Carbon emissions could be cut by 50% in two decades by switching to LED lighting, recent research suggests.
A report by management consultants McKinsey & Company reveals that the switch could be the most cost-effective way to tackle global warming, using existing technology.
The findings, featured in the New York Times, states that LEDs are more than twice as efficient as compact fluorescent bulbs, currently the standard for greener lighting.
LEDs, unlike compact fluorescents, turn on quickly and, importantly, are compatible with dimmer switches.
Indeed, separate evidence suggests that adding dimmer switches to your home could significantly reduce your carbon footprint.
While fluorescent bulbs contain mercury, which requires special disposal, LED bulbs contain no toxic elements, and last much longer. This means that disposal is much less of an issue.
Colin Humphreys, a researcher at Cambridge University, quoted in the New York Times, described LED lighting as “fit-and-forget lighting that is essentially there for as long as you live”.
While the cost of LED lighting may initially be higher, savings are made in the long term because of LED longevity.
Leading retailers, such as the online store Lights2Go include a range of LED lighting suitable for indoors and outdoors. They also stock dimmer switches suitable for the whole house including bathroom lighting.
Featured Lights
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This indoor lamp has a life of 30,000 hours. Power consumption:4 watts. Light output:35 watts.
RRP £19.95, Now £11.50 including VAT and free UK shipping
Searchlight 7205 LED outdoor wall light IP44 rated. Product Code: 7205
A contemporary outdoor wall light with a satin silver finish and a polycarbonate diffuser.
RRP £73.20, Now £58.56 including. VAT and free UK shipping.
Endon Enluce EL-10039 LED wall light. Product Code: EL-10039
A stylish chrome LED wall light with flexible arm. One LED included.
RRP £78, Now £59.28 including VAT and free UK shipping
Dar EON7946GU EON Fire Rated Downlight Satin Chrome. Product Code: EON7946GU EON Fire R.
A stylish chrome swivel downlight with 90 minute fire-rated protection. Also Building Regs Part C compliant.
RRP £24.60, Now £20.50 including VAT and free UK shipping.
Searchlight Aries 7443CC 3 light IP44 bathroom rated spot light. Product Code: 7443CC:
Another contemporary chrome design featuring a triple halogen spot light. The flush fitting is suitable for use in the bathroom.
RRP £55.23, Now £27.95 including VAT and free UK shipping.
www. lights2go.co.uk
Showing posts with label carbon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label carbon. Show all posts
Tuesday, 13 March 2012
Monday, 6 February 2012
npower installs solar power at Birmingham Airport
The Airport has worked in partnership with npower to install the 50kpw solar photovoltaic (PV) systems to provide renewable green energy on-site as it reduces its dependency on mains power electricity.
This is the first renewable energy and zero carbon installation on the Airport site and is part of a wider project to improve its energy management and reduce its carbon footprint.
The solar PV panels capture the sun’s energy using photovoltaic cells, which then convert the sunlight into electricity and even on cloudy days can still produce some electricity, making it incredibly efficient. The system also generates no greenhouse gases, helping the Airport reduce its carbon footprint.
Paul Kehoe, the Airport’s CEO, said: "It's exciting for the Airport to present such a visible commitment to energy reduction. Managing our greenhouse gas emissions is a high priority for the company and we're always seeking new opportunities to work with partners to reduce our carbon footprint."
As a leading provider of solar PV in the UK for commercial properties, npower was selected to carry out the installation in partnership with Photon Energy. From initial meetings in October, npower was able to complete full site surveys, detailed designs, installation and commissioning in just over six weeks, ensuring the Airport could immediately benefit from the green energy. As a result, there has already been a reduction in energy consumption since the panels were installed in December.
Graham Ryott, Development Manager at npower, added: "Birmingham Airport is committed to a sustainable future so installing solar PV as a way of generating energy is fundamental to its on-going programme in reducing its environmental impact. As one of the busiest Airports in the country, Birmingham is understandably a large energy user but supplementing its energy use with on-site generation is a positive step for the site’s future and npower is delighted to be involved."
An added incentive of solar PV is the Government's Feed-in-Tariffs (FITs), which provide payment to the companies for every unit of electricity generated by solar PV panels.
For more information about Birmingham Airport and its environmental programmes, please visit www.birminghamairport.co.uk.
Monday, 5 September 2011
Carbon Zero Solutions launches
Dr Martin Blake today announced the launch of Carbon Zero Solutions (CZS) Limited. CZS supports executives and their organisations by providing leadership in the inception, development and successful deployment of energy efficiency programmes that improve profitability and reduce environmental and social impact. “It’s a multiple win,” claims Dr Blake.
