Despite the ongoing recession, most small and large enterprises across Europe plan to maintain or increase spending on green IT, according to a new survey from HP.
Of 2,000 decision-makers and IT users surveyed across seven European markets, 81 per cent said they would either stay the course or increase their green initiatives, the survey found. Driving that trend, apparently, is the believe that sustainable IT policies can also yield cost savings.
A majority of those surveyed also expressed support for green printing practices, with 71 per cent of IT buyers saying they believed green printing is financially accessible and worth investing in.
Even so, IT users are not always as green as they believe, the survey found. While 77 per cent of those buying printers said the ability to print double-sided — a strategy for reducing paper consumption — was an important factor in their decision, only 49 per cent said they regularly take advantage of double-sided printing.
“Over the past 50 years, HP has witnessed profound change in customer attitudes towards environmental responsibility,” said Klaus Hieronymi, director of the Environmental Business Management Organisation for HP Europe, Middle East and Africa. “The fact that 45 per cent of large enterprises and nearly 30 per cent of SMBs now have policies in place to encourage green IT spending supports our belief that businesses are taking greater steps than ever before to reduce their environmental impact. We’re pleased this latest research also confirms that customers are increasingly trying to balance their print needs with environmental concerns.”
The survey also found that:
Small and medium-size businesses (SMBs) appear to be placing similar emphasis on buying environmentally accredited products as large enterprises. This may be an indication they favour a self-regulatory approach to a formal IT purchasing policy;
For both large enterprises and SMBs, the focus of IT purchasing policy is on recycling of printer cartridges and paper (67 per cent) and energy consumption (64 per cent);
Germany, Austria and Switzerland place greater importance on energy efficiency over recycling. This is at odds with all other countries surveyed, where recycling was rated as more important;
IT users in both sectors are largely supportive of environmentally sustainable practices, with 70 per cent reporting they practice environmentally sustainable activities at work;
Whilst overall greening of IT is seen as a cost saving, green printing is perceived to carry an extra cost.
Schneider Electric, a global specialist in energy management, has launched Energy University™ by Schneider Electric, a vendor-neutral, online educational community that provides the fundamentals needed to implement successful energy-efficient strategies scaling various applications.
The courses are designed to provide anyone involved in the decision-making, management, planning, design, or construction of a space impacted by energy, a level of expertise to address efficiency issues and apply safe, reliable and cost effective measures.
“Schneider Electric believes there is a significant opportunity for sustainable energy savings that is unaddressed by industry and consumers today,” said Paul Hamilton, senior vice president of Schneider Electric’s Energy and Solution University. “Through Energy University, we expect to enable anyone to better understand and act on these opportunities, so they can do more with less. Energy University will reduce complexity and raise awareness by providing global users easy access to practical education on all aspects of energy management.:
Energy University courses are product-agnostic and focus on the critical concepts and best practices needed to achieve a high degree of energy management. Subject matter experts from all areas of the company assist in the development and creation of the courses. As the demand for new technologies and knowledge increases, Energy University will be incorporating additional courses to the programme.
Currently, 11 foundational courses are offered covering such topics as:
Energy Efficiency Fundamentals;
The Economics of Energy Efficiency;
Going Green with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED);
Trusted Advisor Program Overview;
Alternative Power Generation Technologies;
Data Center Efficiency: Reducing Electrical Power Consumption; and
Lighting Basics for Energy Efficient Applications I.
Each course can typically be completed in less than one hour, and the self-paced learning includes a quiz for success measurement and preparation for the certification exam. The certification verifies that a user has a comprehensive understanding of energy management and is able to independently handle situations related to energy awareness, problem solving and solutions design.
“Only through education and awareness can companies take advantage of the significant energy savings available to them today,” said Andy Chatha, president and CEO of ARC Advisory Group. “By providing users with commercial-free knowledge and expertise of various topics, they will be able to implement sustainable energy-efficient solutions that are good for the environment and good for their bottom line.”
Those savings could pay for some 230,000 extra computers for schools each year, or fund the purchase of more than 4.5 million textbooks, according to the Carbon Trust. Reducing energy waste would also cut UK schools’ carbon dioxide emissions by almost 600,000 tonnes.
