, low voltage fittings can be replaced with 1W LED fixtures. ‘Within Part L, the 1W fixture either doesn’t even count as its wattage is so low – fixtures of less than five circuit watts are excluded from the total luminaire count – or limited in groups of five with a dimmer to count as one circuit watt
3 INTEGRATE where you can
For a London residence, Firefly Lighting Design had to design not just to Part L, but to the BREEAM standard, where 75 per cent of all installed fittings had to be energy efficient. Integration was the key. ‘We worked with the architect to design lines of light integrated into architectural features such as the stairs,’ says Peter Veale. ‘This allowed us to create some breathtaking effects while allowing the clients energy leeway to choose their own bedside lights and pendants.’
4 USE DISPLAY DETAILS
Lighting shelves or niches can be about maximum effect with minimum energy, run LED strips behind glass shelves, Backlight niches and dim for artistic control
5 PLAY TO THEIR STRENGTHS
Rather than viewing low energy sources as a substitute, look at how their specific characteristics can work well
6 LAYER the light
Layering is a general lighting technique and energy efficient sources particularly benefit from the more dramatic effect it creates (discharge sources such as fluorescent used alone can produce a flat effect).
7 PICK YOUR LOCATION FOR HALOGEN
Do it in the kitchen, in the hall, on the stairs and in the bathroom, but keep it out of the bedroom and the lounge where you want a more relaxing atmosphere. Dimmable halogen is the best way to get really low light levels, and still get the best quality light. It’s a matter of using it sparingly and judiciously
8 MIMIC DAYLIGHT
Relating to the point above, unlike warm incandescent sources, cool white LEDs and fluorescent can be used to introduce a sense of daylight, using a mock skylight, in basements and other windowless places.
9 USE DIFFUSION AND REFLECTION
Related to concealing the fitting is diffusion and reflection, mellowing potentially harsh effects. Try to ensure the light is delivered through some form of diffuser, or as reflected, or indirect, light – for example, bounced from a wall or ceiling
relentlessness of legislation has made it less of a distress decision and more of an opportunity for creativity.
‘Given the huge range of colour temperatures available in fluorescent lamps, and the improvements in LED sources, We believe that all but the most traditional of buildings can actually use energy efficient light sources
compact fluorescent are now old news and we are looking to LEDs has been the light quality and colour temperature of halogen – with varying and evolving degrees of success – these are different beasts and need a different approach to conventional lamps.
here's the 9 point plan, sorry, we know you like things in 10's but you will just have to put up with 9 :)
1 CONCEAL where you can
Low energy sources can actually add glamour to bedrooms with some forethought
The key is using the light source totally concealed to rely on the reflected light
2 EXPLOIT THE 1W LED
For steps, plinths, niches, low voltage fittings can be replaced with 1W LED fixtures. ‘Within Part L, the 1W fixture either doesn’t even count as its wattage is so low – fixtures of less than five circuit watts are excluded from the total luminaire count – or limited in groups of five with a dimmer to count as one circuit watt
3 INTEGRATE where you can
For a London residence, Firefly Lighting Design had to design not just to Part L, but to the BREEAM standard, where 75 per cent of all installed fittings had to be energy efficient. Integration was the key. ‘We worked with the architect to design lines of light integrated into architectural features such as the stairs,’ says Peter Veale. ‘This allowed us to create some breathtaking effects while allowing the clients energy leeway to choose their own bedside lights and pendants.’
4 USE DISPLAY DETAILS
Lighting shelves or niches can be about maximum effect with minimum energy, run LED strips behind glass shelves, Backlight niches and dim for artistic control
5 PLAY TO THEIR STRENGTHS
Rather than viewing low energy sources as a substitute, look at how their specific characteristics can work well
6 LAYER the light
Layering is a general lighting technique and energy efficient sources particularly benefit from the more dramatic effect it creates (discharge sources such as fluorescent used alone can produce a flat effect).
7 PICK YOUR LOCATION FOR HALOGEN
Do it in the kitchen, in the hall, on the stairs and in the bathroom, but keep it out of the bedroom and the lounge where you want a more relaxing atmosphere. Dimmable halogen is the best way to get really low light levels, and still get the best quality light. It’s a matter of using it sparingly and judiciously
8 MIMIC DAYLIGHT
Relating to the point above, unlike warm incandescent sources, cool white LEDs and fluorescent can be used to introduce a sense of daylight, using a mock skylight, in basements and other windowless places.
9 USE DIFFUSION AND REFLECTION
Related to concealing the fitting is diffusion and reflection, mellowing potentially harsh effects. Try to ensure the light is delivered through some form of diffuser, or as reflected, or indirect, light – for example, bounced from a wall or ceiling
Friday 25 November 2011
Keeping warm in bathrooms
Underfloor heating will help you stay warm when you step out of the shower on a chilly
morning. It requires sub-floors to be laid, made up of 20mm of chipboard or plywood to
provide an even level and insulation, and then the heating is laid with a screed over the
top. If you’re not having floor tiles and choose lino or carpet instead you will need thicker
screed before laying the final floor finish, this will allow for the build up and even spread
of heat. A wall-mounted thermostat will need to be positioned where water can’t splash
and will generally be linked to a heat-sensing probe situated within the floor. It’s best to
choose a thermostat with a timer, so you can set when the heating comes on. This type
of system requires RCD protection.
All electric heaters and water heaters in a bathroom must be fixed and permanently wired
into the wall. Hot water central heating or underfloor heating is the safest way of keeping
a bathroom warm, but if you do have an electric room heater it must be out of the reach
of someone in the bath or shower – fixed at a greater distance than 0.6m. Electric heaters
should be controlled by a pull-cord inside the bathroom or by a switch located outside.
Thursday 24 November 2011
Lasers could replace LEDs for lighting
Sandia Labs and BMW suggest lasers could be an alternative to LED-based systems
Sandia conducted tests into the white light generated by diode lasers and discovered the human eye is as comfortable with it as it is with LEDs.
An important difference between lasers and LEDs is the efficiency of each, with LEDs reducing in efficiency at higher currents while lasers improve.
diode lasers are a worthwhile path to peruse for lighting
The tests – reported in LEDs Magazine – took place at University of New Mexico
Volunteers were asked to chose between alternatives – but were not told which source was being used – 80 times. Jonathan Wierer, involved in planning, calibrating and executing the experiments, said there was a significant preference for the diode-laser-based white light over the warm and cool LED-based white light. There was no statistical preference between the laser-based light and either the neutral LED-based or incandescent white light.
Comparing laser light with an incandescent bulb
Sandia’s experiment combined the output of four laser colours – blue, red, green and yellow – to create a white light source. The narrow beam is addressed via a suitable optical system.
Driving possibilitiesAt the same time as Sandia’s research, BMW demonstrated a prototype laser-based headlight system on its i8 Concept car, using blue lasers and phosphors.
BMW used blue lasers to illuminate a remote phosphor system, generating white light.
Driver safety needs to be addressed, insuring lasers are properly directed. BMW said the laser headlamps would be safe, as the illumination would be indirect.
Wednesday 23 November 2011
Electric cars need a lot better batteries
The electric car is on the car industry's agenda. Most car manufacturers tend to agree that, within three to five years, electric cars will have captured market share, or at least a niche; but most of them are still trying to find solutions to critical obstacles facing the electric car industry.
