Posts Tagged ‘Reduce’
WEEE Recycling: Data Destruction is Essential
May 5, 2012 | 
Author Your business data may no longer be of value to you once you have done what you need to do with it, but it is valuable to your competitors. That is why any media, from paper to Flash memory cards, that contains business data must be thoroughly wiped before disposal.
The risks of disposal of disks containing data that you may believe has been wiped but has really just been lightly erased include putting yourself or your customers at risk for identity theft as well as making data available to unscrupulous competitors. Even recycling a computer to comply with WEEE recycling regulations does not include proper data destruction techniques.
These techniques include degaussing, in which magnetic patterns that conform to actual data are realigned so that the data is inaccessible and unrecoverable, shredding, which entails shredding media into very fine bits that cannot be reassembled, and software wiping, in which all HEX values on the entire volume of a disk are overwritten using special software. In the United kingdom, such software must meet Data protection Act standards to be considered effective for data destruction.
Computers, including internal hard disk drives and other internal media storage devices, must be recycled according to WEEE regulations (EU). However, if data remains available on any part of the device before, during or after WEEE recycling procedures, it still poses a threat to your business security. Therefore, devices that hold data and are subject to WEEE recycling regulations must undergo a thorough process of data destruction before recycling should take place.
Hard drive destruction is absolutely imperative before WEEE recycling can start. This is because even when a disk drive is seemingly erased, the information on it can be recovered and made available without your knowledge. Ensuring that an expert with security cleared personnel destroys the hard drive by methods such as degaussing and shredding is the only way you can be sure that any data that was ever available on a drive that is slated for disposal can never be accessed again. Software wiping is recommended only for hard disk drives that will be reused after the data stored on them is fully destroyed.
Media tape drives are also easily accessible if they are not fully and professionally destroyed prior to disposal. Degaussing and shredding are the most recommended techniques for destruction of media tape drives.
Even CD’s and DVD’s which contain sensitive and confidential data should never be disposed of without making the data completely inaccessible. Complete physical destruction of the media through precision shredding that is offered by professional media disposal firms is the only way to ensure that data on a CD or DVD is fully inaccessible.
Flash memory cards, external memory sticks, and similar devices must also be subject to data destruction measures if they have ever held sensitive data. A specialist firm which handles data destruction should be consulted regarding such memory devices as their small size makes it very easy for them to end up in the wrong hands.
At Be Seen Go Green, we offer solutions for a variety of Environmental issues. Please click on the following link to contact us.
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Climate Change to Reduce European Holidays to the Mediterranean
Climate changes directly affect tourism. Fewer people are booking flights from Europe to the Mediterranean because of these climate changes, which directly affects popular holiday spots like Majorca and Minorca. Environmental groups expect a steady decline in holiday travel via flights from Europe to the Mediterranean.
How Climate Changes Impact Tourism
People generally plan their holiday based on the temperature at their destination and when they can get the time off from work. Holiday makers have been visiting Majorca and Minorca for decades because of the picture-perfect beaches and perfect climate. Rising temperatures have a direct effect on tourism because travelers will rethink travel destinations based on the ideal temperature for the particular time of year.
Majorca and Minorca will be significantly impacted if holiday makers stop taking flights there from Europe. Over the last few decades these islands off of Spain have become dependent on tourism. The land is not ideal for agricultural use and there is little else that native residents of these islands can do to sustain themselves.
How Environmental Groups Expect Climate to Affect Air Travel
Some environmental groups see flights from Europe to the Mediterranean drastically dropping due to climate changes. A significant change in temperature leaves holidaymakers deciding if the Mediterranean is still the ideal place to be. Mediterranean beaches are too hot and ski trips are going downhill.
Additionally, the climate changes are forcing individuals, companies and environmental groups to look at ways to protect the ozone and participate in carbon offsetting methods. Car companies have already looked at how they make vehicles and ways they can reduce carbon emissions. Just as energy-efficient cars are a wave of the future, ways to offset carbon in the air from air travel are also being studied.
Unfortunately, at this time, there isn’t an environmentally safe way to travel by air and anyone interested in offsetting carbon emissions may change their holiday plans to make them more eco-friendly.
