10 November 2008

sust-it.net, the first electricals energy efficiency website, up for Green Award!

So a billion dollar budget may have helped Obama secure his place at the Whitehouse, but one energy efficiency website, sust-it.net, has proved that you don’t need big bucks to get noticed. The site, which helps people save money and reduce CO2 by ranking electrical goods by their running costs, has won a place in the final of the coveted Green Awards for Sustainability in Creativity. 

Despite limited budgets and resources, sust-it.net’s honest, comprehensive comparison service has proved such a hit with the public that they are up against three other companies as Best Green Campaigner at the awards, which are announced on Wednesday 12th November.

Recommended by money saving expert Martin Lewis and listed as one of The Independent’s 101 Really Useful Websites, sust-it.net aims to be the first port of call for everyone buying new electrical appliances, in order to check and compare running costs, by the hour, day or even year. 

The site gives detailed information on the energy consumption and running costs of almost 3000 electrical products, from DVD recorders to dishwashers.  The data not only helps people save money but importantly, helps combat CO2 emissions which contribute significantly to global warming.

The company also campaigns to encourage manufacturers to develop more energy efficient models, with the sust-it.net website featuring a detailed and passionate blog about energy efficiency and blowing the whistle on the less than efficient manufacturers and models. “Our aim is to provide consumers with all the facts at their fingertips in order to make informed choices.  We all need to be more aware of energy usage in our ‘gadget culture’, and manufacturers must make energy efficiency a key selling point.” Says Ross Lammas, the site’s creator.

Should sust-it.net win the Award this week, they are hoping that this will pave the way for future funding and sponsorship to increase the comparison potential of the site and the number of items reviewed.

22 October 2008

Are STANDBY SAVERS a waste of cash?

There seems to be an urban myth surrounding how much electricity your TVs and Hi-Fi’s consume in standby. The latest Flat-screen TVs, DVD players consume less power in standby (0.6w or costing 63p per year to run) than some of the Standby Savers themselves (1w or £1.05 per year to run).  Infact, the most energy hungry equipment under your television are the Satellite / Digital Set-Top Box and DVD/VHS hard disc recorders, which you’re not meant to switch off anyway – as they update programme schedules and software in the wee hours, or have clocks. 

So what’s the payback on standby savers?  If you plug in four boxes all consuming 0.6 watts = £2.52 less (running the standby saver) £1.05 = £1.47 per year. Cost to buy the standby saver £21.95 payback nearly 15 years! 

Sust-it the electricals energy efficiency website offers some top energy tips, for this Energy Saving Week

• When replacing Electricals or Appliances buy the most energy efficient ones you can afford and make huge savings long-term!
• Become ‘Energy Aware’ buy an energy meter.
• As your bulbs blow – replace with energy savers.
• Put your Satellite / Digital Set-Top and videos on a separate extension socket from your other equipment, and switch off the rest at night – preferably at the plug.    
• Shutdown your PC when not in use and switch off at the wall, as some computers and peripherals still draw power even when off!

By using sust-it’s energy consumption website that ranks electricals by their energy efficiency, you can spot those appliances that contribute to your inflated electricity bills and CO2 emissions.

The sust-it site is constantly updated and contains a wide range of products from TVs to chest freezers. You can even switch between electricity tariffs so you can see what other energy providers have in-store and calculate your CO2 emissions at the same time.

The sust-it website has been conceived and developed by turnround_new_media, after it’s proprietor Ross Lammas, became increasingly frustrated by the difficulty in finding the data on the energy consumption of electrical products, whilst he was building an environmentally sustainable home and office. 

Ross said: “There’s a staggering difference between the best performing electricals in the marketplace. For example tumble dryers – one of the most energy hungry appliances in your home – could be using 230% more electricity than the best available. Even your 32” flat-screen TV television could be using 150% more power than a different model. There are big savings to be made and they’re easy to spot on our website! I hope that the sust-it.net website helps us all to save energy and offers manufacturers and retailers a great opportunity to showcase their most energy efficient products”

15 September 2008

Have you sussed how to beat the ELECTRICITY PRICE HIKE?