“By investing, businesses stand to save money, reduce their carbon footprint, reduce their exposure to energy market volatility and, in doing so, improve their brand and customer acceptance.”
Dr Blake was until recently the architect of, and inspiration behind, the award-winning Carbon Management Programme at Royal Mail, the UK’s biggest postal services company. As Head of Sustainability Team for seven years, he oversaw a multi-pronged strategy in the areas of energy reduction and efficiency, waste management, water conservation and workplace diversity. Together this team of energy experts is credited with reducing UK Royal Mail Group’s annual energy bill by over £30million.
When Dr Blake left the Royal Mail at the end of October 2010, he left behind a legacy that is recognised as one of the best energy management programmes in the world, with 75 national and regional awards. “I wanted to share our learning and utilise the knowledge and experience of this team by making an impact on the most challenging environmental problems faced by some of the largest companies in the world,” said Dr Blake.
Speaking about the launch of CZS, Dr Blake suggested that UK Boards are poorly served by many ‘environmental consultancies’ that put compliance and marketing of green credentials before energy related savings. “In my time at Royal Mail Group, our main objective was to deliver bottom-line savings. The Board was rightly concerned about our environmental and social impact and the need to be sustainable, but there is absolutely no doubt that £30million in annual energy savings was an extremely significant motivator, thereby delivering a double win.”
Dr Blake continued, “There are many examples of boards that have not pursued the benefits of energy reduction because they are being sold on outputs that cannot be adequately quantified or explained. Too many initiatives have been conceived and implemented in a piecemeal fashion. Individually they may have been effective, but unless taken together within a wider coordinated programme, it is unlikely they will each deliver quantifiable ROI. It is therefore not surprising that some board directors feel ambivalent or wary.”
CZS brings together the same experts that Dr Blake convened at the Royal Mail Group, including Professor David Strong, a globally renowned practitioner in sustainable building design and refurbishment, Robert Evans, an expert in the field of low carbon transport, together with experts in the fields of energy wholesaling, energy data management, and a range of other carbon and energy reduction disciplines.
Nick Allen, Managing Director of CZS commented, “The CEO’s of large UK firms must now start viewing sustainability as a competitive tool. Their commitment and leadership is imperative, as the most significant opportunities of a low carbon strategy cannot be realised without full management and workforce engagement. Commitment from the boardroom to the factory floor is essential to achieve tangible and long lasting results.”
The team consists of:
• Dr Martin Blake, Executive Chairman – Dr Blake is an internationally recognised expert on carbon reduction. As ex-Head of Sustainability at the UK Royal Mail Group for over eight years, Dr Blake led a successful carbon reduction transformation strategy that reduced Royal Mail’s annual energy bill by more than £30 million. He has a track record of large scale corporate transformation and has developed programmes and influenced high profile stakeholders within Government and NGOs, as well as the postal, construction, healthcare, oil & gas and charity sectors.
• Professor David Strong, Lead Advisor for the Built Environment – Professor Strong is one of the most influential figures in sustainable building design and refurbishment and he specialises in low/zero carbon buildings. He established the UK Green Building Council and was presented with the “Building Sustainability Leadership” Award in 2007.
• Robert Evans, Lead Advisor for Transport & Logistics – Robert is a recognised expert in the field of low carbon transport. He is CEO of Cenex (Centre of Excellence for Low Carbon and Fuel Cell Technologies) and has more than 20 years’ experience in innovation and integration of new environmental technologies in transport applications, including low carbon vehicle emissions control.
• Bill Wright, Programme Leader – Bill was previously Corporate Energy & Environment Manager of the John Lewis Partnership (covering Waitrose & John Lewis department stores). He was responsible for the procurement and efficient use of all utilities and during his time there, his team achieved a 20% improvement in energy efficiency.
• Nick Allan, Managing Director – Nick is a corporate change specialist with more than 20 years’ experience in helping companies in the financial services, technology and energy sectors with corporate transformation, building workforce capability and strengthening and aligning leadership.
The CZS team will utilise Dr Blake’s carbon reduction methodology that he created whilst at the Royal Mail, providing programme components ranging from board engagement and programme definition through to full programme development and implementation. CZS predicts that it can save most organisations between 20% and 30% of the cost of their energy bills.
“Our team is accustomed to operating at board-level. It is the board that must articulate, embrace and lead the programme. We talk to many Directors who believe they are running a carbon or energy management programme, to then find it is contained within a silo somewhere in facilities and with little or no company-wide mandate. Worse still, most think that carbon and energy management programmes are a cost, when in reality they should always be cost neutral and bottom-line positive,” said Dr Blake.
