A smart meter is a special electronic device that records electrical data like voltage levels, current consumption, power level, and kilowatt-hours (KWh) for billing purposes. Smart Meters communicate the data to the user for better clarity of usage behaviour, and electric power providers for system tracking and customer billing. With the increasing use of smart meters in the energy market, consumers have gained access to vital energy information through websites such as energypolicyblog.com, and improved utility expense management. Energy usage is a major environmental concern today. A smart meter not only helps people to save fuel expenditure but also monitors energy consumption as well as improving air quality. Consumers can choose from several smart meter solutions including Customer Self-SERP (Customer Self-Service), automatic billing, interactive tariff plans and SaaS (Software as a Service) energy management software solutions.
Smart meters have become a very popular choice in energy efficiency and cost reduction programs. Along with Energy Efficient windows and doors, a smart meter is something that most households are looking to install to improve sustainability. Smart meters use energy consumption data to determine whether your home appliances are using energy in a sustainable manner. This information is useful to determine when one of your home utilities needs an upgrade or maintenance. For example, if the efficiency of your dishwasher is improved, it could attract a lower energy tariff. Similarly, if an air conditioning system is malfunctioning or not performing optimally, it can be replaced by an AC Company in Mesa, AZ, or elsewhere. This can decrease your overall energy consumption, and comes with the added benefit of lowering your costs.
You could even improve your home’s energy consumption through minor home improvements and renovations. For instance, carrying out a crawl space encapsulation chicago (if that’s where you live) could improve energy efficiency in your home by creating a sealed and conditioned environment beneath the house. During encapsulation, the crawl space floor and walls are covered with a vapor barrier, usually made of reinforced polyethylene, acting as a shield against moisture and external air infiltration. This prevents moisture from entering the crawl space, reducing the risk of mold growth, wood decay, and insulation deterioration. The sealed crawl space also minimizes the entry of outside air, preventing hot or cold air from affecting your home’s living spaces. As a result, you’ll enjoy more consistent indoor temperatures, decrease the strain on your heating and cooling systems, experience lower energy bills, improved HVAC efficiency, and an overall more comfortable and healthier living environment.
The improved energy efficiency can also bring down the need for higher power tariffs. Customers who install and operate energy-efficient devices receive rebates as long as they keep their appliances operational. Moreover, energy efficiency programs can help customers obtain credits that they can redeem against taxes and other charges for energy consumption. This process is known as energy shopping.
A smart meter not only improves the efficiency of the energy supply but also detects faults before any major damage occurs. In cases where an appliance is failing to operate normally, the energy efficiency program will alert the user and he can immediately repair the problem. Once the problem has been identified, it can easily be repaired by the energy supplier, without the need for expensive repairs.
The smart meter can work to its fullest capacity if it is properly installed in a home. However, it requires a wifi connection, so it can’t be installed in a home without internet. Spectrum internet packages are a popular option for those looking to upgrade their home with a strong internet connection. This then allows a smart meter to be installed. A fault detection system can also be installed on the mainline or a separate circuit breaker. In addition to the appliances and the entire house, the smart meter will also record and store energy consumption data, so that future billing can be generated accurately. The recorded data can be accessed by the energy supplier for regular updates.
Installing a smart meter at your home will help you become more energy efficient. It will reduce the amount of energy waste and you can save money on your annual electricity bill. In addition to this, your friendly energy supplier can provide you with the information you need on your energy usage. A smart meter and its accompanying measures are designed to give you greater control over your household energy usage so that you can save money and protect the environment.
There is a very real risk of leaking toxic substances that can cause serious health issues and catastrophic environmental damage anywhere fuel and chemical storage tanks are used. A tank monitoring system servicesare designed to detect leaks and track tank levels in both underground and above ground storage tanks. Monitoring systems also provide ongoing and up to date measurements of the tank level, the volume of liquids, temperature fluctuations, water level and sound alarms when high and/or low fuel levels are detected. Some systems can monitor double-wall tanks and supply lines, pressurized pipes and provide monitoring data remotely.