Environmental Groups Respond to Climate Changes
Environmental groups continually work to offset the carbon emitted into the air by international flights. Companies are encouraged to voluntarily offset their usage to balance carbon emissions. Simple ways to reduce emissions include planting trees and conserving energy. Other ideas for conserving energy and offsetting carbon emissions are to reduce flights and change methods for traveling.
Some environmental groups predict that Europeans will stop taking their holiday by flight because of the climate change. Not only has the environment at their destination changed, they are also further damaging the environment by flying overseas and emitting harmful carbon in the air. If airlines are forced to change their methods, if they don’t voluntarily conserve energy to offset carbon and create a balance then it is up to holiday makers to take a stand for the environment and stop supporting companies who continually emit carbon and endanger the environment.
An individual will not make a huge difference in making up for climate change. It is when people rally together and are encouraged by environmental groups whose purpose is to protect our planet and conserve energy that change can be made. Air charter companies may not willingly change unless they are forced by a large number of people boycotting overseas air travel.
Realizing the need for a change, some tourist industry companies are already organizing efforts to help offset the environmental impact of overseas flights. Major players are donating a percentage of their profits to eco-friendly endeavors and beseeching their patrons to donate as well, in the interest of humanity. They realize that their very existence is at stake as is the local economies where they now prosper. Rest assured, the problem is being looked at and addressed.
Posted in Climate Change | Tags: Change, Climate, European, Holidays, Mediterranean, Reduce | No Comments »
A funny way to Reduce our Carbon Footprint, Go on Try It!
In a stroke of sheer brilliance, The journal of unlikely science, weird science Null Hypothesis has cracked the climate change problem.
The solution to our global, problem) is closer to hand than we could ever have imagined. It is, quite simply, stop breathing; or at least breathe less.
The average person takes 24,000 breaths a day, breathing in approximately 6g of carbon dioxide, but breathing out around 800g during the same time. Over a year, you personally will add a net 290kg of CO2 to the atmosphere, just by exhaling. Multiply that by a global population of 6.5 billion and it adds up to a criminal 1.88 gigatonnes.
If we each merely cut out one breath in three, we could decrease the amount of CO2 entering the atmosphere each year by a staggering 0.63 gigatonnes. That’s 0.63 billion tonnes – the same effect as saving 5 million acres of land (an area the size of Wales) from deforestation, or recycling 192 million tonnes of waste instead of trashing it.
But we don’t want to stop there. Let’s get really ruthless.
Perhaps the most carbon efficient solution would be to eliminate those members of the population taking the most breaths and therefore expelling the most carbon dioxide.
Intuitively, you might expect these to be the sorts of idle layabouts who wouldn’t know what a treadmill was if it hit them in the face. With their high resting heart rates and shallow, wheezing breaths, they must be the least environmentally sound.
But that’s not the case. Being as there is no obvious difference between the metabolic rates of the honed and toned, and the squashy and sluggish, we all burn about the same amount of carbon whilst resting. However, all that time that the super-fitties among us spend exercising, they’re guzzling extra oxygen and belching out tonnes of CO2.
When we undertake strenuous exercise our metabolic rate tends to increase by at least 50%. So during a 30-minute bout, we could be expelling an extra 8.3g of carbon dioxide.
Perhaps that doesn’t seem like much, but by our calculations, if we exercised as we were supposed to – about 30 minutes, five times a week – this would add up to another 1.3kg a year. Across the world population, that’s a lung-busting 14 million tonnes of extra CO2 every year.
And just to make matters worse, your body continues to metabolise at a higher rate long after you cease exercising, pumping out increased levels of carbon dioxide for anything up to 36 hours.
Doctors Impey and Steer prepare to win the big prize in the Virgin Earth Challenge.
Doctors Impey and Steer get into training to receive their big winnings
So the key to reversing climate change and saving the planet is simple: do nothing. Absolutely nothing. In an ideal world, we’d all just sit around keeping our breathing rates as low as possible, skipping the odd breath here and there just to help matters along. That way we’d all be minimizing our carbon output.
And there’s an extra benefit to the global atmosphere.
As our enforced lethargy leads us to pile on the pounds, we’ll act as carbon sinks – tying up potentially dangerous atmospheric carbon (via plants and hopefully an animal or two) as ever-so-becoming fat deposits.
But, before you revel in the excuse to leave your trainers to gather dust, the amount of carbon dioxide you would save by not exercising is nothing compared to what you’d save by running somewhere instead of driving.
