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Saving Energy
10 free ways to save –
Explains some of the first things to do to save energy.
Draught proofing –
Shows the ways in which draughts can be excluded – and the
risk of going too far.
Insulation methods –
Presents the most cost-effective types of insulation.
Heating controls –
Explains how to ensure that the boiler runs only when heat is needed.
Devices on standby –
Discusses how leaving electronic devices powered up when not in use wastes
energy.
Standby energy consumption –
Presents real measurements of specific devices in standby mode.
Monitoring Energy Usage
Total
electricity usage – Describes several
inexpensive devices that can display the current overall electrical consumption
of a house. This helps to detect wasteful use of electricity, and for many
people is a real eye-opener.
Single-device
electricity usage –
Describes single-socket monitors that measure the consumption
of individual devices. But despite being useful, most of the
monitors available are not sensitive
enough to measure the energy used in standby.
Recording
energy usage
– Total consumption of electricity, gas, oil
and water can be recorded at regular intervals without special equipment. However,
it's useful to analyse such data on a computer, or to use various services
available via the internet – some of these services are
described.
Energy-Related Topics
Energy myths – Some
common assumptions about saving energy are myths, while others are largely
true. We try to separate truth from myth.
Green
tariffs – What are green tariffs and are they worthwhile?
Grants – Shows
how to find out what is available in Blewbury and nearby. Grants are available
from a number of sources for loft and cavity wall insulation, and for replacing
old boilers ('scrappage'). Grants for installing various forms of microgeneration
are being phased out in favour of a Feed-In Tariff for
electricity and a Renewable
Heat Incentive for hot water and heating.
Reducing the supply voltage
– It is possible to save energy consumption of some devices by reducing
the voltage within a house. But for many appliances that doesn't help, and
the device reducing the energy must not consume too much energy itself.
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