Leaking storage tanks can result in lost product and revenue and cause serious legal problems. Gas-station owners, storage facilities, building, maintenance, industrial and manufacturing facility managers, schools, and hospitals all need to have a reliable tank monitoring system in place if they use any liquid fuel such as those supplied by the likes of Romeo’s Fuel or have chemical storage tanks. In some cases, homeowners too may require these fuel monitoring systems if they have requirements for a large amount of oil, for purposes such as heating the home, or the greenhouse, conservatory, and more. Having a leak detection system in place that will quickly alert managers, employees, or others to problems is the key to preventing these issues and staying legally compliant. The three main types of tank monitoring systems include:
• ATG, or Automatic Tank Gauge systems. This type of monitoring system is designed to conduct statistical test that meet federal testing regulations. The main benefits of an automatic tank gauge system is ensuring compliance with state government regulations that include automatic monitoring of fluid levels to maintain accurate inventories for tracking use or sales of products.
• TCV, or Temperature Compensated Volume, are designed to monitor product changes in a tank due to seasonal expansion and contraction. Because warmer temperatures cause product expansion and colder temperatures cause contraction, systems must be programmed for different temperature values to take seasonal temperature fluctuations into account.
• UST, or Ultrasonic Tank, monitor systems are typically more accurate than gauges. Whereas gauges are accurate to plus or minus 11 percent volume, an ultrasonic monitor is accurate to plus or minus one percent. UST monitoring systems are highly efficiently and cost-effective, comply with local, state and federal requirements and ensure safe and efficient operation by continuously monitoring for leak detection. UST systems are also referred to as fuel management systems, leak detection systems and automatic tank gauge systems.
Leak detection gauges and visual notification displays immediately notify personnel when a leak, overfill conditions or a loss of pressure in a fuel line occurs. A variety of terms are used to describe tank monitoring systems. These include “automatic tank gauge systems,” “leak detection systems” and “fuel management systems.” Irrelevant of the terminology used, tank monitoring systems employ some or all of the following detection methods:
• Automatic tank gauges use probes, or sensors that are accurate to 1/1000 of an inch. These sensors not only monitor the height of fuel, but the height of the water that typically accumulates in underground storage tanks. Note that safety regulations require water to be at no more than a one-inch level at all times.
• Because liquids expand and contract at different rates, it is crucial that temperature changes be monitored to know the increase or decrease in volume the fluctuation may cause. As an example, a rise in temperature of one degree Fahrenheit in a 10,000-gallon gasoline tank will result in the gasoline increasing seven gallons in volume.
• Sensors placed between the walls of a double-walled storage tank will read fluid leaking from the inner wall of the tank.
• Alarm will sound if the pressure should drop below a preset PSI.
Display consoles can provide various readouts depending on the type of system. For example:
• A green status light indicates the system is functioning properly, a yellow light indicates an issue that needs to be addressed and a red light indicated a breech is in progress. A touchscreen display can show the number of tanks in service, the type and amount of liquid in each tank and record the pressure in each tank during testing.
• Verify how much liquid is in the tank, when it is empty and if a line is not pressurizing properly.
• Check for other alarms that may prevent a test from running.
• Check the pressure in a line.
• Check for visible leaks.
Choosing the best tank monitoring system for a particular application will depend on several factors. This includes the number of tanks that need to be monitored, the types of liquids being stored and the temperature fluctuations in the region of the country where the tanks are located. For those with little prior knowledge of oil and fuel tanks, it may be prudent to contact professional providers like Green Seal Oil Tank Service. This can be especially helpful for homeowners or people who have moved into a property with an oil tank. As for commercial applications, there may be plenty of other regulations to keep in mind, to understand which, consulting the right people can be crucial.
At a minimum, each tank must have a level probe, a sump sensor and an interstitial space monitor. Some monitoring systems, like the Veeder Root 450PLUS, are capable of monitoring as many as 64 tanks and can accommodate up to 99 sensors. Irrelevant of what type of monitoring system is employed, regularly scheduled preventive maintenance is imperative to ensure the tank monitoring system will continue to work properly and ensure the safe and efficient operation of the storage tanks.