The problem is not in the car itself. Car manufacturers know how to produce comfortable and fast electric cars. Limited trip length is also not the main problem, since most manufacturers are targeting customers who intend to use the car for intra-city driving or the occasional inter-city drive. For these customers, being able to drive 150 km between charging stops, and even 250 km in the future, is certainly sufficient.
The real problem lies in two issues: battery cost, which is about £750; and recharging time. The high battery cost is a classic chicken and egg dilemma. In order for the price to drop significantly, the batteries need to be mass produced. But they cannot be mass produced until a large number of people purchase electric cars.
In order for the mainstream to overcome its natural reluctance to purchase an electric car and for it to become mass produced, the electric car needs to be available at a reasonable price, and be just as easy to use as a regular car - which is where the battery issue enters the picture. Fully charging the car battery at an ordinary house outlet takes between six and nine hours. That is an unreasonable amount of time required to recharge the battery for every 150-200 km. It forces the customer to adapt himself to the car and not the opposite. Three solutions have been offered to solve this problem:
1. The chargeable hybrid
This solution involves a small gasoline-powered auxiliary engine that can act as a generator so that the car can self-charge, or as an emergency backup in case the battery gets completely drained. This is an effective solution, but it is only an intermediate stage on the way to a fully electric car.
2. Changeable battery
This solution sidesteps the issue: instead of waiting an extended period of time to charge the battery, the battery is simply swapped out for another fully-charged battery. This solution is technologically applicable, with battery changing time similar to filling up a regular car with gas at a gas station.
This solution also enables the price of the battery to be separate from the price of the car, thereby bypassing the obstacle of the battery's high price, and exchanging it with the cost of long-term battery rental. Except that this solution has a few limitations that are currently holding back car manufacturers from adopting it. The main limitation is the high cost involved in planning which type of car to produce, or the conversion of existing cars to include the removable battery apparatus, as well as building the robotic stations for changing batteries, which is estimated at $1 million per station.
And lastly, the creating of a unified global standard for quick battery exchange is still a long way off, and until such a standard exists, each change station will be built to service a specific car model or make. In other words, there is a problem.
3. Quick charge
The third solution, which has had some breakthroughs in the last few months, is quick charge. This is the commercial charging of the battery using an industrial-strength battery, which shortens charging time to 30-40 minutes, and can be installed at gas stations or other points along the highway.
Four years ago, this technology had many limitations. It was very expensive, and the quick charging process damaged the batteries and drastically decreased their life span. But then the car industry reached a consensus regarding the quick charge issue. Seven large car manufacturers - Ford, General Motors, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, and Volkswagen - agreed to a unified standard, which will lead to accelerated development.
Quick charge stations have another limitation, which will only exacerbate as more and more electric cars are deployed, and that is the traffic it creates on the electricity grid. Countries with sophisticated grids can handle this traffic, but electric companies in countries with outdated and limited electrical output, such as China, are hesitant to adopt this solution. For this reason, China is currently experiencing a struggle between the supporters of quick change batteries and the supporters of the battery exchange method.
By the time this struggle is settled in the West, there will already be hundreds of quick charging stations on a commercial or experimental level. In Israel, it appears, the solution to the charging problem has been decided from above by Shai Agassi's electric car venture Better Place.
The problem is not in the car itself. Car manufacturers know how to produce comfortable and fast electric cars. Limited trip length is also not the main problem, since most manufacturers are targeting customers who intend to use the car for intra-city driving or the occasional inter-city drive. For these customers, being able to drive 150 km between charging stops, and even 250 km in the future, is certainly sufficient.
The real problem lies in two issues: battery cost, which is about £750; and recharging time. The high battery cost is a classic chicken and egg dilemma. In order for the price to drop significantly, the batteries need to be mass produced. But they cannot be mass produced until a large number of people purchase electric cars.
In order for the mainstream to overcome its natural reluctance to purchase an electric car and for it to become mass produced, the electric car needs to be available at a reasonable price, and be just as easy to use as a regular car - which is where the battery issue enters the picture. Fully charging the car battery at an ordinary house outlet takes between six and nine hours. That is an unreasonable amount of time required to recharge the battery for every 150-200 km. It forces the customer to adapt himself to the car and not the opposite. Three solutions have been offered to solve this problem:
1. The chargeable hybrid
This solution involves a small gasoline-powered auxiliary engine that can act as a generator so that the car can self-charge, or as an emergency backup in case the battery gets completely drained. This is an effective solution, but it is only an intermediate stage on the way to a fully electric car.
2. Changeable battery
This solution sidesteps the issue: instead of waiting an extended period of time to charge the battery, the battery is simply swapped out for another fully-charged battery. This solution is technologically applicable, with battery changing time similar to filling up a regular car with gas at a gas station.
This solution also enables the price of the battery to be separate from the price of the car, thereby bypassing the obstacle of the battery's high price, and exchanging it with the cost of long-term battery rental. Except that this solution has a few limitations that are currently holding back car manufacturers from adopting it. The main limitation is the high cost involved in planning which type of car to produce, or the conversion of existing cars to include the removable battery apparatus, as well as building the robotic stations for changing batteries, which is estimated at $1 million per station.
And lastly, the creating of a unified global standard for quick battery exchange is still a long way off, and until such a standard exists, each change station will be built to service a specific car model or make. In other words, there is a problem.
3. Quick charge
The third solution, which has had some breakthroughs in the last few months, is quick charge. This is the commercial charging of the battery using an industrial-strength battery, which shortens charging time to 30-40 minutes, and can be installed at gas stations or other points along the highway.
Four years ago, this technology had many limitations. It was very expensive, and the quick charging process damaged the batteries and drastically decreased their life span. But then the car industry reached a consensus regarding the quick charge issue. Seven large car manufacturers - Ford, General Motors, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, and Volkswagen - agreed to a unified standard, which will lead to accelerated development.
Quick charge stations have another limitation, which will only exacerbate as more and more electric cars are deployed, and that is the traffic it creates on the electricity grid. Countries with sophisticated grids can handle this traffic, but electric companies in countries with outdated and limited electrical output, such as China, are hesitant to adopt this solution. For this reason, China is currently experiencing a struggle between the supporters of quick change batteries and the supporters of the battery exchange method.
By the time this struggle is settled in the West, there will already be hundreds of quick charging stations on a commercial or experimental level. In Israel, it appears, the solution to the charging problem has been decided from above by Shai Agassi's electric car venture Better Place.
Schools could save enough money to hire an extra teacher
Energy-saving measures – including lighting controls – could save enough money in an average secondary school to pay for an extra teacher, the Carbon Trust has calculated
Fifty-two local authorities will pilot school schemes in a bid to reduce energy bills which cost the sector £543 million a year.
Fifty-two local authorities will pilot school schemes in a bid to reduce energy bills which cost the sector £543 million a year.
Tuesday 22 November 2011
Photovoltaic Industry and emissions targets
The PV industry has quite literally s**t itself ove the proposed cuts to the FIT...
Mitsubishi Electric raises the alarm, as it alone faces sales losses of at least £10m due to the cancellation of orders that have already been won, but which cannot complete by the deadline and the fact that stock currently at sea cannot arrive before the cut-off date.
In addition, this doesn't take into account the costs already sunk in surveys, feasibility studies, education and training of industry partners, consultants, Housing Associations and end users, or the postponement of any further investment in employment related to solar.
Jackson believes that the industry has already shown how it can respond to change given appropriate time with the way it bounced back after the Fast Track Review which came into effect at the beginning of August.