And one final thought: even if CO2 levels were to be stabilised quickly, global temperatures would continue to soar for years to come. So, even though we’ve helped solve Branson’s challenge, in terms of seeing an effect on rising global temperatures – don’t hold your breath.
Posted in Carbon accounting | Tags: Amount, Carbon Accounting, Decreasing, Footprint, Reduce | 3 Comments »
Waste Management| Made simple
Mention waste management to most individuals and they either don't have a clue what you're talking about, or they truly aren't interested! It just sounds a load of rubbish, what do you care what other individuals do with stuff they don't want? However, once you start delving into what waste management is all about, then you realise there’s a whole cycle of events going on and it is quite an interesting topic to find out about.
Waste management is basically how rubbish and trash is disposed of without causing any harm to others or the environment. You can find several aspects to waste management; these include monitoring, collection, transportation, processing, and disposal or recycling. When carried out correctly, waste management is efficient and very environmentally friendly, and in today’s world is some thing every conscientious company really should take responsibility for.
You can find specialized environmental organizations that offer advice and services for waste collection, not only for householders, but also for industries and businesses. They're experienced in all areas of waste management solutions and will remove all of your waste efficiently and rapidly, transporting it to be disposed of within the correct manner, or recycled.
A few of the waste services provided to industrial clients include waste collection, recycling and disposal, hazardous waste management, emergency response, laboratory services, asbestos removal and re-Insulation.
Within the first instance the environment service is concerned with monitoring, this would be to identify the sort of waste produced and in what quantity; they can then evaluate the processes they have to put into place to reduce the quantity of waste produced. Records are kept to see if approaches put into place are working and, if not, methods can be changed and re-examined to make their implementation much more efficient.
Once the waste has been monitored and assessed it really is time for the collection method. Skip bins and containers need to be emptied before they become too full and prevention of overspill or produce to rot is quite important. Depending on the quantity of waste produced will dictate the size and number of containers required, and how often collections will be needed. You can find diverse containers for each sort of waste, some of these include drums for hazardous liquid waste, tanks for acid or caustic waste, collection bins for e-waste and bulk bins and skip bins for construction site waste.
Next within the cycle is organizing the transportation of all waste items collected.Specially designed waste vehicles make scheduled collections and are responsible for safely transporting it to the landfill, or treatment site where it will be treated and then processed for Recycling. Vehicles need to meet safety standards and be licensed for this purpose, as waste can be a health hazard and even dangerous if not handled correctly, drivers and personnel connected with the transportation are required to have the required training and expertise to deal with any potential danger.
Once the waste has all been collected it needs to be processed. This entails separating the waste collected, treating and then packaging the raw materials and sending the parts that can be recycled to the several factories which are all part of the recycling procedure. Materials that can’t be recycled will be transported to a landfill, and liquid and hazardous wastes will be disposed of safely.
Improvements and new practices in waste management and environmental solutions are within the news all the time, thanks to analysis and development projects which are committed to discovering much more efficient and safe techniques of disposing of waste. There are lots of things which are recyclable now that just a few years ago would have been thrown into a rising landfill, everyday items like paper, glass, newspapers and plastic bags to printer cartridges, corks, mobile phones, even fluorescent lamps can be treated and re-used.
Society has experienced a huge learning curve within the truth that if we don't take action now to make certain our waste is processed correctly; nature will gladly do it for us, and in techniques which can be detrimental to our environment.
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New Plastic Recycling Discovery!
A new method has been devised to recycle plastic which would normally end up in landfill.
At persent approximately 12% of plastic found in household plastic and packaging is currently processed.
Now, however, a process has been developbed by Warwick University which could mean 100% of this type is waste can be recycled.
Municipal plastic solid waste is often too time-consuming and labour intensive to separate and clean and ends up going straight to landfill rather than being recycled.
Engineers at the University have invented a process that can cope with every piece of plastic waste and can even break some polymers, such as polystyrene, back down to its original monomers.
The researchers have devised a unit which uses pyrolysis (using heat in the absence of oxygen to decompose of materials) in a ‘fluidised bed’ reactor.
Tests have shown that the researchers have been able to literally shovel in to such a reactor a wide range of mixed plastics, which can then be reduced down to useful products. Many of these products can then be retrieved by simple distillation.