When it comes to where to buy home heating oil, there are several different types of oil that you may need for your home heating system. These types of oils can be purchased at different hardware stores, gasoline stations and online.
You should never use natural gas, or electricity when heating your home. The fumes can pose a danger to both you and your family, and the safety of your home is important. It is best to use only oil for your home heating system if you have the space and can afford it. These home heating oils are much better for your family than most other types of heating oil. It is always best and safest to purchase oil from a heating oil supplier to ensure you are getting the right product.
Another type of oil you should not use for heating your home is diesel oil. This type of oil has been proven to cause a number of problems for your engine, so it is best not to use this type of oil. Instead, use the natural gas that you can purchase at your local hardware store. Alternatively, you can also look to have your oil delivered to you via the various fuel delivery services around the US. You can Click here to learn more regarding home heating oil deliveries.
Some of the most popular types of home heating oil are the propane and natural gas that you see in all of the gas stations and pumps throughout the United States. You can also get propane from websites like discount-propane.com too. When you get these home heating oil products, make sure to read the label closely. The more popular products tend to carry a higher price tag than the cheaper products, so you may need to make some adjustments for your budget if you are not willing to change where you buy home heating oil.
There are also some other options for where to buy home heating oil. For example, you may want to check with your local newspaper, since many people use their newspapers to find special coupons and sales. You may also be able to find some specials and deals on a lot of different types of products that are listed in your local newspaper or online through other sources.
For instance, if you search for propane gas suppliers in your area, you should be able to compile a shortlist of potential options so that you know you will be getting the gas you need at the best possible price. For example, a simple search for Nelson Propane in Corsicana, TX (if you are based in Texas) might be all it takes for you to get the propane gas needed for your home quickly and at an affordable price.
It will take some time to research all of your options and find the best home heating oil for your home. But, by making a little bit of time and doing some research, you will be sure to find the best deals.
One thing you can do is ask for the help of friends or neighbors who have already found a better alternative to home heating oil. They might have valuable recommendations and could suggest companies similar to Wendt Propane and Oil where you can purchase from. Also, they may have used oil for heating their home and can give you tips on how you can save money.
When you think about it, there are a lot of reasons why you might want to look into purchasing home heating oil. Also, when you have a new home, you probably want to be able to use this as an investment for the future. Since new homes generally cost thousands of dollars, you will be able to get a decent amount of savings from purchasing home heating oil. for your new home.
By learning all of the different options available, you will be able to choose the best option that fits your needs and finances. Once you have learned where to buy home heating oil, your new home will be ready to enjoy any type of comfort you wish for.
The average office is a resource-intensive place to be. There are lots of consumables, lots of disposable products and staff are often too busy to consider the ramifications of the way they work. Fortunately, the stationery industry is way ahead of us, offering sustainable office supplies. So when you go to check out different supplies for your office you can easily find eco-friendly or recycled materials to suit your needs. There are many viable alternatives to everyday items that deliver the same performance with genuine green credentials.
That last bit is important. The same products we use all the time with no compromise but more sustainability. Now more than ever it is possible to lower our environmental impact without having to change the way we work or use inferior products.
Here are a few ways the stationery industry is becoming eco-friendly.
The average office will consume several tons of stationery each year. The larger the office, the more waste. It doesn’t have to be that way. Many leading stationery manufacturers are offering green office supplies alongside existing products. There are also organisations like TerraCycle who can recycle the vast majority of office stationery.
There are a range of recycled office supplies made primarily of recycled materials. They offer sustainable office supplies with no compromise on quality, longevity or usability. Pens, pencils, paper, printer cartridges, toner cartridges, envelopes, office furniture and other common office items can now feature a large proportion of recycled material.
