With winter fast approaching it’s worth remembering that Government cash is still available under the Warm Front Scheme which was established to help fuel poor households benefit from heating and insulation home improvements. For low income and fuel poor families the thought of another harsh cold winter will be a decidedly unpleasant one but with […]
Year: 2012
Baxi gets behind Gas Safety Week
Baxi, one of the UK’s leading central heating manufacturers, has urged the public to take notice of Gas Safety Week. Commencing 10th September 2012, Gas Safety Week aims to educate households on domestic gas safety. Launched by Gas Safe Register in 2011, this year’s awareness week marks the initiative’s second anniversary. Baxi is hoping households […]
New licence obligations for smart meters
Ofgem has published new licence obligations for energy firms that install smart meters, or Advanced Domestic Meters (ADMs), in domestic properties throughout the UK. Regulating the energy industry in Great Britain, Ofgem has a commitment to ensure a fair, competitive market. Although powerless to prevent certain decisions made by energy firms, the regulator is able […]
E.ON promises ‘prices won’t rise one penny in 2012’
Energy supplier E.ON has vowed not to raise standard gas and electricity prices after SSE announced a price hike despite generating huge profits last year. SSE caused outrage last month when it stated that gas and electricity tariffs would increase by 9 per cent from October. The decision by SSE, which is Britain’s second largest […]
Device to manage electricity aims to help solar customers save money
A start-up business in County Durham hopes to save money for households that use solar photovoltaic panels. Home Solar Saver Co., established by Ian Reed and his wife Lindsey, deploys special equipment in homes that constantly monitors electricity usage. A wireless device streams data containing information on the type of electricity being used throughout the day […]
SSE customers to see a 9% rise in energy bills
In a move the company is calling “regrettably unavoidable” SSE, the UK’s second largest energy provider, has announced plans to subject their customers to a 9% rise in their gas and electricity bills in October. Yes, household energy bills are on the rise. Again. The news will be a blow to energy consumers and […]
npower’s Health Through Warmth scheme a roaring success
A scheme which has helped vulnerable residents keep warm for the past 12 years is celebrating after hitting 75,000 referrals. Established in 2000, npower’s Health Through Warmth scheme was set up to help home owners across England and Wales suffering from cold-related illnesses by funding insulation and heating measures which they wouldn’t normally be able […]
Findings of DECC smart meter survey revealed
It might come as a surprise to some but a recent survey into smart meters has revealed that home owners are more likely to trust energy suppliers and even consumer bodies like Which? than the Government. The survey, courtesy of leading market research firm Ipsos Mori on behalf of the Department of Energy and Climate Change […]
Scientists find a way to emulate sunflower solar tracking
An engineering professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the United States claims to have discovered a way to artificially emulate the heliotropism observed in sunflowers. If proved effective, the new technique promises to revolutionise the domestic and commercial solar industries. Professor Hongrui Jiang set out to improve the way in which solar panels respond […]
Leicestershire village embraces energy efficiency
Residents of North Kilworth, a small village nestled in the leafy south Leicestershire countryside, have taken part in an innovative scheme to embrace energy efficiency. Establishing a Community Interest Company called Village Power was the first step along the path towards the village becoming more sustainable by addressing issues surrounding energy efficiency. The group has […]
Households urged to take advantage of free home insulation
Local authorities across the UK are urging households to take advantage of free cavity wall and loft insulation initiatives before time runs out. On Tuesday, Insulate Hampshire gave away just under 300 rolls of insulation to people living in Hampshire. The firm was supported by Hampshire County Council and Havant Transition Network, which aims to […]
Consumer Focus questions what is a fair price for energy
Following hot on the heels of British Gas announcing a 23% rise in earnings last month, on Monday E.ON confirmed a 30% increase on its earnings in the first six months of 2012, £245 million compared to £198 million in the same period last year. The publication of these first half yearly profits has prompted […]
Solar company offering low interest loans
An installer of solar photovoltaic panels has offered households in the UK an incentive to switch to green energy by supplying low-interest loans to homeowners. Domestic solar power has endured a turbulent year. Although the manufacturing cost of solar panels has fallen over the past twelve months, government subsidies have twice been cut. At the […]
Australian scientists make renewable energy storage breakthrough
Although renewable energy technologies have come on leaps and bounds in the last couple of decades, a solution to economical energy storage remains a big stumbling block in the quest to generate more energy with sustainable technologies and to make renewable energies more affordable. However a team of scientists in Australia are one step closer to […]
E.ON survey reveals families’ summer energy habits
E.ON, one of Britain’s largest energy suppliers, has revealed the results of a survey that aimed to better understand families’ energy habits during the summer. Some of the findings revealed little about energy usage, with parents spending more than 100 hours on average nagging their kids. 55 per cent of nagging is caused by children […]
It’s all systems go for the Green Deal
The energy efficiency market in the UK is set to be revolutionised once the Government’s Green Deal insulation scheme is introduced. Today the Department of Energy and Climate Change has given the go ahead for a £7 million loan to the Green Deal Finance Company (GDFC). The announcement confirms that the scheme will be able […]