“I have never articulated or deployed a programme that has not delivered bottom-line savings, and neither do I intend to start doing so now, because if you have not saved money, you have not saved energy. The CZS team members are not simply environmental evangelists; we are experts in the key disciplines that enable companies with multiple sites, complex property portfolios, large transport fleets, manufacturing plants, or long supply chains to drive real and measurable bottom-line savings,” he concluded.
For more information, please visit www.carbonzerosolutions.com
“By investing, businesses stand to save money, reduce their carbon footprint, reduce their exposure to energy market volatility and, in doing so, improve their brand and customer acceptance.”
Dr Blake was until recently the architect of, and inspiration behind, the award-winning Carbon Management Programme at Royal Mail, the UK’s biggest postal services company. As Head of Sustainability Team for seven years, he oversaw a multi-pronged strategy in the areas of energy reduction and efficiency, waste management, water conservation and workplace diversity. Together this team of energy experts is credited with reducing UK Royal Mail Group’s annual energy bill by over £30million.
When Dr Blake left the Royal Mail at the end of October 2010, he left behind a legacy that is recognised as one of the best energy management programmes in the world, with 75 national and regional awards. “I wanted to share our learning and utilise the knowledge and experience of this team by making an impact on the most challenging environmental problems faced by some of the largest companies in the world,” said Dr Blake.
Speaking about the launch of CZS, Dr Blake suggested that UK Boards are poorly served by many ‘environmental consultancies’ that put compliance and marketing of green credentials before energy related savings. “In my time at Royal Mail Group, our main objective was to deliver bottom-line savings. The Board was rightly concerned about our environmental and social impact and the need to be sustainable, but there is absolutely no doubt that £30million in annual energy savings was an extremely significant motivator, thereby delivering a double win.”
Dr Blake continued, “There are many examples of boards that have not pursued the benefits of energy reduction because they are being sold on outputs that cannot be adequately quantified or explained. Too many initiatives have been conceived and implemented in a piecemeal fashion. Individually they may have been effective, but unless taken together within a wider coordinated programme, it is unlikely they will each deliver quantifiable ROI. It is therefore not surprising that some board directors feel ambivalent or wary.”
CZS brings together the same experts that Dr Blake convened at the Royal Mail Group, including Professor David Strong, a globally renowned practitioner in sustainable building design and refurbishment, Robert Evans, an expert in the field of low carbon transport, together with experts in the fields of energy wholesaling, energy data management, and a range of other carbon and energy reduction disciplines.
Nick Allen, Managing Director of CZS commented, “The CEO’s of large UK firms must now start viewing sustainability as a competitive tool. Their commitment and leadership is imperative, as the most significant opportunities of a low carbon strategy cannot be realised without full management and workforce engagement. Commitment from the boardroom to the factory floor is essential to achieve tangible and long lasting results.”
The team consists of:
• Dr Martin Blake, Executive Chairman – Dr Blake is an internationally recognised expert on carbon reduction. As ex-Head of Sustainability at the UK Royal Mail Group for over eight years, Dr Blake led a successful carbon reduction transformation strategy that reduced Royal Mail’s annual energy bill by more than £30 million. He has a track record of large scale corporate transformation and has developed programmes and influenced high profile stakeholders within Government and NGOs, as well as the postal, construction, healthcare, oil & gas and charity sectors.
• Professor David Strong, Lead Advisor for the Built Environment – Professor Strong is one of the most influential figures in sustainable building design and refurbishment and he specialises in low/zero carbon buildings. He established the UK Green Building Council and was presented with the “Building Sustainability Leadership” Award in 2007.
• Robert Evans, Lead Advisor for Transport & Logistics – Robert is a recognised expert in the field of low carbon transport. He is CEO of Cenex (Centre of Excellence for Low Carbon and Fuel Cell Technologies) and has more than 20 years’ experience in innovation and integration of new environmental technologies in transport applications, including low carbon vehicle emissions control.
• Bill Wright, Programme Leader – Bill was previously Corporate Energy & Environment Manager of the John Lewis Partnership (covering Waitrose & John Lewis department stores). He was responsible for the procurement and efficient use of all utilities and during his time there, his team achieved a 20% improvement in energy efficiency.
• Nick Allan, Managing Director – Nick is a corporate change specialist with more than 20 years’ experience in helping companies in the financial services, technology and energy sectors with corporate transformation, building workforce capability and strengthening and aligning leadership.
