This is my kind of invention. A team of scientists at MIT have demonstrated their, still in its infancy, new technology which has been called WiTricity. The basic principle is that electrical appliances and objects may be powered without cables.
As far as I can see from the article in the Independent online, is that it works on resonance. Resonance can cause an object to vibrate when energy of a certain frequency is applied to it. I suppose it must be about the same idea as when a soprano, singing a high note at a certain volume, can shatter a drinking glass.
So two resonant objects talk to each other on the same frequency and by doing this they are able to exchange energy efficiently. One object would be a sender and be attached to energy, and the other one a receiver.
Of course my first though was, what if the human body is resonant with this same energy, we could all be walking around with spiked up hair all the time. But apparently it only resonates with similar frequencies. That's a bit of a relief.
Recently we moved house. I had to pack the extension and power cables into two large boxes. That is what is required to power up the equipment and hardware used in an average household now. It's no longer just a matter of plugging in the kettle. Power is required for the computer, the router, the mobile phone charger - which are not the same for different models, iPod charger etc etc.
Traveling is proving to be just as challenging. One travels with a mobile phone, camera, video camera, computer, iPod and yes the ever faithful hair drier. That one is still around! All of the above travel equipment requires power to charge batteries. Each one of those battery requiring gadgets will need a power cable.
The power cable needs to find a socket that is compatible to the electrical plug system of the country one travels to.
The last trip I took, I actually took a lumpy extension cable with a four plug section. It was the only way I could handle all the power up I needed. The advantage being that one needs one converter plug to the different power outlet systems other countries have. One carry bag alone had all the electrical and battery charging gadgets I would need. Wouldn't it be so nice to be able to dispense with all of the cables and converter plugs at home and during travels.
Anja Merret lives in Brighton, UK. Her personal blog http://www.anjamerret.com allows her to voice opinions on issues that interest her and observations she makes.
She has started a new blog http://www.pinkblocks.com that deals with observations on self development and personal power. Her recommendation for self help tools may be found on http://www.anjamerret.blogspot.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anja_Merret
Thursday, July 12, 2007
There Is Such A Thing As A Free Gas Fire
The government is on a mission to improve the UK's energy security and reduce carbon emissions. Almost 40% of the UK's energy is used in the heating, lighting and operation of our homes. With 25 million homes in the UK, even small improvements across the market can have a significant overall impact.
The Department for Communities and Local Government is leading a number of energy and cost saving initiatives to make homes more efficient. One of its main tools to improve home efficiency is home energy ratings.
In April 2006, Part L of the Building Regulations was revised to include compulsory energy rating of new homes as well as increasing the minimum efficiency standards significantly above previous levels. The new energy rating system is based on the total carbon emissions from estimated heating and lighting use, and is officially called the Dwelling Carbon Emission Rate (DCER). The consequence is that builders must now somehow construct more efficient homes. This could be achieved by fitting extra insulation or more efficient glazing, but there is one very cost effective option that is often overlooked - fitting a high efficiency gas fire.
The home energy ratings are calculated using method called the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP). This calculation assumes that all homes have a proportion of secondary heating. Secondary heating is the occasional extra heating required in addition to the central heating system, for example on cold spring and autumn nights.
It is usually focussed in a single room such as the living room, which the occupants want at a slightly higher temperature to the rest of the house in order to feel comfortable. If an alternative is not installed, the SAP calculation assumes that the secondary heating is provided by electric heaters. Electric heating is very efficient at point of use, but considerable energy is wasted in its generation and distribution.
The fuel is burned in a power station, where the heat is then converted to electricity. The electricity then has to be transmitted through the National Grid to the home where it is converted back into heat. This is a very inefficient process. To provide heat, it is much more efficient to burn the fuel directly in the home. High Efficiency gas fires are therefore a very efficient method of providing secondary heating and consequently they increase the overall home energy rating. Most glass fronted gas fires will provide an increase to the home energy rating because they reduce the amount of warm air that can be lost up the chimney.
Similarly, flueless gas fires are highly efficient because there is no heat loss from the chimney but they do require the installation of a permanent air vent in the room, which reduces the overall efficiency of the building.
All of these factors are considered in the SAP calculation, with the result that Balanced Flue gas fires will in most cases give the best home energy rating. This is because they are both highly efficient at generating heat in the room and are entirely sealed from the room, preventing any additional heat losses. In a typical detached house, an 80% efficient balanced flue fire gains a significant 0.8 point improvement in the home energy rating (DCER) compared with electric secondary heating. To put this into perspective, alternative methods of achieving a 0.8 point improvement would be to: 1. Double the wall insulation throughout the building (Reduce the U-Value from 0.25 W/m2 to 0.13 W/m2) 2. Reduce the heat loss through the windows by approximately 60%. (Reduce U-Value from 1.5 W/m2 to 0.86W/m2). 3. Install 4.6m2 of solar water heating panels. Fitting a balanced flue gas fire therefore saves the builder from doing one of the above options and some of the new products on the market such as the 87% efficient Matchless Heat Machine provide even greater benefit.
The resulting cost savings mean that builders can effectively install a decorative focal point that adds value to the home, at little or no additional cost. This currently only applies to new homes, but on 1st June 2007 the government will introduce Home Information Packs for all homes being sold.