As the increase in our energy bills looms closer, how could you cut your electricity bills by more than the price hikes?  Simply by investing in the most energy efficient electrical goods you can find and replacing those old inefficient ones – such as washing machines, tumble dryers, fridges and freezers.

Take your washing machine for example. If it’s over 5 years old it could be consuming over a third more power than the best energy efficient models available today, as the old C & D energy rated machines were phased out in 2003. So, if your current washing machine is D rated (1.34 kWh per cycle) you’re going to be quids in if you upgraded today, which could help offset the massive electricity price increases. 
 
So it makes sense to upgrade – but how do you spot the really efficient washing machines, when they are all listed as ‘A’ rated in the superstores?

Sust-it’s energy saving website has made this easier by taking the manufacturers energy usage figures and dividing this by the drum capacity – thereby giving you the price of electricity used per kg of washing. This will help consumers make a more informed energy saving purchasing decision. Water consumption figures have also been taken into account when ranking the machines. It certainly makes spotting the real efficiency winners easier, when you want to save money and reduce your carbon footprint. For example, the Zanussi ZT1012 costs 3.629p per kg of washing, compared to the Servis M6854W at 2.265p per kg of washing – that’s over £22.44 a year less to run!

By using sust-it’s energy consumption website that ranks electricals by their energy efficiency, you can spot those appliances that contribute to your inflated electricity bills and CO2 emissions.

The sust-it site is constantly updated and contains a wide range of products from TVs to chest freezers. You can even switch between electricity tariffs so you can see what other energy providers have in-store and calculate your CO2 emissions at the same time.

14 February 2008

Don’t say the ‘F’ word to Hotpoint when you get your electricity bill !

You expect to hear the ‘F’ word from 4x4 driving celebrity chefs, not when you walk into an electricals superstore, as all those energy guzzling E, F & G rated Washing Machines were phased out over ten years ago. Unfortunately ‘F’ energy rated tumble dryers are still on the streets and the budget £130 Hotpoint V3D01 could cost you a shocking £174 a year to run!

By using sust-it’s energy consumption website that ranks electricals by their energy efficiency, you can spot those appliances that contribute to your inflated electricity bills and CO2 emissions. The sust-it site is constantly updated and contains a wide range of products from Tumble Dryers to TV’s. You can even switch between electrical tariffs so you can see what energy price rises have in-store, and calculate your CO2 emissions at the same time.

Ross from sust-it said, “If you’re a consumer on a tight budget without access to drying space outside, and purchase this tumble dryer, you’re going to be in for a big shock when the bills arrive! This dryer use three-and-a-half times more electricity than an A rated machine. I don’t understand why Hotpoint is still selling a machine with such shocking energy consumption. They also seem content to bury the energy efficiency figures for this product on page 68 of a downloadable brochure on their website. Is it not time to ban the ‘F’ word in tumble dryers? I hope the sust-it website helps highlight these inefficient products as well as highlighting the real energy saving stars.”

So which tumble dryers perform the best? If money is no object then the AEG T59800 and John Lewis JLTDC01 Condenser Tumble Dryer are the top performers. They could dry nearly 900kg of washing a year for £49 compared to the Hotpoint V3D01’s £174. These dryers cost over £370 extra to buy; however you could be saving £125 per year on electricity – payback time 3 years. The average lifecycle of these machines is around 8 years – so a potential saving of £625 at current electricity prices. The modestly priced Hoover VHV180 Vented Tumble Dryer at £183 – could save you £105 per year compared to the Hotpoint, or £787 over the products life, including the purchase price difference.

Which Tumble Dryer is best for the environment? AEG & John Lewis. Which is best for your pocket and the environment? It’s got to be the Hoover.

16 November 2007

Green veneer for Wooden clad TVs?