The other side of the equation is recycling. Many office suppliers offer recycling services
alongside their delivery services. Box up your used items and your supplier can collect them along with your usual deliveries and recycle them for you. Almost everything within a modern office can be recycled and there are organisations in the UK that do anexcellent job of it.
For example, the aforementioned TerraCycle recycles ballpoint pens, used coffee grounds, plastic products, print ink and toner, fusers and a whole lot more.
We all know that plastic is the enemy in terms of being eco-friendly. Single use plastic most of all. The stationery industry knows this which is why they are beginning to offer a huge range of sustainable office supplies traditionally made from plastic.
Examples include plastic-free A4 binders, recyclable or biodegradable water cups, cork in-trays and desk accessories, water in a can and other innovative products. Many singleuse plastic items now have a viable alternative that delivers the same quality with far less waste.
The average business also consumes a lot of chemicals, from screen wipes to disinfectants, washing-up liquid to hand wash. Fortunately, there are now viable alternatives to chemical products that not only get the job done effectively but also align with sustainable practices. By opting for eco friendly cleaning supplies, businesses can reduce their environmental impact while maintaining a clean and healthy workspace. These products are designed to be just as efficient as traditional chemicals, offering a greener option without compromising on quality.
The ingredients these alternatives contain, produce a much lower environmental impact while delivering the same cleaning power of chemical products. In addition to using eco-friendly cleaning supplies, your business can further enhance their commitment to environmental responsibility by exploring sustainable practices for your office environment.
You can go through some resources such as this article from Green Facilities London on the Internet to gain more valuable insights about this. The article emphasizes the importance of ethical and eco-friendly cleaning services, highlighting their commitment to sustainability and the use of green cleaning products.
The days of having to compromise on quality or usability in return for being sustainable are long gone. The modern office can lower its environmental impact significantly with little effort or extra cost. Isn’t it time we all joined in?
Something must be done to reduce plastic use. Experts predict that if we don’t make an effort to reduce how much plastic we use, our oceans will have more plastic than fish in them within the next 30 years. Each day, over seven million plastic pieces and microplastics are released into the world’s oceans. Evidently, it’s time to take action and reduce casual plastic use for good. Environmental awareness has already increased and some changes have already been implemented, for example, the plastic bag fee of 2015 and the recent ban on plastic straws. Small lifestyle changes can make a huge difference in the fight against plastic use.
With the year almost at an end, it’s the ideal time to start thinking about what you can do to reduce your plastic use. Forget fad diets and gym memberships, reducing your plastic use is both rewarding and extremely easy to achieve. Booklet printing specialists Where The Trade Buys explore how you can start off 2020 plastic free:
Takeaway plastic coffee cups are a major source of waste material and plastic takes a shocking 450 years to decompose. With this in mind, it is more pressing than ever to make the switch to reusable items. This might be the reason why many cafes prefer to use customized paper cups for coffee takeaways (get branded coffee cups for your takeaway). This can be an effective way for such businesses to promote their brand and create a lasting impression on their customers as well. KeepCups and Chilly’s Bottles are popular brands that focus on sustainable products.
Luckily, these items are becoming less commonplace in the UK today. However, it can still be difficult to avoid them at times. When you pick up a takeaway for example, don’t be afraid to say no to the excess plastic bags your food is wrapped in.
Many supermarkets are now making switch to packaging free products. If you have the option, choose to load up brown paper bags with fruit and vegetables rather than choosing pre-package food. Alternatively, you could grow your own veg in a greenhouse or allotment.
Plastic toothbrushes take 400 years to decompose, and if you consider how many you go through in a lifetime, the life span of them all is shocking. A bamboo toothbrush on the other hand, only takes five to ten years – minimal in comparison!
Shampoo and hand soap always seem to come with excess plastic packaging. There is simply no need to coat these items in plastic, as they work perfectly well in bar form. This is another tiny switch that will make little difference to your daily routine but really help out the environment.
Instead of chucking out the plastic bottle when your washing up liquid runs out, hold on to it and get it refilled! Lots of sustainable shops now offer this service, making it easier than ever to opt for refills rather than wasting more plastic.