This saw a curb on large scale, investor-backed schemes and meant quite a bit of market realignment. The response, across the whole industry and certainly for manufacturers such as Mitsubishi Electric required substantial investment and faith in the prospects for Renewables in the UK and was the key factor in the schemes success. Without this commitment and investment from industry there would not have been success at any scale.
Mitsubishi Electric raises the alarm, as it alone faces sales losses of at least £10m due to the cancellation of orders that have already been won, but which cannot complete by the deadline and the fact that stock currently at sea cannot arrive before the cut-off date.
In addition, this doesn't take into account the costs already sunk in surveys, feasibility studies, education and training of industry partners, consultants, Housing Associations and end users, or the postponement of any further investment in employment related to solar.
Jackson believes that the industry has already shown how it can respond to change given appropriate time with the way it bounced back after the Fast Track Review which came into effect at the beginning of August.
This saw a curb on large scale, investor-backed schemes and meant quite a bit of market realignment. The response, across the whole industry and certainly for manufacturers such as Mitsubishi Electric required substantial investment and faith in the prospects for Renewables in the UK and was the key factor in the schemes success. Without this commitment and investment from industry there would not have been success at any scale.
The carbon Trust
As part of this, the Carbon Trust Implementation Services is launching a supplier accreditation scheme for equipment suppliers with experience in designing and installing energy efficient measures.
A survey by the Carbon Trust shows 76 per cent of companies are more concerned than they were six months ago by the rising energy costs and the knock on effects to their business.
A spokeswoman for the Carbon Trust said: ‘With double digit price rises expected in energy bills over the next three years, there is real concern about its impact on businesses.
‘The new business will provide independent, objective advice and evaluation of energy efficiency and renewable projects; access to trusted, accredited suppliers to deliver the work and help planning funding for these projects. Most importantly, this is available at no up-front cost to a company, making it simple and easy to adopt.’
As part of the the Carbon Trust invites partners to get involved in the scheme. Benefits include the opportunity to bid for prescreened tenders with companies ready to invest in new projects, access to market and policy insights from the Carbon Trust and the opportunity to use the Carbon Trust accreditation in marketing to win new business.
Myles McCarthey, chief at Carbon Trust Implementation Services, said: ‘Over thee last ten years, the Carbon Trust has helped thousands of organisations implement cost effective energy efficiency measures, which have paid for themselves within a year years.
‘We know many more companies are concerned about rising energy costs and want to act, but need help planning and delivering these projects. We are seeking high quality suppliers to help us unlock the £9 billion investment in energy efficient equipment that we estimate is needed for UK companies to replace old, inefficient equipment and systems with modern, low energy, cost saving alternatives.’
A survey by the Carbon Trust shows 76 per cent of companies are more concerned than they were six months ago by the rising energy costs and the knock on effects to their business.
A spokeswoman for the Carbon Trust said: ‘With double digit price rises expected in energy bills over the next three years, there is real concern about its impact on businesses.
‘The new business will provide independent, objective advice and evaluation of energy efficiency and renewable projects; access to trusted, accredited suppliers to deliver the work and help planning funding for these projects. Most importantly, this is available at no up-front cost to a company, making it simple and easy to adopt.’
As part of the the Carbon Trust invites partners to get involved in the scheme. Benefits include the opportunity to bid for prescreened tenders with companies ready to invest in new projects, access to market and policy insights from the Carbon Trust and the opportunity to use the Carbon Trust accreditation in marketing to win new business.
Myles McCarthey, chief at Carbon Trust Implementation Services, said: ‘Over thee last ten years, the Carbon Trust has helped thousands of organisations implement cost effective energy efficiency measures, which have paid for themselves within a year years.
‘We know many more companies are concerned about rising energy costs and want to act, but need help planning and delivering these projects. We are seeking high quality suppliers to help us unlock the £9 billion investment in energy efficient equipment that we estimate is needed for UK companies to replace old, inefficient equipment and systems with modern, low energy, cost saving alternatives.’
Monday 21 November 2011
Its Christmas
Well, not quite yet, but we here at D A Woolgar have guessed that in the next two weeks / weekends you will be venturing up to the loft or into the garage to get out your festive gear.
we love christmas too, but dont forget
so please - Sparkle not spark this Christmas
have a great Christmas... :)
- all those extra lights ramp up your bill
- check your lights for damage before you wrap em round the tree and house. it’s a good idea to check they are safe to use before you add them to the tree.
- If your house doesnt have an RCD (earth trip) we suggest you get an RCD adaptor
- Make sure there are no broken bulbs and no visible loose wires
- Replace any bulbs which may have blown
- Check you are using the right size fuse for the lights by checking the packaging and looking at the fuse
- Do not overload any sockets
- Switch off the Christmas lights when leaving the house or going to bed to avoid over heating
- Make sure over Christmas decorations which may easily burn such as paper, are kept away from the bulbs
so please - Sparkle not spark this Christmas
have a great Christmas... :)
It’s D A Woolgar, but not as you know it.
D A Woolgar has been integral to the three counties ‘electrical’ scene for 49 years.
In its early days It was a soul trader, in August 2001 it transformed into a partnership and as of Thursday 1st of December D A Woolgar will become a Limited company.
We want to spread the word about this electrifying (pardon the pun) new change
Don’t worry; we will be the same team providing the same high quality service.
I know that locally we are known as a trustworthy brand and say, “why change?”
Well the time was right and if we are to move on to bigger and better things, it was a necessary change.
Sunday 20 November 2011
Showers
Electric showers can provide instantaneous showering day and night for the whole family.
They draw water directly from a cold water supply and heat it as it is used, so you don’t
need to have a stored hot water supply. Because they are easy to install virtually every
home can have one.
Electric showers require their own electrical circuit, which in general will have the highest
electrical demand out of your household appliances. They will need to be connected to
the fuse box and protected by an RCD. The cost of fitting an electric shower will depend
on whether the fuse box requires updating to comply with current safety standards.
Building regulations require an adequate means of ventilation. An extractor fan is
essential and will help cut down steam in the bathroom.
They draw water directly from a cold water supply and heat it as it is used, so you don’t
need to have a stored hot water supply. Because they are easy to install virtually every
home can have one.
Electric showers require their own electrical circuit, which in general will have the highest
electrical demand out of your household appliances. They will need to be connected to
the fuse box and protected by an RCD. The cost of fitting an electric shower will depend
on whether the fuse box requires updating to comply with current safety standards.
Building regulations require an adequate means of ventilation. An extractor fan is
essential and will help cut down steam in the bathroom.
Saturday 19 November 2011
Smoke detectors
many things were invented by accidental discoveries...
Duane Pearsall did not intend to create a smoke detector in 1965 - instead he was trying to measure static electricity in a dark room.
The smoke detector was invented from an experiment that appeared to have gone wrong He became irritated when the device, which was measuring the concentration of ions, went off every time his assistant lit a cigarette. For Pearsall, it meant he had to start his experiment all over again.
That is, until he realised he had a useful tool on his hands - one that eventually led to the creation of the first battery-powered home smoke detector.
It is claimed the device has saved about 50,000 lives.
The "a-ha moment" between creation and innovation is a "brilliant process", says Jeff Woolf, two-time British inventor of the year.
Many inventors and researchers will have created a solution for a long-researched problem. But there has to be a leap from creating something for one reason, only to realise it can be used for another.
"That has happened many times in the past," says Woolf.
That's where real creativity comes from, he says. To leap from noticing that cigarette setting off a static electricity monitor - to realising it could be used to help save people.
"He could have just left it. The real innovation is taking that thought and using it.
