The last quarters gas bill landed on the doormat this morning............what a delight!
We have managed to reduce our average dialy gas consumtion by a whopping two thirds this quarter versus the same quarter last year!
Here's the proof ... our lowest ever bill just £68.00 Sept - Nov, 3 bed semi, a family of five (even more remarkable this is includes 4 females! Sorry ladies).
Would you like help to do the same visit www.heatandenergy.org
UK Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband announced steps in the UK aimed at helping householders make their contribution to cutting emissions.
Pay As You Save is a trial for homeowners to install energy efficient installations and renewables, regardless of financial ability!
Homeowners in Birmingham, Sunderland, London Borough of Sutton and Stroud will be testing out new ways to finance whole house energy makeovers under the Government’s £4m Pay As You Save scheme. Following an open competition, Birmingham City Council, Gentoo Sunderland, British Gas, B&Q UK and Stroud District Council have been chosen to deliver individual projects in the first ever UK trials.
The Home Energy Pay As You Save pilots will give households the opportunity to invest in energy efficiency and microgeneration technologies in their homes with no upfront cost. Householders will make repayments spread over a long enough period so that repayments are lower than their predicted energy bill savings, meaning financial and carbon savings are made from day one.
A total of around 500 homes across England will take part in the trial which will provide evidence of how to foot the bill for the Great British Refurb – the Government’s plan to make the 22 million existing homes in the UK more energy efficient.
In my opinion this is one of the smartest ideas of the 21st Century and if successful has the potential to put a real deny in energy consumption and costs..in fact this alone is possibly enough to win my vote at the next election!
Things are busy over on Why Waste - we thought we'd tell you about a couple of recent listings to wet your appetite and get you logging on to have a look.
Office Stationary
Leeds Council have approx. 70 second hand ring binders they no longer need. Could you give them a good home? Also available are some in/out trays, magazine and CD holders.
If you are interested, call Lynsey Taylor on 0113 2143930.
Wood Waste
Companies in Dewsbury (1 skip every 2 - 3 weeks) and Ossett (1 skip per. month) have wood offcuts and timber pieces they would like to see going to good homes. Interested?
More information, pictures and contact details can be found on 'material available: wood' section on the Why Waste Website.
Have You Got?
Waste Cooking Oil - Free Collection!
Greenworld Biodiesel need used cooking oil for recycling.
A licenced waste carrier, they can leave a clean, resealable barrel with you and pick it up when it is full. For more information click here.
Geomet Recycling
in Leeds are keen to find new sources of steel or aluminium scrap. Bulk quantities of cans, computer waste, WEEE, steel or catalytic convertors are also sought. Geoment are also very interested in hearing from recyclers or collectors who may want to set up alliances. See the listing here.
Factory Street Studios
in Bradford need dressing up clothes for children's Popstar and Rockstar Parties. Anything glam, shiny, sparkly is needed, but especially items for boys If you have anything you could donate or are interested in the rockstar school, contact Amy on 01274 682125
Clayton Hall Anaerobic Digestion
Are looking for food & organic waste. Huddersfield, Halifax and Wakefield are all near enough for collection routes. Processing will be cheaper than landfill and food will be used to make methanol for energy and fertiliser. If you are interested, get in touch with them via the Why Waste website here.
The Business Resource Efficiency Improvement Grants programme (BREIG)
helps businesses in the Yorkshire and Humber region to improve their resource efficiency; providing grants and access to third party expertise to target reductions in waste, energy and/or water whilst at the same time boosting bottom-line profits. As part of the CO2 Sense Yorkshire programme, BREIG helps support the cost of capital investment, consultancy or training that results in the greater use of recycled or environmentally friendly processes and materials, reduced energy, fuel or water consumption, reduced landfill waste and improved production efficiencies.
Businesses can apply for a capital grant of up to £8,000, a consultancy grant of up to £2,000 and a training grant of up to £500 to help put in place measures which will cut waste and usage of energy and water.
Grants are available until 31st March 2012 or until all funds are exhausted. Apply now for a BREIG grant and start building a better future for your business.
To apply for your grant, call 0113 368 5232 now
or Email: breig@co2sense.org.uk
Business Link are offering SEEDA funded grants for their Energy Grant 500 scheme. Businesses with an annual spend of £1,500 - £30,000 can claim for these £500 grants.