What is your carbon footprint...? Can buying a Swedx wooden TV help reduce it? Well not if the TV, encased in wood, could use about half a tonne more CO2 over its lifetime, than similar models; just check it out on sust-it's energy consumption comparison website.

Take the running costs, for example, of Swedx 40" HD Freeview TV in Sapele wood, compared to the Sony 40" KDL-40D3000 - using sust-it's energy consumption database, and you'll soon see the savings on the Sony, both in cash terms and CO2. The Swedx could consume 547.5 kWh/year costing £91.58, while the Sony only uses 370.11 kWh/year costing £58.71. So by choosing an energy efficient TV you could save nearly £200 (£197.22) of electricity (at current prices) and nearly half a tonne of CO2 (457.62 kgCO2) if you kept the TV for six years!

Ross Lammas from sust-it said: "When I first came across these TVs I thought 'what a great idea'. It's only when we added them to our database that real picture came out. It's a pity that the green credentials of the wooden case don't match that of the insides.

sust-it believes that consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the need to reduce energy consumption, and therefore reduce their own CO2 emissions. This again highlights the need for clear labelling of the potential power consumption of electronic devices, rather than relying on small print in the technical specification sheets.

The sust-it website allows consumers to compare the running cost of hundreds of consumer electrical goods. It does this by taking the manufacturers published energy consumption rates then multiplying this by electricity unit tariffs, so making it possible to see how much it will cost to run each day and per year.

Manufacturers can also register with sust-it, and then upload data on the power consumption and product information. Ross said, "Our site offers manufacturers a great opportunity to showcase their energy efficiency to potential new customers. Brands such as Epsom and Bosch have already signed-up. If we all choose energy efficient products in our homes and workplaces we can have a real impact on long-term CO2 emissions, and save money."

10 September 2007

Want to save energy and money when buying new products? Best4Reviews.com has it Sust

One-stop shop for expert buying advice online www.best4reviews.com teams up with energy advisory site Sust-it.net to offer visitors sound advice on the eco-friendliness of new technology

Responding to consumer concern about the environmental effects the products we purchase and use everyday really have – and how we can save both money and planet by buying more efficiently – the Net’s newest buyers guide Best4Reviews.com has teamed up with environmentally sustainable energy saving product guide Sust-it.net

Where applicable, practical test reports on Best4Reviews will feature an information link to the same product on Sust-it, where visitors can additionally discover how energy efficient it is.

"It’s all about ‘added value’ for visitors to Best4Reviews and Sust-it," says Best4Reviews’ editor Doug Harman, who, along with fellow technology journalists and fellow editors Gavin Stoker and Michael O’Connell, recently launched the online buyers guide.

"As well as being able to rate a product on how it performs in the practical sense, we can provide visitors with extra information on how it performs environmentally. By including a link to Sust-it after the verdict of one of our reviews, those who want to find out more can do just that in one click."

Visitors to Sust-it seeking details of a product’s energy efficiency can also click on a dedicated ‘more info’ link to Best4Reviews for additional advice on how good or bad the product is in the practical sense.

"For both sites and our users it’s a win-win situation," notes Sust-it.net’s Ross Lammas. "Saving energy not only makes sense for our pockets, it reduces our impact on the environment and helps us all to be more sustainable in a changing world. Have you ever wondered how much your fridge costs to run a year? Or how much energy the latest ‘must have’ flat-screen TVs use? At Sust-it we provide you with up-to-date information on the energy usage of consumer products available today, so that you can compare the running costs of your next purchase, while Best4Reviews provides peace-of-mind that the product will actually do what the manufacturer says it will."

Technology rated by Best4Reviews and also featured on Sust-it so far includes the likes of Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Sharp XV Z21000 projector, Epson DX7000F and Kodak 5300 all-in-one devices plus Sharp Aquos LC-37XD1E TVs.