Thankfully, zero waste shops are becoming far more common in the UK. The idea of zero waste shops is that they sell produce with absolutely no plastic packaging. Switching up your shopping routine and choosing a zero-waste shop would be a great habit to get into in 2020. You can find a list of zero waste shops and where to find them here.
This last one is essential, although perhaps not as easy as the other lifestyle changes. Every time you buy something, especially online, it is likely to come swaddled in needless layers of plastic. If you cut down on this spending, you could make a real environmental change.
Along the same theme, consider switching to sustainable Tupperware. There are plenty of alternatives to wasteful plastic Tupperware, such as bamboo, glass, or stainless-steel alternatives. Oxfam do a great range!
Sustainable food storage is another factor that people often forget to consider. We throw away single use clingfilm without a second thought, because it seems like such a necessity within our lives. Now however, there are plenty of alternatives to use if you want to go plastic free. Beeswrap, for example, is a ‘natural alternative to plastic wrap’ which can be used time and time again. Once you make an effort to change your routine, these changes will be easy to implement. They will soon become second nature! If everyone chips in and makes an effort towards sustainability, we will see a reduced amount of plastic pollution our oceans.
With climate change at the forefront of today’s issues, saving energy is more important than ever before. Whether we’re cutting down in order to save money, or to help the environment, we should all be making a conscious effort to reduce our energy expenditure. Here, we’re taking a look at some common energy saving myths, as well as the best methods for saving money on energy bills.
For some of us, saving energy is crucial – especially if you suffer from fuel poverty. This is when a household spends more than 10% of its income on domestic energy use, defining them as a fuel poor household. Northern Powergrid, who can help with any new electric connection cost, has been a supporter of the fuel poverty charity, National Energy Action (NEA) for several years. The company’s head of stakeholder and customer engagement, Siobhan Barton, said: “Whilst we don’t sell electricity, as the company responsible for the power network which delivers electricity to 3.9 million homes and businesses across the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire, we do have a role to play in helping the industry tackle fuel poverty and encouraging energy efficiency.
“We’ve reduced our network charges, which form part of domestic customers’ bills from their chosen electricity supplier, funded a Citizens Advice Bureau fuel debt advice service and helped kick-start a number of projects through our community energy seed fund.”
It’s important not to believe everything you hear regarding energy tips. A prime example is leaving your heating on all day is better than just turning it on high when you need it. According to the Energy Saving Trust, this is not the case. They confirm that, in the long run, just having your heating on when you need it will indeed save energy if you did not believe this then you may want to speak to a company to install a furnace and ask them about these claims yourself just to make sure that they also apply to the heater you may be planning on installing.
The key focus here is knowing how much energy is actually required to heat your home. By leaving your heating on for the full day, you are bound to be using energy that you really don’t need to. You could also save energy by opting for appliances like residential heat pump water heater. Compared to their traditional counterpart, these appliances could bring down energy costs by up to 75 percent.
In a similar fashion, some people still believe that leaving your lights on is better than turning them off and on again. Simply said, this isn’t true. Even if you leave the room for 10 minutes, make sure you get into the habit of turning the lights off behind you.
It’s also believed in some quarters that electrical appliances don’t use any power when they are not in use. While technology is advancing, and energy-saving techniques are in place, some appliances draw energy even when they aren’t in use. A prime example is a phone charger. Did you know that leaving the socket switched on with a phone charger attached can cost you up to 80 each year?
A rather bizarre claim is that you should put clingfilm on your windows to save energy. Even more surprising, perhaps, is that this one is actually true. Doing so can help you to keep your home warm, but it’s okay to use any material for the second layer of glazing so long as it’s airtight and transparent. Apply this technique and you can help to trap a small layer of air, which can prevent any heat from escaping. Of course, this should only ever be a short-term measure. If you need this second-layer, you should look into getting double glazing. By using this method to have a third layer, you may see a slight difference, but far less than if you had put it on a single glazed window.