“Head teachers, parents and governors alike are always seeking ways to make the school budget go further,” said Tom Delay, CEO of the Carbon Trust. “Cutting energy use is a highly effective way to free-up those funds, whilst engaging the school community in the fight against climate change.”
The Carbon Trust released the new figures as part of its campaign encouraging head teachers to realise the potential savings in their school budgets and tackle climate change at the same time. The organisation has also launched a tailored service designed to help head teachers to identify and implement the right energy saving projects for their schools quickly and easily. The service is free of charge and comprises an on-site school assessment by a carbon consultant, followed up by a bespoke report and action plan. It is available to schools and colleges in England and Wales with energy bills in excess of £50,000.
The Carbon Trust’s campaign was launched today at Oaklands Secondary School, Tower Hamlets, London, which has been working with the Carbon Trust to reduce its carbon emissions since 2007.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) aims to bolster energy efficiency in Finland, Poland and Sweden with a €250 million loan to Fortum Corporation, headquartered in Espoo, Finland. The loan is for the ongoing construction of two cogeneration plants in Finland and Poland, as well as the implementation of digital remote metering infrastructure in Sweden.
The project consists of three separate initiatives. The first is a large-scale, natural gas-fired combined-cycle gas turbine plant at Espoo, Finland, replacing an older plant. The new plant, to be commissioned this autumn, is expected to reduce the use of coal and oil in district heat production in the area.
The second scheme is a medium-sized coal- and biomass-fired plant at Czestochowa, Poland, set to begin production in 2010.
The third project involves installing an automatic metering management infrastructure for the promoter’s power distribution operations in Sweden. The meters will enable remote reading, provide real-time consumption information and allow differential pricing according to the system load.
The project is in line with the EU Action Plan for Energy Efficiency, which promotes the expansion of combined heat and power in Europe. It also supports climate change initiatives by promoting efficient generating technologies and the use of biomass for energy production.
The introduction of digital metering is expected to contribute to the development of a harmonised pan-Nordic electricity retail market and energy efficiency through automatic meter management standardisation.
Such design improvements could save the economy £900 million as well as protect the environment, according to the agency. The new consultation, which closes on 4 September, seeks views on how to implement minimum energy standards and energy labelling of high street products.
Minimum energy standards and labels for televisions, washing machines and fridges are already being introduced under The European Union (EU) Framework Directive for the Eco-design of Energy Using Products (EuP), with more products to follow. Implementing these standards effectively will reduce EU energy use by 10 per cent, according to EU estimates. On the other hand, non-compliance with these standards is believed to cost some £30 million per year.
Defra’s new consultation aims to ensure that manufacturers can compete in a fair environment while consumers are guaranteed that the products they purchase meet the mandatory minimum energy performance standards and their declared energy label.
“It is really important that we hear from businesses and manufacturers to get a well rounded view of how we can enforce and check on the energy standards of products,” said Dan Norris, the new Environment Minister. “These standards can save our economy so much money and can save millions of tonnes of CO2 from going into the atmosphere.”
The consultation aims to:
Find out who would be best placed to carry out the market surveillance;
Discover what the necessary powers such an enforcement authority should have, whether we need more regular testing programmes, and the role business should play in enforcement and testing of energy using products; and
Seek industry and business views on draft guidance notes for five energy-using products (standby, simple set top boxes, external power supplies, tertiary lighting and household lighting).
Hospitals, leisure centres, local authorities and other public sector organisations might be eligible for new energy efficiency loans being offered by the Government in partnership with Salix Finance and the Carbon Trust.
A total of £51.5 million in interest-free loans are being made available to help public sector organisations take advantage of energy efficiency technology.
“We estimate this fund could help public sector bodies save around £14 million per year in fuel bills,” said Joan Ruddock, Minister for Energy and Climate Change. “Following the announcement of our ambitious carbon budgets, all public sector organisations should lead by example by pioneering ways to reduce carbon emissions. I hope that schools, hospitals and fire stations will look into projects they can undertake, and use this funding opportunity.”