"It’s early days but we intend to roll out money and energy saving information for as many products as possible in the coming months,” says Best4Reviews’ O’Connell. “Teaming up with Sust-it is just another way we can give our visitors a better level of service: offering free independent expert advice on the latest ‘must have’ products while at the same helping them save money in the long run by indicating which are more energy efficient."

For more information, visit www.best4reviews.com and www.sust-it.net now.

About Best4Reviews

Launched on August 1st, 2007 by three of the UK’s leading technology journalists and growing all the time, Best4Reviews aims to become the one stop shop for expert buying advice online. As well as reviews of digital cameras, TVs, projectors, printers, scanners, gadgets and more, the free independently run site features news of the latest must have technology, visitor views via its forums – who are also encouraged to contribute their own reviews and product experiences alongside those of the site’s experts – plus exclusive competitions to win the latest gear.

www.best4reviews.com

About Sust-it

Sust-it’s objective is to encourage individuals and manufacturers to be more energy conscious, and encourage trade between like-minded organisations. The site provides up-to-date information on the energy usage of consumer products available today, so that you can compare the running costs of your next purchase.

www.sust-it.net

14 March 2007

PLAYSTATION 3: thumbs up for graphics! THUMBS DOWN for your ELECTRICITY bills!

Have you pre-ordered your PlayStation 3 yet? If you have sust-it recommends you top-up the pre-payments on your electricity account at the same time. The US version of the PS3 comes with a whopping 380 watt power supply. That’s over twice as much as its main competitor the Xbox 360 with its 165W unit, and over seven times more power hungry than the PlayStation 2. If you were to combine a PS3 with a LG 71” HD Ready Plasma TV to take full advantage of the amazing graphics you could be burning 1.4kWh (kilowatts) of power per hour and if you’re a serious gamer that could cost you £1.19 for a five hour session.

Ross Lammas from the ‘energy consumption compression website’ sust-it.net said: “We expect new car launches to announce more performance with less fuel consumption; it’s a pity that this does not apply to electronic goods. Is it not time for an energy efficiency rating system for consumer electrical goods?”

sust-it believes that consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the need to reduce energy consumption, and therefore reduce their own CO2 emissions. The PS3 again highlights the need for clear labelling of the potential power consumption of electronic devices, rather than relying on small print in the technical specification sheets.

09 February 2007

Plasma manufacturer Fujitsu revises power consumptions figures after sust-its website revealed potential running costs

Fujitsu have had to recalculate their published energy consumption figures for all of their flagship plasma screens, after sust-it, the energy consumption comparison website, revealed that their 63” TV could cost over £600 a year to run, based on their published datasheets power consumption figures of 1896 Watts. Fujitsu have now recalculated this figure down to 605 Watts, equating to £209.08 per year. This still seems a high price to pay to for watching your favourite TV programmes. Fujitsu blamed the published errors on technical issues regarding voltage conversions from 100v to 240v.

Sust-it believes that consumers are now becoming increasingly aware of the need to reduce energy consumption, and therefore reduce their own CO2 emissions. This case highlights the need for manufacturers to make the energy efficiency a key selling point, rather than relying on small print in the technical specification sheets.

17 January 2007

Could Plasma TVs be the new 4x4s of home entertainment?

Purchasing that ‘must have’ plasma HDTV in the January sales may have seemed a great idea, but what’s it going to cost to run in the coming Year? Could consumers be missing out on an opportunity to save money and reduce their CO2 emissions? sust-it thinks so.

sust-it.net is a new website that compares the published running costs of consumer/office electrical and white goods, rather than just their prices and features. It does this by taking the manufactures published energy consumption rates then multiplying this by an average electricity unit tariff. So making it possible to see how much it will cost the buyer to sit in front of that shiny new plasma each day, and an indication of what the New Years electricity bill holds in store. The results can make interesting reading, for example; there are plasma screens available that use nearly 1.5 Kwh (kilowatts of power used per hour) which could cost you £1.18p an evening to watch (5hrs) or £503.04 a year if you watched 6hrs a day. This will generate 1.4 Tonnes of climate changing C02 a year.