Day to 'save energy and climate'

Aurora · Post by **Aurora** » 28 Feb 2008, 05:59

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7266978.stm

BBC News - 28/02/08

Energy Saving Day, a 24-hour initiative aiming to reduce the UK's electricity use, begins on Wednesday evening.

A coalition of environmental groups, religious leaders and energy companies is asking people to curb climate change by turning off devices not in use.

The National Grid will monitor how much difference it makes to consumption, while power companies will identify customers wanting home insulation.

The BBC News website will be displaying results in close to real time.

Article continues ...

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 28 Feb 2008, 07:57

This one really does not seem to have caught the nation's attention. I doubt whether many folk know about it - except those who don't have much more that they can switch off.

Post by **clv101** » 28 Feb 2008, 09:10

News to me.

Andy Hunt · Post by **Andy Hunt** » 28 Feb 2008, 09:34

Well according to the meter on the BBC news page, consumption today is currently running higher than normal!

Gerontion · Post by **Gerontion** » 28 Feb 2008, 11:07

First I've heard of this. What a joke.

Just had a look at the BBC website, which includes this:

"Usual consumption is what the National Grid predicted under "business as usual"."

Thanks for clearing that one up.

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 28 Feb 2008, 11:29

clv101 wrote:News to me.

Pay attention. We've had a thread about this:
http://www.powerswitch.org.uk/forum/vie ... php?t=6396started 5th Feb, on which I posted a link to the E-Day website: http://www.e-day.org.uk/

It's rather fun - there's the nation's electricity meter (the 'units' are Mega Watt hours). Unfortunately, when I checked a few moments ago, we were using 1.7% more power than 'usual'.

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 28 Feb 2008, 13:53

Sad, that. It's the first night in ages I've accidentally left our telly on standby

Perhaps that explains the 1.7%.

goslow · Post by **goslow** » 28 Feb 2008, 14:02

Bit of a flop then! I checked out the national grid website, the electriticity demand in the last 8 days varies at peak on each weekday between 52 and 57 GW, so its possible for UK to cut back if it really wants to.

It would be interesting to see the data for the long term trends in electricity usage, I think I remember seeing the graph in a thread somewhere. Are we continually going up, static or decreasing our electricity usage?

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 28 Feb 2008, 14:08

Going up I'm afraid, at least domestic electricity use is. Energy (both electric and other) spent on heating, though, is static, and per-household is going down (but, more households).

Aurora · Post by **Aurora** » 29 Feb 2008, 11:40

No impact from Energy Saving Day

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7270218.stm

BBC News - 28/02/08

The UK's first Energy Saving Day has ended with no noticeable reduction in the country's electricity usage.

Article continues ...

Surprise, surprise.

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 07 Apr 2008, 23:05

Quite a thoughtful article about the day from Matt Prescott, the guy behind it.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7334774.stm