Announced by the Chancellor as part of the new Budget, the new loans are an addition to £30 million announced last year for the 2008-2012 scheme and will be available through Salix Finance. Loans will be available for some 80 different energy efficiency technologies, including building insulation, boiler and lighting upgrades, improved cooling systems and IT energy efficiency improvements.
Officials say this support will play an important part in the build-up to the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC), which begins in April 2010. The CRC is a mandatory scheme that targets carbon dioxide emissions from large public and private sector organisations, which together use more than 6,000 megawatt-hours of electricity per year. It will provide incentives for these organisations to record and reduce their energy use and improve energy efficiency, saving an estimated 4 million tonnes of CO2 a year by 2020.
“Many organisations have already taken bold action on climate change and we hope their example inspires many more in the public sector to follow suit,” said Tom Delay, CEO of the Carbon Trust. “Thanks to new funding from the Government they now have the financial means to do so.”
“Salix is currently working with 128 public sector bodies who are already saving over £3.5 million a year in energy spend,” added Alastair Keir, CEO of Salix Finance. “This new loan funding will enable us to significantly increase the support we can provide to public sector bodies to reduce their energy spend and their CO2 emissions. It will not only enable other public sector bodies to benefit but also allow our current clients to undertake larger projects and achieve even greater savings.”
Using GE smart meters as information collection and reporting devices, a Government-sponsored Energy Demand Research Project (EDRP) study is tracking energy use by time of day. The in-depth research is uncovering the effects of various savings strategies on household energy consumption.
The strategies include: reporting consumption to households via a visual display, reporting consumption on a household’s TV screen, making consumption information available via the Internet, using alarms that go off when consumers reach certain consumption levels, tariff rewards for reducing overall energy consumption and lower rates for consumers who move energy consumption to “off peak” hours by, for example, running a dishwasher at night.
“As the test progresses, we are learning about consumer behaviour and how smart meter technology can help save on energy bills,: said Andrew Monks, EDRP program manager at Scottish and Southern Energy. “Thanks to the help of GE technology and GE engineers, we will be able to plan for a more efficient, cleaner energy future across the United Kingdom.”
During the study, officials will determine the ideal technology deployment strategy to maximise cost and energy savings with UK power users.
The trial uses the ZigBee communication protocol, which is becoming an accepted standard for home automation. It delivers full, multi-way communications between consumers, meters and a centralised information storage server.
The EDRP study also is serving as a platform to promote energy-saving awareness and the potential benefits of smart consumption to citizens across the United Kingdom. Homes in the trial are located in North Leigh in Oxfordshire.
“Smart meters are the foundation for the smart grid in Europe and a critical component to help maximise the productivity and performance we can squeeze from our infrastructure,” said Keith Redfearn, general manager of GE Energy’s transmission and distribution business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. “GE is planning to establish a European Smart Meter Centre of Excellence in the United Kingdom to support the design, assembly and testing required to deploy smart grid technology throughout the European Union.”
The UK is missing out on the opportunity to recycle and reuse waste heat produced in the electricity generation process to heat homes and businesses, according to a new report from the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).
Currently, heat production accounts for 49 per cent of all primary energy consumed in the UK, far more than in the production of electricity or that used in the transport sector. The report, based on new research undertaken by the University of Southampton sustainability energy research group, states that the use of combined heat and power (CHP) technology would allow the capture and re-use of waste heat produced in the electricity generation process, cutting energy consumption and carbon emissions.
“The truth is, that if half of the heat lost during electricity production could be captured, it would meet 25 per cent of the UK’s heat demand, dramatically reducing energy consumption, cutting costs and carbon emissions,” said Keith Tovey, a member of ICE’s Energy Panel. “Whilst this level of capture and re-use is not possible under the current organisation of the sector — and there are technical difficulties that need to be addressed — there are immediate opportunities for recycling and re-use, particularly at a local level that could have a marked impact.”
