It’s Not Easy Being Green NEW 8.00pm BBC2
Inventor and engineer Dick 'Big Moustache' Strawbridge and his family are used to the joys of modern society but in this series they try to manage in an ecologically friendly home. The Strawbridges must live without mains gas and electricity and cut out their waste. Dick constructs a wind turbine; his wife Birgit fosters a permaculture garden; while son James ropes in his friends as labourers. Many current issues and alternative energy solutions are examined, including DIY Hydro electricity water wheels, solar hot water panels, wind turbines and pv electricity, and explained. Required viewing for anyone considering Green energy.
It should be easy being green
It can be easy being green. You don't need to change everything all in one go. It Is by far easier and more cost effective to conserve energy than it is to 'generate' renewable energy. It needn't be complicated either! Two things that together cost around £100 in total can make an extraordinary difference they are detailed below. If you are serious about saving energy and reduccing your 'carbon footprint' then you should, if you do nothing else, at least have these items!
Save energy every time you boil the Kettle!
Exactly the right amount of water every time you boil your kettle without wasting energy heating water you don't need!
Step 1
Energy Saving Kettle
This Energy saving Kettle looks like a stylish electric jug kettle in appearance but it has a special feature that allows the user to fill the kettle to its maximum, but then allows them to boil one to eight cups according to their requirements.
Governments the world over are starting to devote some of their resources to combating global warming with programs aimed at increasing public awareness of the need to save energy and ensure that we use energy efficiently.
In the United Kingdom, for example, you will find that all council and government websites carry tips on saving energy and on all these sites they all stress the importance of not overfilling your electric tea kettle, and only boiling the amount of water that you need.
The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) have quantified how important this is with the following statement:
"If everyone boiled only the water they needed to make a cup of tea instead of 'filling' the kettle every time, we could save enough electricity to run practically all the street lighting in the U.K."
How to use the energy saving Kettle-Instructions for use
Save water. Save time. Save energy.
Until now, accurately measuring the amount of water to be boiled in your kettle has been all but impossible. The result? It is estimated that, on average, we boil twice the volume of water needed every time. Which means twice as much energy, twice as much time.
With a 3kW kettle that’s the same as wasting the energy of around 50 light bulbs!
Your new energy saving Kettle is different: the internal reservoir holds a full capacity of water ready for use, while the measuring button allows any quantity – from a single cupful to full capacity – to be released into the separate chamber for boiling.
The result? Exactly the right amount of water every time you boil –and no more waste.
To take full advantage of the potential of the energy saving Kettle, please take time to read and follow the instructions in the booklet supplied with the kettle, this will explain how the energy saving technology works, and how best to care for your new product.
Now available from essentialspark.com.
Purchase price £39.99 plus £3.50 Postage and Packing mainland U.K / Highlands and Islands of Scotland postage charge on request.
Step 2
Radiator Insulation Panels
Every building using central heating radiators wastes heat, principally due to heat loss through the walls, roof and windows.
To compensate for this ‘loss of heat’ extra fuel is needlessly burnt, pumping out unnecessary carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year. This contributes to global warming!
With DIY simple Radiator Insulation Panels supplied by essentialspark.com you can reduce these harmful carbon emissions from your own property, saving you MONEY in terms of fuel savings.
These panels are a hi-tech product yet represent an extremely low cost MONEY and energy saving solution to you.
Without these panels the radiator must first heat the wall behind it, this heat goes through the wall and escapes outside.
With the panels provided by us the hot air naturally rising behind the radiator is made to spin by the panels profile creating a series of vortices, rising at a higher speed and continuing to spin out into the room.
THE WALL BEHIND THE PANEL STAYS COOL!
Benefits
Energy is saved and your fuel bills are substantially reduced representing a payback period from (6 to 24 months). In our opinion no other low cost measure can ‘pay for itself’ in such a short period of time and continue doing its job for years to come!
The rising air curtain extending 2-3 metres above the radiator prevents heat dissipation through the wall and any window above.
The comfort level in every room is significantly improved. (If you fit behind all of your radiators).
The normal deterioration behind the radiator and discolouration above is reduced.
Cold spots are virtually eliminated as the enhanced convection flow pattern improves the heat distribution. Heat up time is reduced.
The panels can simply be installed without the removal of the radiator.
Typically an 8 - 15% reduction of the boilers annual fuel usage can be expected (when calculated using EEO approved analysis).
Fit them! - Forget them! - They are maintenance free!
The panels have been tested by world renowned independent experts.
Panels are in use by National and Local Government, Schools and universities, in commerce and industry, hospitals and Hospital Trusts and by some Large Residential Housing Associations.
In our opinion if you do absolutely nothing else to heat your home more efficiently to reduce heating bills and emissions this is the very least you should consider and it is a good first step. It's inexpensive - the equivalent price of a pair of decent shoes should take care of most if not all of your radiators, depending upon number and size.
On average the 10 pack should do 4-5 radiators and the 20 panel pack 8-10 radiators.
The dimension of each panel is 688mm high x 444mm wide.
The 10 panel pack is supplied with one roll of double-sided tape of 50 metres in length and the 20 panel pack is supplied with 2 x 50 metre rolls of double sided tape.
We also sell commercial radiator panels of 530mm high x 600 mm wide.
Product Information
The essentialspark.com supplied Radiator Insulation Panels are suitable for installation behind wet-panel radiators driven by gas, oil or electrical boilers or anywhere where the boiler is thermostatically controlled. They are NOT designed for use behind night storage (off-peak) radiators although some improvement in convection may result.
Optimum efficiency is obtained where distance between the wall and radiator is 50mm, but they will operate successfully where the gap is in the range of 20 -100 mm or more.
For new build situations there may be scope for reducing the design size of the radiators and even boiler capacity!
The panels are of silvered appearance, which is translucent. The facets break up light and their appearance is not unpleasing behind slotted radiators. The panels may be painted over, especially close to the edges with only a minor loss of efficiency. It is best however not to paint over them as this reduces maximum efficiency.
Size
444mm x 688mm with facets raised 8 mm.
Weight
100 panels weigh 10.5 kg.
Storage
Panels readily intermesh and lie flat. 100 panels occupy a space 450mm x 725 mm x 100mm approximately.
Fragility and Durability
Panels are flexible and sufficiently robust not to be damaged by normal handling Except where subjected to long term exposure to ultraviolet light, the panels have an indefinite life. They are not themselves damaged by water, but the metallising may be impaired if stored in wet conditions.
Fire Resistance and Toxicity
Class 1 surface spread of flame when tested in accordance with BS476: Part 7:1971. section 2 when tested in accordance with draft EEC document EN71, were found to be safe to use where they would be accessible to children.
Installation
It is not normally necessary to move or remove radiators prior to fixing the panels in position, though some effort to clear away accumulated dust and debris is recommended in older properties. The panels are secured to the wall with 9mm wide pressure sensitive acrylic transfer tape and pressed to the wall with a flexible cane or something similar (Not supplied).
Panels can be cut with plain scissors or a craft knife, and cut edges readily overlap horizontally and vertically to fit any size of radiator. Detailed fitting instructions are supplied with the panels and it goes without saying the panels should only be fitted by a responsible adult taking care and precautions when cutting and fitting.
For more information about radiator insulation panels, please have a look at our radiator insulation panel factsheet.
Please use the link below to contact us or to enquire about placing an order.
http://www.essentialspark.com/Contact.aspx
