By Hans De Keulenaer / Published on Wed, 2009-07-08 11:59
[In partnership with VEI] Innovative ideas often originate unexpectedly. Minor adaptations to existing systems often result in major savings. A good example is the fitting of an intelligent control system in soft drink vending machines. This reduces energy consumption by up to 35%.
Consumers
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By Angelo Baggini / Published on Wed, 2008-12-31 10:00
Year: 2007
Policy Status: In force
In February 2007, the New Zealand government announced a plan for the public service to go 'carbon neutral'.
Further details were provided throughout 2007, including in the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy, released in October 2007.
Plan include:
- Carbon neutral public service: six lead core public service agencies to be carbon neutral by mid-2012. The remaining 28 public service departments to be on the path to carbon neutrality by mid-2012.
- Procurement policies: public service departments to have incorporated sustainability into a single procurement policy, and recommendations made on applying sustainable procurement policies to the wider state sector, by November 2007.
- Public service accommodation: departments are to adopt a minimum five- star Green Star New Zealand rating for the construction of all new Grade A office buildings and refurbishments from 1 July 2007; all new government buildings are to meet a minimum five-star rating from 2012.
- Reduction in public sector energy use: departments are to take action to achieve a 10% reduction in energy use per FTE. Departments will also reduce the use of energy-intensive consumables such as paper by 10%.
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By Sergio Ferreira / Published on Fri, 2007-04-27 09:40
Stephen Drew is the steering engine behind a successful project to improve the energy efficiency in Fonterra, a large industrial corporate in New Zealand. In a country that is well down in the OECD country rankings for energy efficiency, Stephen and his team have shown that things can be done and with short resources.
In his paper ‘Less talking and more walking down the energy efficiency road – the journey has begun’, Stephen drives us through the energy efficiency road, explaining the approach and the key for success – motivation.
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By Diedert Debusscher / Published on Wed, 2006-12-20 01:00
Efficient construction, designed for flexibility
In the US, the OPEN Prototype Initiative wants to create opportunities related to efficient construction, energy conservation, proactive health care, new forms of work/learning/entertainment, and the mass-customisation of highly-personalised residential environments.
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By Diedert Debusscher / Published on Mon, 2006-11-27 01:00
Viable alternative to conventional gas heaters
A study by Frost & Sullivan shows that the European market for infrared (IR) heating can potentially grow by 20% per year. IR space heaters have some advantages over conventional gas heaters that also have great appeal to elderly people.
Growth market
Infrared space heaters can be used in both residential and non-residential environments, and either indoors or outdoors. But they are most commonly found in pubs, bars, restaurants and cafés, where they are used to make outdoor terraces and winter gardens pleasantly warm.
Pleasant and efficient heating
The private market is gaining interest in IR space heaters as well. Compared with conventional gas heating (which still commands about 60% of the market), IR heating has some major advantages.
Here are some of the advantages that are particularly interesting to elderly people:
- Elderly people and their families are often concerned about the safety of gas heating. By contrast, electrical heating has a proven track record regarding safety.
- Elderly people tend to prefer higher indoor temperatures. IR heating is considered very efficient, because it only heats a particular spot instead of the whole room. It does not heat the air (convection heating), but its warmth is agreeably transmitted like sunshine to the people who are in its path (directional heating).
- Retired people like to spend their time travelling, participating in their region?s cultural life, and shopping. IR heating is the best way to heat large buildings, such as churches, large shops and train stations.
- As we all do, elderly people want to spend as much time outdoors as possible. They want to take their grand-children to the amusement park, go to the market, etc. But they often feel cold winter temperatures more intensely than younger people do. When used outdoors, IR heaters are more efficient than gas heaters, as they are not affected by windy conditions. They are less affected by drafts indoors as well.
- IR heating has healthful properties too. IR heating lamps do not burn oxygen in the room. Moreover, IR energy radiates heat at a beneficial wavelength and frequency, allowing the body to absorb the heat deeply. IR heating lamps are used by doctors, acupuncturists, chiropractors, physical therapists, and other health professionals for their healthful benefits.
The electric IR market is still just emerging, because users are more familiar with gas heaters and this technology has been predominant for a very long time. However, as users become more aware of the alternatives, IR heating should become more popular.
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By Diedert Debusscher / Published on Fri, 2006-11-17 01:00
Belgian politicians submit ambitious plan
The green party in Belgium (Groen!) wants to build 10,000 new service flats by 2012. The reasoning: to stimulate elderly people to move to specially equipped housing, make thousands of affordable houses available to young people, and reduce CO2 emissions.
The elderly often live in outmoded, poorly insulated houses. Service flats, specially designed for older people, are low-energy, well-insulated dwellings, with minimised greenhouse gas emissions. They are compact and occupy only a small portion of the already scarce open space.
If 10,000 elderly people were to move to service flats, they would release their houses to the real estate market which would slow down the enormous price inflation. According to a recent report by the European Central Bank, housing prices in Belgium have risen by 17.1% in 2005, the highest rate in the Euro zone. In 2004, Belgian housing prices rose by only 10.7%.
The green party maintains that a well thought-out policy should financially support young families to renovate and insulate those older homes. According to the greens, innovative insulation for existing houses can reduce energy consumption by 75% and CO2 emissions by 80%. Investments in new insulation also create jobs in the building sector
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