The CZS team will utilise Dr Blake’s carbon reduction methodology that he created whilst at the Royal Mail, providing programme components ranging from board engagement and programme definition through to full programme development and implementation. CZS predicts that it can save most organisations between 20% and 30% of the cost of their energy bills.
“Our team is accustomed to operating at board-level. It is the board that must articulate, embrace and lead the programme. We talk to many Directors who believe they are running a carbon or energy management programme, to then find it is contained within a silo somewhere in facilities and with little or no company-wide mandate. Worse still, most think that carbon and energy management programmes are a cost, when in reality they should always be cost neutral and bottom-line positive,” said Dr Blake.
“I have never articulated or deployed a programme that has not delivered bottom-line savings, and neither do I intend to start doing so now, because if you have not saved money, you have not saved energy. The CZS team members are not simply environmental evangelists; we are experts in the key disciplines that enable companies with multiple sites, complex property portfolios, large transport fleets, manufacturing plants, or long supply chains to drive real and measurable bottom-line savings,” he concluded.
For more information, please visit www.carbonzerosolutions.com
Saturday, 3 September 2011
Solarhybrid Builds the Largest Solar Power Plant in Europe
solarhybrid AG has started work, as a general contractor, on the expansion of the solar power plant, FinowTower, at the former Eberswalde/Finowfurt military airport in the district of Schorfheide, north east of Berlin. The expansion adds 60.2 MW and increases the capacity of the power plant to a total of 84.5 MW. This will make it the largest solar power plant in Europe, extending over an area equivalent to 260 football pitches.
The contract for the expansion given to solarhybrid is worth approximately EUR111.5 million. Deutscher Solarfonds Stabilität 2010 GmbH & Co. KG, initiated by Altira Renewables Management GmbH, is the client and investor as well as the operator. Commerzbank AG is providing the outside financing.
The contract for the expansion given to solarhybrid is worth approximately EUR111.5 million. Deutscher Solarfonds Stabilität 2010 GmbH & Co. KG, initiated by Altira Renewables Management GmbH, is the client and investor as well as the operator. Commerzbank AG is providing the outside financing.
solarhybrid has developed the large-scale project itself, from the initial concept to the construction and building permit including the financing and structuring. The expansion is the result of the successful realisation of the first building phase, FinowTower I.
Proven partners from previous large-scale projects are involved in this second phase of construction, FinowTower II: photovoltaic modules from Suntech, inverters from SMA, mounting technology from Mounting Systems, planning by Enerparc, installation by Conecon.
The solar power plant, FinowTower II, should be on line in late December. It is expected to generate 82 million kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which will be able to meet the needs of approximately 23,500 households. By eliminating 1,550,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) over a 20 year period, FinowTower will make an important contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and to the expansion of renewable energies.
The entire construction will be documented using four time-lapse cameras. The images can be seen via live streaming at www.solarhybrid.ag once construction begins.
Proven partners from previous large-scale projects are involved in this second phase of construction, FinowTower II: photovoltaic modules from Suntech, inverters from SMA, mounting technology from Mounting Systems, planning by Enerparc, installation by Conecon.
The solar power plant, FinowTower II, should be on line in late December. It is expected to generate 82 million kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which will be able to meet the needs of approximately 23,500 households. By eliminating 1,550,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) over a 20 year period, FinowTower will make an important contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and to the expansion of renewable energies.
The entire construction will be documented using four time-lapse cameras. The images can be seen via live streaming at www.solarhybrid.ag once construction begins.
Tuesday, 30 August 2011
Carbonica appoints Akiko Macdonald as Sales Director
Carbonica is pleased to confirm the appointment of Mrs Akiko Macdonald as Sales Director at the company’s London office. She took up the role on 1 August 2011.
Mrs Akiko Macdonald has a long sales career in the office electronic equipment industry where she has worked in B2B sales for major Japanese companies in the UK, such as Sharp and Panasonic. During her time in Sharp, she achieved a remarkable sales record and became a leader of sales excelling in all established sales targets. In Panasonic she looked after a number of corporate accounts for established Japanese clients and built up a successful team becoming on three occasions the sales person of the year.
During the last three years she was developed various interests and has run several successful training courses, on sales and communication skills, especially designed for Japanese businesspeople. She has coached top executives of Japanese corporates in Britain and has organised a large number of activities and courses for the Japanese business community in the UK.
Being new to the carbon offset industry, her long and successful career in providing complete business solutions is perfectly suited for the challenges that lie ahead. The carbon industry is a growth sector where corporates are becoming increasingly involved, whether it is in the compliance or voluntary sectors, and the role of Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) and carbon accounting are becoming an integral part of the complete service that is now expected from B2B sales in the carbon industry.
