The British Government’s energy review recommended phasing out the "stand-by" function on televisions and computers and trialling "smart" electricity meters among the energy saving measures to be adopted, reported The Independent Online Edition on Wednesday, 12 July.
Substantial range of initiatives: The report said these were among a substantial range of other initiatives designed to put Britain on the road to the long-term climate change target of Prime Minister, Tony Blair, of cutting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 60 per cent (on 1990 levels) by 2050.
21-25 per cut in emissions estimated by 2020: Officials said that when the new measures were implemented they would cut Britain’s CO2 emissions by 21 to 25 per cent below 1990 levels, by 2020. The measures had the double purpose of saving energy and making the energy used less carbon-intensive.
Many measures have been advanced by green groups: Many of the proposed measures – not least the new plans for decentralised energy and local "micro-generation" of electricity – were proposals that environmentalists had long been calling for.
Other energy-saving measures: Besides phasing out the “stand-by” function on computers and television and introducing smarter meters, the new energy-saving measures unveiled also included:
• driving the least efficient domestic electronic goods out of the market,
• providing incentives for large organisations such as supermarkets, hotels and local authorities to cut carbon emissions; and
• making new housing developments low carbon, or carbon neutral, over the long term.
Reference: Digest of latest news reported on website of Climate Change Secretariat of United Nations Framework on Climate Change Control (UNFCCC). 12 July. Address: PO Box 260 124, D-53153 Bonn. Germany. Phone: : (49-228) 815-1005, Fax: (49-228) 815-1999. Email: press@unfccc.int
http://www.unfccc.int
Erisk Net, 13/7/2006