Tag: energy efficiency

UNSW’s solar cell achieves 40% efficiency :: ElectronicsOnline

by Paul, posted in Energy Efficiency, LinkedIn, News Snippets that catch my eye

“This is the highest efficiency ever reported for sunlight conversion into electricity,” UNSW Scientia Professor and Director of the Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics (ACAP) Professor Martin Green said.

“We used commercial solar cells, but in a new way, so these efficiency improvements are readily accessible to the solar industry,” added Dr Mark Keevers, the UNSW solar scientist who managed the project.

“The new results are based on the use of focused sunlight and are particularly relevant to photovoltaic power towers being developed in Australia,” Professor Green said.

via UNSW’s solar cell achieves 40% efficiency :: ElectronicsOnline.

(Australia) Minister warns against dodgy energy saving devices

by Paul, posted in Australian ICT, Australian Product Compliance Notes, News Snippets that catch my eye

Minister for Fair Trading Stuart Ayres and NSW Energy & Water Ombudsman (EWON) Clare Petre today issued a joint warning to all consumers to be on the look-out for cold callers and online traders claiming to sell energy saving devices for domestic use.

Mr Ayres said NSW Fair Trading had investigated a number of consumer complaints about the devices, which can cost up to $2,000 each.

“We have proved under stringent testing conditions that these devices are a complete con,” he said.

To watch a video of the power saving devices being tested, go to Fair Trading’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky1MotsVLGU

via Minister warns against dodgy energy saving devices.

Energy Efficiency (MEPS) Product Profile for Video Recorders and Set Top Boxes

by Paul, posted in Energy Efficiency Regulations for ICT

(reposting a circular/public e-mail)

The Equipment Energy Efficiency (E3) Committee has released for public comment the Product Profile for Video Recorders and Set Top Boxes   (the link opens a PDF file)
 
You are invited to submit comments and submissions on the profile and readers are asked to comment on a number of particular aspects in this document, relating to  market data and modelling assumptions, to assist with the formulation of a preferred policy option in future. While we welcome comments on all aspects of the Product Profile, comments on the Product Profile: Video Recorders and Set Top Boxes – Key Questions would be of particular assistance.   The closing day for this initial round of comments is COB Friday 16 August 2013.
 
I also remind you that  the Product Profile for Battery Chargers was posted on the energyrating website in April.   The closing date for comment on this profile is COB 12 July 2013 and this profile also asks for comments on key questions.
 
Both profiles can be found on http://www.energyrating.gov.au/

 

80+ Silver Power Supply Units set to be the new normal. – PC & Tech Authority

by Paul, posted in Australian ICT, Australian Product Compliance Notes, Energy Efficiency Regulations for ICT

The major thing is that from October first pretty much all power supplies sold in Australia will have to sport a minimum 80+ Silver efficiency rating, thus knocking a large number of budget units off the market altogether.

via 80+ Silver Power Supply Units set to be the new normal. – PC & Tech Authority.

Fact Sheet: Computers – Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) | Energy Rating Website

by Paul, posted in Australian ICT, Australian Product Compliance Notes, Energy Efficiency, Energy Efficiency Regulations for ICT

Fact Sheet: Computers – Minimum Energy Performance Standards | Energy Rating Website.

This fact sheet was released in March 2013. In Australia, regulatory requirements for computers are set under the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (Computer) Determination 2012 (Determination). The Determination specifies what products are and are not covered, and incorporates requirements for Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS), Energy Rating Labels (ERL) and testing from the relevant Australian/New Zealand Standard by reference.

This becomes mandatory in Australia from 01 October 2013.

IEC e-tech > January/February 2013 – Think lumens not watts

by Paul, posted in Energy Efficiency, News Snippets that catch my eye

IEC e-tech > January/February 2013 – Think lumens not watts.

Extract:

For decades, choosing a new or replacement light bulb has been easy: consumers would look at the wattage … (however) replacement of incandescent bulbs by energy-efficient products…  introduced confusion … as … producers often only gave the watt equivalent of the new bulbs. … The situation is no clearer now that LED-based lamps are becoming more popular and increasing in efficiency all the time.

 

Watts indicate the power needed to light the bulb, and lumens indicates the amount of visible light emitted by a source. The value of the bulbs required may differ according to the lighting effect desired. The table in the article gives average ratings for incandescent, CFL and LED bulbs.

NABERS launches data centre energy ratings | Cabling connection

by Paul, posted in Australian ICT, Energy Efficiency, Energy Efficiency Regulations for ICT, News Snippets that catch my eye

NABERS launches data centre ratings | Cabling connection.

Environment minister Robyn Parker has announced the release of the new NABERS Energy for data centres rating tools.

“These new tools include what we believe to be a world’s first for rating the environmental performance of the IT equipment within a data centre,” Robyn says.

APEC Workshop: Aligning Energy Efficiency Regulations for ICT Products: Developing a Strategic Approach, Seoul, Korea, 18 July 2012

by Paul, posted in Energy Efficiency Regulations for ICT

“This joint industry-government event focused on specific steps for APEC economies to consider that will advance the alignment of requirements based on minimum energy performance standards (MEPS). Workshop participants were asked to contribute to a plan to establish a harmonized MEPS regime that includes:

  •  a common standard for test methodology and product categories
  • an international program for transportable test results
  • a common dataset approach for target setting and conformity assessment”

The public documents for the above event can be accessed via http://aimp.apec.org/MDDB/Pages/search.aspx?setting=ListMeeting&DateRange=2012/07/01%2C2012/07/end&Name=Aligning%20Energy%20Efficiency%20Regulations%20for%20ICT%20Products%3A%20Developing%20a%20Strategic%20Approach%202012