Duane Pearsall did not intend to create a smoke detector in 1965 - instead he was trying to measure static electricity in a dark room.
The smoke detector was invented from an experiment that appeared to have gone wrong He became irritated when the device, which was measuring the concentration of ions, went off every time his assistant lit a cigarette. For Pearsall, it meant he had to start his experiment all over again.
That is, until he realised he had a useful tool on his hands - one that eventually led to the creation of the first battery-powered home smoke detector.
It is claimed the device has saved about 50,000 lives.
The "a-ha moment" between creation and innovation is a "brilliant process", says Jeff Woolf, two-time British inventor of the year.
Many inventors and researchers will have created a solution for a long-researched problem. But there has to be a leap from creating something for one reason, only to realise it can be used for another.
"That has happened many times in the past," says Woolf.
That's where real creativity comes from, he says. To leap from noticing that cigarette setting off a static electricity monitor - to realising it could be used to help save people.
"He could have just left it. The real innovation is taking that thought and using it.
Friday 18 November 2011
$31,753 for a new battery Oops!
Nissan looks to be king of the hill for Electric cars
Leaf could be said to be an affordable car for a family of five. However, glaring factors to think about
The Times, (UK) says a replacement battery for the Leaf costs a staggering $31,753. This statistic was calculated when Andy Palmer, Nissan Great Britain senior vice-president, told The Times that to replace one module in the 48-module battery pack, would cost approximately $662.
Service on electric vehicles is fairly tedious. Derrick Morrison, a former auto mechanic for Chevrolet, said that more certification and specialized safety training goes into maintenance for electric vehicles.
“It gets more technical," he said. "You’re not just dealing with the basic gas-powered engine. You’re dealing with a lot of cables. It’s definitely more challenging.”
However, according to Morrison, the cost of services and repairs is, on average, the same as that of a petrol / gasoline -powered car.
The typical electric car isn’t for one who commutes frequently.
According to Nissan, the Leaf will go about 100 miles on a seven-hour charge in ideal driving conditions. In commuting situations, its range drops to about 68 miles. Smart USA recently released a new 100 percent electric version of the Smart Car, which goes about 63 miles on a full eight-hour charge. This statistic reflects ideal driving conditions as well, not those of a typical commute.
Leaf could be said to be an affordable car for a family of five. However, glaring factors to think about
The Times, (UK) says a replacement battery for the Leaf costs a staggering $31,753. This statistic was calculated when Andy Palmer, Nissan Great Britain senior vice-president, told The Times that to replace one module in the 48-module battery pack, would cost approximately $662.
Service on electric vehicles is fairly tedious. Derrick Morrison, a former auto mechanic for Chevrolet, said that more certification and specialized safety training goes into maintenance for electric vehicles.
“It gets more technical," he said. "You’re not just dealing with the basic gas-powered engine. You’re dealing with a lot of cables. It’s definitely more challenging.”
However, according to Morrison, the cost of services and repairs is, on average, the same as that of a petrol / gasoline -powered car.
The typical electric car isn’t for one who commutes frequently.
According to Nissan, the Leaf will go about 100 miles on a seven-hour charge in ideal driving conditions. In commuting situations, its range drops to about 68 miles. Smart USA recently released a new 100 percent electric version of the Smart Car, which goes about 63 miles on a full eight-hour charge. This statistic reflects ideal driving conditions as well, not those of a typical commute.
Thursday 17 November 2011
"self-extinguishing" cigarettes
from today a new EU directive will require cigarettes to meet a reduced ignition propensity (RIP) requirement. They will be manufactured to be self-extinguishable, to reduce the chance that they should set fire to sofas, beds and other combustible materials.
Most cigarettes sold in the EU will need self-extinguishing technology In England, of the 212 people that died in house fires last year, 81 were the result of cigarettes, cigars and pipes, says the Department of Communities and Local Government.
The DCLG estimates the new types of cigarettes could save up to 64 lives each year in England.
Most cigarettes sold in the EU will need self-extinguishing technology In England, of the 212 people that died in house fires last year, 81 were the result of cigarettes, cigars and pipes, says the Department of Communities and Local Government.
The DCLG estimates the new types of cigarettes could save up to 64 lives each year in England.
Wednesday 16 November 2011
Small electrical firms feeling the squeeze, finds ECA survey
The ECA’s Q2 Member Business Trends Survey found that while businesses turning over more than £200,000 a year are becoming increasingly optimistic about the year ahead, businesses and sole traders who earn less than this are noticeably more cautious.
Seventy per cent of electrical contracting companies that have a turnover between £1- £5 million expect their turnover to hold steady or grow over the next three months, compared to 41 per cent of companies turning over less than £200,000, who expect to see a decline.
Steve Bratt, Group CEO of the ECA, comments: “As spending continues to be squeezed in these straitened times, it appears smaller firms are feeling the pinch more than most. Many are seeing fewer enquiries – 78 per cent say new businesses enquiries are down, with 10 per cent saying consumer confidence is discouraging customers from starting new projects. However, project opportunities should arise, particularly in the area of sustainability that could benefit electrical contractors of all sizes.”
Bratt hopes that more homeowners will take advantage of the government’s Green Deal when it comes into force in autumn 2012, suggesting contractors should more aggressively promote the long term cost benefits that consumers will achieve if they use the loans to make their property more energy efficient. The ECA believes that the green domestic product market will provide increased opportunities for contractors who are certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS).
The ECA’s survey also shows that the level of confidence among members varies significantly according to their location. Members in the West and South East regions reported being more optimistic about the future than those in the North and the Midlands, continuing a trend observed over the last three quarterly periods. Forty-four per cent of ECA members in the North and 47 per cent of members in the Midlands saw a reversal in fortunes, with their turnovers dropping during the second quarter. The uncertainty means that less than 20 per cent of members from these regions are expecting their turnover to improve in the next quarter, or the next 12 months.
Steve Bratt concludes: “Next year will bring with it some massive opportunities for energy efficiency projects as the Green Deal launches. Contractors will need to make sure they are MCS certified in 2012 or they will find themselves being shut out of projects and find it harder to win work.
Seventy per cent of electrical contracting companies that have a turnover between £1- £5 million expect their turnover to hold steady or grow over the next three months, compared to 41 per cent of companies turning over less than £200,000, who expect to see a decline.
Steve Bratt, Group CEO of the ECA, comments: “As spending continues to be squeezed in these straitened times, it appears smaller firms are feeling the pinch more than most. Many are seeing fewer enquiries – 78 per cent say new businesses enquiries are down, with 10 per cent saying consumer confidence is discouraging customers from starting new projects. However, project opportunities should arise, particularly in the area of sustainability that could benefit electrical contractors of all sizes.”
Bratt hopes that more homeowners will take advantage of the government’s Green Deal when it comes into force in autumn 2012, suggesting contractors should more aggressively promote the long term cost benefits that consumers will achieve if they use the loans to make their property more energy efficient. The ECA believes that the green domestic product market will provide increased opportunities for contractors who are certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS).
The ECA’s survey also shows that the level of confidence among members varies significantly according to their location. Members in the West and South East regions reported being more optimistic about the future than those in the North and the Midlands, continuing a trend observed over the last three quarterly periods. Forty-four per cent of ECA members in the North and 47 per cent of members in the Midlands saw a reversal in fortunes, with their turnovers dropping during the second quarter. The uncertainty means that less than 20 per cent of members from these regions are expecting their turnover to improve in the next quarter, or the next 12 months.
