31 January 2012

Watt does it cost to run an electric heater?

As the weather turns chilly, keeping warm at home is important and it’s tempting to warm up a room with an electric heater, but with concerns over energy bills, can you get energy efficient electric heaters?

Unfortunately not, as all portable electric heaters, whether they are fan heaters, oil filled radiators or halogen heaters, will consume the same amount of electricity and produce the same amount of thermal heat, relative to power input. So a 3kW heater will use 3kW (3000 watts) per hour and cost roughly 43 pence to run* or £3.43* for 8 hours! The power rating (watts/kWs) will dictate the running costs; the higher the watts the more it will cost to run. For a quick comparison see sust-it’s Electric Heating Cost Calculator. The difference between electric heaters will be in how quickly they deliver the heat, e.g. fan heaters are a good choice for heating specific areas of a room, as you can direct the heat.

Ross from sust-it said, “The best thing to keep your bills down is to keep heat in and drafts out by insulating – low cost solutions such as lined curtains, draft excluders, thermal blinds will help. You must also make sure the heater has a thermostat, and set it to the correct setting to avoiding overheating rooms.”
 
Which are the best types of heaters?
Well, it depends what you want to heat.
Convection heaters - are best suited for heating enclosed spaces. They operate silently and have a lower fire risk hazard.
 
Fan heaters - are a good choice for quick heating of enclosed spaces. There is a risk of ignition if they are near furnishings and curtains.
 
Electric fires (radiative heaters) - these directly warm people and objects in the room, so may be good for warming cold feet, but can be a fire hazard.
 
Halogen heaters - the advantage of these is that they radiate, (safe infrared spectrum), the heat generated, which is absorbed directly by us, without heating the air first. This makes them suitable for warming people in poorly insulated rooms. Halogen heaters convert up to 86% of their input power to radiant energy.
 
Oil-filled heaters - these can take longer to heat up, but retain the heat better, similar to storage heaters, and provide heat from all sides.
 
And what about the new “Dyson Hot” fan heater? Well, it still uses the same amount of energy as other 2kW heaters but it does heat a room up efficiently by directing the heat around better. The sleek design, with no exposed parts to get hot and cause burns, could be a big bonus to parents of small children, or those with elderly relatives. The huge £270 price tag may make it less attractive though.
 
 
Other stay warm tips include:
 
Wear layers – several thin layers of clothing will generally be better than one thick one!
 
Stay active if you can – get up and move around. Whether you are sat at a desk, or in the chair watching television – a quick walk around will improve your circulation and help you feel warmer.

27 July 2011

Good news for reducing energy bills – TV’s are now 60% more efficient than five years ago

It’s great to have some good news on the improved energy efficiency of Televisions.  Research done by Sust-it, the energy efficiency site for electricals, shows that TVs are now, on average, sixty per cent more efficient than they were five years ago.
 
When plasma and LCD TVs first arrived in the shops, we were dazzled by their stunning picture quality and screen size, and overlooked the fact that, compared with most tube televisions, these beasts were energy guzzlers – something the salesman, wowing us with bright colours and a 42 inch screen, would neglect to mention. In 2006 a 42 inch Plasma could have cost you £78.80 per year to run (at today’s prices), now thanks to public awareness and advances in technology, a similar model uses nearly six times less energy, produces 264.90 kg less carbon and costs only £13.76 to run per year.
 
Sust-it used its extensive energy usage data to compare the running costs of 1,800 televisions and found that since October 2006 and July 2011, there has been a decrease in the average amount of energy flat screen TV’s are using, and, in addition, the decrease in stand-by consumption is nearly 100 per cent.  This is better news for the environment, as TVs account for around 6-8% of the global domestic electricity usage, and for the consumer by saving them money on electricity bills.
 
Ross Lammas from Sust-it, did add a cautionary note by saying  “Whilst we welcome the stunning reduction in energy consumption of TV’s, consumers need to be wary of old energy hungry plasma models, which are still available and will be difficult to spot until new energy labels for TV’s become mandatory in December 2011– my advice is go for an LED model!”
 
Tom Monetto, UK Aquos product manager for Sharp, whose TVs top Sust-it’s efficiency charts, said, “Sharp have made increasing energy efficiency a key part of its wider commitment to minimising the environmental impact of product lifecycles. Technological advances are made not only to improve picture quality, but also to reduce energy needed to power the screen.  For example, the added yellow sub-pixel in Sharp’s proprietary four colour Quattron LCD panels allows more light through, using less energy to produce a brighter, sharper picture. Where ten years ago, a 32-inch TV would have consumed nearly 300 kWh (kilowatt-hours) per year, the same size Sharp TV now requires 80% less energy when On, and an amazing 98% less in stand-by mode.  This is why so many of our TVs have already received the A or A+ energy efficiency rating.”