Carbonica aims to integrate the provision of carbon offsets with a number of carbon management solutions, such as CRC reporting, carbon auditing and strategies for emissions reductions.
Akiko’s professional profile is ideal to drive this strategy and it enhances Carbonica’s efforts in this direction.
Mrs Akiko Macdonald has a long sales career in the office electronic equipment industry where she has worked in B2B sales for major Japanese companies in the UK, such as Sharp and Panasonic. During her time in Sharp, she achieved a remarkable sales record and became a leader of sales excelling in all established sales targets. In Panasonic she looked after a number of corporate accounts for established Japanese clients and built up a successful team becoming on three occasions the sales person of the year.
During the last three years she was developed various interests and has run several successful training courses, on sales and communication skills, especially designed for Japanese businesspeople. She has coached top executives of Japanese corporates in Britain and has organised a large number of activities and courses for the Japanese business community in the UK.
Being new to the carbon offset industry, her long and successful career in providing complete business solutions is perfectly suited for the challenges that lie ahead. The carbon industry is a growth sector where corporates are becoming increasingly involved, whether it is in the compliance or voluntary sectors, and the role of Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) and carbon accounting are becoming an integral part of the complete service that is now expected from B2B sales in the carbon industry.
Carbonica aims to integrate the provision of carbon offsets with a number of carbon management solutions, such as CRC reporting, carbon auditing and strategies for emissions reductions.
Akiko’s professional profile is ideal to drive this strategy and it enhances Carbonica’s efforts in this direction.
Saturday, 6 August 2011
Delivery Parcel Service ParcelsPlease welcomes fact that more firms are becoming greener
Environmentally aware firm ParcelsPlease, a UK-wide parcel delivery service for UK, Europe and Worldwide parcels (the B2C trading division of Consolidated Carriers Ltd), were one of the first UK logistics companies to be awarded a carbon neutral footprint, achieving ISO 14001 approval.
ParcelsPlease have praised many companies that are now following suit, and are very excited about other companies now increasing their involvement in reducing carbon emissions. Being accredited as carbon neutral has never been more important. Lately, there has been widespread acknowledgement that consumers are more aware and carbon literate, therefore basing their brand choices when buying products or services.
Many people when buying products are now looking to ensure they have as minimal a carbon footprint as possible. Recent studies by Carbon Trust have shown that 45% of shoppers would stop buying products from companies that are not taking measures to help reduce their carbon footprint, increasing from 22% the previous year.
A spokesperson from ParcelsPlease points out: “Being green needn't be cost plus, and being green should not mean there's a need for a premium price for consumers. We have chosen to collaborate with 'Global Trees' to help our customers further and enable the choice to contribute and help make their orders with us carbon neutral.”
The company still manages to offer customers some of the most competitive online quotes for next day timed deliveries.
Carbon Trust have also stated that 65% of all UK emissions are created by businesses. Therefore, measures must be taken to match the necessary 3.1% per annum reduction required to reach the target for 2050.
Consolidated Carriers Ltd, owners of ParcelsPlease have adopted a green ethos throughout the company by implementing environmental policies, suggesting that focus is on not solely on the services themselves.
To read more about ParcelsPlease visit www.parcelsplease.com
ParcelsPlease have praised many companies that are now following suit, and are very excited about other companies now increasing their involvement in reducing carbon emissions. Being accredited as carbon neutral has never been more important. Lately, there has been widespread acknowledgement that consumers are more aware and carbon literate, therefore basing their brand choices when buying products or services.
Many people when buying products are now looking to ensure they have as minimal a carbon footprint as possible. Recent studies by Carbon Trust have shown that 45% of shoppers would stop buying products from companies that are not taking measures to help reduce their carbon footprint, increasing from 22% the previous year.
A spokesperson from ParcelsPlease points out: “Being green needn't be cost plus, and being green should not mean there's a need for a premium price for consumers. We have chosen to collaborate with 'Global Trees' to help our customers further and enable the choice to contribute and help make their orders with us carbon neutral.”
The company still manages to offer customers some of the most competitive online quotes for next day timed deliveries.
Carbon Trust have also stated that 65% of all UK emissions are created by businesses. Therefore, measures must be taken to match the necessary 3.1% per annum reduction required to reach the target for 2050.
Consolidated Carriers Ltd, owners of ParcelsPlease have adopted a green ethos throughout the company by implementing environmental policies, suggesting that focus is on not solely on the services themselves.
To read more about ParcelsPlease visit www.parcelsplease.com
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