Steve Bratt concludes: “Next year will bring with it some massive opportunities for energy efficiency projects as the Green Deal launches. Contractors will need to make sure they are MCS certified in 2012 or they will find themselves being shut out of projects and find it harder to win work.
Energy saving - lighting
The average house creates about six tonnes of CO2 a year. Of this lighting makes up 15 % of this. So what can you do to reduce your impact on the environment? Below are 5 simple tips to help you reduce your carbon emissions and your electricity bill.
Reduce your UsageTurn off all lights when not in use. Use task or special purpose lighting to supplement general lighting wherever possible
Switch to Energy Saving lampsWhilst the initial cost of energy saving lamps might be more expensive, they offer immense savings in energy costs, they have a much longer life span and require much less maintenance
Consider Lighting ControlsPeople often forget to turn off lights when leaving rooms, automatic lighting such as PIRs, timer switches and dimmer switches can make a large impact on your energy consumption
Have separate switches for separate lightsAvoid having several lights activated by one switch, by having separate switches you will only use the specific lights you require
Take advantage of Natural LightBy brightening the colour of interior walls that receive good daylight you can reduce the need for artificial lighting during daylight hours
any questions??????????
Reduce your UsageTurn off all lights when not in use. Use task or special purpose lighting to supplement general lighting wherever possible
Switch to Energy Saving lampsWhilst the initial cost of energy saving lamps might be more expensive, they offer immense savings in energy costs, they have a much longer life span and require much less maintenance
Consider Lighting ControlsPeople often forget to turn off lights when leaving rooms, automatic lighting such as PIRs, timer switches and dimmer switches can make a large impact on your energy consumption
Have separate switches for separate lightsAvoid having several lights activated by one switch, by having separate switches you will only use the specific lights you require
Take advantage of Natural LightBy brightening the colour of interior walls that receive good daylight you can reduce the need for artificial lighting during daylight hours
any questions??????????
Tuesday 15 November 2011
Mince Pie tasting
we are planning to get out there with some pies for Christmas, so we had to make sure we had the 'right' pies.
photo
video
Ho Ho Ho, we are getting ready for christmas
and the winner is... well you will just have to wait and see.
photo
Ho Ho Ho, we are getting ready for christmas
and the winner is... well you will just have to wait and see.
New Zealand and the drunken cooking epidemic
According to the Kiwi authorities, drunk cooking is one of the leading contributors to house fires.
How do you combat this? Put an ad in a urinal in the pub
When you wee on the sticker, the heat sensitive ink disappears, revealing a plea to get food before you go home. A trip to McDonald's on the way home then!! Kebab anyone?
Monday 14 November 2011
Verification of Electrical Installations.
2392-10 blended learning course (Level 2 Certificate in Fundamental Inspection, Testing and Initial Verification) is soon to be renamed Level 3 Initial Verification of Electrical Installations.
The legal responsibilities of an inspector
The general requirements of BS 7671, including the First Amendment, relating to initial verification
The inspection process and testing requirements for new installations
Saturday 12 November 2011
What location now falls within the new section 710, Medical Locations of the First Amendment BS7671?
What location now falls within the new section 710, Medical Locations of the First Amendment BS7671?
The definition of a medical location now means any room or location intended for purposes of diagnosis, treatment, including cosmetic treatment, monitoring and care of patients should now comply with section 710.
This means GP’s surgeries, first aid rooms at work and some cosmetic treatment rooms now need to comply with the requirements of medical locations.
The definition of a medical location now means any room or location intended for purposes of diagnosis, treatment, including cosmetic treatment, monitoring and care of patients should now comply with section 710.
This means GP’s surgeries, first aid rooms at work and some cosmetic treatment rooms now need to comply with the requirements of medical locations.
Friday 11 November 2011
Water and electricity don’t mix!
Homeowners should only carry out electrical work if competent to do so, and if they can
inspect and test that it is safe for use. Rules for carrying out work in the bathroom were
tightened in 2005 to prevent the number of accidents caused by faulty DIY electrical work.
To comply with the law homeowners must now notify their local building control office before
they begin any work and pay the appropriate fee to have it inspected.
The simplest way to ensure any electrical work is carried out safely and to a high standard is to
use a government-registered electrician, such as one registered with NICEIC. They will notify
building control on your behalf and issue you with a building regulations compliance certificate,
to prove it meets the required safety standards.
inspect and test that it is safe for use. Rules for carrying out work in the bathroom were
tightened in 2005 to prevent the number of accidents caused by faulty DIY electrical work.
To comply with the law homeowners must now notify their local building control office before
they begin any work and pay the appropriate fee to have it inspected.
The simplest way to ensure any electrical work is carried out safely and to a high standard is to
use a government-registered electrician, such as one registered with NICEIC. They will notify
building control on your behalf and issue you with a building regulations compliance certificate,
to prove it meets the required safety standards.
Thursday 10 November 2011
Fit a BEAB approved shower, like a MIRA ATL
from BBC news, a sad sad tale
Kristiana Logina 'burned by mother and left to die'
A toddler died after being burned in the shower by her mother and left to die from her injuries, a court heard.
Two-year-old Kristiana Logina's burns were left without proper medical treatment for up to a fortnight.
Her mother, Eva Logina, of Smethwick in the West Midlands, and her then boyfriend applied creams but never sought treatment which could have saved her, Nottingham Crown Court heard.
Ms Logina denies manslaughter and a charge of child cruelty.
Her ex-boyfriend, 49-year-old Rashpal Chana of Dibble Road, in Smethwick, is also charged with manslaughter on 15 February last year at the house they shared in Tennal Road in Harborne, Birmingham.
Urgent treatment
The court heard Kristiana suffered 10% burns when she was held under a hot shower by her mother.
The water temperature could have reached 58 degrees.
Prosecutor Timothy Raggatt QC said she was injured between 10 days and a fortnight before her death at
The likely cause of her injuries was from a shower head unit or extremely hot water, he added.
Her injuries were such it would have been "instantly apparent" that she needed urgent medical treatment.
The direct cause of her death was septic shock, which is when the body becomes so infected and debilitated that organs and vital systems stop working, he added.
In interviews, Logina said her daughter screamed when she put her in the bath and under the shower but that was because she did not like the shower.
She later saw redness and skin peeling off, Mr Raggatt said.
The pair dressed the girl's wounds and gave her painkillers.
Mr Chana told police after Kristiana's death that he thought the redness on her bottom and right leg was nappy rash.
He said said he did not know the extent of her injuries until Kristiana eventually went to hospital, the court heard.
On the day the toddler died, Ms Logina called an ambulance and paramedics found Kristiana in cardiac arrest.
After removing "dirty bandages", her burns - which reached underlying tissue - were discovered, the court heard.
Mr Raggatt said the girl's condition was "effectively hopeless" and she died three hours later.
"A total failure of both these two defendants to seek medical attention may well have been because both knew that Eva Logina had done this and both therefore wished, given the relationship, to avoid the obvious consequences of bringing it to the attentions of people who could treat it because they were gross injuries."
Kristiana Logina 'burned by mother and left to die'
A toddler died after being burned in the shower by her mother and left to die from her injuries, a court heard.
Two-year-old Kristiana Logina's burns were left without proper medical treatment for up to a fortnight.
Her mother, Eva Logina, of Smethwick in the West Midlands, and her then boyfriend applied creams but never sought treatment which could have saved her, Nottingham Crown Court heard.
Ms Logina denies manslaughter and a charge of child cruelty.