The products the Warwick team have been able to reclaim from the plastic mix include: wax that can be then used a lubricant; original monomers such as styrene that can be used to make new polystyrene; terephthalic acid which can be reused in PET plastic products, methylmetacrylate that can be used to make acrylic sheets, carbon which can be used as Carbon Black in paint pigments and tyres, and even the char left at the end of some of the reactions can be sold to use as activated carbon at a value of at least £400 a tonne.
This research could have a significant impact on the budgets of local authorities and produce considerable environmental benefits.
The lead researcher on the project, University of Warwick Engineering Professor Jan Baeyens, said:
“We envisage a typical large scale plant having an average capacity of 10,000 tonnes of plastic waste per year.
“In a year tankers would take away from each plant over £5 million worth of recycled chemicals and each plant would save £500,000 a year in land fill taxes alone.
“As the expected energy costs for each large plant would only be in the region of £50,000 a year the system will be commercially very attractive and give a rapid payback on capital and running costs.”
The work will be of great interest to local authorities and waste disposal companies who could use the technology to create large scale reactor units at municipal tips which would produce tanker loads of reusable material.
At Be Seen Go Green, we offer solutions for a variety of Environmental issues. Please click on the following link to contact us.
Posted in carbon emissions, carbon reduction, Climate Change, CO2, computer recycling, CRC, Edinburgh Recycle, Edinburgh WEEE, eee, Energy, Food Recycling, Food Waste, Footprint, ghg emissions, glasgow eee, glasgow recycling, Glasgow waste, glasgow weee, London Recycle, London WEEE, Packaging Waste, Plastic Recycle, Plastic Recycling, Plastic waste, Recycle Edinburgh, Recycle London, Recycle UK, recycling, UK Recycle, UK WEEE, Waste management, Waste Plastic, weee, WEEE Edinburgh, WEEE London, WEEE UK, wheelie bin | Tags: Benefits, Business, Change, Climate, computer recycling, edinburgh recycle, Edinburgh Recycling, electrical waste recycling, Emissions, Environment, ENVIRONMENTAL, glasgow eee, glasgow recycle, glasgow recycling, household plastic, London Plastics, London Recycle, plastic recycling, Plastics, Recycling, Reduce, Renewable, Uk Plastic recycling, UK Plastics, warming, Waste, waste plastic | No Comments »
How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
It’s a fact: the environment is in dire need of attention, and it has never been more important for people to do their part in reducing and offsetting their carbon footprint. Of course, many individuals – as well as groups – have long been working hard in favour of environmental issues. But many more can get involved, taking simple steps at home to make a difference.
However, there’s one common hurdle. Many people are daunted by the idea of making a difference for the environment. After all, many environmental issues are massive, and a lot of people wonder how they can make a difference. But the reality of the issue is that if everybody did their part – however small their actions might seem – they would collectively make a difference. So, the first step is to know that each individual can positively impact the environment by making a few changes.
The next step is to identify and implement measures to help the environment – and a great place to start is in your own home. One action you can take is to save resources such as energy.
Begin by ensuring your home is well-insulated. Place a jacket on your hot water tank, insulate your loft, and make sure all your wall cavities are filled. You can also eliminate draughts by installing a seal on your exterior doors, letterboxes, and gaps in floorboards.
Next, switch to energy-saving light bulbs, which produce less CO2 and save a significant amount of electricity. And finally, ensure you switch off all lights and electrical items when not in use. An estimated £140 million a year is wasted in leaving lights on in unused rooms, so everyone can make a difference by turning lights off.
You should also avoid leaving electrical items on standby. Leaving items plugged in and turned on means they’re still using energy – £800 million of which is wasted each year through standby electrical items. So unplug such items or turn them off at the mains to save energy and money. Many energy suppliers also offer tips on how to save electricity, helping their clients save money and make a difference for the environment.
Next, you’ll want to take some steps to save water in your home. You can do this by choosing a water-efficient dishwasher or washing machine, and by fitting a flow regulator or aerated shower head in the bathroom. You should also fill your kettle only with the water you’ll need, turn off the tap when brushing your teeth, and take shorter showers. In the garden, it helps to use a watering can or a bucket rather than a hosepipe. Finally, ensure all dripping taps are fixed and, if possible, install a leak detector.