Away from the myths, there are many tried and tested methods which you can rely on and are recognised across the board. Firstly, you should always be sure to shop around, especially if your energy contract is up for renewal. Simply staying with the same supplier as it’s ‘easier’ could see you spending hundreds of pounds more than you need to. There are many price comparison sites for you to benefit from, so make sure you log on and let them do all the hard work!
While we’ve already quashed the myth that you should leave your heating on, did you know that by turning it down by just 1⁰C, you can cut up to 10% off your heating bill? On average, this could equate to a saving of approximately 75 each year.
Elsewhere, tumble dryers are expensive to run, so try to air your washing whenever possible instead. If you do need to use a tumble dryer, make sure it’s full, as one full load uses less energy than two half-full loads. The same goes with loading your washing machine. Make sure you have a full machine and keep it to 30⁰C. Another simple energy-saving trick is to just boil the amount of water you need – especially if you are just making a cup of tea or coffee. While this won’t equate to huge savings, every little helps!
Another handy tip is to spend a little to save a lot. If you are in the position to be able to invest money on insulation, upgrading your boiler, or even using renewable technologies, then you should do so. By looking at links such as www.servicelegends.com/services/air-leakage-test/, you can learn from professionals about the leakage that can occur and how to protect them with proper insulation. By getting a quote and making big changes to your home could save you from wasting money in the long run. Sometimes you can benefit from a grant for these services, but even if not, you can often pay back what you’ve spent quite quickly and start to save money.
An additional excellent option is investing in solar panels for generating electricity. Solar energy is not only sustainable but also renewable, making it a long-term investment that can significantly reduce your reliance on conventional power grids.
Furthermore, you can also use efficient and clean-burning fuels like propane for heating, which can contribute to savings over time, as these fuels typically offer longer-lasting efficiency. To explore these options further, reach out to your local oil and propane delivery supplier or companies like Seabreeze Propane who can deliver propane directly to your home. Making these choices can not only support cost savings but can also promote environmentally responsible energy use for your household.
Of course, while saving money is important, you should also be thinking about helping the environment. Britain is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 34% as early as next year. A key player in achieving this target would be by members of the public becoming energy efficient – both in the workplace and at home. Research has found that many power plants actually waste around two-thirds of the energy that goes into them. In our homes, we simply aren’t monitoring our energy use as closely as we should be, either.
That is where a new app could aid you. In July 2018, Northern Powergrid revealed how it has collaborated with GenGame to trial a mobile game to demonstrate how gaming could incentivise households to reduce their electricity consumption at times of high demand. Players receive an alert telling them the game is starting encouraging them to consider turning off washing machines, televisions, lights and other home devices for short periods of time to earn points and stand a chance of winning cash prizes.
For example, while pausing your washing machine may only be worth approximately 10p, if you include this in the game format, it gives players the chance to earn more money through prizes, which makes it a lot more interesting. Each month has hundreds of pounds worth of prizes available and each player reduces their electricity consumption by 11% on average.
Andrew Webster, Northern Powergrid Innovation Project Manager, said: “Household electricity use will grow significantly as electric vehicles and heat pumps become mainstream, increasing demand on the network. Mobile games offer a fun solution to help manage this demand, rewarding our customers for reducing their consumption at peak periods.”
There are, of course, many other tips and tricks that can help you to save money on your energy bills, reduce fuel poverty and help the environment, too. It’s also important to remember that if you are struggling to afford your gas and electric charges, your supplier should be able to help you come to a solution and negotiate a deal that helps both parties. Why not make sure you take on board some of the advice and do your part – both for your bank balance and the world you live in?
The UK is set on reducing its emissions of greenhouse gasses to nothing by 2050. Achieving this would make the UK the lowest emitters and cleanest country in the world. But is it a realistic proposal?
It was recorded that in the UK alone around 500 million tonnes of CO2 is being emitted every year. The government has begun pushing to reduce this through guidance from the Committee on Climate Change. A huge motive for reducing emissions comes from a UN reports stating that CO2 emissions must be totally stopped to avoid dangerous changes to the climate.