Her ex-boyfriend, 49-year-old Rashpal Chana of Dibble Road, in Smethwick, is also charged with manslaughter on 15 February last year at the house they shared in Tennal Road in Harborne, Birmingham.
Urgent treatment
The court heard Kristiana suffered 10% burns when she was held under a hot shower by her mother.
The water temperature could have reached 58 degrees.
Prosecutor Timothy Raggatt QC said she was injured between 10 days and a fortnight before her death at
The likely cause of her injuries was from a shower head unit or extremely hot water, he added.
Her injuries were such it would have been "instantly apparent" that she needed urgent medical treatment.
The direct cause of her death was septic shock, which is when the body becomes so infected and debilitated that organs and vital systems stop working, he added.
In interviews, Logina said her daughter screamed when she put her in the bath and under the shower but that was because she did not like the shower.
She later saw redness and skin peeling off, Mr Raggatt said.
The pair dressed the girl's wounds and gave her painkillers.
Mr Chana told police after Kristiana's death that he thought the redness on her bottom and right leg was nappy rash.
He said said he did not know the extent of her injuries until Kristiana eventually went to hospital, the court heard.
On the day the toddler died, Ms Logina called an ambulance and paramedics found Kristiana in cardiac arrest.
After removing "dirty bandages", her burns - which reached underlying tissue - were discovered, the court heard.
Mr Raggatt said the girl's condition was "effectively hopeless" and she died three hours later.
"A total failure of both these two defendants to seek medical attention may well have been because both knew that Eva Logina had done this and both therefore wished, given the relationship, to avoid the obvious consequences of bringing it to the attentions of people who could treat it because they were gross injuries."
Wednesday 9 November 2011
e.on SolarExchange deal withdrawn :(
Anyone who applied to E.on for the Solar Excange solar deal. E.on are now calling round letting applicants that the deal has been withdrawn.
Due to proposed changes in the government’s Feed-in-Tariff scheme, unfortunately we’re currently unable to offer SolarExchange.
We understand this may be disappointing, but we’ll be reviewing our future solar products after the government consultation period has ended, in the New Year.
If you would like to find out more about the proposed changes please visit decc.gov.uk.
What if you’ve already applied?
If you’ve already applied for SolarExchange, or have recently had a home survey, we’ll be in touch soon.
Due to proposed changes in the government’s Feed-in-Tariff scheme, unfortunately we’re currently unable to offer SolarExchange.
We understand this may be disappointing, but we’ll be reviewing our future solar products after the government consultation period has ended, in the New Year.
If you would like to find out more about the proposed changes please visit decc.gov.uk.
What if you’ve already applied?
If you’ve already applied for SolarExchange, or have recently had a home survey, we’ll be in touch soon.
How the solar PV feed in tarrif works
How feed-in works
Households with approved solar panel schemes are paid for the electricity they generate, even if they use all of it themselves. These payments are in addition to bill savings.
For techies, the feed-in tariff pays you up to 43.3p per kWh (kilowatt-hour, one unit of electricity) for energy generated from solar panels. Then there's a 3.1p bonus for every unit you don't use and pump back (export) to the grid. That's considerably more than the typical 13p per unit it costs to buy electricity from your provider.
Plug your details into the Energy Saving Trust's (EST) feed-in tariff calculator to see how much you'll gain. Go to Ofgem for a full list of feed-in tariffs. The feed-in scheme covers England, Scotland and Wales, but not Northern Ireland.
Here's an example of what a typical domestic 2.9kWp solar electricity system could earn:
The benefit of feed-in tariffs Savings per year
Generation tariff £1,060
Export tariff £40
Electricity bill savings
£130
Total/year
£1,230
Based on a tariff rate of 43.3p/kWh, export rate of 3.1p/kWh.
If your energy supplier doesn't hook you up with an import/export meter, it assumes you pump 50% of electricity back to the grid. (Your electricity bill savings will depend on how much you actually export, usually over 50%.) The vast majority of energy suppliers don't currently supply meters, because of the cost, plus the Government is still deciding meters' requirements.
Households with approved solar panel schemes are paid for the electricity they generate, even if they use all of it themselves. These payments are in addition to bill savings.
For techies, the feed-in tariff pays you up to 43.3p per kWh (kilowatt-hour, one unit of electricity) for energy generated from solar panels. Then there's a 3.1p bonus for every unit you don't use and pump back (export) to the grid. That's considerably more than the typical 13p per unit it costs to buy electricity from your provider.
Plug your details into the Energy Saving Trust's (EST) feed-in tariff calculator to see how much you'll gain. Go to Ofgem for a full list of feed-in tariffs. The feed-in scheme covers England, Scotland and Wales, but not Northern Ireland.
Here's an example of what a typical domestic 2.9kWp solar electricity system could earn:
The benefit of feed-in tariffs Savings per year
Generation tariff £1,060
Export tariff £40
Electricity bill savings
£130
Total/year
£1,230
Based on a tariff rate of 43.3p/kWh, export rate of 3.1p/kWh.
If your energy supplier doesn't hook you up with an import/export meter, it assumes you pump 50% of electricity back to the grid. (Your electricity bill savings will depend on how much you actually export, usually over 50%.) The vast majority of energy suppliers don't currently supply meters, because of the cost, plus the Government is still deciding meters' requirements.
Tuesday 8 November 2011
New development by Connelly at Willington for Aragon HA
We were lucky enough to get a sneak preview of a new development by Connelly at Willington for Aragon HA
The historic and picturesque village of Willington with its ancient St Lawrence church, attractive thatched cottages and character houses lies approximately 4 miles east of the county town of Bedford
see the rest of the photos here...
Going to find out - lighting creatively whilst cutting energy bills at LuxLive 2011
We are going to LuxLive 2011 on10 November, at Earls Court, London to find out lots of funky and sexy ideas for lighting your home and business (dont worry if you dont have a business!!! )
100 exhibitors come together under one roof to offer an insight into the huge technological shift that is currently taking place in the lighting industry.
D A Woolgar, your friendly local (cen beds) energy reduction specialists contractor
we want to - find out how to use lighting creatively, whilst dramatically cutting carbon footprints and slashing energy bills. sounds good! doesnt it?
Energy reduction is at the very heart of LuxLive as it plays host to the very first EcoLight Conference. The two-day programme is packed with informative sessions on low-carbon lighting from world leading experts – aimed at helping those with large lighting estates transform their interiors and dramatically reduce energy bills.
Speakers include: Barry Ayling, Lighting Design Manager at John Lewis Partnership, talking about how to create interiors conducive to selling, whilst making huge savings to a company’s bottom line. Peter Le Manquais will speak about the UK’s largest ever LED office lighting project, whilst Mark Ridler, BDP and representative of PriceWaterhouseCoopers, shows how the company’s headquarters became the first office in the UK to receive a Breeam Outstanding rating for its cutting edge lighting solutions.
the more we know, the better service we can provide.. need something a lil bit special? call us now.
100 exhibitors come together under one roof to offer an insight into the huge technological shift that is currently taking place in the lighting industry.
D A Woolgar, your friendly local (cen beds) energy reduction specialists contractor
we want to - find out how to use lighting creatively, whilst dramatically cutting carbon footprints and slashing energy bills. sounds good! doesnt it?
Energy reduction is at the very heart of LuxLive as it plays host to the very first EcoLight Conference. The two-day programme is packed with informative sessions on low-carbon lighting from world leading experts – aimed at helping those with large lighting estates transform their interiors and dramatically reduce energy bills.