Of course, recycling is another big step you can take. But before you throw something into the recycling bin, consider whether you can re-use it for something else. Whether it’s a glass jar, an unwanted toy, or a broken appliance, there’s usually something you can do with such items instead of simply throwing them out or placing them into the recycling bin. Many charities will take used clothes, unwanted toys, and even appliances for repair; and many plastic and glass containers can be re-used around the house.
Finally, consider growing your own fruit and vegetables, as well as starting a compost pile. Keeping a fruit and vegetable garden is a fun way for you to cut your carbon footprint, as it eliminates the energy required to transport such goods otherwise. What’s more, keeping a compost pile at home means you’ll have free compost at hand to tend to your garden. Over 30 per cent of an average household bin can be composted – so imagine how much less rubbish you’ll send to the landfill simply by starting a compost pile. Don’t have a garden at home? Many towns and cities have a community garden scheme – so it’s worth enquiring about where you can start your garden.
Ultimately, there are many ways individuals and families can positively impact the environment – right from home.
How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint and Save Money
Planet Earth has a complex climate system. Scientists are still trying to fully understand how this “system” works. However, there is now a global consensus on one specific issue: the Earth is warming up. Man-made gasses in the atmosphere, coupled with dynamic man made changes to the natural environment are the main contributory factors.
Carbon dioxide (CO2), a gas that naturally occurs, is a significant cause of global warming. Ice cores show carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere have remained between 180 and 300 parts per million for the past half a million years. However, in recent years, CO2 levels have risen sharply to at least 380 parts per million. Historically, natural emissions have been balanced by natural absorptions. For example: when plants photosynthesize. However, the recent increase shows more CO2 is entering the atmosphere than is being absorbed and human activity is one of the main causes of this change.
The overall result is that the temperature of the planet is increasing. Climate change is underway and it is affecting every part of the planet. In South Africa we have seen milder winters and warmer and wetter summers. These changes not only affect the human population, but also wildlife, with many species facing potential extinction. Some parts of the planet will be affected more than others. In particular Africa is thought to be at serious risk. Climate change may well lead to social and political problems as migration increases, together with water and food shortages in specific regions.
“Recent increases in average temperature indicate that more CO2 is entering the atmosphere than is being absorbed. Scientists now agree that these increases are almost wholly because of human activity”.
Scientists agree that not all climate change is avoidable. However, behavior changes made now may affect the rate of change. Most of the extra carbon dioxide has been released into the atmosphere by the developed world, with the United States of America alone responsible for an estimated quarter of emissions since the 18th century. Future emissions will also be generated by large developing countries like China and India.
Reducing CO2 emissions, developing worldwide low carbon technologies, usable by all nations, not just the richest, on a global scale and agreeing a framework for future development are all part of the solution. However, the solution can start at an individual level and involve everyone. Until recently most people in the western world have taken the supply of energy, water and food for granted, but there is a growing realization, not least due to the recent significant increases in fuel prices, that these are precious commodities we must preserve.
An electricity monitor is a device which helps you to understand the cost of electricity, not just in financial terms but also in the way our electrical usage has an impact on the environment. An electricity monitor, provides up to the second information on the amount of electricity you are using in terms of both power and cost. This means you can see in real time the benefits of turning off electrical devices at home.
Whether it’s turning off at the plug rather than just using standby, or simply turning off a light, an electricity monitor shows you the cash impact of changing your habits and behaviors which could amount to savings of hundreds of rands per year. Combine the possible financial savings with the reduced impact using less electricity has on the environment, then installing electricity monitors makes both financial and ethical sense.
Did you know…
* Lights and appliances account for 23% of a household’s electricity consumption.
* 72% of a household’s electricity is used for space and water heating.
* A boiler is more efficient if kept at a constant 56°C.
Posted in Carbon accounting | Tags: Carbon Accounting, Footprint, Money, Reduce, Save | No Comments »
Carbon offsetting — An Easy and Effective way to reduce our Carbon Footprints
“A new study by NASA scientists finds that the world’s temperature is reaching a level that has not been seen in thousands of years.”
Climate change is the biggest problems facing the Earth today. Earth is getting warmer and all this is occurring because of human activity, such as the burning of fossil fuels. When we burn fossil fuels, we contribute to the emissions of some green house gases, mainly carbon dioxide and methane in the Earth’s atmosphere. This increase in greenhouse gases caused by human activity is often cited as one of the major causes of global warming as Greenhouse gases trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere and warm the surface. Whilst the average global temperature is increasing, on a day-to-day level the climate is changing in unpredictable ways (from floods and hurricanes to heat waves and droughts).