The Home Information Pack will require all homes on the market to be issued with an Energy Performance Certificate, calculated using the SAP method. This of course means that just as with new homes, high efficiency gas fires and particularly balanced flue gas fires will help to improve the homes overall rating.
There are currently no plans to set minimum efficiency standards for existing homes, but it is anticipated that high efficiency ratings will increase property value. When the increase in property value is considered, it is likely that fitting a high efficiency gas fire will effectively pay for itself. Combined with the fact that high efficiency gas have very low running costs, low carbon emissions and produce an attractive living flame effect, the increase in home energy ratings provides installers with a very powerful sales message:
Fitting a high efficiency gas fire doesn't cost the earth. In fact, it might not cost anything at all. Charlton and Jenrick Ltd have for many years been at the forefront of high efficiency gas fire technology and support the government in its goal of making homes more energy efficient and reducing carbon emissions.
Charlton and Jenrick's Matchless and Paragon brands offer a wide range of high efficiency products including balanced flue and conventionally flued glass fronted fires up to 89% efficient.
For more information or to request a brochure please email sales@paragonfires.co.uk or telephone 01952 278020.
- Tom Greenwood
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_Greenwood
The Department for Communities and Local Government is leading a number of energy and cost saving initiatives to make homes more efficient. One of its main tools to improve home efficiency is home energy ratings.
In April 2006, Part L of the Building Regulations was revised to include compulsory energy rating of new homes as well as increasing the minimum efficiency standards significantly above previous levels. The new energy rating system is based on the total carbon emissions from estimated heating and lighting use, and is officially called the Dwelling Carbon Emission Rate (DCER). The consequence is that builders must now somehow construct more efficient homes. This could be achieved by fitting extra insulation or more efficient glazing, but there is one very cost effective option that is often overlooked - fitting a high efficiency gas fire.
The home energy ratings are calculated using method called the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP). This calculation assumes that all homes have a proportion of secondary heating. Secondary heating is the occasional extra heating required in addition to the central heating system, for example on cold spring and autumn nights.
It is usually focussed in a single room such as the living room, which the occupants want at a slightly higher temperature to the rest of the house in order to feel comfortable. If an alternative is not installed, the SAP calculation assumes that the secondary heating is provided by electric heaters. Electric heating is very efficient at point of use, but considerable energy is wasted in its generation and distribution.
The fuel is burned in a power station, where the heat is then converted to electricity. The electricity then has to be transmitted through the National Grid to the home where it is converted back into heat. This is a very inefficient process. To provide heat, it is much more efficient to burn the fuel directly in the home. High Efficiency gas fires are therefore a very efficient method of providing secondary heating and consequently they increase the overall home energy rating. Most glass fronted gas fires will provide an increase to the home energy rating because they reduce the amount of warm air that can be lost up the chimney.
Similarly, flueless gas fires are highly efficient because there is no heat loss from the chimney but they do require the installation of a permanent air vent in the room, which reduces the overall efficiency of the building.
All of these factors are considered in the SAP calculation, with the result that Balanced Flue gas fires will in most cases give the best home energy rating. This is because they are both highly efficient at generating heat in the room and are entirely sealed from the room, preventing any additional heat losses. In a typical detached house, an 80% efficient balanced flue fire gains a significant 0.8 point improvement in the home energy rating (DCER) compared with electric secondary heating. To put this into perspective, alternative methods of achieving a 0.8 point improvement would be to: 1. Double the wall insulation throughout the building (Reduce the U-Value from 0.25 W/m2 to 0.13 W/m2) 2. Reduce the heat loss through the windows by approximately 60%. (Reduce U-Value from 1.5 W/m2 to 0.86W/m2). 3. Install 4.6m2 of solar water heating panels. Fitting a balanced flue gas fire therefore saves the builder from doing one of the above options and some of the new products on the market such as the 87% efficient Matchless Heat Machine provide even greater benefit.
The resulting cost savings mean that builders can effectively install a decorative focal point that adds value to the home, at little or no additional cost. This currently only applies to new homes, but on 1st June 2007 the government will introduce Home Information Packs for all homes being sold.
The Home Information Pack will require all homes on the market to be issued with an Energy Performance Certificate, calculated using the SAP method. This of course means that just as with new homes, high efficiency gas fires and particularly balanced flue gas fires will help to improve the homes overall rating.
There are currently no plans to set minimum efficiency standards for existing homes, but it is anticipated that high efficiency ratings will increase property value. When the increase in property value is considered, it is likely that fitting a high efficiency gas fire will effectively pay for itself. Combined with the fact that high efficiency gas have very low running costs, low carbon emissions and produce an attractive living flame effect, the increase in home energy ratings provides installers with a very powerful sales message:
Fitting a high efficiency gas fire doesn't cost the earth. In fact, it might not cost anything at all. Charlton and Jenrick Ltd have for many years been at the forefront of high efficiency gas fire technology and support the government in its goal of making homes more energy efficient and reducing carbon emissions.
Charlton and Jenrick's Matchless and Paragon brands offer a wide range of high efficiency products including balanced flue and conventionally flued glass fronted fires up to 89% efficient.
For more information or to request a brochure please email sales@paragonfires.co.uk or telephone 01952 278020.
- Tom Greenwood
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_Greenwood
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