Speakers include: Barry Ayling, Lighting Design Manager at John Lewis Partnership, talking about how to create interiors conducive to selling, whilst making huge savings to a company’s bottom line. Peter Le Manquais will speak about the UK’s largest ever LED office lighting project, whilst Mark Ridler, BDP and representative of PriceWaterhouseCoopers, shows how the company’s headquarters became the first office in the UK to receive a Breeam Outstanding rating for its cutting edge lighting solutions.
the more we know, the better service we can provide.. need something a lil bit special? call us now.
Monday 7 November 2011
Bid to recruit female electricians
A campaign to encourage more women to become electricians is being launched with those in London among the first to receive training.
The Electrical Contractors' Association campaign, Wired for Success aims to reduce female unemployment and tackle the industry's skills crisis at the same time. Unemployment for women is at its worst since 1988.
Former ECA president and skills ambassador, Diane Johnson, who leads the campaign, said: "On the one hand, our industry is facing an impending skills crisis. On the other, there are more than a million unemployed women in the UK at the moment. In my head I see an obvious solution to two problems."
Women make up only 1% of those qualified in the electrical industry, and it is estimated 5,000 apprentices are needed each year to fill the gap.
Working as an electrician is flexible, and attractive to women with families, she said. ignoring the fact that you can be asked to go out on call at stupid o clock in the morning, and when a project is behind you have to work 7 days a week to get it finished
Over the next two years, 12 women in London living in social housing will receive specialist training and work alongside three contractors to become competent enough to work in the domestic market.
keep you fingers crossed, it could, & should happen.
The Electrical Contractors' Association campaign, Wired for Success aims to reduce female unemployment and tackle the industry's skills crisis at the same time. Unemployment for women is at its worst since 1988.
Former ECA president and skills ambassador, Diane Johnson, who leads the campaign, said: "On the one hand, our industry is facing an impending skills crisis. On the other, there are more than a million unemployed women in the UK at the moment. In my head I see an obvious solution to two problems."
Women make up only 1% of those qualified in the electrical industry, and it is estimated 5,000 apprentices are needed each year to fill the gap.
Working as an electrician is flexible, and attractive to women with families, she said. ignoring the fact that you can be asked to go out on call at stupid o clock in the morning, and when a project is behind you have to work 7 days a week to get it finished
Over the next two years, 12 women in London living in social housing will receive specialist training and work alongside three contractors to become competent enough to work in the domestic market.
keep you fingers crossed, it could, & should happen.
Sunday 6 November 2011
Mediterranean electrical super-grid
imagine a political landscape where the Med could have a stable super grid???
well it might just happen
There is a real possibility of creating a circuitous electrical super-grid, that begins in Spain, heads eastward through northern Africa and back toward Europe through the eastern Mediterranean nations via Turkey, in the foreseeable future, according to experts
Establishing an interconnected grid throughout the Mediterranean basin is the work of a Paris-based organization called Medgrid, which is pushing for the continuation of a project called MEDRING, started quite some time ago, which would successfully link the countries electrically, thereby reducing individual infrastructural demands and boosting all of these nation’s economies.
Members of the private joint venture currently include 20 European Union and southeast Mediterranean companies, among which include Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Syria – but not yet Israel due to its electrical isolation.
well it might just happen
There is a real possibility of creating a circuitous electrical super-grid, that begins in Spain, heads eastward through northern Africa and back toward Europe through the eastern Mediterranean nations via Turkey, in the foreseeable future, according to experts
Establishing an interconnected grid throughout the Mediterranean basin is the work of a Paris-based organization called Medgrid, which is pushing for the continuation of a project called MEDRING, started quite some time ago, which would successfully link the countries electrically, thereby reducing individual infrastructural demands and boosting all of these nation’s economies.
Members of the private joint venture currently include 20 European Union and southeast Mediterranean companies, among which include Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Syria – but not yet Israel due to its electrical isolation.
Saturday 5 November 2011
Remember remember the 5th of November
The foiling of the gunpowder plot to blow up the House of Commons more than 400 years ago is celebrated by setting off fireworks tonight
Guy Fawkes hid 36 barrels of gunpowder under parliament on 5 November 1605.
He and his fellow conspirators were discovered a few hours before the state opening of Parliament, foiling their plot to blow up King James I, and members of the House of Lords and the House of Commons.
Democracy saved from an act of terrorism. Never changes does it. Fair enough, he was the king of the Scots and looked like a girl, but a commissions a wicked (not literally) bible.
Therefore, what did we learn from this? Never give a catholic 36 barrels of gun power cos someone is bound to get hurt. on that note, please stay safe tonight...
Invest in Solar PV
If you've £8,000 to £14,000 knocking about, you could get back more than double that in payments for the energy you produce. Some firms will also let you buy solar panels on credit. However, if you don't have the cash upfront, panels aren't for you. The interest on the loan could dwarf the savings.
This is all about the Government's feed-in tariff (Fit) scheme, which means electricity companies must pay people who produce electricity from renewable energy sources such as wind or the sun.
The Energy Savings Trust (EST) says a typical £12,000 2.9kWp (kilowatts peak, the rate it generates electricity on a sunny day) system could earn £1,100/year in payments. It's not guaranteed and depends on system size, location etc. Yet the key to this is:
A typical system could cost c.£12,000, but over 25 years the feed-in payments could net you £27,500.
The Government says the feed-in tariff payment for solar panels will run for 25 years from the date that a system is installed and registered, and will rise with inflation (linked to the Retail Price Index).
Industry predictions are rife that feed-in tariffs are likely to be significantly reduced for systems installed after 1 April 2012. So if the sums do add up for you, consider acting now.
This is all about the Government's feed-in tariff (Fit) scheme, which means electricity companies must pay people who produce electricity from renewable energy sources such as wind or the sun.
The Energy Savings Trust (EST) says a typical £12,000 2.9kWp (kilowatts peak, the rate it generates electricity on a sunny day) system could earn £1,100/year in payments. It's not guaranteed and depends on system size, location etc. Yet the key to this is:
A typical system could cost c.£12,000, but over 25 years the feed-in payments could net you £27,500.
The Government says the feed-in tariff payment for solar panels will run for 25 years from the date that a system is installed and registered, and will rise with inflation (linked to the Retail Price Index).
Industry predictions are rife that feed-in tariffs are likely to be significantly reduced for systems installed after 1 April 2012. So if the sums do add up for you, consider acting now.
Friday 4 November 2011
Feed-in Tariffs (FITs)
The Feed-in Tariffs scheme is currently under review, and a consultation was launched on 31 October about the tariffs for small-scale solar PV (250 kilowatts or less).
The Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) scheme was introduced on 1 April 2010, under powers in the Energy Act 2008.
Through the use of FITs, DECC hopes to encourage deployment of additional small-scale (less than 5MW) low-carbon electricity generation, particularly by organisations, businesses, communities and individuals that have not traditionally engaged in the electricity market.
This will allow many people to invest in small-scale low-carbon electricity, in return for a guaranteed payment from an electricity supplier of their choice for the electricity they generate and use as well as a guaranteed payment for unused surplus electricity they export back to the grid.
FITs work alongside the Renewables Obligation (RO) – which is currently the primary mechanism to support deployment of large-scale renewable electricity generation – and the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) which, when implemented, will support generation of heat from renewable sources at all scales.
The Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) scheme was introduced on 1 April 2010, under powers in the Energy Act 2008.
Through the use of FITs, DECC hopes to encourage deployment of additional small-scale (less than 5MW) low-carbon electricity generation, particularly by organisations, businesses, communities and individuals that have not traditionally engaged in the electricity market.