Fossil fuels are energy sources and produce energy upon burning which we use in our daily life to cater different need. From keeping warm in our house, to fuelling our cars, to growing our food, to manufacturing our MP3 players, energy is used. Because of our heavy use of fossil fuels, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has been increasing since the industrial revolution. The total carbon which we as individuals are responsible for is called our carbon footprint. A carbon footprint is simply a measurement how much carbon is produced from various activities such as driving or heating your home. The measurement units generally are given as metric tons of Carbon Dioxide produced per year.
Climate change is very likely having an impact now on our planet and its life but the good news is that there are plenty of things that we can do to reduce our carbon footprint. For which, we need to re-think our approach to energy. To try and reduce the risk of ever more extreme weather, we need to reduce how much fossil fuel we are burning but this isn’t easy in today’s fast pace life.A carbon offset is designed as a simplest way to reduce or eliminate our carbon footprint. The goal of buying and selling carbon offsets is to get everyone’s carbon footprint to zero. Carbon offsets operate on the idea that any reduction in any area is worthwhile because the positive effect on the environment will be the same throughout the world.
We can greatly lessen our impact on climate change by using the carbon offsets.Carbon offsetting helps us to take personal responsibility for the environmental consequences of our activities and is cheaper and more convenient alternative to reduce our own fossil-fuel consumption.
Posted in Carbon accounting | Tags: Carbon Accounting, Easy, Effective, Footprints, offsetting, Reduce | No Comments »
How to Reduce Energy Consumption at Home
Before even considering installing renewable energy technologies at home, you must first reduce the amount of energy you use. But the good news is that this can often be done simply and cheaply by making a few minor changes around the house. Read on to find out how …
Heating and hot water accounts for around 83% of the total energy used in the home. So team a more efficient boiler with a full set of heating controls and you’ll spend less heating your hot water.
It’s easy to get bamboozled by technology when it comes to making your home more energy efficient. You want to reduce your carbon footprint but is a wind turbine on your roof the answer? Perhaps solar panels? Or will loft insulation and changing the lightbulbs be enough?
Energy use in homes accounts for over a quarter of the UK’s carbon emissions. If you want to reduce your carbon footprint it’s important to make sure you are using energy as efficiently as possible. Then you can begin to think about getting your energy from cleaner sources.
Fortunately, the first bit is the easiest and cheapest. Britons top the league in Europe when it comes to wasting energy – largely due to insufficient levels of heat insulation in the walls and roofs of our homes. All that extra energy use sends millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) into the atmosphere. But tackling this problem requires no new technology, just modest DIY and some changes in habit.
Loft insulation
First things first, poke your head up into your loft. Is there at least 270mm of insulation up there? Installing loft insulation is by far one of the easiest way to chop your heating bills, saving around £150 a year in an un-insulated loft and can easily be done yourself at an extremely low cost. Alternatively, an installer will typically be able to fit loft insulation in your home for around £200 , with a pay back period of less than two years.
If there is already some insulation up there, then be sure to top it up to 270mm, you could save around £45 a year on your heating bills.
Wall insulation
Insulating cavity walls is also a good idea – a third of a home’s heat is lost through walls. Homes built after 1920 are likely to have external walls made with two layers of bricks with a small gap between them. Filling this with insulation will cost a couple of hundred pounds (though you’ll need a professional to do it) and pays for itself within two years.
Solid walls (such as those in Victorian houses) are harder to insulate but it is possible by insulating and rendering the outside of the house or building an internal stud wall and filling the gap between that and the brick wall with insulation. It is more expensive but will reward you with a warmer home.
Draught proofing
Turn to your windows and doors next. Draughts can make a room uncomfortable as heat is lost and cold air comes billowing in. Apply inexpensive plastic or foam strips (available from DIY stores) to window and doorframes to stop the winds. If you have the budget, consider replacing single glazing with modern double-glazed units. As well as keeping the heat in, they will also reduce the noise coming in from the outside.
