Overseas govts move to ban plasmas…what are we doing?

Labelled the 4×4 of the living room, governments across both California in the US and the European Union, are developing legislation to ban the most power-hungry flat screen LCD and plasma TVs.

In Britain alone there are approx 60 million television sets, one for every person in the country, and in the past five years the main television in many households has changed from being a 24-32in cathode ray model to a 32-42 flatscreen television.

Power consumption climbs as screens increase in size, so a big plasma model could use four times as much electricity and be responsible for the emission of four times as much carbon dioxide as the biggest CRT, and they account for twice as much as a fridge-freezer. A 42-inch plasma TV consumes 822 kilowatts of electricity per year, compared to the 322kw used CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) television sets.

The California Energy Commission, said it was working on new standards for TV sets designed to target the most power-hungry widescreen plasma sets and cut energy consumption across the state equivalent to the energy use of 86,400 homes.

Legislation in California is proposed to be introduced by 2011 with a possible second increase in standards to be introduced from 2013, which could target Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) TVs that use 43 per cent more electricity than traditional models.

While the US Consumer Electronics Association claims that regulations would undermine the voluntary energy efficiency schemes currently in place, with televisions accounting for 10 per cent of the average Californian’s electricity bill, it would seem there is a real need for controls to be introduced.

With families today having nearly three times as many electrical appliances and gadgets as a generation ago, and the amount of electricity used to power them having doubled, there is a real need to slow energy consumption and phase out wasteful devices while introducing more efficient ones.

New standards would introduce a labelling system detailing the energy used by each device, bringing TVs into line with other home appliances, such as air conditioning units and refrigerators, which are already subject to energy efficiency rules.

There is no doubt that these type of rules will further increase pressure on manufacturers to accelerate development of more energy efficient systems, such as emerging organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technologies.

When will the Australian government take up this challenge or are we just a dumping ground for the world’s outmoded technologies?

Amazon lead the way reducing packaging

Frustration-Free Packaging is being launched in the U.S. with 19 bestselling products from leading manufacturers including Fisher-Price, Mattel, Microsoft and electronics manufacturer Transcend. The product is exactly the same – Amazon has just streamlined the packaging. The project will expand across Amazon’s international sites beginning in 2009.

“I think we’ve all experienced the frustration that sometimes occurs when you try to get a new toy or electronics product out of its package,” said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com. “It will take many years, but our vision is to offer our entire catalog of products in Frustration-Free Packaging. We’d like to thank Fisher-Price, Mattel, Microsoft and Transcend for working with us in this effort – we truly appreciate it.”

In addition to making packages easier to open, a major goal of the Frustration-Free Packaging initiative is to be more environmentally friendly by using less packaging material.

One of the first products to launch with Frustration-Free Packaging is the Fisher-Price Imaginext Adventures Pirate Ship, which is now delivered in an easy-to-open, recyclable cardboard box. The new packaging eliminates 36 inches of plastic-coated wire ties, 1,576.5 square inches of printed corrugated package inserts and 36.1 square inches of printed folding carton materials. Also eliminated are 175.25 square inches of PVC blisters, 3.5 square inches of ABS molded styrene and two molded plastic fasteners.

Small items, such as memory cards, are also good candidates for Frustration-Free Packaging. Typically encased in oversized plastic clamshells to deter shoplifting, memory cards are then placed inside larger cardboard boxes for shipment to customers. Working with Transcend, Amazon has eliminated the hard-to-open clamshell and the need for an additional box. Instead, the cards will now ship inside recyclable cardboard envelopes which use less material. Amazon is working to shrink the envelope size even further.

Customers can order select items from Fisher-Price, Mattel, Microsoft and Transcend in the new Frustration-Free Packaging for immediate delivery. The current collection of Frustration-Free products can be seen by going to www.amazon.com/packaging.

Healthy and Environmentally Friendly Floor and Wall Treatments

LIVOS AUSTRALIA

Encompassing a full range of Non Toxic, plant based timber surface treatments, cleaners, waxes and wall decorations.
Floor and Furniture Finishes
Unlike conventional coatings, LIVOS uses natures own substances to impregnate and protect the timber rather than creating a plastic film on top. Advantages are many; LIVOS hardening oils will not edge bond the boards together, minor scratches may be easily repaired, the plant oil-resin-wax combination will harden and protect the timber from within, grain and colour of the timber are intensified, rejuvenation is simple and floors do not require re sanding. Importantly, it has a pleasant smell and creates a healthier living environment.
LIVOS products for exterier use are water repellent and open pored. The surface of your deck or furniture will not crack or peel. Suitable also for doors and windows
LIVOS provides the user with a range of oils for a range of uses.
Non Toxic Wall Paints for saver decorating
Toxic fumes are not emitted with LIVOS wall paints therefore promoting a healthier indoor climate. LIVOS paints are safe to use, safe to recycle, have excellent quality, coverage and provide a fabulous colour range.
Can be used on plaster, cement, brick, wallpaper, gypsum boards and smooth painted surfaces.

LIVOS products available now in South Australia at Ecolateral – 1/443 Magill Road St Morris SA 08 83333478

‘Draft Stoppa’ previous winner of ‘Product of the Year’ at HIA Green Smart Awards

You can save up to 30% on all your heating and cooling costs by retrofitting the Australian designed and manufactured ’Draft Stoppa’ on your existing home or office ceiling exhaust fans.

Important features include:

- Prevents cool or warm air escaping to or entering from the roof cavity
- Prevents polluted air or cooking smells from entering into other parts of the home or workplace
- Is economically priced and adapts to most major ceiling exhaust fans
- Can add up to an energy saving of 30%
- Comes ready to assemble and can be installed by anyone in a matter of minutes 
- The ‘Draft Stoppa’ opens and closes effortlessly without loading-up your ceiling exhaust fan motor
- Is adaptable to ‘3-in-1′ heater, exhaust fan and light ceiling units that vent directly into the roof cavity 
Available at selected retail outlets including Ecolateral at 443 Magill Road St Morris.

 

Home energy systems

Working with the world’s leading solar manufacturers to build a fully branded and integrated energy system with wireless, in-home monitoring, Australian firm Zen Home Energy Systems has turned the complex, solar home energy system into a simple elegant and efficient home appliance that adds value to homes.

ZEN Technologies (Power and Energy) Pty Ltd brings together two of Australia’s leading SME Entrepreneurs, Richard Turner and Philip Vafiadis with a unique vision to create effective Sustainable Energy Technology in the areas of Production and Demand Side Utilisation without compromise to lifestyle.

The philosophy of ZEN is to produce our own energy at home from renewable resources such as solar and then reduce our power consumption through the use of smart appliances and lighting to enable our home to reach its “ZEN”.

Zen’s solar modules use high efficiency Monocrystalline technology so customers can achieve the maximum amount of power per square metre of roof space. North facing roof space is important so importantly allowing roof area can be a critical factor in home design to enable expansion, if necessary, in the future.

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