The UK’s climate minister spoke to the BBC News and shared: “The report was a really stark and sober piece of work — a good piece of work. Now we know what the goal is, and we know what some of the levers are. But for me, the constant question is: what is the cost and who’s going to bear that, both in the UK and in the global economy. The question is: what does government need to do, where can the private sector come in, and what technologies will come through?”
Vindis, who offer VW service deals, has shared the extent of this issue and some of the ways emissions can be reduced.
BBC News stated in early 2017 that 80 per cent of the UK’s CO2 emissions had to drop between then and 2050. They recorded that a third of all of all the emissions had come from heating.
The Green Building Council stated in Parliament that 25 million homes will not currently meet the standards of insulation being enforced in 2050, and will need to be replaced to a much higher standard. According to calculations, these findings mean that the rate of refurbishment stood at a rate of 1.4 homes needing to be worked on every minute as of the beginning of 2017.
On top of cutting emissions, good insulation can lead to many more benefits. The Green Building Council’s head Julie Hirigoyen explains: “People will have warmer homes and lower bills; they will live longer, happier lives; we will be able to address climate change and carbon emissions.
“We will also be creating many thousands of jobs and exporting our best skills in innovation.”
One method that is already being adopted it using low carbon fuels. It is dependent on the public and businesses to utilise this though, and it appears the nation is already assisting in this area.
Imperial College London and The Guardian, reported that the amount of renewable energy in the UK surpassed the quantity of fossil fuels for the first time ever. With the amount of renewable capacity trebling in the same five-year period that fossil fuels decreased by one-third, the capacity of biomass, hydropower, solar and wind power hit 41.9 gigawatts and the capacity of gas, coal and oil-fired power plants recorded in at 41.2 gigawatts between July and September.
The research, carried out by Dr Iain Staffell, noted that: “Britain’s power system is slowly but surely walking away from fossil fuels, and [the quarter between July and September] saw a major milestone on the journey.”
Once again, a record was also set in 2018 in the UK where they managed to be without coal power for three days, or 76 consecutive hours. This was before a report from Imperial College London which was commissioned by Drax suggested that coal supplied only 1.3 per cent of Britain’s entire use of electricity during the second quarter of 2018 — furnaces based at coal-fired power stations throughout the country were completely unused for 12 days in June last year too.
New diesel and petrol vans and cars will be banned across the UK from 2040.Despite many years still to wait before this is enforced, it seems many Brits are already exploring what alternative-fuel vehicles are out there e.g. LPG powered vehicles.
Next Green Car reports that the registrations of new plug-in cars have jumped from only 3,500 to over 195,000 in just the six years from 2013. Furthermore, figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders highlighted that electric car sales across the UK has shifted from only close to 500 being registered each month in the early part of 2014 to an average of 5,000 per month throughout 2018.
The British road infrastructure is improving as well and is able to hold more alternative-fuel vehicles, thanks to ongoing private and government investment. While the UK’s network of electric vehicle charging points was recorded in at just a few hundred units as of 2011, there had been more than 5,800 charging locations, 9,800 charging devices and 16,700 connectors installed by June 2018.
Despite only 6.84 per cent of the UK car market being alternative-fuel vehicles, it seems that the trend in their number is increasing. The UK is on the right track to heavily reduce carbon emissions.
The ambition of reaching an emission count of zero is admirable, but a huge challenge too. Fortunately, some of the examples covered in this article do suggest that efforts are being made to ensure the nation reaches its goal.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-45856377
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/target-zero-uk-aims-to-cut-all-emissions-by-2050-bddfcwmd6
According to Real Simple, if every American made an effort to launder less — cutting out just one load of laundry a week per household — we’d save enough water to fill seven million swimming pools each year.
So if it looks clean, and it smells clean, call it clean and wear it again. Consider hanging worn clothes out on your clothesline to freshen them up between wearings