Heating controls and condensing boilers
Heating and hot water accounts for around 83% of the total energy used in the home. So team a more efficient boiler with a full set of heating controls and you’ll spend less heating your hot water. A new A rated gas condensing boiler and heating controls could save you around £235 a year.
A full set of heating controls including a time switch/programmer, room thermostat, hot water tank thermostat (if applicable), and thermostatic radiator valves.
If you already have heating controls make sure you know how to use them, for example setting your heating and hot water to only come on when you need it will cut down on the energy you use. And simply turning your thermostat down by 1 degree C can cut your heating bills by 10% – saving you around £55 a year.
Lighting
Lighting is another simple way to cut your energy bills. Energy saving lightbulbs use around a fifth of the energy and last up to 10 times longer than traditional lightbulbs. Each one might save you around £40 in electricity over its lifetime.
When you go out to buy new appliances such as fridges, dishwashers or washing machines, make sure you look for the Energy Saving Recommended logo. It’s your guarantee that they are the most energy efficient on the market.
Posted in Carbon accounting | Tags: consumption, Energy, Getting, Home, ready, Reduce, Renewables | No Comments »
WEEE: Questions to ask yourself if you sell EEE
I sell directly to household users. Am I a distributor?
- Yes.
I sell EEE only to Business users. Am I a distributor?
- Yes, but some distributor obligations do not apply in relation to sales of non-household EEE.
However your customers may ask you for information about the registered producer of
the EEE, and that producer may ask you for information about non-household
customers and sales so that they can report their sales correctly. Please note sole traders and partnerships are classed as consumers.
I only sell second-hand equipment. Am I a distributor?
- Distributor obligations only apply in relation to the provision of EEE that has not been
previously placed on the UK market. However you will still require {permits, licences] to operate
I sell only ex-demonstration, mail-order returns, open-box or surplus EEE. Am I distributor?
- Yes, ex-demonstration, “open box” EEE and mail-order returns are regarded as new
EEE and therefore normal distributor obligations apply.
I provide EEE incidentally to my main business (credit card rewards, loyalty bonus, and advertising). Am I a distributor?
- Yes. If you provide EEE to household users on a commercial basis, then you are a
distributor.
If I allow take-back, do I have to allow consumers to bring back any Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment?
- Consumers may bring back items of equipment which they are replacing with an
equivalent new product on a like-for-like basis. If you offer take-back you must do this
for all types of EEE you sell. So, for example, a consumer buying a new microwave
oven would be entitled to take-back of one old microwave oven as WEEE. You would
not be expected to take back a completely different type of equipment, for example a
washing machine for a DVD player.
What is “equivalent” Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment?
- Distributors are expected to adopt a reasonable interpretation of equivalence. For
example, a customer should be allowed to bring back an old video cassette recorder
when purchasing a new DVD player/recorder, as even though this is not strictly a like-for-
like replacement, the new product is intended to fulfil the same function.
How long after a purchase should I give consumers to bring back their Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment?
- The WEEE Regulations do not lay down a minimum period for which take-back should
be offered. However, given that it is unlikely that customers will carry WEEE with them
while shopping, distributors are should accept WEEE within a reasonable period following a sale (e.g. 28 days). You may wish to endorse the sales receipt to govern
deferred in-store take-back of WEEE
Are faulty items returned to me classed as Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment?
- No. Items intended for repair and return to use are not regarded as waste. However,
once it becomes clear that items are beyond repair and hence are to be discarded they
should be regarded as WEEE. From this point they should be dealt with in accordance
with the WEEE Regulations.
Can I charge customers if I offer collection-on-delivery services?
- It remains at the discretion of retailers whether to charge or not for any collection on
delivery services that they provide to consumers, but any such services would not fulfil
your take-back obligations.
How do I do take-back if I am a mail order distributor?
- Distance sellers must either join the DTS, offer in-store take-back through one of their
local stores (where these exist) or provide the customer with an alternative local route
for free take-back. The distributor must tell customers how they can dispose of WEEE,
for example via their catalogue, website, sales receipts, or through a leaflet included
with the purchase.
The producer demands a large product display to show his recycling costs. What should I do?
- The WEEE Regulations give producers the right to display any costs associated with
recycling historical WEEE. A distributor of EEE may not obscure or remove a sticker on
the product, but would not be obliged to erect an in-store display with the costs.
Producers and distributors may negotiate between themselves the appropriate means
of display.
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