ConfusedAboutEnergy.co.uk

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Confused About Energy Policy?

Could anyone explain why it is useful for UK PLC to have soaring energy prices (50% apparently) based on costly nuclear and “renewable” energy policy, such that imports from low cost carbon dependant fuel economies like China have an even greater competitive edge than they do already? Is it not inevitable that in a credit crunch world our relative demand for low cost goods and their manufacture in these countries will increase? This will in turn mean that our demand for their products will produce the CO2 where the goods are made regardless of UK energy policy and we all know that C02 does not need to show a passport at the border.

On a global scale isn’t this policy at best a carbon neutral act with deleterious implications for UK competitiveness on a global stage?   View points are very welcome, because we are confused. 

 

Confused About Energy is a free impartial service to help you reduce energy consumption and save on your energy costs. Much of the available information regarding energy efficiency savings is confusing and misleading. At Confused About Energy we aim to cut through the jargon and provide practical, impartial advice on all aspects of energy use and ways in which you can save money, this includes:-

 

Home insulation: What are the most effective forms of insulation and what provides the best return on investment.

Heat Loss from a house thick Loft Insulation install cavity wall insulation expensive double glazing under floor insulation lagging a hot water cylinder    

Heating and Hot Water: How do different forms of heating and fuel compare?

hot water systems heating units central heating  

Domestic Appliances: Guidance on the actual energy costs of and whether energy consumption should be a factor in your purchasing decision for new appliances.

Which Cooker Which Dish Washers Which Television Which Fridge Freezer Washing Machine Which Tumble Dryer Which Washer Dryer  

Renewable Energy: Can enough energy be generated to meet your needs? What are the costs and most importantly what is the payback time on your investment?

Wind Turbine Solar cells Solar energy Ground Source Heat Pump

Energy Saving Tips: Practical advice on ways to save money and where you should focus your effort (and money) on making changes.

Energy Saver Lighting save Hot Water Electrical Appliances save energy save energy Cooking

Transport: new to Confused About Energy, much more will be added throughout the year.

cars      

Energy Storage: also new to Confused About Energy, starting with batteries, again much more will be added throughout the year.

batteries      

Current Fuel Prices

Calculations throughout this site give an indication of the costs of energy used in various domestic applications.

The current prices of fuels are used and they are updated annually.   They can only be indicative, as prices do vary between suppliers and your circumstances.

The prices currently in use on this site are in the bar chart below. When prices are updated, calculations throughout the whole site also update automatically.

energy prices kWh gas electricity kerosene fuel oil wood biomass LPG coal smokeless propane butane

Read more about domestic fuels...



Prices were last updated 1thFebruary2012

The Prices for electricity and gas are taken from BERR (Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform) and are updated annually, All prices include VAT and delivery where appropriate

 

 

Confused About Batteries?

AAA Battery testsWe are. Which ones offer the best value, Duracell, Eveready, Panasonic? Have you noticed that you get no quantifiable data on a battery to tell how much charge is in the battery, Just terms like power plus or ultra power, why is that? Are there other products where this is the case? We have started a series of experiments to test the charge on batteries and to indicate the value for money of batteries. We have initiated our experiments using AAA cells. The charts below will be added to as the experiments are completed. For more information on these tests and batteries have a look here It is apparent so far that the chemistry of the battery is much more important than an expensive brand.

AAA Batteries Charge (Milli Amp Hours) AAA Batteries Price per unit of charge (Pence per Amp Hour)
The bigger the bar the more energy
the battery will provide		 The bigger the bar the more you are paying
for the energy
the charge in AAA batteries the charge in AAA batteries
   
   

Finally few results for AA, only Alkaline at the moment

AA Batteries Charge (Milli Amp Hours) AA Batteries Price per unit of charge (Pence per Amp Hour)
The bigger the bar the more energy
the battery will provide		 The bigger the bar the more you are paying
for the energy
the charge in AA batteries the charge in AA batteries
   
   
N.B. A red bar indicates a Zinc chloride battery which are usually cheaper and hold less charge than an alkaline battery. A gold bar indicates an alkaine battery.
 

Main Menu

Technical Zone

Site Guidance

All calculations on this site are based on current fuel prices they are checked regularly are automatically updated and were last changed on:-
1th February 2012
For complete clarity, all calculation using current fuel prices are coloured red.
The costs calculated based on these fuel prices should be regarded as 'good estimates', given that fuel prices vary in different parts of the county and at different time of the year.
The calculations also have different levels of accuracy depending on the nature of the calculation. For example calculating the energy use of a known power output TV is very easy compared to calculating the effect on energy savings when insulating a cavity wall.

Site Symbols

Icons are also used throughout the site to indicate the level of saving or the relative cost implications associated with an choice you might make, or a tip you read or related to how your house is currently configured. These icons below.
pence lowest priority
£ 10+ Think twice, perhaps you should focus elsewhere first
£ 100+ Worth doing
£ 1000+ Focus your effort here to save as much money as possible

In some areas there are some substantial investments you may choose to make, in sections describing these we indicate with two icons, thumbs up or down, if the investment is a good one. Payback in less than 15 years is regarded as reasonable, but longer that that poor. These icons are below.
less than 15 years to payback investment
More than 15 years to payback the investment

Partners

How about an environmental way to deliver goods to save overall energy, make sure the goods fit the letterbox where possible.  In this case its sweets!  www.letterboxfriendly.co.uk.   take a look.

Site Search

Selected News

Scientists boost battery strength with small holes

"Batteries for phones and laptops could soon recharge ten times faster and hold a charge ten times larger than current technology allows."

UK joins laser nuclear fusion project

"The UK company AWE and the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory have now joined with Nif to help make laser fusion a viable commercial energy source."

Android Phone App

android energy app

We now have a bit of fun energy calculator app for android phone, click the link to find out more. Link to app

World Power Production

This is the best world enery graphic and simulation tool we have come across so we have put it on the home page! Wish we had done it.

world power generation graph coal oil gas solar wind nuclear biomass

Electrical Energy Cost Calculator



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