Notes:

About Sust-it
 
Sust-it’s energy efficiency website ranks electricals by their energy usage and CO2 emissions. It does this through its unique calculations of average usage, combined with carefully researched energy usage data published by manufacturers. The site is constantly updated and contains a wide range of products from TVs to chest freezers.
 
You can compare electricity tariffs and calculate your CO2 emissions at the same time. The electricity unit rates used to calculate the costs per hour/cycle/year are based on the BIS (Department for Business Innovation & skills) Quarterly Energy Prices. CO2 Calculations taken from National Energy Foundation.
 
The sust-it website has been conceived and developed by turnround new media an independent production company, after it’s proprietor Ross Lammas (49), became increasingly frustrated by the difficulty in finding the data on the energy consumption of products, whilst he was building an environmentally sustainable office and home.  The site is independent from any manufacturers, retailers or energy companies. And does not receive any funding from any Government agencies, trusts or independent charities.
 

For further information please contact:

Ross Lammas
Founder Sust-it
Tel. 01242 224360
E-mail: info@sust-it.net

About SHARP

SHARP is an inventor for our society / This is Why we innovate, to improve life for everyone.

Founded in Japan in 1912, Sharp Electronics is a leading developer and manufacturer of electronic equipment, appliances and components for the consumer and business markets, with a key focus on high definition LCD, photovoltaic (solar electric) systems and document solutions. It can claim one of the widest portfolios of business and lifestyle products under a single brand name in the world. On its home turf in Japan – the birthplace of technology, Sharp outsells all other brands in LCD TVs.

The Corporation employs 54,000 people, of which nearly half are employed outside Japan. It operates in 25 countries / regions and its products are distributed to 164 countries worldwide. As of March 2009, annual turnover is in excess of Yen 2,847 billion.

Sharp is listed on the FTSE4Good Global Index and aims to be an environmentally advanced company that balances business growth and environmental protection. To help equalize greenhouse gas emissions, Sharp focuses its extensive research and development on energy-saving and energy-creating products.

The head office of Sharp Electronics (UK) Ltd is at Stockley Park in Uxbridge, West London. The company employs approximately 180 people within its Consumer Electronics and Business Product Divisions and consolidated annual UK turnover to 31 March 2009 was £511,477,000.  Sharp is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of solar photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules and, in the UK, launched its first PV manufacturing plant in Wrexham in 2004 to support the growing PV market across Europe.

For further information please contact:

Jasper Credland
PR & Communications Manager
Sharp Electronics (UK) Ltd

Tel. 020 8734 2134  Mob. 07808 479 161
E-mail: jasper.credland@sharp.eu
Web site: www.sharp.co.uk   (includes RSS news feed)

30 March 2011

Sust-it calls for tougher Energy Label enforcement

The National Measurement Office (NMO), took over the role of enforcing the EU's energy efficiency standards and labels, from Trading Standards, after Defra research showed the rate of non-compliance with the energy efficiency regulations was at least 15% – and for some products was 25% or higher. In one case, John Gillman and Sons (Electrical) Limited of Gloucester, pleaded guilty to advertising and selling chest freezers with incorrect energy ratings. The Ice King DM-35 chest freezer, made in China, was advertised online as having a B energy rating, but arrived with labels showing an A+ energy rating and an energy consumption of 215 kilowatt hours per year. Subsequent tests carried out on the appliances found the energy rating to be E or F and that on average the energy consumption was 382 kilowatt hours per year - some 77% higher than shown on the label provided with the appliance. This could cost consumers £22.03 extra per year, which over the products lifecycle could end up costing more to run than it did to buy! The company had to pay a £5,400 fine and £9,400 in costs. More recently, tests carried out by Which? found Beko's claim that its WMB81445L washing machine used 50% less energy than a standard A-rated machine, making it, they said, an 'A+++++' was not all it was cracked up to be. The energy used per kg of washing on a small load was the second highest of all the Beko washing machines Which? tested last year, and only got an average rating of three stars for energy efficiency.