What's Included:-
- Your energy meter and return envelope
- A sheet of 'switch off' stickers
- 2 Carbon Trust posters
- 'What to Do' info sheet
- Walkaround checklist
- Grant Application Form
What you need to do....
Step 1
Fit your energy meter and start to log your weekly readings to see just how much energy you are using.
Step 2
Carry out walkaround and complete checklist.
Step 3
Decide on your 'Switch off, Wrap up and Control' action plan.
After these three steps you can then opt to apply for the grant or simply send back the energy meter.
We’ve all grown up taking water for granted. Turn on the tap and there’s water, flush the wc, take a bath, put on the dishwasher, turn on a hosepipe. We use water without really thinking about it. We’ve never had to change our ways – until now.
We’re at the tipping point of needing to take a more active role in reducing the amount of water we use, otherwise we will ultimately suffer higher water bills.
Only 1% or the earth water is available for drinking. Governments are setting water and energy conservation targets, with many businesses already paying excessively high water bills caused by lack of regulation from water companies, billing errors, water leaks.
Domestic customers not on meters metres fail to recognise the cost of their water usage and need to understand that when you heat water you are also using gas and/or electricity, hence reducing your water consumption will in turn reduce your fuel costs, and if this isn’t a wakeup call be aware of plans for every home to be fitted with water meters.
We are more aware of our environment than ever. It’s only a matter of time before water conservation goes the same way as recycling of household waste. Both are modern-day issues: recycling came around because we needed to reduce the pressure of ever-growing consumerism and wastage. In the same way, changes in weather patterns and the effects of global warming have had such a dramatic effect on the UK’s water supply that scarcity and cost are becoming increasingly important issues for all of us.
In the home:How can I save water?
It’s easy, water-saving doesn’t require drastic measures, huge expense or big shifts in the way you do things, start at the beginning with small steps, learn and understand how much water somewater-saving products will save (and how much extra money you’ll have in your pocket), then adopt even more water-saving measures.
Reduce your water usage by 9 litres a day, you can do this simply by saving the cold water that runs as your shower warms up, with a Pop-Up Bucket - and then use the water on the plants.A new product to market is Hydrasave – a clever inexpensive device that automatically diverts the cold water we typically wastewaiting for hot water to reach the taps to a water butt.
Reduce your water usage by around 12 litres a day by installing a cheap water dams in your toilet cistern.
Reduce your water usage by 30 litres a day can be achieved by installing aerating tap fixtures and low flow showerheads (these can also improve your shower’s performance effectively turning a low pressured system in to a power shower, Don’t believe me? Check out this video http://heatandenergy.com/WaterSavingProducts.) not to mention the reduces costs to heat the water
For Businesses:
It stands to reason that if they above measures will work in your home then they can make a dramatic savings in your business, but you have the opportunity to do so much more...
An Effective Water Management Plan Can * Reduce Water Usage by as much as 80% * Increase Available Hot Water * Reduce Water Heating Costs by up to 80% * Reduce Plant & Machinery Running Costs * Reduce Maintenance Costs * Meet Government Environmental Targets
Implement a water management plan which will guarantee continued saving and reduction in water costs
Obtain Full Staff/Tenant Support. This is essential for any plan to be successful and ongoing. Without adequate time and financial commitment savings will be minimal. Active support from staff and tenants is key to success and with this in mind keep plans simple and your targets achievable. Staff responsibilities within the plan need to be clearly defined enabling them to take ownership of their elements, Team work is the key. Draft a Water Policy Statement that is simple, understandable and to the point. An example: This Association is committed to developing and maintaining a comprehensive water saving programme. This will increase efficiency, cut costs and enable us to make a positive contribution towards meeting our water and energy conservation targets at the same time enhancing the environments Identify the true cost of water Do you know how much your business spends on water per annum or how much is water costing you?
Check your water bills for the last 3 years and note the annual consumption and cost. Has your water bill increased over the last 3 years, if so Why? Understand your water usage, does your water usage follow trends or is it constant, are there seasonal variations? Identify unexplained increases in usage has your bill unexpectedly increased? you may be throwing thousands down the drain without realizing. Consider associated costs such as energy requirements and chemical treatment. How much does it cost to heat up 1m sq water to 70c Start to read your water meters on a regular basis.
