O Topten actualizou ontem, dia 30 de Junho, a categoria correspondente às lâmpadas de baixo consumo, que já oferece um vasto leque de opções energeticamente eficientes para quem queira renovar a iluminação de sua casa. Esta é aliás uma área em que o consumidor pode ir facilmente aplicando medidas para redução do consumo de electricidade. Aos poucos, a substituição de lâmpadas incandescentes por lâmpadas economizadoras nas divisões mais utilizadas traduzir-se-á numa redução significativa da factura energética.
O mercado oferece já uma grande variedade de lâmpadas de baixo consumo, estando constantemente a surgir novos modelos mais competitivos. Estas novas lâmpadas oferecem várias vantagens ao consumidor: para além de serem mais eficientes em termos de consumo energético, a sua resistência é muito maior, bem como a qualidade da luz emitida. O Topten pretende continuar atento às novidades, fornecendo informação actual e credível sobre as marcas e os equipamentos com maior desempenho energético no mercado.
Uma dessas novidades diz respeito aos LEDs que já são considerados as lâmpadas do futuro. Apesar de ainda só poderem ser utilizados em zonas de passagem, como halls e corredores, apresentam um consumo bastante inferior (de 1 a 1,5 watts) ao das lâmpadas incandescentes e até ao das lâmpadas de baixo consumo, para além de terem um tempo de duração muito maior.
NUSA DUA, Indonesia (Reuters) - Building greener homes and office towers and installing energy-efficient lighting could slash planet-warming carbon emissions, U.N. and industry officials said at climate talks in Bali on Friday.
They said the technology already existed to dramatically cut electricity use for very little cost, and yet it was puzzling that governments, industries and home-owners weren't cashing in on the energy-saving ideas.
"About 40 percent of all energy is consumed in buildings and in construction. This is the incredible fact most people don't realize," said Kaarin Taipale, of the U.N.'s Marrakesh Task Force on Sustainable Buildings and Construction.
NUSA DUA, Indonesia (Reuters) - World annual investments in renewable energy will top $100 billion for the first time in 2007, led by wind power, according to a report issued at United Nations climate talks on Saturday.
"Policies to promote renewable energy have mushroomed over the past few years," the Renewable Energy Policy Network, which links governments, industries and other groups, said in its study.
Use of, and plans to use, electricity net metering are spreading around the country driven by a pressing need to modernize and upgrade the nation’s electricity grid in the face of forecast increases in demand and an equally urgent drive to reduce carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, net metering is a key element of efforts to build a Smart Electrical Grid, which in and of itself may be one of the largest generators of power and cost savings, as well as catalysts for increasing use of renewable energy sources.
More than 35 states currently offer net metering programs. In addition to enabling electricity suppliers to better manage and increase the efficiency of power generation and distribution, net metering is considered to be among the best ways of providing incentives for consumers to invest in renewable energy generation.
Tired of paying too much for her electricity, and also wanting to help the environment, she started a grassroots campaign out of her kitchen in San Rafael, a small town North of San Francisco, to lower the cost of solar power for people in her community. Initially, Lisa Max’s idea was to replicate an initiative from a group of 66 households in Portola Valley, another Bay Area town, who was able, last year, to buy discounted solar installations through a community purchase plan.