This will allow many people to invest in small-scale low-carbon electricity, in return for a guaranteed payment from an electricity supplier of their choice for the electricity they generate and use as well as a guaranteed payment for unused surplus electricity they export back to the grid.
FITs work alongside the Renewables Obligation (RO) – which is currently the primary mechanism to support deployment of large-scale renewable electricity generation – and the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) which, when implemented, will support generation of heat from renewable sources at all scales.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Which technologies are eligible for FITs? - Small-scale low-carbon electricity technologies eligible for FITs are:
- wind
- solar photovoltaics (PV)
- hydro
- anaerobic digestion
- domestic scale microCHP (with a capacity of 2kW or less) – a domestic scale microCHP pilot will support up to 30,000 installations, with a review to start when the 12,000th installation is completed
Free solar PV, the pro's & cons
Pros
- Free electricity. You could typically slice your electricity bill by £90- £180/year – more if you're at home during daylight hours or prices jump significantly, which they could well do over 25 years.
- Try free then buy. One free solar panel scheme, Eon, allows you to buy the solar panels at a reasonable price later on, meaning you could decide later to pump in the cash and keep the feed-in payments.
- Make your home greener. Free solar panels let you make a contribution to reducing your home's carbon footprint, without stumping up your own cash. But not everyone's convinced about solar panels' benefits – see George Monbiot's Guardian blog.
- Free maintenance. Usually the free solar panel company maintains the panels and pays for insurance (always check your contract).
- They keep the feed-in tariff
The free solar panel company keeps the feed-in tariff, typically £1,100-ish year. If you've spare cash, you may be better off paying for your own system. Yet if you don't have spare cash for panels, you wouldn't been able to get this anyway. - Buyout fees
This is best for those settled in their forever home. While some providers have reasonable buyout fees, with others, it's cheaper to buy out Lionel Messi. - Potential buyers may be wary
Do bear in mind a leased roof could ring alarm bells for prospective buyers. Richard Webster of Richard Webster & Co Solicitors says: "I can't see any real problems for the average buyer with the free panels scheme, other than the look of the house, if that's a concern.
"Most people will appreciate even a small saving on electricity costs. Of course, there is always the chance that some buyers may worry; being tied to some third party in a contractual situation, however harmless, could frighten some." - Roof repairs could be costly
Free solar panel companies usually fix your roof if it's damaged by the panels. But if you want to fix your roof for a reason not connected to solar panels, free solar panel companies sometimes make you cover their feed-in payments in the meantime (always check).
Thursday 3 November 2011
if you can afford solar panels, its win win!!!
- Electricity bill savings. The Energy Saving Trust (EST) now estimates a typical 2.9kWp system can knock £90 to £180 off a family's bills, depending on system size, electricity use, whether you're at home during the day and other factors.
While solar panels can produce 50% of a home's electricity, often much of this gets pumped back to the grid. If energy prices rise significantly over 25 years as they are predicted to, you'll save more. - Feed-in tariff payments. Back in 2010 the Government ditched grants for solar panels and replaced them with a generous scheme that pays for all the solar energy you produce, even if you use it yourself. The amount you earn depends on your system's size, but a typical payment could be £1,100/year (do your sums first).
Bizarrely, earnings from this scheme massively eclipse the electricity bill savings. Its predicted payments will be slashed for people installing after 1 April 2011; this wouldn't be surprising, as the cost's effectively met by higher energy bills, so is a bizarre poor-to-rich subsidy.
Wednesday 2 November 2011
What are solar panels?
You put solar panels on the roof to generate energy from the sun. There are two types of panel: solar photovoltaic (PV), which generate electricity and solar thermal, which heat water. This guide focuses on solar PV
.
Solar panels don't need sunshine to work, just daylight, so you can still generate some electricity on gloomy days – important in a country with weather as dull.
PV roof tiles convert the light into electricity, which you can use to power your home during daylight hours. Any energy you don't use is pumped back to the grid. If you use more than the panels generate, the excess comes off the grid, exactly as it did before the panels were fitted.
In the winter, when solar power is less, you'll take more power from the grid. It's a good idea to set appliances to run while it's light outside, staggering them to max the savings.
any questions
.
Solar panels don't need sunshine to work, just daylight, so you can still generate some electricity on gloomy days – important in a country with weather as dull.
PV roof tiles convert the light into electricity, which you can use to power your home during daylight hours. Any energy you don't use is pumped back to the grid. If you use more than the panels generate, the excess comes off the grid, exactly as it did before the panels were fitted.
In the winter, when solar power is less, you'll take more power from the grid. It's a good idea to set appliances to run while it's light outside, staggering them to max the savings.
any questions
Millions in UK risking lives with basic electrical blunders
- At least one person in the UK dies each week from an electrical accident and nearly 1,000 are injured every day
- Complacency is leading to basic blunders, including repairing appliances whilst still plugged in
- People don’t know the danger of electricity, citing plane crashes and lightning strikes as similar concerns, despite fatalities due to electricity being drastically higher
- Celebrity home improvement experts Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan urge UK to download ESC’s new smartphone safety app to ‘bridge the gap’ between the public’s perception of electrical danger and the reality
The research from ESC reveals a dangerous level of ignorance about the perils of electricity in UK households. In the past year, almost one million people have repaired an appliance while it is still plugged in; despite the fact this can result in a fatal or serious injury. Other electrical ‘confessions’ included knowingly using faulty plugs or sockets (12.2 million people), ignoring burning smells coming from an appliance or socket (1.5 million people) and trailing cables near hot surfaces or cookers (2 million people).
Tuesday 1 November 2011
Lack of information hinders UK energy efficiency uptake
to be honest. do you really know what PV is? how does a Solar panel work...
a lack of information is hampering energy efficiency.
Ninety per cent are unaware of the existence of Carbon Trust loans, although respondents said they were keen to go green at home, if financially rewarded.
there is a lack of education about energy efficiency is seriously hampering progress.
Over one quarter of those surveyed said they would be motivated to save energy if they had access to financial subsidies in the form of interest-free eco loans to support their switch to more energy efficient products.
Although 70% of respondents were willing to or had already installed environmentally-friendly heating systems and 60% were willing to install solar panels, only 13% had heard of and understood photovoltaics’ Feed-in Tariffs.
Measurable cost savings were what matter most to most of you... ever heard of a smart meter???
surveys also found that 81% of the UK is purchasing energy-saving light bulbs – ahead of their German and French counterparts. Despite this, only 3% were willing to install sensors that shut lights off when a room is unoccupied.
need any info??????? call us!
a lack of information is hampering energy efficiency.
Ninety per cent are unaware of the existence of Carbon Trust loans, although respondents said they were keen to go green at home, if financially rewarded.
there is a lack of education about energy efficiency is seriously hampering progress.
Over one quarter of those surveyed said they would be motivated to save energy if they had access to financial subsidies in the form of interest-free eco loans to support their switch to more energy efficient products.
Although 70% of respondents were willing to or had already installed environmentally-friendly heating systems and 60% were willing to install solar panels, only 13% had heard of and understood photovoltaics’ Feed-in Tariffs.
Measurable cost savings were what matter most to most of you... ever heard of a smart meter???
surveys also found that 81% of the UK is purchasing energy-saving light bulbs – ahead of their German and French counterparts. Despite this, only 3% were willing to install sensors that shut lights off when a room is unoccupied.
need any info??????? call us!
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