Identify Water Use Carry out a water use survey to determine how, where and why water is being used. Cistern Volumes can be measured, Basins can be gauged by disconnecting u bend and measuring timed flow into a bucket. Showers can be measured in a graduated bucket over 30 seconds Calculation of an accurate water balance requires realistic estimates of operating hours. Talk to staff about patterns of use as they will have a very accurate idea. Once the survey is complete you should have a water balance which lists and quantifies individual items of water use. Compare this figure with the amount of metered water for the building 10% discrepancy for unaccounted water should be expected. Any more than 10% means something has been missed or more seriously you have a leak. Re-Assess Your Water Use This step will help focus your actions for improving water efficiency. Do I really need to use as much water in this area? Do your showers need to use 30 litres per minute or will 8 litres suffice. Problem Areas will become very obvious and will enable you to prioritise easily. Encourage Staff/Tenant input and involvement. Switch off running taps and report leaks drips and water wastage. Identify and Evaluate Water Efficiency Measures (WEMs) Find products that can achieve your aim, do not sacrifice performance for saving, Low cost WEMs are often the most cost effective so locate and repair any leaks as a priority. Fit smaller water meters (Where appropriate) lowering standing charge bills and renegotiate the tariff. High users can attract larger discounts. Research water saving products and their effectiveness. Water saving showers can bring usage as low as 8 litres per minute and still give an effective pleasant shower. Tap controls can reduce flow from 25 litres per minute to only 6 litres per minute, consider tap aerators, push button time control taps, electronic time, control taps, and push button retro fits to existing taps. Cistern Dams and other measure can reduce usage by as much as 5 litres per flush, PIR urinal controls can be set to only flush the cistern when the unit has been used rather than on a regular basis throughout the day and night. Cheap and cheerful flow restrictors can be easily and cheaply fitted to pipe work to significantly reduce flow to high use areas. By educating staff/tenants in water conservation you can manage and identify problems quickly and effectively making sure repairs are carried out promptly i.e. dripping taps Implement Your Plan and Monitor Results Commit your water management plan to paper. Written plans are not set in stone but used as a benchmark to be referred to on a regular basis. Set targets make them achievable, realistic and review them regularly. Nominate staff for specific responsibilities within the plan so that they can be encouraged and guided. Lack of goal and an established time frame means that focus will be eroded and the plan will slip and eventually fail. Identify and prioritise actions so that you can initiate the most cost effective WEMs as soon as possible then use the extra savings to finance more expensive WEMs. Review the plan on a regular basis to keep up to date with estate changes, usage, occupancy numbers this helps retain focus keeping the plan fresh and viable, If not reviewed on a regular basis plans will stagnate and fail It is your responsibility to drive it forward and not become complacent. For more ideas or assistance visitwww.heatandenergy.org
This isn't renewables, but it is super efficient heating
MINIMUM 50% REDUCTION IN ENERGY USE
The incredible efficiency of thermal infra red equates to substantial savings on heating bills across all three of the main heating mediums ie gas and oil fired radiators along with electric storage heaters.
The following examples are results of independant tests carried out to compare the energy usage of infra red panels against the other three heating options.
The tests are based on reaching and maintaining a comfortable level of thermostatically controlled heat in a domestic home. INFRA RED v GAS CENTRAL HEATINGINFRA RED USED ONLY 38% OF THE ENERGY THAT GAS USED INFRA RED v OIL FIRED INFRA RED USED ONLY 30% OF THE ENERGY THAT OIL USED INFRA RED v NIGHT STORAGE HEATERS INFRA RED USED ONLY 28% OF THE ENERGY THAT NIGHT STORAGE HEATERS USED visit www.heatandenergy.org for more details
‘This year, let’s take the first step towards a better, happier, healthier future. If we decide not to, we know what a future with climate change will bring and none of us want that. Carbon is the problem, starting to cut our carbon is the first step of the solution. That’s why we’re inviting everyone to make a simple 10% cut in their carbon over the next year. We’re on board, are you?’