Tovey continued, “What we need to do is look closely at introducing district heating networks in areas surrounding viable existing power stations in the UK and ensure we assess potential heat capture possibilities for any new facilities. In the longer term, we need to consider the potentially huge benefits that decentralised CHP could bring to the UK. With the current generation of thermal power stations coming to the end of their lifespan, there is a real opportunity to vastly improve the efficiency of our energy sector and drastically lower its carbon footprint.”
The ICE report — “Why waste heat?” — explains that heat recovery from existing centralised power stations could meet 5 per cent of the UK’s current heating demand by 2020. This would largely be achieved through the introduction of CHP and district heating networks at specific locations, where there is a significant population within a 10-kilometre radius of a viable power station, such as those at Drax, Ferrybridge and Eggborough.
According to the report, by far the most efficient method of heat capture is decentralised CHP and district heating, of the sort used successfully in Scandinavia and other parts of Europe where smaller power stations are located close to centres of population. The ICE urges investigation into how a similar approach could work in the UK. In addition, the ICE also encourages institution-scale CHP schemes in facilities such as in hospitals and universities.
“It’s true that delivering decentralised CHP across the UK would require significant new infrastructure and a large reorganisation of the sector, but if we are to guarantee security of supply, whilst meeting tough carbon targets, radical change may be what is needed,” Tovey said.
The latest improvements to Trafalgar Square include an innovative green-energy lighting system that will not only save money but provide state-of-the-art lighting for the square’s fountains.
The new system will enable the fountains to be lit up in different colours to tie in with major events, further enhancing the square as a key world destination that attracts 13 million visitors each year.
The improvements will also cut the carbon footprint of the fountain lighting by an estimated 90 per cent, saving 16,400 kilograms of carbon every year, as well as saving thousands of pounds on energy bills.
The work, which began in March, also included renovation of metalwork, conservation of the merman, dolphins and tritons, as well as cleaning, pointing and repair of stonework. In addition, work on the three pumps, which power the fountains with continuously recirculated water, means the fountains will cascade higher than has been seen for around thirty years.
“This is the final major piece of the transformation of one the greatest public squares in time for the 2012 Games,” said London Mayor Boris Johnson. “It brings together the old and the new in a way that London does so well and 60 years since work began on the present layout, it is a brilliant way to help kick off the Story of London festival — which is about celebrating the capital’s past, present and future.”
The new LED lighting system was first used last Thursday to herald in the Story of London ferstival, which began Monday and runs throughout June.
The widget is part of a broader campaign called Power To Change, which aims to encourage personal computer users around the world to make behavioural changes that benefit the environment.
Compatible with all PC computing platforms, the Power to Change widget lets PC users watch and explore the energy savings the campaign generates through behavioural changes across both individual and global users.
“With Power To Change, individuals and organisations can make a small environmental commitment that has the potential for a large impact on addressing sustainability challenges today,” said John Frey, Americas sustainability executive at HP.
HP estimates that, if 100,000 users shut down their work computers at the end of each day, energy savings could total more than 2,680 kilowatt-hours and carbon emissions reductions could total more than 3,500 pounds per day. That’s the equivalent of eliminating more than 105 cars from the road each day.
Power To Change is launching across all three HP regions – Asia Pacific and Japan; Europe, the Middle East and Africa; and the Americas – and is available in five languages: Chinese, English, Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish.
Despite the ongoing recession, most small and large enterprises across Europe plan to maintain or increase spending on green IT, according to a new survey from HP.
Schneider Electric, a global specialist in energy management, has launched 
Britain’s head teachers 
The European Investment Bank (EIB) aims to bolster energy efficiency in Finland, Poland and Sweden with a €250 million loan to Fortum Corporation, headquartered in Espoo, Finland. The loan is for the ongoing construction of two cogeneration plants in Finland and Poland, as well as the implementation of digital remote metering infrastructure in Sweden.
The Department for Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched a new consultation focussed on 
Hospitals, leisure centres, local authorities and other public sector organisations might be eligible for 
GE Energy technology is helping the UK Government better develop its objective to have 
The UK is missing out on the opportunity to 
The latest improvements to Trafalgar Square include 
HP is offering PC users a downloadable desktop widget that