Latest Energy Savings News
Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband has outlined Government's latest measures to help householders save money and energy as he welcomed 10:10 - a new campaign to cut carbon emissions by 10% in 2010. Around 90,000 homes in some of the poorest areas in the UK should see an average saving of 20% per year in their emissions through a new community based energy saving scheme which starts today. This amounts to financial savings of around £300 per year off fuel bills. In the past year, more than 1.2 million homes have received some form of insulation under the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target with enough professional loft insulation installed to stretch from London to Sydney and back. The number of households getting this help through energy companies has been increased, with Government recently increasing the target by 20%. Responding to the 10:10 campaign, the Department of Energy and Climate Change has confirmed that it is on course to cut its own emissions at its London headquarters by 10% by April 2010 and it will make further reductions through the rest of 2010 and beyond. DECC staff have been encouraged by Ed Miliband to join him in taking up the 10:10 pledge in their homes and lifestyles.
Ed Miliband said: "As government, we are in the best position to make it as easy as possible for everyone to cut their carbon emissions. By signing up to the10:10 campaign, I hope people will be sending a broader message to governments round the world. They need to agree a global deal at Copenhagen that is ambitious in cutting emissions, fair to developing countries and effective in holding countries to their word. We will cut emissions in the UK by at least a third by 2020. Concerted action shows the world we are serious about tackling climate change ahead of the crucial climate talks in Copenhagen."
Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced the selection of 25 cost-share projects under the Clean Cities program that will be funded with nearly $300 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. These projects will speed the transformation of the nation's vehicle fleet, putting more than 9,000 alternative fuel and energy efficient vehicles on the road, and establishing 542 refueling locations across the country. The Department of Energy also estimates they will help displace approximately 38 million gallons of petroleum per year. "The Clean Cities program is helping give state and local governments the tools they need to build a greener transportation system that will create new jobs and help to put America on the path to a clean energy future," said Secretary Chu. "Advancing the number of alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles on the road will increase our energy security, decrease our dependence on oil, and reduce pollution across the country."
The government of the Netherlands has earmarked 65 million euros to help make the Netherlands the international testing ground for electric cars. It has also drawn up a plan to speed up the introduction of electric cars onto the market. By 2010, the price of electric cars is to be far more competitive. And the first steps must have been taken towards a standard battery charging system. The government believes that the Netherlands is ideal for electric cars. Distances are short, roads are flat and the electricity network is good. What is more, many of the leading suppliers of parts for electric cars are Dutch companies. The government wants to make use of this advantageous starting position. Some of the measures from the government plan are: (1) Companies that buy electric cars will receive an average of 8,000 euros in support, (2) Companies investing in battery charging points will be eligible for tax breaks, (3) Electric cars will be exempted from both car and motorcycle tax and road tax and (4) Wherever possible, the government will buy electric cars for its own fleet. The Formula E team, made up of people from the knowledge industry, the market and civil society organisations, will look at the challenges, opportunities and dilemmas presented by electric cars.
Greener living in Britain's first eco-towns will become a reality for up to 30,000 people in five years' time, as Housing Minister John Healey today announced the four sites that have passed the government's tough standards to go through to the next planning phase, full public consultation and local planning approval. The successful eco-town sites will pioneer innovative design and infrastructure for greener living. They are Whitehill-Bordon in Hampshire, St Austell (China Clay) in Cornwall, Rackheath in Norfolk and North West Bicester in Oxfordshire. These sites have met the government's tough standards during two years of thorough assessment. The chosen sites are Whitehill-Bordon in Hampshire, St Austell (China Clay) in Cornwall, Rackheath in Norfolk and North West Bicester in Oxfordshire
The European Commission adopted today four ecodesign regulations 1 to improve the energy efficiency of industrial motors, circulators, televisions, refrigerators and freezers. The regulations lay down energy efficiency requirements which will save about 190 TWh per year by 2020, which is comparable to the combined annual electricity consumption of Sweden and Austria. "This package is a milestone on the road to achieving our energy efficiency, climate change and economic recovery objectives. It will save impressive amounts of electricity, CO2 emissions and electricity costs, while creating jobs and boosting the deployment of highly innovative technologies," said Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs. The regulation on motors sets energy performance requirements for most of the electric motors used in industrial applications . Furthermore it will foster the use of "variable speed drives" adjusting the motor output to the actual needs, instead of operating always at full capacity. The energy savings triggered by the motor regulation are about 135 TWh per year by 2020.