This year, thousands of individuals and organisations from across the country are putting aside their differences to help write the first chapter of 21st Century’s biggest story The idea is simple: we work together to achieve a 10% cut in the UK’s carbon emissions in 2010. From village post offices to City skyscrapers, everyone’s invited. Cutting 10% in one year is a bold target, but for most of us it’s an achievable one, and is in line with what scientists say we need right now. And by signing up to a 10% target we’re not just supporting 10:10 - we’re making it happen. The success of 10:10 depends on getting everyone involved, and the 10:10 website has all the tools you need to pass the message on far and wide. We need to start spreading the word to every corner of the country, inviting our friends, family, colleagues, customers, competitors – everyone we know – to take part. It’s easy to feel powerless in the face of a huge problem like climate change, but by uniting large numbers of people and institutions around immediate, effective and achievable action, 10:10 enables all of us to make a meaningful difference. It’s the perfect opportunity to find out what’s possible when we work together. 10:10 is about putting aside our differences to tackle the defining challenge of our age. 10:10 is about working together and raising our game. 10:10 is an idea whose time has come. Let’s get started.
By signing up to 10:10, you are taking the lead on the defining challenge of our age - flying the flag for positive changes, audacious goals, and fresh thinking on climate change. If anything’s worth shouting about, this is!
Tesco has announced a new partnership with an environmental technology firm as it tries to meet ambitious carbon reduction targets.
The supermarket stated two years ago that it intends to cut its carbon footprint in half across its worldwide operations.
CA ecoSoftware has joined with the UK's largest retailer to help achieve this target through energy efficiency measures and IT innovation.
Mike Yorwerth, IT director of Tesco plc, explained that streamlining environmental efforts requires large-scale organisation.
He said: "We're also overseeing hundreds of projects around the world designed to reduce our carbon footprint, all of which need to be prioritised and measured."
"From investigating ways to reduce energy costs and mitigating climate change risks facing the organisation, to seizing emerging opportunities, organisations are taking action," added ecoSoftware senior vice president and general manager Terrence Clark.
There are around 468,000 employees working for Tesco at more than 4,000 locations in 14 different countries.
Over 60s should claim for winter fuel payments help
Every household with someone aged 60 or over is entitled to help towards their winter energy costs.
Under the Government's Winter Fuel Payments scheme, you can make a claim if you had reached the qualifying age by 29th September 2009.
The over 60s can claim a lump sum up to £250 tax-free, while the over 80s get up to £400 (increased from £200 and £350, respectively, last year).
Payments can take a few months to arrive so the earlier you apply the better.
How to claim
If you have received the Winter Fuel Payment in previous years, or receive the State Pension, you do not need to do anything, and payments will be made automatically in November or December.
Anyone else will need download a claim form and return it to the Pensions Service, or ring 08459 15 15 15 (full details on the Pension Service site). Claims must be made by 30 March 2010 for winter 09/10 payments.
Backdated payments
While you can't claim backdated payments from 2001-onwards, you can claim for winters between 1997 and 2000 inclusive.
Exclusions
You can't get a winter fuel payment if:
You've been in hospital getting free treatment for 52 weeks.
You are in prison.
You are subject to immigration control and are not eligible for Government help.
Many still carry the erroneous belief that a warm or cold feeling depends entirely on the temperature of the surrounding air. That is completely wrong!
An example from nature proves it: Skiers and mountain climbers do not freeze even if they are in extremely cold air. The reason - they are surrounded by warm infrared waves, which come directly from the sun or are reflected by the environment (snow, stones, earth etc.).
Bringing space age into our homes and business is the concept of Infrared heating, 100% safe, amazingley energy efficient, and contemporary design. When infrared rays touch a surface, energy is released in the form of heat, irrespective of the surrounding air temperature. This explains why people on a winter sports holiday are able to enjoy a pleasant sunbath at low outside temperatures without feeling the cold.
Unlike conventional heating elements, infrared heating units heat the masonry, ceilings and furnishings, not the air. Walls can store warmth much longer than air and return the warmth to the room. Masonry stays dry and mould and mildew have no chance to spread.A further advantage is that the air is not circulated and thus, dust is not whirled about.
In comparison with an oil or central heating unit, purchasing and operational costs are halved, and there is no cost of maintenance, no need for a separate furnace room, storage space for heating
materials, no chimney necessary, lifelong maintenance-free operation, various installation possibilities and an array of appealing design.