Ross Lammas, creator of sust-it, the energy efficiency website for electricals said, "Energy Labelling and eco-design standards have been crucial in getting manufacturers and retailers to recognise the value of energy efficiency and in raising consumer awareness, but if the predicted environmental benefits are to be achieved, it is vital that it is properly enforced, especially as brands feature their eco credentials so heavily in marketing."

At last year's International Energy Agency Conference, Defra Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Lord Henley said "Consumers who are choosing more efficient products – to either save money or to reduce their emissions or both – deserve to be 100% sure that the product they are buying delivers the standard it promises."

And, as energy labelling on TV's comes into force later this year, (it's currently a voluntary scheme), stiff penalties for non-compliance and rigorous market surveillance are vital. The NMO will soon have an additional range of civil sanctions at its disposal, without needing to go to court, including imposing fines which will reflect the harm caused to consumers and the environment.

06 October 2010

Top Ten Energy Saving Products in 2010 revealed by sust-it

The sust-it website ranks over 6,500 household electrical goods, from Tumble Dryers to Computers, by their running costs and energy usage. This makes it well placed to reveal the UK’s most energy efficient appliances and electricals that were available in 2010.

Top ranking household electrical products in 2010:

1) Washing Machines – Panasonic NA-168VG2
2) Tumble Dryers – Siemens WT46W566
3) Wash Dryers – Hoover HDB854D
4) Larder Fridges (Medium sized) – Siemens KI25RP60
5) Chest Freezers (Medium sized) – Liebherr GTP2356
6) Fridge Freezers (Medium sized) – Gorenje RF60309O
7) Television 40 inch – Sharp LC-40LE821E
8) Satellite Set-Top Box HD – Grundig GUFSDTR500HD
9) Blu-ray / HD-DVD Players – Samsung BD-P4600
10) Desktop Computer – Apple Mac mini (MC270LL)

Ross from sust-it said:  “There’s a staggering difference between the energy consumption of electricals in the marketplace – which we’ve been highlighting through our unique ranking system. Yes, a lot of top energy efficient products are expensive, however there are long-term savings to be made”.

The sust-it website shows how by choosing the most energy efficient electricals you could save over £600 pa off your bills, compared to buying inefficient models.

03 December 2009

Apple Mac mini pips some very PC PC’s in sust-it’s eco energy charts

Apple’s Mac mini has shot to the top of sust-it energy efficiency charts for computers. Having been slated by Greenpeace in 2006, when they launched their ‘Green my Apple Campaign’ Apple has responded by making their products more recyclable, removing toxic materials and now proving that they can make fast and energy efficiency computers too. Ross from sust-it said: “There’s a staggering difference between the energy consumption of computers in the marketplace; you could save nearly £150 per year on electricity in choosing the most efficient models. We’ve been highlighting these savings through our unique ranking system and it’s great news that Apple has responded to the environmental issues, I hope other manufacturers will follow their lead’’. By using sust-it’s energy consumption website that ranks over 5000 electrical products by their energy efficiency, you can spot those appliances that contribute to your inflated electricity bills and CO2 emissions. You could save over £600 a year by buying energy saving products. 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 – it even works on the iphone instore.

14 July 2009

Digital TVs – easy to use and energy efficient?

What do you look for when buying a new TV or digital box – a cheap purchase price or ease of use? Sust-it, the energy efficiency site for electricals, thinks running costs should be top of everyone’s shopping list in these belt-tightening times. Sust-it shows how, choosing the most energy efficient electricals, could save over £500 per year off your bills, and now they’ve teamed up with Ricability (Research Institute for Consumer Affairs) to provide the low-down on ease of use and viewing performance of digital TVs, recorders and set top boxes.

Sust-it ranks over 4,000 household electrical goods, from TV’s to tumble dryers, by their running costs and CO2 emissions, issues that are important to consumers, as the growing number of visitors to the site demonstrates. Ricability provides impartial and independent reviews of digital TV products; to help shoppers decide what to buy. Their digital TV test programme has been funded by the Government to help consumers through switchover.

Ross from sust-it said: “There’s a staggering difference between the energy consumption of electricals in the marketplace – which we’ve been highlighting through our unique ranking system. It’s great news that Ricability sees the value publishing their unbiased reviews on our site – hopefully the real winners will be consumers and the environment during the digital TV switch!

Caroline from Ricability said: “Our digital TV testing is based on research with real users and we are independent of manufacturers and retailers, so free to report our findings without fear or favour. We’ve recognised that sust-its energy saving site is reaching a wide audience and we look forward to providing the best possible unbiased information usability of digital TV products and help them reduce their energy bills too.

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 CO2 a year.